CH 84

As the day of Rose Harmony’s research presentation approached, time flew by.

On an unusual note, the announcement was made by the Imperial Palace.

I wore the dress that Catalina gave me as a present.

Today is the day I participate in an event as a presenter, so I dressed up neatly.

As my dress moderately clung to my body, it looked neat and elegant.

My long wavy hair was tied to one side and fixed with a head ornament.

I decorated my hair with rose harmony since it was the day of the presentation of rose harmony.

“Lady Roselina is always so beautiful and lovely, but it’s the best today.”

Antonia, who helped me dress up, praised me, but I was actually unsure.

‘Rose harmony research is worthless now. Is there any point in announcing this in front of the people?’

It was not the rose harmony but my mana that healed those who had the curse of roses.

As I experimented alone, I found out that injecting my mana into existing objects was extremely ineffective.

It was only useful if it was an item I summoned.

But can I keep on summoning it forever?

What if an error occurs and the system and my characteristics are not available?

‘Then it’s like giving them a taste of hope that they can be cured and then pushing them off the cliff all over again.’

I was skeptical in that respect.

‘If everyone wants to be freed from the curse of the rose, then it’s better to break the curse itself.’

It was then.

A notification window that hadn’t popped up for a while appeared.

【A new quest has started. Do you want to check?】

I accepted the quest with pleasure.

【Reveal the secret behind the curse of roses! (3)

That’s right. There’s no curse that can’t be destroyed forever.

Curses exist to be destroyed.

But breaking the curse is tricky and difficult.

In particular, breaking the curse that affects the whole empire boasts a higher level of difficulty.

There’s nothing you can’t do.

To break the curse, you need to know the person who did the curse, the person who was cursed, and the contents of the curse.

Find out what the curse is about first!

If you complete this quest, you can erase the 〈Curse of the Rose〉 scenario 〈Return …………, ………〉 will be created.

******

******

– CONDITION: Find out what the secret behind the Curse of Roses

– Compensation: 50 Fate Energy, Scenario 〈Return …………, ………〉 creation】

“Hmm.”

After receiving the quest, I was lost in thought for a moment.

***

As I was inside the carriage, heading to the Imperial Palace

“Ms. Banker! I didn’t know you’d call me so quickly!”

Violet, who came running as soon as she was called, lit up her eyes.

Her complexion has improved because of the generous compensation she received.

“What should I steal today?”

“Violet, how far can you steal?”

“There is nothing in the world that I can’t steal. I can even steal the heart of the owner.”

Violet winked at me.

That was good to hear.

“What about other people’s hearts besides me? Can you steal information?”

“Yes, of course. As long as you pay me!”

After Violet made a circle with her thumb and index finger, I laughed.

“Of course, I’ll take good care of the pay. Violet, I need to tell you something.”

“Yes, go ahead.”

Seeing my serious expression, Violet straightened her posture.

Then a notification appeared.

【The enhanced Lie Detector summoned from an unknown word is now activated.】

When I checked the notification, I hesitated.

It is true that I want to know what Violet is thinking, but I didn’t want to find out by using the item.

‘But it turned on automatically, so I can’t help it.’

I told Violet, trying not to look at the notification as much as I could.

“This is not a one-off job. Security is important, so it’s not a replaceable position.”

“You mean you want to hire me.”

“That’s right.”

Violet was quick to understand.

“I’m a mean thief who lives by stealing someone else’s precious things. But I have my own boundaries.”

Violet’s face was more serious than ever.

“I only stole things that I don’t think would affect their day or life. So even though I lived in a back alley, I stole the wallets of mainly wealthy commoners and nobles.”

This was why Violet became famous.

The back alley was overflowing with all kinds of criminals besides Violet.

However, Violet was the only one who didn’t get caught and boldly ate from the rich and powerful.

“I’m telling you this because I want to tell you that I’m a person of faith.”

It may be contradictory to be a faithful thief, but that was Violet’s life.

I listened to her without interrupting.

“Ms. Banker, no, Lady Roselina saved my sister. Once four years ago, once not too long ago. I’m willing to sacrifice my life even if Lady Roselina doesn’t pay me a penny.”

There was no lie in Violet’s words.

The notification came up in my view as I thought.

【The lie detector is running.】

【Beep! It turns out to be true】

Look, I’m right.

I handed the document to Violet.

“It’s a contract to officially hire you. We can adjust the conditions, so please check it thoroughly.”

“You even wrote a contract?”

“Yes, you can live in Brighton’s mansion with your sister if you want. It would be ideal for your sister.”

“Ms. Banker, no, Lady Roselina…”

Violet seemed thrilled.

“Please treat me like a slave from now on!”

“No, I don’t need slaves.”

“If you tell me, I’ll lick your feet!”

I looked at the Violet playfully, and then I said.

“I want to know the truth about the curse of roses.”

“If it’s the curse of roses, it suddenly appears one day and eats away at a person’s body and mind, right?”

“Yes, externally, it does.”

I told her the hidden secret of the curse of the rose.

Jasmine, who said that the curse of roses manifested in her after meeting me, probably received the real curse of the rose.

“I’m sorry. It’s no different from your sister being sick because of me.”

Violet’s eyes wavered, but soon she smiled brightly.

“In the end, Ms. Banker saved us. And Ms. Banker didn’t make the curse yourself.”

“Yes, I’m trying to find the person who created this curse.”

“Me, too! I want to find them, too. Let me find them*!”

(t/n: I used ‘them’ since we don’t know who created the curse yet)

I tried my best to say it was okay, but Violet seemed to be very upset.

Revenge burned in her purple eyes.

“I don’t know who it is, but even if they curse, they have to set some boundaries……! What does a child have to do with the curse? I won’t let them go!”

“I agree. That’s why I’m trying to find them. But I don’t have enough information.”

Looking at Violet who was puzzled, I added an explanation.

“Anyone in the Empire knows the curse of roses. But it’s not known who cursed who and why. If you are an imperial citizen, you don’t know when the curse symptoms will manifest, so it’s very important information.”

“Why is it unknown?”

“It was covered up. First of all, I think the imperial family is the one who led the cover-up.”

The information hidden in the imperial family seemed to contain contents about the curse of roses.

However, the information hidden by the imperial family was too inaccessible.

“I’m on my way to the imperial palace, so I’m trying to sneak in and find out if there’s a secret library or something like that in there.”

But this was too unrealistic.

I don’t have the confidence to search the entire palace.

So I chose plan B.

“There are only two people who are aware of the hidden information. The Emperor and the Crown Prince.”

It was too dangerous to approach the emperor, so I planned to contact the crown prince first.

Of course, the crown prince I’m referring to was Felix, not Calix.

At the same time as he was born, he was appointed as the crown prince and was educated as such, so he could have known the hidden information.

“But isn’t Prince Felix missing?”

“I found his location.”

“Then I’ll go and get the information. Where is Prince Felix?”

I paused for a moment.

Even at this moment, the carriage was speeding toward the Imperial Palace without a break.

I didn’t drop Violet off in the middle.

“The Imperial Palace.”

“What?”

“The missing former crown prince was in the Imperial Palace.”

There was something strange about it.