Episode 115

“…”

She wasn’t wrong—but somehow, it still felt like I was the one at fault.

Jenna spoke in a sorrowful voice, as if a painful secret had been laid bare.

“I grew up in a small orphanage at the edge of the South. Then, by some miracle, I began to recall memories from my childhood and realized I was the missing Lady of the Selver family.”

I already knew this. But hearing it from Jenna herself gave it a very different weight.

“I wanted to go straight to the capital and meet my family, but I didn’t have a single coin to my name. That’s when I started stealing. I know—it was a terrible thing to do.”

She absentmindedly fidgeted with her teacup as if recounting a distant memory.

“One day, the whole neighborhood was buzzing. Word was that noble guests from the capital had arrived… It was His Grace of Karsian and you, Sierra.”

“…”

“I remember feeling miserable. We were both noble ladies, yet you were helping the sick, and I was stealing from them. It was… a strange contrast.”

“I didn’t realize you were thinking that way.”

“To be honest, I felt inferior. That’s why, at the New Year’s banquet, I chose not to mention our first meeting. I didn’t want anyone to see that ugly side of me.”

“It’s not ugly. I’m just sorry if I touched a sore spot, Jenna.”

At some point, she had begun dabbing her reddened eyes with a handkerchief.

Seeing that made my heart soften—but still…

I have to do what needs to be done.

After witnessing the devastation in the Eastern District firsthand, I couldn’t back down. Even if it meant pushing Jenna a little.

“I’m not asking about our first meeting, Jenna. That day, in the alley—you weren’t alone. There was a man with you, wearing a black cloak.”

Jenna’s shoulders stiffened at my words.

“What was your relationship with him?”

“…Why do you ask?”

“That man has been named as a suspect in the Eastern District explosion.”

“…!”

Jenna looked stunned, momentarily speechless.

“Is that really true? Him?”

I nodded.

“Half the Eastern District was leveled. The number of casualties is beyond counting. This is serious, Jenna.”

I looked her straight in the eye.

“Please—cooperate with us.”

“…”

Jenna stayed silent for a while, then finally began to speak.

“I first met that man on a day when I was being shaken down by some thugs for money.”

The heavy air in the room was a stark contrast to just moments ago.

“I was small and weak. I’d always get whatever money I earned taken away. That day was no different… or so I thought.”

Her voice was quiet, hesitant—but she continued.

“He showed up, beat the thugs to a pulp, and saved me. Instinctively, I felt I had to stick with him if I wanted to survive in that town. From then on, I just followed him around.”

“Did he tell you his name?”

“He said I could call him Louie. But I’m sure it was an alias. Louie… he was shrouded in secrecy. His name, his hometown, his family—none of it was ever mentioned.”

Jenna closed her eyes as she spoke.

“…I’m sorry. I really don’t know anything else. I followed him around for about a month, that’s all. One day, he just disappeared without a word. That was the end of it.”

“Still, in the time you spent together, you must’ve picked up some details—his hair color, speech patterns, how he walked.”

She thought deeply for a moment before answering.

“Louie always wore a cloak, but I’d sometimes catch a glimpse of his hair—it was light brown. His tone was always… commanding. Like someone used to authority.”

Then she buried her face in her hands and whispered,

“I’m sorry. That’s all I know. I’ve been no help to you, Sierra.”

“No, this isn’t your fault. But… there’s one last thing I’d like to ask.”

[I told you not to speak with others here.]

That’s what Louie had said to her that day when she tried to talk to me.

And based on the timeline, when Louie was moving around the Eastern District carving out explosion magic circles, Jenna had been with him.

Why had Louie bothered to keep Jenna around despite the risk?

More importantly—did Jenna really not know what he was doing?

“What color were Louie’s eyes? I only saw him for a split second, so I couldn’t get a good look.”

“They were brown… with a hint of green.”

“Thank you.”

I smiled gently.

“I’m sorry if this came off like an interrogation—it’s a serious matter, and I didn’t mean to make you uncomfortable.”

“No… It’s okay. It’s only right. I just… never imagined Louie would be a suspect in the explosion.”

Jenna spoke with a downcast expression.

“He wasn’t warm or affectionate… but I didn’t think he was a bad person. It hurts to think he might’ve been.”

Just then, Arzen and Ludwig returned from their walk.

Arzen gently patted Jenna on the head and asked,

“Were you having a good talk with Sierra?”
At Arzen’s words, Jenna wiped away the shadow from her expression and gave a sweet, lovely smile.

“Yeah. Just like you said, big brother. Lady Sierra and I really get along well.”

Arzen looked pleased.

“It’s a shame to cut the chat short, but we should head back now.”

“Already? It feels like we just got here!”

At Jenna’s playful protest, Arzen turned to me and said,

“Sierra’s not fully recovered yet, and we did show up unannounced. Next time, let’s plan ahead and go on a picnic together or something.”

“Well… I guess it can’t be helped.”

Jenna stood from her seat and smiled.

“See you again soon, Sierra. I hope we can talk more next time.”

“Sure. Take care, Jenna. You too, Arzen.”

“Alright, we’ll get going. No need to come out and see us off. Just get some good rest, Sierra.”

With that, Arzen left the drawing room with Jenna.

She smiled brightly and waved a small goodbye.

Once the two of them had gone, I fell into silent thought.

“…”

Ludwig, watching me, asked quietly,

“Did you gain anything useful?”

“I just… realized one thing for sure.”

“And what would that be?”

I looked out the window at the Selver carriage disappearing past the front gate.

“…Jenna’s lying.”

That final question had confirmed it beyond a doubt.

Louie’s eyes were a deep red, tinged with the color of blood.

It had left such a strong impression that I remembered it clearly.

Not just me—a girl who testified from the Eastern District also mentioned he had red eyes.

There was no way Jenna, who’d spent a whole month by his side, would mistake that.

It felt like she intentionally gave a completely different description—to mislead the investigation.

“Then persuasion is no longer an option,” Ludwig said.

“No. She’s not going to talk easily.”

Was it because he had once saved her? Or… was Jenna also an accomplice?

I shook my head with a quiet sigh.

I didn’t want my thoughts to keep going down that path.

For now, expecting Jenna’s cooperation was no longer realistic.

And with the Selver Duke’s sharp eyes on everything, we couldn’t summon her as a witness either.

She wouldn’t respond to a truth potion, either.

Her innate purification ability would nullify its mild toxicity.

Unless Jenna chose to speak on her own, we wouldn’t be able to see through her.

“This isn’t going to be easy. I said I’d help, but now I just feel like I’ve failed. Sorry.”

“There’s no need. You’ve confirmed something important, haven’t you?”

“And what’s that?”

“The fact that Jenna Selver is still protecting the suspect makes it highly likely that she’s still in contact with him.”

Ludwig’s gaze darkened as he looked toward the vanishing carriage.

“If we’re lucky, she might still be meeting with him. Or at the very least, she might try to pass on what she learned today.”

“Then…”

“Jenna Selver raises too many red flags. Not just for this case… Let’s start by placing her under surveillance.”

“…That’s probably the best course of action for now.”

By then, the sky had already faded into a deep red—like the color of that man’s eyes when we first met.