“I don’t know that.”
Sernia frowned and withdrew.
But I keenly caught the slightest change in her expression.
Anyone who has lived a life accustomed to being mindful of others will know.
How much emotion can be contained in the very, very subtle changes in facial expression that most people don't even notice.
And that feeling is felt much better when it's negative than when it's positive.
'You look surprised.'
I guess she was surprised that we figured out so quickly that she was in cahoots with Andrew.
“She is agitated.”
I whispered to Callius.
“Can I question her?”
“Please do so.”
Callius nodded readily.
For some reason, the look in his eyes as he looked at me seemed to contain the same kind of happiness a parent might have when looking at a fully grown child, which made me wonder, but now was not the time to be concerned about such things.
I carefully observed Sernia's reaction and deliberately gave her the correct name.
“What did you say to Andrew?”
I'm not trying to get information out of you; I just wanted to let you know that I have solid information and that this is just a fact check.
“I don’t know anything! I don’t even know who that knight is!”
Sernia denied it, but as expected, she seemed more agitated when she heard Andrew's name.
I smiled and pointed out the error in her words.
“You know he’s a knight, so you definitely know who Andrew is?”
“...!”
Sernia flinched.
“That, that’s just because it seems like all the people watching me are knights...!”
“Seeing you trying to protect Sir Andrew like that, I think he must have said he would join hands with you.”
“...!”
For me, who already knew for sure that either Kavala or Andrea would invade Ronheim to target Callius, the slightest clue Sernia gave me was enough.
Sernia kept her mouth shut.
It seemed like she thought it was better to say nothing than to say something.
I could have whipped or tortured her to make her open her mouth, but instead of doing that, I approached Sernia.
Although Callius tried to stop me, I quietly stopped his hand and went to Sernia and whispered.
"The Kavala must have told you this, Sernia. The wizards will be here soon, so help them."
Sernia bit her lip silently.
She didn't seem to be very shaken yet.
I continued calmly.
"She said she'd save you if you just set up the teleportation magic circle. She promised Andrew Hillen's health, but what did she say she'd give you?"
“...”
“I’m sure she promised you something. Something very important, something worth risking your life for.”
I clicked my tongue in regret.
"Think about it. When you first came here, you probably didn't volunteer. Kavala probably forced you here on some terms."
“...”
“You must have entrusted something very important to Kavala, didn’t you?”
That was correct.
Sernia's eyes shook greatly.
'I just made a rough guess, and I guess it's right.'
Knowing Kavala's personality, I guessed that she didn't just send Sernia out of trust.
Kavala is someone who exploits human emotions, so I don't trust her.
However, it did not seem like Sernia would show such loyalty even in the face of death just because she was promised financial compensation.
'I've caught your weakness.'
Andrea always manipulated people by exploiting their desires or weaknesses.
And he was greatly influenced by Kavala, so he must have seen and learned from Kavala how to move people.
I carefully chose my words, wondering which ones would hit the nail on the head.
“You are loyal to the person who threatened you and sent you here.”
Correct answer this time too.
Sernia's eyes rolled around.
I used the truth to mercilessly crush her hopes.
"Sernia, you know that? Kavala didn't trust me from the beginning. That's why she planted a death curse on my heart. She knew I would betray her."
“...”
“She sent you here, attached to me. Why?”
“...”
"If Kavala had intended to take the maids who came with me back to Arrental, why didn't she send the capable maids she had? You, who has never even worked as a palace maid."
Sernia, who was beginning to waver, shook her head and denied reality.
“No... No...! That’s because I can do that...!”
I drove a wedge in.
“Kavala never intended to save you in the first place.”
"No!"
"Andrew and Hillen will be outside with the wizards, so they can take them. But rescuing you from the dungeon will be quite a challenge. Do you think Kavala would be willing to take that risk for you?"
I looked at Sernia with an attitude that was neither too cold nor too warm.
“The reason I kept you alive until now was to keep you in contact with Kavala, so that you would realize too late that I had completely betrayed Kavala.”
“...”
"But there's no need for that now. You've colluded with Andrew, and he's helped you. Haven't you already told Kavala everything about me imprisoning you?"
“...”
“Kavala must have known everything, so I see no reason to keep you alive any longer.”
“...”
“Your grave is here, in Ronheim.”
Sernia was trembling.
It doesn't matter anymore whether Kavala really tried to save her or not.
If I ordered her to be killed here, she would die.
Sernia knows that too.
"Poor thing. At such a young and beautiful age, living a life unrelated to the palace, suddenly being used for this, and dying. It must be so unfair. You couldn't have known it would come to this."
Perhaps Sernia had a desperate reason to remain loyal to Kavala.
I felt a sense of empathy for her, as if I was looking at my past self who had been used by Kavala and died, but I also hated her for trying to help Kavala drag me into Ronheim and destroy this beautiful land.
So I decided to give Sernia just one chance, no more, no less.
If she doesn't take this opportunity, she won't survive.
“Think carefully. Kavala is far away, and I am near.”
“...”
“Will you remain loyal to Kavala, who threatened you and drove you to your death, and die? Or will you confess the whole truth here and now and at least save your life?”
“...”
Sernia shivered and cowered.
'Are you saying you won't tell the truth in the end?'
I looked at her, who was lying flat on her stomach with her arms around her shoulders and her head down like a turtle, and gave Hawick an order.
“Execute the sentence.”
I remembered the article about Andrea that killed me in my past life.
The knight who called me stupid and told me that I was just being used by Kavala, and then put his sword to my neck.
'This time, I'm playing the role of that knight.'
I didn't feel well.
I closed my eyes tightly and turned away from Sernia.
At that moment, Sernia shouted from behind.
"Andrew, the knight has gone to meet the wizards! They're setting up a teleportation circle somewhere in Ronheim! Empress Kavala will lead an army and invade!"
Finally, she confessed.
But then something came out of her mouth that I didn't know about.
"She said she was looking for the Holy Grail! I, I taught her the key to the Holy Grail..."
'Holy Grail?'
What does that mean?
Suddenly, I remembered what Callius had said in a regretful voice a while ago.
'If I had the Holy Grail, I could have completely eliminated the curse, not just temporarily suppressed it... '
You, Sernia, clung to the hem of my skirt.
“Please save me, Princess! Please save me! I have to go see my sister! Please save me...!”
Hawick grabbed Sernia and tried to pull her away from me.
“Please leave it.”
I stopped Hawick like that and locked eyes with Sernia.
“I will spare your life as promised.”
I feel a little choked up as I say this, as if I'm talking to my past life.
I didn't want to seem weak to those who didn't know the situation, so I quickly controlled my emotions and spoke calmly.
"But I still can't forgive you for trying to harm Ronheim. Still, you told me the truth before it was too late, so when my hatred has subsided a little, I'll listen to you and your sister's story."
I slowly got up and gave orders to the knights who had brought Sernia.
“Give Sernia water to wash and food to eat, and confine her somewhere other than the dungeon.”
Sernia let go of me and burst into tears, bowing her head at my feet.
“Thank you...! Thank you!”
So Sernia left, and I sighed deeply, feeling a bit sad.
'Can I say I'll let you live however you want?'
That thought occurred to me belatedly, and I looked at Callius.
But then suddenly, applause erupted among the knights.
“...?”
I looked back at the knights in wonder, and they gave me a thumbs up and shouted.
“You were awesome!”
“Excellent!”
Callius also came to me and said.
“Thank you for your hard work, Chloe.”
He had a very proud expression on his face.
Callius looked at the knights and gave an order.
"You all heard? There's no time to worry or be anxious. While we wait for our colleagues to capture Andrew, let's begin a countermeasure meeting."
While he was saying that, I was thinking about what Sernia had said.
'The Holy Grail... I think I'm missing something important. I should ask Callius for more details.'
Sernia frowned and withdrew.
But I keenly caught the slightest change in her expression.
Anyone who has lived a life accustomed to being mindful of others will know.
How much emotion can be contained in the very, very subtle changes in facial expression that most people don't even notice.
And that feeling is felt much better when it's negative than when it's positive.
'You look surprised.'
I guess she was surprised that we figured out so quickly that she was in cahoots with Andrew.
“She is agitated.”
I whispered to Callius.
“Can I question her?”
“Please do so.”
Callius nodded readily.
For some reason, the look in his eyes as he looked at me seemed to contain the same kind of happiness a parent might have when looking at a fully grown child, which made me wonder, but now was not the time to be concerned about such things.
I carefully observed Sernia's reaction and deliberately gave her the correct name.
“What did you say to Andrew?”
I'm not trying to get information out of you; I just wanted to let you know that I have solid information and that this is just a fact check.
“I don’t know anything! I don’t even know who that knight is!”
Sernia denied it, but as expected, she seemed more agitated when she heard Andrew's name.
I smiled and pointed out the error in her words.
“You know he’s a knight, so you definitely know who Andrew is?”
“...!”
Sernia flinched.
“That, that’s just because it seems like all the people watching me are knights...!”
“Seeing you trying to protect Sir Andrew like that, I think he must have said he would join hands with you.”
“...!”
For me, who already knew for sure that either Kavala or Andrea would invade Ronheim to target Callius, the slightest clue Sernia gave me was enough.
Sernia kept her mouth shut.
It seemed like she thought it was better to say nothing than to say something.
I could have whipped or tortured her to make her open her mouth, but instead of doing that, I approached Sernia.
Although Callius tried to stop me, I quietly stopped his hand and went to Sernia and whispered.
"The Kavala must have told you this, Sernia. The wizards will be here soon, so help them."
Sernia bit her lip silently.
She didn't seem to be very shaken yet.
I continued calmly.
"She said she'd save you if you just set up the teleportation magic circle. She promised Andrew Hillen's health, but what did she say she'd give you?"
“...”
“I’m sure she promised you something. Something very important, something worth risking your life for.”
I clicked my tongue in regret.
"Think about it. When you first came here, you probably didn't volunteer. Kavala probably forced you here on some terms."
“...”
“You must have entrusted something very important to Kavala, didn’t you?”
That was correct.
Sernia's eyes shook greatly.
'I just made a rough guess, and I guess it's right.'
Knowing Kavala's personality, I guessed that she didn't just send Sernia out of trust.
Kavala is someone who exploits human emotions, so I don't trust her.
However, it did not seem like Sernia would show such loyalty even in the face of death just because she was promised financial compensation.
'I've caught your weakness.'
Andrea always manipulated people by exploiting their desires or weaknesses.
And he was greatly influenced by Kavala, so he must have seen and learned from Kavala how to move people.
I carefully chose my words, wondering which ones would hit the nail on the head.
“You are loyal to the person who threatened you and sent you here.”
Correct answer this time too.
Sernia's eyes rolled around.
I used the truth to mercilessly crush her hopes.
"Sernia, you know that? Kavala didn't trust me from the beginning. That's why she planted a death curse on my heart. She knew I would betray her."
“...”
“She sent you here, attached to me. Why?”
“...”
"If Kavala had intended to take the maids who came with me back to Arrental, why didn't she send the capable maids she had? You, who has never even worked as a palace maid."
Sernia, who was beginning to waver, shook her head and denied reality.
“No... No...! That’s because I can do that...!”
I drove a wedge in.
“Kavala never intended to save you in the first place.”
"No!"
"Andrew and Hillen will be outside with the wizards, so they can take them. But rescuing you from the dungeon will be quite a challenge. Do you think Kavala would be willing to take that risk for you?"
I looked at Sernia with an attitude that was neither too cold nor too warm.
“The reason I kept you alive until now was to keep you in contact with Kavala, so that you would realize too late that I had completely betrayed Kavala.”
“...”
"But there's no need for that now. You've colluded with Andrew, and he's helped you. Haven't you already told Kavala everything about me imprisoning you?"
“...”
“Kavala must have known everything, so I see no reason to keep you alive any longer.”
“...”
“Your grave is here, in Ronheim.”
Sernia was trembling.
It doesn't matter anymore whether Kavala really tried to save her or not.
If I ordered her to be killed here, she would die.
Sernia knows that too.
"Poor thing. At such a young and beautiful age, living a life unrelated to the palace, suddenly being used for this, and dying. It must be so unfair. You couldn't have known it would come to this."
Perhaps Sernia had a desperate reason to remain loyal to Kavala.
I felt a sense of empathy for her, as if I was looking at my past self who had been used by Kavala and died, but I also hated her for trying to help Kavala drag me into Ronheim and destroy this beautiful land.
So I decided to give Sernia just one chance, no more, no less.
If she doesn't take this opportunity, she won't survive.
“Think carefully. Kavala is far away, and I am near.”
“...”
“Will you remain loyal to Kavala, who threatened you and drove you to your death, and die? Or will you confess the whole truth here and now and at least save your life?”
“...”
Sernia shivered and cowered.
'Are you saying you won't tell the truth in the end?'
I looked at her, who was lying flat on her stomach with her arms around her shoulders and her head down like a turtle, and gave Hawick an order.
“Execute the sentence.”
I remembered the article about Andrea that killed me in my past life.
The knight who called me stupid and told me that I was just being used by Kavala, and then put his sword to my neck.
'This time, I'm playing the role of that knight.'
I didn't feel well.
I closed my eyes tightly and turned away from Sernia.
At that moment, Sernia shouted from behind.
"Andrew, the knight has gone to meet the wizards! They're setting up a teleportation circle somewhere in Ronheim! Empress Kavala will lead an army and invade!"
Finally, she confessed.
But then something came out of her mouth that I didn't know about.
"She said she was looking for the Holy Grail! I, I taught her the key to the Holy Grail..."
'Holy Grail?'
What does that mean?
Suddenly, I remembered what Callius had said in a regretful voice a while ago.
'If I had the Holy Grail, I could have completely eliminated the curse, not just temporarily suppressed it... '
You, Sernia, clung to the hem of my skirt.
“Please save me, Princess! Please save me! I have to go see my sister! Please save me...!”
Hawick grabbed Sernia and tried to pull her away from me.
“Please leave it.”
I stopped Hawick like that and locked eyes with Sernia.
“I will spare your life as promised.”
I feel a little choked up as I say this, as if I'm talking to my past life.
I didn't want to seem weak to those who didn't know the situation, so I quickly controlled my emotions and spoke calmly.
"But I still can't forgive you for trying to harm Ronheim. Still, you told me the truth before it was too late, so when my hatred has subsided a little, I'll listen to you and your sister's story."
I slowly got up and gave orders to the knights who had brought Sernia.
“Give Sernia water to wash and food to eat, and confine her somewhere other than the dungeon.”
Sernia let go of me and burst into tears, bowing her head at my feet.
“Thank you...! Thank you!”
So Sernia left, and I sighed deeply, feeling a bit sad.
'Can I say I'll let you live however you want?'
That thought occurred to me belatedly, and I looked at Callius.
But then suddenly, applause erupted among the knights.
“...?”
I looked back at the knights in wonder, and they gave me a thumbs up and shouted.
“You were awesome!”
“Excellent!”
Callius also came to me and said.
“Thank you for your hard work, Chloe.”
He had a very proud expression on his face.
Callius looked at the knights and gave an order.
"You all heard? There's no time to worry or be anxious. While we wait for our colleagues to capture Andrew, let's begin a countermeasure meeting."
While he was saying that, I was thinking about what Sernia had said.
'The Holy Grail... I think I'm missing something important. I should ask Callius for more details.'
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