# Chapter 21
“Did you discover something?”
The scent of dawn seeped through the aperture of the ajar door.
It seems I fell asleep without realizing it.
“Yes, as that girl said, the loan project has been approved by the Emperor.”
"Damn it! What about the girl?"
“They are not lovers, it seems that she is the one pursuing him one-sidedly.”
“So, it's one-sided love.”
not so! I almost screamed, but I restrained myself and listened.
Maybe there's a clue to escape.
“However, if he keeps her by his side, doesn’t that mean that the prince has feelings for her?”
“I thought about it too, but after investigation, it seems that she is very smart, so the prince overlooks her actions.”
This is correct. If I hadn't come up with good ideas, Edmund would have moved me to another department long ago.
“Aren't you a noble?”
“No, they say she is an orphan living in the temple.”
“So, we can't even ask for a ransom.”
I heard sighs of frustration around me. It seems they kidnapped me hoping to get a ransom.
“So, it's no longer useful to us.”
“It would even be a burden if we were to leave the empire.”
There was a short silence, then Blackwood spat and said softly: “Okay, kill her.”
"Yes!"
What? killing?!
“Hey, are you really going to kill me?”
I opened the covers and got up. They took a gun out of their pocket and turned it around guiltlessly.
“Did you think we were joking?”
I knew moneylenders like this committed illegal acts, but murder?
"Calm down! Shouldn't we talk calmly?"
“Shut up!”
The loudest is you!
“We thought you were a useful girl, but you are useless.”
"exactly."
Useless? I'm trying hard to be helpful, how do they say that?!
“Mr. Blackwood, what if we sell it to the Blue Rose Gang?”
"she?"
Blue rose? What is this place? I've heard of Blackwood, but the Blue Rose is new to me.
“She may be small, but she has a passable face.”
“True, the blue rose buys children well, like that orphanage.”
I almost screamed, “What’s wrong with my body!” But I focused on their conversation.
Blue Rose seems to be trafficking children from shelters... like slave traders. Like Blackwood, it is an illegal organization.
“Right, instead of killing her, we can make money.”
Blackwood rubbed his rough beard and looked at me. I felt disgusted, as if an insect was crawling on my body.
“So, we keep her alive?”
“But that woman said kill her if it fails.”
“That woman”?
"Hush! We'll keep it a secret. Today, this girl died here, okay?"
"Yes!!!"
They tied me with thick ropes and put five guards. I can't run away like this.
I lay on the dusty mattress and lost myself in thought.
There seems to be a person behind this, not just a lending issue.
Who is the real criminal?
At first, I was skeptical of Lucid.
He said he was obstructing Edmund from becoming emperor.
But the problem is that I don't know exactly what Lucid did.
My knowledge of the novel ends here. Ecla helped Edmond with the redevelopment, and they were successful. I don't know what happened after that.
My information about Lucid being the villain came from an internet comment. Something like “Lucid did this and that,” but I skimmed through it with sleepy eyes and don’t remember the details.
But the shooting of the couple at the peace festival was suspicious. But, is it possible for the evil one to sabotage his work himself?
The villain is usually a bit stupid.
“But...”
If it's "that woman," it's not Lucid.
Anyway, I'm just providing ideas, and Dante is the one running the loan project.
Shouldn't Dante have been kidnapped?
Perhaps Lucid, realizing my genius and fearing that I might become Edmund's mind, ordered one of his subordinates.
But something is strange. I feel like I'm missing something.
Oh, I don't know.
Even with careful monitoring, there would be a chance of escape.
As they say, even in a tiger's den, if you keep your cool, you can escape.
Okay, I'll be fine. I will use this to catch up on my sleep. I need energy to escape later.
I closed my eyes with a positive outlook, but sleep did not come. In the darkness, I listened alone, praying to stay alive. This deep darkness looked like Edmund's hair, which made me feel a little reassured.
***
“Aren’t there other places in the palace?!”
“Sorry, Your Highness.”
Felix leaned down, and Edmund squeezed his hand tightly.
Dante's tea cup was shattered, and a month's worth of reports were soaked.
The employees looked at each other warily and lowered their heads. Water dripped from Edmund's gloves, and Dante quickly pulled out a handkerchief.
The atmosphere in the office became tense. Those who came happily after leaving early yesterday did not dare to enter.
“Yesterday, Olivia said she was going to Umpha?”
"Yes, to pick the flowers. We should have sent someone with them, my mistake," Dante answered, taking Edmund's hand.
Umfa is under construction, and there are few residents there. As Olivia said, the flower shop is at the entrance to Umfa, so we ignored it.
Edmund bit his lip until it bled.
“Where is that store?”
“I will lead the way.”
Dante quickly got up.
“Just a moment.”
Everyone was astonished as Ecla raised her hand.
“I will go with you.”
"You?"
Ekla stepped forward and nodded.
“In Umfa, the percentage of foreigners is higher. They will be more open with me than the citizens of the Empire.”
What she said makes sense. The flower shop owner is also a foreigner. To know when he saw Olivia, or if he saw her, we need to open their hearts, not force them.
“Okay, come on.”
Edmund gripped the hilt of his sword tightly.
“She said she was busy after her promotion, so I thought she didn't find time to communicate. But Olivia never went away without telling us. She was always very mature, never caused trouble, so I'm very worried...”
Rowan, the priest, clung to Edmund's hand as he cried.
“Your Highness, please help Olivia return safely. We will do our best to search for her.”
Edmund did not feel upset, even though Rowan soiled his gloves with his tears
All his focus was on Olivia's disappearance.
According to Rowan, Olivia was very focused from a young age, indulging herself in what she loved without noticing the time. Edmund wished she was absorbed in a new idea.
Edmund left the palace running without realizing it.