CICN 21

Chapter 21

After leaving the museum, the students split into two large groups and entered different buildings within the royal palace.

Since people were working inside and loud noises would be disruptive, the groups were divided to better manage them.

While following a staff member’s explanation, a friend approached Limora and whispered a question.

“Limora? How did it go?”

Limora glanced at the staff member in front of them.

Thankfully, he didn’t seem to be paying attention to their side.

Lowering her voice, Limora replied, “She was so dumb, she didn’t even realize the door was closing because she was too busy staring at the painting.”

She shrugged her shoulders as she spoke.

“Poor thing. Wandering around alone, getting locked in because someone closed the door on her… and she didn’t even have a single friend to notice.”

Her friend’s face briefly twisted in discomfort at Limora’s words, but she quickly composed herself.

While noble students tried to get close to Irene Terrence, commoner students tended to orbit around Limora.

Even though she was a commoner, her family had produced many respected scholars in the capital, giving them a degree of prestige.

That’s why, aside from Arcel, the genius, everyone had expected Limora to place second during the entrance exams.

Pretending nothing’s wrong, huh? her friend thought with a slight cluck of the tongue.

In front of others, she praised Evie, saying she was amazing and admirable, acting all sweet…

But deep down, all she ever wanted was to push Evie down and rise above her.

Her friend had suspected Limora would try something—but to go so far as to lock the girl up alone?

Earlier, when Limora had said she’d get back at Evie, her friend had considered stepping in and stopping her, knowing Limora had no limits… but she’d stayed silent.

There was nothing to gain from getting on Limora’s bad side.

Watching her hum happily to herself, her friend quietly returned to her place.

Well, it’s the royal palace. Nothing serious will happen.

At most, she’d be locked in there for a few hours until someone found her.

Maybe a passing staff member had already discovered her and let her out.

If it’s just that, it’s nothing serious.

If there had been any risk to Evie’s health, even Limora wouldn’t have gone that far. If things escalated and someone witnessed it, only Limora would get in trouble.

But judging from Limora’s attitude, it doesn’t look like she got caught.

In that case, it was better to keep her mouth shut.

So, as the students continued to move through the palace, no one noticed Evie had gone missing.

Thud! Thud! Thud!

Evie raised her hand and pounded on the door.

She had done it so many times that her small fist was red and swollen.

“Is anyone out there? Please open the door!”

She shouted toward the outside, refusing to give up.

But no reply came.

They said this area hasn’t officially opened yet.

So when she had entered with the academy staff, there had only been someone stationed at the entrance.

There were plenty of museum employees near the gemstone section, but none in the portrait gallery.

No wonder no one heard her banging.

Evie blew warm air on her swollen hands.

It seemed pointless to keep knocking.

Eventually, she crouched down in front of the door.

Why did the door close?

When she came in, it had been wide open.

And if someone had tried to close it, they would’ve looked inside at least once—they couldn’t have missed her standing right in the middle.

That meant someone had closed it on purpose to trap her inside?

She remembered the cold stares from some of the students. Could it have been one of them?

Evie shook her head.

No. Don’t think bad thoughts.

It had already happened. Worrying about it wouldn’t change anything—it would only make her feel worse.

The Headmaster always says to think about what to do next in situations like this.

Recalling that advice, Evie reviewed the day’s schedule.

They were supposed to tour various parts of the palace until quite late.

Since there hadn’t been any roll calls along the way, they would probably only count the students right before returning to the academy—or maybe once they arrived.

They’ll realize I’m missing then.

Suddenly, a wave of anxiety washed over her. What if they didn’t check then either?

In that case, the only person who might notice her absence would be her roommate, Irene…

Will she even notice I’m gone?

Irene was always surrounded by other students, looking busy.

And once she returned to the dorm, she usually went straight into her own room.

It didn’t seem likely she’d notice Evie wasn’t there.

“Hmm…”

Evie’s expression grew more serious.

It might take a lot longer than she thought for anyone to realize she was missing.

But no matter what, someone will notice by tomorrow morning.

That’s when orientation for the classrooms and lessons would start.

Those had assigned times and places, so if she didn’t show up, someone would come looking.

Then what should I do until then?

Evie opened the bag slung over her shoulder.

She had grabbed a few cookies from the palace dining hall after lunch.

And I’ve got two candies too.

That should be more than enough to hold her over until morning.

“I’ll be fine! I once survived for a week with just water!”

Evie clenched her tiny fist with confidence.

She remembered the days before she entered the orphanage, when she lived doing odd jobs at an inn.

Before the Headmaster had rescued her, life had been incredibly hard.

Compared to that, going hungry for a day was nothing. And she wasn’t even really hungry—she had cookies and candy!

With the food situation under control, Evie looked around again.

If she had to stay the night here, she needed somewhere to sit or lie down.

The marble floor is beautiful, but it’s way too cold.

Luckily, in one corner, there was a long wooden bench for visitors. It was much better than the floor when she climbed onto it.

Still, “better than the floor” didn’t mean “comfortable.”

If I stay here too long, my body will hurt.

She knew that well from experience—falling asleep in cold, hard places as a child had always made her body ache terribly.

Getting off the bench, she began exploring the gallery.

She found a cabinet in one corner and opened its drawers.

Inside, neatly folded, was a large cloth—probably used to cover the paintings.

Evie pulled it out and unfolded it. It was thick and scratchy, but better than nothing.

Climbing back onto the bench, she curled up and draped the cloth over herself.

By now, the portrait room had grown even darker.

Evie sat beneath the cloth and looked around.

Strangely, though the gallery darkened, the faces in the portraits seemed even more vivid.

“At night, the people in the paintings come out and walk around. And if they meet a living person… WAAAH!”

She remembered the ghost stories the other kids used to tell at the orphanage before bed.

Back then, she had screamed and hid under the covers.

…I’m not scared. I’m really not scared…

She was alone in a strange place, without even friends around—but she didn’t feel afraid.

And she knew why.

The portrait that had captivated her from the first moment.

Evie turned to face it directly.

The woman in the painting still wore the same soft smile as when she first saw her.

With a wistful voice, Evie murmured, “I wish you could really come out of the painting…”

Then she could say hello. Maybe even have a conversation.

In the ghost stories, people in paintings would come out and haunt the living.

But this woman in the portrait would never do that.

If anything, if she came out, she’d probably smile and greet her kindly… maybe even talk to her gently.

Evie once again fixed her gaze on the portrait.

She had only seen it for the first time today, yet it felt like meeting someone deeply missed.

Then she remembered when she had felt something similar.

When was it…?

It was recent…

“Ah!”

Suddenly, she exclaimed aloud.

She remembered—it was when she met Professor Sian.

She had felt the same way at that grave.

Though the gallery had no windows except high above and the door was firmly shut, she suddenly felt a warm breeze brush past her hair.

Smiling, Evie faced the painting again.

Until someone came to find her, she didn’t think she’d be scared at all.

Night had fully fallen by the time the tour ended.

The students, once scattered in separate groups, now gathered in the academy plaza.

Chatting with friends who had gone on different routes, everyone was preparing to return to the dorms when—

“Excuse me!”

A panicked voice called out to an academy staff member.

“My roommate is missing!”