Chapter 131: Actor Kael
Earlier...
While Seraphina was explaining things to Arwyn, Kael walked behind them in quiet thought, trying to find a way to continue on his own through the narrow path. As much as he wanted to follow Seraphina's lead, he also had his own way of doing things after all. Since he had already suspected that one of the staff was working with the kidnapper, he knew exactly how to find that person.
The only reason he had not acted on that suspicion yet was fear... fear of the Queen knowing his every move he made. That was precisely why he had asked for Seraphina's help. If she stayed close to him, the Queen would not be able to watch him freely, and even if she did, Seraphina would undoubtedly sense her presence immediately.
Now that this fear was lifted, another matter began to trouble his mind.
Actually, he was considering using Serelina's element to find the culprit, but he wondered whether she would even agree to help him. Deep down, he believed she would, but the problem was that he did not understand the full extent of her abilities.
In order to hear someone's thoughts, that person had to think about her first, and then she could choose whether to listen or to ignore those thoughts, that's what she told him. But how exactly did that element work? How were the thoughts that were directed toward her reaching her mind? Would her ability still work on someone who did not even know her name or existence? After all, the people he was planning to use her ability on were completely unaware of who she was. So, he still had no idea if this plan would work or not... until he knew more about her element. And there was only one way to know that.
Taking a soft breath, Kael looked up at the dark sky and called out in his mind.
[Serelina.]
A long silence followed, but no answer came.
After a few moments, he called again.
[I know, brat, you've been listening to my thoughts ever since I was at the mansion. So, stop ignoring me and speak.]
Her voice replied immediately, playful and a little startled.
[My, oh my. It seems you somehow managed to catch me off guard this time.]
Kael blinked a few times, half amused.
[I mean, I intentionally invited you to read my thoughts. What did you expect?]
There was a pause before her tone suddenly shifted, sounding oddly offended.
[Wait... don't you dare tell me, brother-in-law, that you thought my big sister looked exactly like me just to get my attention. You actually tricked me into listening to you, didn't you? Damn you.]
Kael almost wanted to whistle but restrained himself. His lips curved slightly as he thought.
[That's what you get for eavesdropping on someone's thoughts without permission. Anyway, since you already know everything, then tell me... will you be able to read those staff members' thoughts?]
He glanced around while both women ahead of him continued talking without paying him much attention. But his gaze lingered for a moment on Seraphina's cheek, visible from behind as she turned toward Arwyn. The soft moonlight bathed the world in a silver hue, making her pale, beautiful skin glow slightly. He couldn't help but stare at her continuously... if not for Serelina in his mind.
Serelina's voice came again, calm but slightly teasing.
[Yes, I can, as long as you can make them think about only me. It would consume quite a lot of my mana, but I should still be able to do it. Still, don't you think you should at least ask me nicely before trying to use my ability? You could start by showing some manners instead of jumping straight to business.]
Shaking his head, Kael looked around quietly and let out a long breath.
[Why would I? You already replied to me knowing all parts of my plan, which proves you wanted to help me anyway. Whether you like it or not doesn't make any difference.]
For a brief moment, her voice vanished, and then it returned, now filled with a little bit of irritation.
[I suppose you're correct. Still, could you at least be polite for once?]
Kael's response came evenly.
[I will, but only after you learn to be polite first.]
This time, she stayed silent for a while before replying with a chillier tone.
[Regardless, do you think you will manage to fulfill this basic requirement for my element to work?]
A dark expression appeared on his face.
[Don't worry. I already have an idea just for that.]
For a moment, he thought she had fallen silent again, but then, suddenly, her mischievous voice echoed in his mind.
[Hey, look at those two's back.]
Kael nearly tripped but caught himself at the last moment. A soft pink shade rose on his face as he thought coldly.
[You damn... brat.]
---
After they entered the mansion, Kael had insisted on checking every staff member's room one by one like a true investigator would. He knew finding a clue would be extremely difficult, but he searched thoroughly, leaving no corner unchecked, as though some tiny overlooked detail might give him the answer he sought. Or maybe use it when he needed. Unfortunately, luck was not on his side today. So, he found nothing.
Eventually, the time came for interrogation. After gathering everyone, he instructed Seraphina to stand near the door. Outwardly, he explained that her presence was for safety in case of a sudden attack, but in truth, he wanted her there to shield him from the Queen's eyes.
When everything was ready, he stepped into one of the rooms near the living room. It was not very large but still neat, with a single bed at the center and a few pieces of furniture arranged carefully around it. None of that surprised him since it was one of the wealthiest merchant's houses. What else would one expect from him?
Standing before him was a young maid dressed in the usual black and white attire. Her posture seemed a little nervous, as was natural in such a situation, but she did not appear overly frightened since Kael was not part of the knights... just a normal teacher.
Truth be told, Kael had no particular idea just how exactly a proper interrogation worked. He did, however, know a few other ways which, if he applied right now, would most likely end up with him being thrown into prison. And that was something he did not intend to experience just yet.
But the thing was, he was not here for a proper interrogation anyway. What he needed to do was to make them think about Serelina and also about what had happened last night. In short, he had to create a situation that would force them to think about what they did wrong last night, something that would make their own thoughts expose their mistakes. Even a simple yes or no would work.
Holding his chin, Kael tilted his head slightly and thought deeply. "What should I ask first? Um, something like... 'Hey, are you the one who's been working with the Queen'?"
He immediately shook his head and muttered, "No, that wouldn't work. Why am I so bad at this? But then... how am I supposed to begin?"
The woman in front of him watched his strange expression and furrowed her brows in confusion before asking hesitantly, "Um, sir, aren't you supposed to ask me some questions?"
Kael came out of his thoughts instantly and blinked twice. "Uh, yes. I'll start soon."
The woman frowned even more at his awkward reply, her expression now carrying a trace of suspicion. "Then why exactly are you looking at my breasts? Wait... don't tell me you're planning to take this chance and do something wrong to me here, Sir."
Kael's face turned completely blank. Oh right, he had forgotten that while thinking, his eyes had been unconsciously fixed in that direction, or rather on the design of her clothes.
He scratched the back of his neck with an awkward look, muttering to himself, "I should really be careful where my eyes go when I'm thinking. If I remember correctly, while walking behind Seraphina earlier, I was staring right at her face the whole time. Uh, good thing she didn't see that."
He then looked back at the woman and sighed in defeat. "Uh, don't mind me. My eyes just act stupid sometimes and catch stupid things all on their own without me realizing. Just ignore them, would you?"
The woman's face darkened immediately as she gave him an icy, irritated glare and whispered under her breath, "Pervert."
Kael wanted to explain himself, but he had no time to argue over such things, so he simply pretended not to hear it and sank back into his thoughts. He needed to start somewhere, and now that he had a rough idea of what to do, he quietly exhaled.
"Let's see if this works," he thought to himself.
[Are you ready, sister-in-law?]
There was a brief silence, and then the answer came through the link.
[Yes, oppa.]
---
Soon after, one by one, the staff members came and left as the interrogations went on.
But despite all their efforts, they still had not found anything truly useful. Or rather, Serelina had not. There was only one maid left to question before they moved on to the guards. Kael knew that eventually, he would have to question Darian as well, though for some reason, the idea made him feel strangely uneasy. But none of that mattered until he finally found the real culprit.
At that moment, a young woman entered the room. She had dark hair with a soft brown hue that shimmered softly under the magic light.
Kael's eyes followed her quietly as she walked in. He tried to read her, to sense something suspicious or out of place, but found nothing unusual. She appeared completely normal, though there was clear nervousness written all over her face. Her hands were clasped together below her waist, fingers interlacing tightly as though she were trying to hold her anxiety in place.
Sitting on the bed, crossing his legs together, Kael took a shallow breath as he leaned slightly forward and asked in a calm tone, "What's your name, miss?"
The woman looked a little surprised at first, then frowned slightly as she replied, "It's Emy. Mrs. Emy, by the way."
Kael blinked and looked somewhat puzzled by her response, then said with a slight nod, "Oh, I see. So you're actually married."
The woman gave him a flat look and replied plainly, "I am."
Kael didn't think much about it and quickly moved on, his tone casual as if brushing past a minor detail. "So, Emy, is it? Tell me, where do you live exactly? I mean your original home, not here."
The woman frowned slightly, a curious look rising on her face. "That's what this interrogation is about? Well, I suppose you need to know all about me first. I can tell you, but you're not allowed to tell any other men, alright?"
Kael stared at her for a short moment before answering, "Don't worry, you can trust me on that. I won't."
She let out a small sigh, looked around the room as if making sure no one else was listening, and whispered softly, "Alright. My home is situated in the western district of town, several houses behind the Town Hall."
The moment those words left her lips, Kael's expression shifted as if he had just found something unexpectedly interesting. His eyes widened slightly, and his voice carried a note of surprise. "W-what? You actually live near the Town Hall?"
Emy frowned again, a bit offended by his reaction. "Yes, I do. But why exactly do you look so surprised? Am I not allowed to live there just because I'm a maid?"
Kael shook his head instantly, the brightness on his face never fading. "No, no, that's not it. It's quite the opposite, actually. The truth is, I've just found a little spark of hope in my otherwise desolate heart. You won't believe it, but that's exactly where my little sister lives."
Her brows rose slightly, her expression shifting into faint curiosity. "What? You've got a little sister?"
Kael replied without missing a beat, "I do. In fact, I was planning to visit her myself. But I'm afraid I can't."
Emy tilted her head, still watching him carefully. "Okay, but why not? What's the problem?"
Kael's expression saddened even more as his hands slowly found their way to his temples, his fingers pressing lightly against his skin as if to ease the ache that seemed to be spreading inside him. "Because I haven't apologised to her yet. I don't even know if she'll listen to me or not. Maybe she'll just ignore me again and give me that pain once more. That's precisely why I haven't been able to approach her until now. I need someone to do it on my behalf, but I had found no one who lived anywhere near her. But today, my long-lasting wish has finally come to an end because I've met you, Emy. I need you. Will you help me reach out to her?"
Emy only stared at him for a while, her expression unreadable, before crossing her arms over her chest and letting out a long sigh. "Alright. I think I understand a thing or two, but would you mind explaining everything a little more clearly?"
Kael did not stop to think about it. The moment she agreed to listen, he began speaking quickly with that same heavy sadness clinging to his voice. "It's a long story, but to make it short, I used to live a quiet life until one day I found out that my little sister had been seeing a man I already knew to be a terrible person. I had seen that man with countless women before, and learning that my sister was with someone like him made me furious. So, I beat him up. After she found out, she slapped me across the face and ran away with that man, and not long after, she married him."
He paused for a moment then added with a sadder tone, "Later, I learned the man I saw and the one she married were two different persons altogether. My assumption was completely wrong. It was only then I realised what I had done. I felt ashamed of myself. For a long time, I didn't even know where she was living, but now that I finally do, I have no way to approach her and apologise. That's why I need someone else's help. After hearing all that, do you think you'll be able to help me?"
Of course, none of this was true. Every word was just a made-up story born from his mind to gain a bit of sympathy. Criminals, when given the chance, rarely resisted the temptation to turn an interrogation into a conversation, to divert the topic from guilt to pity, and Kael knew that very well.
Almost every maid had fallen for this trick so far. Two of them had nearly cried hearing his story and encouraged him to go apologise himself. The other two had promised to help him however they could.
However, that wasn't his real reason for coming up with this false story. The true purpose was to give Serelina a sense of existence... something that would make it easier for others to direct their thoughts toward her. After all, there were likely several people with the same name. So, when someone who didn't personally know her tried to think of Serelina, their thoughts wouldn't naturally connect to her. It was just common sense, really.
That was where this story came in... to make them believe she was Kael's younger sister who had left home. It gave her a new identity of her own.
To put it simply, Serelina was just a person who happened to be someone's sister, someone's friend, someone's daughter, and so on. These were the connections that defined her place among others. But if these simple relationships were what people called her ties to the world, then what was her true origin?
She was her parents' daughter... that seemed like the right answer. But if not, then another question would arise: what was the origin of her parents? Maybe their own parents, and theirs before them. It would go on endlessly, without ever reaching a perfect answer.
So, what truly was her origin?
Perhaps it was simpler than it appeared.
The bonds she shared with others, the relationships that shaped her, might have given her that very origin. Maybe even her name played a part in defining who she was.
At least, that was his tangled theory at the time.
But in the end, he came to realise that it didn't really matter whether those ties were real or not. What mattered was that they existed at all. It was a confusing thought for him then… and perhaps, even now, it still is.
In any case, when he had first crafted the story, Serelina had laughed inside his mind, unable to stop herself.
[Oh, gods. Just kill me already. I can't stop laughing. I just can't. Brother, is that really all you could come up with? Beating up your sister's boyfriend? Dear me. You could have made something far better. Like saying you had a crush or something. But tell me one thing.]
Kael asked, sounding a little irritated.
[What?]
She stayed silent for a brief moment, then her voice returned with a teasing tone.
[Why do you sound so sincere when you say all that, huh? Don't tell me... you've already decided to beat up my future boyfriend one day, have you?]
Kael's brow furrowed, his face darkening slightly with irritation.
[Boyfriend, huh? Don't forget you're still a little brat. You're not allowed to think about things like that yet. Do that when you're old enough, understood?]
Her voice came back smooth and even, but full of quiet amusement.
[Says the man who married at sixteen.]
Kael ignored the remark, his expression turning darker.
[And here's some good advice for you... stay far away from handsome men, alright? Those kinds are worse creatures than monsters themselves. Believe me, I've seen enough to know.]
Her reply was indifferent, but there was something strange about her tone, something bright, as though she was secretly pleased by what he said.
[Uh-huh.]
...Throughout his story, Emy's expression had changed several times, shifting between confusion, sympathy, and disbelief, until finally her face tightened as she spoke again. "So, you're just a typical brother who gets angry whenever some man approaches his little sister, huh? I swear, I'll never understand men like you. But fine, I think I can help a little since she lives somewhere around my district. What's her name?"
Kael stayed quiet for a moment, his expression deepening as though he was searching for the right words before he finally exhaled softly. "Her name is Serelina. Have you ever met or at least heard of someone with that name before?"
The woman fell silent for a while, her gaze turning thoughtful before she whispered, "Serelina, huh? I can't say I've heard that name before."
At the same time, Kael spoke inwardly.
[Are you able to sense her thoughts yet?]
The answer came without delay.
[No. It seems her thoughts aren't directed toward me yet. She's probably confused. Try harder.]
Kael's expression dimmed a little as soft tears glimmered in his eyes, his voice trembling just slightly. "Please, try to remember."
The woman's brows furrowed, her face showing clear strain as if she was truly forcing her memory to work.
Kael asked quietly.
[Did it work?]
Serelina's voice came back calm but firm.
[No.]
Emy tilted her head slightly, looking down with a small sigh. "I'm sorry, but I really don't know anyone with that name. Could you tell me a little more about her?"
Kael stayed silent again for a moment before replying evenly. "More details, huh? Well, haven't you seen that lady with golden hair outside? Serelina looks exactly like her. Try to recall. Have you seen someone who looked like that before?"
At that, the woman began concentrating harder, as though she was truly trying to paint the image in her mind. Kael could easily tell by her face that she was imagining it vividly. He didn't even need to guess because that was simply how human minds worked. Eventually, as his patience began to wear thin, he asked again in his mind.
[Now, did it work?]
The reply came immediately, carrying a subtle weight of relief.
[Yes.]
---
(Chapter Ended)