It wasn’t all that surprising to Maurice that there was a traitor within the royal palace.
In fact, it would be stranger if there weren’t any traitors at all.
As a prisoner and subordinate of Elvira, Maurice technically didn’t need to worry about how to catch the traitor for her.
However, Maurice was, after all, a knight recognized by the Holy Church. If someone committed evil, it was his duty to step forward and stop it.
Hurting a villain like Elvira was, of course, acceptable, but if someone harmed ordinary people, Maurice could not stand idly by.
So the next day, while he looked as aimless as ever, wandering around the palace with nothing to do due to his captivity, in truth he was observing the palace staff through the unique lens of the queen’s prisoner.
Seeing if he could discover anything out of the ordinary.
Because Elvira chose to investigate the traitor secretly rather than launch a grand public inquiry, the atmosphere within the palace remained much the same as it had in recent days.
Basically, everyone was busy with their own affairs.
As for Maurice, he seemed exceedingly relaxed for a prisoner.
With this in mind, it was no wonder people mistook him for a pampered pretty boy.
Until he finished lunch, Maurice hadn’t noticed anything unusual.
Time quickly passed, and by around three in the afternoon, Maurice was standing in the corridor outside the office where the secretary handled local government documents, admiring the view.
That’s when a particularly eye-catching figure drew Maurice’s attention.
It was a nobleman with striking attire, probably in his late twenties, with deep blue hair and yellow eyes, wearing a polite and confident smile that clearly set him apart from ordinary people.
Maurice had initially wanted to ask the maid beside him who this well-bred young master was.
Unexpectedly, the man noticed Maurice and approached him instead.
“Gray hair and a slightly melancholic face—surely you must be Lord Maurice?”
The young nobleman hadn’t even stopped in front of Maurice before greeting him eagerly, as if he’d long admired Maurice’s reputation.
“I am indeed Maurice. May I ask who you are, sir?”
Since the other was so enthusiastic, Maurice couldn’t be too cold. Yet he truly didn’t know this person, so he could only politely nod and confirm his own identity before returning the question.
“Haha, look at me—I actually forgot to introduce myself first.”
Despite being a nobleman, the young man didn’t seem arrogant at all. Instead, he laughed heartily.
“I am the eldest son of the Count Spittel family, Clement Spittel. I am honored to have earned the favor of our great Queen, and I currently serve as our country’s Diplomat. I have never visited Fastal before, which is why I have not met you, Lord Maurice, but to encounter you here today must surely be the goddess’s guidance.”
With one hand placed over his chest, the young nobleman introduced himself without a trace of nervousness, showing full trust toward Maurice, whom he was meeting for the first time.
He was obviously a naturally sociable and talkative man.
As he himself had said, he truly seemed like the ideal Diplomat from a noble background.
“Are you mocking me? After all, I’m not here as Fastal’s diplomatic staff, but as a prisoner.”
Yet Maurice’s instincts told him that diplomats were never easy to deal with, and he shouldn’t be fooled by Clement’s sunny demeanor.
So he chose a more reserved response, putting on a troubled and melancholy air.
“Of course not! There’s no ill will between us. If you weren’t unable to leave the palace, I’d have invited you to a banquet at my estate by now.”
Clement hurriedly waved his hand and put on a serious face to show he wasn’t joking.
Though his manner was impeccable, he still couldn’t allay Maurice’s suspicion.
“It is my honor that you think so highly of me, Lord Clement.”
Maurice remained polite but distant, as if still troubled by his inability to escape.
Naturally, Clement noticed all of this.
—Hm, just as expected. Even a Holy Knight can’t endure that woman. Well, of course. That woman is the Demon Summoner, and their personalities must be completely incompatible.
Clement sized up Maurice calmly.
His reason for greeting Maurice was simple: to see if he could win Maurice over.
At the moment, it seemed possible, though the two maids accompanying Maurice made it difficult for Clement to speak privately.
So Clement decided to chat about whatever came to mind first, to deepen Maurice’s impression of him and pave the way for future plans.
“By the way, Lord Maurice, have you heard about that matter…”
“I see. As expected of Lord Maurice…”
“Well, I have a different perspective on that…”
As a Diplomat, Clement was naturally eloquent; conversation was no challenge for him.
But for Maurice, it was a bit of a headache.
After all, people don’t act so friendly for no reason. Who would chat casually with the queen’s prisoner as if they were old friends? Clearly, he had an ulterior motive.
Maurice could have tolerated a short conversation.
But Clement kept talking with no end in sight, showing no sign of stopping.
Sensing that if he didn’t excuse himself, Clement would never let him go, Maurice prepared to end the topic and take his leave.
Perhaps fortunately, or perhaps not, just as Maurice was about to excuse himself, another imposing figure approached from the direction Clement had come.
It was none other than Roselia, the queen’s Secretary and aide, clad in a white uniform.
Clement, who had his back to her, continued chatting about trivial matters, oblivious to Roselia’s approach.
But Maurice met Roselia’s gaze.
And, as expected, Roselia, having noticed him, walked over.
“Good day, Lord Maurice, Lord Clement. What a surprising combination. Did you two already know each other?”
Roselia seized the perfect moment to interject and then entered the scene.
Her arrival took Clement by surprise, and after a brief pause, he somewhat sheepishly explained that this was their first meeting.
“Yes, we just happened to meet and started chatting.”
Maurice nodded in agreement, appearing perfectly normal.
“I see, is that so~”
Yet, for some reason, Roselia made a remark with a rather meaningful tone.
This gave Maurice a very bad feeling.
Damn, is this wicked woman planning to do something to him?
Like threatening him, as she had before.