After inspecting the body, Vantias and Yutab went to the headmaster's office. The headmaster spoke briefly with the students, informing them of the situation, and asked them to come one by one to his office so that Yutab and Vantias could question them.
A soft light streamed in from outside, and the scent of old books mixed with the fragrance of flowers filled the room.
Yutab sat behind the desk, while Vantias stood beside him. The first student entered—
A girl of about seventeen, with golden hair and golden eyes. Her face showed clear signs of anxiety and distress. She sat quietly on the sofa.
Yutab took a deep breath and said gently:
"Thank you for coming here. You must have already heard about your friend's death from the headmaster."
Then, with a slight gesture toward Vantias, Yutab continued:
"My colleague and I came here to investigate Elizabeth's murder. I'll just ask you a few simple questions, then you'll be free to leave. All right?" He smiled softly.
The girl lowered her head in a faint nod, and Yutab asked calmly:
"Tell me about Elizabeth. What kind of person was she? How did she behave with the other students and professors?"
The girl swallowed, her heart racing. She drew a deep breath and said:
"She… she… overall, she was a decent person, like anyone else. She studied hard but…"
Yutab raised an eyebrow, narrowing his eyes.
"But?"
The girl glanced at Vantias, then lowered her head.
"This is the Royal Academy. Most students here are nobles, and some are here on scholarship. Elizabeth… she tended to treat the barons and the scholarship students harshly."
Yutab thought to himself:
"So she bullied those beneath her… Hmmm… That could be a reason for one of the students to kill her."
Vantias asked quietly:
"What kind of behavior exactly?"
A short silence filled the room, the tension growing heavier. The pale light dimmed the atmosphere. Jasmine and roses stood in a vase by the window, and a cold breeze slipped inside through the open pane.
The girl inhaled deeply, hesitating, then finally said:
"Most of the time, she only used words—insults, belittling remarks—especially toward those she saw as beneath her. But… a few days ago she lost control…"
Her eyes fixed on Yutab's.
"She smashed a bottle over Arthur's head. She seemed furious, and she vented all of it on him."
Vantias's expression shifted to concern, though his tone remained calm. He clearly worried about Arthur.
"Tell us about Arthur. What kind of student is he? How did he get along with Elizabeth?"
The girl hesitated, then said:
"Arthur is a scholarship student. Academically, he's one of the best—second in magic in the entire Academy, and first in swordsmanship. His achievements aren't limited to class rankings—they're recognized across the whole Academy."
She drew another deep breath.
"He has a kind and gentle nature. He tried not to clash with Elizabeth. Even when she did that to him, he didn't react at all."
Yutab smiled faintly, as if he had found the answer he was looking for. Then he stood, walked to the door, opened it, and said with a warm smile:
"Thank you for coming and sharing your time with us. You may go."
The girl looked a little surprised, then quietly left. After she was gone, Yutab closed the door, sat back down, and sighed. A wave of fatigue and a dull ache spread through his body. He shut his eyes and said:
"Now we have a suspect—someone who had a motive to kill Elizabeth. What do you think?"
Vantias leaned against the desk, clasping his hands together, and replied calmly:
"It's logical to think Arthur could be the killer… but the motive isn't strong enough."
Yutab opened his eyes.
"I agree. Still… this is going to be tedious."
*Hours passed as they spoke with student after student, until finally the last one arrived.*
Yutab sighed, staring up at the ceiling. Vantias sat on the sofa, sipping lemon tea.
Suddenly...
*Tap! Tap!*
A gentle knock on the door. A calm voice followed:
"May I come in?"
"Yes, please " Yutab replied.
The door opened, and a young man entered—golden eyes, long gray hair, and a bandage wrapped around his forehead.
He sat quietly on the sofa, his gaze lingering on Vantias as though he sawsomething others could not. Then he closed his eyes and drew a deep breath.
Yutab greeted him with a warm smile:
"You must be Arthur. My name is Yutab, and this is my colleague Vantias. We're here to investigate what happened to Elizabeth."
Arthur nodded gently, his voice soft and calm:
"Yes… of course. Ask me anything, I'll answer."
Yutab frowned slightly, weighing his words before asking:
"What was your relationship with Elizabeth like? I'll go straight to the point—we've already heard the basics from your classmates."
Arthur touched the bandage on his forehead, lowering his gaze.
"As you can see… Elizabeth was harsh with weaker students. I was upset by her actions, but I swear—I never harmed her."
Vantias narrowed his eyes and asked with curiosity:
"Why didn't you do anything? You could have told the headmaster or the teachers. Why stay silent?"
Arthur paused, thinking carefully, then answered in a hesitant tone:
"I'm an orphan. I grew up in a church, and I earned my place here by passing the entrance exam. But… there's still a vast gulf between me and the noble students.
Even if…
Even if I'm one of the best students, I'm still just a commoner. If I made even the smallest move, I would have been expelled from the Academy. The headmaster would never have stood by me."
A cold breeze drifted into the room, sunlight streaming through the window. A butterfly landed on the jasmine flowers.
Vantias lowered his head—his suspicions confirmed.
"He's right. A commoner stands no chance against the daughter of a viscount. Arthur couldn't be the killer—he knows too well the fear of punishment and the consequences."
Then Vantias thought:
"His choice to do nothing was rational. If he didn't do it, then someone else must have acted on his behalf."
With a soft tone, Vantias asked:
"Is there anyone in the Academy you're especially close to?"
Arthur blinked a few times.
"Yes. Professor Charles. He's been very kind to me. Ever since I entered the Academy five years ago, he's treated me well, and we share a close bond. But… what does this have to do with Elizabeth?"
Yutab glanced at Vantias with a questioning look, waiting for an answer.
Vantias only smiled faintly and said:
"Ah… nothing. I just wanted to know you better.
Now, let's move on to a few more questions—"