Chapter 32:
“Wow, how did you know?”
“False?”
I asked again, surprised.
“Why do you think that?”
“Well… it’s a judgment based on slightly more detailed information I heard from Iris.”
Sion’s face grew serious, as if he was organizing things neatly in his head.
“Rumors tend to get blown out of proportion and exaggerated. To determine their truth, you need other kinds of information.”
“Other information…?”
“I’ve heard about the count and countess’s romance, their personalities, and even the discord between them before the scandal. Based on all that, I concluded that the scandal is fake.”
He spoke confidently, as if he was certain his analysis was correct regardless of what the rumors said.
“It was probably orchestrated by the count himself.”
“The count? Why?”
I asked again.
“To provoke his wife. After all, it was the countess who had a lover first.”
My eyes widened. This time, it wasn’t an act—I was genuinely surprised.
He even knew that? I hadn’t expected him to know that much.
Sion’s analysis was spot on. It was the true course of events that no one else in the capital had figured out.
This incident had happened in my past life too.
When the countess, bored of her marriage, started an affair, the count didn’t beg or get angry. Instead, he took the shocking route of provoking her jealousy with a mistress of his own.
Look! Even a woman this amazing wants your husband!
That was the message he seemed to want to send.
In reality, she did return to him six months later, but by then, the count had already lost his entire fortune paying for the scandal and had handed everything over to Lucia Amalia.
Whether they lived happily ever after in poverty, I don’t know.
And this absurd story eventually became public knowledge a year later when a servant, who hadn’t been paid, left the count’s household and spilled the beans.
But for someone to uncover the truth of this rumor so quickly… It was the result of Iris’s intelligence network and Sion’s insight.
You could say their abilities were proven.
“You’re amazing, Sion.”
When I sincerely complimented him, he scratched the back of his head awkwardly.
“Oh, well… I’ve always been a little sensitive to rumors. If there’s anything else you’re curious about, feel free to ask. If I send a letter to Iris, I’ll find out right away.”
“Wow, really?”
Amazing. He said exactly what I wanted to hear even before I asked.
“Of course. If it weren’t for you, I wouldn’t have been able to maintain my status as a knight. And on top of that, you helped ensure I wasn’t punished during this latest outing…”
Before I knew it, Sion had turned sentimental again, sniffing like he was about to cry.
“If there’s anything Lady Harper wants to know, I’ll look into it all.”
“Wow!”
“Oh, but please keep it a secret that I’m the one giving you this information. As you know, my real job is guarding you.”
“Got it! I promise!”
Now it was time to get to the point.
I would ask Sion for any information I needed. No hesitation.
“Then, can you find out if any of the nobles in the capital are addicted to Acetlan?”
I asked without hesitation. Sion tilted his head in confusion.
“Acetlan? That hallucinogen?”
“Yep.”
I nodded.
Acetlan was a drug made from a highly addictive poisonous herb.
It was typically used in gambling dens to fleece wealthy patrons, as it made users lose all self-control.
Once someone tried it, they not only lost the willpower to stop casual gambling, but they also kept craving the drug—eventually squandering their fortunes.
There were secretly many addicts, and according to Vittori’s research, it could only be fully cured using green stargrass.
Sion didn’t nod or respond—he simply pressed his lips together and scratched his head again.
“…Too difficult?”
I asked.
Was that too deep of an internal matter? Was his network not strong enough yet?
“No, it’s not difficult.”
But Sion shook his head quickly.
“I just didn’t answer because there’s no need to investigate.”
“Huh?”
“I already know. The former Count of Rostian, who resides in the capital.”
He answered without hesitation. I stared at Sion, wide-eyed.
“The previous Count of Rostian? The current count’s father?”
“Yes. He fell into gambling and handed over his title to his son. Now he basically lives in gambling dens. If he’s driven the family to the brink of bankruptcy, it’s hard to believe he’s not an addict.”
Wow, this gossip monster.
Just how much information had he gathered in such a short time?
I looked at Sion like he was a hero and pulled a large butter cookie from a glass jar on my desk.
“Here, take it.”
“…What is this?”
“Payment for the intel.”
I said proudly, and Sion looked at the cookie with an adorable expression.
“Ha, Lady Harper, you really didn’t have to…”
“This was made by Janice. There’s only one, and I got it myself.”
The moment I mentioned the chef’s name, Sion’s cheeks turned red. Janice was the kitchen maid he had exchanged flirtations with.
“W-what?! Please give it to me!”
He received the cookie like it was a sacred treasure.
“Ah… Lady Harper, your generosity knows no bounds. To give something so precious for such trivial information…”
Watching Sion smile in joy, I thought about the next step of my investment.
Count Rostian, I’ll keep your family from going bankrupt.
So later, make sure to pay me a very generous toll.
Meanwhile…
“What? What happened to Gale?!”
The 1st Prince of the Empire, Klein Ignatius Bayan, shouted so loudly it shook Aksion Palace. The knight reporting to him flinched.
“So… we did capture the 2nd Prince, but during that process, Sir Osmond was apparently… humiliated.”
BANG—
Klein slammed his fist into the wall. His face contorted in rage.
“What kind of disgrace did he suffer in that damn Lupherne territory?! Speak!”
“Well…”
“Don’t leave anything out! Report everything!”
The knight hesitated, struggling to find the words.
“So, he chased some suspicious people, accidentally jumped into a portal…”
“…and vomited disgracefully.”
“And then ran into Sir Aramis Mueller…”
“…who once defeated Osmond in a duel when they were twelve and made him cry.”
“They exchanged blows, but…”
“…he got trampled again. Seems he’s been neglecting his training.”
“Wait, who keeps interrupting?!”
Klein shouted.
Now that he noticed, a third voice had been interjecting every time the knight reported something.
And the tone of that voice held subtle mockery—directed at the Imperial Knight Commander.
Klein looked around the room, seeking the disrespectful person who dared to interrupt his conversation.
“Your Highness… Lady Lupherne said all of that.”
A timid maid’s voice came from the corner of the room. Only then did Klein notice Callista, standing by the door.
As always, her expression toward Klein held not even a speck of respect—only mocking contempt.
“W-what?! When did you get here?! How dare you barge in without announcement!”
Klein shouted in fury. But Callista didn’t even flinch. She stood her ground.
“I-I did report it earlier, Your Highness…”
“Make it audible, then!”
The maid dropped her head at his scolding.
“If you didn’t shout all the time, people might actually hear things, Your Highness.”
Callista sighed deeply. Klein’s fury burned hotter.
“Wait, were you the one who kept interrupting earlier—?”
“Yes, I was. Of course I was.”
She strode past the threshold without permission and stood directly in front of him.
“It’s been a while, Your Highness.”
Callista stood tall, not bowing her head even a little.
“Callista of Lupherne greets Your Highness.”
Her piercing blue eyes glared dangerously at Klein.
“G-gah!”
Klein yelped.
Because in Callista’s hand was a long sword.
She held it downward, but the blade was sharp and real.
“How dare you… bring a weapon here?! Where are the guards?!”
“Oh, this?” Callista raised one eyebrow mockingly.
“It’s something your 2nd Knight Commander dropped in Lupherne territory.”
She swiftly raised the sword and held it in front of him. The sound of the blade slicing the air echoed.
Shhhk—
Klein’s shoulder flinched.
“I came to return it personally, so don’t misunderstand, Your Highness.”
As she finished speaking, Callista stabbed the sword into the floor—right at his feet.
Thud!
Luckily, it didn’t hit Klein’s foot. But it landed precisely half a finger’s length from his toe and quivered.
For a moment, his face turned deathly pale.
“Is this really your knight’s weapon?”
“Y-you insolent—!”
“I asked you a question.”
“…Yes.”
Klein answered instinctively. But after he said it, he felt like their roles had reversed.
He coughed and glared at Callista again.
“Well then! Lupherne’s house dared to defy an Imperial Knight’s command. That’s treason!”
“They wore plain clothes, never showed their IDs, and suddenly attacked civilians with weapons.”
Callista cut him off without giving him a moment to breathe. Every word struck like a blow.
“Was that really your order, Your Highness?”
“T-that…”
At her words, the surrounding attendants widened their eyes, staring at the two.
Klein flushed red and shut his mouth. If he acknowledged her claim, it would amount to imperial tyranny.
And Klein really didn’t want the emperor to hear about this incident.
