Hearing that question, Lumine pieced together all the clues she had discussed with Shao Yun along the way, pointing her finger directly at Alphonso as one of the Fatui.
At her accusation, Alphonso froze slightly, then slowly turned around. A faint, sorrowful smile curved on his lips as he spoke softly, "Everything you said… doesn't seem to truly prove who I am."
Lumine stared coldly at him, her expression unchanging, and replied in a calm, level tone, "You're right. It proves nothing. But that doesn't matter."
At those words, Alphonso sighed deeply and nodded, his voice filled with weary acceptance. "Indeed, as you said—only those bound by rigid laws care about proof."
"But for a hound as sharp as you, all it takes is a single trace of suspicion, and you'll follow it unerringly until your prey is caught."
Then, the corners of his mouth curved upward into a mocking smile. "Of course, clever hounds also know which scents they shouldn't follow—they avoid danger, lest at the end of the trail, they meet a ferocious dragon."
"Unfortunately for you… based on everything you've done so far, you clearly aren't the kind of person who knows when to back off."
With that, Alphonso's gaze shifted toward Shao Yun standing behind Lumine. His eyes softened with a complex mix of emotions as he said quietly, "But when I see the man standing behind you now… everything becomes clear."
"I know full well that taking my life right now would be as easy as breathing for you. The man behind you has more than enough power to erase me completely, doesn't he?"
Lumine listened without visible reaction. When he finished, she asked flatly, "Since you've already admitted you're with the Fatui… then tell me—what happened to the missing children of Vimara Village?"
Alphonso knew that there was no escaping this time. Since death was inevitable, he might as well tell the truth.
He took a deep breath and said slowly, "Alright. No more lies, then. Yes—those missing children were taken on my orders, by the Fatui."
At that, Lumine's eyes widened in disbelief. Her voice rose with fury as she shouted, "You… you really were behind it! Why would you work for the Fatui? How could you do something so vile?"
All this time, Lumine had believed Alphonso might have been coerced or blackmailed by the Fatui.
But now that she had heard him confess it was of his own volition, she could hardly accept it. She needed to understand why.
Alphonso gave a bitter smile and sighed. "Why? Ha… it's simple—because I am Fatui."
"What?" Lumine exclaimed, her voice sharp with shock. "That's impossible!"
But Alphonso didn't flinch beneath her glare. He revealed his true identity without hesitation.
"'Alphonso' was the name given to me by my blood kin—but that name was long buried beneath the cold, unfeeling snow. Now, the 'House of the Hearth' calls me Trofin Snezhevich."
He fell silent, gazing steadily at Lumine, waiting for her reaction.
As expected, her expression shifted slightly at the sound of that distinctive surname.
Catching that flicker of recognition, Trofin's smile deepened faintly. "Judging from your reaction… you've met some of my brothers and sisters, haven't you?"
A face flashed across Lumine's mind—Katharina, whom she'd met in the Chasm.
She nodded instinctively. "Yes. I met one of them. She was kind…"
But before she could finish, Trofin's face darkened, and he waved his hand sharply.
"Ah, don't. Don't tell me who you met, or how they are now. If they revealed their identities to you…"
"If they're still alive, then they've betrayed Her Majesty. And if they're dead… I'd rather not know."
Lumine felt a spark of curiosity about this "House of the Hearth."
Taking the opportunity, she asked, "I've heard about the House of the Hearth from your siblings. Could you tell me more about it?"
Trofin closed his eyes for a moment, as though recalling a distant memory, then began to explain.
"The House of the Hearth is an orphanage established by the Knave. Every child there has no blood relatives—we were all orphans. But within that house, we found something even more precious—siblings."
"When we grew older, those deemed 'gifted' were chosen and trained as agents. We were then sent out across the world, ordered to lie in wait, to blend in… until the day came for us to act. I was one of those gifted children."
After hearing his account, Lumine steered the conversation back on track. "So… you had the Fatui kidnap the children to draw out the Aranara, didn't you?"
Trofin nodded, recalling the small forest spirits with a faint, wistful smile. "Yes. The Aranara did appear. Their power was truly extraordinary—they managed to rescue the children right from under the Fatui's noses, without anyone noticing."
He paused, then suddenly laughed—a hollow, ironic sound. "The Doctor truly has his eyes on remarkable things. Hahaha…"
Lumine frowned in confusion. "The Doctor? Who's that?"
Trofin replied patiently, "He's the Second of the Eleven Fatui Harbingers. I believe you'll have the pleasure of meeting him soon enough."
Realizing he had said too much, Trofin quickly shifted topics, clearing his throat. "Ahem. I've talked enough. My turn to ask a question."
Without waiting for Lumine's response, he continued, "Why did the Aranara erase the memories of Kavus and Sudabeh—their kidnapping, their rescue? Was it out of fear? Were they trying to hide something?"
Lumine sighed softly. "Rana didn't do it out of fear for herself. She just didn't want the children to remember something so painful."
At the mention of that name, Trofin blinked, then murmured, "So… the Aranara's name was Rana. It sounds a lot like Rana, doesn't it? A lovely name. If you get the chance, please… thank her for me."
Lumine tilted her head. "Thank her? Why?"
Trofin's voice softened as he spoke about his time in Vimara Village.
"Vimara felt like a real home. Rana and Iotham—they were like the family I never had. Kavus and Sudabeh, too—precious little siblings."
"I wanted them to grow up healthy, to become honest, kind-hearted adults."
"So, even though their rescue complicated my 'work,' I'm grateful for what Rana did…"
He closed his eyes, his voice dropping to a murmur. "Children… there are things you should never have to know. Things shrouded in filth and darkness."
"'When you are young,'" he recited softly, "'you should live with joy in your heart—chase what you love, see what you wish to see. But never forget the dark days.'"
"That was the teaching of the House of the Hearth. Because once you become an adult, darkness is inevitable. You must be ready for it—only then can you protect yourself, and those you cherish."
After finishing, Trofin opened his eyes again as if waking from a dream.
He gave a faint, self-mocking smile. "I understand why you want to kill me. If I hadn't grown up in the House of the Hearth… if I hadn't been stationed here as a Fatui agent… if I had been born in Vimara Village, how wonderful that would've been."
Lumine gritted her teeth, her voice low and trembling with anger. "What's the point of saying all this now? All I know is that you kidnapped those children!"
Trofin remained eerily calm, his tone almost serene. "I know. None of what I've said truly matters. But still, I can't help feeling… regret."
"I truly wished I could remain Alphonso forever—not Trofin Schneitzvich."
"Because only as Alphonso… could I ever be Iotham's brother in name and in truth."
Trofin lifted his gaze skyward, his eyes unfocused, and continued to murmur, "I dreamed countless times… that I could be Rana's family, and the guardian of those dear children."
"But reality is cruel. I already belong to a 'family' I can never betray—a family that shackles my hands and binds my will."
Turning his head, Trofin looked at Lumine with eyes filled with envy and sorrow.
"You have two companions you can trust with your life. You yourself are powerful beyond measure. Most of all, you belong to no city, no nation."
"Even as an honorary Knight of Favonius, your title is symbolic—you're still free."
"That kind of freedom… is a luxury I will never have. So, no—you could never understand how I feel right now…"