Chapter 22

* * *

Translated by Sylph

Read only at Novelbyu.com & Utoon.net.

* * *

The staff member looked at the student who had raised her hand and stopped them.

The staff members tried to memorize the names of the students as much as possible.

However, because the number was so large, they couldn’t memorize everyone yet.

But they definitely knew the name of the female student who called them now.

Because she was so famous, they couldn’t possibly not know.

“Lady Irene Terence? Right?”

“Yes.”

“But for your roommate to not be visible…”

“It’s exactly as I told you. I thought she was in another team because we were divided, but even after everyone gathered, she wasn’t visible, so I told you.”

“Um, the roommate’s name?”

“It’s Evi Alden. 7 years old. She’s very small. She has pale blonde hair and green eyes… and she looks very cute.”

The staff member, who had been listening intently to the more detailed explanation than expected, tilted their head at the last description and looked around at the gathered students.

However, the young student Irene spoke of was not visible.

“Evi! Evi Alden! Are you here?”

As the staff member raised their voice and called, students who wondered what was happening looked around.

“Evi Alden! Is she not here!”

Other staff members also called Evi’s name and scanned the surroundings.

And after a moment, the staff members realized the fact that Evi was indeed not visible, just as Irene had said.

“What should we do? Where on earth did she get left behind…”

“First of all, we should go back into the Imperial Palace and search, but the time is ambiguous.”

The light of worry was evident on the staff member’s face.

It would have been good if they had known even a little earlier that a student had disappeared.

Even if it’s the Imperial Palace, people do not freely enter and leave all day long.

When it’s time for regular staff to leave the palace, many buildings close their doors, and passage near the main palace is blocked.

Among them, there are places where passage is prohibited near the main palace regardless of the reason, unless permission is obtained from the Emperor or the Minister of State.

If the student was still remaining there, there was a possibility they wouldn’t find her until tomorrow morning.

“First, I should have the students return to the dormitory. It’s too late.”

Everyone agreed with that statement.

It was already late, and the students were whispering. If left as is, only confusion would grow.

“Today’s schedule ends here. Everyone, return to the dormitory.”

At the staff members’ words, the students had no choice but to return while feeling curious.

“Where did she go missing?”

“We don’t know either. But if you remain in a place that’s not permitted, isn’t it a matter of being expelled rather than just penalty points? I heard the curfew inside the Imperial Palace is extremely strict.”

“I know. That’s why my mother also waits for the gates to open again at dawn before returning when her work ends late. She said that even going out of the building is not allowed at that time.”

At the students’ conversation, the corners of Rimora’s mouth rose as she headed toward the dormitory.

‘That’s exactly what I wanted. Goodbye, orphan brat.’

Getting left behind during a schedule honestly doesn’t receive much of a major punishment.

While there is also a problem with the student who lost the group and acted alone, the staff members who failed to properly check all the students beforehand also have a responsibility.

Furthermore, because she must have been surprised after being left alone, there would be some leniency out of concern.

‘But inside the Imperial Palace, it’s different.’

The Imperial Palace Law is very strict. Especially regarding the curfew.

After the Succession War, the strictness and the intensity of the punishment in case of violation became very strong in order to prepare for attacks that might happen.

Even if she were a student of the Gifted Center, it would be difficult to avoid that punishment.

‘To avoid it, people with quite strong power would have to step forward, but she doesn’t have such a person, right?’

Today, she said with her own mouth that she had no connection with the Emperor.

Furthermore, while many students met their guardians and greeted them inside the main palace, Evi Alden met no one.

Moreover, while Evi was receiving stinging glares, she had overheard the conversations of other students.

“I heard he selected her in a fit of rage as a warning because some of the ministers were being stubborn about admitting the people they wanted. So there’s no reason for His Majesty to care any more.”

At the same time, that student also said how cold and indifferent the Emperor usually was.

‘Anyway, there is no one who would step forward for a kid like that.’

Rimora, who felt better, even hummed to herself as she headed toward the dormitory.

Then she suddenly felt a gaze looking at her.

“…?”

The moment she looked back, Rimora’s eyes widened.

At the very back of the students returning to the boys’ dormitory, Ruska was looking at her with his arms crossed.

It was a gaze as if he knew what she had done.

Rimora turned her head hurriedly in surprise and returned to the girls’ dormitory as if she were running.

She could hear her friends behind her muttering about why she was doing that.

“Ruska, is something wrong?”

Arcel approached the side of Ruska, who was looking at Rimora.

“No, just something… is weighing on my mind.”

At that answer, Arcel’s eyes flashed.

“Why? Is it related to that kid disappearing? Do you have any inkling?”

At Arcel’s voice, which asked urgently, Ruska looked at him with a slightly surprised face.

“That’s unusual. For you to care so much about someone else’s business.”

At that answer, Arcel frowned.

“A student, and a child at that, has disappeared. It’s natural to be concerned.”

For a moment, Ruska was about to mutter, “Yeah, right, as if you would.”

Then he spoke as if he guessed why Arcel was being like this.

“Is it because it’s Evi Alden that you’re concerned?”

“…”

He thought he would answer no, but unexpectedly, Arcel indicated affirmation with silence.

At Arcel’s attitude, which was more serious than he had thought, Ruska also stopped laughing and approached the staff members.

“Is there anything we can help with?”

Arcel also joined in.

“If you’re searching inside the Imperial Palace, I think we can be of help. Since both of us have special passage permits.”

As Arcel said, both Ruska and Arcel had received permission to have an audience with the Emperor whenever they wanted.

That was to recognize the merits of the fathers of the two, who had rendered the greatest service during the Succession War.

At the same time, it was also to use the two as part of their forces if something happened later.

At the words of the two, the staff member had a troubled expression on their face, wondering what to do.

The places the students had wandered around today were not just one or two.

They had to revisit all those places and confirm, but there weren’t many people remaining except for the staff who would manage the students in the dormitory.

Even so, it wouldn’t be right to entrust this task to other students.

“Um, she was definitely there until we went to the museum. The History Hall. And after that, I didn’t see her when the numbers were divided…”

At the voice heard from the side, the staff member turned their head.

Irene, who had said her roommate was missing, was still standing there.

‘According to the students’ words, they said she didn’t like her roommate.’

Actually, she herself had said nothing, but other students would come to the dormitory staff and ask how the roommate assignment was strange or if it was really not possible to change it.

While doing so, everyone spoke as if it were nonsense that Irene Terence and Evi Alden were using the same room.

So the staff members thought that Irene Terence inwardly had many complaints.

But looking at her attitude now, unlike what they thought, she seemed to be quite worried about her roommate.

Furthermore, she even remembered quite in detail as if she had been watching her continuously.

“Anyway, since the last place she was confirmed was the museum, she must be in one of the places we wandered around from then until the afternoon.”

However, even if the range had narrowed, it was still a vast area.

‘Should I request help from the Imperial Palace Guard?’

Feeling that the matter was becoming larger than expected, the staff member swallowed a sigh.

In any case, they have to find the child, so they must report it.

It was at that moment.

“Is something going on?”

A young woman’s voice was heard from behind the gathered staff members.

At that voice, the staff members’ faces brightened as they turned their heads.

There stood a woman with her long hair tied high in a single ponytail.

She was wearing dirty clothes stained with dust, as if she had returned from some long journey.

But her sharp gaze and upright posture told that she was no ordinary person.

The staff members who saw her shouted happily.

“Director!”

At the same time, Arcel and Ruska also shouted.

“Seraphina!”

At the voices calling her, Seraphina Reedum laughed as she lightly tidied her hair that had flowed over her shoulders.

“Yes, has everyone been well? More importantly, it seems a problem has occurred with a Gifted Center student, so let’s find them first.”

She raised one hand.

A bright cluster of light appeared at her fingertips.

Then she muttered as if she remembered.

“Ah, first, let’s get permission from His Majesty.”