She is the Daughter of the Villainess in a Ridiculous Novel - Chapter 114

He asked to be told the moment anyone with that mark was seen, regardless of the time? And with hollow eyes, no less?

‘Warning someone to run because it’s dangerous—I suppose I could interpret that as a kind of goodwill. But asking to be told directly? Why go that far?’

One could invent any number of reasons, but just as Dante said, there were clearly suspicious gaps in Patrick’s behavior.

Therefore, it was only right to focus more on that part, and yet…

“Nephew?”

Idel couldn’t simply overlook the specific word Patrick had used.

At Idel’s voice, which was thick with questioning, Dante let out a small gasp.

“Ah, my apologies. My explanation was lacking. To be honest, I don’t know much myself, so a detailed explanation is difficult, but… Patrick was married to my maternal aunt.”

“What?”

“Ah, that’s right. The young lord was quite young at the time. I suppose it would be better if I explained this instead.”

Taking over for Dante, the Duchess added an explanation with a faint smile.

“The Duchess of Knightley had a younger sister. She was a knight who was as skilled with a sword as the duchess herself. She even served as the personal guard for Her Majesty the Empress.”

“Oh…”

“Back then, the marriage between Sir Patrick and Sir Danielle shocked high society just as much as Count Bright did. The two of them were famous rivals in the social circles.”

“Uh… I’m just finding this out now, too.”

“It seems Sir Patrick never told you. They were a truly wonderful couple…”

“If they were such a wonderful couple, why is that an issue?”

Hearing Gianna’s innocent question, Dante scratched his cheek with an awkward expression.

“Well… she passed away along with my mother.”

“Oh, oh… I—I’m sorry!”

“No, it’s alright. My own memories of my mother are actually quite fragmentary. Everything else I know, I heard through the Knights.”

“Still…”

Dante patted the shoulders of a visibly dejected Gianna and looked back at Idel.

“What I wanted to say was, comparing it to the Patrick I’ve seen by my side all this time, I believe it’s worth investigating.”

“Count, what do you think?”

“Hmm……”

Vivian, who had been listening with her arms crossed, arched an eyebrow and broke into a cool smile.

“If that is the judgment of you two, then we must go. However, this time we move during the day, not at night.”

“Of course.”

“Also, request the Duke’s company. It’s a precaution for any eventuality. You understand, don’t you, young lady?”

Idel nodded silently in agreement.

Now that there was no need to move in secret, she had no intention of taking unnecessary risks.

“The abandoned orphanage? Understood. I shall accompany you.”

“……Uh, thank you?”

Contrary to Idel’s worries, the Duke gave his permission much more easily than expected.

He set only one condition:

‘Obtain a confirmation from Dr. Aiman that you are in good health.’

Idel had nodded, thinking it would be no big deal, but the criteria to earn Dr. Aiman’s ‘healthy’ diagnosis were surprisingly strict.

Not only the progress of her wounds—which had already been treated at the temple—but also her level of fatigue was a target of scrutiny.

‘He checked my complexion, my breathing, and even my sleep schedule.’

For that reason, it was only after several days had passed that Idel was finally able to visit the abandoned orphanage.

“Wow, I never knew a place like this existed…. It’s my first time seeing it.”

“The same goes for me.”

“Idel, did it look like this back then too?”

“Well, I’m not sure. It was so dark then that I couldn’t see it properly.”

“Right, you said you came at night. Ugh, that must have been terrifying.”

Idel watched Gianna shudder, then turned her gaze toward the worn, crumbling building and the nearby debris.

The scenery felt quite strange—it seemed as if nothing had changed in years, yet it felt entirely different at the same time.

‘I vividly remember wandering around relying on the light magic Sigmund cast for me…’

But now, the desolate atmosphere she had felt back then seemed to have vanished.

‘It’s partly because of the time of day, but maybe it’s the people.’

The Duke, Count Bright, Vilred, Dante, and even Gianna.

Including herself, the party was twice as large as when she had come with Sigmund.

‘Dante and Gianna both refused to back down, after all.’

Dante had insisted on coming because it involved Patrick, and Gianna had firmly requested to join out of sheer jealousy that Idel had only come here with Sigmund before.

‘Come to think of it, I really need to get in touch with Sigmund properly.’

Since waking up, they had sent brief messages to confirm they were alive, but their schedules never aligned, so they hadn’t been able to have a deep conversation.

For instance, things like the Saint’s wooden token she received from the Duke, or the afterimage of the child who resembled Sigmund that she saw at the temple.

‘Well, there will be an opportunity. Actually, this is for the best. I can just tell him everything along with whatever I find here.’

Idel reached a lighthearted conclusion and strode toward the well. Having been here once before, she didn’t lose her way.

After unhesitatingly inspecting the tree beside the well, Idel discovered the familiar door beneath its massive roots.

Gianna and Dante, who had quickly followed Idel, let out small gasps of admiration from behind her.

“Wow, it really is like a rabbit hole. Or a secret hideout…”

“Indeed. The entrance is very narrow. Ah, Idel—be careful as you go down.”

“I will.”

Answering Dante, she entered the interior with practiced ease, then tilted her head slightly in thought.

‘Even Dante says the entrance is narrow… How on earth did Patrick get in here? And how did he move all these materials?’

It was a strange discrepancy, but Vilred, who had followed the three inside, solved the mystery almost immediately after a quick scan of the area.

“Ah. There’s a Spatial Anchor Stone inside. Your Grace, Count—I believe we can teleport the rest of the way in.”

“Good news. Proceed.”

“Yes, sir.”

With Vilred’s assistance, the Duke and the Count entered and slowly surveyed their surroundings. Though the space appeared cramped, the necessary documents and materials were organized with meticulous precision.

“This is…”

Vivian, being the first to approach the desk, narrowed her eyes slightly.

No matter how neatly things are stored, it’s natural for books and papers to show their age. However, a single sheet of white stationery sitting in the center of the desk looked as though it had bypassed time itself—as if time had simply stopped for it.

After picking up the paper and scanning the contents, she turned toward Idel.

“Young lady, I think you should be the one to read this.”

“Pardon?”

Idel didn’t waste a second. She hurried over to Vivian and read the letter handed to her.

The contents weren’t particularly long.

[My, if you’re reading this letter, it means you’ve actually made it to the rabbit hole, doesn’t it? I applaud your courage. However, a game of hide-and-seek is a bit difficult right at this moment~

Instead, with plenty of affection, I’m leaving behind some “Essential Liberal Arts for the Next Generation of Talent.” I hope it’s to your liking! May we meet again if the opportunity arises!]

‘That’s Patrick’s tone of voice, no matter how you look at it…’

While reading the letter, she had the strange illusion that his voice was echoing in her ear.

Idel passed the letter to Gianna and Dante and went to check the so-called “Essential Liberal Arts” he had mentioned.

“This one, which feels unusually like a brand-new book… I think this is that ‘essential education’ he meant.”

“I see. Let’s have a look. Understanding Magical Creatures, Fundamentals of Chant, Rhetoric, Psychology, Topography, Directory of Local Nobility, Understanding Swordsmanship……”

Vivian arched an eyebrow as she checked the books stacked high.

There was absolutely no consistency between them; it looked as if he had just grabbed random books from a library.

Clicking her tongue lightly, she rested a hand on her hip and squinted.

“Is he making fun of us? Like, ‘even if you find me, there are no clues’?”

“The fields and contents are too broad to find a common denominator. If I had to find a connection… it looks like a curriculum suited for use in the Imperial Palace?”

The Imperial Palace?

Idel, who had been listening quietly to the conversation between Vivian and the Duke, narrowed her eyes.

‘Why would the Palace provide this kind of education?’

The answer was simple: to govern a nation smoothly. To develop the eye for discovering problems and solving them, these subjects were necessary. Things like military affairs, administration, and diplomacy.

‘Patrick said hide-and-seek is difficult right now. As if ‘someone’ needs ‘specific time’.’

Following the logic like a game of word chain, Idel’s eyes suddenly rounded.

“Ah, no way……”

“Hm? Young Lady, did you figure something out?”

“If the trend has changed, just as Count Bright said, then surely……”

Idel, who had been muttering to herself, nodded toward the two with an expression that suggested she’d caught onto a lead.

“Yes. Roughly. Count, in that sense, there’s something I’d like to ask.”

“Hm?”

“When you return, could you comfort Ivan so he isn’t too disappointed? It seems I won’t be able to continue ‘Ask the Veil!’ anymore.”

“…What? So suddenly?”

“Yes. If my guess is right, we won’t be able to get any more useful information from ‘Ask the Veil!’ anyway. So, we have to prepare for the change.”

For example, by moving busily to become that ‘next-generation talent.’

Looking at the people who still appeared bewildered, Idel pulled her lips into a sharp, knowing smile.

Patrick was right. It’s better to dig several rabbit holes. And to do it thoroughly, taking one’s time.