Aten’s restoration.
I didn’t expect it to be possible so soon.
I heard she saw her future.
In the end, Philly’s worries became reality.
But that reality saved me.
“Is your body really okay?”
“Yeah. I really thought I was going to die.”
It’s no exaggeration.
I was prepared for death.
…Even knowing the dangers, I’m not sure if I would have made a different choice.
“Don’t do it again, okay?”
“Huh?”
“My success in ‘restoration’ was a coincidence. I barely managed to do it after glimpsing information in a moment. I don’t have the confidence to see the future again, nor do I know how.”
Aten, like Philly, is a descendant of Vala.
Their blood dilutes over generations.
Just like Philly’s visions weren’t proper foresight.
It was a sheer coincidence that Aten saw her future.
Aten gripped the skirt on her knees tightly with both hands.
“……I can’t guarantee I’ll be able to save you next time. So, please.”
“Don’t worry. I’m too scared to do it again now.”
Really.
It’s a miracle that Aten succeeded in restoration at this time.
I don’t want to engage in such dangerous acts ever again.
“You have no idea how scared I was.”
“Hmm?”
“How scared I was. About losing you-“
Creak-
Just then, the hospital room door opened.
Was it the doctor? But a stranger entered instead.
The man, dressed in a suit, politely bowed to me.
“Excuse me. Are you Frondier?”
“Yes, that’s me.”
“I’m Detective Robert, assigned to investigate this case.”
“Case?”
“The attempted kidnapping of Princess Aten, and the suspicions and details surrounding it.”
So, it’s an inquiry.
As I nodded, Robert pulled a chair closer and sat next to me.
He took out a notebook.
“I heard you were the first to spot Renzo. Where was that?”
Aten tensed at Robert’s words.
Because the fact that I discovered Renzo first and successfully handled the initial response was a prearranged lie.
If the investigation continued, we might be exposed.
However.
“Mr. Frondier? Where was it?”
Watching Robert, who was quite adept at acting, I laughed.
“…You said your name was Robert, right?”
“Yes.”
“You’re not a detective.”
Unfortunately, I know who Robert is.
Suits really don’t suit him.
“…If I’m not a detective, then why would I be doing this?”
“Must be at Philly’s command.”
At my words, Robert’s eyes widened.
Pretending to scan Robert’s entire body, I said,
“You can see it even here. The calluses on your hands, the muscles that can’t be hidden by a suit. You tried hard to make your walk seem natural when you came in, but the way you bowed to me revealed your habit.”
“…”
“You’re a royal knight under Philly, aren’t you? Right?”
I was literally babbling anything.
Calluses, muscles, what do I care.
I already knew Robert was one of Philly’s knights.
I just spouted something plausible to explain how I found out.
I couldn’t say something like, ‘I saw it in a game.’
“…Impressive.”
Robert nodded, honestly amazed.
If you know the answer, any explanation sounds plausible.
Robert then sternly set his expression.
“However, you refer to the queen with too light a term. Be careful in the future.”
“My apologies.”
‘Oops. I seem to have gotten used to calling her Philly without realizing it.’
I’ll have to be more mindful in the future.
“But it was not by the Empress’s order. I came looking for Mr. Frondier of my own volition. That’s why I wanted to hide my identity. I apologize.”
Robert bowed his head again.
Such a polite person.
“It’s alright.”
“Since there’s no need to hide, this conversation will be more comfortable. I have something I’d like to ask Mr. Frondier, who has fought Renzo directly.”
“What is it? I might not have many answers.”
How Renzo managed to slice off an arm, for example.
Questions like that, I cannot answer.
Though that’s probably what you’re most curious about.
“Renzo approached you and Aten without anyone noticing. Do you think it was possible for him to do that alone?”
I thought for a moment.
Renzo’s actions, his words at that time.
I shook my head.
“It would be impossible.”
Renzo’s stealth skills were exceptional.
He came so close without me or Aten noticing.
Yet, he still got caught by the Menosorpo.
Given that Menosorpo isn’t a rune intended for security, it’s hard to think Renzo could have bypassed other security measures on his own.
“So, you think there’s an accomplice?”
“Yes. Within the Constel.”
“…I see.”
It’s hard to say this but,
I know who the accomplice is, or rather, the traitor within the Constel.
But that’s not the important part.
Focusing too much on finding the traitor could derail the investigation.
“…Mr. Robert, you are a knight of Empress Philly.”
“That’s correct.”
“I have something to tell you.”
“What is it?”
“There’s one more person.”
At my words, Robert blinked for a moment.
Then his face turned grave in an instant.
“…There’s another accomplice?”
“Renzo said he received a fair amount of money for this job.”
Renzo has an employer.
The traitor within the Constel, too, must have betrayed due to someone’s instigation.
Or perhaps a spy was infiltrated into the Constel from the start.
In other words, there exists a third person who hired Renzo and also created a traitor within the Constel.
“…Mr. Frondier, I don’t want to ask, but I must.”
“What is it?”
“That you should inform me, and also Her Majesty, means…”
“Yes.”
I nodded calmly.
“I believe that the person in question is someone among the royalty.”