CH 48

“I thought she would come with an invitation. What a piece of work. Anyway, she’s a tacky and annoying woman.”

“Is that the liquor license?”

“Yes. She’s basically saying Marchioness Neir stole it.”

Catherine’s words continued as she scanned the garden.

“I’ll have to find out if this happened to the families of the ladies who aren’t here right now. That marchioness wouldn’t have just touched one.”

Ophelia shook her head.

“That… Marchioness Neir didn’t give it to her.”

Puzzled, Catherine turned her gaze to Ophelia.

“What? Then who gave it to her? If another family which isn’t as influential as the Marquisate of Neir had touched it, would it have been easily taken? Hn, well, the heir was like that. No way, was he cooperating with Neir to do something like this? Are there other families involved?”

Unaware of Hermia’s relationship with her fiancé and financial state of the county, Catherine, of course, did not even assume that Raisa had done it.

But at Ophelia’s words, Iris hardened her face as if she realized something.

Even Iris, who had seen the incident up close and lost her friend because of it, had forgotten that Raisa had concocted and executed such a plot.

It was very dangerous to judge someone hastily with colored glasses.

It could make you dismiss those who were truly threatening as nothing.

“It’s not provided by another family.”

“Then who the heck…”

“It’s not something someone gave to her. Lady Neir obtained it herself.”

Despite Iris’ answer, Catherine was not convinced immediately.

It wasn’t because of what Iris said.

It was because the gap between the Raisa in Catherine’s head and the Raisa that Ophelia and Iris were talking about was too severe.

“Isn’t that what Marchioness Neir ordered?”

Ophelia was silent for a moment at the extent of Catherine’s disbelief, then she formed a reply.

“We have to check that too.”

She just couldn’t tell the story of one person’s death and Iris’ lost friend in detail. Then turning her gaze to Iris, she added.

“Not just the lady.”

Iris accepted the words perfectly.

“You mean we have to check whether Marchioness Neir moved?”

“Yes.”

The three sighed almost simultaneously.

“The night is long.”

“Well, the one we were aiming for did come.”

“Shall we start?”

The three of them completed each other’s words, and soon approached Raisa, receiving the gazes of everyone in the garden.

.

Going back in time a bit, around the time when the rabbit was getting everyone’s attention at the villa of the Marquisate of Sheffield.

Richard was listening to reports of disturbing events happening within the empire.

Currently, the whole empire was excited, as the festival where people gathered from all over the continent was just around the corner.

Naturally, both good and bad things would happen more than usual.

Although maintaining an expression of complete boredom, Richard’s eyebrows went up slightly as he listened to the report.

“People?”

“Yes.”

“Is it human trafficking?”

“You can see it that way…”

Cooper blurred the end of his words and handed Richard a stack of papers.

“The people in it can be said to be the victims for now.”

“It’s identifiable. So what’s the problem?”

“It’s clear that the circumstances of buying and selling people have been found, but there are some ambiguous parts to conclude that it’s human trafficking.”

“What else could those involved in human trafficking do except be vague.”

Cooper couldn’t help but laugh at his words.

“Yes. In this case, the seller is voluntarily offering a deal.”

What was human trafficking?

Even decades after slavery was abolished, it was an act of buying and selling people as goods for someone’s benefit that still continued.

There was only the will of the buyer in it, and the thought of the seller was completely excluded.

Of course, those who were sold were only those who have been kidnapped somewhere, or those who have fallen into a quagmire, selling themselves due to excessive debt.

However, the victims were voluntarily sold.

“Is it human sacrifice?”

“There is no word yet that they have been sacrificed to something somewhere.”

Richard turned the documents Cooper had handed over and looked at the identities of those who were vaguely called ‘victims’.

“What do they have in common?”

“Nothing has been revealed yet. Everyone’s age, origin, living situation, work, and relationship with people around them are all different, so there’s no particular similarity.”

“How about religion?”

“Yes?”

“Irrespective of age, regardless of gender, class or career… It’s religion that can bind people together at once.”

“I’ve never thought about it that way, but it sure is.”

Cooper nodded and paused.

“I never thought that Marchioness Neir would reach out to the temple.”

“Marchioness Neir?”

It was an unexpected name.

“Yes. The name ‘Neir’ popped up in relation to this.”

“No matter how Marchioness Neir is, she wouldn’t touch anything illegal like this. Plus, before the festival? Unless she suddenly goes crazy, that won’t happen.”

“That’s why I’m surprised as well. The name did come up. And it’s from a fairly credible person.”

“Yes. Neir and human trafficking, it’s a combination that I can’t quite spit out just by imagining it.”

“And speaking of festivals…”

“I know. Those two are investigating.”

“Yes. Then I will wait for Iris. No, or should I wait for Ophelia?”

When Ophelia’s name came out of Cooper’s mouth, Richard’s eyebrows twitched for an instant, but no one noticed.

“Wait for Iris.”

“What? Oh, yes. Of course.”

Cooper didn’t ask why he had limited himself to Iris, and Richard didn’t explain either.

Ophelia’s voice rang in Richard’s ears during the short silence.

“To think there is such a terrible inevitability as the necessity of making an assassination.”

Neir… This was the third time.

“Cooper.”

“Yes. Within two days, more accurate and complete information…”

Before Cooper could finish his words, Richard slowly raised himself.

“No, I will go.”

“Yes, what?”

Nodding instinctively and mindlessly, Cooper opened his eyes wide.

“Are you going by yourself?”

“Yes.”

The aide quickly agreed to the words that the crown prince would personally go for a task that would have been sufficient even if he sent someone.

The one in front of him was Richard.

Who would be concerned about his safety even if he went out alone at night, to a place that would be extremely dangerous?

Cooper didn’t say much and bowed deeply.

Wearing a robe that looked cheap at first glance, with even faint stains smeared here and there, let alone detailed patterns or colorful colors, Richard paused as he headed toward the door.

“There will be a letter from James.”

Cooper took a step forward and leaned towards him.

“Is it dangerous?”

“Well. I said before that it’s suspicious.”

“Your Highness, with all due respect, it’s been a while since Sir Gryu went off.”

Richard did not answer. It was because he didn’t know enough to give a quick answer to what the ‘long’ period Cooper was talking about was.

Ordinary people’s ‘long’ and his ‘long’ were completely different concepts.

There was the only person who could share the passage of time with him.

Only Ophelia.

“Therefore?”

“If I know what’s going on and help, things can be handled a little more efficiently.”

Along with a friendly smile, Cooper’s eyes glistened sharply.

“Even now, I don’t know what’s going on. The risk is too great for me to handle alone, so Iris’ help will be needed.”

“And?”

“Even so, there will come a day when there aren’t enough hands. Comprehensive preparation without knowing anything takes not just twice as much time or effort as targeted investigations or preparations.”

Cooper shrugged his shoulders.

“So not only Iris, but Ophelia as well, will be mobilized sooner or later. All three aides will have their hands tied.”

The moment Ophelia’s name flowed again from Cooper’s lips, this time, a deep gorge formed between Richard’s brows.

“I don’t have to borrow Ophelia’s hand yet, but if things go on like this, sooner or later, her help will be essential…”

“James is out in a village.”

Richard cut in; before Cooper could finish his sentence, before the words of him and Ophelia having to spend a longer time together came out.

“A village? He went to investigate something dangerous…”

“He said he suspects that the entire village has been artificially created.”

In response to Richard’s reveal, Cooper asked what the problem was.

“Is there anything wrong with the village itself being formed artificially?”

In some cases, villages were formed naturally as people gathered one by one, but it was also common to establish a village through planned migration.

“I’ll tell you the details, you’ll find out soon.”

“I apologize…”

“And Cooper.”

“Yes.”

“Call only Iris.”

“Yes?”

Before Cooper could ask further, Richard disappeared as if dissolving into thin air.

Left alone, Cooper tilted his head as he reached for the papers.

Ame: is that jealousy i smell? *smirks* and i’m right that richard and cooper are cooped up in the office!

Dea: it 100% is and i’m here for it haha, now after this short richard and cooper commercial break, take me back to the girls!!