CICN 22

Chapter 22

The staff member raised their hand and looked at the student who had called out to them.

The staff tried their best to memorize all the students’ names.
But with so many of them, it was impossible to remember everyone just yet.
However, the name of the girl who had just called out to them was unmistakable.

She was far too well-known to be forgotten.

“Irene Terrins, correct?”

“Yes.”

“But your roommate is nowhere to be seen…”

“Like I said earlier. I assumed she had been assigned to a different group, but when everyone gathered, she still wasn’t there. That’s why I reported it.”

“Hmm. What’s your roommate’s name?”

“Ibi Elden. She’s seven. Very small. She has light blond hair and green eyes… and a very cute face.”

The staff member listened intently to the surprisingly detailed description, but tilted their head at the last part and looked around at the gathered students.

But the young girl Irene described was nowhere in sight.

“Ibi! Ibi Elden! Are you here?”

When the staff member raised their voice, the students looked around, wondering what was happening.

“Ibi Elden! Anyone seen her?”

Other staff members joined in calling Ibi’s name and searched the surrounding area.

And soon enough, they realized Irene was right—there was no sign of Ibi.

“What should we do? Where could she have gotten separated…?”

“We’ll have to go back into the palace to search, but the timing is tricky.”

Concern was written all over the staff member’s face.

If only they had noticed the missing student a little earlier.

Even if it’s the imperial palace, people aren’t allowed to come and go freely all day long.
Once regular staff finish their shifts, many buildings are closed, and areas near the main palace are blocked off.
Some parts, especially those closest to the imperial court, are strictly off-limits without special permission from the Emperor or the Prime Minister.

If the student was still in one of those places, there was a real possibility they wouldn’t be able to find her until the next morning.

“We need to send the rest of the students back to the dorms. It’s already too late.”

Everyone agreed.

It was getting dark, and the students had already begun to murmur anxiously. If they left things as they were, confusion would only spread.

“That concludes today’s schedule. Everyone, please return to the dormitories.”

At the staff’s instruction, the students, though reluctant, started making their way back.

“Where did we lose her?”

“How should we know? But if she’s found in a restricted area, it’s not just a disciplinary issue—she might be expelled. I heard the curfews inside the palace are insanely strict.”

“Yeah. That’s why, when my mother finishes late, she just waits until dawn when the gates reopen. She told me even exiting a building isn’t allowed at that time.”

Hearing the students’ conversation, a smirk lifted the corner of Remora’s lips as she headed toward the dormitory.

‘That’s exactly what I was hoping for. Goodbye, little orphan.’

Getting separated during a school event didn’t usually result in serious punishment.

Sure, the student who wandered off would be reprimanded, but the staff also bore responsibility for failing to do a proper headcount.

Plus, people tend to go easy when they assume the student must’ve been scared or confused.

‘But it’s different inside the imperial palace.’

The rules there were extremely strict, especially concerning restricted access.

Ever since the succession war, security had become even tighter, and the penalties for violation even harsher to prevent surprise attacks.

Even a student of the academy would not easily escape punishment.

‘And it would take someone pretty powerful to intervene on her behalf. But she doesn’t have anyone like that, does she?’

Today, she’d admitted with her own mouth that she had no connection to the Emperor.

While many students greeted their patrons or guardians during the visit, Ibi Elden didn’t meet with anyone.

While she was the target of disdainful glances, Remora had eavesdropped on other students talking:

“I heard His Majesty chose her out of spite—just picked her as a warning to certain ministers who were trying to push their own candidates into the academy. So she’s probably not someone he plans to pay attention to again.”

They also said the Emperor was cold, distant, and indifferent by nature.

‘In other words, no one is going to step in for her.’

Feeling triumphant, Remora even started humming on her way back to the dorms.

Then, suddenly, she sensed someone staring at her.

“…?”

When she turned around, her eyes widened.

At the very back of the group of boys returning to their dorm, Lusca was standing with his arms crossed, staring at her.

It was a gaze that seemed to say “I know exactly what you did.”

Startled, Remora quickly turned her head and almost ran back to the girls’ dormitory.

Behind her, her friends murmured, wondering what was wrong with her.

“Lusca, is something up?”

Arcel approached Lusca, who continued to watch Remora.

“No, just… something doesn’t sit right.”

Hearing that, Arcel’s eyes lit up.

“Why? Is it about the missing girl? Do you have any ideas?”

Surprised by Arcel’s urgent tone, Lusca glanced at him with a puzzled expression.

“That’s unusual. You getting worked up over someone else’s problem.”

Arcel frowned at that.

“She’s a student. A child, even. Of course I’m concerned.”

For a moment, Lusca nearly muttered, “As if you actually care.”
But instead, he said knowingly:

“You’re not concerned because she’s just any student. It’s because it’s Ibi Elden, isn’t it?”

“…”

He thought Arcel would deny it—but instead, the boy silently nodded.

Arcel’s unexpected seriousness wiped the smile from Lusca’s face. He turned and approached the staff.

“Is there anything we can do to help?”

Arcel added, “If you’re planning to search the palace, we might be able to help. Both of us have special access permits.”

It was true. Both Lusca and Arcel had clearance to meet the Emperor at any time.

This privilege was granted in recognition of their fathers’ distinguished service during the succession war.

It also served as a way to ensure that, should anything happen in the future, the two boys could be counted on as allies.

Hearing this, the staff member’s expression turned thoughtful.

The students had visited more than a few locations today.

Retracing all those steps would require manpower, but with most of the staff occupied managing the dorms, they didn’t have many people to spare.

Still, could they really entrust this kind of task to students?

“She was definitely with us up until the museum. The history wing. I didn’t see her again after the groups split…”

The staff turned toward the voice.

It was Irene again—still standing where she’d first reported her missing roommate.

‘The other students said she didn’t like her roommate.’

Irene herself had never said anything. But several students had complained to staff, asking if the roommate assignments were a mistake, or if it was really impossible to switch.

They all acted as though pairing Irene Terrins and Ibi Elden was an outrageous idea.

The staff had assumed Irene was quietly harboring resentment.

But now, seeing her demeanor, it appeared she was genuinely worried about her roommate.

She even seemed to remember all the details, as if she’d been paying close attention.

“Well then, if the last confirmed sighting was at the museum, she must be somewhere in the places we visited after that.”

Even with the search area narrowed, it was still vast.

‘Should we request help from the Imperial Guard?’

The situation felt like it was escalating quickly, and the staff member quietly sighed.

Regardless, they’d have to report this. Finding the child came first.

Just then—

“Is something wrong?”

A young woman’s voice called out from behind the gathered staff.

They turned with relief lighting up their faces.

A woman with her long hair pulled up high in a messy bun stood there, her clothes dusty as if she had just returned from a long trip.

Despite the dirt on her, the sharp eyes and upright posture made it clear—she was no ordinary person.

The staff greeted her excitedly.

“Dean!”

At the same time, Arcel and Lusca exclaimed,

“Seraphina!”

Seraphina Lidham tucked a stray lock of hair behind her ear and smiled.

“Yes, it’s good to see you all. But it looks like we’ve got a problem with one of the academy students. Let’s find them first.”

She raised one hand.

A faint glow appeared at her fingertips.

Then she murmured, as if she’d just remembered—

“Oh, right. I’d better get His Majesty’s permission first.”