"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.”

Alice wiggled her fingers as if she felt empty-handed. Perhaps she thought that discussing while drinking tea would be more fitting in this atmosphere.

“No matter how much it’s run like a loose organization, there are connections.”

As I continued to gaze at Alice, urging her to explain further, she shrugged her shoulders and replied.

“Just because someone keeps buying things from one store doesn’t mean they’ll stick to it. If they don’t find anything they like, they’ll actively search around the other stores until they find what they want. Especially if there’s something that someone had custom-made.”

“Um…”

Though Mia Crowfield had just now worn a face that seemed to say she shouldn’t interrupt, it seemed she couldn’t hold back as I continued to talk in a way she didn’t understand.

“What exactly are you talking about? Are you saying that this is related to our territory?”

Alice and I looked at Mia Crowfield simultaneously. I glanced at her startled expression for a moment before returning my gaze to Alice, watching intently.

Was Alice trying to let Mia know that I killed her father?

“Yes, it is related. It’s a story concerning the business the Count was involved in before his death.”

However, Alice didn’t mention that I was the one who killed him. It was still a risky balancing act… but then again, thinking back, Mia Crowfield already knew that I had killed her father. Even if she didn’t know exactly how, she had already come to that conclusion.

So the more I treated her well, the more confused she would become. The less she thought I would want to kill her, and the more her negative feelings toward me faded, the more perplexing it would be. If she ended up not wanting to kill someone she had viewed as a target for revenge her entire life, it would be all the more absurd.

“......”

Whatever Alice had to say, I wasn’t going to stop her.

Part of it was that it was difficult to easily restrain a stubborn Alice, and above all—

To be honest, I found the current situation somewhat intriguing.

I was directly witnessing how "the relationships between characters are changing on their own," rather than leading it myself.

“What kind of business was it?”

Was Mia Crowfield genuinely asking without knowing anything?

She might have been completely unaware in her childhood. But as time passed, after her father died and her mother began preparing for revenge while dragging Mia into it, I wondered if she started to pick up on it little by little. Maybe she simply turned a blind eye…

“First, let me finish explaining.”

However, Alice didn’t give Mia Crowfield a proper answer and continued her explanation.

At least it was fortunate—or perhaps unfortunate—that Mia Crowfield wasn’t reckless enough to openly contradict the princess who said she wouldn’t speak about it.

“So, it’s pointless to examine the lowest shops that have already burned down for tracking purposes. They became ashes ten years ago. Instead, we should look for the upper-level ones that are still operational.”

Alice let out a small sigh, as if lamenting.

“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?