Ruth came to visit the Cradle after school the following day.
Koutarou's armor had Clan registered in its communication device. Using that, Ruth had made a promise to speak with Clan the next day.
“So, what was this important thing you wanted to talk about?”
Clan erased the hologram floating around her and adjusted her glasses while slightly irritated. She had been doing research up until Ruth arrived and she was displeased at having to interrupt that. Clan wanted to keep it short so that she get could back to her research.
“There is only one thing I wanted to talk about”
Hurrying the discussion along was just what Ruth wanted as well and she brought up her business while staring at Clan.
“It's about what Clan-sama and Satomi-sama are hiding”
“T-There's nothing that we are hiding”
Clan's expression changed repeatedly. At first she was irritated, before being surprised and then hurriedly showing a calm expression.
As I thought, there's no doubt that they are hiding something...
That was how Ruth interpreted Clan's change in expression. It looked like she was taken aback by something unexpected before hurriedly trying to smooth it over.
“I have proof”
”There's no way such a thing exists”
As Clan said that, she turned her back on Ruth.
The data has all been erased. Pardomshiha is only making wild guesses. There is no way that there is any proof left...
Clan took several small breaths from an angle Ruth couldn't see to calm herself down and turned back to Ruth with a confident smile.
“Because we are not hiding anything”
Clan had promised Koutarou to keep what happened in Forthorthe a secret, because that would keep the current Forthorthe from getting confused and be less of a bother. And there was also a large advantage for Clan. Because of this promise, Clan was the closest to Signaltin. She was well aware of what was most valuable, an empress or a princess wielding Signaltin. And Clan wasn't kind enough to give up this overwhelming advantage on her own accord.
“The first proof is that you invited me onboard your ship, Clan-sama”
However, Ruth didn't flinch in front of the confident Clan. She carefully observed Clan's reaction while speaking.
“What?”
This was once again an unexpected point, and Clan's expression instinctively changed to that of a surprised one. Ruth burned Clan's reactions into her mind as this was also an important clue.
“Just half a month ago, you were trying to kill us, Clan-sama. Despite that, you didn't reject my request to speak with you. And even as we face each other now, you haven't tried to kill me. Why is that?”
”That's...”
Clan stumbled for an answer.
She wasn't attacking Theia or the others because she had the Blue Knight and Signaltin in her hands. They were more useful than the rights to the throne, so attacking Theia had lost all meaning. And now, Koutarou was someone she had shared joys and sorrows with. She had no intention of harming his friend Ruth.
However, she couldn't reveal that. Troubled, she tried to keep her expression from changing while racking her brain.
“That is because I have realized that there is a suitable way to win as a princess. I decided that if I am going to get in Theiamillis-san's way I will do so boldly. A true princess will face any challenge without cheating”
Fortunately, she was able to come up with those words.
Things have turned quite troublesome...
Clan took a breath of relief upon escaping Ruth's pursuit, while not letting her guard down.
“Then why do you still remain on this planet, Clan-sama? Right now you are not boldly facing her highness, nor are you returning to Forthorthe. So just what are you doing here?”
Ruth lashed onto what Clan had said and pushed even harder.
“Tha...”
This was once more a difficult question to answer.
Clan remained on Earth to study Signaltin. And also to persuade Koutarou to become her own vassal.
Of course she couldn't just say that, so she once again racked her brain.
“That's because I'm making a weapon to fight Theiamillis-san. Once it's completed, I plan on challenging her with the rights to the throne on the line”
“That's a lie, isn't it”
Ruth narrowed her eyes. Her voice was chilling. She knew that those words were lies.
“I-It's not a l-lie!”
Clan was shaken and her voice was hollow. Hearing that, Ruth realized it was her chance and attacked.
“If you are planning to boldly attack her, why haven't you called back Hazy Moon? That ship should have more machinery suited to develop a weapon. What reason would you have to continue your development on this tiny ship?”
Clan was currently using the small spaceship known as the Cradle. This was originally an all-purpose spaceship that was installed in her personal space battleship, the Hazy Moon. The sensors and observation equipment onboard the Cradle were advanced, so it was enough to study Signaltin, but it didn't have a lot of facilities to create a weapon. For that, calling back the Hazy Moon from Forthorthe would be the best choice.
“I-I don't have to answer you that!”
Not even Clan could evade this pursuit. She couldn't think of a reason for why she hadn't called back Hazy Moon if she was going to fight Theia. Not answering the question was all she could do.
There's no mistaking it. Clan-sama and Satomi-sama are hiding a very important secret!
Convinced by Clan's reaction, she produced her last question to deal the finishing blow.
“Then let me change my question... What did you and Satomi-sama fight in the past Forthorthe?”
This question was Ruth's trump card. All the questions up until now had been to shake Clan. The answer to this question was what Ruth wanted to know most.
“W-Why do you know that!?”
Clan completely fell for Ruth's trap and instinctively spat out those words.
“So it really is!?”
Upon seeing Clan's reaction, Ruth's expression lit up. Meanwhile Clan put her hands in front of her mouth to silence herself.
O-Oh no!? She tricked me!!