Yorna's noble streets were spotless.

  As though chaos itself were not allowed to exist, silk banners wavered softly above gleaming walkways, and each lantern was positioned with purposeful accuracy. With his hands in his pockets and his eyes wandering over the exquisite surroundings, Sévon strolled silently through the district.

  Kurayamiya flourished in contrast, being lively, packed, and alive with layered lights and bustling, narrow streets.Both districts would win if they were put in a competition.

  One was elegant and sophisticated.

  The other was a living beauty, but only one of them had a corpse in it at the moment. Sévon's thoughts returned to Masao's neck as he strolled. There had been no flaunting or displaying of the velora.

  Masao was a low-ranking noble, but it had been put there.which implied that the purpose was not his death.

  "Then it is time to act," Sévon whispered softly as his eyes narrowed.

  With a steady gaze and an unhurried gait, he stepped forward into the noble street. A sudden change in motion appeared on the periphery of his vision. He was going to be hit by someone.

  Sévon moved half a step to the side without even looking. The figure moved through the area where he had been just a moment before.

  "Really, why are you wandering around here by yourself?" Sévon asked.

  A small chuckle came out of the person's mouth, their short laugh was fine and almost soft, almost noble.

  "You know that the dodge was not necessary right? Or am I wrong, Sévon?"

  Sévon stared at the person who bumped him and just simply smiled.

  "Yea, your right that was uncalled for. Now come on I know you want to even if you're trying your best to hide it,Esme." Sévon said, as he opened his arms wide.

  She stood motionless for a heartbeat before losing her cool. She moved swiftly—no, she ran—and encircled him with much more force than her body would have allowed. The embrace was not honorable.

  It sounded desperate, like she was securing him. In return, Sévon wrapped her in his warm, steady arms. He lightly touched the back of her head with his hand.

  "Hasn't it been a while?" he muttered.

  Her grip became less tight after a few seconds, and they gradually separated. In order to regain her composure, Esme took the first step back and brushed invisible dust from her sleeve.

  "Yes, it has," she muttered.

  Sévon examined her face. She was grinning.

  Sévon looked at the satchel dangling over her shoulder.

  "Are you not supposed to be at school?"

  Esme's smile wavered for a brief moment before she laughed softly and nervously while twirling a lock of her black-and-red hair around her finger. She adjusted the strap of her structured leather randoseru-style satchel, which was a little too heavy for her slender frame, and shifted her weight.

  She was still dressed in full uniform.

  Her shoulders were framed by a clean white sailor blouse, with a broad black collar rimmed with thin white piping that, in the right light.A big black bow was securely fastened to her chest with a tiny dark brooch that had the academy's crest on it.

  Moving gently in the breeze, her pleated black skirt fell neatly to her knees. She appeared to be sitting in a classroom, just as she should have.

  The weight of his gaze was felt by Esme. She let out a loud sigh.

  "All right," she whispered. "I fled."

  Sévon gave a single blink.

  "Run away."

  She folded her arms and hurriedly insisted, "It was boring."

  He let out a slow sigh, then reached up and touched the bridge of his nose with two fingers.

  "You were bored, so you skipped your academy lectures."

  "When you say it like that, it sounds worse," she said.

  "It's worse."

  She gave her cheeks a little puff, but the look was fleeting. Instead, curiosity sharpened her eyes.

  "So, what are you doing in Yorna?" she asked, taking a step toward him.

  "A job."

  Her whole attitude changed.

  "A job?" she asked again, her earlier defensiveness instantly giving way to excitement. "Which one? Is it a political issue? Duty as an escort? Something confidential?

  Her eyes gleamed as she leaned forward excitedly. Sévon gave her a long look. Then he gave a straightforward response.

  "A case of murder."

  Her face lost its excitement.Suddenly, the noble street appeared to be quieter. Now Esme examined him closely.

  Softer this time, she questioned, "Is it serious?"

  "Yes."

  She paused.

  "Dangerous?"

  The silence that followed Sévon's delayed response was sufficient. Esme took a small swallow.

  "Who would die if it's dangerous?"

  Sévon didn't think twice.

  "Shirai Masao."

  Her eyes instantly grew wide.

  "Shirai Masao?The Masao Shirai?He is among Yorna's most powerful minor nobles. How could a powerful person like him simply pass away?Her voice was filled with disbelief as she asked,

  "Power is not immunity," Sévon calmly retorted.

  "His bedroom is where he was discovered."

  Esme leaned in.

  "And?"

  "He wasn't by himself."

  Slowly, understanding appeared on her face.

  "Oh."

  Sévon concluded, ""He died in the company of a woman who was not his wife."

  Esme blinked, "Cheated?" "How can someone who cheats die? That is nonsensical.

  Sévon did not respond. With a slight, uncaring shrug, he simply raised one shoulder.

  Esme gave him one more look and let out a breath. "Unbelievably... Whatever the situation, I'm joining you because I have nothing better to do."

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  "Joining me?"

  "Yea, with the investigation"

  Sévon looked at her, sighed. It was like he had expected those exact words… and yet, hearing them still caught him off guard. Esme had the peculiar tendency of making statements that seemed like they were decrees, not necessarily arrogance, but more of an inheritance.

  Well, it would take the cake since she is part of a noble family, a family of powerful warriors, all of whom are proficient in the form of Qi, and not to mention she was the heir to the clan head so in other words, the nickname of princess was accurate.

  "You do understand that, I'm not doing this alone right?" Sévon asked.

  Esme curiosity piqued even more. Here she believed that Sévon came alone to Yorna to deal with the murder case, but now it looked like it was false. This made Esme a little upset but she eventually shrugged it off.

  "Then who did you come with?"

  "Kiichi and Tasia."

  Esme's one second of excitement vanished within that moment.

  "Are you serious right now? Tasia I understand, we haven't had a girls night in ages but Kiichi. Why would you bring that fucking Leeroy?"

  Sév?n said nothing because, alas, everything Esme said about Kiichi was true. The man was reckless. Dramatic. Far too pleased with himself and yet... useful.

  Sév?n's expression changed slightly. It was a rare, almost childlike pout to his lips. One that made him look slightly annoyed.

  Esme's eyes narrowed. "You agree with me."

  "I did not say that."

  "You made a face."

  Sévon did not comment on this.

  "Whatever. We will return to that in a moment. Your decision to join us." Sévon said at last.

  Esme's demeanor smoothed out at once. "I would normally scold you for abandoning your duties at the academy. However... today is not the day."he said, calm as can be.

  Her relief was immediate. It lasted exactly one second.

  "You will, of course, be scolded by someone else."

  She stopped dead in her tracks.

  "You wouldn't."

  "I would."

  "Sévon."

  "Shuren will hear about it eventually."

  "No. You're not telling Shuren."

  "It would be irresponsible not to."

  Esme moved closer to him, her voice taking on a more serious undertone. "If you so much as imply that I skipped lectures because I was bored, I swear I will never return to Kurayamiya again."

  "I am still informing Shuren."

  Esme's eyes widened in reaction. "Sévon…"

  "However."

  He waited a moment before he spoke.

  "If tonight goes as planned… I may consider that silence is more efficient."

  She examined him intently for any sign of deception.

  "You're bargaining with me."

  "I am laying out the terms."

  He waited a moment before he spoke again.

  "Fine," she said. "You have a deal."

  "Return home. Change."

  He turned slightly towards the main road.

  "Meet me at the inn that Kiichi and Tasia have been staying at tonight. We're going to the residence that we believe our primary lead will be at."

  "Did you manage to find their place of stay?"

  "Possibly."

  She nodded once before she turned sharply away from him.

  "Don't leave without me."

  "Not going to."

  She ran down the street with a lot less elegance than she would ever admit to. He watched her disappear from sight around the corner.

  "Moody girl."

  "Changes faster than the seasons."

  Night fell on the inn in a quiet manner. In the rented room, Sévon and Tasia sat across from each other, both reading books, and the reflection of lamplight could be seen in their eyes.

  Kiichi, on the other hand, slumped back in his chair and looked bored out of his mind.

  "Are we going to solve this murder or read it to death?" he complained,

  Neither of them looked up from their reading material. It was then that they heard a knock on the door. It was three knocks, measured and deliberate.

  Sévon closed his book slowly and looked up. "Enter."

  The door opened and Esme walked in. For a brief second, she was composed and put together until she spotted Tasia. And then all composure was lost.

  "Tasia!"

  She walked across the room in an instant and hugged her tightly. Tasia stood up just in time to be hugged properly.

  "It has been too long," Esme said, hugging her tightly.

  "It has," Tasia replied softly.

  They moved back a little and shared a peck on each cheek, looking very natural and casual.

  "We are having another girls' night soon. No excuses." Esme declared immediately.

  Tasia's smile was weak. "I have no objections. We just need Taura to complete the set."

  Esme nodded enthusiastically. "Exactly."

  The atmosphere had a brief moment of lightness before returning to its usual state. She spun around to face someone else. Her eyes locked onto Kiichi. Her smile had changed several degrees in terms of warmth.

  "…It has been a while."

  Kiichi stood up slightly straighter.

  "It has."

  Sévon watched the scene unfold without making a comment.

  Kiichi's head cocked slightly to the side. "I see you're still making proclamations instead of greeting."

  Esme crossed her arms over her chest. "And I see you're still confusing volume with importance."

  The atmosphere grew thick once more. Tasia went back to her seat, her work done in terms of the reunion process.