My mother's love song

I really don't know whether to say she is timid or courageous.

"...I really did something stupid."

Rhodes sighed in a voice that could not detect any emotion.

Murasaki Shikibu on the human side bent down and put her forehead to the ground: "I'm sorry, Light-kun. Xiangzi has disappointed you."

"So the [alibi] wasn't intentional... I thought Ms. Xiangzi was going to challenge you with a mystery novel puzzle?"

After Musashi said this, Rod said something even more shocking.

"In fact, Xiangzi and the others didn't expect that there would be a murder last night."

"Wait, what does this mean? Didn't they already decide to kill Miss Aiko...ah."

Musashi's eyes widened in surprise, and Rhodes nodded and said, "That's right, the caster of the Tianlan Holy Grail War is not a human, but a spirit.

Therefore, even if the practitioner is destroyed, there should be no corpse left.

Xiangzi's original plan was to eliminate my Caster, making her disappear from the face of the earth and become a mystery.

However, the development of the matter was beyond their expectations. After the soul core was pierced, Ai Zi did not disappear, but became a corpse and remained.

The incident suddenly turned into a murder case that took place in the Ogosho mansion."

Murasaki Shikibu calmly confessed: "Yes, then everyone in the mansion will become a suspect of murder... So I improvised and used Yin Yang magic to create a secret room."

In this way, anyone other than Murasaki Shikibu and Miss Tsuru can be ruled out as a suspect.

The remaining two people shared a room with Rhodes very close to the time when Miss Aiko was murdered. In addition, the lights in their rooms were on all night while they sat inside working, so their alibis were sufficient.

Rhode said with a smile, "Isn't it true that I read all those mystery novels in vain? Although it was just a spur-of-the-moment plan, it was perfect. I was cleared of suspicion and the others were also cleared of all charges.

You created six alibis by yourself, which is unheard of."

Even from the perspective of a mystery novel, Murasaki Shikibu's crime was perfect.

Although the murderer is two identical people, which is a taboo in mystery novels, readers will not feel disgusted because they already know the setting of the Holy Grail War.

This incident was a once-in-a-lifetime twin murder case that could only be carried out during the Holy Grail War and was truly a perfect crime.

Xiangzi in the Western suit shook her head: "No... Even if we have the wisdom of two people, we are still no match for you.

It’s really wonderful. I admire you so much. You are worthy of being the Lord of Light…”

After a brief silence, Caster Xiangzi, who was wearing a kimono, asked Rhodes.

"Can I ask you a question?"

"Ah."

"When did you begin to doubt me? It was when we were sleeping together last night..."

"It was when I was checking the Command Seals earlier."

Rhodes said: “When I asked you, ‘How did you know that the Command Seal would appear on the back of your right hand?’, your first reaction was not panic at being exposed, but confusion.

If you are a Master who has just started the Holy Grail War, it should be difficult for you to feel strange.

That is the reaction that only a Heroic Spirit, someone who has the Holy Grail War intelligence memorized as common sense, would have. "

"I see, hahaha... you are so observant, I am really no match for you."

The two Murasaki Shikibu simultaneously pressed their foreheads to the ground, using the posture of sitting down to express their acceptance of guilt.

"We are unforgivable and are willing to accept any punishment you may have."

"Wait, wait! Hikari no Kiss! Please forgive Xiaoxiang! She was just confused for a moment!"

Sei Shonagon also fell to the ground and hit the ground with his forehead.

The reason she was so excited to defend herself was not because Xiangzi killed Rhodes's servant, but about another matter.

Remember, all the clothes on Aiko's body were stripped off.

Of course Murasaki Shikibu couldn't have wanted to violate her.

She did this for only one purpose, which was to frame the only male in the mansion.

Compared to killing Caster during the ritual, framing Rhodes was an unforgivable crime.

"There is no need to forgive." Murasaki Shikibu, the human in Western clothes, said calmly, "We betrayed the Lord of Light and deserve to die."

"That's not the case! Hikari no Kiss! Xiang has absolutely no ill will towards you! Just believe me on this one point!"

Rhodes ignored Noko's pleas and asked Murasaki Shikibu (the human): "Aren't you going to defend yourself for framing me?"

She replied: "It is irrefutable... Your Highness, please punish me."

"understood."

Rhodes nodded: "Next, I will announce the trial of Fujiwara Kaori."

"Yes."

"Not guilty."

"what……?"

"wait wait wait……"

They both looked up.

Rhodes said calmly: “You are not guilty of anything.

From the very beginning, Xiangzi, you came up with this assassination plan targeting only Caster because you didn't want to be my enemy, didn't want to resist me, and didn't want to hurt me, right?

The death of my beloved son was my fault for not protecting Caster during the Holy Grail Slash. How can I blame you?

If I lose the duel with you, will I be punished by you?"

"But, but..."

Murasaki Shikibu wanted to say something, but Rhodes interrupted her and spoke to himself.

“After Aiko’s body was left behind, you realized that she was not an ordinary Caster, but a possessed human.

So you immediately pulled open her clothes in a panic and performed healing magic to try to save her life... This is what made the murder scene look like a sex crime."

"...!?"

There was a clattering sound, and the two Murasaki Shikibu's eyes widened, looking at the boy with pale expressions of disbelief.

"Ah, so that's it."

Noko held her chin and said, "Ms. Aiko's half-naked appearance was just a coincidence. It wasn't Xiaoxiang's intention to frame Guang Zhiqin! I knew it was like this!"

Murasaki Shikibu: “But, but”

Rhode: "Although the result of my son's death has made me suspicious, you have no ill intentions. So you don't need to blame yourself. I declare you innocent."

Murasaki Shikibu: "Wait, please wait a moment! Lord of Light!"

"That's it."

The young man stood up from his seat of honor, revealing the unquestionable authority of a patriarch, and unilaterally ended the conversation.

"Xiangzi and Caster's Xiangzi, you two follow me."

……

……

……

On the way home late at night, a drizzle fell in the night sky of the capital.

The cold wind blew, and Rhodes shrank his neck and tightened his collar.

The two Murasaki Shikibu walked quietly behind the young man.

They maintained the Yamato Nadeshiko standard, following their husbands closely at a distance of about three steps.

"Should you take off Aiko's clothes and treat her?"

Rhodes muttered what he had just said and couldn't help but laugh it off.

"How could such a thing happen?"

"........."

The two Murasaki Shikibu lowered their heads and remained silent, with ashamed expressions on their faces.

"First of all, I can't think of a reason why I have to take off my clothes before performing the spell."

Rhodes said as he looked at the moonlight.

"Besides, given how cautious Kaori is, she would have put Aiko's clothes back on before leaving the room. She wouldn't have left her naked like that."

"...You are right."

I don't know which of the two whispered back.

Rhodes just lied.

When the topic turned to "Murasaki Shikibu set up a sex crime scene in order to frame the murder on Rod," he made up an excuse that did not stand up to scrutiny.

Of course, it was to clear Xiangzi of the charges in front of everyone.

Killing Caster can be forgiven, but framing one's own husband cannot be forgiven, everyone would think so.

So Rhodes protected them and concealed the truth.

Well, it's a traditional skill in mystery novels that the detective lets the real murderer go out of sympathy, and it's a must-try.

it's not true.

"Why are you covering for me in front of everyone?"

"……Why?"

Murasaki Shikibu and the others widened their eyes.

The person who asked "Why are you protecting me in front of everyone?" was Rod.

Xiangzi's voice trembled violently: "What are you... talking about...?"

Rhodes said: "You only had to tell the truth at that time."

Xiangzi said, "I'm sorry, Master Guang, I don't know what you are talking about."

"Don't act stupid."

Rhodes stopped and turned to look at the two of them.

"Kaori, when you set up the secret room and left, Aiko was actually wearing her clothes properly, right?"

"........."

Murasaki Shikibu, who was wearing a Western dress, bit her lips.

Rhode said: "However, the next morning, when I called everyone to the guest room, she was found dead in the guest room, half naked and stripped of her clothes.

Why didn't you tell the truth just now?"

"...Please stop talking."

Rhodes ignored her pleas and continued.

"If you tell the truth, I'm afraid the case will return to its original chaotic state."

“A simple analysis shows that there are three situations.

The first is that Aiko's originally neat and dignified body was insulted by others... Well, it's disgusting just thinking about it, so I'll pass it for now.

The second possibility is that the beloved son was not completely dead at the time, but was trapped in the secret room, dying."

Rhodes said: "However, after you left, Xiangzi, a second real murder occurred here that killed her."

“The man who entered the chamber after you killed Aiko and left her body in that state.

Well, this kind of plot twist is very common in mystery novels, right?

Xiangzi, who is familiar with mystery novels, immediately thought of this possibility. "

Xiangzi: “…”

"Then the question is, if this is the case, who do you think is the most suspicious?"