Annaer hesitated for a moment before finally speaking up.
“I did see someone near the guest room… but it wasn’t a suspicious person. Not long after I started cleaning, I saw Miss Xiliya…”
The accusations from two people directed the gazes of most people present toward Xiliya. At that moment, Masha stepped forward.
“It must be a coincidence. Xiliya showing up there has to be a misunderstanding—right, Xiliya?”
“Of course,” Xiliya nodded calmly. “I did go to Lady Selina’s guest room at the time because a maid came and told me that Lady Selina had something to discuss with me.”
Hearing this, Selina shook her head. “But I didn’t summon Miss Xiliya that afternoon, and at that time, Madam Masha had already invited me out for afternoon tea… I personally saw Madam Masha instruct Head Maid Annaer to clean the corridor.”
Suddenly, the suspicion on Xiliya intensified. The development of events was exactly the same as what Xiliya had experienced in her previous life, but unlike her panicked self from before, the current Xiliya showed no signs of anxiety.
“I believe Miss Xiliya is innocent.”
Selina took the initiative to speak up for Xiliya. She had a good impression of Xiliya and naturally didn’t want to believe she would do such a thing. However, in her previous life, due to Masha’s earlier slander, Selina had no favorable feelings toward Xiliya. Back then, at a moment like this, she had merely politely but coldly asked Xiliya to explain herself.
“Miss Xiliya, perhaps that maid was trying to frame you. Which maid was it who told you to come find me?”
“This…” Xiliya’s gaze swept over the row of servants, her tone deliberately laced with a hint of hesitation. “I really can’t recall who it was at the moment.”
“I was changing clothes in my room at the time, so I didn’t open the door. The maid told me through it, and I didn’t hear the voice clearly.”
Nearby, Ximo—who knew the original plot and had a god’s-eye view while quietly watching the drama—had to admit that Masha’s move was indeed ruthless.
Truth be told, Masha’s setup wasn’t particularly complex, but these little details, one by one, intentionally or otherwise pointed the finger at Xiliya—in a way she couldn’t disprove.
“This…” Selina frowned. Even she, who wanted to defend Xiliya, found it tricky now. Though she didn’t believe Xiliya was guilty, the suspicions piling up on her were indeed heavy.
“Xiliya, how is your story full of holes? Could it be that you really took the chance while changing clothes to sneak into Lady Selina’s room and steal something?”
Charles interjected snidely. “Oh—I was wondering why you took so long changing clothes.”
“So…” A guard hesitated before speaking. “Lady Xiliya, could you please recount what happened at the time?”
“Sure,” Xiliya replied candidly, without the anxiety of someone trapped in a proof dilemma. She even shrugged her hands while knowing full well Masha had more evidence. “I know this sounds a bit off, but frankly speaking, this hardly counts as ironclad proof, does it?”
Just then, Sifuke returned from inspecting the guest room, though her expression was a bit odd.
Sifuke bowed to Xiliya in front of her but hemmed and hawed for a long time without saying a word.
“What’s wrong?” Charles jumped in. “If you’ve found something, spit it out quick—don’t dawdle and waste time!”
“It’s nothing. Just say what you found,” Xiliya said coolly, glancing at Sifuke.
“Yes…” Sifuke hesitated before speaking. “We checked the entire room, including the coat where Lady Selina kept her pocket watch…”
“And on that coat… we found Lady Xiliya’s fingerprints…”
Sifuke’s voice grew quieter and quieter. She was the one who believed in Xiliya the most, yet this sole piece of evidence had been uncovered by her own team.
For a moment, the mansion’s hall fell deathly silent—except for Xiliya at the eye of the storm, who remained utterly unflustered.
“Oh, when I entered the room, I saw Lady Selina’s clothes on the floor, so I picked them up and draped them over a chair. The fingerprints must be from then.”
“But,” Selina looked at Xiliya with concern, “Miss Xiliya, my coat was originally in the wardrobe…”
“Xiliya,” Charles smirked maliciously from the side, “do you remember what you said earlier? The thief must be severely punished and make a public apology in the square to the whole city.”
“Of course I won’t go back on my word—after all, I didn’t take it.”
Masha sidled closer, speaking with feigned concern. “Xiliya, if you really took it, just admit it. I believe Lady Selina won’t make things hard for you.”
Xiliya suddenly became the target of all. In her previous life, at this point, she had failed to prove her innocence and been branded a thief. Though there was no ironclad proof, everyone basically believed it was her.
But this life, even with such heavy suspicion, Selina still shook her head and chose to speak for Xiliya.
“I believe Miss Xiliya is innocent, and right now, there’s no decisive evidence proving she did it, is there?”
Unnoticed by others, Charles and Masha exchanged a glance, both grinding their teeth in frustration at Selina’s stubbornness.
With all this evidence laid out, why did Selina still choose to believe Xiliya? Without even a shred of doubt?
But no matter—they had planned for every contingency.
“Xiliya,” Charles said darkly, “did you take it or not? Just check and we’ll know. I doubt the thief had enough time to move the item in such a short period, right?”
“How about letting the City Guard search your room? I’m just trying to help clear your name.”
“Yeah, Xiliya, better to confirm it,” Masha chimed in agreement.
Xiliya barely restrained the urge to laugh. Perfect—these two were finally unable to hold back and setting the trap for her.
“Rest assured, I won’t go back on my earlier words. The thief must be severely punished, whether it’s me or someone else—no problem with that, Young Master Charles?”
“Sure, no problem at all. As City Guard Captain, Miss Xiliya leading by example? Of course I support it,” Charles said, practically raising both hands in approval.
“Good then.” Xiliya revealed a meaningful smile.
