The Protagonist's Party is Too Diligent

Following someone isn’t as easy as it seems.

People, surprisingly, have sharp instincts and tend to react to even the slightest disturbances around them. Especially at night, when there’s almost no movement, even the faintest sound can be much more easily heard.

Of course, there are plenty of spells to minimize such disturbances. These spells, however, require a considerable amount of expensive Maramorus crystals. But if the need to observe someone secretly arose, Mia Crowfield wouldn't hesitate at such costs.

Especially if the person in question was the one who killed her father.

The problem was, if Sylvia Pangryphon had truly assassinated the Count and fled without a second thought, even with these precautions, there was a high possibility of getting caught.

Mia Crowfield was a mage, not an assassin. She had received some training, but it was more as a noble, trained to expose the royal family’s weaknesses, not for assassinating someone or evading an assassin.

Moreover, Mia had the opportunity to observe Sylvia Pangryphon up close during that mock battle. Despite firing towards an area too bright to see clearly, Sylvia had taken down her targets, one by one, with perfect precision, leaving Mia stunned.

Not only that, but Sylvia hadn’t hit any allies by mistake either.

That sight... It was terrifying, almost as if there were some magical force aiding her.

Mia knew how ridiculous she looked—wearing the softest shoes she could find, dressed in the darkest colors she had, opting for pants instead of a skirt, and even covering her face with a mask. She was well aware that if she got caught, there would be no excuse she could give.

But... even if she were caught...

Well, she could try killing me, Mia thought, though she had no intention of dying alone. Even if she couldn't kill Sylvia, she would at least leave a severe wound behind.

With such resolve, Mia Crowfield began following Sylvia Pangryphon at dawn—no, more accurately, at a time when it was still deep into the night.

Mia, who knew little about Sylvia’s daily habits, needed to verify them thoroughly.

“...At this hour?”

It was fortunate that she had decided to begin observing from such an early time. Sylvia moved surprisingly early in the morning. No doubt, there must be something important for her to deal with at this ungodly hour.

However...

“Huh?”

If the task Sylvia had to do was so secretive that she had to move at dawn, shouldn’t she be more cautious of her surroundings?

Sylvia Pangryphon sat on a bench, seemingly waiting for a carriage, showing no signs of checking her surroundings.

No, to be more precise... she looked far more spaced out than she usually did.

Sylvia Pangryphon...

Was dozing off on the bench.

“Huh?”

And she appeared utterly defenseless. If someone were to attack her now, she would fall victim to the attack without even realizing it.

...No, wait.

Maybe that, too, was a ruse. Mia Crowfield shook her head, considering the possibility.

Yes, it’s not impossible that it’s all an act. She could be extremely cautious but pretending to be relaxed, hoping to throw off any tail following her.

...But wouldn’t it be better to confront and eliminate the follower if she knew someone was tailing her?

“Huh?”

Sylvia Pangryphon’s head drooped forward as she dozed, only to jerk up in surprise when she woke. She rubbed her eyes, and although Mia couldn't see from her distance, it wouldn't have been surprising if Sylvia’s eyes were bloodshot.

What... is this?

Seriously, what’s going on?

This was Sylvia Pangryphon, the unshakeable woman who wouldn’t even blink while eating a delicious meal. The Iron Lady.

Of course, Alice Pangryphon had once remarked that Sylvia’s expression hid deeper emotions underneath, but Mia had never believed such words.

“Haaaam.”

“Eh?”

...But watching Sylvia Pangryphon yawn widely without even covering her mouth, Mia’s confidence began to waver. 𝒻𝑟𝘦𝘦𝘸ℯ𝒷𝑛𝘰𝓋ℯ𝘭.𝘤𝘰𝘮

As Sylvia pulled her coat tighter against the early morning chill, yawning as if reluctant to even extend her hand outside, she suddenly looked around as if startled, clearly trying to maintain her usual impassive expression.

Could it be that she didn’t want anyone to see through her stoic facade?

“...”

An assassin? Seriously?

No, no.

Mia shook her head again.

It must be an act. A ploy to dispel the rumors that she’s an assassin. After all, she is still a princess.

Slap. Slap.

The sound made Mia glance over at Sylvia Pangryphon again, just in time to see her lightly slapping her own cheeks, perhaps in an attempt to wake herself up.

“...”

At this point, Mia couldn’t even muster a gasp of surprise.

It was a completely different sight from the Sylvia she was used to seeing.

Could it be that she didn’t sense my presence? Admittedly, the distance was quite far. A normal student wouldn’t even notice Mia tailing them.

In fact, Mia had calculated that Sylvia would sense her following. If Sylvia realized Mia was behind her, she would no doubt confront her. And by provoking Sylvia in that confrontation, Mia hoped to glean some kind of clue.

“...Ah.”

Could it be?

Is this all part of her plan?

The royal family had used her father's murder to some extent, though they had never directly admitted it. Officially, the incident was a tragic accident, and the empire had simply offered their condolences for the Count's death.

Because of that, they could never present evidence.

After all, they hadn’t "officially" killed anyone. The nobility trembled in fear, but when questioned, the royal family would simply deny everything.

The emperor had had a conversation with Mia’s mother. Mia hadn’t overheard it, nor had her mother shared the details with her, only confirming that the emperor was indeed responsible for her father’s death.

So...

“...”

Sniff.

Sylvia Pangryphon let out a loud sniffle, seemingly under the impression that no one else was around.

...

Could this person really have killed my father? Not just my father, but also blown up multiple carriages, resulting in the deaths of countless innocent people, as a cold-hearted murderer?

Maybe I’m wrong?

As Sylvia Pangryphon heard the distant sound of an approaching carriage and returned to her usual stoic expression, Mia Crowfield found herself seriously questioning everything.

As Sylvia Pangryphon heard the distant sound of an approaching carriage and returned to her usual stoic expression, Mia Crowfield found herself seriously questioning everything.

Monday morning.

As soon as Mia entered the classroom from the dormitory, she immediately headed toward the place where the two princesses and the queen's daughter were seated.

She approached Sylvia Pangryphon and bowed slightly as a greeting.

"Did you sleep well last night?"

Mia had spent all of Sunday pondering over what she had witnessed of Sylvia Pangryphon, but no clear answers had come to her.

"Did you sleep well, Mia?"

"Yes, thanks to you."

It was Alice, the "true princess," who responded to Mia's greeting first.

"Did you sleep well?" Mia asked politely.

"Thank you, Princess. I slept well."

For someone like Mia Crowfield, who had always been quiet since childhood, initiating conversations in the morning was no easy task. Especially when it involved greeting people in a group.

However, Mia needed to confirm something.

She needed to know if the Sylvia Pangryphon she saw early Sunday morning was the real Sylvia or not.

No matter how much hatred a person harbored, no one could stay up two nights in a row. Therefore, Mia’s way to confirm Sylvia’s state was to observe her facial expression as early as possible on Monday morning.

If there were even the slightest hint of fatigue on her face now, Mia would actually feel relieved.

“...”

However, Sylvia Pangryphon looked up at Mia with her usual blank expression, completely unchanged.

"Sylvia, no matter how tired you are, you should still acknowledge a greeting when it's given," Alice said, interrupting.

...Tired?

Hearing Alice’s words, Mia took another close look at Sylvia’s face.

Without a doubt, Sylvia’s face was as expressionless as ever.

“Good morning.”

Even her voice showed no sign of fatigue.

"It’s so fascinating watching the two of you," Charlotte said suddenly.

"What’s fascinating?" Alice asked.

"From my perspective, Sylvia's face is always expressionless. And yet, Alice, you manage to read her expressions effortlessly," Charlotte replied.

...Reading her? Mia, who had already seen another side of Sylvia's expressions just the previous dawn, was curious. Could Alice really be reading her correctly? Or was she just imagining it?

"Well, it's like this,” Alice said with a self-satisfied hum. “There were always people in the royal court who found Sylvia bothersome. Sylvia’s reactions weren’t always this blank, you know. Sometimes she was annoyed... well, most of the time she was annoyed. But the way she reacted to me was always different from how she reacted to our other siblings."

"..."

At Alice’s words, Sylvia Pangryphon turned her head. Her expression was still as unreadable as ever.

“Is that so?”

Even while looking at Sylvia, Charlotte still seemed confused.

"I’m telling you, that’s how it is."

"..."

Mia, too, glanced over at Sylvia Pangryphon.

Yet, as expected, there was no trace of the expression she had seen the previous dawn.

...Was I being too naïve?

Sure, I’d lived my life keeping a blank face, but my reactions to Alice, Lucas, and Jaiden had been different. I’d been curt with Lucas and Jaiden, but I’d been a bit warmer toward Alice.

Wasn’t that understandable? After all, Lucas and Jaiden were adults when I first met them, while Alice had been just a child— the same age as Claire.

Even though we weren't related by blood, I found myself trying to be kinder to Alice, who was struggling through a difficult childhood, pushed aside by our more talented siblings.

And then there was the fact that I knew she was part of the main cast of the original story.

That’s probably why Alice ended up being able to read my face so well, considering the range of expressions she’s seen from me.

“...”

I didn’t make eye contact, but I could still feel Mia Crowfield staring at me.

What’s with her?

We hadn’t crossed paths all weekend. Could it be that another one of the emperor's children caused trouble?

“Hmmm.”

It was Charlotte, once again lost in thought, who muttered, “I still don’t get it.”

Tell me about it.

Honestly, if someone took a photo of my face, even I wouldn’t be able to recognize my expressions.

So how in the world does Alice manage to understand them so well?

Maybe... Alice has some sort of hidden ability?

As I glanced at Alice’s smiling face, I thought to myself that it might not be a bad idea to investigate.