IITYVA 46

Chapter 46

To be honest, I wanted to flatten their arrogant noses as gracefully as Harnen did.

But having suddenly reincarnated into this world as a commoner after living in Korea, how could I possibly know how to do that?

As I shrank under the endless barrage of questions, I couldn’t help but flinch.

I stayed quiet, intimidated by their interrogation, but eventually opened my mouth due to their persistent pressure.

“I-I don’t know. To be honest, I don’t even understand what you’re asking.”

“Oh my, goodness… This was such a simple question. To think someone who graduated from the Atlanta Academy at the youngest age wouldn’t understand this… I’m quite shocked.”

The faces of the group twisted into mocking smirks as if they’d finally heard what they wanted.

That sneer seemed to mock me—like it was saying, “What have you even done up until now?”—and a sudden wave of resentment surged within me.

“B-but I’m a civil servant. I may not know your field, but conversely, you don’t know anything about mine either.”

I lifted my chin boldly as I spoke, and the group stared at me, momentarily stunned.

“…What?”

“There are a few things I’d like to ask you.”

Taking a deep breath, I fired off a series of rapid questions.

“Do you know what SWOT analysis is? What about force field analysis? Can you solve NCS past exam questions? Can you calculate the salinity of saltwater?”

They were all questions that wouldn’t make sense here—but I had devoted three whole years of my past life preparing for employment with them. So, yes, this was my field.

My defiance quickly chilled the atmosphere in the banquet hall.

If it hadn’t been for the emperor’s timely appearance, things might have spiraled out of control.

“How intriguing.”

Without warning, the emperor strode confidently toward us and casually scanned the group surrounding me, a slanted smile on his face.

His soft pink eyes settled on the man standing in front.

The emperor spoke with a lazy drawl.

“You, aren’t you the third son of Count Gaillant from the northwest?”

“Y-yes, Your Majesty.”

“From what I’ve observed, everything you asked my retainer falls under etiquette lessons for becoming a refined housewife. And you, in turn, are currently undergoing groom training to become an excellent husband. But you see—”

His tone, at once gentle yet detached, echoed coolly through the air.

“Unlike you, who must elevate your worth through such knowledge to be recognized, my retainer inherently possesses value just by existing. She has no need for such trivia.”

There wasn’t a single noble in the room who failed to understand the emperor’s meaning.

Humiliated, the young noble’s face flushed red, and after that day, he never dared set foot in the capital again.

And with that one public disgrace, no noble ever openly mocked me again at any official event.

Thanks to the emperor, I had turned the crisis into an opportunity—one that favored me.

That was the first meaningful encounter between the emperor and me.

“Even though they say such incidents have completely stopped now, I still vividly remember the anxiety and pressure I felt back then.”

Especially when I found myself once again in a banquet hall under the nobles’ piercing gazes.

“Ugh, I want to go home…”

At home, I had the warm, cozy, and even adorable As waiting for me!

Why!

Why couldn’t I just go home?

As soon as I sighed internally, the nobles—having completed their unspoken game of reading the room—started approaching.

Watching them come toward me, I thought of As, who was probably at the estate by now.

As… I miss you more than usual today…

* * *

“…Hmm?”

Archess tilted his head while reviewing reports.

Next to him, Violetti looked puzzled.

“What’s wrong, Your Highness?”

“I thought I heard something.”

“I didn’t hear anything, though.”

“…I suppose not.”

Archess responded slowly, leaning back in his chair.

The child-sized chair, prepared in advance, fit his small body perfectly.

“So, all the spies we sent to Duke Baharman’s residence were killed?”

“Yes, that’s correct.”

“And since then, the duke hasn’t hired any new staff, right?”

“That is also correct.”

Archess narrowed his eyes, tapping the armrest lightly.

Spies who suddenly died of mysterious causes.

The Baharman duchy not hiring any new servants since then.

These facts pointed to only one conclusion:

Duke Baharman had discovered the spies.

“To have identified all the spies in just one day…”

Archess muttered slowly before asking,

“Have you checked for any turncoats?”

“We investigated thoroughly, but no one showed any suspicious signs.”

“What about the possibility of information leaks?”

“Given that the Baharman family’s intelligence-gathering capability is known to be weak, the chances are extremely low.”

“Right, that’s what I thought…”

So where had they gotten their information?

Now that he thought about it, other suspicious points came to mind.

First: how had they tracked down his whereabouts after he was de-aged?

Second: how had they so completely shut down Einra’s elemental affinity?

Einra’s bond with nature was special.

It wasn’t just vast—it was nearly superhuman.

She had a contract with the Water Spirit King, and not only that—she also attracted and controlled other elemental spirits.

It sounded absurd—unreal, even.

But Einra could do it.

She could even wield water-elemental powers directly, making it clear how deeply blessed by nature she truly was.

And yet they managed to suppress that?

“…Dante.”

Archess’s red eyes darkened.

“That man must be holding onto something…”

He wanted to send an informant to uncover it, but the duke hadn’t hired new staff, making infiltration impossible.

Even disguising someone as an existing servant wouldn’t work, thanks to the duchy’s strengthened security.

“I can’t find a way in.”

The fingers tapping the armrest suddenly stopped.

Archess never believed in simply eliminating his enemies outright.

He preferred keeping them within controllable limits and using them strategically rather than ending their lives.

That had been his plan this time too—

Until the sorcerer named Dante kept introducing uncontrollable variables.

“If I can’t keep it in my grasp,”

A slow, cold smile curved on his red lips.

“Then it’s best to eliminate it entirely.”

To prevent any further unpredictable interference.

Of course, a part of him still wanted to observe and learn Dante’s patterns.

But he couldn’t stand the idea of allowing anyone who might harm Einra to live.

Having made up his mind, Archess rose from his chair and turned to Violetti.

“There should be collected data on Duke Baharman in the study.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

“Sort through it and gather the evidence that he was plotting treason. Prioritize it by the most severe charges.”

“Understood, Your Highness.”

Violetti responded calmly.

As Archess turned to leave without hesitation, he suddenly paused.

“…Count.”

“Yes, Your Highness?”

“What time did they say the banquet would end today?”

There was a subtle hesitation in his voice.

Violetti stared for a moment at her master, whose intent was clear as day.

His once pearl-white cheeks were tinged with a blush, making him look much more like his actual—now younger—age.

“I can’t say for certain when it will end, but most imperial banquets usually wrap up past midnight.”

“…Of course.”

Archess muttered after a moment of silence and turned away.

His profile seemed oddly gloomy, but that wasn’t surprising.

Whenever it came to the spirit summoner, his master often acted like an ordinary person.

“You may go now.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

Violetti bowed and exited the duke’s office.

She had a mountain of work ahead.