# 9
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After a long silence, I opened my mouth.
“...I apologize, Your Highness...but the secret documents are of the highest order...”
She spoke to him in the softest voice possible.
“It looks like it was completely burned out.”
When those present heard my words, their whispers became louder.
The Emperor took his eyebrows between his fingers and asked me.
“What do you mean by that?”
I quietly lowered my gaze and continued speaking.
“Shortly after the funeral, a small fire broke out in the library. Due to the chaos, I was unable to check my father’s library during this period, but I discovered that the cabinet of important documents had been completely reduced to ashes, as were the documents inside.”
“...what a pity...”
As I saw the emperor's sullen face, I smiled inwardly.
'The truth is that I was the one who burned it.'
The first-class secret document held by the Duke of Elmore - it was nothing more than a list of the names of the revolutionary forces of Ethios.
A document that should not exist, detailing the names of hundreds of key figures and leaders.
If this document reached the Emperor's hands, the 「Revolution Star」 would be transformed into the 「Purification Star」.
Even in the original story, this document was mentioned.
Catherine in the original story was not interested in her father's secret documents, so she replied to the Emperor that she would investigate the matter and then postponed handing them over out of laziness.
During that time, Ethios several times sent revolutionaries disguised as thieves to the Elmore residence to retrieve the document, but they lost their comrades to the guards.
In the end they were able to recover the document, but the losses were so heavy that they affected the revolution.
He had no choice but to despair.
So far, because of the power of Parliament, the Emperor has been unable to touch Etheus's life, but if such evidence were to emerge, it would be the end of the revolution and his own.
So as soon as I found the document, I burned it immediately.
Not only that, she burned all the papers that might negatively affect Etheos.
I would not allow dear Etheus to suffer again.
It is a pity for the late Duke of Elmore, and of course for the Emperor before me.
“At that time, we asked the fire department to put out the fire, but I was so distracted that I did not thank the fire chief.”
My point was that there were witnesses to this incident.
The Emperor stared at me for a long time, frowning.
“I should have been more focused and taken care of it properly, but I was overwhelmed with grief and neglected it. Please forgive me, Your Highness.”
I heard the whispers of those present.
The Emperor's piercing gaze continued like a snake, but he would not be able to rebuke me forcefully.
I am the daughter of one of his loyal servants, who became an orphan after losing her parents, and more importantly, today is the fifteenth anniversary of his coronation.
“It's sad, but not as sad as I am to lose the Duke of Elmore. It's okay. Keep your head up, Princess Elmore.”
As I expected, the Emperor tried to appear tolerant despite his dissatisfied expression.
When our eyes met, I saw his eyes full of hatred looking at me.
He was examining me carefully, as if trying to detect anything suspicious.
'Check me all you want, I've already burned it!'
There is no need to stress, there is nothing to be found even with a search.
After staring at me for a few more seconds, the Emperor frowned dissatisfied with this situation, coughed “hmm” and turned around.
Soon people's eyes turned away from me.
As I watched his back, I smiled wryly inwardly, and when I turned around I encountered a look of blue eyes.
'Ethios!'
So he heard everything.
This is good.
Now you no longer have to worry about that annoying document.
His deep blue eyes in his cold features continued to look at me even after everyone moved away.
Maybe that was why he tried to stop me at the exit.
Then he slowly looked away from me and turned around.
I saw the soldiers following him as he left through the door.
* * *
'Things must be in place by now.'
I recalled what I had asked Hieros to do, and turned my gaze from where Etheus had left.
I was thinking of staying a little while and then leaving.
Then the girl who had been staring at me a while ago came up to me and put her hands on her waist.
Girls follow her as maids.
They all look like uess little puppies to me.
“All those precious documents of your uncle were burned. I don’t know how you manage the household, Catherine.”
This girl with blonde hair and green eyes is my cousin Lucia Ellimore, two years older than me.
The illegitimate daughter of my uncle, Count Badlamun Elmore, and his only recognized child.
She raised her eyebrows and looked at me with fake sympathy.
“That's why I told you, you should have listened to my father when he offered to manage all my uncle's properties.”
During the funeral, my uncle Paddlemon Elmore tried to persuade me to manage the late Duke's estate under a ridiculous pretext, but I immediately refused.
I know Badlmon's greed well, I'd better entrust the fish to a cat.
“You seem to have poor judgment these days and even your relationship with your fiancé is not good, but it is not too late, Catherine.”
As Lucia spoke, the girls behind her nodded.
“Yes, it would be better if you followed Lady Elmore’s advice rather than being stubborn.”
They must be expecting crumbs of my fortune. The Duke's fortune is very large.
I smiled sarcastically, put my hands on my waist and looked up at her.
“Don't worry for me, Lucia. Despite the fire, fortunately there are many papers left.”
When Lucia heard my words, her eyebrows twitched.
“Leading papers?”
Even when the Duke of Elmore and his wife were alive, she courted me because I was the Princess of Elmore.
But after my parents died, she started acting rudely, as if the protection I had was gone.
When I hit my shoulder at the funeral, it wasn't just a passing slip.
She really resembles my uncle Badalmun in her wickedness.
“For example, several of my uncle Badalmun’s IOUs.”
When I distorted my lips, Lucia's features froze.
“My father lent your uncle a lot of money, did you know? Among the properties I inherited from my father, there are IOUs showing the money that must be recovered from the debtors.”
“Catherine!”
Lucia, who did not expect me to mention this, froze with a horrified face.
She heard the girls around her whisper in surprise.
Badlemont ran several businesses, including illegal ones, and borrowed from the Duke's family each time.
The debt documents accumulated as much as his greed and greed.
It may not be large compared to the Duke's family's wealth, but it is enough to be used as a weapon.
“I almost forgot, but you reminded me, I will send your father the debt payment documents soon.”
Lucia's clenched fist trembled.
“This... Katherine!”
“Ah, I remembered that among the remaining papers, there are also documents about your mother...”
“Catherine, wait, heck….there….”
When I made matters worse, Lucia's face turned so red that it almost exploded.
Lucia is the daughter of a pimp who ran an entertainment business for Paddlemon.
I smeared my lips and whispered threateningly to her.
“Don't play with me, Lucia.”
* * *
I stretched my body and walked down the dark back hallway.
It's halfway through the party, and now one or two people might leave without anyone noticing.
I was walking towards the back door to go home.
I didn't meet the Emperor's expectations, but since I attended his party, I don't have to worry about getting into trouble for the time being.
After the news of the broken engagement broke, my appearance at my first social event in such good shape would prevent any annoying rumours.
Plus, I saw Etheos briefly and asked to bring “that thing,” so today’s tasks are over. …
While I was trying to ignore the intermittent sound coming from between the bushes, and when I turned around a large pillar. …
My eyes came across a person standing there face to face.
That face that is more than an inch above me.
His black hair blowing in the night breeze.
In the dim moonlight, Etheus's features appear more distinct.
His blue eyes were filled with unknown emotions.
As he stared at me, he slowly approached me.
Then he put his hands on the pole behind my shoulders and looked at me.
Isn't that too close?