"He said he had been deceived. ”

Nia said.

"'Deceived'?" said Fili, incredulous, "to the point where he could still say such things with his eyes open?—what did he say?"

"Oh, no, no, no. Nia shook her head solemnly, "I'm going to have to let you hear him say it again." It's not every day that you see such a wonderful performance. ”

He smirked and lowered his voice, and pointed to the closed door behind Ed: "A deceived and threatened, innocent and pitiful, tearful and guilty Aaron Mansini who just wants to make amends to you - is inside." Are you ready?"

Ed froze in front of the door, shivering.

Filly chuckled sullenly and kicked the door open, dragging Ed inside.

A lightning-fast white shadow swept across his face, silent and swift as the wind, and it flashed past Fili and swooped down on Ed.

Ed took two steps back to stabilize his body, and involuntarily froze there again, staring in horror at the huge cat head in front of him - it was indeed Xiaobai, much bigger than he remembered, with pale blue eyes that were big and bright, as if they were hiding the whole starry sky, almost as tall as him when they stood upright, and the warm soles of his feet pressed against his chest, and the fluffy head still arched into his neck and sniffed......

Before Ed could figure out whether his thumping heart was due to fear or excitement, the white leopard had lost interest in him, and as soon as he twisted his body back to the ground, he took a few steps away and lay on the ground, and began to lick the soles of his feet as if no one was around.

"Congratulations. Nia smiled and patted his arm, "You've passed its identification - no makeup or deformation can fool it, I've tried it many times." ”

Ed grinned silly, feeling a strong, visceral joy and pride for some reason.

This enabled him to fend off the scalp-tinging attacks of Aaron Mansini - the "innocent and pitiful" Count had risen from his chair, his hands clasped to his chest, his round eyes full of tears, his jaw trembling slightly, and he perfectly blended remorse and surprise in every muscle and every line of his face.

"My lord!" he called affectionately, and if it weren't for Fili's cold and hard poking in front like a spear, he would have swooped up and hugged Ed and cried.

"You're all right!—I knew you'd be all right!" he said, holding his outstretched hands up gratefully, "Thank you, gods!"

"Thanks to you. Filly sneered.

“...... The gods are above!" Mancini cursed again, "I swear if I had known what terrible thing they would do to Lord Singel......

"So you want to tell me that you don't even know what they're doing in that chamber?" Filly interrupted him impatiently, "you don't want to say that you don't even know that you don't even know that there's a secret room the size of half a pomegranate hall hidden under your own house, do you?"

"Uh...... I know that. Mancini rubbed his hands together and smiled, "That's the place where I'm going to dig a bigger basement to store my ...... Gadgets were found when they were discovered. Occasionally I'll host some ...... there Uh, little parties, you know, the kind of ...... that are purely for fun."

“...... I'm not interested in knowing any of this. Filly's face darkened.

"Anyway," Mancini quickly retracted the subject, playfully, "I lent that place to the Duke a few months ago...... Lent to Tellina Beauford. He said he wanted to set it up and have an amazing, mysterious, and luxurious feast......"

"And you don't have any suspicions?" Filly wrestled his wrist with a gloomy face, as if he had heard enough of this nonsense, and couldn't wait to punch him, "I know you're not stupid, my lord...... But you'd better not take me for a fool either. ”

"How dare I!" cried Mansini, "you see, sir, I don't really have a choice—I owe him a great deal of money. My little hobby...... You know, that's a lot of money......"

Fili closed her lips tightly and forced Mancini to get back to business quickly once again with Sensen's gaze.

"Yes, yes, of course I have some doubts," he said...... "but I thought that the Duke had some dissatisfaction with His Majesty the King and the Queen Mother, and wanted to do something...... And I, of course, am loyal to Your Majesty! I even tried to warn the Queen Mother, but she didn't seem to understand much - but in the end, I don't have any evidence. I had always thought that if I noticed any suspicious behavior on the part of the Duke, I could immediately warn the Queen, Her Majesty the Queen Mother, but Telina has always been very careful to protect his secrets......"

He stopped and wiped his sweat. And this usually seems like a gesture of weakness, but it can also be done by him with such sincerity that Ed can hardly resist applauding him.

“...... That's enough. Fili pressed his forehead with a headache on his face: "So, you who are so loyal and brave, and know nothing about anything, have any reason to stun Ed and put him in a cage?

"I wish I could say that, too. Mancini shrunk back into an indescribable look of sadness and guilt, "But, no, my lord, I must confess the sins I have committed because of fear and cowardice, and hope that I will at least have a chance to atone for my sins before I accept punishment...... But he has taken my son hostage, my lord!"

Ed coughed violently - he choked on his own saliva from being so surprised.

“...... You have a son?" even Filly's voice involuntarily changed in tune, "How come I've never heard of it?"

Aaron Mancini was married once. He married an orphan girl who had lost her parents, and the unfortunate girl died of illness within a few years, leaving no son and a half daughter, but leaving Mancini a rich inheritance. There have always been suspicions that Mancini killed his wife...... But, of course, no one could find any evidence.

"One...... Bastard. Mancini looked rather embarrassed and bowed his head, "I can't marry his mother, she's just a ...... Belch...... But, after all, it was my only son, and I had been secretly taking care of him, hoping that one day, I would find the right opportunity to meet him......"

The white leopard, who had been lying on its side and licking the soles of its feet, suddenly sneezed. To Ed, it sounded like a snarling laugh.

(To be continued.) )