Having lived for a decade in this world, I still didn’t fully understand the mindset of the nobility.

How could Lady Crowfield tolerate Count Crowfield’s behavior? Even if he didn’t treat commoners like people, it was a fact that her husband was spending the night with someone else.

Did she not know? Did she think that the reason I killed her husband was merely a political calculation from the Emperor?

In fact, thinking that way would be more strange.

Perhaps her mindset was so aristocratic that she couldn’t even conceive of the idea of treating commoners as people.

“It’s an honor to have you visit our territory.”

Once seated in the reception room, Lady Crowfield spoke to us in a soft voice.

“It’s an honor for me to be invited.”

At Alice’s reply, I almost glanced at her in surprise.

Invited?

I hadn’t received an invitation—ah, that’s right.

There was no reason for her to invite me in the first place.

I turned my gaze toward Mia Crowfield.

Her eyes, unable to meet mine, darted around nervously.

She might have heard from Mia that the next Empress was Alice, not me.

In that case, it would be important to consider just how much Mia had shared with her mother about this.

Personally, I didn’t think she would have said much. While the relationship between Mia Crowfield and her mother, Lady Crowfield, wasn’t severely broken, I believed the relationship between Mia and me wasn’t significantly damaged either.

Alice and Lady Crowfield were engaged in conversation.

After exchanging a few mundane aristocratic greetings, Lady Crowfield said,

“Mia often speaks about you two. She says she has a wonderful time with you. Since Mia isn’t the most outgoing child, I can’t express how relieved I am to know that she has friends like you.”

“I also have a shy little sister.”

“Oh my.”

As Lady Crowfield listened to Alice’s words, her gaze shifted meaningfully toward me.

“If someone doesn’t speak to her first, she sits quietly, sulking, so she had no choice but to learn to initiate conversations.”

…In reality, it seemed closer to Alice’s old self. If anything, I was bold enough to speak when necessary. I could just rewind time if I made a mistake.

However, it wouldn’t be appropriate for Alice to say, “I was actually a shy child who didn’t enjoy talking to strangers.” Considering that Alice cared for me as her sister, my childhood memories of caring for her might be something she didn’t want to share openly.

If Alice trusted me, then she wouldn’t believe Lady Crowfield’s words.

“I see. Hearing that puts me at ease. It was thanks to such friends that my daughter was able to adapt easily to the academy.”

Alice took a sip from her tea.

…Actually, it seemed she was just pretending to drink. The tea in Alice’s cup hadn’t decreased at all since earlier. Lady Crowfield didn’t seem to point it out.

Surely, Lady Crowfield wouldn’t have poisoned the tea. There was a knight order here to protect us. Besides, they already knew that it was the Emperor who killed Count Crowfield; if they killed Alice, they would know what chaos would ensue.

If I were Lady Crowfield, I would have found another way. There were various kinds of poisons that could be administered in tea.

“Oh dear, look at me.”

Suddenly, Lady Crowfield clapped her hands. At the sound, Mia Crowfield flinched slightly, clearly tense.

“I’ve been occupying this space without noticing. It’s been so long since friends have met, so I should have given you time to talk. I will take my leave now.”

As Lady Crowfield stood, we all rose from our seats in accordance with her.

Alice, I, and Lady Crowfield exchanged polite bows, and Lady Crowfield stepped aside as she said she would take her leave.

As I watched the door close anxiously, Mia Crowfield quickly opened her mouth once her mother had left.

“That tea—”

“Don’t worry; I was suspicious of it already.”

As Alice spoke, she took out a handkerchief to wipe her mouth.

The tea only made a slurping sound, but the contents of the teacup hadn’t touched Alice’s lips. Alice understood very well how dangerous a drug could be.

She had been horrified when she saw the morphine that had come out of my room, which had also been used by soldiers.

“Ah….”

At Alice’s words, Mia Crowfield slumped back into her seat, sounding utterly deflated.

And as if she had realized what it meant that Alice already knew the truth, she trembled slightly.

“...Rest assured. I’m not blaming you right now.”

Alice said this as she leisurely walked around the reception room, moving slowly while surveying the walls and ceiling. Her demeanor suggested that she had anticipated everything from the beginning.

“......”

Mia Crowfield’s eyes turned to me.

“Silvia is not involved. She’s just here because she’s worried about me.”

I’m not here to kill you or your mother.

I imagined the unspoken words that followed.

…If it had been the me from last year, I might have explored the possibility of killing Mia Crowfield’s mother. If I could, I would prefer to make it look like an accident so there would be no evidence that I had done it.

“I wonder if there’s a place in this room where someone could hide?”

Alice asked casually.

“Oh, well….”

Mia Crowfield opened her mouth but soon closed it again. She wore an expression that suggested she didn’t know how to respond.

Still, a complex look remained on her face.

“What brings you here today?”

“You sent an invitation, didn’t you?”

“......”

But did she never think I would respond to that invitation?

After all, it was a suspicious invitation by anyone’s standards. Even someone closer to Alice, like Charlotte, wouldn’t invite her. It could be a letter to check on her well-being, but not an invitation.

There was an enormous difference between an aristocrat wandering around and a princess visiting. The number of people who would come with her was substantial, and accommodating them would be quite a headache. The royal family would cover the expenses, but depending on the size of the territory, simply feeding and housing all those people could be burdensome.

If it were a matter between countries, it would be even more significant. They would need to show the other side, “Look how well we live.”

In that sense, the Grace family could be considered immensely unique. Even if we went without a guard, no one would doubt us. That was proof of the Emperor’s deep trust, and that fact alone became the source of power for the baron’s family.

“I know that much is essentially a warning.”

Before Mia Crowfield could speak, Alice spoke first.

“......”

Mia Crowfield’s lips pressed tightly together, nearly forming a line.

“However… I had something to confirm.”

“...About me and my mother?”

“No. I already know all that I need to about you and your mother. In fact, there is no easier target to investigate than nobility. I apologize for not informing you ahead of time about my inquiries.”

Alice slightly bent her knees, but Mia Crowfield’s expression remained stiff.

Recognizing that her eyes were waiting for what would come next, Alice continued.

“Of course, it relates to your territory. Perhaps… it could be related to that incident back then.”

“......”

Mia Crowfield’s eyes sharpened. Alice regarded her expression with interest.

“I’ve never seen that expression on you at school.”

“Ultimately, you haven’t changed at all.”

Mia Crowfield’s words left Alice silent. As if waiting for what would come next.

“At that time, just like you took my father’s life—”

“No.”

Alice interrupted Mia’s words sharply.

“I won’t kill you. There’s no reason for it.”

“......”

As I quietly observed the widening of Mia Crowfield’s eyes, Alice spoke.

“I swear on the name of Fangrifon. I won’t kill my ‘friend.’”

Mia Crowfield’s mouth fell open in shock.

The reason my mouth didn’t drop open was due to years of training and experience.