After leaving the Court, Lucien Valois sincerely thanked Donatello.
"Captain Donatello, thank you. Without you today, things wouldn't have gone so smoothly."
Donatello waved him off with a hearty laugh. "No need for thanks. I admire your dedication to justice."
At the words "dedication to justice," Lucien Valois almost found it amusing.
All he wanted was to advance. He simply happened to be lacking a few weighty stepping stones.
He quickly masked his thoughts and said firmly, "For justice, even if I must be shattered to pieces, I will never retreat."
Donatello clapped him heavily on the shoulder. "Good lad. You've got backbone!"
The more he looked at Lucien Valois, the more he liked him. Suddenly, an idea struck him.
"By the way, do you have a girlfriend?"
Lucien Valois instantly understood where this was heading and waved his hands.
"All my energy is devoted to pursuing justice. I have no plans for romance."
A trace of regret crossed Donatello's face, but he let it drop.
The two parted ways.
By then it was noon. Lucien Valois entered a small restaurant and ordered a simple meal.
This time, the owner did not offer complimentary food as usual. Even the dishes arrived slower than normal.
Lucien Valois paid it no mind and finished quietly.
Afterward, he wandered along Fontaine's clean, orderly streets, admiring the scenery.
Without realizing it, he stopped in front of a familiar house.
After a brief hesitation, he knocked.
Moments later, the door opened to reveal the poised and elegant Emilie.
"Captain Lin, welcome. Please, come in."
He nodded and stepped inside.
A soft fragrance greeted him at once, easing the tension he had been carrying.
Emilie asked gently, "Captain Lin, has there been any progress in Flora's case?"
"Not yet," he admitted. "We still lack crucial physical evidence."
Emilie sighed softly. "My father is also involved in the investigation. He said that at this rate, the case may become unsolved—like the serial disappearances of young girls years ago."
Lucien Valois raised a brow. "So your father is an investigator in the Special Investigation Court?"
"Yes. We discussed the case during a family gathering."
She quickly added, "I didn't mention the button."
"A wise decision," Lucien Valois said approvingly. "The fewer who know, the better."
She nodded.
An awkward silence followed.
Emilie was not particularly talkative, especially around young men. Lucien Valois, too, struggled to find words.
Sensing the tension, he steered the conversation elsewhere.
"Miss Emilie, could you tell me more about the process of crafting perfume?"
At once, her eyes brightened.
When it came to perfume, she seemed like a different person—animated, passionate, eager to share her knowledge and insights.
Soon, she invited him to help create a new scent.
The process unfolded naturally.
Between them flowed an unspoken harmony, as if they were long-acquainted confidants.
Lucien Valois, however, had little talent in perfumery.
Even so, Emilie adored the finished fragrance. She applied a touch to her wrist.
The cool, elegant scent blended with her natural aura, making her seem like a woodland spirit—graceful and ethereal.
Taking the opportunity, Lucien Valois offered the perfume to her.
"Captain Lin… are you truly giving this to me?" A faint blush colored her refined cheeks.
In Fontaine, a young man gifting perfume to a woman often carried special meaning.
Lucien Valois nodded firmly. "Miss Emilie, this fragrance suits only you."
"Thank you." After a brief hesitation, she accepted it.
Time passed unnoticed. By the time he left, dusk had already fallen.
After he departed, Emilie remained seated at her workbench, her gaze lingering on the perfume bottle, a faint smile playing on her lips as she drifted into private thoughts.
…
The sun dipped below the horizon, casting a golden glow over the quiet alleyways and stretching Lucien Valois's shadow long behind him.
As he neared his home, he noticed someone waiting at his door.
A young nobleman in luxurious attire stood there, several servants behind him.
Lucien Valois approached calmly.
"Mr. Olivier. Visiting so late—what brings you here?"
Olivier looked him over arrogantly. "You've got some ability. Too bad you offended the wrong people."
"For the justice of Fontaine, even gods do not frighten me," Lucien Valois replied evenly.
"Justice? Hah!" Olivier sneered. "Let me show you what comes of chasing justice. Soon you'll be dismissed—reduced to a commoner anyone can trample.
As for that Chiori you fancy, she will—"
He never finished.
A cold, hard object was suddenly forced into his mouth.
It was the barrel of a gun.
Lucien Valois held the flintlock firmly, expression blank.
"Olivier, I'm not a coward like Ophiel. Say one more word, and I'll shoot you where you stand."
Olivier's face turned pale. He shook his head frantically.
Lucien Valois slowly withdrew the gun.
"If you came here to threaten me, then leave. Don't waste my time."
Olivier gagged slightly, hatred flashing in his eyes.
"Just wait. Tomorrow, you'll witness a fine show."
With that, he stormed off with his servants.
He had come intending to intimidate Lucien Valois into kneeling—hoping to prove himself superior to Ophiel in his father's eyes.
Instead, he had humiliated himself.
Lucien Valois remained where he stood, thoughts racing.
Olivier's words carried one crucial message.
Tomorrow, Flora's case would take a major turn.
Suddenly, a possibility struck him.
Without hesitation, he turned and hurried toward the Palais Mermonia.