novelraw Chapter 234: Not Even Worth Faye’s Little Finger…
Chapter 234: Not Even Worth Faye’s Little Finger…
The woman’s voice was pleasant.
Clear, steady, carrying a rhythm that could smooth out agitation.
But the content of what she’d said made the green-haired man’s heart go completely cold.
After speaking, she didn’t seem to care whether he’d understood her meaning—in fact, the green-haired man couldn’t even nod right now.
She turned her gaze back to Pandora, seated across from her.
Having just witnessed a capable Third-Rank elite from the Disciplinary Court lose complete control of his body before he could even mount a single reaction in front of this woman—
Pandora’s face still carried that same slightly leisurely expression, even tinged with a bit of playfulness and curiosity.
“Impressive.”
Pandora’s tone was genuinely admiring.
“How should I address you?”
She tilted her head slightly, as if seriously considering it.
“Miss Kaelen Ashbourne? Or... The Grey Gaze?”
The grey-eyed woman—Kaelen Ashbourne—showed the barest flicker of movement across her otherwise expressionless face.
She raised her eyes slightly, focusing more intently on Pandora.
“You know me?”
“No.”
Pandora shook her head. The answer came cleanly.
She had indeed just said she didn’t know this woman.
At first, she’d even assumed the woman was also arranged by the Disciplinary Court—perhaps a higher-level interrogator or something similar.
But what had just happened was enough to completely rule out that guess.
Considering her current social circle...
She barely knew anyone at this level of power.
Which meant the most likely possibility was...
“Just a guess.”
Pandora smiled.
“After all, someone who would care this much about the Alchemy Apprentice’s Ring, who’s connected to this case, and who would personally appear here... the range of possibilities is actually quite narrow.”
Of course, if it wasn’t her, Pandora had a backup answer ready. But that was unnecessary now.
Ashbourne watched Pandora quietly for several seconds.
The cabin was utterly silent except for the dull footfalls of the Crawler outside.
“So then.”
Pandora broke the silence herself.
Her tone remained relaxed, even carrying a hint of curiosity.
“May I ask why you chose to... come in person? With your status, you could easily have had the Disciplinary Court bring me to you for questioning.”
Something extremely faint and difficult to read flickered through Ashbourne’s grey eyes.
“No, girl.”
Her voice remained steady, carrying that strange rhythm.
“Right now, it’s my turn to ask and yours to answer.”
“No problem.”
Pandora nodded agreeably, her smile unchanged.
Perhaps because she had once faced Faye directly—that utterly terrifying, despair-inducing existence—even though the Miss Ashbourne before her now also brought a strong sense of oppression...
She didn’t feel particularly nervous.
Her heartbeat was steady. Her breathing smooth. Even her thoughts were unusually clear.
After all, if she had to compare...
This woman probably couldn’t even compare to Faye’s little finger.
“I get the feeling...”
Ashbourne’s brow furrowed slightly.
Those grey eyes seemed capable of piercing through appearances to see directly into one’s heart.
“You’re thinking something rather disrespectful?”
The smile on Pandora’s face didn’t change in the slightest.
With just the right touch of apology, she smiled and shook her head.
“Of course not, ma'am.”
Her tone was very polite, even somewhat deferential.
“Facing someone like you, I feel only respect.”
“I’m simply adjusting my state of mind, preparing to give you the most sincere and accurate answers possible.”
Ashbourne stared at Pandora for two seconds.
She seemed to find no flaws.
“See that you do.”
She said it flatly and didn’t dwell on it further.
She was certain the girl before her was at most a somewhat talented, somewhat lucky apprentice who absolutely wouldn’t have the guts to play tricks in front of her. For all she knew, beneath that composed exterior, the girl’s mind was already blank with tension, barely able to speak.
“Then.”
Ashbourne’s expression returned to that cold, waveless state.
“Question one.”
Her gaze fell on Pandora like something tangible.
“Did you steal my ring?”
Pandora adjusted her sitting position slightly.
She reined in the overly playful smile on her face, appearing considerably more serious.
To show respect, she even made an effort to add just the right amount of nervousness and unease to her eyes.
“No.”
Her answer was clear and definite.
Then she paused and added:
“To be precise, no one ‘stole’ your ring.”
Ashbourne clearly hadn’t expected the girl’s nervousness to be feigned.
Or rather, she hadn’t bothered to verify it.
She seemed quite satisfied with this and nodded, continuing:
“Mm.”
“But you obtained my ring.”
Not a question.
A statement.
To this, Pandora simply shook her head with a slightly confused expression, her face open and natural:
“I obtained a ring. But I had no idea who it had once belonged to.”
The grey-eyed woman stared at her for a second, her voice still as calm as still water:
“Where did you obtain it?”
“The library.”
Pandora’s answer came readily.
“The Academy’s central library. In the Potionology texts section.”
“The library...”
Ashbourne repeated the word quietly.
A trace of distraction appeared in her eyes, as if she were looking through time and space. Those cold grey eyes were colored, for a rare moment, with a layer of complex emotion.
Reminiscence. Realization. Perhaps even a trace of... regret?
“So it was her... then?”
The words were very soft, more like talking to herself.
A long moment passed.
The distraction in Ashbourne’s eyes gradually faded, returning to that cold clarity.
“Very well. I understand.”
Her tone settled.
“But words are powerless. I need proof.”
Pandora nodded understandingly.
“Of course, ma'am.”
As she spoke, she turned to the side and retrieved several items from the unassuming leather satchel she carried.
Her movements were unhurried, without the slightest panic.
“At the time, from... mm, from ‘her,’ I obtained three things in total.”
She placed the items one by one on the seat between them.
A ring with an antique design, its surface inlaid with tiny gemstones.
A small vial sealed in crystal, containing faintly glowing dust.
And an ordinary parchment formula.
Ashbourne’s gaze swept across the three items in sequence.
Her eyes lingered on the ring for an instant, then focused primarily on the vial of soul powder and the parchment formula.