-Arrest them!
After hearing Mayida, Molly and Fardan began to walk towards the elves, the girls reacted stepping back, just then to end up being surrounded by the maids.
-Wait!
On the last try to keep things peaceful, I raised my hand shouting.
The flow of mana got interrupted and the spell I was preparing vanished.
Being the first time I raised the voice during the whole meeting, it was easy to catch their attention.
-What´s the problem?
August didn´t hide it anymore, his eyes expelled all the suspect he had about me.
The same happened with the others, the difference was the feelings exposed on their faces.
Surprise, curiosity, expectation.
Although not everything seemed bad, letting my guard down would be my end.
The scythe was resting its edge on my neck, a miss will cost me everything.
I was already used to that overwhelming sensation, so I kept a confident yet calm front.
With a voice that flowed like a river, I began to talk, my face directed to Agust.
-I believe we´re getting ahead of ourselves, the fact that they know the person doesn´t mean they are implicated in what he does, previously you confirmed that yourself... I can´t look at this and let them be condemned for having a minimal association with someone that sure is nothing to them.
In this situation appeal only to logic wouldn't be right, if do that it´ll seem like somehow I was expecting this to happen, and more or less I did, however, I couldn´t let them know that, so show a little sentimentalism was necessary.
-I´m very sorry if I´m being unrespectful or if I´m getting where no one called, but I don´t consider that things have to go this way... Not with them.
Not the heroic kind, like sure the redhead would use, neither a merciful like the timid, nor a carefree like the optimistic girl or one filled with a strong sense of justice like it would use the tall girl.
No.
I needed to show something of myself, an honest face that didn´t make me look desperate for credibility and at the same time avoid pity.
I needed to expose my principles, my believings.
Enough to look credible, but not too much to seem at the edge of a mental breakdown.
I looked at the floors as I kept talking with August.
-I understand you have your suspicions, I understand you want answers, and I agree with that... However, treat innocents as criminals is much worse than punishing a murderer... And until proven otherwise, I consider they are innocents... They don't deserve this...
With my hand, I covered half of my face showing pain and sadness.
The falseness of my feelings was not easy to perceive since I was truly experiencing them, not as much as I showed, but they were there.
Then I got up from my seat, knelt on the floor with my arm resting on my knee, and lowered my head.
-Let me continue the interrogatory, I can get you the information you want, I can discover the connection between these people and the masked man, I just need an opportunity... I ask you, majesty, let me help them, and myself.
...
A long silence ruled over the room, just the sound of my breathing was perceptible to me.
For a moment I looked in direction of the elves, the face of Molly seemed as she had seen a ghost, Fardan kept himself serious, apexes of a melancholic feeling escaping from his face here and there. Violet was still angry, a tiny light of hope shining in his eyes. The same was happening with Iris, the differences radicated on her trembling body with fear sliding down her cheeks.
Then I looked in front, Samanta, Romero, and Ana seemed moved, Mayida was burying me in her deception at the same time Algimatas did it with his joy.
August kept himself firm, however, his expression softened, then he gazed at the elves.
With a movement of his hand, the maids stepped back, the people that had rose drawn their weapons and sat again.
-Mister Roberto, for respect to your principles and the contributions you have made to the kingdom, I´ll let you keep the interrogation, you will have one chance, and as much as I agree with you, you must remember that this is my kingdom and the enemy with which we are dealing is not remotely common or easy to capture, for that you have to understand that this case will not happen with frequency on the future.
-... I understand, king August, you have my most honest gratitude.
-Good.
I got up from the floor, then returned to my seat and looked at the elves.
-Ask you to forget about this is impossible, so the better will be to continue and finish this quickly, Can you help me to help you miss Violet?
The elf girl filled herself with a strange determination, Iris got away from the body of her sister and tried to do the same with a trembling body.
-I´ll respond to whatever you ask.
The word "Perfect" came out of my mouth as I smiled at them kindly.
-The name Kitzin, Did you come up with that just now?
-No.
This time answers came without delay.
Black.
-The masked man told you that name?
-Yes.
Black.
-Do you know another name that might refer to the same person?
-Yes.
Black.
Cold sweat was sliding through my back by articulating the next question.
If things went wrong from here, I wouldn't have another option than to invade the capital with Fei Xue and escape among the rubble.
-Which is?
With saliva going down her throat Violet answered "Antonio".
The orb stayed black.
The sound of paper being slide and the feathers writing came right after getting the answer.
Following the source of the sound with my eyes, I saw Samanta looking at some archives that contained several Antonio with different surnames.
When I looked back at Violet I gave her a comforting smile, this softened her expression a bit, but she was still on guard.
I think I got it now.
With the few questions I threw, more or less I already had an idea of how the orb worked.
The orb detects when a person knows is lying, but it doesn´t detect the lie itself.
Violet thinks she´s not lying by saying the name Antonio, so the orb doesn´t react. If Fei Xue was in her place and had said the same answer, is quite probable that the orb would have shined since she would consider the name Antonio as a lie.
From here on, I´ll depend on the love that the lady of fortune has for me.
-Did you saw the face of the man?
-Yes.
Black.
-Did you noticed something distinctive? Eye color, skin, hair, facial marks, Something similar?
-No, nothing.
Black.
I was a bit scared to ask that, the clothes I used during the carnage hid the tattoo on my neck, but the suit I was using now didn´t.
It was lucky that Violet didn´t relate appearances unconsciously.
-Could you give us a description of his face?
-... He looked a lot like you, I´d even say the same in appearance.
Black.
I finally stopped hiding my cheek, letting the scar be seen.
-Uwah, that pains my heart.
-... I don´t know how to respond to that...
Black.
The answer of Violet raised some eyebrows, to not give me away I stayed calm as I joked.
-A tiny comment, just continue to answer, we´ll finish soon.
-Whatever you say...
After getting enough information from Violet to make the king feel satisfied, we ended the interrogatory, I made sure to convince the presents that they knew Kitzin by mere casualty in the process, I also used the emotional state of Iris as an excuse to prevent her interrogation, it was thanks to the support of Ana, Molly, and Samanta that it worked.
-Thanks for your cooperation, Miss Violet, now that we are done I´d like to escort them back with the other survivors, Can I, majesty?
-... They are free of suspect, you can go with them, Roberto...
-Thanks a lot.
Once again I got up from my seat and walked to Iris and Violet.
-Miss Violet, I won´t ask you for forgiveness about what happened, the threat that represents the man called Antonio might be one of the biggest Lafonia has seen, being cautious with the minor hints is part of protecting the capital.
I´m sure you wouldn´t say that if they had been diplomats, shitty old man.
My thought was most likely what Violet was thinking too, I was sure about that after seeing her face fighting to maintain serenity.
-... I understand it, your highness, I hope you´re successful in your investigation.
-I thank you, you may leave now.
With all said and done, we left the room.
While we were in the hallways I told them to follow me and stay silent for the moment.
Both elves nodded with gaunt faces and pale colors.
After walking for a while, we arrived at my bedroom door and I let them in.
Once I made sure that there wasn´t someone watching us or hearing us with magic or in the shadows, I closed the door and went to my bed.
With my butt on the matters I told them "You can speak now".
Iris and Violet looked at each other for a moment.
Thump*
The knees of both elves lose against gravity.
-Ghk... Hic* Ahg*
Iris began to cry on the chest of her sister, the girl was biting a piece of her uniform to prevent her cries escaped out of her throat.
Violet embraced the girl between her arms battling to keep her tears inside her eyes.
They stayed in that position for a time.
Fuck... That was too close...
Everyone needed a breath.