Chapter 23
His eyes, scanning the delivery records, were lowered in deep thought.
“Your Grace, I’m tired now. I want to let go of everything and finally rest, but if I leave things like this, I won’t be able to face my daughter. Sophia believes her father is a righteous man.”
Garfas gave a dry smile as he thought of his daughter.
“For the past few years, the Border Duke has been importing minerals through me and reselling them to someone else. The luxury goods are just a public excuse. If you compare my delivery records with the documents submitted by the Border Duke, you’ll see.”
He looked relaxed, as if he had already accepted everything.
“If the Border Duke finds out I’ve been summoned by Your Grace, he’ll try to kill me. This document—my testimony and handwriting—is decisive evidence.”
Pierre closed his eyes to block out the memories flashing before him.
When he opened them again, Cecilia’s sorrowful face filled his vision.
“I only understood and respected his will.”
His voice was chilling enough to raise goosebumps.
“Do you have that kind of resolve?”
“…”
“I’m asking if you’re ready to sacrifice everything to cleanse your family’s disgrace.”
Resolve…?
Cecilia recalled Garfas’s face from before.
There was nothing she could feel from him—he who had come ready to die.
What was he thinking when he said those things to her?
Was he telling her not to be weak?
Cecilia squeezed her eyes shut.
She was afraid. What if she made another mistake? What if she only ended up harming her family by acting rashly?
But if she was going to give up here, she shouldn’t have started at all.
When Cecilia opened her eyes again, her violet irises showed no more hesitation.
“Of course.”
She clenched her fist and pounded it against her chest.
“I’ll do whatever it takes for my family and for my father.”
There was no time to wallow in sorrow over Garfas’s death.
Pierre gave a faint smile at her determined resolve. Rising from his seat, he approached her.
Even when sitting, he exuded pressure, but it was incomparable to when he stood.
Despite his blindingly handsome appearance, his body was like a weapon—just walking toward her gave off an intense sense of danger.
“So, you’re saying you’ll do anything.”
“Yes. Anything. For example, I could even sneak into places Your Grace cannot enter.”
“Like the Kimon Territory?”
“That’s…”
Cecilia swallowed the rest of her sentence.
He chuckled, then began scanning her slowly from head to toe. It wasn’t a sexual gaze—it felt more like he was appraising an object. Though uncomfortable, Cecilia didn’t show it.
Then suddenly, Pierre pushed up her chin with his index finger.
Cecilia raised her head obediently.
He muttered,
“Your appearance is passable, but you’ll need to shed that wild mountain monkey vibe.”
Passable? In front of someone, saying ‘passable’?
She instinctively frowned in disbelief.
Pierre sighed at her expression—one laced with irritation, anger, and a touch of disdain.
“Refrain from making such expressions in the future. They don’t suit a lady.”
What the hell is he talking about now?
But Cecilia held back and asked politely,
“What do you… mean by that, sir?”
“That rude way of speaking also needs fixing.”
Pierre removed his finger and took a step back.
“In two weeks, the Border Duke is hosting a party. We’re attending as a pair.”
“…What?”
“So, within two weeks, you’ll become a flawless lady worthy of standing beside me.”
“…What?”
It was such a thunderous shock that Cecilia froze on the spot.
* * *
Pierre arrived at the Imperial Palace and headed straight to the Audience Hall where the Emperor was.
Inside, the hall was adorned with beautiful carvings of the empire’s four sacred beasts on its columns and walls, and the ceiling boasted a massive chandelier made of tens of thousands of crystals.
Sunlight shone through the chandelier, scattering dazzling rays.
At the end of it all stood the throne, encrusted with all manner of rare jewels.
Every time I come here, it feels more excessive.
The opulent palace mirrored the Emperor’s personality—lavishly adorned to hide ugliness.
Pierre walked forward over the red carpet.
Once he reached the throne, he knelt on one knee and bowed his head.
“I greet the Sun of the Empire.”
The Emperor, seated with a solemn expression, spoke calmly.
“Any issues?”
“Thanks to Your Majesty’s care, I have been well. However, I am concerned that Your Majesty’s worries seem to grow heavier by the day.”
“Hm.”
At the Emperor’s low hum, the nearby officials bowed and exited the hall.
“I’ve dismissed everyone. Speak freely.”
“Thank you for your consideration, Your Majesty. As mentioned in my letter, I’ve confirmed large-scale mineral imports into the Zilgeorc Territory. Count Zilgeorc claims it’s to process gemstones, as before.”
“So he refuses a house search. But forcing it could be risky because of the Border Duke’s temperament.”
The Emperor rubbed his temples, as if troubled.
He was right. The Border Duke was a highly aggressive man, proud of defending the border.
The borderlands were rough, always crawling with barbarians. His role was significant enough that even the Emperor couldn’t easily disregard his power.
“Perhaps it would be easier to simply arrest Niberius and be done with it. Don’t you agree, Duke?”
“…”
Pierre understood the Emperor’s reasoning. It would be simpler to pin everything on a powerless lower noble like Niberius instead of stirring up conflict with the Border Duke.
“With all due respect, Your Majesty, executing Niberius would only provide a temporary solution. Soon, firearms will spread among the commoners again, destabilizing the nation. It would be more effective to trace the distribution route and eliminate the true source.”
“How will you find evidence from someone who refuses a house search? Zilgeorc is wary of you and won’t let you near.”
Irritation crept into the Emperor’s voice.
“Yes. That is why I intend to use someone else.”
“Who?”
“Lady Cecilia Niberius.”
Bang!
The Emperor slammed the armrest of his throne with his fist.
“Isn’t the Niberius family the very one suspected of distributing firearms?! How can you think of using a suspect?!”
His angry roar echoed through the grand hall.
Pierre remained calm, as if used to such outbursts.
“Your Majesty, as you know, the Border Duke himself named the Niberius family as suspects in the merchant lord’s murder case.”
“I’m aware. That rumor alone has shaken the nobles enough that I had to dispatch knights.”
“Exactly. The Border Duke is trying to discredit the Niberius family and amplify public fear to turn suspicion into accepted fact. He’s not just voicing concerns—he’s trying to provoke the Imperial Family into striking first.”
The Emperor sighed, brushing his hand across his forehead.
“What are you trying to say?”
“We must understand why the Border Duke is targeting House Niberius. Is it just caution, or is there a hidden agenda? We must know.”
“And for that, you need the daughter of Niberius?”
“Yes, Your Majesty. If the Border Duke is indeed connected to the firearm incidents, he won’t sit still once Cecilia Niberius appears beside me. He’ll approach her deliberately. To expose someone’s flaws, you must also show your own. That’s when I’ll strike and obtain evidence.”
The Emperor still looked displeased.
“There’s truly no other way?”
Pierre glanced up to gauge the Emperor’s expression.
‘Personal feelings are involved.’
The reason was obvious—something related to the late Lord Niberius.
“She’s a card that’s easy to use and throw away, isn’t she, Your Majesty?”
“…There is some merit to that.”
Apparently satisfied by Pierre’s phrasing, the Emperor gave a faint smile. Stroking his chin with one hand, he looked down at Pierre.
“Very well. Proceed as you wish. But if the girl fails or produces no results, you will take full responsibility.”
His voice dropped, heavy with pressure.
“Failure will not be tolerated. Understood?”
Pierre answered without a hint of hesitation.
“I understand, Your Majesty.”
