Chapter 16: Aftermath
Just as Meredia climbed into the carriage behind Whitney and caught sight of the Prince and his fiancée, bound with ropes and kidnapped, her expression froze in horrified shock.
Even once the situation had been somewhat cleaned up, a heavy, unsettled air still lingered at the scene.
“I think the investigation can wrap up here. You're free to leave for today.”
“Hey, have you made any progress on tracking down Hestia Chester?”
“...I can't share the details, but as of now, all I can say is that the outlook is grim.”
To be more specific, the moment the knights arrived, the complaints and unease of the guests—who had been left in discomfort for far too long—had reached a boiling point.
“Is that so? Thank you for your efforts.”
“Just hearing that is appreciated.”
But unlike the others who had been effectively excluded from the investigation due to reasons similar to Meredia’s, Maier Embergreen managed to show the investigator a cordial smile before turning his back and leaving the engagement hall.
“...Damn it.”
However, as he returned to the carriage he had arrived in, his expression—unlike the composed face he had shown the investigator—was twisted with anxiety and frustration.
‘How the hell did things end up like this?’