But that was it. She had planned to stop after letting off steam once. There was no deeper malice.

However, the day she lured her into the storage room, she disappeared, and the second time she tried to lure her, she was attacked.

“Did you really not see their face?”

“It happened in an instant!”

Josephine shouted at the investigator.

“How many times are you going to ask the same question? I’m already distraught! They appeared out of nowhere and attacked me. They broke my leg and disappeared before I could even feel the pain! How could I have seen those who moved faster than the eye could catch? If I had, would I be sitting here?”

It was just about venting; she had no intentions of causing real harm. She just wanted to hear an admission of wrongdoing from her.

But then, to be attacked by some thug? And in the academy of all places?

“Why is Horizon Academy’s security so lax? Who would imagine being attacked by a thief right in the courtyard of what’s considered the safest place in the world?”

“Do you have any recent enemies?”

“What are you talking about… wait, no, it can’t be.”

Josephine doubted.

‘Impossible, she wouldn’t have the money to hire anyone.’

After investigating her, there was barely anything to find.

Although she had a baronet title, she was from a remote territory near the border. Her family had little influence, and her father was a small-time philanthropist. Someone like her couldn’t possibly do this.

But then, Josephine started to think fast.

‘It doesn’t make sense, but…’

Josephine grinned.

This could be an opportunity for revenge.

“There is someone I recently had a heated exchange with.”

“And who would that be?”

Josephine replied, her body trembling like an aspen tree.

“It’s Riley Eadalin.”

“Come with us for a moment.”

Riley, who was about to leave the classroom, was stopped by a group of unknowns. She suspected they might be Blesstige nobles working for Josephine Lucan.
However, upon seeing the guarded expression, they immediately revealed their identity.

“We’re from the Horizon Student Council.”

“…Student Council?”

“We have matters to investigate regarding the attacks on Josephine Lucan, Hon Rebanon, and Matthew O’Pry.”

“I have nothing to do with those incidents.”

“We’ll find out if you’re involved after the investigation.”

Hilra, standing beside them, alternated her gaze between the Student Council and Riley. She appeared extremely surprised, even more so than Riley, who was involved in this incident.

Riley calmed the startled Hilra.

“It’s okay; I’ll be back.”

Then she followed the Student Council.

“Who’s being investigated?”

“It seems that Miss Riley was taken in by the Horizon Student Council.”

Gibnen openly displayed his displeasure.

“My shadows carried out the act. Why randomly arrest my wife?”

“I heard Josephine Lucan mentioned Miss Riley’s name.”

“Why?”

“She was asked if she had any recent enemies, and it seems that led to Riley’s name coming up.”

“They seem to know well enough that she has a reason to be resented.”

“Since her name was mentioned, it looks like they decided to investigate her.”

“Did they ignore the incident where they tried to hang my sister from a tree?”

“I’m not sure, but they probably didn’t mention it.”

Why can’t they just leave Riley alone? What’s their rush?

Gibnen clenched his jaw and squinted his eyes. The more he thought about it, the more irritated he became.

He chose to keep the matter quiet, as it would not benefit Riley to cause a commotion. Yet, they approached Riley again, blaming her for everything their shadows suffered.

“Why? My sister never gave them a reason to resent her in the first place. Why can’t they just leave her alone?”

“It’s because she’s vulnerable. The name ‘Eardalin’ doesn’t protect her there. People are cruel to those weaker than themselves.”

Gibnen stood up and grabbed his coat.

“Let’s go.”

The atmosphere in the Student Council’s interrogation room was unexpectedly harsh.

“Do you have anyone who can verify that you were alone at that time?”

“Who could verify that when I was alone? I was alone in the park.”

“What were you doing alone at that time?”

“I often go to the park to read books. I was doing that then.”

“No one can confirm that, though?”

“If they find the people who were in the park at that time, someone might be able to confirm that I was there.”

This wasn’t an investigation; it was more like an interrogation.

The oppressive atmosphere, the piercing stares. The way they pushed, it almost made her think she was the one who had hurt them.

“Recently, the only person who would have a reason to resent them is you, the freshman.”

“Are you saying that I hurt them?”

“Didn’t you bribe people? They testified that they were attacked by three adult men with strong builds, although they didn’t see their faces.”

“I didn’t. My family is not well-off enough to bribe people.”

“It doesn’t have to be money.”

For the first time, Riley furrowed her brows.

“What do you mean?”

“Exactly what I said.”

“…This doesn’t feel like an investigation. It feels like you want to frame me as the criminal. Am I wrong?”

At Riley’s words, the investigator chuckled.

“Maybe.”

“…….”
“An incident of assaulting a student within Horizon had occurred. The only person suspected is you. The victims even directly mentioned they were overtly despised by you.”

“I’m the one overtly despised by them.”

“That means you’re the only person with the motive to commit this retaliatory crime.”

“I didn’t do it. What’s with this interrogative tone if you’re investigating? If that’s the case, turn this matter over to the authorities for a formal investigation.”

“We can’t expose an unsavory incident that occurred within the academy to the outside. It would tarnish Horizon’s reputation.”

“So, you think it’s right to pin someone as the culprit based solely on suspicion?”

The male investigator sighed deeply and narrowed his eyes.

“Someone has to take the blame.”

“……”

“And they want you to take it.”

“So, you’re saying I should take the blame?”

“There are victims who claim you seem to be the culprit, but there’s no one to prove you’re innocent, is there?”

They had no intention of investigating from the start.

It became clear that they had called her here for persuasion or intimidation. They likely had no interest in revealing the truth about the incident from the start. They clearly wanted to quickly wrap this up and sweep it under the rug. Hence, they didn’t even make a formal request for an investigation to the authorities.

“If you’re wronged, bring someone to prove your innocence.”

Riley clenched her fists and bowed her head.

Just then.

“She’s innocent; I’m the witness.”

As someone entered the interrogation room, the investigator became furious without even checking who it was.

“I told you not to let anyone in, why……”

He couldn’t complete his sentence.

The face of the person who pulled out a chair next to Riley and sat down was all too familiar.

“How did you get here?”

“I came because I missed you, and heard you were detained.”

“Well, it’s not a big deal, just……”

“Why are you making excuses, Sister? Seems like there are others who should be making excuses.”

The investigator couldn’t grasp the situation. He was extremely confused. He was surprised once that Matopju had come to such a shabby place, and again surprised that Matopju spoke familiarly to the woman before him.

Doing his best to hide his discomposure, he calmly asked.

“What brings you here?”

“I came to stop an innocent person from being falsely accused.”

“……”

“I came as a witness for Riley Eadalin. Also,”

Gibnen crossed his legs and stared at the investigator.

“I’m also the man she’s going to marry.”

The expression on the investigator’s face soured.