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Chapter: 14
It was a question she had expected.
Lynette composed herself and put on a calm, untroubled smile.
“I told you already. Françoise ran away, so I went to look for her.”
“Ah, Françoise.”
“Thanks to you, she was rescued safely.”
“…….”
Lynette reinforced the smile on her face.
Of course, she didn’t expect him to let it go so easily.
“Hm. Not much time has passed, yet your memory and mine differ quite a bit. As I recall, that fellow played a rather significant role in your safe return.”
Derbel glanced at the sleeping Françoise.
“I remember that pig-like creature committing acts worthy of a demon beast.”
“Oh, come on. All he did was breathe a little fire. Everyone has at least that much individuality.”
“Ah. Individuality.”
Derbel let out a dry chuckle.
“So breathing fire counts as personality now.”
“Of course.”
Lynette gazed at the sleeping Françoise with eyes full of affection.
“That’s something only our Françoise can do. How many adorable baby pigs with such a talent do you think exist?”
“You seem to possess a truly unique perspective, Princess.”
“I’ll take that as a compliment.”
Lynette responded without backing down, her smile bright and unwavering.
“…….”
“…….”
A cold silence settled between them.
Though faint smiles lingered on their lips, their gazes were sharper than ever.
“Just in case you’re wondering—it wasn’t me.”
“…I haven’t said anything.”
“You might be suspecting me. That it was all a setup.”
“It is a situation that warrants suspicion.”
Derbel smirked, relaxing his posture as he leaned back in his chair.
“I’m not an idiot. I know you’re not the type to gamble your life just to orchestrate something. That said, I don’t believe for a second that you went to the archives to find that pig.”
“So you still think I was scheming.”
“…….”
He offered no reply, merely twisting his lips into a crooked smile that said of course.
What an unpleasant-looking grin, Lynette thought.
She smiled sweetly as she hopped down from his desk.
“Well then, if there’s nothing else, I’ll be going.”
He didn’t try to stop her.
Cradling the deeply sleeping baby pig and mouse in her arms, she headed for the door.
Then, as if something suddenly occurred to her, she turned back toward Derbel.
“Thank you for saving us, Duke. I truly mean that.”
Lynette dipped her head slightly in gratitude and left the room.
Click. Click.
Her clear footsteps echoed through the duke’s corridors.
As Lynette rounded a corner—far enough that the duke’s office was no longer in sight—she parted her small, soft lips and whispered,
“Gregorian, did you find it?”
The gray mouse, who had been pretending to sleep until now, sprang upright, black eyes gleaming.
[There were no noteworthy items. No hidden spaces behind the bookshelves either.]
“No secret vaults?”
[None.]
“Hm.”
Lynette sank into thought.
Where on earth could it be? He must have it.
[Did you find nothing either, Princess?]
“No. The drawers were locked, and nothing was left out. Does he suffer from some kind of obsessive cleanliness? Not a thing out of place.”
She had searched not only Derbel’s desk, but also the aide’s desk and even the table used for meetings—yet found nothing.
It was fortunate she had given up quickly and sat on the sofa. Otherwise, she might not have returned in time before Derbel came back.
“So where do we search next? Where should we dig…?”
The archives were in chaos, and the office held no clues. That left only one place.
The bedroom.
But finding a way in was another matter entirely.
Then, a sudden thought stopped Lynette in her tracks.
“…Maybe it isn’t hidden at all.”
[…Pardon? What do you mean by that?]
“People of the Empire don’t know about the Star of Fortune. They wouldn’t even know what it looks like.”
[That is true…]
“Wouldn’t that include the duke as well? Has he ever actually seen the Star of Fortune?”
[…Highly unlikely. There are no records of the ‘star’ appearing in the world since the legend.]
“Exactly.”
Lynette resumed walking.
“Then there’s a good chance he has it without knowing what it really is—just as an heirloom passed down through the family.”
[You mean in the treasure vault, or his personal quarters?]
“Right. And I already know it’s not in the vault.”
When she had been left alone to handle affairs in the duke’s estate, the first place she searched was the treasure vault.
And the sheer emptiness of it—unbefitting of a ducal household—had left her stunned. That was when she realized just how strained the finances of House Criscian truly were.
Which meant the only remaining place was his private quarters.
His bedroom.
But—
“Searching his bedroom really doesn’t sit well with me.”
[You intend to search it anyway?]
“Isn’t it a bit improper for me to go in there?”
It was one of the places she absolutely never wanted to step into.
After a brief moment of hesitation, Lynette made up her mind.
It was something she never wanted to ask of a small, fragile mouse—but she couldn’t think of any other way.
“Gregorian. Could you search it for me?”
[The duke’s bedroom?]
“I know it’s dangerous. But in Aster, there’s no one who can move around as freely as you. I think you’re the only one who can do this.”
[Something only I can do…]
When Lynette looked at him with an apologetic expression, Gregorian straightened his back.
[Do not worry, Princess! There is nowhere in Aster Castle that I cannot go! I will find a clue for you—without fail!]
“Good. If it’s dangerous, run. And if Derbel catches you, blame me. Understood?”
[That brute is too stupid to understand me anyway.]
At Gregorian’s crooked remark, Lynette’s smile deepened.
“You’re right. Would he even understand our Gregorian’s words? There’s no one as smart as you.”
She reached out and gently stroked the mouse’s head.
“This is the last place left. I’m counting on you, my adorable Gregorian.”
[Leave it to me! I will succeed!]
Gregorian thumped his chest confidently.
“Not a single trace was left behind.”
Derbel spoke with a deep frown creasing his handsome brow.
“A demon beast appeared, and yet nothing was found? Does that make any sense?”
“We find it just as implausible, Your Grace. But there truly was nothing. Not even the distinctive magical residue unique to Malpus.”
Derbel examined the report Evan had submitted, his expression grave.
No magical residue.
That was impossible.
Demon beasts were creatures of the demon realm. They always left behind their own unique traces.
These were broadly referred to as magic or magical residue, but they were fundamentally different from those left by human mages.
“As it happens, the mages who remained behind to handle the post-subjugation procedures all returned this morning. We had them verify it as well—there were still no traces.”
“Then they didn’t enter through a normal route.”
“Yes.”
That was right. There was no way.
When it came to demon beast incursions, Aster was impregnable.
Derbel had poured obsessive amounts of effort into Aster’s defenses.
Having fought demon beasts himself, he knew better than anyone how terrifying they were—and that made him all the more thorough.
Despite the family’s strained finances, he had funneled every last coin into fortifying House Criscian.
And yet, a demon beast had appeared in the very heart of Aster—and the princess had nearly been harmed.
That alone dealt a severe blow to his pride.
But now they claimed there were no magical traces.
Which meant—
“Evan.”
After organizing his thoughts, Derbel called to his aide.
Seeing the cold light settle in Derbel’s vivid blue eyes, Evan dismissed everyone else. Only the two of them remained in the office.
“Yes, Your Grace.”
“Were there any traces of holy power left behind?”
At Derbel’s question, Evan’s face stiffened.
“…Are you suspecting the Princess?”
