How to do a stealth quest is simple!
Enter the room and talk to the NPC who has the quest. The conversation will progress, and by the end, the quest will appear in your quest window.
There’s no notification saying you’ve accepted the quest, so sometimes you might not realize you’ve taken it and just keep advancing the story, causing the quest to fail.
Well, in reality, there isn’t even a status window, so I have to remember everything on my own.
The internal structure of the duke’s residence was less guarded compared to the outside. It was still a personal house, no matter how spacious it was. They would probably feel uncomfortable letting anyone in without permission.
Thank goodness for that! The thick luxury carpet in the hallway was a blessing too.
I can barely hear my footsteps! Tiptoe, tiptoe!
The problem was bumping into a maid or servant while wandering inside, but I decided to think about that later. It was deep into the night, so there probably wouldn’t be many people wandering about anyway.
So all I had to do was meet with Roti’s mother, who gives the stealth quests, and have a chat with her—
“Sylvia.”
Did I not scream this time? Have I really grown? Just a few days ago, I screamed when Alice called me at the beach, so I must be growing up fast!
“…Crown Princess?”
“So, Alice— Ugh, never mind.”
Seeing Alice following behind me nearly gave me a heart attack! In the original story, Alice was definitely a physical damage dealer wielding a huge sword. Has she somehow transitioned into a ranged character!?
“After having that conversation yesterday, is it really that strange for me to know your movements in the same room?”
“…Then why did you only speak up now, after coming in?”
“….”
Alice avoided my gaze and stayed silent.
Right, it must be out of curiosity. I’ve known Alice for several years now. Not just casually, but living in the same place… awkwardly, but we’ve sort of been like sisters.
“It seems you have quite a skill for stealth.”
“Oh, really?”
Although she was whispering, Alice looked agitated when she said that.
“Well, since you go wandering around without telling me, I can’t help but develop such skills, can I?”
Wait a minute. Are you saying Alice has seen me almost getting caught by the guards five times?
Gulp.
That’s embarrassing! Alice might not remember, but I definitely will!
I tried my best to not show that feeling.
“So, what are you doing here?”
Talking in a crouched position in the corner of the hallway was a refreshing experience in many ways, but there was no time to enjoy that sensation.
After all, you can’t just wake someone up on purpose after they’ve fallen asleep to chat with them, right?
“…I’m here to meet someone.”
“You sneak in to meet someone? If you told the Duke, he’d gladly invite you.”
That’s probably true.
But at the same time, that would mean keeping an eye on me. I need to be careful around other nobles, not just around Alice.
Who would suspect that I’d be the one to install a bomb in the mansion?
“Who is it?”
Hmm…
I thought for a moment and then stopped contemplating.
Thinking too much here wouldn’t help get Alice off my back.
Actually, to get her off me, I might need to reverse time completely. From the looks of it, Alice seems to have followed me since the hotel.
“It’s Roti’s mother.”
So I just said it.
Alice’s mouth dropped open momentarily before closing it again.
“At this hour?”
“At this hour.”
Responding to Alice’s question, she made that complex expression she’s been showing me lately, then sighed deeply.
“Fine, then. If you say so, let’s go check it out. Just so you know, don’t think of separating us.”
“I already figured you’d say that after following me all this way.”
When I said that, Alice suddenly looked a bit flustered.
*
One of the reasons for the human rights movements that occurred in the U.S. started with a woman who sat in a white person’s seat on a bus.
Of course, such an event doesn’t exist in this world. For something like that to happen, it’ll probably take decades to come. That’s a tale so distant you could call it ‘the future,’ well beyond the game’s main plot.
But at the same time, there were similar elements.
Colonial residents are not allowed to ride buses. More precisely, there were separate vehicles for colonial residents.
Colonial residents are usually transported in the back of trucks. While riding in the back of a truck on a cool day along a scenic country road may sound charming, it’s a different story if you have to do that under the blazing sun.
“They are different from us!”
The Empire citizens were eager to show that off.
And naturally, the same goes for the maid’s room. White maids and servants’ rooms are typically separate from those for colonial residents. Ironically, since there was only one maid of colonial origin in this mansion—Roti’s mother—she inadvertently got a room all to herself.
But that doesn’t mean she received better treatment than other colonial residents.
She surely would feel envy and jealousy from the maids sharing rooms with others. If asked to share a room, no one would volunteer, yet they think it’s special treatment because “She gave birth to a child from Lindbergh.”
…It’s strange not to hear any sound coming from behind the thin door.
Alice’s expression tightened as soon as we reached the door.
Before coming here, she had quite a bit of imperialistic thinking, but it seems her views have changed a bit because of that incident at the banquet.
As I quietly opened the door, I saw Roti’s mother curled up with her face in her palms, sobbing.
Only Roti’s mother was in the room.
Roti’s mother, startled by the creaking door, looked up at me and instantly stood up.
“Y-Your Highness the Crown Princess!?”
The sound she made was almost a scream, so I quickly put my index finger in front of my lips to gesture her to be quiet. Perhaps thinking it was a royal command, Roti’s mother’s mouth shut tight.
“Wait, I have something to discuss. Is that alright?”
At my statement, Roti’s mother exchanged nervous glances between Alice and me, then finally nodded her head.
I closed the door.
Hmm…
Once the door was closed, I was a bit stumped about what to say next.
In the original story, there wasn’t a description of sneaking in, and Leo was the main conversationalist.
Leo found Roti’s mother crying and just sat beside her, letting her talk.
Could I do that too?
“First, could you please have a seat?”
When I said that, Roti’s mother still looked terrified as she sat down in her chair.
Hmm, it’d probably be difficult to sit next to her like this.
I pulled up a chair at the old table in the middle of the room, then took a seat, keeping some distance from Roti’s mother.
Alright.
Then, let’s see where this conversation goes…
Even if I mess up and don’t communicate properly, I can always just rewind time.
*
“Indeed….”
There were quite a few attempts.
When I acted stiffly like usual, Roti’s mother paled and couldn’t say a proper word. Well, it’s understandable. How could she badmouth the Duke in front of a princess?
What’s more, it’s not just any princess, but one who was most likely to succeed to the throne.
Seeing Roti’s mother’s face slightly turn pale when I forced a smile made me think I ought to rewind and ask Alice for help.
Things might’ve been different in the original, but Alice has adopted a softer tone lately that doesn’t make others uncomfortable.
And we were just on the verge of hearing the story of the day Roti was born.
Initially obstinate about talking, Roti’s mother eventually opened up after Alice sat down beside her and spoke gently several times, all the while looking like she was ready to let everything go.
It must have been painful for her. It wasn’t a story she could share with just anyone.
She didn’t have anyone she could call a work colleague. Even if she spoke to a local, she would just be treated like someone who got involved with an imperialist.
In the end, the reason she finally opened up in front of us must have been that she wanted to share something she couldn’t tell anyone else.
“….”
Seeing Alice’s jaw twitch, it was clear she was also quite angry upon hearing the story.
“P-Please don’t tell my lord. If you do, I—”
“I understand. No need to worry.”
After pouring out her story, Roti’s mother said that with a terrified expression, but I clearly saw the flames of fury in Alice’s eyes.
Perhaps it’s fortunate that I ended up coming here with Alice after all.
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