Alice was uncomfortable. This room… Patchouli's insistence. Out of emotion? Was it out of emotion? She used her own experience to try and draw parallels. Maybe Patchouli had figured something out though… The storm raged outside despite their predicament. It was time for the interrogation to begin.

Patchouli couldn't see Alice's thoughts. The evidence was all that she had, and she didn't bother with reading someone's mind. She wasn't a satori. She enjoyed the detective work as well, finding all of this amusing.

Patchouli shrugged. She had high confidence in Alice… Incredibly likely candidate. The only question is the motive. An easy motive would be the grimoire itself being stolen. Though, that unknown factor the grimoire had in terms of the "howdunnit"… It was disappointing to her. She hoped to find more information through this.

"Alice, let's start with the grimoire we found. It's the real deal. It's yours, isn't it? You don't exactly have your grimoire on you right now."

Alice smiled, putting her tea aside.

"...It's definitely my grimoire."

Patchouli's eyes widened. She didn't expect Alice to admit this so early. What was Alice thinking…?! If that's the case, then it has to be her! She kidnapped Marisa!

"...So then it was you?!"

Alice shook her head. Not so fast, Patchouli.

"...You're drawing conclusions already? Well, can you not at least hear me out?"

Alice smiled as Patchouli realised that she was right. Right, the conclusion can wait… at least until she has enough information. It didn't seem like Alice or this perpetrator was outwardly hostile anyway…

"Alice, this grimoire was found to be related to Flandre's incapacitation. It also has two states, apparently. Do you know anything about this? How was it done through this grimoire?"

Alice shrugged.

"Hmm… Well, I would assume they used a spell in the grimoire. Describing such spells would be useless though. They're beyond your level of comprehension."

Alice said this so casually that Patchouli couldn't help but feel insulted.

"...D-Do you know who you're talking to?! I own a whole library full of books, and I study every day!"

Alice sighed. Well, she expected this reaction.

"Patchouli, you need to be humble sometimes. I'm sorry if I hurt your feelings. You're a good magician and I respect you but… this grimoire is more than that."

Patchouli sighed, crossing her arms while laying back further into the sofa. Alice seemed dead set on defending the secrets within that grimoire. That amount of power doesn't come out of nowhere it seems. Alice… really was beyond her power level here.

"...Fine. Listen, I believe you were mad at Marisa for opening the grimoire and you punished her for it. Is that correct?"

Alice shook her head.

"...No. Though, I do believe that's the ideal of the culprit of this. I think it was a request, most likely. They requested Marisa to steal my grimoire away from you. They knew its value. I mean... why would I ask Marisa to steal my own grimoire? Have you ever thought about that? I'm sure you have, have you not...?

…Regardless, would that be a good theory?"

Patchouli's eyes widened… Of course, she hadn't thought of that. Tunnel vision got the best of her... Alice didn't necessarily have to be the one to own the grimoire at the time… Though then, that begs the question… How did she lose her grimoire, and how did this petty thief know about it?

Patchouli moved her head up with an air of confidence. Though, she felt a bit ashamed as well, so she admitted her tunnel visioned mindset to Alice...

"I hadn't thought of that. So then… how did you lose that grimoire of yours, exactly?"

Alice smiled. She expected this question… She responded with the utmost courtesy out of appreciation for Patchouli's honesty.

"...It's simple. I dropped it while I was wandering. I had no clue it was gone until I got home. By the time I checked the location I dropped it, it was gone. I'm terribly sorry for the troubles it has caused you…

…It's not exactly doing any good for me by being stolen either."

Patchouli smiled and sighed. She thought about it a bit more… No, Alice would be too obvious of a suspect. It wouldn't be fair to assume she's the culprit just because of her grimoire being involved…

…Although it wasn't a completely satisfactory clearing, Patchouli felt it was good enough for now.

"Thank you, Alice. You're dismissed."

Alice smiled and immediately got up from her chair, bowing to Patchouli. She then left the room, sighing. That was close. She felt her heart climbing up her chest during that interaction.

...

I knew the truth in my heart.

I wasn't Marisa's kidnapper…

…In reality, I hated that person with all of my heart.

Without that person…

…She would have been free by now.