Chapter 92

I was standing in a certain room of the shop, which is Mr. Edgar's birthplace, facing my nominal grandfather. I never thought that after that exchange, I would end up asking for a favor...

Mr. Edgar's father. I can't sense any goodwill from him. It's even worse than before.

...Of course.

I asked for the second floor to be closed off and for a room that is not open to the public to be lent to me. --I used the princess's authority in a way that was unpleasant.

But, since it was a matter concerning Derek, I had to talk secretly. Behind Derek, a woman who I think is Mr. Edgar's mother, who was originally in this room, is watching us. I don't feel any overt hostility from her. However, her gaze on me seems sad.

"So, Your Highness. I have followed your orders. What more do you want from us?"

The man said this in a tone that was almost a spit.

"---Grandfather, Grandmother"

"......!"

The man's face twisted in extreme displeasure.

I know it's a nasty way to do things, but I probably need to use this nominal relationship to get Mr. Edgar's parents to be accomplices. I shouldn't have chosen this杂货店 as the last inspection site.

"First, please listen to what I have to say about Lord Knight Fellow's son, Derek."

There are five of us in the room: me, Derek, Clifford who remains as a guard, and Mr. Edgar's parents.

I have told Guy and Eriel to inform us if anyone—my brothers—comes to the second floor of the shop.

"......Do we have no right to refuse?"

The man, who had barely maintained his politeness, discarded it and asked.

"Unfortunately"

I nodded.

"Derek"

"Yes. I will explain."

At my urging, Derek began to speak in a calm tone.

---During the inspection, a messenger bird from the castle is supposed to come to my brother regularly.

Derek also took the same measures. However, the source was from Nathan Holden. This allowed Derek to know the situation at the castle while staying in the town.

The one who passed by Derek just now in the shop, wearing a wig and carrying the letter, was Stein. He handed Nathan's report to Derek.

And the content Nathan conveyed was---

"There is no abnormality." It's completely different from what the official messenger bird reported.

This means that Sir Sil hasn't been kidnapped and gone missing. He is following orders and, well, guarding Sir Sil.

"Why are you communicating directly with Nathan?"

"Perhaps because the person we are wary of is the same?"

Derek's bitter smile mixed with sorrow.

"Moreover, the person is someone who has the deep trust of Sir Serious and is hard to catch. At the same time, this person knows Sir Serious very well. --He is the most familiar with the security arrangements for the inspection and has the authority to move them."

"......"

That means...

If you say it to this extent, even I can guess.

I clenched my teeth.

"Hugh..."

The only person who comes to mind is Hugh Roberts. Intellectually, I understand that he is the only one, but my mind is in chaos. I want to deny it. ...I thought Hugh and Nathan could be excluded.

"Hugh was acting to make Nathan suspicious. So, at first, I also suspected both of them. However, I found out that Nathan was investigating Hugh. ...It seems Hugh had already figured it out."

"Nathan has a sharp intuition..."

I think he instinctively sensed Hugh's change.

Even if I don't want to think about it... if Hugh is the culprit.

"Was it Hugh who tampered with Sir Sil's carriage...?"

"It might not have been Hugh himself. He could have given instructions to someone he brought in."

---Wait.

If Hugh was behind the tampering of Sir Sil's carriage and today's attack---then is he targeting Sir Sil's life?

Because the carriage's runaway could have caused a major disaster if the luck was bad.

If Hugh liked Sir Sil and wanted to kidnap him, at least that would have been understandable. There would have been some room for acceptance.

But this way, I can't even deceive myself.

Is Hugh trying to kill Sir Sil?

Moreover, it's a planned action. The attack during the inspection is a diversion. Normally, Sir Sil is under the watchful eye of his brother. To isolate Sir Sil... and to do it himself, for sure?

Sir Sil must think Hugh is a friend.

Hugh... Hugh... Hugh must care about Sir Sil, right?

Can I say that?

My thoughts stopped.

I don't understand.

In the original novel, Hugh was in love with Sir Sil. But I can't understand Hugh's feelings in reality.

...But, the golden tassel of the sword that was cut.

The question of which order to follow.

And then---when I was asked if I thought Derek was an ally, and I affirmed it, the smile he gave.

It all seems related.

It seems to have meaning.

"Will you believe me, Lady Octavia? I might be trying to frame Hugh, just as the note Hugh prepared made it seem like I was part of the villains."

His brown eyes are sincere. Usually, people who say such things aren't lying, right? ...If, for example, Rust had said it, I might have been full of suspicion. It's a matter of personality.

...If this had been before the pre-ball, I might have hesitated to answer.

"Indeed, I can doubt Lord Derek. But I choose to believe what I want to believe."

So, in other words.

"I believe you."

"...Thank you."

Derek's face lit up.

---The direction is decided.

The conclusion is reached.

"Clifford. I will return to the castle, bypassing my brother's watch. I will stop Hugh. Be prepared for that."

"---Yes."

Turning around, I gave the order, and Clifford, who had been waiting, bowed his head.

"Please wait. Lady Octavia."

Derek tried to stop me.

"Don't we need to catch up with Hugh quickly? You need to convince my brother that I am innocent and that Hugh is suspicious. My brother will ultimately believe you."

Because if Derek and Nathan noticed, it's hard to imagine that my brother wouldn't find anything suspicious, no matter how well Hugh acted.

"......"

Derek was at a loss for words and didn't answer immediately.

"......I hope so."

After a while, he replied with a weak tone. Is he uncertain?

"Even if that's not the case, it's Derek's job to make it happen."

I pushed through with a smile. It's okay! Derek can do it!

Actually, the only person who can change my brother's mind, even if he is suspected, is Derek.

"......We have no choice but to try."

Derek, with a bitter smile, then changed his expression to a serious one and nodded.

"But it won't be immediate, will it?"

It's impossible to end the persuasion in a few seconds, even for Derek. A tough battle is expected.

"So, I will head to the castle first. Inside the castle, my orders will be followed unless they are acting on Hugh's instructions."

I will use my princess's authority to the fullest! This is a good use of princess's authority.

"---Derek, bring my brother and catch up with me."

Derek's eyes widened a bit.

A strong light appeared in his brown eyes.

"Understood. I will definitely catch up."

Derek bowed, as a subject to a royal, showing his determination.

Derek will do what only Derek can do.

I will do what I need to do.

"Have you been listening? You must understand the situation. There is a problem."

I turned to the two people who were still outsiders in this room—Mr. Edgar's parents. I chose to involve them to carry out what I need to do.