NOVPUBIn Lichtenstein Castle’s bedroom number 201 on the second floor, a starkly different conversation was taking place. Here, there was no terror or torture, only focused and polite dialogue.
All the lights were on, making this bedroom brighter and warmer than the adjacent one.
The broad window allowed ample moonlight to spill into the room, intertwining with the lamp light, illuminating the murals decorating the walls.
"We can begin here as well."
Lanci leaned back in his chair, holding a cup of tea in his hand, occasionally blowing on the steam above it.
A square table was set before them, with Lanci and Hyperion sitting on one side.
Hyperion held a pen, ready to take notes.
"Please try to cooperate with us as much as possible."
Now, Hyperion had become very accustomed to speaking in a polite, official tone.
A noble girl of the empire, handcuffed and shackled, sat on the other side of the table.
The screams from the adjacent room were faint, barely audible through the wall, but they were incessant.
Contrastingly, it was apparent that Lanci and his companions were treating the noble girl quite courteously.
After all, her status in the Cerryti Empire may not be low.
"Your name."
"...Alexia."
"Age, identity, and address."
"..."
Alexia remained silent.
Facing death, she had no desire to answer these boring questions.
"Don’t worry. We’ve turned off the [Shadow Realm Recording Program]. Our conversation won’t be heard by anyone right now, including the noise from next door, it won’t disturb the audience in the present world,"
Lanci said indifferently.
Hyperion, who was sitting beside him, gave him a quick look, not understanding whether Lanci was speaking normally or talking in code.
His words seemed to be hinting to the girl named Alexia that if she didn’t cooperate, they could send her next door too!
"I am the third princess of the Cerryti Empire, Alexia Gemidia Julius."
Alexia frowned slightly, speaking somewhat impatiently.
She didn’t like Lanci, someone who was unfathomably confident.
Even though he was struggling, he still put on an act of being in control.
He maintained this facade during the day, and it could be understood as psychological warfare.
But now, the Count of the Blood Clan was coming, and his continued composure just seemed foolish.
He had no idea how terrifying the Blood Clan was.
"...?"
Hyperion was taken aback and began to sweat slightly.
They had the princess of Cerryti Empire tied up for interrogation. If it weren’t for the foresight to turn off the [Shadow Realm Recording Program], it would have been a severe live-streaming accident!
The Cerryti Empire is far superior to any kingdom in the South Continent, and even the Hutton Kingdom would have a headache if they angered the Empire!
However, Lanci just nodded slightly, not at all concerned about her identity.
As if in front of him all beings were equal.
"Princess Alexia, regarding the fact that your two companions are members of the Rebirth Church, were you aware?"
The only difference in Lanci was that he added honorifics to her in his following words.
"I was not. They are my classmates and friends at Cerryti Royal Academy."
Princess Alexia’s response was very brief.
She had no interest in lying.
Alexia knew that with the demon of gray hair and red skirt by her side, her emotions would be magnified, and even her lies would be easily detected.
Normally, her being a princess and tied up for interrogation like this would already be a serious crime.
Even if the parties are foreigners, the Cerryti Empire could also apply for extradition.
But she had neither the will nor the need to pursue it any further.
"I also believe that the Rebirth Church would not dare to infiltrate the royal family of the Cerryti Empire."
Lanci smiled and gestured for Hyperion to remove the handcuffs and shackles from Princess Alexia.
Now, all her magic cards of purple and lower grade were confiscated. Even if she wanted to use magic, there was a silencing spell to deal with it.
Hyperion nodded.
He quickly unlocked Princess Alexia’s cuffs.
Accompanied by the sound of metal hitting the floor.
"Huff..."
Seeing that Princess Alexia was no longer looking like a prisoner, Hyperion finally heaved a sigh of relief.
Yet, Alexia remained listless, leaning against the chair like a puppet, motionless.
There was no difference from when they had her tied up.
"Young people should be full of vitality..."
Lanci looked at the princess and sighed helplessly.
Continuing the conversation in this way could perhaps elicit many truths, but it wouldn’t carry any particularly great significance.
What Lanci truly wanted to verify was only one thing.
Under the influence of the Great Love Poet, the extent of fear Princess Alexia had shown towards the Blood Clan - how much did she really know?
After all, the information regarding the timeline a year and a half later, belonging to the main storyline of the game – "The Cerryti Empire being gradually overtaken and controlled by the reviving Blood Clan," "The southern part of the Cerryti Empire is actually the lair of the Blood Clan," "Duke Migaya’s disappearance is related to the Cerryti Empire and the Blood Clan," only Lanci knew about all these.
According to Lanci’s understanding of the current international situation, the Cerryti Empire is still a shiny and grand entity, showing no signs of powerful Blood Clan activities.
As a royal princess, Alexia, who is protected by many eighth order and even ninth order national heroes, should not be afraid of the low-order Blood Clan wandering within the borders of the country.
Unless, she had already discerned some ominous signs and traces within the empire.
"The Cerryti Empire has been infiltrated to this extent, your Cerryti Empire is really incapable."
Lanci took a sip of tea and commented as if he had given up on the interrogation.
"Our Cerryti Empire hasn’t been infiltrated at all!"
Alexia, unusually fired up, lifted her eyelids and glared at Lanci as if he had hit a sore spot.
"I’m referring to the Rebirth Church."
Lanci smiled, looking at her with a hint of surprise and confusion.
As if he couldn’t understand why she was so agitated.
"..."
Alexia looked at Lanci acting like a prankster, unsure if she was being hypersensitive or if he was intentionally playing tricks.
However, the latter was impossible…
How could a young man from the Hutton Kingdom possibly know about the terrible crisis hidden beneath the Cerryti Empire?
Subsequently, Alexia returned to her lifeless state.
She didn’t even have the energy to rebuke Lanci.
She was well aware of the infiltration within the empire…just that nobody could express it.
After all, even if she disclosed the secret that "the Cerryti Empire, this behemoth, has unknowingly been corroded by the terrifying Blood Clan," people would just think the princess had gone mad.
No one would believe her.
The Blood Clan would also eliminate her at all costs at the first opportunity.
