How to Be a Dark Hero’s Daughter

The culprit must have been preparing for this for a long time. However, two problems arose.

“First, more than ten surveillance stones were prepared. With that many crystals, wouldn’t every scene be recorded from various angles? So, Claire must have been shaken at the thought that ‘the culprit’s actions’ were caught on video stone.”

I took out the evidence that I had carefully hidden in my arms. It was a half-burnt knife with a bloodstained tip. It was the evidence found in the underground passage.

“Look at this. This is the fake knife that was used to stab Lavigne.”

“Wow, this is…”

The king examined the sword and tested it out himself.

“The blade goes in when it touches the body. Isn’t this just a fake one?”

“Yes, that’s right.”

“Wasn’t it switched with another knife?”

“That was a simple trick! Look at this.”

I manipulated the knife handle as Collen had investigated. There was a very, very small notch. When I pressed the notch, the blade wouldn’t go in.

‘In other words, the knife wasn’t switched.’

So this knife had a mechanism that would turn it into a real sword with just one press of the notch.

“Did that get recorded by the surveillance stones?”

“Yes. And the second problem was… Claire escaped through the secret passage first. The entrance to the secret passage wasn’t just one, was it?”

I guessed that Claire would have used the ceiling door in the back of the dressing room, but I couldn’t explain that in detail, so I just left it at that.

“There was another secret passage door?”

“Yes, but it caused a big problem for Claire. Other people also found the secret passage.”

“That’s right, that’s right. We also escaped through the secret passage.”

The king nodded his head. He was listening to me intently.

“Yes. That’s right… Claire must not have thought that the door to the theater would be locked because the handle had been burnt due to the fire. She must have thought that people would run away through the corridor.”

I smiled and continued.

“Anyway, when people went into the secret passage, Claire was already inside. She was surprised when people rushed in.”

Gulp. Someone swallowed their saliva.

“That’s right. Think about it. Has anyone seen Claire entering the secret passage entrance? Where was Claire at that time?”

Claire squeezed herself into the crowd, pretending to be flustered and trailing behind. Although we don’t know if she originally planned to retrieve the knife as evidence, she probably couldn’t do that either.

“If it was revealed on the video stone that she was the first one inside the passage, she would have been caught as the culprit. So Claire must have been very worried.”

I continued my explanation.

Claire’s method of committing the crime, which I saw through, went like this.

First, she manipulated the knife to make it look like the real one and started a fire amid the commotion caused by Lavigne being stabbed.

If the fire hadn’t accidentally started, she would have probably pushed over a candle herself to start it.

Then she went into the secret passage through the third entrance behind the stage, met her accomplice, and fled with Lavigne.

However, as people crowded into the secret passage, she accidentally got pushed around and couldn’t meet her accomplice. The end.

It was a very simple trick, but if it had been successful, it would have been useful.

‘I was able to deduce it because I knew the location of the secret passage.’

Of course, borrowing the thinking patterns from the detective novels I read in my previous life was just a bonus.

“That’s all speculation. Do you have any evidence? I’m not a wizard. Are you saying that I kidnapped Princess Lavigne, who almost burned to death in what could have been a fire?”

This time I saw Collen.

“Dad, I’ve seen a painting before. It’s a painting of a white magician escaping from the flames, about to be executed by fire.”

“According to legend, Duke Kondan was caught and sentenced to death by fire, but he applied a potion that prevented his body from burning and climbed onto the stake. That’s a good legend. But the important thing is…”

Collen smiled.

“That potion actually exists. White magicians are not immortal. They made a potion to avoid being burned at the stake. And that potion is still secretly traded in the thieves’ guild.”

At this point, even the children would notice.

Lavigne trembled and spoke.

“Was that potion applied to my body? What on earth… when?”

I lifted Lavigne’s arm.

“Lavigne, there’s still some sparkle on your arm.”

I said in a natural tone. Lavigne finally realized what I was saying and covered her mouth.

“Pearl was applied to my body! It was applied all over my body… but it was applied by Mira…”

Makeup servant Mira was startled.

“I-I’m innocent.”

I tried to calm Mira down.

“Anyone who can approach and mix drugs into the pearl cosmetics. It wouldn’t have been difficult for Claire.”

“Oh, come on. That’s all just speculation! There’s no evidence that I did that without a surveillance stone. Am I the culprit just because I was the last one to touch the knife? Then even young lady could be the culprit.”

Claire said shamelessly. I raised the corner of my mouth.

“If there’s evidence, Claire, it’s right in front of us.”

“What?”

I pointed to Angel with my hand.

“That person.”

“Me, me?”

Angel turned blue.