The way she turned from Captain Vivian to Lady Vivian was worthy of an acting award all by itself, yet Edith remained indifferent while casting a cold stare on her surroundings.
"My! You must be Lady Edith, I didn't expect it to be you who visits us. Truly a surprise!" Vivian said as she walked towards Edith with a friendly smile.
"Good afternoon, Lady Vivian."
"Oh, good afternoon to you too. Drop the formalities, my Lady. Call me Vivian."
How friendly can someone change their act was a skill most nobles mastered but the stone-faced Edith was simply in a league of her own.
"I am afraid we are at formal Business at the moment, it is not the best time to drop the formalities." Edith replied.
"Come on, I insist. You can just call me Vivian between us, deal? Oh my! Where are my manners? Please, come and have a seat."
Vivian friendly invited Edith in as they sat close on the same sofa. Edith wanted to take distance but Vivian was keeping her close for some reason. It was annoying but Edith endured it.
"It is really a shame how we spent two years in the same Academy yet we haven't run into one another for this long. You can blame me if you want since I am the senior here, I should have taken good care of you." Vivian spoke apologetically.
"I don't think it would have been for the best." Edith replied with some hostility which Vivian didn't react to.
"My! I tend to disagree but let's talk about that later. How are your studies going?" Vivian diverted the topic.
"I'm afraid I'll be the one doing the questioning." Edith blocked Vivian's attempts to start a friendly conversation and stood up from the sofa then moved to another seat.
Such a situation was to be expected. Vivian didn't seem to be minding it as she sat back and relaxed.
"Esmeralda, some tea and biscuits, dearie." She requested in a chiming voice.
Edith looked at her scornfully and didn't comment. If Vivian wants tea and biscuits, she can choke on them for all that Edith cares about.
Their attitude toward each other was unique. Edith was unfriendly and hostile while Vivian was playing something. They understood each other to a degree and seemed to be ready for a battle against one another. After all, these are the First and the Second Villainesses from the game.
As Vivian is the Major Villainess with four out of the eight destruction routes, Edith has two destruction routes and from what Vivian could tell, none of the two were activated yet.
The first route to Edith is her Fiancé, Richard Marshall, the son of the Knights' commander and one who held Vivian by the shoulder, pushing her down in front of the Heroine during the final scene of the first route. Being his fianceé meant that one day, Edith would move out from the terrifying House of Intelligence to the mighty House of War if the Heroine chose not to pursue Richard.
The second route to Edith is her brother, Edmond Black. Edmond is the hand of Prince Liam and a cunning person despite his weird tendencies. Either way, Edith would get suspicious of the Heroine and would try to separate her and Edmond, which would backfire because it is the Heroine after all.
Aside from knowing that, Vivian had a rough knowledge of Edith's character. She is the loyal type, jealous, and competitive. Vivian's eyes moved to the System Shop and confirmed the purchase she made while snatching it midair before Edith took notice.
« Tarot Card, 1st Draw: 100 SP »
For the description provided in the system shop, this item is very useful to the point of cheating. Tarot cards are long colorful cards that are used by fortune-tellers to get a wide range of readings. Regardless of one's beliefs, the Tarot cards of the system do a similar job when aimed at someone.
====================
< Profile >
* Name: Edith Black
* Race: Human
* Age: 17
* Level: 3-Star Apprentice Knight
* Social: Noble (Count's Daughter)
==========
< Traits >
* Novice Archer
* Apprentice Scholar
* Apprentice Investigator
* Adept Fighter
==========
* Emotions: Hurried, Suspicion and Antagonization against you
====================
The impressive status and traits aside, Vivian stared silently at the insights section where it said "Suspicion" and "Antagonization". Looking between the Card and Edith who noticed Vivian's actions, there was a lot of thick air forming between the two.
"What is that?" Edith asked.
"Ah! Just a playing card." Vivian said and turned the card around to assure Edith.
"The Fool?" Edith said but Vivian didn't seem to understand until she checked the card again.
The Card would reveal people's information to Vivian but if seen by the others, it will just look like a normal card. This certain Tarot happened to be "The Fool" card, the one that usually means innocence and new beginnings.
"Well… I guess some things just speak for themselves." Vivian thought as she put the card away.
Edith felt that Vivian is the type that thinks they can get away with anything as long as they play around endlessly and go in circles. This happened to be the type she gets annoyed by the most.
Either way, Esmeralda brought the tea and the biscuits, as Vivian asked, and carefully poured a cup of tea for Edith then Vivian, and offered the biscuits forward before retreating away.
"I hope the tea is to your liking." Vivian spoke as she raised her cup.
Edith did the same and the two drank it without sugar like true tea addicts.
"It is delicious, thank you." Edith replied.
"Glad you like it."
"Can we proceed to the questions, please? I want it to be done before it gets dark."
"My! Can't disappoint you now, can I? Very well, my dear. Ask away?"
Vivian acted all comfortable as she sipped a small amount of tea between her perfect lips and she looked sweetly towards Edith. The latter felt a chill in her bones and kept avoiding Vivian's gaze.
"First things first, let us begin from the start. A few days ago, your engagement with His Highness the Crown Prince was broken, then House Moore received a visit from Baron Hewes regarding a wedding arrangement between his son and you, Lady Vivian."
"Please, just Vivian."
"… Do you confirm that this visit happened?"
"Oh my! I very much do. I was sitting here where I always sit. Your brother, Sir Edmond, sat over there. Father, Madam Saskia, Little Robbie. We were all here."
"Little… Robbie?"
"That would be my cute little brother, of course." Vivian said.
While playing with the Tarot card in her hand, she could see the word "Annoyed" added to Edith's emotions list. She smiled as Edith looked away solemnly.
"How do you describe your meeting with the Baron and his Son?" Edith asked.
"Curious topic, now that you mention it… it was Chaotic." Vivian replied.
The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.
"How did you feel about marrying someone lower in social status than you are?"
"Perplexing."
"Would you feel the need to harm someone to fulfill a goal you aim for?"
"Negative. I only do what I do in the service of Great Elgard."
"If your needs demanded it, would you go against the interests of the Empire?"
"Impossible. The Empire is my home. One must always defend their home."
"Are you aware that you were meant to be cast down from the High Society where you are not welcome?"
"Was I?"
"Don't answer my question with another."
"I guess. Nothing is definitive. When someone in my situation goes through what I went through, people tend to get a little bit sensitive around me so it is no wonder I became unwanted."
"Then why did you go against the Empire's interests?"
"I don't remember doing so."
"But you just agreed that you were to be cast down from the High Society where you are no longer welcome and you were conflicted about your arranged marriage?" Edith asked a cunning question.
"Yes. But what does that have to do with anything?"
"Doesn't this make you the one who benefits the most from this situation? You get to keep living under your father's roof and avoid a marriage you didn't desire."
"It was naturally a bitter pill to swallow but I didn't want anyone to get hurt. Enough blood has been spilled already."
"Doesn't it make more sense now that you think about it? Why not just admit it at this point?"
"Admit what?"
"That your family is behind the assassination."
"What? You were talking about that this whole time?"
"That? I… The assassination of the Baron's son, what else is there?"
"Oh my! That took us a while, I thought we were off that topic once you started saying high society this and high society that."
Edith blinked a few times before reviewing the answers she was recording in her note.
"I am sorry… those answers you provided just now, what were they about then?" Edith asked, not knowing what Vivian was talking about at this point.
"About last night."
"Last night?"
"I was attacked… after the auction. Four assailants. My coachman killed and I had to get my hands dirty and take three lives."
"That's… not what I am here for?"
"Really?"
"Yes. I'm afraid so."
"I thought House Black sent you to inquire about the situation from last night. Such lax security in a place like the De Clare auction house is more important than most other topics, don't you agree?"
"That's not for me to say. My elder brother Edmond is the one investigating that situation."
"Tell me you've at least woken Sir Edmond up before you came to visit."
Edith avoided eye contact and she covered her mouth with a hand awkwardly as her shoulders were shaking with a faint sound of laughter escaping her control. Edmond was indeed sleeping on his face the last time Edith went to check on him.
But as for the matter at hand, those questions she asked were just to draw a line linking Vivian to the murder, however, Vivian was even more cunning than Edith. She took the topic in circles different from the ones Edith was going around and when Edith was about to corner her, she just performed the oldest and coldest trick in the book. The "what are you talking about?" trick. Vivian was even very careful with how she gave Edith the illusion of leading the conversation knowing exactly what Edith will try to do and making her reach a point where all her cards are exposed.
It was as if Vivian knew how to play exactly on Edith's nerves, not too hard and not too soft either. But also Edith is not to blame, who knew Vivian would avoid this whole topic by projecting her own issues and causing a misunderstanding? While it is the trickiest card women use against men, it needs one quick-witted woman to play it on another.
====================
« Profile »
* Name: Edith Black
* Age: 17
* Level: 3-Star Apprentice Knight
* Emotions: Delighted, Observing and Planning, Suspicion and Antagonization against you.
====================
A strange change happened in Edith's mindset as she straightened her face and took a large sip of tea while writing down some words in her note.
"Lady Vivian…"
"Just Vivian."
"… You seem to be fully aware of how these procedures work."
"I have been through the Diplomatic Studies class for three years in the academy by now. While Law is not the main focus, Diplomatic studies offer a wide array of knowledge. Don't you take that class too, Lady Edith?"
"I don't. My only attention revolves around the Warfare class, History, Literature, and Mathematics." Edith replied.
"Oh! How wonderful… a Lady who doesn't follow the accursed traditions. I admire you." Vivian clasped her hands together happily.
"You do? Lady Vivian has a strong reputation for being a die-hard conservative who worships the traditions. I never expected this reaction."
"Come on, you are not one to follow rumors. And not every one of us is a descendant of House Black and engaged in House Marshall, you are living the dream, Lady Edith." Vivian said.
Edith faintly smiled while carefully analyzing Vivian's words. After ruining her plan, she is now using flattery to make her feel better, a classic move.
"Thank you, my Lady. Shall we continue?" Edith replied fully intending not to let Vivian off the hook that easily.
"Pretty please."
"Let me ask you that I am adding that you and I are specifically talking about the assassination of the Baron's son. Any disregard of this rule will be considered an uncooperative behavior that hinders an ongoing investigation."
"Alright. I agree." Vivian agreed gleefully.
Edith nodded and went straight back into action.
"Did you, directly or indirectly, cause the death of your fiancé-to-be, the son of Baron Hewes?"
Vivian looked at Edith with wide eyes as if saying, "Girl, you are mean." before she skillfully turned this look of shock into that of sadness. Edith raised a brow in anticipation as if she was waiting for the moment when Vivian tells as much as a single lie, she was 100% sure she would know when Vivian lies.
However, the sad look on Vivian's face wasn't just a lie. It was something that Edith couldn't handle.
"Alright." Vivian spoke as she sniffed with tearful eyes, "You… you may be right."
"Hm?"
"I said… sigh! You are… probably right."
Edith's keen eye could detect the untruths that Vivian hid beneath her haughty demeanor and confident denials. However, she was caught off guard when Vivian suddenly confessed and showed guilt on top of it all. Edith blinked in disbelief, struggling to process the unexpected turn of events.
"Wait… so you admit? House Moore ordered the death of the Baron's Son?"
"Does it make any difference now?"
Vivian turned her head away with a distressed look. From the corners of the house, the footmen and the maids were freaking out about what this idiot young lady was framing their house into.
"I don't understand. Do you confirm that your House killed the son of the Baron?"
"My House? Kills? Never." Vivian turned back to Edith and spoke truthfully with tearful eyes, "I just… I feel like his death was on me… me alone."
She said and covered her face with her hands. If Edith watched as many K-dramas as Vivian, she would have caught her red-handed but Vivian was simply too pitiful.
"What do you mean then? I need you to make a statement." Edith demanded as she unintentionally got closer to Vivian.
Vivian suddenly held Edith's hand with her two hands and squeezed it while her eyes were beginning to tear.
"It is dangerous to be around me. Those who get too close to me tend to get hurt. I know for a fact that I… that I… *sob* it is just, they who killed the poor boy, whoever they are, they will never stop until they get to their goal. I barely escaped them yesterday. I almost lost my maid and my knight. I am sorry, I didn't want anyone to get hurt… I am so sorry."
She said as she got closer to Edith and embraced her as if she was experiencing a breakdown. Edith realized that she had fallen into another trap but she couldn't escape it and had no knowledge of how to do so. She tried to push Vivian away gently but the eyes of the maids who were watching Vivian cry were as if they had fallen into the trap and were too engrossed in this cheap drama.
Edith had completely lost control of this silly interrogation and was about to say something but not a moment later, Logan charged into the room shouting.
"Lady Vivian, My Lady." He called.
"Hm?"
Vivian turned to him with a pitiful face as she was still embracing Edith but the Knight hardly took notice as the news he was delivering was far greater.
"My Lady, a Royal Carriage has just passed through the mansion's gate and will arrive in less than a minute. It is accompanied by twenty Royal Knights!" Logan spoke.
The atmosphere was suddenly electrified.
A Carriage and a full security detail of Royal Knights. Only one thing can be associated with this sort of entrance.
A Royal Family Member.
Vivian jumped off Edith's embrace and skillfully wiped away her tears with her pinkies.
"Organize the Hall! Gather the Knights and all the Servants on duty! Call Lord Father and Madam Saskia! Where is that idiot Robert? Everyone, MOVE MOVE MOVE MOVE!"
In less than a second, Vivian turned from a pitiful princess to a fire-breathing dragon and the whole mansion was following every order she made. In less than 15 seconds, two lines of knights, followed by two lines of servants stood on each side of the hallway with Lord Julian neatly organizing his hair and mustache along the way while Saskia and Robert came from upstairs.
No one expected the royalty to show up and the least was Edith who didn't know what to do or where to stand.
"Lady Edith, beside me, please." Vivian pulled her close, "You can't appear with a weapon to your side in front of a Royal Family Member!" Vivian said as she pointed to Edith's sword.
"Yes… Yes." Edith panicked.
"I'll keep it for you." Vivian received the sword from Edith and passed it to a maid who took it away.
Lord Julian and Vivian nodded to each other as they spotted not a single mistake.
And now for the grand opening.
A Royal Knight came in to herald the identity of the visitor.
"Her Royal Highness, Princess Charlotte of Elgard, Duchess of R… Your Highness, please wait!"
The Herald couldn't get the chance to finish his words when a small girl with silver hair and green eyes ran into the hall and her eyes reddened with tears.
The little princess was as if she didn't see anyone in the long hall but Vivian and ran towards her crying.
"Vivian, Vivian, help me!"