“...That’s right.”
Fortunately, Perdes's stiff expression seemed to have improved, as if he was feeling better.
He took the invitation he had given me and asked.
“So what should I do?”
In times like this, I think he has a very simple personality.
I laughed because he was so cute.
“First of all, speak slowly but clearly, just like you did to the officials before.”
Perdes cleared his throat and said as I asked.
"Like this?"
"Yes. Like now.”
Perdes nodded that he understood.
"And...”
Besides that, I went there and explained in detail what he needed to do.
Perdes listened intently to my story and laughed when it ended.
"What? It's not that difficult. In short, I just need to appeal to the fact that the reason I’ve been an idiot so far is not because I’m lacking in anything, but because I haven’t received a proper education.”
“That’s accurate.”
“I thought it would be very complicated, but it’s easier than I thought.”
Please don't let that confidence turn into arrogance.
“If it becomes known among the nobles that Perdes was not originally an idiot, then you will be able to take magic lessons from then on.”
When the story of Masosa came up, Perdes' face brightened.
Seeing him like it made me feel good too.
“And do you remember how I told you before to write down the users you meet frequently?”
"Yes. I thought you might ask me already, so I wrote it down.”
Perdes took out a piece of paper he had folded in half, put it in his pocket, and held it out to me.
I opened the paper and checked it.
The name at the top was, of course, Jack.
That's only natural since he's Perdes exclusive servant and the person he trusts the most.
The next person he often bumps into is Sir Aldor.
This is also for his class so pass.
Other than these two people, there was no other employee that Perdes encountered frequently.
Still, there was nothing strange. There were various ways to monitor him without having to bump into him.
“I guess we couldn’t find out who the surveillance station planted by the Emperor was.”
"Yes. The surveillance station is trying hard not to show up, so I’m going to have to rush in and see.”
"How?"
There were many ways to get in trouble.
After thinking for a while about which of them would be better, I asked Perdes.
“How much of the medicine the Emperor gave you is left?”
Perdes blushed slightly as if he was thinking something strange and answered.
“There’s still more than half left.”
“Carry it around and pretend it was a mistake in front of a lot of people and pour it all out.”
"Ah. Then the Emperor will try to deliver a new medicine through that surveillance station.”
“That’s it. They told you to take it at least once a week, but three days later is the day you take the medicine, so if you take the medicine two days later, they will get anxious and try to do something about it.”
“For example, bring me a new medicine, right?”
"That's right. Due to the Emperor's personality, he would have given extra medicine to the guard in advance, so he would try to bring it to you right away. Then...”
Without speaking, I walked over to the desk and took out a round, flat container from the drawer.
When I presented it to Perdes, he immediately opened the lid and checked the contents.
Inside the container was a pure white substance that was slightly viscous, like ointment.
"What's this?"
“It’s a luminous material made from a flower called malus.”
I applied it to the tip of my index finger and covered it with my other palm to create a shadow.
Then, in the small darkness created, the finger sparkled like a star.
“It glows brightly in a dark place like this, so it’s often used at parties.”
“This is my first time seeing something like this.”
Perdes looked around at the luminous material with sparkling eyes, as if this luminous material was quite fascinating.
“If it’s that amazing, it’s okay to keep what’s left after the work is done.”
"Really?"
"Sure."
Because it was something I didn’t really need anyway.
“But you’re going to use this to find the surveillance station?”
"Yes."
"How?"
“Spill the medicine in front of everyone and then put it on the doorknob of Perdes’ bedroom.”
"Ah!"
Perdes immediately realized what I wanted to say and let out an exclamation.
“The person with this on their hands must be the culprit! If I spill the medicine, they will try to secretly take it to my bedroom.”
"Yes. If you apply it somewhere else, it becomes transparent and invisible, and it has good staying power, so it doesn’t come off after just washing your hands once or twice.”
Those marks could only be removed by thoroughly washing hands with soap for several days.
“It’s a good method, but if the criminal touches someone else, ask that person too.”
“Unless you shake hands, there is a very small chance that it will transfer to the inside of your palm.”
It didn't matter if I asked somewhere else.
“How are we going to individually check the hands of the workers in the workshop?”
“I have no intention of repeating every single thing.”
There were dozens of employees working in the Duke's residence.
Including the knights and officials, there are more than two hundred people. How can we check the hands of so many people?
It was absolutely impossible.
It had to be done all at once, as the criminal could notice and destroy the evidence during the inspection.
“Then what are you going to do?”
“There is a way.”
When I answered with a smile, Perdes was startled and his shoulders trembled.
“That laugh just now was a bit scary.”
“Are you just laughing?”
"No. I felt alive. It was as if you were declaring that if he catches the criminal, you won’t leave him alone.”
I guess I revealed my true feelings without realizing it.
I pressed the slightly raised tip of my lips.
I've never heard anyone say that I cannot control my facial expressions, but strangely, I was like this when I was in front of Perdes.
“So what are you going to do when you find that surveillance station? Are you going to kick them out like Garrett?”
“It may change depending on who the culprit is, but for now, I plan to know who it is and just be on guard. So that...”
“That way, it will be easier to monitor and be on guard.”
Perdes interrupted what I was trying to say.
“If you send out that guard, the Emperor will most likely send another guard, so you were trying to say that it would be better to have someone you know rather than having to go through the trouble of finding another guard, right?”
"Yes, that's right."
There were other reasons, but that was the main reason, so there was no need to talk about it.
“You know very well.”
“It’s about this much.”
Perdes shrugged his shoulders with a slightly smug look on his face.
“Then I will do as the lady said in two days.”
“Please take care of it.”
Since I was done with my business, I stood up to see him off.
Perdes stood up and his head rose above me.
“It looks like you’ve grown taller again.”
"Yes. I grew up a little.”
I don't think it's a little bit.
When I first saw him, the boy was only about the height of my shoulder, but now he is tall enough that I have to raise my head and look up.
It's amazing to see him growing up every day.
I had a funny thought, wondering if he would grow to the point where he would break through the ceiling, and I smiled.
"Why are you laughing? What funny idea did you have?”
“It’s not like that.”
I tried to hide it because it was a bit embarrassing to talk about, but Perdes persistently asked.
“Not really. I think I did.”
“Because it’s not. Please go faster than that. It’s class soon.”
“You have nothing to say, so you're kicking me out.”
"Yes, that's right. So please leave.”
Still, when Perdes showed no signs of leaving, I pushed his back and tried to force him out.
However, it was not easy to let him out as he grew bigger and taller.
“If I do that, I don’t think I’ll be able to get you out even if I push you all night long.”
Moreover, Perdes was holding on as if he were teasing me, making it even more difficult to push him away.
“Don’t you have to go to class?”
“We still have about an hour. The man had plans today and he said he would be late.”
He still calls Sir Aldor that man.
This meant that their relationship was not good.
Since there is usually a strong bond between priests, I thought the two would get along quickly, but I was mistaken.
But why are these two people so bad?
Although Sir Aldor seemed cold on the outside, he was secretly considerate of others and had a calm personality, so he tended not to make enemies.
Perdes also seemed to be quite friendly with the employees of the Duke's residence.
However, like oil and water, the two never became close.
Was there perhaps a fight I didn't know about?
Perdes won't tell me if I ask him, so ask Sir Aldor...
"Ah!"
While thinking about something else, I tried to push him away, but my steps got tangled and my body lost balance.
My staggering body fell forward against my will.
"Be careful... !”
Fortunately, I was able to avoid an ugly fall thanks to Perdes catching me in front of me.
Instead, as I was being held in Perdes' arms, I looked up at him haphazardly.
Perdes, who made eye contact, blushed and frowned.
Why are you like that?
Did you get hurt somewhere while accepting me?
I was about to ask if he was okay when I heard a knock on the door.
“It’s urgent, so excuse me...”
The person who opened the door and came in was an official.
The official looked at me and Perdes and stepped back in surprise.
“Sorry to disturb you, Lady!”
Then he shouted loudly and left, slamming the door behind him.
Hmm, judging by the reaction, I guess...
“It seems like the management completely misunderstood.”
A man and a woman hugging alone in a room in broad daylight.
Moreover, the woman fell in love with the man at first sight and was engaged to him.
It was known that men also have feelings for women.
However, since we were in this position, the official could easily have misunderstood.
As it happens, the official who saw this scene was a soft-spoken man.
Still, I have loyalty, so I would keep his mouth shut if I were forced to, but I decided not to.
“It’s better.”
I said, getting away from Perdes.
“There are strange rumors going around that I chose Perdes with different feelings, but this can be put to rest... Perdes?”
For some reason, Perdes' expression seemed to be worse than before.
“Where does it hurt? Should I call my doctor?”
“...No."
I was concerned about the facial expression that contradicted the answer.
“It’s really okay, right?”
"Yes. I’ll just go.”
Even if I pushed him on his back earlier, he didn't go that way.
Perdes suddenly seemed to have some kind of whim and left the room without even looking back.
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