'You're barely curious about that? In this situation?'
That was the case. What mattered to them was the fact that their guaranteed rest time was shrinking. I could not understand this. Although they were clearly senior maids of the same rank, they seemed to have absolutely no interest in Karen's fate.
"It doesn't matter if you go back. Those who want to stay can stay."
Although Eon said that, the senior maids standing in the front row began to scatter. The other maids glanced around cautiously and followed them. The researchers were already leaving by the time the victim was confirmed.
Soon, only Karen, Eon, and I were left in the hall.
'To think that no one remained by Karen's side.'
It was clear, as expected, that they didn't care whether Karen lived or died. Feeling too embarrassed to even look at her, I was just staring down at the floor when I heard a clear, ringing voice.
"I want to go to the exhibition hall."
It was a remark that anyone watching would think was about choosing a place to travel.
"You've wanted to go there for a while."
Eon answered nonchalantly again.
"As expected, Master, you remembered."
"That was all you wanted."
As I listened to the conversation between the two, my vision blurred again, and my stomach churned.
"May I go first?"
"It doesn't matter if you go first, but won't you watch the scapegoat's final journey?"
I met Karen's eyes. I tried to recall the evil things she had done to me.
'She snatched my hair in the snow just moments ago, and at the herbalist, if Mary hadn't come, who knows what she would have done with that sickle.'
All sorts of things came to mind, but my heart seemed to have lost all fear from that time. I felt nothing but guilt for pushing that helpless and foolish maid to her death.
"It's because I'm not that brazen."
Karen's voice was heard from behind as I turned around.
"Please come see me in the exhibition room later! I will be at the very back."
I walked quickly, as if being chased by that clear voice.
I felt like I was definitely going to have a nightmare tonight.
***
"Lord Karina, did you understand? Lord Karina?"
Captain Hanson of the Military Police's voice grew louder and louder until he finally let out a loud shout.
“Karina!”
"Huh? Yes. Did you call me?"
The captain let out a deep sigh and said.
"Surely you aren't still thinking about that missing persons case, are you? The evidence is unclear. It's not something the military police need to worry about."
"Captain! I'm telling you, they were all women with brown hair and green eyes."
"Take a walk around the streets of Baynan. Unless you are a noble, more than half the people have brown hair and green eyes!"
"But they all have brown hair..."
"Stop with that damn brown hair! Because of you, just looking at hair makes my stomach churn."
The captain's order was given to Karina, who was about to protest.
"Go out and help out with the patrol!"
Karina left the headquarters as if she were being chased out.
Karina couldn't face the Tower Master alone. To legally bring him to court, she needed at least the Captain's authority. However, just as it had been from the beginning, the Captain had no interest in this case.
He only got angry, saying that Karina was stirring up trouble for no reason.
'What on earth should I do about Lady Hyrn? I hope she got home safely the other day?'
The culprit behind the missing person case, which had remained a mystery, was confirmed, but there was nothing Karina could do.
'Should I meet that author, just like Lady Hyrn said?'
As the good plans she had envisioned crumbled one by one, the only card left was Rudis.
'She said his name was Rudis. Since there is a record of him entering Baynan, if I unleash my subordinates and search the hotel first...'
Just then, the voice that had been swirling in her head reached her ears.
“Sir Rudis!”
It was as if someone had read her mind. Only after looking around did Karina realize that she had already reached the middle of downtown Baynan.
To the west of the fountain stood Alexandra Bookstore, said to be the largest on the continent. Standing in this bustling place, the bookstore was the first thing to catch her eye because the name Rudis was heard coming from that direction.
'What?'
Karina walked toward that direction.
The bookstore was not small even when compared to the Jeantier boutique, and it stood a whopping three stories high. It was said that every book published on the continent was gathered here. Just passing by, it felt as if the scent of ink was wafting in.
However, now the place was filled with the scent of perfume instead of ink. It was because well-dressed young ladies were standing in a long line in front of the bookstore.
'I think I just heard the name, Rudis...'
"Kyaa, Rudis!"
She hadn't misheard. That cheer definitely came from inside Alexandra's Bookstore.
'What on earth is going on?'
Karina spoke to the woman wearing red fur.
“What’s going on?”
"You know there's Sir Rudis's autograph session, right?"
It was a tone that seemed to ask why she was asking the obvious.
"Sir Rudis..."
"You wouldn't say you don't know Sir Rudis, would you?"
The other person snapped at Karina's blank expression.
"Of course. I know him very well. A bestselling author..."
And he was the person Selinia had singled out as someone who could help her.
"What is it? Get in line. Don't even think about sneaking your way in."
"You look like a soldier, so you shouldn't be cutting in line."
A disgruntled protest came from the back. Karina went to the very back of the line, still wearing a blank expression.
'Is it a coincidence? Or did Miss Selinia know in advance that there was an autograph session?'
It felt as if the event had been prepared just for Karina. Being chased away to support the patrol team and ending up passing through this way were no mere coincidences. This was practically a heaven-sent opportunity.
"So you're saying I can meet Sir Rudis if I stand here?"
Karina got confirmation from the person in front that it was true.
'God is helping me.'
The reason Rudis had been excluded from the plan was that there was no way to meet him. Although he was a famous figure, it was not he, but his books, that were in Baynan. Since he did not have a mansion on this side, there was no way for a mere lieutenant to know the whereabouts of such a free-spirited writer.
Karina was filled with anticipation. She had long forgotten about the task Captain Hanson had assigned her. The other members would surely be able to handle that well. But for poor Selinia, Karina had no one but herself.
Furthermore, the brown-haired women who had disappeared were also found. The higher-ups had absolutely no interest in this case, but public opinion would change once a victim named Selinia appeared.
The line was long, but Karina was very patient. She could hear people complaining about their legs hurting, but standing was her specialty. Even if she had to wait another three, four, or even half a day, it wouldn't be a problem. It was just as she was happily watching the line shrink.
"Sorry..."
A man walking along the line with his head bowed caught her eye. Every time he passed, jeers and complaints erupted from all directions. The man silently endured the rebuke and walked toward where Karina was.
"I apologize. Please leave now."
"What does that mean?"
Karina snatched the man's sleeve and asked.
"That concludes today's autograph session."
"You're saying you're ending it suddenly?"
"We extended the time by an hour beyond the originally scheduled time. Too many people have flocked here, so we can't handle it any longer."
"Does that mean the rest of the people can't see Sir Rudis?"
“Yes.”
Karina still had some patience left. If another autograph session were held tomorrow or the day after, she was confident she would be waiting from dawn.
"Then when is the next autograph session?"
"There is no schedule yet."
Karina's patience snapped at that answer.
"I can't believe there's no schedule!"
Sensing something was amiss at Karina's shout, the man quickly corrected his answer.
"There will be another autograph session when the next book is published, so..."
"The next book? When is the next book coming out?"
"Well, well, Sir Rudis isn't exactly slow at house-hunting speeds... so...In about a year and a half..."
Before the man could even finish speaking, Karina ran to the front of the bookstore. A year was nonsense. She couldn't wait even a week, let alone a year. She had to meet Rudis immediately.
"Sir Rudis! Are you inside?"
Karina pushed her way through the crowd and entered the bookstore. The security guard tried to stop her, but he could do nothing to Karina, who was dressed in a military uniform and carrying a sword.
“What’s going on?”
"I must meet Sir Rudis."
"Today's autograph session is over."
"I know, but I didn't come to meet him as a fan; I came to ask for his cooperation as a Military Police Captain."
One of the hesitant guards spoke up.
"Sir Rudis has already left."
"Don't lie. I was outside."
"It's true. He went out the back door, not the front."
"Nack door?"
Karina's eyes sparkled. The back door of the bookstore led to a narrow alley where carriages could not pass. Unlike the sunny main street, the road was likely still frozen from the snow that had fallen a few days ago.
'There is a chance.'
Karina quickly exited through the back door. As expected, people's footsteps were slow due to the slippery road. However, things did not always go as planned.
'Who on earth is Rudis?'
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