Princess Morena immediately got to the point. There was no one else younger in the academy she wanted to ask, and they had no common topics to discuss. It was only natural.
Marcela was fully aware of this. She decided to start from the beginning with the story she had prepared in advance.
First, she made it clear that the information was based on what Adele had told her and what was written in a note, and that it included a certain amount of speculation and imagination. Then, she talked about Adele's life in the Ascam Viscount's household.
However, since Adele didn't like to talk much about her family, the content was very limited.
"First, she lived a very ordinary life with her parents and maternal grandfather until she was eight years old. Then, at the age of eight, her mother and grandfather were killed by bandits. There were many questions about these bandits, but I believe they have already been investigated.
After that, she lived in the mansion, almost under house arrest, being ignored and bullied by her father and his mistress and their children. At the age of ten, she was forbidden to use the family name and was thrown into Ecland Academy penniless, while the mistress's child took her place as the viscount's daughter. Since then, there has been no contact or support from the Ascam family. This is the extent of Adele's connection to her family."
The king, prime minister, Berg, and Bonham Earl, who had known some of the details from the investigation, only looked somewhat solemn, but Princess Morena, the two princes, and the Bonham Earl's wife, who had not heard the story, were wide-eyed with shock.
"Such... such a thing... That child's only memory of her parents was treated so cruelly... Why didn't I go and check on her, I did!"
The earl's wife was on the verge of tears. The princess and the princes also had gloomy expressions.
Then, it was finally time for Marcela to talk about her encounters with Adele.
"I first met Adele on the day of the enrollment ceremony..."
Marcela told the story of Adele's self-introduction and how she and her friends, jealous of Adele's popularity, had stormed the dormitory, omitting Adele's peculiarities and making it sound amusing. She wanted to give the impression that Adele was a fun and good child.
The story continued.
"...and the homemade underwear Adele offered to make for us was just..."
"Ha ha ha ha ha!"
Without being scolded by the adults for being 'indecent,' the princess burst out laughing with her mouth wide open. The first prince, Adalbert, looked calm, but the second prince, Vince, blushed and looked down, given the topic.
Wiping away her tears of laughter, the princess asked:
"So, when you tried to give her the homemade underwear, she gave you magical protection, right?"
"..."
The sudden bombshell from the princess left Marcela and the others speechless, and the princes and adults gasped in surprise.
"Because, you suddenly gained the ability to use magic or improved your magical skills, didn't you? All three of you, at the same time.
It would be more reasonable to suspect 'the involvement of a common person' than to believe in such a coincidence.
Besides, even though you initially helped Adele out of sympathy, you later became close to her and started supporting her in various ways. It seems more than just sympathy. It's as if you're repaying a favor...
You know Adele's secret, don't you?"
From the story she had just heard and the investigation report she had read in advance, the princess had reached a conclusion that was almost correct.
"Wait!"
At that moment, the king's anxious voice echoed.
"Get out!"
"..."
The prime minister, the Bonham Earl and his wife, and the princes, who were suddenly ordered to leave, gasped in surprise.
"But..."
"Go!"
The king waved his hand to stop the prime minister, who was about to protest, the Bonham Earl and his wife, who didn't understand the situation, and the princes, who looked dissatisfied, and he escorted the five of them out of the room.
"Morena, be careful! You were told not to tell anyone else!"
"Ah..."
The princess, who had assumed that everyone in the room knew the whole story, turned pale.
"It's too late now. Fortunately, you didn't touch on the core of the matter, so you can cover it up later. But be more careful in the future!"
"I understand..."
The princess, who had nearly caused the downfall of the kingdom, turned pale and faced Marcela and the others.
"So, you do know Adele's secret, right?"
(Th-this woman! She looks so innocent, but she's tough!)
Marcela, who was trying to maintain a calm appearance while sweating profusely, was under attack from the princess. Monica and Oriana remained silent, entrusting everything to Marcela.
As Marcela desperately tried to come up with an excuse to cover up Adele's abilities:
"Do you know? That a goddess resides within Adele!"
"..."
The princess had spectacularly self-destructed.
"Did you receive magical protection as a reward for helping Adele, who is hiding the fact that a goddess resides within her?
It's fine, everyone here knows about the goddess..."
(What is she talking about?)
Marcela thought. She thought hard.
(This must be some kind of ridiculous cover-up by Adele! What kind of cover-up could it be...
She must have seen some impossible magic. How would she cover it up?
If I lower my intelligence to Adele's level, ignore common sense and social cues, and multiply her carelessness by five, what would she come up with?)
Marcela had become quite adept at predicting Adele's actions. By simulating Adele's thought process, she had become an 'Adele Simulator.' Recently, she had even been able to prevent tragedies and comedies by covering Adele's mouth when she sensed something inappropriate or grabbing her arm or collar just before she moved.
(From the rumors I've heard... the descent of a goddess, a divine messenger.
And now, a goddess residing within her? What did Adele say to cover it up?
To prevent herself from being cornered or making unreasonable demands, what did that smooth-talking, carefree brain of hers come up with?
...I see!!)
"Really, you all know about the goddess?"
"Indeed..."
The princess nodded in satisfaction, confirming her deduction from Marcela's surprised voice.
"Then, you must also know that we shouldn't interfere with her..."
"We won't interfere! Regardless of the goddess, I just want to thank the brave girl who risked her life for my honor and become her friend. What's wrong with that?
Surely the goddess wouldn't forbid Adele from making friends, would she?"
The princess's voice had a slightly triumphant tone.
(This woman! She's not just trying to make Adele a convenient ally; she's trying to bring her into the fold!)
When Marcela glanced at the adults, they all nodded in agreement.
(They're all in on it!)
Marcela gritted her teeth in frustration but couldn't show it in front of the royal family. However, she couldn't keep quiet.
"But, if we can't find Adele, there's nothing we can do!"
"Gr... gr..."
"Um, so..."
The king, sensing the situation was getting out of hand, reluctantly intervened.
"Do you have any idea where Adele, the Ascam Viscount, might be?"
"Absolutely not!"
The three of them spoke in unison, as they had practiced.
After that, they were asked various questions, such as whether any names of countries or towns had come up in conversations with Adele, or if she had mentioned any acquaintances, but since they genuinely didn't know, they could answer honestly without any issues.
After quite some time, Marcela and the others were finally released. Even though their magical skills had improved, they were still at a level where there were many C-rank hunters, and without Adele, they had no value to the palace. The plan to involve the princess and be useful to Adele in the future had failed, but they hadn't given away any information about Adele beyond the palace's already incorrect information.
(Well, we did pretty well.)
As Marcela thought this and was about to leave the conference room with Monica and Oriana, a voice called out from behind.
"Um, can I talk to you again sometime?"
"Um, sure, that's fine..."
The princess's request was something the third daughter of a poor baron's family couldn't refuse.
A few days later.
Marcela was talking with Monica and the others in her dorm room when there was a knock on the door.
"Marcela, your father is here!"
"Yes, I'll open it now!"
When Marcela hurriedly got up and opened the door, there stood the dorm supervisor and Marcela's father, who was out of breath and excited.
"Father, what's the matter?"
"Marcela! Is it true that you were summoned to the palace!"
"Yes, it's true, but..."
"Why were you summoned! What's going on!"
Being summoned to the palace could be a great honor, but if it was bad news, it could threaten the survival of the family. It was understandable that her father was excited. He ignored the girls in the room and continued talking.
"So, the third princess said she wanted to be your friend..."
"What! If that's true, it's wonderful, but why? Why you, who she has never met?"
"I don't know..."
"Don't know, you say..."
"If you want to know, ask her yourself."
As Marcela pointed, a girl around fifteen years old bowed her head.
"I'm the third princess, Morena. I'm sorry to intrude..."