{Chapter 53} “…I will.”
In the pitch-black pavilion, Anna had been waiting for quite some time.
The eerie emptiness of the place was starting to get to her when the old butler finally reappeared before her.
"Did you find anything?"
Although he was Louise's servant, and according to the intricate protocols of nobility, he should have reported to Louise first, who would then relay the information to Anna.
Anna's impatience in questioning someone else's servant might be seen as inelegant and rule-breaking by more rigid individuals.
Fortunately, neither Louise nor Anna were such sticklers for formality, and the old butler wasn't either.
He merely bowed slightly to Anna, showing the same respect he would to his own young mistress.
"I'm sorry, Miss Anna, but after searching the entire mansion, I found nothing suspicious."
"...Nothing?"
"Yes, based on the background investigation of this individual, I believe that except for being overly greedy for wealth, there is nothing questionable about Philsey Bill."
"Really...?" Anna was once again plunged into self-doubt. Could she have been overthinking this?
"Yes, Philsey Bill, born in the year 3253 of the Kingdom's calendar, the eldest son of the Bill family. He entered the Knight Academy in 3271, performed well during his studies, and was recommended to the Border Knight Regiment after graduation. He was promoted to deputy leader three years later and transferred here as the leader two years after that."
"His academy evaluation states that he had a good attitude towards interpersonal relations during his studies, was skilled in social interactions, and although he had the flaws of being overly greedy and lustful, his diligent and studious nature was enough to compensate for these shortcomings."
"...That's it?"
"Yes, both the background check and the on-site search revealed no suspicious points. Moreover, his wide range of associations would require several days to sift through for any potential targets."
"I see, thank you for your trouble, sir."
"Please, don't mention it." The old butler bowed again.
"You are a friend of the young mistress, and more importantly, someone she cares for deeply. It is my duty to assist you."
"..."
The old butler's straightforwardness about such matters left Anna somewhat embarrassed.
"Miss Anna, if there's nothing else, I shall take my leave now."
"...Alright."
"By the way, Miss Anna."
"Yes...?"
"Although it may be presumptuous of me to say so, I feel compelled to speak my mind." The old butler looked up at Anna, his hawk-like eyes no longer sharp but instead revealing a profound depth.
"Despite your somewhat... complicated relationships with women, I sincerely hope that you will treat the young mistress's feelings with the utmost care and not cause her any heartache."
"...I will."
By the time Anna uttered these words, the old butler had already vanished from sight.
After saying this, Anna gently pressed her index finger against her nose, as if pondering the meaning of life.
Then, feeling somewhat uncomfortable, she shifted her position but still couldn't find a comfortable stance.
After the old butler's words, Anna's heart was anything but calm.
"How to respond to... Louise's feelings?"
Louise's attitude had become increasingly overt.
Although Anna had feelings for both Louise and Helga, deliberately balancing the two relationships and toying with their emotions was truly too much.
Having read so many heart-wrenching novels and even seen futures in simulations where both could coexist harmoniously, why was she so torn?
Indeed, she needed to give Louise a response.
After this incident was over.
Having vaguely made a decision, Anna became even more determined to uncover the mastermind behind the plot against her.
Was Philsey cleared of suspicion? Of course not.
The more unrelated he seemed, the more Anna recalled the "regretful yet smug" description from the simulation.
Although basing suspicion on such textual descriptions from the simulator, a mysterious "tool" she had recently acquired, seemed too hasty, what supported this suspicion was not the simulator but Anna's "intuition," which she had trusted for over twenty years since birth.
If asked to name her most confident trait, it wouldn't be her exceptional swordsmanship praised as groundbreaking, nor her beauty and figure that were often complimented without question, nor any other strengths.
Only that keen "intuition," which Anna had always taken for granted but realized was extraordinary after interacting with others, was what she trusted most.
However, the simulator seemed to always ignore this intuition.
Now, Anna just needed any evidence to support this intuition, even if it felt somewhat absurd to "first convict someone and then search for evidence to fit the crime."
Whether it was the issue with Allen's identity investigation or something else...
...Come to think of it, wasn't there a knight who was always slacking off, transferred to the nearby town of Lilian?
What was his name again?
A dozen minutes later...
"I remember him, his name is John, John Martinez."
At Louise's home, still awake and dressed in her nightgown, Louise told Anna, who had come to visit.
"Yes, that's the name..."
"Anna, do you suspect John Martinez is also involved?"
"Not exactly suspect, but more like..."
"Intuition, right?" Louise was already accustomed to Anna's reasoning.
"...Sorry, Louise, for using such reasoning again."
"Really, I told you yesterday, as long as you need help, I'll be there," Louise shook her head.
"Calling it intuition... maybe not entirely." Anna instinctively wanted to explain the source of her intuition. "Actually, when I thought of this person, I suddenly remembered seeing John discussing something with Philsey three months ago, and Philsey casually ordering him around."
"You know, since most people in the knight regiment don't really get along with Philsey, seeing someone so respectful to him struck me as odd at the time." Anna explained, "So when I started to think Philsey might really be up to something, I naturally thought of this person..."
"That does sound suspicious."
As she said this, Louise had no intention of listening further, her big eyes just staring intently at Anna.
"Anna, you're not planning to go off and investigate on your own again, are you?"
"...No... no more." Anna felt that Louise's presence was particularly overwhelming at the moment.
"Well, it's so dark outside, and it's not safe for you to go back alone at this hour. Why don't you just stay at my place tonight?"
Having just resolved to respond to Louise's feelings, Anna found herself completely unable to refuse Louise's request!