CH 33

Translated by Wook

Edited by Wook

The rest of the attendants were also given the truth serum.

“I-I have never done that, and I have no intention of doing so in the future. Honestly, I know nothing about this spy matter in High Priest Seniel’s residence. I just want to keep up my good work here. T-There’s a three-year-old son in my family…”

“You said you were looking for a thief, but it’s a spy now? No, I mean, I don’t know anything about a spy. I only know how to care for the flowers in the garden. I can’t keep a secret; I’ll get goosebumps right away. That’s why I never surprised my wife on her birthday! I’m terrible at lying! How can I-”

I got a lot of information I didn’t want to know. Beryl, the gardener, couldn’t even sneak a birthday present for his wife. Mitty, the cleaner, had a three-year-old baby, and Martin, the coachman, lived apart from his family, barely bought a house, and met his family… 

Looking at those covered in tears and runny noses, I couldn’t manage my expression. The butler summarized the list and what they said on a paper as though he was still worried about being fired even though the effect of the truth serum was over.

He handed me the paper with a determined face. “All the servants in the mansion have finished talking. Please check, ma’am.”

“… Thank you.”

I didn’t need the list. I just took it to reassure Hubburn.

‘I would’ve made some progress if I had caught the spy.’

I couldn’t figure out what the hell made them threaten me. Had they really gotten suspicious because I had tried to escape?

‘But I can’t just relax like this.’

I had to see Ronan soon. I had wanted to give Ronan some evidence, but I couldn’t figure out what to do since this happened.

I decided to sort these people out first.

“… I’m sorry for doubting everyone. I have no intention of firing you, so don’t cry, and don’t talk about today. Just return to your work now.”

“Then, please rest in peace.” Everyone rushed out of the room in a panic. The butler went out last and bowed to me.

***

The time I promised to meet with Ronan was getting closer and closer. I wandered around the room, biting my nails.

‘I don’t know how the blackmailer found out, but I can be sure of one thing.’

They didn’t know exactly what I was trying to do with Ronan. How could they know something that even Ronan didn’t know?

‘Even so, since they threatened me not to meet him, is there any reason to take the risk and meet Ronan? I believe they’ll be more persistent since they’ve targeted me once.’

Now that this happened, I had nothing to say even if I met Ronan. Even if I wanted to hand him the evidence, I couldn’t do so hastily. The moment Ronan noticed and tried to find out more about the Kid case, it would be like declaring to the blackmailer, ‘I know Kid very well, and I’m going to ruin his plan now. Hahaha.’

‘But I’ll feel sorry if I don’t go since I’ve made an appointment…’

I would be late if I stayed. Even if I sent a letter saying I couldn’t go, Ronan had to go home to see the letter. In addition, I couldn’t do anything hastily because it seemed dangerous to send a letter.

‘Should I keep the sender a secret as the blackmailer did?’

I didn’t know if the blackmailer would open the letter to check it. But even if they saw, they wouldn’t be able to catch a clue because there was not much content. And if the blackmailer had a brain, he should have understood this. Nothing was more suspicious than suddenly cutting off the news because I was threatened not to meet.

At the very least, I had to tell him, ‘I don’t think I’ll be able to see you because I’m busy for the time being’ and then hide away so he didn’t get suspicious.

I packed some jewels and put them in the mail. I hoped Ronan didn’t see me as simply pitying him for giving him the jewelry. I was grateful for his help with the carriage, including the price of dealing with the jerk who cried a lot in it.

I called the butler to send the letter anonymously.

***

After changing into light pajamas, I lay down on the bed.

‘Let’s gather information about Joel. The blackmailer may not be Joel, but that’s unlikely.’

And even if the blackmailer wasn’t Joel, it was nice to know a lot about Joel.

‘But who do I ask? Excluding the black market, where money is everything.’

The thought that the rumor that I was looking for Joel would sell like hotcakes on the black market stunned me.

Who knew a lot of information and could be trusted? Who was there to trust in the original story?

Oh, there was someone.

‘The heroine’s helper, Shanxi!’

Thanks to his outgoing personality, I heard he had a vast network of people. It was said that Joel was once a temple member, so Shanxi might know.

I wanted to run to the temple right away but stopped at the door.

If I wandered around less than a day after the threatening letter, more monitors might be watching me somewhere.

‘In this respect, Kid is better. I have no idea where or how the blackmailer is watching me.’

For the time being, I thought it would be best to keep quiet.

Knock, knock. The door was knocked in the quiet room.

“Madam. The guest says that he must meet and see you. He said he would come in by force if we didn’t inform you, so I ask your permission. Should we kick him out right now?”

“… Guest?” 

The butler always came with disconcerting news.

‘Was there anyone looking for me?’

Seeing the butler flustered, it seemed they were not Vivi’s family or friends.

“Who is visiting?”

The butler grunted and answered in a voice lacking confidence. “It’s the paladin Ronan Phylaxis. You don’t know him very well, do you? I apologize for making a fuss because I wasn’t strong enough. I’ll kick him out right now.”

What? My thoughts stopped for a moment. Ronan Phylaxis?

“H-Hold on!”

I hastily threw on my coat. One of my arms wouldn’t go in, so I whimpered and opened the door.

“Don’t kick him out. Call him into the drawing room…”

“Madam.”

Leaving behind the bewildered butler, Ronan walked in front of me. His neckline was wrinkled down as if he had been messing with it. His hair was also disheveled and in poor shape, but the young majesty in his eyes did not make him look sloppy.

Ronan looked angry, and the butler’s bewildered eyes were apparent. The attendants who tried to stop him gathered behind Ronan.

Like attendants gathered together, my thoughts were also complicatedly united.

‘How could Ronan come here? I didn’t ask him to come. Is this also included in the plot? Before that, Seniel should be back soon. What if they run into each other?’

My thoughts snapped at the loud noise and scattered. First of all, we had to sort things out before things escalated. Seeing Ronan’s fierceness, it didn’t seem like he’d go back easily, and if I wanted to persuade him, there were too many ears listening, so it seemed better to move the place.

“Please show us to the drawing room.”

“What? Y-Yes! All right.”

The butler was taken aback and took the lead. I followed the butler without greeting Ronan. I wasn’t in the mood for pleasantries.

***

I didn’t realize it because it was full of people earlier, but now that I looked at it, the drawing room eerily resembled the secret room on the first floor, especially more so without the bookshelves in the room.

“You may leave now, Hubburn.”

“… Yes, ma’am.” The butler quickly disappeared as if he wanted to leave this uncomfortable position as soon as possible. Neither Ronan nor I moved until the butler moved away.

Ronan stared at me silently, so I cleared my throat and tried to finish by apologizing for the canceled appointment.

“Sir Phylaxis?”

But to my dismay, Ronan abruptly knelt in front of me.

“I apologize for coming all of a sudden. I also apologize for being careless with the attendants. I will take full responsibility for the current situation.”

“… No, no. Get up now. It’s okay. Did you come all this way because of an appointment? It’s me who’s sorry, so you don’t have to apologize-”

I couldn’t finish my words because Ronan’s face, which had been looking down, was raised as he opened his mouth.

“I was worried because you didn’t come.”