Chapter 24

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"Is Tiana really in the central part that's off-limits?"

Alan leaned over the floor plan of the White Rose Palace spread out on the table in the surveillance building's reception room, tilting his head in confusion.

"Why do you think so?"

Cyrus also looked puzzled.

"Just a guess. Nice, can everyone see this floor plan?"

"Yes, yes. To prevent confusion during excavation work, it's posted everywhere so anyone can see it..."

"Is this the only type of floor plan?"

"Yes, of course."

"Then, here. This, the central part of the White Rose Palace—the underground passage of the royal residence—can be freely seen on the floor plan, correct?"

"Yes."

"I see. Thank you."

"Hey, Olivia, don't just be satisfied with yourself, explain it to us."

Alan tapped the table impatiently with his fingernails. Olivia nodded and pointed to the central part of the floor plan.

"I thought Tiana might be in the central part of the White Rose Palace because she has no advantage in fleeing within the country. Tiana's family has all been captured and stripped of their status, so she has no home to return to, and of course, her assets have been seized. The Lemone Earl's territory is currently under the custody of my father, Duke Autour, so she can't flee there either. Even if she tried to find a relative, it's unlikely they would hide someone who has committed a crime and fled. In other words, even if she escaped, Tiana has nowhere to go. It's also unlikely that she would try to hide within the country, given her personality."

"Well, now that you mention it, that's true. I can't imagine Tiana being willing to live a life with no food or clothes until she dies."

"But why do you think she's hiding in the center?"

Alan nodded, and Cyrus asked.

"If she can't stay in the country, she might think of fleeing abroad."

"Huh?"

"Wait a minute."

Alan pressed his temples, indicating he didn't understand.

"Why would she need to hide in the center of the White Rose Palace to escape abroad? Even if she hides, there's no place to run."

"No, there's an underground passage."

"Olivia, the underground passage is blocked and can't be used anymore."

"Yes, but..."

Olivia pointed to the underground passage on the floor plan.

"This floor plan doesn't mention that. The underground passage is only drawn up to a certain point, and it's noted as 'leading to the country of Calzor.' Just looking at this, one wouldn't know that the passage is blocked. Nice, do the prisoners know that the underground passage is blocked?"

"I think those who have been working here for more than half a year know, but since the central part has been sealed off, no prisoner has tried to enter, so we haven't specifically explained the underground passage."

"Thank you. Tiana only recently came here, so it's not strange that she wouldn't know."

"I see. So, Tiana thought she could escape to Calzor from here without knowing the passage is blocked."

"Yes. But, there's one thing that concerns me. If Tiana really thought of escaping from here, did she come up with this plan on her own?"

"What do you mean?"

"If Tiana fled to Calzor, she would still be penniless. While she might avoid capture from us due to the relationship with Calzor, her life would still be difficult. Would Tiana choose such a life willingly?"

"So?"

"Perhaps someone guided Tiana and guaranteed her a life there."

"Who?"

"I don't know. But I think there's a possibility of third-party involvement."

"But if that's the case, would they guide Tiana to an underground passage that's blocked?"

"Yes. That's why I'm confused."

Olivia fell silent with a troubled expression. Cyrus stood up with the floor plan.

"Why not question Tiana once we find her? Tiana might have just thought she could escape and entered the underground passage without much thought."

"...That's possible."

Tiana's ex-fiancé, Alan, sighed heavily and called the soldiers waiting outside the reception room.

"Get more people just in case. And Nice, could you please remove all the prisoners from the ruins? It will be difficult with them around."

"Yes, yes! Please wait a moment!"

Nice, who had been lost in the conversation, suddenly snapped to attention and ran out of the room. When Nice returned, Olivia and the others, along with Nice and the soldiers, headed to the central part of the White Rose Palace.