Book 2: Chapter 52.3
Father’s Cold-Bloodedness
After the young lady exposed her father’s sin, a painful silence descended. The Earl did not show any signs of surprise and watched the young lady attentively, with his arms folded. The chief butler shut his eyes, with a glum look, and Captain Maxim just stood with his mouth agape.
Naturally, it was the young lady who broke the silence.
「Father, you knew that House Riviere was the mastermind behind channeling the skill orbs into the black market, but you couldn’t do anything about it. Even with the “Magic Eye of Inquiry”, you are the only one who can tell apart the other person’s lie. Even if you were able to strike down the nobles below the rank of Earl, you cannot lay hands on the top authority, one of the state’s leading Dukes, so you first planned an attempted poisoning of Kluvshrat-sama. …Captain Maxim!」
The young lady suddenly called out, so the captain responded “Y-Yes,” with a shrill voice.
「I asked Reiji earlier, but it seems that he doesn’t know anything. Did you receive any medicine from my father just before we left for the Sprout and New Moon Banquet?」
「Ah, yes. I was told that it was a panacea that works against all kinds of poisons. If by any chance someone collapses, I was to administer the medicine. …Ah.」
It seems that he was telling the truth, but Captain Maxim shut his mouth, as he was shot with a sharp glare by the butler.
「Father, you probably expected that either Lord Ethan of House Ebene or Lord Ethan’s escort would see through the poison. And in the unlikely event that Kluvshrat-sama swallowed the poison, Captain Maxim will cure it. But in that case, Captain Maxim’s actions would be too suspicious that your subsequent actions would be restricted… and similarly, since Reiji detected the poison, your actions were still restricted.」