"Olivia?" Arthur gasped hard, as did the people in the room. "You were a spy all along?"
"We'll talk about that later, sir. This is an urgent thing." Olivia resumed. "When I was on patrol, I found someone entering Julian's room through the window. Maybe it's Julian, and he takes off his disguise clothes in his room. Perhaps we'll be able to find it there. Maybe we can also find the knife he used to attack Mr. Lance and the blueprints. I haven't gone in and checked."
Lance's heart rate rose. He's facing a critical situation.
Julian put on a smirk. "Maybe someone else put those things in my room to frame me."
"Our investigative magic is quite advanced." Arthur speaks in his normal tone again. "By analyzing sweat, hair, and other elements, we can determine someone's identity. Maybe some of those things are still stuck to the clothes."
Arthur spoke like that to emphasize that he was not collaborating with Julian. Lance also felt compelled to follow suit.
Framing Julian was Lance's only option. Even though Lance doesn't like Julian, that doesn't mean the engineer wants to ruin the aide's life. This is making the engineer feel bad.
Julian lowered his head in silence.
Olivia continued. "If you're innocent, you shouldn't be afraid of us searching your room."
With a faint smile, Julian glanced at Arthur. "Miss Olivia, do you believe that this is a conspiracy designed by Sir Arthur and…"
"Don't talk nonsense!" Lance interrupted the aide's words. "You dare accuse Sir Arthur!?"
The veins on Julian's face and neck tightened. "You…."
"And what do you want to do with my blueprints!?" Lance continued his words in a harsher tone. "Do you realize how valuable those things are!? In the wrong hands, those pieces of paper could destroy our kingdom!"
"Please, stay away from him, Mr. Lance." Olivia hissed. "He almost killed you. He can do it again."
"That's right, Lance. Keep your distance from him." Ashe pointed his rifle at the aide. "He's dangerous."
Julian took a deep breath, then let out a bitter chuckle. "It seems my words will fall on deaf ears."
Suddenly, Julian moved towards Ashe. The female elf pulled the trigger, but Julian ducked and punched Ashe in the chin. She fell and became unconscious.
Olivia attempted to stab Julian with a knife, but he evaded and fled the room.
It all happened in a matter of seconds. He could move so fast.
"Don't run, Julian!" Arthur chased his aide with Olivia. "Come back here!"
"Mom, can you wake Ashe up!?" Lance asked for help. "I'll secure Julian's room with Ashe! Maybe there are still Julian's friends who will take blueprints and evidence!"
The mother then kneeled and touched Ashe's forehead. "Shit! Why do things get so messy!? In all my time working here, I've never seen this craziness!"
***
"I only found weapons and clothes possibly worn by Julian Rufford, sir," Olivia explained while lifting a sack containing those things. She checked Julian's room alone since she had the most authority in this matter. "I'll bring these items to the capital for inspection."
"There's a possibility that Julian hides the blueprints in his clothes from the start." Lance continued his act by massaging his head. "And now he's gone. I'm afraid he handed those things over to our enemies."
"Maybe he did it because of his family background…." Arthur sighed. "Ah, I can't talk about it here."
Arthur refers to the fact that Julian is a descendant of the previous rulers, the Celeste family.
"Mrs. Ashbourne, miss Virharice." Olivia bowed to Ruth and Ashe. "I hope you can take care of Miss Eve while I'm away. Thank you in advance."
Ruth patted the maid's shoulder. "Of course, I already consider Eve to be my child."
"It's okay." Ashe answered with a smile. "She and I are getting to know each other."
"Are you okay, Lance?" Ruth turned to her son.
"I'm a little dizzy." This time, Lance wasn't acting. He felt lightheaded, and he would take advantage of that.
"You lost blood, although not much, and perhaps this incident stressed you out." Ruth touched her son's forehead. "You better rest."
"Yeah." Lance looked at Arthur. "I want to be alone for a while, Sir Arthur. But tomorrow I will meet you to discuss this. I hope you don't mind."
"Take the time you need. But remember, tomorrow I'm leaving for the capital at noon after checking on Eve's condition one last time."
"Thank you, sir."
Ashe and Ruth then took Lance back to the room he used earlier.
"Would you like something, Lance? Soup? Tea? Anything?" Ruth offered.
Lance shook his head. "No, I just want to sleep."
"Alright. Just call me if you need anything. I'll sleep in the next room."
"Thanks."
After the women left, Lance closed the door and took something from under the bed.
It's his mech blueprints. He used teleportation magic to move them from Julian's room. This magic has the same principle as what Eve does at the bunny party, when she bringing food and drinks from thin air. The truth is, they have prepared those things elsewhere.
This is Lance's way of being careful. He attached some teleportation magic circle to those blueprints. Then he could summon them to his hand if needed.
Like what happened some time ago.
The chaos made people's attention focus on Julian. When Arthur and Olivia chased the aide, Lance asked his mother to help Ashe.
As soon as Ruth's gaze shifted, Lance summoned those blueprints and threw them under the bed. He didn't have time to hide it somewhere else.
Now, people will think that Julian took the blueprints away.
If the blueprints remain, then the risk is higher. They would have to stage another robbery and that would arouse suspicions.
Despite a small hiccup from Olivia, the plan was a huge success, albeit with Julian as the sacrifice.
After a long silence, Lance held back his laughter, and he didn't know why. Was it because he had fallen into the abyss of insanity?
Maybe so. If he wasn't crazy enough, he wouldn't stage this big conspiracy.
He's a traitor of the state now.