The Protagonist's Party is Too Diligent

Chapter 127

"Yes, I just called you a 'friend,' didn't I?"

Alice spoke somewhat sharply to Mia Crowfield, whose mouth was agape and frozen in shock, unable to respond properly.

"Or do you not consider me a friend?"

"Uh, no, it's just that..."

Seeing Mia struggle to answer, Alice waved the teacup she had been holding.

“At least, judging by how you’ve pointed out the teacup just now, it doesn’t seem like you view me as a target for revenge like your mother does. Or perhaps your friendship takes precedence over your desire for revenge.”

Mia Crowfield tightly closed her mouth at those words. However, she wasn’t very effective at maintaining a poker face; her lips trembled, her eyes darted around, and her face turned crimson.

“Let’s talk for a bit. The main reason we’re here is, of course, because of Silvia, but... it also relates to you, or rather, your family.”

I found myself staring at Alice, unable to hide my surprise.

Something related to me?

Did Alice find out about my past?

...Well, thinking back, if Alice decided to investigate my past, it wouldn’t be impossible for her to discover. Even if they were beings who were not easily approached, she could ask the Emperor's children, Bella or Jayden, about where I came from.

But...@@@@

“If you thought that the place I came from was connected to this place, then you’re likely mistaken.”

As my words reached her, Mia Crowfield cautiously turned her gaze toward me. Her eyes seemed to be seriously contemplating whether to intervene or not. It appeared that her heart was leaning toward not intervening.

“Really?”

However, Alice remained unfazed by my words, gracefully placing the teacup on the table.

“That was not the case the last time I investigated.”

Before I killed the Count, I had rummaged through various documents inside. There was no evidence linking it to the orphanage I lived in.

There was no way that the only orphanage selling children was that one. The Empire is vast. If they were to buy a child from a system so far away, it would be better to gather orphans from nearby places instead. There must have been enough orphans within the Crowfield territory, and given its location near the border, they could have imported orphans from abroad.

Claire seemed to have conducted some investigation herself, but she hadn’t found anyone connected to that orphanage.

Thus, I tentatively concluded that the orphanage had operated independently. It was destroyed by my flames.

Though I never did find the man and woman who visited that orphanage back then.

“If you thought that way, it means you’ve overlooked something.”

“From the top down, find the aristocrats addicted to opium, filter out the decadent ones among them, and then search through the opium dens one by one. It might be easier than you think to figure it out.”

“...Did you go there directly?”

When I asked somewhat mockingly, Alice furrowed her brows.

“Of course, I didn’t go in person. No matter my abilities, I don’t present a particularly intimidating impression at first glance. It’s far more frightening to send a knight carrying a commission under the Emperor’s name.”

“Are you saying His Majesty permitted that?”

“I didn’t really ask for permission. I borrowed the format of the commission. I already know what my father’s signature looks like. After all, I’m his daughter. It wouldn’t be too strange if my handwriting resembled my father’s quite a bit.”

“......”

I had to exert all my effort not to make a sound of disgust. Moreover, Alice’s proud expression as she spoke was so striking that I found myself at a loss for words for a moment.

“Are you saying you forged His Majesty’s commission?”

“The great His Majesty couldn’t possibly be unaware of it, so I consider myself effectively granted permission.”

No, even so, the Emperor doesn’t know everything.

This time, I had to hold my arm tightly to avoid hitting my forehead.

“Anyway, you... swept through the area where you were? So you managed to ascertain a few certain facts.”

Alice smiled with satisfaction.

“Those aristocrats often find it difficult to escape, even if they want to. The value of their name and territory far exceeds their self-worth.”

“......”

“And they often think, seeing others looking after them, that it’s only natural.”

Mia Crowfield seemed to ponder the implications of Alice’s words, her jaw slack. At this point, wouldn’t she need to visit an orthopedic or dental office?

“Hmm.”

Having said that much, Alice picked up her teacup again as if she found it somewhat unsatisfactory. She then reflected her face against the surface of the tea.

“...But, do you really think there’s something in there?”

Alice asked with a somewhat serious expression.

“......”

Well, it wouldn’t hurt to be cautious. There might indeed be a trace of a drug in it. In truth, Lady Crowfield wasn’t that crazy, and Mia Crowfield might have just panicked.

But was that really important right now?