IHDOE Ch 94

[Satina] "Butler, you conducted body searches immediately upon exiting the vault, correct?"

[Butler] "Of course."

[Satina] "And you searched places like pockets thoroughly as well."

[Butler] "Indeed."

Then where on earth did it go?

Satina decided to search the servants based on the evidence gathered so far. Identifying the culprit would make uncovering the method much easier.

She had the butler inspect the belongings of the four servants. Coins, small combs, scraps of paper, and medicine vials lined the floor as the servants emptied their pockets.

Among the items was the oil Satina sought. A half-used vial of hair oil sat among a servant named Edrick's belongings. Its scent matched the oil spilled on the corridor floor. Yet he refused to yield under suspicion and shouted back.

[Edrick] "I suffer a grave injustice!"

[Butler] "What injustice?! You stole Madam's diamond while I turned my gaze away!"

[Edrick] "How can mere oil serve as evidence?! It isn't made with a secret recipe. Anyone can buy it at shops in the city! Besides, how thoroughly do you manage a servant's belongings?!"

He pointed at the other servants and raised his voice.

[Edrick] "Could one of them not have stolen the oil from my room to pull off this scheme?!"

The butler had stepped forward with confidence, assuming he had found the culprit. Now he fell silent, looking back at Satina.

[Satina] "What did you say you did after exiting the vault?"

[Edrick] "After exiting the vault and finishing the body search, I was pulling weeds near the stables until summoned over the missing diamond. I didn't work alone, either. I was with other servants, so feel free to summon and question them as much as you like."

The Countess ordered the servants who had pulled weeds alongside Edrick to be brought forward.

[Servant] "Indeed. Edrick pulled weeds alongside us today."

[Servant] "We didn't see him act particularly suspiciously."

[Butler] "Did he not vanish somewhere alone?"

[Servant] "No. He didn't even go to the restroom."

[Servant] "He remained with us continuously."

[Butler] "If you lie to cover for him, I will not leave you alone either!"

The Countess stopped the butler as he browbeat the servants.

[C. Sorwen] "Enough. Did you not state you found nothing during body searches upon exiting the vault either?"

She let out a long sigh.

[C. Sorwen] "It seems investigating the servants further will yield nothing. Perhaps it remains somewhere inside the vault, so searching the vault once more would be best."

The servants let out sighs of relief and began gathering their scattered personal items.

Satina watched the scene silently.

No, it isn't in the vault.

Had he hidden the diamond inside the vault, retrieving it required opening the vault door again. Yet the butler and the Countess alone possessed keys, and sneaking past the guards unnoticed was virtually impossible. So the culprit had definitely brought the diamond out somehow.

Yet the servants' belongings amounted merely to scraps of paper, fine-toothed combs, and medicine vials. How could anyone steal a diamond undetected using those?

Just then, her eyes gleamed as she spotted the system window floating beside a medicine vial.

Don't tell me...!

Satina watched Edrick pick up his medicine vial and spoke.

[Satina] "What medicine is that?"

Edrick, still shaken from the harsh interrogation, answered warily.

[Edrick] "Ah, th-that is digestive medicine. My stomach has been unwell lately."

Liar.

Though he claimed it was digestive medicine, the system window displayed something entirely different.

[Emetic]

Now she understood how Edrick had stolen the diamond.

[Satina] "There is no need to search the vault, Countess. That servant is indeed the culprit."

The Countess looked at Edrick.

[C. Sorwen] "What do you mean? You found nothing on him."

[Satina] "That is because he hid the diamond remarkably well."

She pointed to the medicine vial Edrick held.

[Satina] "Make him swallow the digestive medicine he currently holds. Then you will discover where the diamond went."

[C. Sorwen] "That medicine?"

She inspected the vial with a suspicious glare before issuing her command.

[C. Sorwen] "Swallow it."

[Edrick] "M-Madam."

He lost his composure, his face flustered at the command.

[Edrick] "Th-This medicine is old and spoiled! That is why I intended to throw it away!"

She noticed his strange reaction and pressed further.

[C. Sorwen] "Even if medicine spoils, is it not still medicine? Swallow it."

[Edrick] "Th-Then if you bring me fresh digestive medicine..."

[C. Sorwen] "Must I issue a command three times?"

Quick to catch her intent, the butler ordered the other servants to subdue Edrick and force the liquid down his throat.

[Edrick] "Urgh!"

The effect was immediate. His face turned crimson as he writhed, trying in vain to resist. His throat convulsed, and he vomited up his stomach contents.

The Countess turned her head away in disgust, looking back only when a servant shouted.

[Servant] "Th-There! The diamond!"

[C. Sorwen] "What?!"

Gleaming brilliantly amidst the mess, it was undeniably the missing diamond.

[Satina] "Now the full truth is revealed."

Edrick panted heavily and glared at Satina with pure resentment.

[Satina] "He oiled the floor to deliberately cause the maid to slip and create a disturbance. Taking advantage of everyone's attention being focused elsewhere, he swallowed the nearby diamond. He intended to vomit it up once the situation permitted."

Everyone stared at Edrick in utter shock.

[Satina] "He likely had no intention of keeping it in his stomach for long. His plan was to vomit the diamond up when the time was right and sell it immediately. Even if the missing diamond were discovered later, no one would suspect a servant who lacked keys and had already passed a body search. Unfortunately for him, the Countess searched for the diamond sooner than expected, ruining his scheme."

Satina chuckled softly. Edrick lowered his gaze in silence. With the diamond vomited up before everyone, he had no defense left.

Dammit.

It was a flawless plan. In truth, the Countess was about to release me without suspicion.

My only miscalculation was Lady Bersabet's arrival. Had she not come, the Countess would never have looked for the diamond, and my secret would have stayed safe.

[The player's renown spreads widely for uncovering the truth of the incident and identifying the culprit!]

[Fame has increased by 10!]

Satina listened to the system chime and looked at the Countess.

[Satina] "How is it? Is this sufficient to satisfy you, My Lady?"

[C. Sorwen] "I had no intention of handing over the recommendation letter so quickly."

She wore a reluctant expression as she handed over the letter.

[C. Sorwen] "I originally intended to chat far more with you, handing it over only at the very last moment. It has been so long since I met a conversational partner as delightful as you..."

She held out the paper, yet her fingers clung to it reluctantly.

[C. Sorwen] "Yet after today, I have no choice but to grant it. Sigh, who could have imagined a servant would steal a gem by swallowing it?"

She finally let go of the letter and raised both hands in defeat.

[C. Sorwen] "I lack extensive connections, so I have no one else to introduce you to. Figure out the next step on your own."

She waved her hand, playfully urging her to leave. Satina remained standing and looked at the Countess.

[Satina] "In that case, My Lady, may I ask one favor?"

[C. Sorwen] "What is it?"

The Countess answered without looking up.

[Satina] "I was unable to admire the diamond properly today. May I visit to see it again next time?"

[C. Sorwen] "Hmm?"

Her eyes sparkled slightly.

[C. Sorwen] "You would visit my estate again?"

[Satina] "If you invite me."

[C. Sorwen] "Of course I shall! No, someone like you may visit freely even without an invitation!"

Delighted, she took Satina's hands and whispered playfully.

[C. Sorwen] "When you visit next time, I shall prepare the story of a crown prince turned into a horse by a wicked spell."

[Satina] "Does such a story exist?"

[C. Sorwen] "Fufu, the realm of art is vast and diverse, after all."

---

Meanwhile, news that Satina obtained Countess Sorwen's recommendation letter reached Lexion as well.

[Lexion] "Her second recommendation letter following Marchioness Riermont's. Only one recommendation letter remains necessary to become a candidate for the Empire's Golden Star."

He tapped his fingers against the desk as he listened to the Chief Chamberlain's report.

[Lexion] "Is she attempting to become the Empire's Golden Star? What wish does she intend to make?"

The Chief Chamberlain answered carefully.

[Chamberlain] "Making a wish is not strictly necessary. As the most honorable title in social circles, becoming the Empire's Golden Star would greatly aid in restoring Lady Satina's reputation. As you know, her public repute is... somewhat unfavorable."

[Lexion] "If that were her goal, she would have participated in other parties more actively. Tyron, did you discover anything while watching Satina in the west?"

He turned to Tyron, who shook his head.

[Tyron] "Nothing."

[Lexion] "Indeed. You weren't particularly close with her."

[Tyron] "Shall I investigate what she is planning, Your Highness?"

Lexion shook his head.

[Lexion] "No need. Wasting much time and talent on her is a loss. No doubt she is contemplating something insignificant. What is the next item?"

Various reports followed, but none of them registered in Tyron's mind.

What wish does a girl who hates parties so much intend to make by stepping forward like this...?

As he walked slowly, Satina approached from the opposite direction.

---

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