“Nadia, have you seen Martina?”
After finishing his dinner in the officers’ dormitory dining hall, Roland furrowed his brow as he spoke to Nadia.
“I haven’t seen her. Actually, I’ve been searching for her since earlier…”
Roland and Nadia were both becoming anxious. It was after work hours, and Martina hadn’t returned to the administrative department, nor had she come back to the dormitory. By the time dinner was ending, there was still no sign of her.
“I see. It’s hard to believe that the investigation team’s meeting is still going on, right?”
“That’s hard to believe… The workday is already over, so if it were still ongoing, they would have postponed it until tomorrow.”
“Right. So, if the meeting is already over, that means Martina hasn’t returned yet.”
“—I’ll check Martina’s private room once more.”
They split up to search the dormitory, but Martina was nowhere to be found. The two of them decided to head to the room where the investigation team’s meeting had been held.
With the tension of possibly something happening to Martina, they walked quickly, speaking little, and arrived at the room… but found it empty.
“Is this the right place?”
“Yes, the department head said Martina was directed to this room.”
“Then it means the meeting must already be over. Could something have happened to her afterward…?”
At Nadia’s muttered words, a tense atmosphere settled between them.
“Although commoners’ status has improved in recent years, there are still noble families who oppose it…”
“My father is a prime example of that.”
“Do you think Martina might have been targeted by someone from one of those families?”
When Roland asked, Nadia, with a furrowed brow, stared into space for a moment before slowly shaking her head.
“I think the likelihood is low. Martina, having earned the Emperor’s recognition through her recent achievements, is not someone who would be targeted like that. People like my father fear being abandoned by the Emperor.”
Those who advocate for aristocracy tend to behave arrogantly in private, but they maintain a good outward appearance.
“I see… So where could Martina have gone? If she’s just working somewhere else after the meeting, that’s fine, but…”
“Who attended the meeting? If we can ask someone who was there, we might be able to track her whereabouts.”
“That’s true. I don’t know who else was there, but Lord Lambert should have attended. He was the one leading the operation at the scene yesterday.”
“Then let’s head to the knights’ barracks. If she’s not there, we’ll try the knights’ dormitory.”
As they hurried to the knights’ barracks, they were fortunate to find the building still lit. They entered and spoke to a passing knight, asking him to call for Lambert.
“The commander will be down in a few minutes.”
“Thank you. We’ll wait here.”
Since it was Roland’s first time at the knights’ barracks at night, both he and Nadia felt uneasy and fidgeted as they waited. Shortly after, Lambert appeared, looking puzzled as he descended the stairs.
“Roland, and you are…?”
“I’m Nadia, an official from the Administrative Department.”
“Nadia, huh. Why are you two here?”
“We actually have something we’d like to ask you. Do you happen to know where Martina is?”
Upon hearing this, Lambert furrowed his brow and looked confused. He lowered his voice slightly and spoke.
“…She hasn’t returned?”
“No, not to the administrative department or the dormitory.”
“I see… The meeting didn’t take long, but after that, Martina was taken somewhere by Lord Laforet. I think it was probably his study.”
Nadia’s expression brightened upon hearing Martina’s whereabouts, but Roland, in contrast, nodded ambiguously, as though not entirely convinced.
“I see… You mean Lord Odilon Laforet, the historian, right?”
“Yes, he’s participating in this investigation.”
“…Understood. Thank you. We’ll head to Lord Laforet’s study.”
“Ah, should I come with you?”
“No, we don’t want to trouble you, Lord Lambert. If we find her, we’ll contact you.”
“Understood. I’m counting on you.”
With the information from Lambert, Roland and Nadia left the knights’ barracks and hurried back through the palace corridors toward the area where the research rooms were located.
“This is where the research rooms are…”
“We don’t come here often, but it’s good to know. But, even so, the hallway is so dark.”
“The air isn’t great either.”
The two of them unconsciously grimaced at the musty air and dimness, characteristic of a place where research rooms were clustered together.
This area housed valuable historical materials, which were kept dry to prevent deterioration. To keep the humidity out, the windows were rarely opened, which contributed to the dusty atmosphere.
“Lord Laforet’s study is… over there.”
When Roland pointed to a heavy door, the two of them exchanged looks before nervously knocking on the door.
