“Hmm, just now.”
“Don’t lie.”
“Really. I just asked you and thought really hard.”
As I grabbed the big hand on my head and brought it down, Ian couldn’t hide his astonishment.
“Every time my sister does this, it amazes me. How can someone’s brain work so quickly.”
“Well, perhaps it’s because I read all the books in the library when I was younger.”
I drew a faint smile in response to his question and shrugged my shoulders.
When I was young, instead of going out often, I frequented the library. And I learned about the outside world I had never seen through books and newspapers.
So, I developed a hobby of reading things over and over again until I memorized them, and as a result, I started to think more.
On top of that, I developed a habit of not letting go of any question until it was resolved, so it made sense that others felt my mental processing was fast.
However, no matter how much I think, it becomes pointless the moment I face reality. Just like having a lot of knowledge is useless without the experience to apply it appropriately.
So, I never considered what others call my strength as a strength.
…But wait, why has the conversation suddenly shifted in this direction?
I came to my senses late and glared at Ian who naturally changed the topic.
“So, where is it, the evidence?”
“…Can’t we just move on?”
“No.”
“Sigh. Then, I have no choice.”
Upon my firm affirmation, Ian, who eventually surrendered, slowly began to spill the beans.
“If you go to the casino, there will be an ivory-colored door tucked away in a corner. Opening it, you’ll see a path split into left and right.”
“Uh-huh.”
“If you follow the path on the left, you’ll eventually see a black iron door at the end. That’s the space used by the Count of Dright. More precisely, it’s where all sorts of dirty deeds are dealt with.”
Ivory door, left, black iron door.
I repeated Ian’s words, not missing a single detail.
While I was doing so, Ian continued his explanation, even using his hands to demonstrate.
“Once you enter, there will be a desk in the center. In the desk’s second drawer, there’s evidence of the second son of the Harvest family being murdered. It seemed to have been forgotten there, pushed to the very back… Oh, and be careful. The drawer handle was coated with a strong poison. Be cautious.”
“Hmm, okay. But why didn’t you bring the evidence?”
I blurted out, suddenly puzzled after listening to his story.
If Ian had brought the evidence when he found it, the situation would have been easier to solve, he could have added credibility to his information, and his contributions could have been recognized.
Yet, despite all these advantages, I was curious why he had left it behind.
Ian, whose lips had been moving at my question, soon replied softly.
“There was a top-level security spell on the documents.”
“Ah… A security spell.”
Now, I understood why Ian had no choice but to leave the evidence behind, even though it was right in front of him.
Even if we set aside the deadly poison, a security spell could only be unlocked by someone who knew how to use magic, and Ian, being of commoner birth, had no mana.
That was why he had left the evidence secured by a security spell behind. If he couldn’t unlock the spell, the person who had set it could easily trace its location.
Before we go, we’ll need to find something capable of nullifying a top-level security spell.
As I was lost in thought, Ian looked at me blankly and added,
“And, I forgot to mention earlier, but when you go to the casino, you must wear a mask. Even if you have an entry pass, they won’t let you in without a mask.”
“It’s the mask. I got it.”
It was a piece of information that would have been troublesome had I not known.
As if memorizing, I mulled over the fact that a mask was essential to enter the casino.
While I was doing that, Ian, who had taken out his pocket watch to check the time, asked with a face indicating disappointment, “By the way, it’s already been 30 minutes; shouldn’t you be heading in now?”
“Already?”
It felt like only a few minutes had passed, but to believe that 30 minutes had already gone by was hard.
Realizing my feelings, Ian offered his watch for me to see.
Following him, when I checked the time, indeed, 30 minutes had already passed.
“My goodness. Why did time pass so quickly?”
“Indeed.”
“Anyway, I should head in now. You should go back soon, too.”
“Yes. Understood.”
As I adjusted my robe and gestured, Ian nodded.
“Always take care of yourself, sister.”
“Remember, I’m always on your side, sister.”
With a few more words softly spoken, Ian then coyly blinked. The slightly folded eyes conveyed a languid feel.
I looked at him quietly smiling and then smiled at him.
***
Throughout the garden, the sound of footsteps crackling under my feet resonated. Sound that I usually considered small seemed like thunder at this moment, making my heart pound fiercely.
So, as I tried to slow down to soften the sound of my footsteps, I felt as though I would suffocate from the tension unless I returned to my bedroom as soon as possible.
While walking carefully in this manner, I discovered a man standing near the palace entrance and almost collapsed.
The tall man wearing a thin indoor outfit was none other than Ruth.
Why on earth Ruth? If it had been someone else, I could have somehow overturned the situation.
I sighed and made a gloomy face.
With someone else, a good excuse might have resolved the situation, but Ruth was quick to notice. Therefore, he would surely demand that I reveal my true identity once he realized I was making excuses.
And I…
Glancing at the fountain beside me, one of my eyes reflected in the water lit by the moonlight was still blue.
Even though more than the 20 minutes I had anticipated had passed, the color of one eye had not changed yet.
While I was pressing down the robe to hide my heterochromia, I saw Ruth wandering around and then starting to walk towards me.
Please go the other way.
I desperately hoped as he approached. I did want to see him, but not like this.
Despite my hopes, Ruth did not stop walking. It was only when he was a few steps away from me that he finally halted.
“Who’s there?”
“!”
Feeling my presence, Ruth asked in a toneless voice. Staring right at me, I clenched my empty hands and shook my head.
Hesitating to answer, fearing he might recognize my voice, his voice slowly drew nearer.
“Why do you refuse to reveal yourself?”
“……”
“Is there a reason you can’t be identified?”
“……”
“Perhaps, you’re here under someone’s orders. Or,”
Ruth then reached out and lifted my chin.
“you’re hiding from someone.”
Driven by his force, I looked up to meet his dry eyes. No, they were dry until they met mine—then, a huge wave surged within them.
“……You.”
After a while, Ruth, with a face full of confusion, took a step toward me. Then, suddenly, he grasped my wrist tightly, as if he would never let go again.
I flinched at the surprising strength in the grip on my wrist, scrunching my nose in pain.
It hurts.
No sooner had I entertained that sentiment than the strength drained from Ruth’s hand.
“Sorry, so sorry…”
Then, Ruth, repeatedly apologizing, washed his face with his hands as if he resembled a deer driven to the edge of a cliff, muttering to himself,
“Am I slowly going mad?”
I barely managed to avert my gaze from Ruth, who seemed somehow ominous, and turned away from him. Staying focused on Ruth felt like I would inadvertently speak up at any moment.
Eventually, having gathered his thoughts, Ruth spoke with a somewhat clearer expression.
“Answer me. Why is one of your eyes blue?”
“…”
“No, that’s not it. Should I be asking why one of your eyes is green?”
It was a self-mocking question.
…How did he know that it wasn’t the heterochromia but the green eye that was fake?
I bit my lower lip as Ruth’s reasoning seemed to be closing in on the truth, my mind going blank.
Observing me intently, he then blurted out with a sharp look in his eyes, “Serbia Obelton.”
“……”
“Who are you?”
“Ah……”
It was then, under his unyielding gaze, that I realized. Now that Ruth had discovered I was ‘Serbia’, there was no escape for me.
But at the same time, I knew that acknowledging it would destroy everything I had built so far. I also knew that we couldn’t be sure of our safety if I revealed the truth now. Ruth’s position was still precarious.
Furthermore, Ruth needed ‘Serbia’ more than ‘Selena’ at this moment. Not ‘Selena’, who could become his weakness, but ‘Serbia’, who was merely a card he could easily discard.
So, not now.
I forcibly gathered my waning courage and looked for a way to dispel Ruth’s suspicions.
But Ruth, who had solid suspicions about ‘Serbia’, seemed unwilling to retract them.
Just as I was at a loss for a solution, suddenly someone wrapped an arm around my shoulder.
“Your Majesty.”
The calm voice that followed belonged to Tommy.
What? Why is Tommy here……
Seeing him suddenly appear, my eyes widened in surprise.
Tommy glanced at me, who was looking at him suspiciously, and then looked back at Ruth.
“This person is my assistant.”
“Your assistant, huh.”
Ruth showed a skeptical expression at Tommy’s explanation.
It was inevitable, really. Anyone could see that I looked suspicious, and Ruth already knew I was from ‘Serbia.’
Seeing Ruth’s reaction, Tommy stretched his lips softly as if he had expected it, and then casually lied.
“Yes. She’s my person.”
