Orland appeared calm on the surface. After years in business, maintaining a poker face in any situation had become second nature to him.

But inwardly, he was not unaffected.

His blood boiled at the thought that he might finally have caught the true culprit he had searched for so long. Yet, he kept his composure and asked calmly,

“Who is the person you suspect?”

“The former steward of the Brellof family, Harrison.”

“Steward Harrison?”

Orland’s eyes narrowed slightly.

He didn’t need Noxia to explain who Harrison was—he already knew him well.

Orland himself had been the one investigating Charles’s death the longest. He could recite off the top of his head the backgrounds of everyone present at the villa that day.

“Without concrete evidence, why do you harbor such suspicion toward Steward Harrison?”

Noxia had brought with her the altered photograph shown by the photographer. She handed it to Orland and replied,

“When preparing for this wedding, I learned there’s a method to make two separate photos appear as one.”

Orland silently examined the photo Noxia presented and nodded—signaling her to continue.

“When I left Brellof Manor to investigate my mother’s case, I once visited the residence where Steward Harrison lived. There, I discovered a photograph of my mother, my maternal grandmother, and Steward Harrison together. They looked harmonious, like a family portrait.”

Orland listened quietly, but a sharp glint flashed in his eyes.

Though he didn’t show it outwardly, he was furious at the fact that Harrison had kept Charles’s photograph.

Noxia continued,

“At first, I found it strange that the steward possessed my mother’s photo, but I assumed it was plausible since my mother, being the daughter of a former nanny, had known him. Their periods of service at the Brellof estate overlapped.”

“…Was Charles really that close to Steward Harrison?”

Orland frowned skeptically. Having grown up alongside Charles since childhood, he mentally reviewed his memories.

Come to think of it, Charles always greeted Harrison politely.

─Hello, sir.

Back then, he hadn’t thought much of it. Charles was naturally kind and courteous to everyone.

But somehow…

Charles’s attitude toward Harrison was slightly different from how she treated others. It felt less like genuine warmth and more like obligation.

So once, Orland had casually asked,

─Are you close with Steward Harrison? You seem different around him compared to others.

─Oh, he knew my mother. He helped us when we were struggling. I’m grateful to him… though that also makes things a bit awkward.

For some reason, Charles avoided giving detailed explanations.

Given the difference in their social standings at the time, Orland considered it impolite to press further into their financial hardships.

Moreover, Harrison was in his forties then, roughly the same age as Charles’s mother, so Orland simply assumed it was a friendship between their parents.

‘Charles mentioned he was grateful to him… but enough to keep his photo for over twenty years?’

It was possible, as Harrison claimed, that he and Charles were acquainted. But even so, something still felt deeply off.

Yet, this alone was insufficient to label Harrison as the murderer.

Orland said,

“I understand what you’re implying. But you can’t base your suspicion solely on this photo, can you?”

Noxia was not one to speak carelessly. She nodded matter-of-factly and continued,

“No, I wouldn’t bring this up based on this alone. What’s decisive is that Steward Harrison artificially altered the photo and lied to me.”

The fact that Harrison had manipulated Charles’s photo to appear as a happy family portrait—and then lied to Noxia—could only mean he had something to hide.

But even that wasn’t enough proof to conclude he had murdered Charles.

This time, Noxia pulled out the notebook she always carried while investigating Charles’s case.

“Since Your Highness found it troubling, I paid extra attention to investigating Steward Harrison. I secretly stationed someone near his residence and discreetly questioned those who had worked alongside him.”

She had intended to reconfirm alibis for everyone present at the villa where Charles died, but following Rohel’s advice, she focused particularly on Harrison.

Outwardly, Harrison seemed an impeccably upright man—even Noxia recalled having favorable memories of him from the past.

“Steward Harrison led a very disciplined life. His reputation among neighbors was excellent, and there were no suspicious activities—I almost considered dropping the investigation. But then I heard something strange from someone who once worked with him.”

“Strange?”

“Yes. I recorded every word I heard at the time in my notebook, verbatim. I’ll read it to you exactly as written.”

Orland nodded. As time passed, his expression grew increasingly grave—the evidence Noxia brought was clearly extraordinary.

Noxia recited word for word what was written in her notebook, while mentally recalling the moment she first heard this story.

─Oh, Steward Harrison? He was a bit unsettling. I still remember—he once excitedly boasted to me that he was going to get married. People assumed it was the nanny, but I knew for certain they weren’t involved like that.

The informant was a former maid from Brellof Manor—an older woman who had also been acquainted with Charles’s mother.

According to her, Harrison had a woman he intended to marry, and many people at the time speculated it was Charles’s mother.

But she insisted it absolutely could not have been Charles’s mother.

Then who was it?

Noxia had felt uneasy about it but, seeing no connection to Charles’s death, she set it aside.

But upon learning about the technique of photo compositing, she realized one possibility.

The photo Noxia discovered contained three people: Harrison, Charles, and her maternal grandmother. If the woman Harrison intended to marry wasn’t the grandmother…?

The only remaining person was Charles.

Harrison keeping the photo for over twenty years, lying when Noxia discovered it, and even altering Charles’s photo to fabricate a family portrait—all pointed to one conclusion.

Harrison had harbored secret affection for Charles for a long time.

If true, everything fit perfectly.

Orland, too, seemed to realize this immediately upon hearing the maid’s testimony. He muttered incredulously,

“That’s impossible… Steward Harrison and Charles had a significant age gap…”

When Charles had just turned twenty, Harrison was already in his forties. The idea that he had harbored dark intentions toward such a young woman was incomprehensible.

Orland felt a burning rage.

At the time of their marriage, Harrison was still the steward of the Brellof household. The thought that he had looked at her with impure eyes made Orland’s blood boil.

CRASH!

Unable to contain his fury, Orland slammed the table.

It was rare to see the ever-calm man become so emotionally volatile.

Remembering that this room was one Charles frequently used while alive, Orland barely managed to suppress his emotions.

“…I see. So you’re saying Steward Harrison secretly harbored feelings for Charles.”

Even speaking the words felt bitter in his mouth.

Now that the hidden truth was revealed, a memory suddenly surfaced in Orland’s mind.

─I think I’m going to get married.

He had heard those words from Charles on the day of her coming-of-age ceremony.

Having grown up with her since childhood, he had initially regarded her merely as a kindred friend. But when he realized she might marry someone else and become another man’s wife, he finally understood his own heart.

─Mother’s making a fuss about me getting married. I even went on a blind date recently with the son of that general store on the main street.

Back then, Orland himself was a hot-blooded youth, so he had frantically sabotaged every attempt to match Charles with other men.

He never stopped to consider why she was so eager to marry immediately after her coming-of-age ceremony.

Looking back now, there were suspicious elements. Why was Charles’s mother so desperate to marry her off to someone?

‘Could it be… because of Steward Harrison?’

Perhaps she had known Harrison was targeting Charles and tried to protect her by arranging a marriage to someone else.

Charles and her mother lived alone as a mother-daughter household, with virtually no other relatives to rely on.

Realizing she might have endured hardships he never knew about made Orland feel like he was going mad.

Unconsciously, he looked down at Charles’s photo and thought,

‘Why didn’t you tell me?’

If Charles had spoken up, he would have dismissed Harrison immediately. At the very least, he would have taken some action…

‘Could there have been a reason you couldn’t confide in me?’

He had so many questions he wanted to ask. But now, there was no Charles left to answer them.

Orland felt his heart tearing apart. He was filled with regret for not noticing her suffering all these years.

Noxia softly spoke up.

“Father, do you now understand why I suspect Steward Harrison? He evaded your investigations for over twenty years. Even my own memories of him were overwhelmingly positive. He’s undoubtedly a meticulous man.”

Harrison’s affection for Charles was not direct proof he had murdered her.

But if Noxia hadn’t accidentally discovered the photo at Harrison’s residence—and learned about photo compositing—this truth might have remained hidden forever.

Precisely because Harrison was so meticulous, suspicion arose that he might have been the one who killed Charles.

Charles’s cause of death had been excessive bleeding from multiple stab wounds inflicted by a dagger.

This had always been a point of mystery. If a skilled intruder had killed Charles at the villa, they wouldn’t have clumsily stabbed her multiple times with a dagger.

Judging from the wounds left on Charles’s body, the attacker’s technique was clearly not that of a seasoned professional.

Orland replied with a shadowed expression,

“Yes. You’re right. I now fully understand why you suspect Steward Harrison.”

The once-powerful Pelmira family had been destroyed due to their connection to Charles’s death. The same reason had also driven them to spearhead the downfall of the Kalua Empire.

Based on what had now been revealed, Harrison’s survival was already unlikely.

But Orland wanted to know—who truly killed Charles? And if it was Harrison, why had he done it?

Orland forced his hardened expression to soften and gently stroked Noxia’s hair.

“You’ve worked hard. Thanks to you, we’ve uncovered a hidden truth. You must be busy preparing for the wedding—leave the rest to me.”

Noxia nodded.

She trusted Orland to handle it personally. Now that this much had been revealed, any remaining hidden truths would soon come to light.

But there was one other person as trustworthy as Orland—Tanashia Brellof, who was currently returning to the Arwen Empire.

Coincidentally, her route home passed through the village where Harrison was staying. She could arrive there much faster than if Orland traveled from the capital.

Noxia said,

“Father, you’re aware that Sister is returning to the Arwen Empire. As far as I know, her route passes through the village where Steward Harrison resides. What if we inform her of this and ask her to investigate first?”

“To Tanashia?”

Orland looked at her, surprised.

“Yes. Previously, His Highness the Crown Prince told me this: since this case is like a labyrinth, we need a perspective different from the past. With my wedding preparations, it’s difficult for you to move freely, so Sister is the only one who can verify this quickly.”

It was not a bad idea.

It was Tanashia who had first informed Orland that the intruders at the villa that day were connected to the Kalua Empire.

From the beginning, it was largely thanks to Tanashia that they had pursued Charles’s true killer this far. Noxia herself had been inspired by her to begin her own investigation.

After a brief moment of contemplation, Orland made his decision.

“Very well. Charles was my wife, but to you both, she was your mother. This is not my problem alone—it’s best for our family to work together.”

This was different from the past, when he had tried to solve everything alone.

Noxia and Tanashia had grown into strong pillars of support for him. Without them, they would never have come this far.

“I must send someone to Tanashia immediately. She’s returning home after a long absence—I wonder if it’s too burdensome to assign her such a heavy task.”

Noxia smiled gently at Orland’s concerned words.

“Father, you still don’t know Sister? She’d actually be offended if we didn’t tell her.”

Unconsciously, Noxia’s gaze drifted toward Charles in the photo. Unlike her and Orland’s silver hair, Charles’s glossy black hair reminded her of Tanashia.

“Who knows? Perhaps Sister will uncover some hidden secret of Steward Harrison’s that we missed…”

Tanashia had even elevated Dekain to Emperor of the Lazent Empire. Perhaps she would discover something they had overlooked.

That hope stirred within them.