The literary salon that had made Angel feel extremely embarrassed finally ended with the guests' reluctant farewells. As the nobles departed, Angel followed Cevilia out of the luxurious villa and returned to the waiting carriage outside.
"After a busy afternoon, how were your 'social results'?"
Cevilia's gaze withdrew from the gradually darkening sky outside the window. She then drew the curtain and looked at Angel.
The latter glanced at the maid in the carriage, noticing that neither mistress nor servant showed any intention of avoiding the topic. Considering that Cevilia's question likely didn't involve the "Witch Sect," she answered carefully:
"Unfortunately, Miss Audrey Hall didn't attend the salon, so I didn't have a chance to meet her."
"I know that, of course, but you chatted with that shorty for so long—surely you gained something?"
Shorty...
Angel thought of Xio Derecha's height. Comparing it to her own, she guessed the other party was likely only just over 1.5 meters—quite short even among adult women. But wasn't calling her "shorty" directly a bit too impolite?
She looked again at the maid sitting beside them, finding that the latter had shifted her gaze toward the window, pretending not to hear her mistress's words. But the window still had its curtain drawn...
"Miss Xio should be quite familiar with Miss Audrey—she can even learn the other party's whereabouts. So I tried approaching her first," Angel thought for a moment and decided to answer truthfully. "Do you have any impression of her? I noticed her clothing was very... out of place."
Cevilia frowned in thought but soon gave up, shaking her head:
"I only saw her once at last month's salon and never had contact. And she never participates in everyone's topics, just silently drinks fruit wine. She also wore pants before, not a dress—more like some noble's bodyguard than a guest."
If she were a bodyguard, she wouldn't even be allowed into the hall. Even nobles' personal servants can only remain outside the door...
"Audrey and Viscount Glaint both know her. I chatted with her for a while and became friends. Perhaps I can use this to meet Miss Audrey in the future."
"That would be best, but I noticed she looked at you with some hostility. Are you sure you became friends?"
Cevilia nodded first, then asked with puzzlement.
After receiving the latest news, Xio, who had been preparing to leave the Viscount's estate, stayed behind and continued waiting in the corner until nightfall, when Fors returned here with Audrey.
"Xio? I thought you'd have left long ago. Why are you still waiting?"
Fors Wall, her best friend, asked curiously. Miss Audrey behind her seemed to see she had something to say and dismissed the maid, bringing the two to a study—the room where they often discussed mysticism.
"Glaint still needs to see those literary figures off and can't come over yet. You waited here for me because you have something important to discuss?"
After locking the door, Audrey sat at the desk and looked at the hesitant Xio.
Taking a deep breath, Xio told Audrey the new intelligence she'd received this afternoon.
"East Balam Dock?" Audrey asked in surprise. "That place is full of workers and vendors. How did he hide under so many people's noses?"
"Miss Irene said Lanrewus changed his appearance and looks completely different from the wanted poster," Xio supplemented the new information. "And his location matches what my... my friends investigated. Their killing to eliminate evidence also proves the search direction was correct."
She had already told Audrey at noon about Williams's death and that of another informant who had been gathering information at East Balam Dock.
"If two differently sourced pieces of intelligence confirm it, then this information should be credible," Audrey nodded, her blonde hair swaying. "Who is this Miss Irene you mentioned? Another of your informants?"
"No, she was a guest attending Viscount Glaint's salon. But she quickly approached me through the Viscount, pointed out my Beyonder identity, and told me this intelligence."
"How did she recognize you?" Fors beside her interjected.
"At Mr. A's gathering. You and I were standing together—she must have discovered you too... I told you we should wear hoods, preferably with masks, but you laughed at others' masks."
Xio looked indignantly at her good friend.
"Did this Miss Irene state her demands? Does she need money, or future cooperation?" Audrey steered the topic back on track.
"She only said it was a meeting present and didn't mention other requirements."
Xio repeated the other party's words, her face full of puzzlement.
A meeting present?
Audrey Hall was filled with questions, but currently the most important thing was confirming Lanrewus's whereabouts and completing the task Mr. Fool had assigned. She looked at the questioning Xio and Fors, who was looking worriedly at the former.
"Describe Miss Irene's appearance in detail. Perhaps I've seen her somewhere."
Audrey actually somewhat suspected the other party was coming for her. Though her becoming a Beyonder wasn't public knowledge, as Earl Hall's daughter, she still knew the weight of her identity.
"She has long black hair, brownish eyes, a somewhat round face, unremarkable features... Um, she's very tall, at least 1.75 meters. In high-heeled dancing shoes, she's nearly 1.8 meters." A trace of envy appeared in Xio's eyes. "The Viscount said she's Lady Cevilia's niece but doesn't seem familiar with noble etiquette... Oh right, she claimed to have just come from Tingen and isn't yet familiar with Backlund..."
Over 1.75 meters, from Tingen to Backlund... Isn't this, isn't this "The Queen's" characteristics?
Using her "Spectator" instincts to suppress changes in her expression, Audrey asked for confirmation: "You're certain her eyes are brownish, not some other color—say, purple?"
"I'm certain." Xio nodded affirmatively.
Then it doesn't match... Among the partial characteristics provided by "The World," purple eyes are very important information... Audrey sighed somewhat regretfully.
Though perhaps "The Queen" has some means of changing eye color—for instance, I heard that some Intis nobles, pursuing fashion, insert very thin colored glass lenses into their eyes to change their eye color...
She decided to find another opportunity to confirm this matter later.
Taking an envelope from her handbag, Audrey handed it to Xio, saying gently:
"Thank you very much for your intelligence. I also know you had a friend die unfortunately in this commission. Consider this my gratitude to you and compensation for him."
Xio took the envelope somewhat dazedly, her fingers instinctively pinching it to confirm its thickness. Her mouth moved as if wanting to refuse, but ultimately she couldn't speak the words.
"I only hope this intelligence is useful, and that Lanrewus receives the punishment he deserves."
"He will—he definitely will."
Audrey could see Xio's dejection and regret over her own insufficient strength, so she offered words of comfort.
"But I don't know Mr. Fool's true purpose in searching for Lanrewus either. Perhaps it will run counter to Xio's wishes... Sigh, Audrey, you're becoming more and more hypocritical. You can lie without your face even turning red—almost like those politicians."
Audrey examined her own behavior internally.
After Xio and Fors left, Audrey also prepared to summon her personal maid and leave Viscount Glaint's estate. Once home, she would need to pray to Mr. Fool and inform Him of the latest intelligence.
"Audrey."
Susie, the golden retriever who had followed several people into the study and been lying beside them unnoticed, suddenly spoke in human language, producing imperfect Loenese.
Her owner, Audrey, showed no surprise. She first re-locked the study door, then looked at her beloved dog.
"Susie, what is it?"
Susie nodded, her front legs propping up as she changed from lying to sitting, looking quite like an obedient child.
"Your friend, that Miss Xio—she didn't tell you the truth."
The dog tilted her head, seeming somewhat puzzled.
"The lady who spoke with her this afternoon—her height should be correct. Um, she's a head taller than Miss Xio, but she doesn't have black hair..."
"Her hair is light blonde, lighter than your hair color. And her eyes are purple."