"Have you not beheld before the name...

  ... [La Monarquía] !"

  As your small and cute detective speaks those harsh words, lightning illuminates the ballroom windows that overlook the second floor!

  [SFX:THUNDER!]

  Nobody said that the detective can't lie.

  Point to me where the Decalogue touched you wrong.

  'Cannot commit the crime?'

  Lying is a victimless crime!

  Now, let me see your reaction...

  ... Prinz Rufti de Galopin!

  [SFX:THUNDER!]

  As Rufti holds the tiny body of this self-procimed [Shadowthrone] member close, cold sweat starts to drip down her back!

  This might be the most important guest that the Galopin family has received... in years!

  Not that your detective has any idea, of course.

  ... and not that the Prinz has any idea either!

  The identity of [La Monarquía] has always been kept in great secrecy, only ever appearing in a faceless, shadowed visage and a trail of metallic butterflies as her calling card.

  However...! Her dark hand has been present in nearly every recent incident on the New Continent: [The Casino Conspiracy], [The Sagrada Incident], [The Clocktower Affair]... When she publicly revealed herself to have joined the [Shadowthrone] a few months ago, it caused quite the stir in the continental underworld!

  There had always been rumors swirling that her dark majesty had arrived in New Coimbra.

  For what purpose, the Prinz did not know, but the cruelty and malice that name bore rang true even in Restorationist circles!

  It was enough to paralyze one's thinking...!

  What could this person be here at the Chateau de Galopin for?

  "I came to see... how (you) do business."

  There it was! There is was! [La Monarquía's] signature arrogance! Her thinking always seems to be one step ahead of everyone else, fitting of the moniker 'the string-puller in the shadows'! This is the bearing of an elite within elites! A true monarchess who stands above all!

  ... not that your detective has any idea of course!!

  Your detective has seen [La Monarquía] a total of three times. Twice, when she was hiding her identity. And st night, when your detective put blue and red together to figure out her identity...! Mimicking her speech patterns wasn't difficult; so long as humans fervently believe in the delusions in their own head, Ayano Sane can be anyone! Your detective can become a cackling witch one day, a high-flying buccaneer off the top rope the next!

  But right now... I have a problem.

  A very Horsefaced problem.

  The Horseguy that accompanied the Prinz is cockneying its head to a side, not quite understanding the flow. It had not been properly educated on the horrors of [La Monarquía], so the toxins of disbelief were still strong within this filthy non-human! So long as Horseguy is around, its doubts will slowly filter down to its master in the form of backbiting side commentary!

  This... shall not stand!

  If they start conferring with each other, the illusion of the dark monarchess will shatter!

  Dame da. Zenzen dame da!

  That was when your detective made up her mind.

  I shall 'remove' this threat, by its masters own hand!

  "But it seems... some 'people' are still full of doubts. About my presence."

  Running a small pale finger down the middle of Rufti's decorated chest to reverent shudders, the green-kimonoed monarchess, now fully pying her role on stage points right at Horseguy with a snap of her fingers!

  "(You)! Does this dark attendance of mine... discomfit you?"

  This sudden snapping anger startles both adversaries on the other side of the board!

  They say that when humans are under pressure, one looks out for tell-tale signs of nervousness! But I, Ayano Sane (me), am built different! How many psychological manga do you think I have read?! How could I not know full well you are looking for any sign of weaknesses...! If (you) wish to look for guilt, I'll give (you) back a burning innocence!

  This move was most unexpected.

  Instead of limp-faced nervousness, there was instead righteous indignation!

  (You) have falsely accused me of something!

  Is this anger not a sign of my innocence?!

  [SFX:Fwip]

  Producing Val-sama's invitation card from within my kimono, I wave it in the air before me,

  "Truly, the security here could do with less xness.

  What are (you) all doing, letting golden-haired thieves bowl your guests over??"

  Having taken the first strike, I want the st strike as well!

  [ZA BIG LIE], USODO #09!Before someone accuses you of something, accuse them back first!

  Then any accusations will reflect badly on themselves!

  It will seem like THEY are the ones trying to deflect from bme!

  Not only is it YOUR fault for being suspicious of me,

  you let the REAL intruder get away as well!

  [SFX:Fwip!]

  I throw the invitation which surprisingly flies with ease through the air into the big hands of Tuxedoed Horseface. Now, if I have chartered my course correctly...

  ... the moment Horseguy attempts to pry the leaves of this invitation open...

  "What are you DOING?! Are you trying to shame the Galopin family name?!"

  Rufti's seething has now reached astronomical levels! This important guest had not just pointed out the fws in the security, she has been a victim of it as well! Oh the shame! The shame that this will bring upon the de Galopin family!! Opening the invitation right now would mean completely doubting the identity of this guest!

  What was it going to say anyway?!

  That the name on the invitation was fake?

  Where could she even have gotten such a thing from?!

  The other guests?! But she wasn't on the ballroom floor... The logic does not pass! If she was not in contact with any other guests, where or who would pass her an invitation? The golden-hair? Such a thing happening, you would be better off seeking gss fragments with a millionth of a millionth chance in a pile of hay! In the end, the bme lies with (YOU)! The one who let her through the front door in the first pce!

  dayo ne?

  Go ahead, try and read it.

  Dare you risk riding your master's wrath?

  Beads of sweat drip down Horseguy's very realistic mask, its quivering and broken excuses going unheard by the young master of the chateau! At this moment, Horseguy realized: the little girl in the foreign green clothes was dangerous! Extremely so! She had thrown a poison pill its way, knowing full well that Horseguy would gulp it down like a tube of horse paste! Forward, backward, there was nowhere to go! It only was then that Horseguy understood the true nature of the person that was locked elbow-in-elbow with her master right now!

  So this is... [La Monarquía]!

  (Not.)

  "Get lost. Go guard the west wing. Find the golden-haired brat, or something. I do not care. Disgrace yourself no further." The Prinz waves Horseguy away, full of disdain at her family's servant having shown such impiety towards a guest of paramount importance! The hasty trots of horseshoed embarrassment leaves the second floor, leaving your small and cute detective with the fully-believing Prinz!

  "Now, Prinz. I hear that an interesting auction is being held here..."

  I make the slightest of dark gnces towards the red door, and Prinz, now wanting to make the most up for her servant's dishonor...

  "The auction has been called off, but... we can make an exception for your dark majesty's visit."

  "Subarashii[1], I love exceptions."

  "What did you just say?"

  "I meant, superb, I love exceptions."

  That was close!

  The flicker of alertness disappeared as soon as it appeared.

  Now locked arm-in-arm, [La Monarquía] (me) and Prinz Galopin push past the red door.

  Just before I take a step into the darkness,

  I know that this entire sequence was recorded.

  When the screaming started, I positioned myself perfectly, after all!

  Casting my eyes upward at the silvery orb above the shadowed pilrs...

  Well, Madi-san?

  This much is possible for Ayano Sane!

  Chateau de Galopin, Control Room.

  Large numbers of orbs are arrayed on wooden shelves on three sides of this narrow and custrophobic room. In the darkness, the bluish, transparent glow broadcasts every corner of the mansion, with some even prying into the private guestrooms! A single rge Horseguy lies limp on the concrete floor, front of its head having taken a rge bump! Instead of a single horse-guy dunking doughnuts on a gamer chair, two shadows have suppnted the guard on duty, watching the entire sequence of events outside the Red Room!

  "Aya-chan... is a big liar."

  Madi-san pouts her lips, disapproving of the 「excellento」 and magnifique performance her accomplice put up.

  Admit it, Madi-san! It was 「goodo」!

  Beside her, a pink haired shadow crosses her arms, not a stranger to this at all.

  "Hasn't your friend always been like this...?"

  Oi. What do you mean 'always like this', Oracion?! We've met for less than two weeks and you---

  "Hmm hmm, maybe! It just means I have to kick some sense into her when we get back!"

  I'll kick some sense into >you, Madi-san! If not for me, would you have eyes beyond the red door?!

  At that moment, the inactive orbs at the lower right corner light up, the doors to the secretive Red Room having opened for business!

  Go Go And Learn Moonrunes With Aya-chan![1]Subarashii- すばらしい, meaning superb, glorious or excellent! Like your detective! Yes, your detective is very Subarashiiindeed!

  HouseDerouxScribbles