.jpg)
He moved his lips as if trying to say something several times, but eventually closed them.
Reading the hesitation in Darian's attitude, Peony asked again.
"What's going on that makes you look so complicated?"
"Ah..."
Darian paused, then raised his head again to meet Peony's gaze.
After a moment, as if he had sorted out his thoughts to some extent, he carefully opened his mouth.
"Actually, not being able to keep my promise... I've been bothered by this, so I looked into how the investigation is progressing."
"And?"
"...Right now, the Magic Tower isn't even securing evidence, let alone properly organizing an investigation team. It's as if they're trying to cover up the incident as it is."
"..."
Seeing Peony's serious expression, Darian closed his mouth, looking bitter.
Lately, he couldn't shake the feeling that his mother was involved in all of this.
It was his mother who canceled the scheduled events and recommended attending the Subjugation Contest, and it was also her who ordered the investigation to be stopped after the accident occurred.
Moreover, the way she warned him by mentioning Peony and Adolf to persuade him was not like his usual mother at all.
After sleepless nights, he couldn't bear the guilt and impulsively came to see Peony.
"I'm sorry, Peony. Please tell your friend that I'm really sorry for not keeping my promise."
Despite Darian's repeated apologies, Peony's reaction remained calm.
In fact, she was slightly surprised inside. Hearing Darian's story reminded her of what Ayla had said a while ago.
When the investigation first started, she believed that the culprit would soon be revealed and receive due punishment.
However, unlike Peony, who was full of expectations, Ayla's reaction was indifferent.
"Don't get your hopes up too high, Peony."
At the time, she didn't understand why Ayla said that. But now she felt like she knew.
'It really turned out as Ayla said... Far from revealing the culprit, the investigation is likely to end vaguely.'
Perhaps Ayla had predicted from the beginning that things would turn out this way?
Peony opened her mouth, feeling frustrated.
"But it's obvious to anyone that there's a culprit. Monsters moving in groups and attacking only one person...!"
"I think so too, but the victim isn't a noble, and... there were no casualties, so it seems the seriousness of the matter hasn't been properly conveyed."
Darian added various excuses, but Peony didn't hear them well.
Of course, she knew. She knew that blaming him now wouldn't change anything.
Rather, she was grateful that he came to explain the situation in person.
Peony gave a hollow laugh and rubbed her face with her dry hands.
'I have no power, so I can only be taken advantage of like this... I feel so sorry for Ayla.'
Her head throbbed, but she couldn't miss the opportunity to punish Rosia and Freya like this.
Peony forced herself to calm down and barely opened her mouth.
"I understand. It's not your fault anyway... I'll explain it well to my friends."
"...Thank you for understanding."
Darian lowered his gaze, looking apologetic.
Peony carefully added to him.
"And... since you came all the way here, can I ask you for a favor?"
"A favor?"
"Yes, it's a bit unfair to just let it go like this. Just hand over the data you collected when you started the investigation."
At his sister's request, Darian opened his mouth blankly.
"Are you going to find the culprit yourself? But... wouldn't it be dangerous?"
"If we cover up the incident and move on like this, similar things will happen again later. That's more dangerous."
Peony pouted and asked again.
"So, are you going to help or not?"
Darian hesitated for a moment, then quietly nodded.
If a fair investigation couldn't be expected anyway, he thought that handing over the data wasn't a big deal.
Above all, he wanted to help them in this way.
"Okay, I still have the original copies of the data I handed over to the Magic Tower, so I'll give them all to you."
"Thank you."
"Oh, the monster carcass that Ayla asked to keep as evidence is still in storage. Do you want to take that too? The Magic Tower said they didn't need it and didn't take it."
"They didn't even receive the evidence? That's a blatant display that they have no intention of investigating."
"That's what bothered me, so I looked into it separately. But that doesn't mean I can do anything differently now..."
"..."
Seeing Darian's bitter expression, Peony's heart became even more complicated.
She could feel that he was genuinely worried about her friends' affairs.
In fact, this incident was clearly not Darian's fault. He couldn't disobey the Emperor's orders and force the investigation.
Nevertheless, he was bothered by the fact that he had not fulfilled his responsibility, so he came to see Peony in person to apologize and even promised to help.
'When I see him like this, Darian is really like someone who doesn't know anything.'
Was his long-ago promise to become an Emperor for everyone really sincere?
Darian smiled faintly and said.
"I'm glad you seem to be doing well. I'll be on my way now."
With those words, he quietly got up from his seat.
Peony hesitated for a moment, then carefully asked.
"Perhaps... did you come because you were worried about the victims being my friends?"
Darian stopped walking and slowly turned to look at her.
Soon, he shook his head firmly.
"I would have acted the same no matter who the other party was. It's definitely not because of you."
It was a very Darian-like answer.
A person who is just, good, and cannot pass by injustice.
It was the same as the figure she used to believe in and follow.
Before that familiar figure, the corners of Peony's lips trembled slightly.
What kind of person is Darian really? Even she herself couldn't be sure anymore.
'...Really, is my brother the culprit who tried to kill me?'
Only the desire that it wasn't so kept lingering in her heart.
The front gate of Riod Academy, which was usually deserted, began to bustle with people on the holiday.
Among the many people coming and going, including those who came to see students staying in the dormitory and those who were going out.
A particularly eye-catching, luxurious carriage quietly entered through the front gate.
The students who checked the crest engraved on the carriage began to whisper quietly.
"Isn't that the Argenta family's carriage?"
"Then are all those knights riding on the horses members of the Kistar Knights?"
As the crowd grew, people's attention focused on the Duke Argenta's carriage.
Even though most of the students gathered here were from noble families, they had no choice but to hold their breath before the prestige of the Argenta family.
It was then. When Ayla and Felix appeared side by side in the distance, the students' heads turned all at once.
"What? I thought Duke Argenta was visiting, but I guess not."
"It looks like they're going out together."
"They still seem to be on good terms. Aren't they tired of being together like that?"
"But they look good together. Honestly, are you jealous?"
There were also sarcastic remarks, but no one could deny the fact that the two looked good together.
Due to the hot weather, Felix was dressed comfortably in just a vest over his shirt, and Ayla was wearing a light ivory dress.
They looked like a friendly couple going on a picnic.
As the two approached the carriage, Yetien, who had come out in advance and was waiting, greeted them happily.
"Welcome, Young Master, Miss."
"It's been a while, Yetien. Is all the luggage loaded?"
"Yes, it's all loaded. And Piyo should be entrusted to Sir Mark. It would be safer to have him in a separate carriage in the back. And..."
Yetien smiled and turned to look at Ayla.
"Miss Ayla, you look really beautiful today. You were dazzling last time, but you're even more dazzling today."
Ayla smiled shyly at the excessive praise, which was hard to tell whether it was flattery or sincerity.
'It really took a long time to choose this outfit...'
Since she couldn't visit the Duke Argenta's family in a fancy outfit like last time, Ayla did her best to choose her clothes.
Clothes that looked calm and composed to the eyes of adults, while looking neat and tidy.
.jpg)