Chapter 87
Chapter 87. The Final Suspect
Rol saw Aina in this state, and felt somewhat unable to bring himself to continue.
After a moment's deliberation, he steeled his heart and pressed on in the same cold, detached tone: "Miss Aina, you need to calm down right now. I need to know every single thing you have done in Luo Nan's bedchamber recently — every last detail, no matter how trivial."
He paused, then continued: "Right now, you are the prime suspect. Please cooperate with me."
"I — I truly don't know……I don't know……"
The little maidservant Aina had never seen anything like this before. Her mind went completely blank, and the mist in her eyes could no longer be held back — droplets fell one after another, pattering onto the carpet spread across the bedchamber floor.
"Aina! Have you forgotten Rule Two of the Maid's Glory Handbook?"
Just then, the voice of maidservant Pati — who had been silent all this while — suddenly cracked open like a thunderclap, making Aina's body flinch inward once more.
"O — of course I haven't forgotten! Rule Two: at all times and in all places, a maidservant must maintain the glorious elegance of her station!" Aina reflexively blurted out the contents of the handbook's Rule Two.
"And are you practicing it right now?" Pati asked again.
"I'm sorry! Sister Pati, I — I……" Aina sniffled, lifted her sleeve to wipe the tear-tracks from the corners of her eyes, and raised her head once more, meeting Rol's gaze directly.
"I'm sorry, Mr. Rol. I've composed myself — please ask away!"
Seeing the transformation come over the little maidservant, Rol felt a faint measure of relief.
He abandoned that stern, cold manner as well, and his tone softened: "Aina, tell me everything in detail."
"Alright," Aina straightened her maid's uniform, steadied her emotions, and put her best self forward once more. "Mr. Rol, here is what happened……"
The girl calmly recounted every detail of tidying and cleaning Luo Nan's bedchamber over the past several days — even down to how many times she had run the mop through, she told Rol everything.
But there was one thing she did not say.
That was the act of sensing Luo Nan's aura with her own body.
The girl decided that this was something only she herself needed to know — all others……should not know at all!
Well, of course, if the Young Master were willing, the Young Master could know too, hehe……
"Mm, I see," Rol finished taking his notes and looked up at the little maidservant. "Miss Aina, although your account is quite thorough, I must inform you objectively: you are still the prime suspect at this time."
Rol waved the notebook in his hand. "I have already analyzed the statements of every member of the household. If no new information comes to light……"
At that, Rol paused. He trusted that the girl before him understood what he meant.
"It — it doesn't matter, Mr. Rol. If you can find the mastermind behind the assassination of the Young Master as soon as possible and let him return home safely, then I……I don't mind."
The girl lowered her head, murmuring words that could easily be misconstrued, hands clasped together, lost in some private thought.
Her meaning was……
As long as Luo Nan was safe, she didn't mind being that "Mole"?
This kid……
Rol was somewhat at a loss. "No, Miss Aina — I will never wrong an innocent person. I give you my word: I will find the Mole in the Duke Manor."
With that said, Rol rose, cast one last look back at the familiar bedchamber, and turned to leave.
"Is the investigation concluded?"
As Rol reached the doorway, maidservant Pati called out after him.
Rol nodded. "Yes. The discovery of the Abyssal Aura is critical — I will need to conduct an analysis with the Arcane Association's professionals before drawing any conclusions."
Everyone followed Rol back toward the sitting room.
From the corner of his eye, Rol caught sight of Security Captain Grego standing at the corner of the corridor, beckoning to him.
"Miss Pati, if you'll excuse me for a moment."
With that, Rol strode quickly away.
Serela smiled graciously and picked up the thread: "Miss Pati, please take me and Anya to wait in the sitting room first — after all……we must wait for our leading man, Mr. Rol, to return before the final mystery can be revealed, mustn't we?"
Maidservant Pati nodded in assent and led the group back to the sitting room. Throughout, she did not say a word, her thoughts unknown.
"Grego, is everything arranged on your end?"
"Young Master Medillion……oh wait, Rol — the two Arcane Association personnel have been taken care of." Grego nearly said the wrong thing, but fortunately caught himself in time.
"Two?"
Grego glanced at him. "Indeed, two. I asked — one specializes in the circulation of Magic through the human body, and the other has considerable expertise in Abyssal research."
Upon hearing Grego's answer, Luo Nan's lips curved into a faint smile.
It seemed Serela was quite considerate — without him having to say a word, she had known to send along an additional specialist in Abyssal research.
Luo Nan felt the tacit understanding between the two of them was rather good — even if he wasn't entirely sure he wanted that kind of tacit understanding.
But one had to admit: if one could marry such a sharp-minded woman as Serela and bring her home as a wife, wouldn't all the household affairs be managed with impeccable precision?
‘Tsk tsk tsk — what am I thinking?’
A woman like Serela was not someone he could possibly keep in hand.
The moment he recalled Serela's true nature from his memories of his previous life, a chill ran down Luo Nan's spine.
Once this business was over, he absolutely had to put serious distance between himself and this dangerous woman!
Having reaffirmed his resolve, Luo Nan shifted back into his role as Rol once more.
After a brief moment's thought, he drew a bulging silk pouch from his pocket and handed it to Grego. "Grego, give this to the two Arcane Association experts and ask them to help with……"
Feeling the weight of the silk pouch in his hand, Grego's fingers moved of their own accord to fidget with the drawstring opening, as though on the verge of looking inside.
Luo Nan naturally read Grego's intent, and said offhandedly: "Grego, the unit won't go short of sponsorship after this is over. Get moving."
"Yes, Young Master Medillion!"
With Luo Nan's assurance, Grego's mood surged with excitement — so much so that he forgot entirely about maintaining his cover.
Fortunately, no one nearby had overheard their exchange.
Seeing Grego off, Luo Nan turned and walked back toward the sitting room.
"Today, this Young Master will personally catch that Mole with his own hands and let them have a good taste of the Medillion family's interrogation methods!"
……
"Mr. Rol, judging by your expression……have you reached a conclusion?"
Seeing Rol enter, Serela's exquisitely violet eyes studied him intently for a moment before she offered her opening observation.
He gave a nod. "Indeed — I have a general idea of who the Mole is."
With that, Rol looked toward the somewhat despondent little maidservant Aina and said with a smile: "Miss Aina, although I understand your concern for Luo Nan von Medillion……the person who currently bears the greatest suspicion is still you."
"It's Aina? That can't be — I feel like Aina is quite good, she doesn't seem like……"
When Rol announced his final prime suspect, Anya — who had been in a daze this entire time — spoke up, a rare occurrence.
"Oh? Miss Anya, why would you think that?" Rol countered.
"Because……because the few times I've come here before, it was always Aina who received me. I just feel……"
"Feel?" Rol narrowed his eyes, his voice carrying a distinctly sharp edge.
"Just……a feeling……" Anya's confidence instantly deflated, and she fell silent.
"Feelings cannot serve as evidence, Miss Anya," Rol pinched the bridge of his nose. "Only facts can determine a person's innocence."
"Please bring the Arcane Association's experts in. Right and wrong, true and false — let them be the judge."