# 31
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The Emperor thought of Catherine Elmore who had just left his office.
On his desk was a document – another gift she had brought him, containing the accusations she had reported.
With it was a note stating that she had appointed Etheus Clyde as an investigator.
Hehehe-
The Emperor's lips curled into an evil smile.
Then he burst into a loud laugh, raising his voice in wild mirth.
The servant who was doing his nails shivered and hunched his shoulders, but it was not strange enough to surprise him, so he continued his work.
“How amazing.”
Catherine Elmore.
The Thorny Rose of Elmore, as they called it, but her handwriting in the note was rather gentle.
In it she wrote the reason for appointing Etheus Clyde as inquisitor.
「By having someone accused of high treason investigate the case himf, he will feel the weight of the charges and will be terrified.
So that in the future he would not even dare to dream of betrayal. 」
The last time, she had publicly humiliated him by placing poor shelter flyers in his cart.
Now it seemed that she intended to warn him and threaten him a step further.
“You have truly raised your daughter excellently, Duke Elmore.”
Like a rose covered with thorns - beautiful but oozing poison - that face.
The girl who resembled Duke Elmore's sharp features would undoubtedly become a great asset to the empire in the future.
“There is nothing more to say, give your full support to Katherine Elmore.”
"present."
The Emperor's eyes sparkled with confidence towards Lady Ellemuir.
Unlike the so-called loyal followers who pretended to torture Etheus for appearances before the council, Catherine Elmore was a real follower.
The thought of Ethios, who would be subjected to Princess Elmore's poisonous pressure and shudder internally as he investigated traitors and meted out horrific punishments upon them, made him feel overjoyed.
* * *
“All I want, for the security of the empire, is for those who threaten its stability to realize their mistake and wake up to this issue.”
His lips moved as he spoke in a cold voice.
“Empire security, huh.”
His deep eyes swayed.
“...Certainly, no one poses as much of a threat as I do.”
Then, in a harsher voice than before, he asked me.
“Is this why you gave me this assignment?”
I replied with a noble smile and nodded once.
My real intention was to have Ethios investigate Vadelmon's cases, thinking that would make it easier for him to confess to the charges surrounding him.
“That's right, His Highness sees you as a potential threat, and he likes the idea of me 'teaching you a lesson'.”
“‘Teach me a lesson,’ huh.”
His piercing eyes sparkled like those of a monster, making my heart skip a beat, but I raised the corners of my lips.
Arrogantly, defiantly.
No noble from the Empire Pavilion dared to approach Ethios.
But I was already tangled up with him in trying to help him, and I intended to continue doing so, so he had better know the openly evil reason for my actions.
So that he would not give me a positive answer even if he was asked about me.
“That is what is expected of you, Mrs. Elmore.”
A sound like a cold exhale came from his lips.
'To be evil... This is what I'm used to.'
I held back the tears that wanted to fall as I left the government office.
Well, I couldn't offer any other explanation for Etheus than that.
“It is better to conduct a careful investigation. Imagine the fate of those greedy people who covet what is not theirs.”
My chest ached as I remembered Etheus's face turning cold at my words, but if he realized I was his ally, he would put us both in danger.
It was also a way to keep that smart guy from suspecting me.
'But that expression. …’
Perhaps it was due to the glare of the polarized lamp.
His turned face looked a little stiff.
That cold expression stirred something deep inside me.
Seeing him in that miserable, painful room made me feel as if my chest was being torn apart.
Then, from his dry lips, his hoarse voice came out.
“...I'll take that into consideration.”
'Ethios... Ethyos, Ethyos, Ethyos. …’
Hiding the tears flowing endlessly in my heart, I walked with heavy steps towards the waiting carriage.
Before I went up, I looked back wistfully at the government building.
'Somewhere in that windowless room... Etheus must be there.'
My clenched fist trembled again.
“Hirose.”
“Yes, ma'am.”
Hirose, who helped me into the carriage, looked at me with a bright smile.
“Did your conversation with His Highness the Prince go well?”
“Um, the indictment shouldn't be a problem, the problem is...”
I pressed my forehead like I had a headache.
“I may have to stop by a few more times, but Etheos’ office is cramped and stuffy.”
“Ah, then I will immediately ask the government office to move him to another room, I will say that the young lady finds it unbearably uncomfortable.”
I nodded with an annoyed expression.
“He doesn’t even have a secretary, so dealing with all this work alone may be detrimental to his health.”
His desk was full of documents – perhaps left undone by other employees.
Even dealing with the rebel army was enough to exhaust him.
If he had to handle government business on top of that, I was afraid he would collapse.
“I will also ask for a secretary. If you say that the lady is angry that the investigation she assigned to the prince is being delayed due to other duties, they will take it seriously.”
"good."
I shrugged and let Hirose walk me to the carriage.
She leaned back on the plush seat and let out a small exhale.
Yes … . You really did a lot today.
As Hirose watched me silently, he spoke in a low voice.
“Talis leaves are good for relieving fatigue and anxiety...but-”
He lowered his upper body slightly and looked at my feet.
“Nothing is better than a foot massage. Will you allow me to take care of your feet?”
My eyebrows twitched at his words, and I looked at him.
If I were truly his debt prisoner, I might have refused, but he was acting willingly out of affection, so this was probably not an act of sympathy.
“You know how to do that?”
"naturally."
He carefully lifted my feet from between the layers of my dress and began to slowly press the soles of my feet with his strong fingertips.
Soft, fresh, and comfortable.
As I felt the cart start to move, I slowly closed my eyes.
Assigning this mission to His Highness the Prince was just my way of torturing him to gain His Highness’s favor.
'What did I expect?'
I couldn't even laugh a hollow laugh.
The soot of the burning Kampot Palace, and the man who looked at me with that cold face.
His face overlapped with Catherine's cold expression from before.
His lips curled into a sneer.
It seemed like he was wrong for a moment.
Whether it was the villa in Priscilla's Frozen Lands, or this case she had entrusted to him – it was clear that both would benefit him.
After she turned her back on the nobles of the Imperial Pavilion, he wondered if she… . Maybe, just maybe, it has different intentions.
While his sharp eyes extended to arrange the papers on the table —
His gaze stopped at the document bearing Catherine's signature, and his hand froze.
With a frowning brow, he slowly picked up the paper again and looked at it.
His crimson lips opened slightly.
“This...”
Catherine Elmore.
Recognize her signature instantly.
This handwriting is unmistakable.
Etheus took out several notes he had kept and arranged them next to Catherine's signature.
His pupils twitched.
“Ha.”
From between his parted lips came a shuddering breath.