Pretty Sure That's Correct.

"Come back the day after tomorrow — the elf girl should arrive by then. And next time, use the front door."

"Okay, see you."

Kari-chan fluttered her fingers and vanished.

Just as she'd appeared: without sound or warning.

"Mariabel-sama."

My maid addressed me, but I signaled with a discreet soirée hand sign: Do not relax your guard yet.

"Good grief, that took years off my life. Spare me the sudden entrances."

"Shall I say, 'Please don't die, my lady!' for form's sake?"

"Hah. I've got thirty-five years left. Relax."

"Hmm. Last time you said forty, so we've already lost five. What a development."

Inside the lord's keep, the girl appeared right in front of us without a sound. Even my maid, who excels at sensing presences, only felt a faint prickle a heartbeat before. The girl only registered as an intruder after she physically manifested.

Which is to say: She can watch us whenever she pleases.

As long as we are discussing her, we cannot afford to grow careless. For now, we should maintain the vigilance of a night party — the battlefield of ladies.

At least until the business with the elves is concluded.

My maids understood.

I immediately sent word to the soldiers: the elf search is no longer necessary; recall the escort detachment transporting the elf back home. Only then did I return to my chambers — and switched on an anti-eavesdropping device.

"It may just be for peace of mind, but let's talk under this."

"My lady… what is that person?"

A little thing I scrubbed from head to toe at the public bath the other day, laughing all the while. A country commoner ignorant that I'm the former lord's wife — that much I could forgive. But that she would turn out to be such a significant figure — I did not expect.

"You've heard Alchemia fell? The capital ruined in a night, then ground down over seven days and nights. I'd rather not end like that."

"Meaning…"

"Don't pry. Kari-chan, Maria-baachan, and the aunties — that's all we need to be. We will keep it that way. Understood?"

"… Will that be safe?"

She looked uneasy. But there is no better arrangement.

If, hypothetically, 'Kari-chan' is the one who erased Alchemia — then compare the position of a casual friend who can speak with her, and that of a mere former lord's wife.

Which stands higher? Rather obvious, isn't it?

And we can discard that 'hypothetically.'

When I probed, she clearly knew Alchemia's internal affairs. And showed not a whit of surprise. In other words, she was a party to it.

She also possesses the force to defeat the artifact Poseidon at sea. To cleave in twain a ship supposedly guarded by a god is not something mortals can do.

In other words… it is what it is. There is simply too much circumstantial evidence.

"It's fine. In my judgment, the girl is a good person at heart. So long as we do not approach with ill will, she won't harm us."

"But she destroyed the lord's privateers…"

"They had already gone too far and were a hair's breadth from being purged. She saved us the work. Isn't that so?"

"Indeed, my lady."

At my emphasis, my maid smiled.

They touched an elf. And even after their cargo had been taken, they moved to strike a licensed ship — truly over the line. At sea, with Poseidon on their side, they were a troublesome force that even the lord could not touch.

So yes, she truly did save us trouble.

"Oh, right. My son might carelessly… get the wrong idea. Helza, as a precaution, go make sure he understands."

"At once, Mariabel-sama."

I sent the maid Helza to warn my son, the current lord.

Do not oppose her — oppose her and you will be destroyed. She is the one who erased Alchemia from this continent. Plot no reprisals; force nothing upon her.

"Teresa — did you smell elf on that girl?"

"Yes, and strongly. I would wager they shared a bed. Despite our thorough washing the other day, that scent remains strong — no mistake."

"Ah… so that's how it is. Good grief — how do we explain that to the parties involved?"

Teresa, with wolf-beast blood in her veins, has an excellent nose. It has saved us from poisons more than once. A nose I trust.

If she says so, then it is so. If it turns out they merely wrapped themselves in an unwashed blanket and dozed off together, I will be the one surprised.

"This is why life is delightful. I'll live another fifty years."

"Oh? It lengthened again?"

"Sip enough youth and your lifespan extends. In twenty years, you'll learn that too."

Good heavens, we've befriended a troublesome being.

… While we remain friends, though, it is reassuring.

Since we have the chance, perhaps I should ask her what we ought to do with Alchemia's ruins.