IWTGHFW CHAPTER 27

Episode 27

When I looked at him with a “what are you doing?” expression, he replied, “Been tied up for so long, my body’s stiff.”

Now that I looked, there were clear rope marks on his pale wrists. Those damned bastards—how dare they.

I was about to say something, but Narein spoke up first.

“If you look in the back, it lists exactly where the money came from and where it went. Isn’t this enough evidence?”

“Well, I guess so. Then should we pull out now… Wait, but what about those idiots over there?”

With the notebook and ledger in hand, I hesitated for a moment.

Well, they’ll be fine on their own, right? They’re the Imperial Knight Commander and his subordinates, so their lives shouldn’t be in danger. Besides, I have no way to contact them right now. So that’s why Sean wanted to give me a communicator. If Ron hadn’t refused it on my behalf, I could’ve sent them a message.

It’s all their own fault, really. Besides…

“It’s already two in the morning.”

I checked the time and let out a long yawn. My original quitting time was six o’clock, so I’d already worked eight hours of overtime. And overtime pay doesn’t go beyond eight hours anyway, so I figured I’d done my duty as a civil servant.

Shrugging, I got in a carriage with Narein and headed back to Ron’s estate. Overtime was over for today.

Ron didn’t return to the estate until just before dawn. He came back with Lionelph, Heppy, and Sean, all looking exhausted. When they entered and saw Narein sleeping soundly, they all wore the same dumbfounded expression.

Patting their shoulders, I told them, “Narein’s from a barbarian combat zone, you know.” When Sean scolded me for telling him that only now, I was about to reply—but Ron, Lionelph, and Heppy each cut in:

“Doesn’t it occur to you that forgetting that makes you the idiot?”
“Deputy Commander, no matter what, you can’t shift your mistakes onto Ayl.”
“Wow, I’m disappointed in you, Deputy Commander.”

…Thanks to their comments, Sean’s mouth was sewn shut before I had to say anything.

Sean sulked and huddled in a corner, but I ignored the minor stuff.

In any case, we’d accomplished our goal, so we decided to bathe, sleep, and talk tomorrow. Everyone was exhausted, so it was better to discuss plans with a clear head.

By almost lunchtime the next day, after a morning of pure rest, we gathered around a table at Ron’s summons.

“Narein’s ledger, Ayl’s notes, and the video sphere were handed over to His Highness the Crown Prince this morning. Now we just have to wait and see what happens.”

“The Emperor’s probably untouchable. At most, they’ll go after Marquis Bareil.”

“Still, having one more weapon in our arsenal is better than before. And since his face is clearly in the video sphere…”

While Ron and Sean exchanged brief words, everyone’s eyes were glued to the lavish feast spread across the table. Since coming to Ron’s estate, we’d always eaten well, but today’s spread seemed especially rich.

Ron noticed me practically drooling at the sight and chuckled.

He’s mocking me, isn’t he? Yeah, definitely mocking me.

But what could I do? With that savory aroma and stunning presentation, my hands itched to grab a fork and dig in.

“Let’s eat. I told them to make it extra special today.”

“Yay!”

The moment Ron spoke, everyone lunged for the food like they were heading into battle.

Wait. No matter how hungry you are, there’s an order to eating, right?

I clung to the last shred of reason and searched for salad. It’s better to start with vegetables before greasing up your stomach, so… salad first—huh?

A beautifully roasted duck leg, glistening with oil, suddenly landed on my plate. I followed the fork back to its owner—Lionelph, who awkwardly said, “Since you worked so hard…” trailing off at the end.

I wasn’t sure why he was acting like this, but since there were only two legs and he gave me one, I thanked him and accepted it. Refusing food would be rude. Still, before eating the meat, I needed that salad—

“The legs are the best part of duck, you know, Lionel.”

“No way. For someone with a weak constitution, the breast meat is best.”

“I’ve heard duck eggs are way better than chicken eggs.”

One after another—Heppy, Ron, and Narein—each sliced off a piece of duck and piled it onto my plate.

Uh… At this rate, I’m going to eat the whole duck myself.

I stared blankly at the duck meat stacking up like a Jenga tower, then looked up at the two men and one boy gazing at me with bright, expectant eyes.

Well… since they gave me something…

“Thanks, everyone.”

Thankfully, my answer seemed to be what they wanted—each of their faces lit up with bright smiles. Honestly, good-looking men smiling like flowers was quite a sight.

“Uh…”

“Yes?”

Sean, looking sheepish, slid a salad toward me.

“I felt like I had to give you something too.”

“Thanks, Sir Sean.”

I nodded politely at him and stabbed the salad with my fork. At that moment, the other four shot Sean sharp looks.

When I tilted my head in question, they smiled like nothing had happened—but I could swear I saw beads of sweat forming on Sean’s forehead.

Surprisingly, the Crown Prince acted very quickly. The same day Ron handed over the ledger, Marquis Bareil was arrested and put on trial. I don’t know exactly how trials work in this world, but since his sentence was handed down before the next night, it must’ve been fast.

The Marquis was stripped of his noble title and banished from the capital. His family lost their status, and all his property was confiscated by the Imperial Family. Carrie’s Bar was immediately put through the closure process.

The Marquis’s son did try to appeal, but the Crown Prince personally shut him down, saying, “I spared you by letting you live as a commoner instead of making you a slave, and you’re still ungrateful? Want me to sell you to a foreign land without anyone knowing?”—a terrifying threat that shut him right up.

After the Bareil Marquis affair and the Carrie’s Bar incident, the atmosphere in the Imperial Palace was tense. Many high-ranking nobles who had frequented the bar were implicated, causing quite a stir.

On top of that, word spread that the Crown Prince doesn’t show favoritism even to his own people if they break the law—so everyone was on their best behavior.

As expected, nothing happened to the Emperor. Not even a mention. Maybe even the Crown Prince was wary of going after him… or maybe the evidence we had was just too little to use against him. If even a video sphere with his face on it wasn’t enough, then what could possibly be used?

In any case, such heavy matters were far from my concern. A mere employee like me had no business in such lofty affairs.

Which is why I was currently enjoying a leisurely tea time with Missy.

“Ayl, you’re amazing! Honestly, I didn’t expect things to turn out this well…”

Missy clapped her hands with excitement. I basked in the praise for a moment—until a thought hit me.

Had Missy asked me to investigate Carrie’s Bar just so she could drag the Knights into it? If the Crown Prince ordered an investigation, it would’ve been too official, but if I got involved, it would naturally draw in the Knights…

That actually makes sense.

If that was her plan, she’d succeeded—but the idea still left a bitter taste. It meant Missy saw me as no more than a tool.

“I didn’t do much. Narin did all the work.”

“Narin?”

“Oh, Narein. He’s the new recruit in the Knights. Staying at the Commander’s estate.”

“Ah, the boy who brought that unusual weapon.”

Unusual weapon? Most people called Narein’s gun “a weapon to destroy the Empire” or “the ultimate weapon to unite the continent,” but to Missy it was just “unusual.”

Looking at her bright, innocent smile, I asked casually,

“Missy.”

“Mm?”

“When you asked me to investigate Carrie’s Bar… was it so you could get the Knights involved?”

“Huh?”

Her eyes went wide, and I thought, I knew it.

So she had been using me—

“Oh! I guess it could look that way. I just wanted to help since you were struggling… Sorry, Ayl, it must have been a huge burden on you.”

Missy was…

How could she be this consistently pure, adorable, and effortlessly perfect?!

I felt guilty for doubting her, even for a moment. I was the fool. How could I suspect someone as beautiful as Missy?

I reflected on my lapse in judgment, openly admiring both her lovely face and her lovely heart—at least until I heard a sudden cough.

Missy looked toward the sound, then jumped to her feet.

“Brother!”

Brother? If he was Missy’s brother… could it be the Crown Prince?

I quickly stood and looked toward the man entering the garden. Blond hair, golden eyes—the symbols of the Imperial Family worn like jewelry. He walked toward us at a slow, deliberate pace.

I bowed my head quickly. The Crown Prince. I was seeing the Crown Prince in person!

He walked past me without a glance and sat in the chair Missy offered.

“If you’d told us you were coming, we could have prepared refreshments.”

“I was just passing by.”

If you were just passing by, you could’ve just greeted her and left—why join us?

While I stood there awkwardly, the Crown Prince gestured for me to sit. No words, just a hand motion—like I was a dog.

Well, I’ll let it slide since you’re the Crown Prince. If it were Ron, I would’ve had words for him already.

Despite my rebellious thoughts, I sat down politely.