episode_0051

Following someone is not an easy task.

People are surprisingly quick to notice things, reacting sensitively to even the slightest sound around them. Especially during the quiet night when movement is scarce, those sounds are even easier to pick up.

Of course, there are plenty of spells that can minimize those sounds. While they may require the liberal use of expensive Marmauros, if there is a need to secretly observe someone, Mia Crowfield didn’t think twice about the cost.

Especially if that someone was the person who killed her father.

The problem is, even if using such means, there is a high risk of being discovered if it turns out that Silvia Pangryphon did assassinate the Marquis without a care.

Mia Crowfield was a mage, not an assassin. She had received some training, but it was more about exposing the vulnerabilities of the nobility rather than training to kill.

Moreover, Mia had the opportunity to observe Silvia Pangryphon up close during the mock battle. Watching her effortlessly take down opponents one by one, Mia was in awe.

Silvia didn’t even flinch at the sight of allies falling.

Her demeanor… it was so terrifying that it made Mia wonder if there was some sort of magical influence at play.

Wearing the softest shoes, choosing the darkest clothes she had, opting for pants instead of a skirt, and even donning a mask, Mia knew she looked suspicious. She was well aware that no excuse would suffice if she were caught.

But… even if she were discovered…

Well, then she would have to fight back. Mia never intended to die alone. No, even if she couldn’t kill, she would at least leave a significant mark before dying.

With such determination in mind, Mia Crowfield began to follow Silvia Pangryphon in the not-so-awkward hours of the early morning—no, it was still the dead of night.

From Mia’s perspective, who didn’t know Silvia’s lifestyle well, it was necessary to observe her routine properly.

“…At this hour?”

It was fortunate that she had started observing from midnight. Silvia was up and about at an unusually early hour. Surely, there must be something she needed to attend to at this hour.

But…

“…Huh?”

If the task at hand required such secrecy that she had to move in the dead of night, wouldn’t it be necessary to be more vigilant of her surroundings?

Sitting on a bench waiting for a carriage, Silvia Pangryphon showed no signs of being alert to her surroundings.

No, more precisely… she seemed even more absent-minded than usual.

Silvia Pangryphon…

She was dozing off on the bench.

“Huh?”

And she seemed very defenseless. If someone were to attack Silvia Pangryphon now, she would easily fall victim to the assault.

…No, that couldn’t be.

Could this appearance be a disguise? Mia Crowfield pondered, tilting her head.

Yes, a disguise wouldn’t be out of the question. By appearing extremely relaxed while still being on guard, she might be trying to lull even the pursuer into a false sense of security.

…But if she knew she was being followed, wouldn’t it be better to counter-attack the pursuer instead?

“Huh?”

As Silvia Pangryphon, who had been dozing off, suddenly jerked her head forward and woke up with a start, rubbing her eyes vigorously. Though not visible here, her eyes were probably bloodshot, and it wouldn’t be surprising at all.

What is it?

What is it for real?

Silvia Van Gryphon was like a fortress that no matter how meticulously you attack, not a single drop of blood would come out. She was the ironclad woman who didn’t even change her expression when eating delicious food.

Of course, Alice Van Gryphon, seeing such Silvia Van Gryphon, would talk and act as if there were other emotions beneath her expression, but Mia didn’t believe any of Alice’s words.

“Hmm.”

“Huh?”

…However, looking at Silvia Van Gryphon, who yawned widely without even covering her mouth, that certainty would become faint.

She shrugged off the coat draped like a cape, as if she disliked even extending her hand outside, and yawned widely, then looked around in a startle… It didn’t seem like she wanted to reveal that she was acting emotionless.

“….”

Is that an assassin?

No, no.

Mia shook her head vigorously once again.

That… that might be an act. A way to shed the label of an assassin that was attached to her. But for now, she was still a princess.

Tap, tap.

When she heard that sound, she quickly looked towards Silvia Van Gryphon, and saw Silvia Van Gryphon hitting her own cheek with both hands as if trying to wake herself up.

“….”

Now, not even a surprised sound came out.

It was a completely different appearance from what she usually saw.

…Could it be that she’s not even detecting my presence? Of course, the distance was quite far. A normal student would naturally not even notice Mia following her.

It was a calculated move to see if she could catch any clues by provoking Silvia Van Gryphon, who would soon catch Mia if she noticed Mia following her. And that was Mia’s calculation.

“….Ah.”

Could it be.

Perhaps, was all of this calculated?

Although the Imperial Family had somewhat utilized the fact that Mia’s father was murdered, they never directly admitted it. The incident was just an unfortunate accident, and officially, the Imperial Family mourned the death of the Viscount.

But, because of that, they couldn’t just casually reveal the evidence.

Officially, because they didn’t directly kill him. The Imperial Family’s attitude was to use the fact that the nobles were trembling, but if someone pointed out that fact, they would deny it.

The Emperor had a conversation with his mother. Mia didn’t hear the conversation, and her mother didn’t tell her what it was about. She just told Mia that the Emperor killed her father.

So….

“….”

Sniff.

Silvia Van Gryphon sniffed loudly. It seemed like she thought there was no one around.

….

Is it really true that she killed my father? Is it true that the merciless murderer who blew up several carriages with bombs, creating numerous innocent victims, is her?

Maybe my thoughts were wrong?

Seeing Silvia Van Gryphon, who turned back to her expressionless face after hearing the distant sound of the approaching carriage, Mia Crowfield pondered seriously.

*

“Princess.”

Monday morning.

As Mia headed from the dormitory to the classroom, she went straight to where the two princesses and the princess were seated.

And she greeted Silvia Van Gryphon, slightly bowing her waist.

“Did you have a good night?”

Throughout Sunday, Mia had seriously pondered about Silvia Van Gryphon’s appearance, but no suitable answer came to mind.

“Did you have a peaceful night?”

The one who first responded to Mia’s words was Alice, the ‘real princess.’

“I hope you were well.”

“Thank you, Your Highness. I’ve been doing well.”

From a young age, Mia Crowfield, who had always been of a quiet nature, found it somewhat difficult to greet others in the morning. Especially when it came to approaching a group of people and being the first to greet them.

However, Mia Crowfield had something to confirm.

Whether the sight of Sylvia Pange Griffin she had seen on Sunday morning was real or not.

No matter how vengeful a person may be, they cannot stay up all night for two consecutive nights. Therefore, the only way to confirm Sylvia Pange Griffin on Monday was to check her expression as early in the morning as possible.

If there was even a hint of fatigue in her expression now, Mia felt that she would rather be relieved.

“….”

However, Sylvia Pange Griffin’s expression as she looked up at Mia was the same as usual, devoid of any emotion.

“Sylvia, even if you’re tired, you should accept the greetings of the person who greeted you first.”

…Tired?

Upon hearing Alice’s words, Mia looked at Sylvia Pange Griffin’s expression again.

Without a doubt, her expression was the same as usual, showing no signs of being tired.

“….Good morning.”

Her voice didn’t show any hint of being tired either.

“It’s fascinating to watch the two of you just staring at each other.”

“Fascinating, how so?”

When Alice asked, Charlotte said, “In my opinion, Sylvia always has a blank expression. Alice, you seem to read that expression effortlessly.”

…Read it? Mia, who had already seen Sylvia Pange Griffin’s ‘different expression’ once, wondered if she was just deluding herself by thinking she was the only one who could read it.

“Heh.”

Alice chuckled as if boasting, “There were quite a few people in the palace who annoyed Sylvia. Her reactions were not just one type of response. Although most of them were annoyed… well, yeah, most of them were annoyed, but still, her reactions to me were much better than her reactions to her other siblings.”

“….”

Sylvia Pange Griffin turned her head at Alice’s words. Still expressionless, it was hard to tell what she was thinking.

“Is that so?”

Listening to Alice’s words and looking at Sylvia’s expression again, Charlotte still couldn’t figure it out.

“Indeed.”

“….”

Mia also glanced at Sylvia Pange Griffin’s expression briefly…

…But the expression she had seen early in the morning yesterday was nowhere to be seen.

*

…Did I become too complacent?

Certainly, while maintaining a blank expression, my reactions were different to Alice, Lucas, and Jaden. I was blunt with Lucas and Jaden, but relatively gentle with Alice.

Wasn’t that inevitable? Jaden and Lucas were already somewhat mature when we first met, but Alice was still a child when we first met. She was the same age as Morelle.

Seeing that she had a difficult childhood, being pushed around by her capable siblings who were not blood-related, I found myself trying to be kind to her without even realizing it.

And with the knowledge that she was the protagonist of the original work.

Still, compared to Lucas, who suddenly brandished a sword every time he saw me, or Jaden, who seemed to like me a bit too much, I seemed to have gotten along just fine with the other two.

No, maybe it was because of these various reactions that Alice was able to read my expression to the point where she did.

“….”

Although our eyes didn’t meet, Mia Crowfield could see me looking straight at her.

No, why is she acting like this again?

We didn’t even cross paths all weekend. Could it be that one of the other imperial children caused an incident in the palace?

“….Hm.”

As Charlotte continued to gaze at me silently, lost in thought, she finally spoke.

“I really have no idea what you’re talking about.”

My words.

Honestly, even if I took a picture of my face, I don’t think I would recognize myself.

How could Alice, a stranger, understand expressions that even I can’t recognize?

…Could it be that Alice has a hidden ability?

Thinking that it wouldn’t hurt to investigate, I looked at Alice, who was smiling brightly.