Lucien Valois was fully immersed in the files. When he happened to look up, he found Furina already asleep on the desk.
In slumber, she radiated a quiet elegance. Her long lashes trembled faintly like butterfly wings, as if she were a sleeping beauty from a fairy tale.
After a brief pause, Lucien Valois took a coat from his system storage and gently draped it over her shoulders.
Then he returned to his seat and continued reviewing the documents.
Not long after, he finished going through all the materials related to Marot—yet found nothing.
He remained seated for a moment before rising and heading to reception, where he requested all recent case files from a Melusine staff member.
The result was still disappointing. There was no information linking Marot—or his family—to any other cases.
Doubt crept into his heart.
Could the Kappe Family have used some other method?
The thought lingered only briefly before he dismissed it.
Other methods carried too many uncontrollable variables.
Moreover, with the Special Investigation Court already conducting a thorough investigation, the Kappe Family would never risk further exposure at this stage.
Lucien Valois considered numerous possibilities, eliminating them one by one.
After exhausting every avenue of thought, he decided to step outside for some fresh air and clear his mind.
It was already past three in the morning.
The Palais Mermonia lay shrouded in silence, with only night-duty personnel still at their posts.
He crossed the vast, empty hall and stepped outside.
The night sky was dark and deep, a bright moon hanging high above, surrounded by countless stars.
A cool breeze brushed against him, clearing the haze from his thoughts.
Then his gaze fell upon a tall figure standing ahead.
The man stood quietly beneath the night sky, looking up at the moon, emanating a solemn and tranquil presence.
After a moment's hesitation, Lucien Valois approached.
"Lord Neuvillette."
Neuvillette slowly turned, his expression calm. "Captain Lin. Is there something you need?"
Lucien Valois asked, "What are your thoughts on Flora's case?"
Neuvillette replied evenly, "As the Chief Justice, it would be inappropriate for me to express any opinion on a case that has yet to be tried."
Lucien Valois immediately realized his impropriety.
As Fontaine's de facto highest authority, Neuvillette's words carried immense weight. Even the slightest hint of bias could cause serious consequences.
"My apologies, Lord Neuvillette. I spoke without thinking."
Neuvillette gave a slight wave of his hand. "There is no need to be so formal."
After a pause, he looked at Lucien Valois thoughtfully.
"I have a question for you instead. Why do so many choose to align themselves with the nobles?"
Lucien Valois fell silent.
The question revealed that Neuvillette had seen the deeper issue within Fontaine's administration—the nobles forming factions and networks of shared interests.
It was precisely why Flora's case had proven so difficult to resolve.
In truth, the solution was not complicated.
If Neuvillette were willing to set aside his absolute impartiality and cultivate a loyal faction of his own, many of these problems could be resolved.
But he rarely even showed favoritism toward the Melusines he cherished. How could he possibly take such a path?
After a long silence, Lucien Valois answered slowly.
"Lord Neuvillette, people are not machines. It's difficult to completely discard emotion and desire.
Those who align themselves with the nobles do so because nobles offer things you do not.
Better promotion opportunities. Generous retirement benefits. Security for their children's futures."
Neuvillette remained silent for a long time.
Just as Lucien Valois assumed the conversation had ended and turned to leave, Neuvillette spoke again.
"Captain Lin. If one day you attain high office, would you act as they do?"
Lucien Valois had intended to give a lofty answer—that he would pursue justice and remain different.
But in the end, he chose honesty.
"Yes. If I want people to work for me, I must give them sufficient benefits. Not everyone can uphold justice as steadfastly as you."
A faint trace of appreciation flickered in Neuvillette's eyes.
"Thank you for your candor, Captain Lin.
And one more thing—when you cannot find an answer, try returning to your starting point."
With that, he turned and departed, his figure disappearing into the night.
Lucien Valois stood still, pondering those words.
Return to the starting point…
Suddenly, realization struck him.
He slapped his thigh.
He had forgotten his own foundation.
Without hesitation, he hurried toward the Gardes' office building.
It was only five minutes away.
As soon as he entered, he saw Luke lounging at the reception desk, smoking while flipping through investigation files, filling the entire lobby with haze.
"Old Luke, get me every case file from the past few days involving disputes or conflicts."
Lucien Valois waved away the smoke irritably.
Recognizing him, Luke quickly stubbed out his cigarette and went to retrieve the records.
Soon, he returned with stacks of files.
Lucien Valois wasted no time and began scanning them rapidly. Time was short—he had to move fast.
The Gardes handled everything from neighborhood quarrels and business disputes to missing pets—small, mundane cases that often seemed trivial.
Page after page, Lucien Valois read without pause. His eyes grew bloodshot and swollen from the strain.
Finally, just as dawn approached, he found something.
A theft case.
A girl named Marina was accused of stealing a valuable ring from her classmate.
She insisted she was innocent, yet could not explain why the ring had been found in her pocket.
The investigation was ongoing.
If the classmate persisted in pressing charges, Marina could face up to ten years in prison.
And Marina—
was Marot's younger sister.