Chapter 9
After a long silence, I opened my mouth.
“…I’m sorry, Your Majesty… but the Class 1 confidential document…”
I spoke to him in the softest voice I could manage.
“It seems it was destroyed in a fire.”
The crowd began to murmur more loudly at my words.
The Emperor frowned and asked again.
“What do you mean by that?”
I lowered my gaze and continued calmly.
“Not long after the funeral, there was a small fire in the study. Things were hectic, so I hadn’t checked my father’s study until later, and when I did… I found the storage chest where the important documents were kept had been burned to ashes. The papers inside too.”
“…I see…”
As I looked at the Emperor’s crumpled expression, I smiled inwardly.
The truth is, I burned it myself.
The Class 1 confidential document that Duke Elemoer had—was none other than a list of members in Etias’ revolutionary army.
It had the names of hundreds of key figures and commanders. A document that should never have existed.
If it had fallen into the Emperor’s hands, the Star of the Revolution would have become the Star of the Purge.
This document was mentioned in the original story too, but in that version, Catrin wasn’t interested in her father’s secret documents, so she only told the Emperor she’d look into it later and put it off out of annoyance.
In that time, Etias had sent revolutionary soldiers disguised as thieves into the Elemoer mansion several times to retrieve the document, and lost comrades to the mansion guards.
They barely managed to retrieve the papers, but the damage was so great it almost ruined the revolution.
Of course he was desperate.
So far, the power of Parliament had kept the Emperor from harming Etias, but if that document had surfaced, both Etias and the revolution would have been finished.
That’s why I burned it the moment I found it.
Not just that document, but any paper that could harm Etias even a little—I destroyed them all.
I couldn’t let my dear Etias suffer that kind of hardship again.
It was unfortunate for the late Duke Elemoer, and unfortunate for the Emperor in front of me, but… oh well.
“We did request the fire brigade to put out the fire, but things were so chaotic I never got a chance to thank the chief of the station.”
It meant there were witnesses to the fire.
“….”
The Emperor furrowed his brow and stared at me in silence.
“I should have kept things in better order, but… I was overwhelmed with grief and neglected it. Please forgive me, Your Majesty.”
I could hear murmurs spreading again.
I could still feel the Emperor’s snake-like stare on me. But he wouldn’t be able to scold me harshly.
I was the orphaned daughter of a loyal vassal—and more importantly, today was his 15th anniversary celebration.
“It’s a pity… but not as great a pity as losing the Duke of Elemoer. It’s alright. Raise your head, Lady Elemoer.”
As expected, the Emperor pretended to be merciful, even though he clearly looked displeased.
When I met his eyes, I saw the venom behind them.
He was watching me very closely, as if trying to catch anything suspicious.
Go ahead, watch all you want. I already burned it, you snake.
There was nothing to find, so I had no reason to be nervous.
The Emperor kept staring at me for a few more seconds, then furrowed his brows and gave a small cough, turning away as if this situation annoyed him.
The others turned their attention away from me too.
As I looked at the Emperor’s retreating back with a cynical smirk, I suddenly locked eyes with a familiar blue gaze.
“….”
Etias…!
So he’d heard everything. Good. Now he can stop worrying about that damned document.
Even after everyone else had looked away, those deep blue eyes beneath his sharp gaze were still on me.
Maybe… maybe that was the reason he tried to stop me at the government office before.
“….”
Soon, Etias slowly turned his gaze away from me and walked out.
I saw the soldiers following behind him as he left the hall.
“By now, the item should have been delivered.”
I turned my gaze away from where Etias had disappeared, recalling the order I had given to Heros.
I should go back inside soon, I thought to myself.
Just then, the girl who had been throwing me glances since earlier walked up to me with one hand on her waist.
Several other girls followed behind her like handmaidens. They all looked like harmless puppies to me.
“I can’t believe your uncle’s precious documents were all burned. What kind of management is that, Catrin?”
This girl with blonde hair and green eyes was my cousin—Lucia Elemoer, two years older than me.
She was the illegitimate daughter of my uncle, Count Fadelmon Elemoer, and the only one he openly acknowledged as family.
Lucia raised her eyebrows and gave me a pitiful scolding look.
“You should’ve listened to my father when he offered to handle your uncle’s estate after the funeral.”
Around the time of the funeral, Lucia’s father, my uncle Fadelmon Elemoer, had come to me with an absurd request—to let him manage the late Duke’s estate. I rejected him immediately.
I knew all too well about Fadelmon’s greed. I’d sooner trust a cat to guard fish.
“Lately, your judgment seems clouded. Even things with your fiancé look rough. But it’s not too late, Catrin.”
At Lucia’s words, the girls behind her all nodded.
“She’s right. It’s better not to be stubborn and listen to the Count’s daughter’s advice.”
They must be hoping to get some scraps from her. After all, the Duke’s fortune is massive.
I let out a small laugh, crossed my arms, and looked at Lucia with a calm, noble gaze.
“You don’t need to worry, Lucia. Even though there was a fire, fortunately, a lot of documents were left intact.”
Lucia twitched her eyebrows at my words.
“Documents that survived?”
When the Duke and Duchess Elemoer were alive, she used to fawn over me. But the moment my parents passed, as if I had no more protection, she became arrogant.
The way she brushed past my shoulder at the funeral wasn’t just a fleeting accident.
She’s really no different from my uncle Fadelmon—the same kind of schemer.
“For example, the countless loan documents from Uncle Fadelmon.”
At my smirk, Lucia’s brow furrowed tightly.
“He borrowed a significant amount of money, you know? And did you know? Among the assets my father left me are bonds clearly stating amounts to be collected from debtors.”
“Catrin!”
Lucia’s face hardened, clearly caught off guard. She hadn’t expected me to bring this up.
The girls around her gasped and began whispering.
Fadelmon had run various shady businesses, and every time, he borrowed money from the Duke.
The pile of loan documents from his greed and ambitions—it wasn’t huge compared to the Duke’s fortune, but enough to use as a weapon.
“I almost forgot about them, but thanks to you for reminding me. I’ll be sure to send your father a debt repayment notice soon.”
“…!”
Lucia’s clenched fists trembled with rage.
“Th-That’s… Catrin!”
“Ah, now that I think of it, there are also documents related to your mother… among those remaining papers.”
“Catrin, wait. Haa… haah….”
When I added that, Lucia’s face flushed red—almost to the point of exploding.
Lucia was the daughter of a prostitute who had worked in one of the entertainment businesses Fadelmon ran.
I twisted my lips and leaned in, whispering threateningly.
“Don’t mess with me, Lucia.”
I stretched my arms and walked down the dim corridor behind the garden.
The party had passed its peak, and it was late enough that no one would notice if someone slipped away.
I was heading toward the back door, ready to finally return home.
Though I hadn’t met the Emperor’s expectations, I did attend his party, so he probably wouldn’t hold a grudge for now.
It was also the first social event after the announcement of my broken engagement—and I looked far too composed and fine for gossip to stick.
On top of that, I briefly saw Etias, and I had that thing delivered… Today’s mission was complete.
Just then, as I turned a large column, trying to ignore the occasional moaning sounds coming from the bushes—
“…!”
I locked eyes with someone standing there.
His face was a full hand taller than mine. His dark hair fluttered slightly in the night breeze.
Under the soft moonlight, Etias’ features looked even more defined.
His deep blue eyes were filled with an emotion I couldn’t quite name.
He stared straight into me, then slowly walked closer.
Placing both his hands on the column behind me, he leaned in and looked directly at me.
Isn’t this a bit too close?
