crown [C. TARTAGLIA]

10

before valentina saw childe in that hallway, she had met with scaramouche to discuss about the investigation she sent in previously.

"your highness, here is the latest report of the investigation." scaramouche bowed before the red haired woman before giving her an envelope containing classified information.

"thank you." valentina opens it briefly, skimming over the words that were printed in the paper. "[Y/N] ivanov... adopted by leonid [L/N]?"

"after the ivanov clan fell, leonid took the heiress in."

she hums, finding the information interesting. years before leonid joined the [Y/N] estate as a butler he had been a martial arts teacher, valentina was one amongst his dedicated students. "i'm guessing that old man got attached to that young girl. anything else you found?"

"yes. apparently, [Y/N] was last seen leaving leonid's house a year ago. after that, they found the man dead in his own home."

"i see... so you're saying?"

"the townspeople believed that it was her that killed her adoptive father, leading her to flee from fontaine to hide her past."

°

you have been living with leonid [L/N] ever since you were thirteen when your parents have been murdered. you had no idea why or who did it, but you made one thing clear.

your purpose in life was to avenge your late parents, taking the life of who murdered them your own.

"[Y/N]." leonid called out as soon as you got back home after getting food for dinner.

"hey old man, need anything?" you asked, setting down the paper bag onto the wooden table. the house wasn't as big compared to the mansion you used to live in, but you were thankful enough that leonid took you in so you didn't care either way.

"let's have a talk, shall we?"

you paused, gulping a little as you prepared to what he was about to say. you were close with leonid, he treated you as if you were his own daughter after you've lost your parents. you were inseparable, yet he hid so much from you.

he hid why he told the mansion staff that you got kidnapped instead of being taken away by him personally, he never told you any theories as to why your parents even got killed in the first place.

"what's up?" you sat in front of him at the living room while he was drinking from his can of beer.

"i have a lead as to who the murderer is."

your eyes widen and immediately asked, "what? then–"

"but this isn't such an easy task, [Y/N]." he told you, eyes narrowing down to yours.

"you've trained me years for this, leonid. i've mastered each and one of your lesson, i'm ready."

in his eyes you were nothing but a little girl he always used to give piggy back rides with at the mansion. but now, seeing the look of determination in your eyes, he couldn't help but to sigh.

"...the knife. the killer took it back when i came back to the crime scene."

"...what?"

"after a month i came back to the mansion to search for some clues. as you know, your parents has ties with several noble figures so many were after for their life. i came to look for evidence, then i found out the knife was gone."