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"But it has to be a Monster egg. I heard it's enormous."
"That's true, but we need to be sure. It's like a person's life is on the line."
Rosia frowned annoyedly at those words.
She couldn't understand why the academy hadn't identified the egg yet, with so many talented professors.
As if answering her question, Calios sat down and continued.
"I heard the egg is very rare. The Monsterology professors are all over it, but they all shake their heads, saying they've never seen anything like it."
"……."
"But it will be revealed soon. The best professors at the academy are all exploring the identity of the egg. If it turns out not to be a Monster egg, that's a good thing."
Gerard nodded in agreement with Calios's words.
It was true that it was suspected of being a Monster egg, but if no one had identified it, the possibility that it wasn't could not be ruled out.
And above all, he believed that Ayla, whom he knew, was not the kind of person to do such a thing, no matter how cornered she was.
Gerard lowered his gaze, hoping that the egg was not a Monster's.
"I hope a good result comes out……."
"I hope so too, but I can't be sure because it looks so suspicious. We have to keep the worst-case scenario in mind."
At Duke Blanche's words, Cedric, who had been listening quietly, raised his head sharply.
"The worst-case scenario?"
The Duke looked at his son and reluctantly opened his mouth.
"……You all know this already. If it turns out that Ayla used the egg for evil purposes, she could be expelled from the academy and even be brought to the Imperial Palace court and imprisoned. The headmaster told me to prepare myself in advance."
The moment she heard those words, Rosia almost smiled with joy.
But seeing her family's dark expressions, she hurriedly composed herself.
It was then. Calios, who had been stroking his chin, opened his mouth as if he had remembered something, "Ah."
"But there might be a variable. Do you remember Duke Argenta's disciple stepping in right before Ayla was dragged away by the soldiers?"
Cedric was the first to react to his words.
"Yes, that guy said he was the one who gave her the egg, and if it was a Monster egg, they should arrest him."
Cedric said that and his eyes sparkled.
If they could pass the blame to Felix, a commoner, Ayla could be acquitted and released.
Calios also spoke in a positive tone.
"Yes. If Ayla received the egg without knowing anything, as he said, the chances of her sentence being reduced are high. And above all, Duke Argenta is very enthusiastically protecting his disciple. If we do well, we might get a positive result even if we go to trial."
"……."
"Of course, we'll have to wait and see how the results turn out."
Relief washed over the family's faces at the hopeful story.
Seeing that, Rosia's stomach churned.
Unable to contain her anger, she shouted in a voice full of annoyance.
"Everyone, wake up! Are you saying Ayla suddenly overcame Mana insensitivity without doing anything?"
She looked at her family members one by one, excited, and continued.
"And Felix also recovered from Mana insensitivity recently. Maybe he's covering for Ayla because they're accomplices. If they're plotting something evil, they must be punished!"
Rosia, who had poured out her intense emotions, gasped for breath.
Calios looked at her with a flustered face.
Rosia's usual gentle and delicate appearance was nowhere to be seen, and her face was flushed and agitated.
Duke Blanche nodded with a sullen expression.
"Well, you're not wrong……."
He couldn't continue and looked at his eldest son.
Then Gerard also shrugged his shoulders with a flustered expression.
Rosia was startled by her family's subtle reactions and closed her mouth.
'Everyone is looking at me strangely.'
It was a chance to corner Ayla, but she suddenly got excited when she heard that she might be released safely.
Rosia hurriedly lowered her eyes and made a sad expression.
"……I'm sorry, I got emotional because I thought Ayla might have unfairly taken the top spot from me."
"No, I understand your position well enough. It could happen."
Calios smiled faintly and tried to soothe Rosia, but his eyes still held bewilderment.
Rosia bit her lower lip tightly.
'I made a mistake. I didn't need to reveal all my true feelings.'
At this moment, it would have been easier to gain people's sympathy by showing an attitude of pitying Ayla.
But instead, she got angry and shouted.
Rosia realized that she had made a big mistake. But even so, she couldn't get rid of her anger.
In the end, she had to get up quietly without even touching the remaining food during the meal.
After the meal, Rosia returned to her room and couldn't calm her uneasy mind.
Seeing this, Ayla seemed to be too lucky.
Surely she wouldn't get away with this without any consequences?
'Like hell.'
Now even Duke Argenta was getting involved because of Felix's sudden intervention.
Rosia felt a sense of urgency at the unexpected turn of events.
'What is it about Ayla that makes everyone protect her like this?'
If it was determined that the Monster egg was not Ayla's, the weakness she had worked so hard to seize would be useless.
Rosia didn't want to miss the opportunity she had barely grasped.
'I can't just sit still. I have to ask that person for help.'
Rosia trembled as she picked up a pen.
The tip of the quill was dipped in ink, but she hesitated for a while without writing anything.
She was reminded of the last time she had failed so futilely.
'……No, this time it's like she's completely cornered. Let's be brave.'
Having made up her mind, Rosia pressed the letters firmly on the stationery.
She planned to ask that person to send an investigator from the Imperial Palace.
She wanted to catch Ayla quickly before she got away with it again for some strange reason.
'Since it's obviously a Monster egg anyway, there's no need to wait for the exact results, right?'
She had to hurry before Duke Argenta ruined things any further.
Rosia's eyes trembled uneasily as she sent the completed letter through a messenger bird.
Meanwhile, Ayla, who was locked in a solitary cell, was having a surprisingly comfortable time, contrary to expectations.
Rosia would be so angry if she knew this.
'It's a bit cramped compared to the academy dormitory, but it's not too bad.'
It was her third day in confinement, but there was no time to be bored.
Peony, who came to visit her yesterday, had given her several books.
'It's like studying in a reading room where they provide three meals a day.'
She even had the silly thought that she would be released with her Magic skills even more improved.
She didn't even think that the results might be wrong.
'Because it's not a Monster egg anyway.'
Right now, everyone was being deceived by its appearance and assuming it was a Monster egg.
If they just shifted their focus based on Felix's testimony, it was only a matter of time before the truth was revealed.
Ayla had no doubt that she would be released soon.
However, she was worried about Felix, who was locked in a solitary cell without knowing anything.
'I think I've caused a lot of trouble for Felix in many ways because of this.'
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