The Protagonist’s Party is Too Diligent – 126
EP.126 Revenge (2)
Even after living in this world for ten years, I still didn’t fully understand the nobles’ way of thinking.
How could the Countess of Crowfield have tolerated the Count’s actions? Even if she didn’t consider commoners as people, the fact remained that her husband… spent nights with others.
Could she have been unaware? Did she believe that the reason I killed her husband was solely due to the Emperor’s political decision?
It would be stranger to think so.
Perhaps her thinking was so deeply rooted in noble ideology that she simply couldn’t conceive of a way to regard commoners as humans.
“We are honored by your visit to our estate,” the Countess said in a soft voice as we sat across from each other in the drawing room.
“It is my honor to be invited,” Alice replied.
For a moment, I almost turned to look at Alice.
Invited?
I wasn’t—oh, right. There would’ve been no reason to send me an invitation in the first place.
I shifted my gaze toward Mia Crowfield.
Her eyes darted around nervously, unable to meet mine.
Perhaps Mia Crowfield had told her mother that the next emperor wouldn’t be me, but Alice. If so, how much had she shared?
My personal guess was not much. While the relationship between Mia Crowfield and her mother didn’t seem to be completely estranged, I also didn’t believe Mia and I had such a broken relationship that she’d fully betray us.
Alice and the Countess exchanged various pleasantries, the kind typical of nobles. After a few more exchanges, the Countess said,
“Mia often tells me stories about the princesses. She says she’s been enjoying her time with both of you. Since Mia isn’t particularly proactive in communicating with others, I’m deeply relieved to know she has friends who look out for her.”
“I also have a shy younger sibling,” Alice replied.
“Oh my,” the Countess said, her gaze turning meaningfully toward me.
“If I didn’t start conversations first, she’d sit in silence, sulking. So, I had no choice but to learn how to initiate conversations myself.”
…Honestly, that sounded more like how Alice used to be. I, on the other hand, had no problem speaking up when necessary. If I made a mistake, I could always turn back time.
That said, it wasn’t like Alice could admit, ‘I was shy and disliked talking to new people when I was younger.’ Given how much she cherished calling me her younger sibling, the memories of our childhood might be something precious to her—something she wouldn’t easily share with others.
If Alice trusted me, she wouldn’t believe a word of whatever the Countess might say about me.
“How reassuring to hear that,” the Countess said.
“Knowing Mia has such kind friends must be why she adjusted so well to life at the academy.”
Alice took a sip from her tea—or pretended to. The level in her cup hadn’t decreased at all since earlier. The Countess didn’t comment on it, but she must have noticed.
Surely, the Countess wouldn’t have poisoned the tea. We were accompanied by a knight order tasked with our protection, and the Countess was well aware that the Emperor was responsible for the Count’s death. She knew exactly what would happen if she harmed Alice.
If I were in the Countess’s position, I’d have chosen a different method. There were countless substances that could be added to tea.
“Oh dear, where is my head today?” the Countess exclaimed, clapping her hands suddenly.
Mia flinched, her shoulders jerking up as if she’d been extremely tense.
“How thoughtless of me to occupy your time like this. It’s been a while since you’ve seen your friend, and I should’ve given you more time to catch up. I’ll excuse myself now.”
The Countess rose from her seat, prompting all of us to do the same out of courtesy. Alice, the Countess, and I exchanged polite farewells before the Countess left, as promised.
As the door shut, Mia Crowfield stared at it with a faintly uneasy expression before turning to us, her voice urgent.
“That tea—”
“I figured as much, so don’t worry about it.”
Alice spoke, pulling out a handkerchief to wipe her lips.
She had only made the sound of sipping tea; not a single drop from the teacup had touched her lips. Alice was well aware of how dangerous substances like narcotics could be. She’d been horrified just by the sight of the morphine soldiers used, which had been discovered in my room.
“Ah…”
Mia Crowfield let out a deflated sigh as she sank back into her seat. Then, realizing what it meant for Alice to have already known the truth, she began to tremble slightly.
“…Don’t worry. I don’t plan to hold you accountable right now,” Alice reassured her, casually pacing the room. She moved slowly, her gaze sweeping across the walls and ceiling of the drawing room. Her demeanor was one of someone who had anticipated everything from the beginning.
“……”
Mia Crowfield’s eyes shifted to me.
“Sylvia has nothing to do with this. She only came along because she was worried about me,” Alice added.
Not to kill you or your mother.
I imagined the unspoken part of her sentence.
…If this had been last year, I might not have spared Mia Crowfield, let alone her mother. I’d have looked for ways to make it seem like an accident—an untraceable death.
“Is there a place in this room where someone could hide?” Alice asked, her tone deceptively casual.
“Ah, that’s…” Mia Crowfield began but quickly shut her mouth again, looking uncertain about how to respond. Her face remained clouded with a mixture of emotions.
“What brings you here today?” Mia finally asked, attempting to change the subject.
“Because you sent me an invitation,” Alice replied.
“……”
Did she not expect Alice to respond to that invitation?
Well, to be fair, it was suspicious no matter how one looked at it. Even people closer to Alice than Mia Crowfield—like Charlotte—wouldn’t “invite” her. Sending a letter to exchange pleasantries, perhaps, but not a direct invitation.
There was a massive difference between nobles visiting each other and a princess paying a visit. For one, the number of attendants alone posed logistical headaches. Housing and feeding all those people could be a burden, even if the imperial family covered the expenses. Depending on the size of the estate, simply accommodating them could be overwhelming. Especially when dealing with other countries, we need to show them how well we’re doing.
In that sense, the Grace family was an exceptional case. Even if we visited without any escort, no one would raise suspicions. It was a testament to the emperor’s profound trust in them, and that trust itself became a source of strength for the baronial family.
“I also understand that your invitation was, in its own way, a warning,” Alice spoke before Mia Crowfield could.
“……”
Mia’s lips pressed together into a tight line, nearly forming a straight slash.
“But… there was something I needed to confirm,” Alice continued.
“…About me and my mother?” Mia asked hesitantly.
“No. As far as you and your mother are concerned, I already know everything I need to. Nobles are, in fact, some of the easiest people to investigate. I apologize for conducting that investigation without informing you beforehand.”
Alice offered a slight bow of her head, but Mia’s expression remained stiff and unyielding.
As though sensing Mia was waiting for her to elaborate, Alice spoke again.
“Of course, it is related to your estate. Perhaps… it might even tie into that incident.”
Mia Crowfield’s eyes sharpened with determination. Alice observed the change in her expression with a curious glint in her own eyes.
“That’s an expression I haven’t seen at school,” Alice remarked.
“You people… haven’t changed at all,” Mia spat, her voice laced with bitterness.
Alice didn’t respond, waiting instead for Mia to continue.
“Just like when you took my father’s life back then—”
“No,” Alice interrupted her firmly.
“I’m not going to kill you. I have no reason to.”
“……”
Mia’s eyes widened in shock. Alice watched her intently, her voice steady as she added,
“I swear on the name of Fangriffon. I will not kill my ‘friend.’”
Mia Crowfield’s mouth fell open in stunned disbelief.
The only reason my own jaw didn’t drop was due to years of training and experience keeping my reactions in check.