CHAPTER 56……………………………………….
Only then did Grandfather quietly speak a single word.
If he asked me why, of course, the real answer would be to save Mom.
But I can’t say it like that.
I took a deep breath and spoke slowly.
“I want to find the bad person hiding in the imperial palace.”
“You sound like you already know something.”
“I can’t tell you everything.”
After that brief exchange, we just stared at each other again.
He must really think I’m strange now.
What kind of child needs not only Verbium but also a tracking device?
Even Father Harzen wouldn’t have done something like this at my age.
“You…”
After a heavy silence, Grandfather spoke again.
“Why do you insist on getting involved yourself? You could leave this to adults like me.”
“That’s—”
“No, I suppose I already know the answer. You don’t trust me… or the Imperial Family, do you?”
He sighed deeply before adding,
“To your family, I must be someone who can’t be trusted.”
That’s not exactly true, though.
I glanced up at him carefully and asked,
“Are you… uncomfortable or angry?”
After all, what kind of child tries to turn the whole palace upside down?
I knew it was a bold question, but I threw it anyway.
“You’ve already caught a criminal once using Verbium, haven’t you? I owe you for that.”
Grandfather slowly opened his eyes again and continued,
“And I have a feeling that the one you’re after this time isn’t unrelated to that culprit’s mastermind.”
I tucked my lips inward.
Well… it’s a bit different this time, but—
The point is, they’re still trying to kill Mom.
“But remember this.”
Grandfather’s voice grew firmer.
“You must always be aware of the weight of what you’re doing.”
“……”
“If you suspect someone innocent, you and your father will bear that responsibility alone.”
“Yes, I know.”
I nodded silently.
He stared at me for a moment before speaking again.
“You seem convinced already. Yet, you haven’t asked for my help…”
Then he fell quiet again, lost in thought.
Maybe Grandfather already suspects it too.
That someone intentionally tried to drive a wedge between him and Father Harzen.
Even if he hadn’t realized it before, surely he must have by now—
Perhaps even who was behind it.
Thankfully, Grandfather said he’d turn a blind eye for now.
Of course, we pinky-promised that once this was over, I would never use these devices in the palace again.
He looked a little scared, though.
I sighed, remembering his expression at the end.
It felt like he was hoping the truth I uncovered wouldn’t be what he feared.
Still, since he didn’t stop me, he must be somewhat prepared for it.
If only this could all end without anyone getting hurt…
All of this is because of Berthold.
As I vowed “Down with Berthold!” and entered my room—
“Cici.”
A low voice suddenly came from behind me.
Startled, I turned around—
Of course, it was Father Derrick.
“Dad!”
Don’t tell me he’d been following me under an invisibility cloak this whole time?
“Since when?”
“Just from out front.”
He took off the cloak completely and pulled several listening devices from his coat.
“Collection complete.”
“Mm, thanks.”
I took them from him and glanced around.
No one else was there, as expected.
Otherwise, Father Derrick wouldn’t have appeared so suddenly.
Anyway—
“Alright, Dad.”
I scurried over to the table beside my bed.
“Let’s start listening to these one by one.”
Time for hard labor!
—Which, as it turns out, is really exhausting!
“Uuugh…”
I groaned, sprawled out on the bed.
Beside me lay the bug device Father Derrick had retrieved—
the one that had been stuck to Berthold’s usual shoes.
While Mom and Father Harzen were away at the Empress’s palace, I tried to go through as many as I could, but…
There’s been zero progress!
I sighed as meaningless chatter poured from the device—
talks about domestic politics, noble families, diplomatic issues…
“Ugh.”
None of this was the information I wanted—or should even be hearing!
I pressed the back of my hand to my forehead and groaned again.
My head was spinning.
And I still had hours of this to go.
I wonder what Dad Derrick’s doing now?
I rolled my eyes toward him.
He sat motionless, ear pressed to another listening device.
That one was attached to Berthold’s indoor slippers, I recalled.
Luckily, the other shoes hadn’t been tampered with.
So, in reality, we only needed to check these two devices.
A small blessing, I guess.
If we’d had to go through all of them—
I’d have lost my mind…
At this point, I had to admit it.
This plan was a total failure.
Once Mom and Father Harzen came back, I’d have to hide everything again.
At this rate…
If only Father Kyle had added a fast-forward function!
No—worse yet—
As that thought crossed my mind, irritation bubbled up.
I stomped my feet.
“Where is Father Kyle, anyway?!”
He said he’d keep an eye on Berthold—
So where had he vanished to?!
Meanwhile, all these complicated political terms were giving me a headache.
“Phew…”
Just as I let out a long sigh—
Father Derrick, who’d been still as a statue, suddenly turned his head toward the door.
“Huh?”
A moment later, Father Kyle walked into the room, eyes wide.
“What? ♪♬ Why are you all staring at me like that? You’re scaring me.”
“Dad!”
I jumped to my feet and pointed accusingly at him.
Speak of the devil!
“What? What’s going on?”
He flinched under my glare.
I puffed out my cheeks and demanded,
“Where have you been?”
“Judging by that attitude, I’m guessing you’ve been suffering without me.”
He nodded knowingly, then placed something square on the table.
“Where else? I went to make this.”
“……”
“I figured you’d need it soon.”
I blinked at the oddly complicated contraption.
It didn’t look “simple” at all.
“What is that?”
“A fast-forward machine.”
“Oh?”
Fast-forward? Wait—
“If you plug the bug devices into this, you can skip or speed through sections. You poor, suffering little lambs.”
“Wow!”
I leapt off the bed instantly.
Even with all this noise, no maids came running—so Father Harzen must have arranged something when the other dads arrived.
Anyway—
“You could’ve said you had this!”
“I just made it.”
Without another word, I grabbed the device and dashed to the table.
Goodbye, headache!
