Being accused of theft was something she had frequently experienced on the streets.

Back then, it wasn’t a problem because she could clearly see who had stolen something or where the nobles had hidden their belongings.

But now, Rodi couldn’t see anything suspicious like the poison vials and strange needles she had seen on the woman who had come up to the second floor or the suspicious number of weapons hidden in Assistant Percy’s pocket.

‘Still, I have to find it. I can’t cry.’

Rodi’s wavering gaze gradually became more composed.

***

Meanwhile, Horas, who had returned after arranging for Gemvil’s treatment, quickly reported to Eclise.

However, Eclise’s response to the report was:

“Leave it be.”

When Horas asked again, thinking he had misheard, Eclise gave the same answer.

“Leave it be. If there’s a culprit, we’ll catch them, and if someone’s been falsely accused, they should clear their own name. What’s the problem? Want to take the blame instead?”

“No, sir. Understood.”

“Just check on Gemvil’s condition.”

He wasn’t wrong.

Who had ever received such help here?

It’s just that Horas had naturally expected Eclise to take action since Rodi’s situation was somewhat special.

Horas hurriedly headed back to Gemvil.

***

In the end, after several rounds of searching, they couldn’t find the culprit.

Besides Rodi who had handed over the glass, there was no one carrying anything suspicious, nor any suspicious persons.

They had thoroughly searched everything, down to people’s hair.

They could have pressed harder, but as the staff’s suspicions increasingly focused on Rodi, they couldn’t keep everyone in the banquet hall any longer.

Ekision scratched his head in frustration.

“Oh dear.”

This is bad.

At this rate, Rodi won’t be able to avoid punishment.

Being expelled might even be the better outcome.

Dawn had already passed, and daylight was breaking.

Throughout the search, Rodi had been under Lexiard’s protection.

Though she participated in the search like other staff members, Lexiard’s black smoke had shielded her from the suspicious gazes of the staff.

Lexiard wanted to gouge out the eyes of the staff members who kept staring at them, but since Rodi was holding his hand so tightly, he focused all his energy on just staying by her side.

“For now, everyone returns and wait in the East Wing dormitory.”

“Yes.”

“Yes, understood.”

The staff members silently followed their guide and filed out in a group.

Now it was Rodi’s turn to move.

“Rodi will stay here with me.”

“Lord Lexiard.”

Ekision made a troubled face.

After all, Rodi was currently the most likely suspect.

“She didn’t do it. I’ll take responsibility myself with uncle.”

Lexiard insisted despite Ekision’s objection.

But Rodi, who had been gripping Lexiard’s hand tightly all this time, shook his hand.

“Rodi.”

“I want to go to the East Wing dormitory too.”

“It’s full of strangers there.”

“I’m a Cheiles just like them. I want to go.”

Lexiard frowned. His face showed he didn’t understand.

“Is that important?”

“Yes. I came here to become a Cheiles. And I didn’t do anything wrong.”

Ekision quietly watched them without intervening.

Rodi was clearly scared and confused.

But her eyes were determined.

While it seemed excessive treatment for a child, following protocol meant they couldn’t give Rodi special treatment.

Though it wouldn’t be difficult with Ekision’s authority…

Above all, Rodi didn’t want that.

When she herself was saying she was a Cheiles like her other colleagues, asking to be treated as such, they couldn’t break her strong resolve even if she was a child.

Lexiard, who had maintained a dissatisfied expression throughout, immediately grabbed Rodi’s arm with his other hand when she let go of his hand, making her hold his hand again.

When Rodi looked at him questioningly, Lexiard stood right beside her and said to Ekision.

“Then I’ll go too.”

“Why?”

“Then I’m the same too.”

Lexiard shrugged his shoulders. At his question “Is that okay?”, Ekision shook his head as if he couldn’t stop him.

Lexiard had no reason to stay here since if he caused trouble, he would be sent straight to Eclise.

He was staying solely because of Rodi.

While staying here was problematic, they couldn’t stop him from going along.

“This will be resolved soon. Rookie, just stay there for a bit.”

“Okay!”

At Rodi’s spirited response, Ekision briefly patted her head and escorted her to the East Wing dormitory.

Rodi, who had been taking bold steps, held back from clutching her stomach.

She felt like she might collapse at any moment from using her insight ability all night.

She hadn’t eaten anything since the banquet ended abruptly.

Even on the way to the East Wing, Rodi continued to strain herself using her ability to observe her surroundings.

Ekision and Lexiard, who knew the weakness of Rodi’s ability, noticed this and kept urging her to eat, but Rodi shook her head and refused until the end.

‘Brodi, hang in there.’

She had gone hungry for days before, so this kind of hunger was nothing.

An executive meeting was held at dawn.

Five executives gathered, excluding Gemvil who had collapsed.

Everyone was either sighing or lost in thought with their chins propped up.

Thanks to quick action, Gemvil’s life was safe, but the unease hadn’t lifted.

“…Should we do it like usual?”

Hailo spoke first.

“I can’t do it.”

She’s just too small to discipline.

After answering himself, he leaned back in his chair again, tilted his head back, and sighed.

He raised his head again and sat up.

“Then should we let it slide?”

He leaned back in his chair again.

“That won’t do either.”

“Lord Hailo, please stay still, you’re making me dizzy.”

At Padrid’s words, Hailo responded with a simple “Yeah,” unable to retort as usual.

“Phew.”

“Haah…”

“We thought things were peaceful lately.”

“We’ve completely lost our qualifications, haven’t we?”

“Didn’t expect someone so bold to strike twice in succession. And inside the main building at that.”

Everyone let out deep sighs again.

Only Jin remained frozen with a somewhat dazed, expressionless face.

But all the executives knew that this was Jin’s expression that only appeared when something truly serious happened.

“For now, the situation was certainly unfortunate. If we don’t catch them by tomorrow, we’ll have to issue disciplinary action. The easiest way would be expulsion. Even though we should punish everyone equally, she is still a child after all.”

Everyone nodded.

However, no one seemed satisfied, all wearing displeased expressions.

They had never felt this way when issuing disciplinary actions before, but now it felt like they were committing a great sin, like they were doing something terrible to a child.

“But the one disguised as Percy was practically caught by that kid.”

Horas casually brought up while massaging his neck.

Of course, while Horas and Ekision had noticed it beforehand, they could somehow push that angle.

Only those two had noticed anyway.

Ekision stayed quiet, seemingly thinking that might work.

“It could have been meant to divert both of your attention.”

Padrid said firmly.

Ekision pouted in response.

“The rookie ate the most at the banquet. Can’t we do something with that?”

“If it was a deception. Using a child as a decoy is quite common.”

“That’s true, but… The poison wasn’t something a child could withstand in the first place.”

“Yes, if the rookie had drunk it, it would have been lethal, not just paralyzing. If it had been a harder-to-obtain poison, it would have been easier to verify.”

The atmosphere in the meeting room grew even colder.

“Was there anyone suspicious?”

“Everyone was drinking and having fun, who would have been paying attention? The person who bumped into her is already receiving treatment because they weren’t feeling well.”

“This is frustrating. If it was just an incident among ourselves, we could let it slide as carelessness.”

After hearing Horas’s answer, Hailo leaned back in his chair again.

Usually, Hailo hated being summoned after work hours the most, but surprisingly today, he showed no such signs and remained focused on the meeting.

“I understand what you’re all saying. I don’t think it’s that either, but this is the current situation.”

Padrid was right.

That’s why everyone could only groan in frustration.

“Hmm, this is because of ‘that’, right?”