“So, did you come all this way today just to tell me that?”
“Yesterday, a young noblewoman with blond hair went missing. Her name is Rafi Violet. Daughter of Viscount Violet.”
“…”
“A missing person report was filed after she argued with her parents, ran out of the house, and failed to return. Some dismiss it as a simple runaway case, but I do not believe so.”
“Is that so?”
After replying, Rodi sank into thought.
‘Rafi Violet.’
She was definitely a character mentioned in the game.
A casual acquaintance of Simone’s, but merely one of the countless extras slaughtered by the killer.
‘Now what should I do?’
In a matter of days, the kidnapped Rafi Violet would be murdered.
‘I can’t just sit by and watch someone die when I know it’s coming.’
Right then, Likens asked,
“Do you have any inkling about this?”
“Why ask me such a thing?”
Rodi smiled faintly.
“I’m just an ordinary woman who knows nothing.”
“For some reason, I cannot shake the feeling that you know something.”
At those words, Rodi regarded him with a faint hint of vigilance in her gaze.
‘What is he thinking?’
She still hadn’t figured out what Likens thought of her.
‘Favorable feelings? Hostility? Or is he merely probing?’
Either way, she couldn’t disclose the source of her information, so she needed to tread carefully.
‘Likens has sharp instincts, and he never reveals his emotions, making him hard to read.’
“More importantly… my lord.”
Rodi smoothly shifted the subject.
“Do you have anyone in mind as the culprit?”
Likens fell silent for a moment, a contemplative look on his face.
“It seems I may be able to narrow down the pool of suspects.”
‘No way, already?’
Surprised, Rodi asked,
“How?”
“Digging further into the past, I examined twenty years of case records and found an incident that marked the turning point—the moment unsolved disappearances involving blonds began to spike.”
“What incident was that?”
“The death of my parents.”
“…You mean Young Duke Joen Magzeta.”
“Yes. Ever since then, the number of missing blonds has grown unnaturally high. What is more…”
“What is more?”
“My father had blond hair as well.”
Rodi was genuinely impressed, realizing he had arrived so close to the truth.
‘Incredible.’
Deducing this much from only the clues given couldn’t have been easy.
“Then perhaps the culprit is someone connected to Young Duke Joen back then.”
“Indeed. Though as of yet, I have found no additional connection beyond that…”
“Even that alone is a tremendous gain.”
Likens let out a heavy sigh.
“It is. For now, my priority is finding the missing Lady Rafi Violet, but…”
Having said his piece, Likens rose from his seat.
“If anything comes to your mind, I would appreciate you informing me at once.”
Rodi tilted her head.
“That sounds fine and all, but do you truly intend to believe what I say?”
“Hmm…”
Likens wore a subtle expression.
“To be honest, I am not certain. Right now, you feel… somewhat different from before.”
‘Sharp instincts indeed.’
Clicking her tongue inwardly, Rodi pressed on.
“Where exactly do you think I’ve changed?”
“Your conduct. You are no longer swayed by your own desires and emotions as you once were.”
He gazed at her intently.
“That is why I believe I can place a degree of trust in who you are now.”
It was an utterly unexpected reply.
‘Trust?’
To think she would ever hear that word come from his mouth.
Rodi wrestled with the thought.
‘What should I do?’
Staying idle like this wouldn’t solve a single problem.
‘Even if the odds are slim, should I just take a shot?’
“You…”
She spoke slowly.
“You kept saying you had a feeling I know something.”
“Yes.”
“In that case, would you…”
Even knowing it was a foolish request, she had no choice but to try.
“—allow me to accompany you on the investigation into Lady Rafi Violet’s disappearance as an advisor?”
“…!”
Likens’s eyes widened at the unexpected proposal.
“An advisor, you say…”
How much time had passed? Finally, he parted his heavy lips.
“Why do you wish to become an advisor?”
Likens looked at her with mild skepticism.
“This matter has nothing to do with you.”
“A person has died. And more might die still.”
“Yet the old you wouldn’t have cared.”
“Perhaps.”
His searching gaze swept over Rodi.
“What on earth caused you to change so drastically?”
The answer was simple.
“Freedom.”
“Freedom…? Not being cast out from your family?”
“Yes. The freedom to do whatever I please.”
Likens looked straight into Rodi’s eyes.
‘Those eyes again.’
Eyes that held the starlight of the night sky.
“However, you’re mistaken about something. I haven’t changed in the slightest.”
“…What do you mean?”
“I’m the exact same as before.”
The corner of her mouth curved upward.
“I never give up on what I want, I’m greedy, and I’m cunning.”
“…”
“It’s only the direction I channel it that has changed.”
Rodi gave a confident laugh.
“Right now, you have only two choices, my lord.”
“…And what are they?”
“Either dismiss my request as nonsense and ignore it completely, or…”
She extended her fair hand.
“Trust your instincts, take the hand of a ‘villainess,’ and capture the culprit.”
“…”
A curious expression crossed Likens’s face, as if something had just occurred to him.
At last, he spoke.
“…Very well.”
Slowly, he clasped Rodi’s hand.
“By my authority as knight commander, I shall issue you a temporary pass to the knight order.”
“…!”
“Can you report to the commander’s office starting tomorrow?”
A radiant smile bloomed across her face.
“Yes!”
✦ ✦ ✦
The following morning.
A woman appeared at the entrance of the Imperial Palace Knights’ headquarters.
The sentry guarding the entrance looked back and forth between the pass in his hand and the woman’s face.
“I-Is this genuine?”
At the foolish question, the woman replied with a cocked eyebrow,
“Well? Does it look fake to you?”
The sentry rubbed his eyes and peered intently at the pass once more.
…No matter which way he looked at it, it was an officially authorized pass.
“Y-You may enter.”
Taking back the pass handed over by the sentry, the woman asked,
“Where is the commander’s office?”
‘Don’t tell me this woman plans to see the commander?!’
“One cannot visit the commander without a prior appointment—”
“I already have one.”
The sentry hurriedly dispatched an attendant to check.
The report came back confirming an appointment.
“…Go straight, turn right, and enter through the gilded door.”
“Understood. Thank you.”
Offering a brisk reply, the woman strode past the sentry with an air of haughty elegance.
He stared blankly at her retreating figure. The hem of her black dress swayed with each step.
‘What on earth is happening?’
The sentry swallowed hard.
‘The infamous villainess, visiting the Imperial Palace Knights!’
Naturally unbothered by his reaction, Rodi walked proudly through the knights’ corridors.
Every knight passing by stopped in astonishment to gape at her.
“R-Rodi Evant?”
“Am I dreaming…?”
“How did that wicked woman get in here?”
Several knights bolted toward the commander’s office to report the intrusion to Likens.
“…”
Letting the whispering voices slip past her ears, Rodi stood before the commander’s office and knocked.
“Enter.”
When a grave voice rang out from beyond the door, she turned the knob.
Inside, the knights who had sprinted ahead were already voicing their protests.
“C-Commander! This makes no sense at all!”
“He is right! What possible help could a woman like that be in an investigation?!”
“This tarnishes the honor of our order!”
Listening to them, she found it utterly absurd.
“Good grief. An honor so fragile that a single woman can tarnish it?”
Rodi gave a wry smirk.
“Isn’t that an insult to the Imperial Palace Knights in itself?”
“…”
The knights glared at her. Paying them no heed, Rodi looked toward Likens.
“I’ve arrived, as promised.”
Likens nodded slowly.
“…Thank you for making the journey.”
Then, he turned his gaze upon the protesting knights.
“As I said just now, Miss Rodi here is a key collaborator in Lady Violet’s case. You will all cooperate with her to resolve this incident.”
“Commander—”
Likens cut them off with a sharp rebuke.
“I will brook no objections. That is all.”
“…”
The knights fell silent, their expressions deeply disgruntled.
“Well then.”
Rodi looked at them.
“My name is Rodi, and I will be working with you for the time being.”
Her crimson lips curled into a smile.
“I look forward to working with everyone.”
