episode_0147

I narrowed my eyes at the question I couldn’t understand the meaning of from the investigator who introduced herself as Terra Earningston.

But regardless of my doubts, the other person was an investigator who even had the king’s letter, so I had no choice but to answer.

“Yes. Although it was only a brief encounter, we have met before.”

“I see. One thing before I ask a few more questions. Since this is related to the investigation, I would like to take notes on the questions and answers that will be asked. Would that be okay?”

“It’s okay. However, as I said before, there is urgent work to do, so I hope you can finish it quickly.”

“Since you are cooperative with the investigation, it will be over in about 10 minutes.”

As he said that, he took out a small notebook from his pocket and started writing down something.

While he was taking notes, he nodded slightly and continued speaking.

“Can you tell us about Charlotte La Rochelle’s life at the academy since she entered the academy?”

“As a teacher, the only answer I can give is that Charlotte is a very capable student.”

“Capable… … . What specifically did you look at and think that way?”

He continued to write down things in his notebook and continued to ask questions.

By the way, why are you doing research on the Spring Festival but only on my nephew?

What does that soft-hearted child have to do with that terrible incident? If it weren’t for the king’s handwritten letter, we wouldn’t have had this question and answer… … .

“There’s nothing to be specific about. Because he was an outstanding student overall. As for talent, I have heard that he is a genius of the century because he uses chantless magic that no one would have told him about while taking the entrance exam, and freely uses cold weapons such as polearms, swords, and shields, so I have doubts about his talent. There is no room for it.”

“I see.”

As he listened to me, he stopped writing something in his notebook for a moment and pressed his temples.

“In addition, potions, elemental science, law, etiquette, dance, musical instruments, etc. Until I received perfect scores in all subjects. and… … . If we say that the student who broke all the records at the academy is not competent, then where else in the world can we say that he is competent?”

As I was praising my nephew, the words took longer than I expected.

When I realized this late and quickly finished speaking and closed my mouth, the person who had been writing down everything put down his pen for a moment, clenched and unclenched his fist, and nodded lightly.

“I see. In summary, Charlotte is an outstanding student who stands out in everything she does. Is that correct?”

“Yes. That’s how it goes.”

“Hmm… … . Are there anything else special? A relationship with a classmate, or especially–a person you are close with.”

A person you are close to… … ?

‘―――… … ‘

‘――■■.’

What a coincidence.

There was an unknown gap between the memories of the night, the cafe, and Charlotte that came to me in fragments.

It seems like there was definitely something, or rather, someone. It was as if there was a hazy fog and I couldn’t see anything.

But, it wasn’t that strange. It’s not strange. Forgetting the past is natural.

“A person you are close with… … . well. Miss Charlotte is quite famous in social circles. I don’t think I’m particularly close to anyone because I’m friendly with everyone.”

“We are all close friends, so there is no one we are particularly close to… … .”

As he filled in his notebook, repeating what I said, he pressed his temples and narrowed his eyes.

Is there something that isn’t working out? Well, it’s not something I care about.

As I looked at him with my mouth closed, he let out a long sigh, closed the notebook, and put it into his arms.

“Thank you for sparing your valuable time and cooperating with the investigation. Well then――I’ll just go and take care of my work.”

As soon as he finished his business, he returned to his grumpy attitude and turned away, scratching the back of his head.

After looking at him for a moment, I called him out as he was about to leave the lab.

“Wait a minute.”

“Huh? Why are you doing that?”

The man, who looked somewhat tired, looked back at me with a drowsy face. I asked about something that had bothered me earlier.

“If you are investigating what happened at the Spring Festival, there will be a lot more questions to ask, right?”

“Ah… … . ha… … .”

He yawned, brushing his bangs, looking at me and saying.

“Do you want to say, ‘Why are you only investigating student Charlotte?’”

“You know very well.”

He looked at me quietly at those words, took out the notebook he had just put in his pocket, opened it, and started flipping through the notebook one by one.

“Because it is an investigation related to nobles, the exact details of the investigation cannot be revealed unless it is the same investigator.”

He said that and kept his mouth shut. He told me not to ask any more questions.

There was a mountain of things I wanted to say to that investigator who was talking as if my nephew was the criminal, but rebelling against an investigator who had a handwritten letter from the King was in line with rebelling against the King’s decision, so I just listened to him. I had no choice but to shut up.

When I closed my mouth, he, who had been quietly turning the pages of his notebook, closed it so hard that it made a clicking sound and looked at me.

“But I will tell you this much. Since human memory is intangible, it is easy to forget and become corrupted.”

I frowned at his words as he closed his notebook.

“Are you saying not to trust your own memories too much?”

“This means preparing something that can be cross-checked with your own memories.”

He was waving the notebook around as he spoke, then put the notebook back into his arms and turned his back to me.

“Well, that’s all I can say. I’m really going now. I smelled too much wine and I got a headache.”

Okay then.

He pressed his temples as he spoke and left the lab, leaving me to think over his last words.

“Something that can be cross-checked with one’s own memories… … .”

diary… … . No, I didn’t write anything like that because I thought it would bring back memories with my sister. Maybe a research journal? No, it has nothing to do with memory.

painting… … ? This too, in a big way――

“ugh… … .”

I reflexively frowned and pressed my temples as the pain felt like my head was being pressed against a stone.

“Keuung… … . Headache… … .”

Is it because I didn’t sleep too much, or is it because I smelled like alcohol for too long like that guy did earlier? The headache that came on suddenly lasted for quite a long time.

After groaning and massaging my temples for a while, I saw my sister’s letter on the floor. I remembered something I had put off for a while because of the conversation with the investigator.

“This is not the time… … .”

I had closed my eyes tightly, but when I felt the headache fading away, I slowly opened my eyes and started moving again.

There is no time to be like this. I have to save my sister from that man’s hands as soon as possible. It’s enough to think about other things later.

Even while this is going on, it’s obvious that my sister is suffering under that man’s magic.

“Please wait a moment.”

When I entered the preparation room, I began to take down my sister’s drawings one by one.

When a total of 58 paintings were removed from the wall, the real wall hidden behind the paintings was revealed.

What filled one wall was none other than a combination formula for manufacturing a single drug.

“I will save you soon.”

I resumed the research I had paused in order to complete the still-unfinished combination formula.

* * *

“… … .”

Inside an empty dorm room.

I was sitting on a chair in an empty room, opened my closed eyes, and looked out the window.

The sun was setting.

“… … I was wondering when it would move.”

It’s starting to move earlier than expected.

I blinked lazily and slowly got up from my seat and walked towards the window.

As I looked up at the sky where the sun had not yet set, I let out a small sigh and lowered my head.

My flowing hair obscured my face as I looked down blankly, with the air of a troubled girl.

‘The woman standing by the flower bed and watering the flowers is a different person from yesterday. There is also a man hiding behind a tree and watching… … . Is the view from above towards the academy’s rooftop?

There are only three looks I can feel right away. The two subtle gazes are behind the tree and toward the rooftop. Is the woman standing in the flower bed staring at me so noticeably as a trap trying to get my attention?

It seems like he’s half-convinced that I’m the culprit. The reason is… … . As expected, the absence of an alibi, or an error in cross-examination, occurred while sorting out the relationship with Hermel. Either one.

No, they are both the same thing, so it doesn’t matter if you count them as one.

“Ha… … .”

As the daughter of a duke, there are few people who have the power to keep me under surveillance just because they have a secret obsession.

If it’s the same duke, it’s impossible even if he dies and wakes up, right? No, this person is not familiar with me. If we reduce it again and again, there are three characters in total.

The mother, the crown prince, and… … . The king himself, or a true third party who borrowed the king’s authority.

“It’s cold… … .”

I muttered that, swept my arms away, and returned my body to the window.

I closed the open window, closed the curtains, and turned my back.

“It’s still early.”

Now is not the time.

So, take a hard look somewhere.

I’ll do my best to hide you.