The low hum of incantations filled the chamber, ancient words echoing off the stone walls.
A blue mist rose, coiling around the lotus hairpin and the ruby bracelet-sealing them within its grasp like a closed box.
The Imperial mage reached for the vial of blood Nolan had provided.
He uncorked it and poured the contents over the mist-wrapped objects.
"Detege utrum eius cuius sanguis funditur res tetigerit necne."
"The one whose blood it is, has she touched the ornaments?"
The ancient words flowed from his lips.
At once, the blue mist shifted-darkening into a deep red.
It writhed, then coiled upward around the mage's waist before rising higher-
shaping itself into something almost sentient.
Like a mouth.
It leaned close.
And whispered into his ear in the ancient tongue of magic-
"Cuius sanguis adhibetur numquam fibulam capillorum tetigit... armilla tetigit."
"The accused person has not touched the hairpin...but has touched the bracelet."
The mage's expression remained unchanged.
After a moment, he tipped the vial again, letting the final drops fall into the red mist.
The shape unraveled instantly, retreating back toward the objects before dissolving into nothingness.
Silence followed.
The mage stepped forward, picking up the hairpin and bracelet.
He dipped them once into a basin of holy water-
then turned and walked toward the door.
The doors opened.
The mage stepped out and bowed.
"Your Grace, the results are ready."
Nolan, who had been waiting outside, turned toward him and gave a brief nod.
"The result?" he asked, extending his hand.
The Empress had instructed him to present the request as his own.
A wise decision.
If word spread that she had ordered a second investigation, the nobles would be quick to whisper-questioning her trust in him.
Not that it mattered.
He had already intended to request the presence detection himself.
Marceline's words had lingered.
If even the victim doubted the conclusion-
then something was wrong.
Still... there were two things that unsettled him.
The first-
that the Empress had listened to a Flower Maiden so readily.
The second-
that the Flower Maiden in question knew of such a method at all.
Finding a book in the Imperial library was one thing.
Understanding it well enough to suggest it so precisely?
That was another.
Zarah...
She was no ordinary girl.
From the moment he had sensed her aura, he had known she carried the blood of the Zepher family.
Perhaps it was no surprise she was... exceptional.
His thoughts were cut short as the mage placed the hairpin and bracelet into his palm.
"The accused has not touched the hairpin," the mage said calmly.
"But she has touched the bracelet."
Nolan's expression did not change-but his fingers tightened slightly around the objects.
"I see."
So-
the previous evidence had indeed been tampered with.
"Thank you for your work, Lord Zubin," he said.
The mage bowed.
"It is my honor to serve the crown, Your Grace. Though... regarding compensation..."
Nolan exhaled quietly.
Subtle.
Very subtle.
He reached into his coat and withdrew a small pouch of gold, placing it into the mage's waiting hand.
"For your service-and your discretion."
The mage's bow deepened immediately.
"You are most generous, Your Grace."
With that, he stepped back inside, the doors closing behind him once more.
Silence returned to the corridor.
Nolan glanced down at the objects in his hand.
Hairpin-untouched.
Bracelet-handled.
A contradiction.
Or something far more deliberate.
He sighed, turning toward the Empress's study.
There were... developments to report.
And perhaps-
questions that needed better answers.
"I'm glad Lady Iris and Lady Zarah thought of me when deciding to visit Lady Celine," Marceline said as she led them down the spiral staircase toward the Imperial prison.
"It's because Lady Peirce is someone we can trust," Zarah replied with a polite smile.
Marceline waved a hand dismissively.
"I could tell from your expressions alone that you were dissatisfied with the investigation," she said lightly. "Wanting to visit Lady Celine only confirms it."
Zarah hesitated, glancing briefly at Iris before answering carefully,
"We are in no position to question Duke Zepher's investigation... however, we find it difficult to believe that someone like Celine would resort to such actions."
Iris nodded.
"We've grown up together. We know her well enough to say that much. We only wish to speak with her once-perhaps then we can better understand what truly happened."
Unspoken between them-
Celine would never do anything that might make her appear inferior to them.
Marceline hummed thoughtfully as they reached the bottom of the staircase.
She took a lit torch from the wall and continued forward, the dim light casting long shadows along the corridor. Iris and Zarah followed close behind.
"I understand your reasoning," Marceline said, glancing back at them. "But I believe you misunderstood me."
The two girls looked at her.
"What I meant was this-" she continued, a faint smile forming, "it was wise of you to come to me instead of a maid, a guard... or anyone else."
Her gaze sharpened slightly.
"In this palace, rumors don't need much to take root."
She turned forward again, her smile lingering.
Zarah absorbed Marceline's words, her expression turning thoughtful.
Marceline slowed to a stop in front of a barred cell.
"We're here," she said, lifting the torch.
The flickering light spilled inside-
revealing a girl hunched on the ground, whispering prayers under her breath.
At the sound of Marceline's voice, Celine looked up.
Her tear-streaked face caught the light.
Her eyes widened.
"Iris...? Zarah...?"
The names left her lips in a broken whisper.
Her fingers tightened on the cold floor.
Disbelief flooded her chest.
What were they doing here?
...Had they come because they believed her?
No.
That couldn't be.
She had wronged them too many times.
Why would they stand by her now?
Her breath hitched.
They were probably here to mock her.
Just like Melody.
A choked laugh escaped her, uneven and hollow, as her head dropped back to the ground.
Of course.
This-
this crushing loneliness-
was nothing more than the consequence of her own actions.
Zarah and Iris froze as they took in Celine's state.
Iris stepped forward, her expression softening.
"Celine... don't cry. It's going to-"
She was cut off.
Celine looked up sharply and scoffed.
"What's it to you?" she snapped. "You're here to mock me, aren't you? Go ahead."
Her voice was sharp-
but her heart trembled with something far more fragile.
Hope.
And hope... only made the fall worse.
So she clung to her pride instead.
Iris frowned, irritation flashing across her face.
"What are you even saying?" she shot back. "Why would we come all this way just to mock you?"
"Because someone already did."
Zarah stepped forward, her gaze steady on Celine.
"Melody visited you, didn't she?"
Celine's fists tightened against the floor.
Her teeth clenched.
"So she mocked me first... and now it's your turn?" she said, her voice cracking despite herself. "Are you taking turns?"
Tears streamed down her face.
Of course.
Melody had said it.
Even if Melody and Zarah weren't close-
she had never openly harmed Zarah before.
So naturally...
they must be on the same side.
Together.
Laughing at her.
She deserved it.
She knew she did.
But this time-
this time she hadn't done anything.
So why-
"No," Zarah said firmly, her voice cutting through the spiral.
"We're not here to mock you."
She glanced at Iris.
Iris nodded, her tone softening again.
"We're here because we don't believe you did it," she said. "And to tell you that another investigation is being conducted."
Marceline, who had been quietly observing, looked away.
The dynamics between these Flower Maidens were... intricate.
But for now, she chose to turn a blind eye-and a deaf ear.
Even an accused criminal deserved a moment of dignity.
"Another... investigation?" Celine asked, her eyes widening.
Hope flickered-fragile and uncertain.
She stepped forward, gripping the cold bars of her cell.
"Are you sure?" she whispered. "Or are you just giving me false hope?"
Her voice cracked.
Her fingers trembled.
Iris's breath caught at the sight.
She reached forward, gently taking Celine's hand in hers.
Zarah's gaze softened as she placed a light, reassuring touch on Celine's other hand.
"I'm not lying," Zarah said quietly, offering a small smile. "Didn't they take your blood this morning?"
Celine didn't pull away this time.
Instead-
she stilled.
A realization crept in.
The warmth of the hands holding hers...
was softer than she remembered.
Kinder.
More real.
Than the touch of the person she had once called her closest friend.
A tear slipped down her cheek.
...She had truly made a mess of things, hadn't she?
"Blood... collection?" she asked, her voice unsteady. "Wasn't that for a medical test... before sending me back to the brothel?"
"What?" Iris blurted, startled.
"No?" Zarah frowned. "That was for-"
"For medical purposes."
Marceline's voice cut in-calm, firm, and final.
Both girls fell silent, their words dying in their mouths.
She cast them a brief, pointed look.
'Don't.'
Her gaze returned to Celine, her expression composed.
"It was merely a medical examination," she said smoothly. "You need not concern yourself with anything else."
A pause.
"Rest assured, Lady Celine-an investigation is underway."
Her tone softened just slightly.
"And if you are innocent... justice will be served."