I poured tea into the flowerpot. As a result, the color of the plant quickly withered.

“That’s…!”

“Why, is it not okay?”

“I… I was going to eat that!”

“Ah, you were going to eat something like that? Who would believe that? There’s a teacup in front of me, and you poured the tea, didn’t you?”

“That… Well…”

I knew she didn’t intend to feed me that. She must have tried to eat it herself to somehow escape from this situation. I couldn’t help but provoke her even more.

“This is the situation you’ve encountered. Even if you tell lies, in the end, you’ll only harm yourself. You’re the only one at a loss. There’s no one left to listen to your words now. If you miss this opportunity.”

Even now, she found herself in her own grave. And today, cornered all day, she spoke in a somewhat different tone than before.

Well, she was still quite young. I didn’t know what situation she was in, but it seemed she wasn’t there against her will, experiencing that situation.

Not that she was pitiful or anything, but at least it would be confusing for her now.

“And it will be even more confusing later.”

After all, she was just someone being used by those in power. Of course, she didn’t seem to accurately perceive the reality she faced. And my expectations were exactly on point.

“In the end… there’s no evidence. So, are you doing this, hoping I say something?”

“If you don’t speak, we won’t find any evidence. What kind of talk is that?”

“…”

“That could happen. But I’m just giving you a chance to tell the truth in the end. The truth will eventually come out. Moreover, the powerful people you’re holding hands with are only thinking about abandoning you. Being discarded at that time by cutting ties… it must be a bit sad, right? After enduring here for so long.”

She still seemed not to believe my words.

If she finds out that I came here with the Grand Chamberlain for an investigation today… she will eventually be discarded. She might disappear without a trace.

“Well, let me give you one piece of advice. It’s better not to go just because someone calls you. They thoroughly used you for their own benefit, and if you become a liability to them…”

I didn’t say anything more. Unless she was a fool, she should have understood well enough.

Her pupils shook again, as expected.

“Let’s go.”

I glanced at Karitos for a moment. Whether he had decided to move as I wished or he had already made up his mind entirely, he nodded and walked a step ahead.

His expression, unusually focused compared to usual, seemed to indicate that even Karitos was enjoying this situation.

Whether she had given up or not, the orphanage director followed us silently. She seemed to have nothing more to say.

“Grand Chamberlain.”

In the meantime, one of the temple knights approached us.

“The investigation?”
“I think we need to be a bit more detailed.”

“Go back to the temple and send more people. Investigate thoroughly without missing anything.”

“Yes.”

As if unable to react to continuous strong stimuli, she repeatedly raised her head only when we spoke and dropped it powerlessly.

Meanwhile, we boarded the carriage.

“Please think carefully, Jane.”

Still, she, addressed as the Queen and the Grand Chamberlain, came up to the front of the carriage, bowed, and bid farewell. After giving her my last farewell, I closed the window.

“We will escort you to the palace.”

“I’ll be in your debt.”

“It’s not a debt. Between friends, it’s natural.”

The carriage started moving, and only after moving away from the orphanage did I open the window again.

“Have you achieved what you wanted?”

“Probably… it seems so. Now, it’s up to her to choose. Having realized that her lies are consuming her, she will feel it even more in the future. In the end, it’s herself that will crumble. There won’t be anyone to protect her.”

Karitos nodded.

Thinking that I had failed just because I didn’t have anything in my hands right now would be a mistake. I had already shaken her.

That alone was the success of most of my plan. The fact that we all know, and people who will be a reliable shield for the orphanage director are turning away one by one.

It was enough of a harvest that she started to doubt them.

“We will thoroughly investigate the orphanage.”

“Karitos, you know what to look for, right?”

“Rehel, find traces of that person, right?”

“If she refuses the investigation to that extent… probably, he’s there. Like under the lamp. And Jane, keep a close eye on the orphanage director.”

“Are you trying to find something? But if someone meets her and claims not to have met her…”

Instead of answering his question, I grinned while watching him express doubt.

“Whether someone meets her or not is not important. They will undoubtedly try to kill her.”

“Oh, really?”

“Of course. In the end, she’s just a pawn. The easiest to cut off, like cutting off the tail. Her family isn’t that great, and she has been used all along, so she must have many weaknesses. So, just watch over her to keep her from being killed.”

“I understand.”