# 38
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Episode 38
Ruelia frowned upon hearing the name of someone she didn't know.
The sender was the commander of the Crown Prince's bodyguard, Levinel. A knight of common origin, he was awarded the title of Viscount last year thanks to his saving the Crown Prince from repeated assassination attempts.
He is known as almost the only commoner to reach a high position in the Imperial Palace.
But Ruelia doesn't know him personally and doesn't even know what he looks like.
“Is this about the investigation into the events of the party?”
"not so."
Gentle Senior placed a basket on Ruilia's desk.
“And there is not just one sender.”
Ruelia tilted the basket slightly, then looked at Senior in astonishment.
It was filled with letters sealed with the seals of different families.
“What… what is this?”
“Senders say they are invitations.”
“Invitations?”
Ruelia backed away in panic, staring at the basket as if it were something dangerous.
'What is this? What's the point?'
Senior laughed and took out a small box with a letter from the basket and placed it in front of her.
“Viscount Levinel seems interested in helping us. Here is a gift as well.”
Ruelia glanced at the Duke standing at the entrance. She frowned and pushed the gift away, holding up her hands as proof of her innocence.
“I don't accept bribes.”
The Duke, who was heading to the palace, was standing by the door, arms crossed,
Staring at the basket.
Senior came forward to explain.
“It's not a bribe. Maybe they sent it to win your favor by inviting you to tea.”
"Hmph, he's a knight. He definitely wants to become the captain of the Aber Knights instead of the captain of the bodyguards, so he's using me. Otherwise, why would he earn my favor?"
Ruelia answered based on her previous experience.
She looked at the seals in the basket.
There were emerging brands, nobles she met at the party, and even the family seal of the scoundrel who had harassed Melissa earlier.
The reason why they invited Ruelia was clear.
“I will send rejection letters to everyone.”
Ruelia quickly prepared the papyrus and grabbed the quill.
She started writing out loud, like someone who had just learned to read.
"I'm busy with Abir's family business, and I don't have time for social events. Thank you for the invitation, but please excuse me for not being able to attend."
I wrote the reply without reading the content of the messages.
While she was composing the reasons for her refusal, her eyes were fixed on the quill, but she glanced toward the door.
She saw Caelce's wide thigh slowly move away, and Senior followed suit.
“Huff...”
Ruelia breathed a sigh of relief and lay down on the desk.
“Working as an employee is tiring.”
She remembered her last paycheck with effort. The corner of her mouth gradually rose.
Money is definitely a cure for tired employees.
Melissa is in the best of health lately, and the Duke's future is bright. If she lasts another year, she can retire with enough wealth.
Ruelia stood up confidently after her worries were gone.
She began writing rejection responses enthusiastically, without looking at the content of the letters.
* * *
When Cales arrived at the Imperial Palace, he headed straight to the underground prison.
Gallion was already there.
“Stubborn bastards.”
Caelus frowned upon hearing Galeon's insult.
“They haven't spoken yet?”
“No, they won't be able to talk forever.”
Gallion moved away, and the tragic bodies of the murderers appeared.
“Oh…”
Kyles looked at them with cold eyes.
There were no casualties other than the wrecked vehicle. If they had uncovered the mastermind,
Maybe they survived. But they preferred to die, which made him feel sorry.
“Sacrificing their lives for their master? I almost feel guilty.”
The bitterness of reality, with his brother threatening him, was evident in his weak eyes.
Caelus responded coldly to his weakness.
“That's why I said kill him instead of locking him in the tower.”
“You are cruel.”
Gallion ordered the knights to clean up the corpses, and became serious.
"You have no brothers, so you don't know. Punishing a blood relative is like cutting off one of your limbs."
Cayce raised an eyebrow.
It wasn't about having a brotherhood. Excessive pity only brings trouble.
“I would rather lose a limb than lose my head.”
“The problem is that this party belongs to His Majesty the Emperor.”
Galleon shrugged.
Kyles sighed in shock.
"So, you haven't discovered anything? What about Countess Bellona's connection?"
“Filior, inform the Duke.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
The commander of the Crown Prince's personal guard came forward upon Galleon's invitation.
A handsome, elegant face that looked nothing like a knight, a finger taller than Caelus, and a similarly strong build.
Even Caelus found Velor Levinel an attractive man.
“While tracking the movements of the attackers, we found priests who had kidnapped and hidden them. There does not seem to be a connection between the criminals and Countess Bellona.”
Kyles stared at the guard captain.
A drop of sweat trickled down Philor's cheek.
“Do you have questions?”
"If that's all you found out, it's disappointing. Instead of choosing gifts and sending out invitations to help me, you should have investigated yourf."
Philor's face flushed.
Gallion intervened.
“Oh my God, Filior, did you really send an invitation?”
“Rulia writes rejection responses, fearing she might get me in trouble.”
Caelis said without giving Philor a chance to respond.
“Really? What a pity. But, Caelus, didn’t you say that you would fulfill everything Ruelia wanted?”
“I did not threaten her or prevent her from attending.”
"That's not what I meant. What if Ruelia wants to marry someone?"
“She said she was not thinking about marriage.”
“That's because she hasn't met the right guy yet. If a handsome guy shows up who understands her situation and her job as an assistant, she might change her mind, right?”
Gallion smiled contentedly as he patted his handsome subordinate on the shoulder.
But he quickly backed down when he saw Cales's look.
“So, did you discover something?”
* * *
Ruelia finished her daily apology letter and prepared to leave. She had to complete rejection responses at home.
“When will I finish writing all of this?”
Although much has been written, much remains. New messages also arrived.
Fortunately, Senior said that if she finished it by morning, he would mail the replies to the Duke's house.
Ruelia grabbed the basket full of letters and got up.
Suddenly, Senior quickly entered, carrying another pile of invitations.
“More invitations have arrived.”
Ruelia looked at the basket tiredly.
“What in the name of the Creator of Heaven is this...”
“It seems like everyone wants to get close to Miss Ruelia.”
Senior looked at her proudly, as if she were his granddaughter making her debut in high society.
But he looked like Kyles when he took out a box and a letter from the basket.
“This is from Countess Bellona.”
Ruelia frowned upon hearing the name.
“She said it's not an invitation. What's in it?”
Ruelia hesitated a moment, then opened the letter, where Senior seemed to be waiting for the Duke's report.
But she quickly put it back in the envelope.
《Ruelia, the temple told me.
If you stay with Abir's family, you may get involved in dangerous matters. I'm very worried about you.》
The words were as if they were taken from Ruelia's diary.