Chapter 358.2
Eugene learned about the situation from Sarah, who had returned from meeting Flora, and detected something suspicious. Initially surprised and emotionally responsive to Flora’s unexpected arrival, Eugene, once the initial excitement settled, calmly probed around and uncovered something perplexing.
Setting aside the question of how Flora managed to escape to the capital, her actions and words didn’t align. It struck Eugene as odd that, despite expressing fear in a letter, Flora didn’t immediately seek help but rather casually secured a room at the hotel.
Upon Sarah’s further explanation that the Golden Key Hotel was considered a top-notch facility and Flora was staying on the top floor, Eugene couldn’t help but question, You’re staying in a 5-star hotel suite. Who books a room in such a conspicuous place when you might be traced?
Despite these doubts, Eugene acknowledged that Anika, who had always enjoyed the finer things, wouldn’t easily abandon such habits, even in her current fugitive state. ‘She mentioned feeling uneasy when she came earlier,’ Sarah added.
Eugene empathized with ‘Anikas,’ whom she had closely observed in the palace. Proud and sheltered from the world’s hardships, those innocent girls—Flora included—represented a certain type of Anika.
For someone affording a stay in a luxury hotel, attention to dressing appropriately would be paramount, especially if they aimed to avoid looking more destitute than necessary.
As suspicions grew, everything appeared increasingly peculiar. It all began with the news that Sven, having encountered Aldrit, asserted that a covert group of knights had infiltrated the capital. Flora hadn’t arrived alone; the deduction was that she had at least ten knights accompanying her.
If she received assistance from the knights, it’s plausible. Flora, who hadn’t ventured beyond the sanctuary, escaping to this location solo didn’t add up. Interpreting it as the knights having a purpose for visiting the kingdom rather than assuming they all defected from the palace seemed more rational.
Is Sang-je using Flora in some scheme? What is Flora’s motive? Did she summon me to that hotel? Why? If Flora’s plan was to lure Eugene outside the castle, she must be perplexed as her plan got disrupted. Eugene anticipated and waited for Flora’s reaction.