After the headmaster left, Youtab didn't say a word. She was completely focused, carefully analyzing the corpse. For nearly half an hour she just stared at the body from a single angle.
A heavy silence filled the air. Vantias stood quietly in a corner, deciding not to disturb her until she spoke on her own.
At last, Youtab broke the silence. With a calm tone and a faint frown on her face, she asked:
"What do you think?"
Vantias was surprised, a little confused, then after a short pause and some thought, he replied:
"A few things crossed my mind, but honestly… I'm not sure. This kind of death is different from the killings where the students were crucified..."
He looked at the body again, speaking with a nervous and slightly frightened tone:
"I think the killers are different... This isn't part of that scheme. This is something else entirely."
A small, fleeting smile appeared on Youtab's lips. It seemed her interest was piqued, and she let Vantias continue.
Bending down to examine the corpse more closely, Vantias said:
"There's no trace of the smile carved on the victims that the cult usually left behind. That means the killer didn't want to frame anyone else... This is a warning. A consequence. What do you think?"
Youtab nodded and thought to herself:
"He and I think almost the same way. I like him."
She took a deep breath, pointed at the abdomen of the corpse, and said:
"The killer thought they were carrying out justice..."
"Justice?" Vantias repeated.
Youtab nodded again:
"The killer knew the victim. Someone from the academy."
Vantias thought for a moment, then asked curiously:
"Why do you think that?"
With a low, slightly trembling voice, her eyes fixed on the corpse, Youtab said:
"The killer used poisonous flowers. Specifically *Hydrangea* and *Azalea*. In the language of flowers, they symbolize corruption, warning, and deceptive elegance. Perhaps the killer wanted to represent Elizabeth's nature—corrupt, dangerous, yet alluring. The killer must have known her… and hated her."
She didn't blink, her tone slow and heavy:
"The heart placed at the chest, held with both hands—it means the victim never intended to change. That's why the killer despised her."
Vantias stared in shock, his eyes wide. Youtab continued:
"Most likely, she was the kind of girl who tormented others. The killer knew this… which means the killer is either a student who suffered from her bullying, or perhaps even a teacher."
Vantias looked again at the corpse in astonishment and whispered:
"You figured all of that out just by looking at the body?"
"Now I understand why Aldrin said she's the best detective in the kingdom " Vantias thought.
Youtab didn't answer. The frown on her face carried more worry than anger as she said:
"This murder… it has meaning behind it. It's different from pure violence. It's more like a work of art. The killer isn't just insane—he's something far worse. This isn't like the cult's killings."
Vantias walked slowly around the body, studying it carefully. After a few minutes of silence, he said:
"The killer wanted to criticize the victim's character… and his answer was to kill her. He filled her with poisonous flowers to show everyone what she was inside, and he placed her heart at the center of her chest to show she would never change..."
Touching his cheek in thought, he added:
"That makes sense… So, in short, there are two possibilities: the killer was a student who was bullied by her, or someone inside the academy who thought they were carrying out justice."
Youtab looked at him with quiet admiration, her warm but hidden smile revealing how much his words resonated with her. With every thought Vantias voiced, she seemed to see more of herself in him.
With a calm tone, Youtab said:
"Exactly… But it's going to be a long day. We'll have to question all her classmates first, then the teachers."
Vantias lowered his head and said:
"The news of another student's death, especially within just one week, will deal a serious blow to the academy's reputation… Maybe that's what the killer wants. Maybe this isn't just about justice—it could be something more."
Youtab lay down beside the corpse, closed her eyes, inhaled the scent of one of the flowers, and hugged it, unbothered by the fact that she was lying next to a dead body. Vantias looked at her in disbelief and asked curiously:
"What are you doing?"
Still with her eyes closed, Youtab replied:
"I'm becoming one with the scene… After all, later I'll need to sketch it for the investigation."
Vantias repeated under his breath in confusion:
"Becoming one with the scene?" His expression turned puzzled and bewildered.
"Why does Aldrin always partner me with such strange people?"Vantias thought.
...
**One hour later**
After some time, Vantias and Youtab continued their investigation. Youtab began sketching the scene, carefully noting every detail, while Vantias spoke with the headmaster.
A soft light poured through the glass ceiling of the greenhouse, shining directly onto the corpse. The greenhouse was filled with towering plants, rare species, glowing fungi in various colors, and butterflies fluttering about.
The headmaster, speaking in a sad and quiet tone, said:
"I understand… that you want to speak with the students and the teachers, but… isn't there another way?"
The greenhouse was heavy with the scent of damp soil, flowers, and the faint odor of the body. Youtab covered her nose with a white handkerchief, while the headmaster and Vantias stood a little farther away, speaking.
With a firm voice, Vantias said:
"Please don't fool yourself. Eventually, everyone will find out what happened. The sooner we begin questioning, the better chance we'll have of catching the killer."
He glanced briefly at Youtab, then back to the headmaster:
"I understand this could badly damage the academy's reputation, but there's no other way..."
The headmaster nodded, reluctantly accepting the reality, though doubt and worry still clouded his face. With a tired expression, he finally said:
"Very well. I'll tell the students who were Elizabeth's classmates to come to my office one by one… You can question them there."