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Translator: Xini
Proofreader: Silavin
Taking into account Gray’s safety, it would behoove us to take immediate action and I wish for nothing less.
However, we’re too in the dark to make any moves. Even if Gray was abducted, we have no way of knowing where he’s being held. Or what kind of methods were employed to abduct him unbeknownst to anyone. Narrowing down the options based on time… is unfortunately something I can’t do by myself because I have too little information.
That said, I can’t just pick anyone’s brain as there are simply too many suspects. Cyan, the Priest, Ivory and the other residents of Shiki are people I can trust, but I have no way of telling who’s under the perpetrator’s surveillance. As long as there’s danger involved, I should only consult with those that are somewhat capable of defending themselves but most everyone capable of such a feat all stand out.
“What should I do…”
I should also have a talk with Lady Violet.
She has a very strong sense of responsibility. At the same time, she also had a fragile side to her.
Regardless of whether I talk to her now or later, Lady Violet’s would be in shambles at the end of it.
Gray is precious to me, but so is Lady Violet. Moreover, though innocent, if Gray were to learn that his abduction caused much mental anguish for Lady Violet, who he loves very much, I’m sure he’ll be very upset. Regrets like, ‘if I had only been more careful’, might haunt him after the dust settles on the whole incident.
“So, tell me, what’s our plan?”
“Ah, Lady Violet. Actually… wait–”
As I restlessly paced the room mumbling to myself, wondering what to do, Lady Violet who seemed to have heard me rambling, looked at me with a bewildered look on her face.
That’s weird. I didn’t feel anyone’s presence until a moment ago. It’s almost like she popped up out of nowhere.
I see. No way! Did Lady Violet…!
“Did you use Invisible Dark…?!”
“What’s the matter, Lord Clo? You’re saying things Apricot would.”
Oh dear. Now Lady Violet looks genuinely concerned for me.
She came closer with her palm outstretched but I waved my hands, reassuring her that I wasn’t sick.
“Well, umm, you see…”
I’m at a loss.
She caught me before I had gathered my thoughts so I’m not quite sure how to proceed. Should I be evasive? But if she finds out later, then she might feel hurt… I don’t know what to do.
“Did you perhaps also not find Gray yet? Neither have I. Forgive me… for letting something like this happen even though I was with him.”
Lady Violet looked very sorry as she expressed her apology.
I could feel her concern for Gray and her regret at causing me concern. And her earnest wish for Gray to be safe.
“Lady Violet…”
“What is it, Lord Clo?”
I decided to finally speak with her so as to quell her worries.
Because I realized that she isn’t just someone I must protect but a family member with whom I must cross life’s hurdles together.
“Please stay calm and listen to what I have to say.”
———————————————————————–
“…I see. I understand the situation.”
Once I brought her up to speed, Lady Violet nodded, her face serious which concealed her anxiety.
She didn’t seem surprised that Gray had come into harm solely due to his connection to her but appeared calm as she thought of ways to deal with the matter, even as her right hand that wasn’t holding the letter was curled up in a fist.
“Lord Clo, I’m sor–”
“For now, why don’t we stop with the apologies?”
She breathed in, trying to switch gears and turned to me once more, opening her mouth to apologize, but I cut her off before she could finish.
It’s true that her past was the reason this situation came to be, but I don’t think apologizing to me here is the right thing to do.
“After everything is over, I’ll listen to your apologies and we’ll discuss my reward then. Let’s just focus on the crisis at hand now.”
“…You’re right.”
Lady Violet heeded my words and closed her eyes and took a deep breath.
She opened her eyes and focused on the letter and the look in her eyes changed.
“The kidnapper is Roshenna, the child of a Baron.”
And she revealed the name of the culprit just like that.
It didn’t sound like an assumption or conjecture but she seemed sure which made me wonder what had led her to the conclusion.
“…Because this writing is the same as letters I and His Highness received before.”
The reason was much simpler than I had expected.
Unless there’s someone else helping her, the perpetrator who wrote the letter at the very least seems to be Roshenna, a former classmate of Lady Violet’s.
Brown hair reaching up to her shoulders and brown eyes. A new noble belonging to a barony, the eldest child of the Rivers family.
She seems to have written love letters to His Highness. And letters detailing her arduous love for His Highness to Lady Violet. It really is a surprise… that she was able to avoid getting caught all this time.
“The letters would read,‘A bird flees, the moment you look away. If it’s only going to be taken from you, then it’s better to imprison it in a cage, and to make sure the lovers stay together for eternity, I wish to destroy it with my own two hands. I don’t wish to see someone so proud and noble break down.’ and so on.”
“A yandere huh…”
“Yandere?”
Or maybe she has mental health issues, but I know too little to make the distinction. Frankly, in either case, it would mean she’s too in love that she can’t even see the object of her affections anymore… is the impression I get. I have nothing but pity for anyone who likes people with qualities like hers.
Come to think of it… the contents of the letter sound familiar. Even the name Roshenna sounds vaguely familiar now. To be honest, all I’m getting is a bad feeling.
“Anyway, what kind of a girl is she? If her love language is killing, then we need to find her now.”
If this girl called Roshenna’s love language is to destroy or rather take a life, then Gray is in danger.
If Roshenna is thinking that depriving her of a loved one would deter Lady Violet from loving(killing) again, then we must find her pronto.
“Well, Roshenna is a guy. And I don’t think he resorts to murder.”
…Say what?
“Hold on. His Highness received love letters from this person, right?”
“Yeah.”
“But Roshenna is also a guy, you say?
“Ah, he has a mix of Elf, Dwarf and Human genes.”
I see now.
A guy sent love letters to His Highness and looked upon Lady Violet with envy.
“For real?”
“Yes, for real. Why?”
… I just remembered.
Roshenna is a character that appears in that otome game, Ring of Fire.
He mostly appears in His Highness’ route, a guy with an elf’s appearance and dwarf’s skills. And just like Ms. Schwarz, he plays the villain and has a few crazy fans in my previous world.
He abducts the protagonist… Ms. Nephrite, but His Highness finds out where she’s being held and rushes to apprehend the villainous heir.
After losing to His Highness in combat, he cries the following words.
“I regard it the highest honor to have seriously contented with you, who I love so dearly! Yippeeee!”
So exclaims the pervert. Even Shiki doesn’t have a pervert like him.
I see. He’s that character.
Haha, then there’s something I can do to deal with him, ahaha.
“Shit! It’s him? This is bad in a number of ways!!”
“Lord Clo?!”
***
In the event the crisis is resolved without consulting Lady Violet:
Protecting her with great care increases favorability with Lady Violet. However, she grows distant.
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