# 9
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The numbers that Serten saw in Evelin's room were the guard switching times between the Crown Prince's Private Guard and the Imperial Palace Guard.
That information was related to the Crown Prince's Palace, his wife's Palace, the Empress's Palace, and even the distant Emperor's Palace.
How far were they able to extend their hands?
He had a feeling as if there was a dense spider web visible to the eye covering the Imperial Palace.
'Why did Evelyn have those things?'
This was the puzzle he had been unable to solve yet.
It took only two hours to find out the truth about the numbers, but the reason why Evelyn had them remained unknown.
When he asked the servants working in the Crown Prince’s wife’s palace, he only got one answer: “She has been playing treasure hunt for several days.”
What about Rosalina?
Certain allowed Rosalina to have a cup of tea with him during the time he set aside, during which time she evaluated Evelyn.
“She seems like a really childish person. She likes to play a lot. I don’t think she fits the status of the Crown Prince’s wife… but she seems good.”
Certain rubbed his lips with his fingers.
“Hey, you big ugly man!”
"I love candy. You're bad! Get out! This is mine!"
Cyrtain regained his memories of Evelyn based on what he saw himf.
Her speech and behavior were truly child-like.
In addition, she was drooling as she fell out of bed, which are actions typical of children.
But the problem lies in the strangeness that appears in her behavior.
Something made him feel uncomfortable, a feeling that couldn't be described in words as if something was scratching at the back of his head.
Was it because of his suspicious personality, or was Evelin actually hiding something?
He suddenly stood up, and Mortega followed him.
“…I remember I have an outside schedule the day after tomorrow?”
“Yes, that's right, Crown Prince. This time a new merchants' union is being established, and you must attend the founding ceremony.”
This was a newly rising power.
Those who knew how to manage money invested the money they earned through corporate trading in real estate, and then entered high society with their profits.
Although they had no titles, they exceeded the standards of haughty nobility in high society.
It meant they had a lot.
Now, with these rising “bourgeois” establishing a new union, the event became the focus of everyone’s attention.
At the center of this event was the Rochester League, run by an intelligent young man with a business sense.
There were even rumors that anyone who collaborated with Clucci Rochester was undoubtedly making money.
Unlike the past, pure nobles without money were no longer considered nobles.
Therefore, those nobles who wanted money were after Rochester.
Behind the Rochester Union, there was a mysterious hidden support.
“I will attend the event with Evelyn.”
"What?"
Mortega opened his eyes wide
“But, Crown Prince...!”
“Tell the Crown Princess’ maids to get ready. And tell Rosalina to come to me before you return today. Understood?”
Mortega looked at Certin with a forlorn look.
Sertin smiled lopsidedly.
“I'm curious to see how it would behave in a strange environment.”
He was planning to monitor Evelin's actions among those deceitful nobles.
The more confused she got, the more she showed her true face.
That morning.
I was in a bad mood because of the uninvited guest who suddenly appeared without warning.
That smug look he gave me, like he was looking down on something of lesser value
Even worse, he acted as if he owned the palace of the Crown Prince's wife.
Serena and Rosie were watching the guest anxiously, as if they thought he was superior to me.
He was Augustin Spindel, the second son of the Spindel family, and Evelyn's younger brother.
“I see that you are at least living decently. Evelin, haven’t I always told you? You should be thankful that you were born into our family.”
I started thinking about how I could hit his mouth in such a way that everyone would say it was a good hit.
I just stared at his lips, trying to control my anger.
“Fortunately, you seem to be doing well. Serena, Rosie.”
Augustin pointed his finger at Serena and Rosie, and they approached him cautiously.
slap! slap!
He slapped both of them on their faces without hesitation, as if my presence did not matter.
But Augustin was clearly showing this to me, for his eyes were filled with a strange feeling of triumph.
When I feigned fear and cowered, he laughed mockingly and turned his face away.
“Young Master...”
“Do you dare to ignore the orders of the Spindle family? You have both been clearly told that you must know the times of changing the guards and report to us in the agreed upon manner.”
He didn't even care about my presence, as if I wasn't a threat to him.
“We did what you ordered us to do! That's right, young master!”
Augustin slaps Serena and Rousey again.
“I said don’t answer me.”
Augustin let out a long sigh, clenching his teeth.
“So you did the job correctly and we didn't receive anything, right? So, does that mean it's my fault for not receiving anything?”
"No no…."
Serena and Rosie bowed their heads, their cheeks swollen from the beating.
“We will change the method this time.”
Augustin placed on the table something that looked like a bird's nest.
“Hang this on the tree and put the letters inside. Do you understand?”
“Yes, yes, young master!”
Serena and Rosie ran out of the room like they were running away from a monster, while Augustin slowly turned towards me with a wry smile.
“You're not crying today, are you?”
How rude?
I started thinking about what Evelyn's life was like in the Spindle family. They must have been scaring her and hurting her psychologically like that.
Augustin had certainly never touched Evelyn, but he was messing with her tender feelings.
I pinched my thigh hard, but that wasn't enough, so I started scratching and pinching the back of my hand as well.
I could barely contain the tears in my eyes.
"Yes…".
“Of course. Evelin, did you see that? If you don’t obey orders, you will be beaten like them? And now you will share cookies with the Empress, right?”
I shook my head vigorously.
“The...cookies belong to Evelyn only...”
Then my tears started falling profuy.
"Why? I told you to do as you're told. If you act like this, your father will be disappointed. Do you want to disappoint your father? Or do you want me to hit you?"
What a bad bastard.
This is why the Spindel family is said to be the family of villains.
If Spindle hadn't existed, Cyrtain wouldn't have become such a person... No... Wait.
My thoughts stopped for a moment.
Based on what I had experienced, it didn't seem like Cyrtain was a very good person by nature.
However, he was not going to become the mastermind of anything dark.
"I don't want to. You're scary."
"What?"
I bit my lip and raised my eyes firmly. This palace is mine. I will make it impossible for him to act like this again. As my tears fell profuy, I screamed
“I'll tell everyone!”
"What?"
"S...Sirtin...I'll tell my husband everything! I'll tell him that you said you were going to hit me! And that you hit Serena and Rosé too! You're a bad person!"
I screamed loudly and ran out of the room. Augustin looked startled, but he quickly ran after me, grabbed my wrist, and asked me with a confused look:
“Where are you going now?”
The smug expression he had as he slapped Serena and Rosé had faded a while ago. He looked so agitated that he stumbled and almost fell. She took advantage of the moment and pushed him hard.
"Yes!"
"I'm going to my husband! My husband gave me candy and delicious things! You're a bad person! I'll tell him everything!"
I ran away from Augustin, who was stunned, his confused voice echoing behind me.
"Hey, Evelyn! Stop that thing right away!"
The maids stared at me with stunned faces, but I pushed them away and kept running.
I don't know if Sertin will stand by my side, but will they ignore me?
“Ah…why…why is she so fast?”
“Ah… She has been playing outside for several days… Madam! Your Highness! I will give you delicious things! Please!”
Perhaps the words of Augustin or the Duke were law in the Spindel family.
But here, my word is the law, you bastard!