Duke Pieren’s bloodshot eyes were trying hard to hold back tears.

I forced a smile. He couldn’t see my face, but I thought I probably had a similar expression.

“Recently, my daughter died. It was an accident..”

“……”

“But it was a fire.”

“……”

“What do you think? Isn’t it too coincidental?”

I had never doubted Margaret. I believed her when she said it was an accident, even when she was accused of killing her husband. At that time, she didn’t seem like someone who could do such a thing.

But now, the Margaret reflected in my eyes had become someone capable of it. A lot of suspicions arose from that one difference, and many connections were made.

“I accused Margaret, knowing she was likely to lose. And so did I.”

“……”

“I have something I want to ask of the Duke, can you do it?”

Consent wasn’t necessary. I knew just by looking at his eyes.

We wanted the same thing.

I reached out my hand with a smile.

“I’m glad the story ended well. But, if the author is Duke Pieren himself, then there’s effectively no accusation, right?”

“That won’t be the case.”

“But, no. That’s not right. I’m sure you have your own thoughts, so I won’t ask.”

Despite what I said, Cheshire looked at me with worried eyes, as if he was concerned about upsetting me. Even though he was now taller than me, I still felt like he was still a child when he acted like this.

Looking at the anxious Cheshire, I took out something I had prepared in advance from my bag.

“This is a blueprint of Nagata’s water system. I made a copy because I thought it would be helpful, so please give it to him.”

“Weren’t you in danger when you copied it?”

“I had a good excuse, so it was fine.”

I had the chance to review the list of Craiton’s property under the pretext of demanding payment from Bake. I couldn’t get everything I wanted, but I managed to get something.

“When did you say he was leaving?”

“Oh, that’s probably tomorrow.”

“That’s fast.”

“Yes, it seems the Emperor’s side is pressing hard.”

“His Majesty?”

“It seems the rumor is true. The missing Prince has the real will of the former Emperor.”

“Save your words. It’s better not to say such things if possible.”

I quickly cut off Cheshire’s words.

Even though we were alone here, it was better not to mention things related to the royal family. Once you start saying things easily, it becomes a habit.

“I apologize. I’m not usually so looselipped.”

“You don’t need to apologize. Just pass on the blueprints as soon as you can. Since he’s leaving tomorrow, it’s better to hurry.”

“Oh, yes. Of course.”

Cheshire nodded vigorously and shoved the blueprints into his pocket.

I watched his somewhat exaggerated movements quietly, then raised an eyebrow. Something was bothering me, and Cheshire’s reaction was lukewarm.

“……Is he already gone?”

“Pardon?”

“Duke Pieren. He’s not in the capital now, is he?”

I guessed it just in case, and judging by Cheshire’s wide eyes, I was right.

I folded my arms and watched Cheshire, who was flustered.

“I thought it was strange. He had been protecting Duke Pieren until now, but he didn’t show up today.”

“……”

“Tell me. Is there a problem?”

Cheshire broke into a sweat under my gaze and finally opened his mouth.

“I don’t know the details. He’s not much of a talker and it’s hard to know what he’s thinking. He just said he had something to check and left.”

“Check? What?”

“Well……”

Cheshire, who was about to answer confidently, suddenly shut his mouth. His face was troubled.

“Well? What’s next? Why did you stop talking?”

“That, that’s……”

“Do I have a secret to keep from me?”

“……I’m sorry.”

Chesire’s broad shoulders sagged weakly.

Instead of rushing, I gently looked at Chesire. I hoped he would open his mouth first, but his lips did not open easily.

I took a quick breath in and out.

It was Chesire who swore he would do anything for me. If he had a secret that he could not tell me, it was decided.

“Is it about Meriel?”

“…….”

“So, you brought up Rose’s story. Right?”

I tried to speak calmly, but the last question shook and I didn’t succeed. I took another deep breath and opened my mouth again.

“Did you find her?”

Unlike the wind, the voice shook again this time.

But I had no confidence to speak better than this. From the moment I spat out Meriel’s name, my mind was full of my young daughter.

Did he notice my feelings like this? Chesire could not withstand my gaze and bowed his head. And with difficulty, he squeezed out a very careful voice.

“……It has been confirmed that she is alive for now.”

“But why doesn’t she come back?”

“There must be a reason.”

“……A reason?”

What is it? Are you sorry that you couldn’t protect Meriel? Or did you collude to kill the child? Which one of the two?

I swallowed the words that came to the tip of my tongue. Instead, I clenched Chesire’s collar with a trembling hand.

“……Are you going to find her no matter what?”

“Of course, I will do my best. But……”

“But?”

“It’s very careful to tell you this now. It seems better to be careful with words, and it doesn’t seem so.”

“Then, tell me. It’s my part to judge.”

“According to testimonies that they saw Rose, she was not alone.”

She’s not alone? What does that mean?

I didn’t understand the story well, even though it wasn’t a difficult word.

“Although I couldn’t see because I was hiding my figure, I presume it was probably a child judging from the physique.”

No. I think I knew it, but I tried not to think in that direction on purpose.

Because I’ve thought about it thousands, tens of thousands of times.

What I faced was a Scaraman corpse that I couldn’t even recognize, not Meriel. My daughter is still breathing somewhere in this world. So.

I couldn’t support my completely drained legs and just collapsed.