The Camberlan Family had lost an item, and it belonged to an envoy from the Imperial Capital no less. The City Guard quickly dispatched personnel to the Camberlan Mansion, with City Guard Captain Sifuke personally leading the team. The remaining row of soldiers stood ramrod straight as they saluted Masha and Selina.
“I’m sorry, I didn’t want things to get this complicated either, but that missing item is truly very important to me.”
Selina spoke indifferently, her tone carrying no trace of apology—it was merely polite formality. In fact, the fact that she could remain so calm without losing her temper was already giving the Camberlan Family plenty of face.
Charles, who had visited the mansion earlier that day, also appeared on the scene, claiming he was there to assist with the investigation. After all, once the City Guard got involved, the nature of the entire matter changed.
If the thief had been caught earlier, it could have been treated as a minor internal squabble. But if the City Guard searched and found the culprit, the punishment would be far stricter.
Xiliya remembered it clearly: in her previous life, after she was “caught” stealing Selina’s item, Masha had hypocritically pleaded for leniency on her behalf, hoping the City Guard would go easy.
“One team, check the mansion. The other team, interrogate everyone again.”
But now, Xiliya was clearly the one in command of the City Guard. The guards obeyed her orders without question and sprang into action swiftly.
“Miss Xiliya is quite decisive, isn’t she?”
Charles couldn’t resist a snide remark from the side, but it only earned him a faint smile from Xiliya.
“Please forgive me, Young Master Charles. It’s just standard procedure, so I must ask for your cooperation. I believe the heir of the Textile Merchant Guild wouldn’t stoop to petty theft, right?”
“Of course not,” Charles waved it off fearlessly. “I’m happy to cooperate with the inspection, but I was in the guest hall all afternoon, so I probably won’t be much help.”
At that moment, City Guard soldiers were nearby, questioning the mansion’s residents one by one. Charles crossed his arms, watching the somewhat nervous Ximo being interrogated by a guard, and suddenly spoke up.
“Since you’re checking everyone who was in the mansion this afternoon, that includes you too, right, Miss Xiliya?”
“What do you mean by that, Young Master Charles?”
“Nothing much,” Charles shrugged. “You were in the mansion too, weren’t you? The City Guard Captain should be impartial and accept an inspection as well, no?”
Xiliya gazed calmly at Charles. “But I stayed in the mansion this afternoon to meet with you, Young Master Charles. Are you suspecting me now?”
“But didn’t you leave the meeting for a while to change clothes? Ah, of course, I’m not suspecting you, Miss Xiliya. Getting inspected would just clear your name—I’m thinking of you.”
“It’s fine. I believe Miss Xiliya, as City Guard Captain, wouldn’t steal from her own custody.”
Selina had a favorable impression of Xiliya and stepped in to smooth things over, but Xiliya smiled and declined.
“No need. Young Master Charles is right—everyone should be inspected.”
Sifuke, who had been searching the mansion, returned just then. She saluted Xiliya and reported loudly, “Report, Miss. The initial check found no signs of intrusion into the mansion.”
“So it’s most likely someone from inside the mansion who did it. Makes sense—who else would dare sneak into the Camberlan Mansion to steal?”
“As both the City Guard Captain and the young lady of the Camberlan Family, I absolutely cannot tolerate this happening under my nose. So if the City Guard finds the culprit, not only will I punish them severely, but I’ll make them publicly confess in the city square before all the citizens.”
Xiliya turned to face the servants gathered in the mansion hall. “So, no matter who did it, this is your last chance. Step forward and admit it now, and we can let this slide.”
Naturally, no one stepped forward. The mansion hall fell so silent that a pin dropping could be heard.
“Very well,” Xiliya’s voice suddenly turned icy. “Captain Sifuke, the punishment is set. No issues?”
Sifuke nodded slightly. “You’re the City Guard Captain. If you propose it, of course there’s no issue.”
“And you, Young Master Charles? What do you think?”
“Ha? I didn’t steal anything—why ask me? I’m fine with it.”
Charles shrugged, but both he and Masha were secretly thrilled.
They had been worrying about how to strike Xiliya down in one blow, and now she was volunteering to apologize publicly in front of everyone? It was practically handing them her ruined reputation on a platter—they couldn’t ask for more.
“This child Xiliya is becoming more reliable by the day.”
Masha praised Xiliya openly while inwardly eagerly awaiting her self-inflicted downfall.
“Take your team and check Lady Selina’s guest room again.”
Sifuke acknowledged the order and left. The remaining guards continued interrogating those present. When it was Charles’s turn, a sly curve tugged at his lips—he was already prepared to frame her.
…
“So, Young Master Charles, you visited the Camberlan Mansion this afternoon to meet with Miss Xiliya?”
“Yes,” Charles nodded. “After meeting Miss Xiliya in the guest hall, I left the mansion directly.”
“Did you notice anything unusual?”
The guard figured he’d ask a couple of routine questions and let Charles go. Unless it was required, he didn’t want to offend the heir of the Textile Merchant Guild.
But unexpectedly, Charles pondered for a moment, glanced at Xiliya not far away, and spoke hesitantly.
“Well… there’s one thing—I’m not sure if it counts as unusual. Midway through my conversation with Miss Xiliya, she went back to her room to change clothes, but she took quite a long time doing it…”
Charles deliberately spoke loudly enough for everyone present to hear. Afterward, he gave Xiliya an apologetic look.
“Sorry, Miss Xiliya. I don’t mean to suspect you—I’m just telling the truth.”
The guard glanced at Xiliya too, but he didn’t suspect her at all. Charles’s words went in one ear and out the other.
Earlier, Xiliya had commanded the City Guard like a prophet, thwarting several waves of Beastmen Clan attacks in advance. He still greatly admired her.
“Next—”
Annaer stepped forward gracefully, cooperating with the guard’s routine questions. When she mentioned cleaning the floor with the guest rooms that afternoon, the guard’s pen paused as he recorded it.
“Did you notice anything unusual, or anyone suspicious approaching the guest rooms?”
“No…”
Annaer shook her head, but she paused right after speaking, as if something had occurred to her. She suddenly frowned.
