12.
“Is it something like post-traumatic stress from living on the battlefield?”
Everett bit his lower lip, an involuntary twitch that suggested he realized he’d let something slip.
“Must have lived through many nights of tossing and turning, then?”
I asked, feigning a mischievous, teasing tone. There was no point in beating around the bush; it would only make things more awkward. Besides, people with those kinds of eyes were rarely the villains.
Fortunately, Everett’s expression softened.
“I can’t deny it.”
The atmosphere, which had been growing suffocatingly heavy, lightened.
“Or perhaps, you’re an escaped convict—caught after a horrific crime, only to have your ‘skills’ recognized by the Emperor and be scouted?”
To pivot, I rattled off a string of absurd, exaggerated guesses.
“Maybe your hobby is stealing candy from children just to throw it in the gutter?”
The further I went, the more childish the accusations became.
“You have quite an imagination, don’t you?”
Entranced by the nonsense, Everett listened to me like a king captivated by a storyteller.
“I suppose it’s fortunate I’m not that bad of a guy.”
When we reached the alley near my house, he was smiling, his face noticeably more relaxed. *Good job, me.* Feeling a small flicker of pride, I turned to bid him farewell.
“We’re almost there.”
“Here?”
Perhaps because there were no buildings that resembled residences in sight, Everett looked around, bewildered.
“Well, this isn’t the exact spot. I can’t exactly let a strange man know a lady’s precise whereabouts.” *Though I suspect my personal information has already been dug up once.*
“I don’t sense anyone around, but I hope your home isn’t too far.”
Everett voiced a brief, polite worry. I simply smiled and turned away. I could feel his gaze on my back, but only for a heartbeat; soon, I heard the crunch of his boots as he walked away.
“Excuse me.”
I couldn’t suppress the impulse. I turned back. Everett paused.
“It seems the effect of the medicine hasn’t worn off, so I can’t quiet my curiosity.”
He turned to face me. We stood with ten steps of silence between us.
“Everett, you’re a knight, aren’t you?”
It was phrased as a question, but it was a certainty. If someone with that kind of physique were a mere civil official, it would be a tragic waste for the Empire.
“You must have served alongside the Emperor during the war.”
Everett, who had been standing as still as a statue under the moonlight, flinched. I hurried to add the basis for my theory. I didn’t want to cause a misunderstanding.
“You wouldn’t claim to be a desk-bound official after twisting my wrist with that kind of speed, would you?”
The more I spoke, the more I felt a sense of injustice. “Oh, right. I didn’t even stop by the temple.” It was just a point I wanted to make, but it wasn’t important; I brushed it aside. “Anyway, if the reason you can’t sleep is because of what you saw on the battlefield…”
I took a breath.
“Thanks to your sacrifice, I was able to sleep soundly. Thank you.”
I bowed politely, showing as much respect as I could muster. I was sincere. The current Emperor, despite his brutal purging of political enemies upon his ascension, was beloved by the people.
*I was young, so I don’t remember it well.* To be precise, I was a child and didn’t understand the maneuverings of adults. But it must have been because the reign of the former Emperor was that wretched. The former Emperor had only taken the throne because his older brother, the Crown Prince, had suddenly fallen ill and renounced his claim. He had lived as a hedonist, safely removed from the burden of the crown, because his father and the former Crown Prince were so capable.
If only he had bothered to become a proper ruler after inheriting the throne. But word was, he was dangerously incompetent. The Empire was the strongest superpower on the continent, but it took no time at all for a single incompetent ruler to rot its foundations. As national power waned, neighboring kingdoms began to pick at the borders.
The former Emperor, blinded by sycophants and luxury, ignored the warnings, arrogant in his belief that the Empire would naturally prevail. That was why the current Emperor had purged the old guard and fought a grueling war immediately upon his coronation. Without that iron resolution, the Empire would have been torn to shreds long ago.
If Everett Rohas was a close aide to the Emperor, he had spent years in that hell.
*And for every night he spent in the torment of sleeplessness, the people of the Empire gained a night of safety.*
“You were an unexpected flatterer.”
Everett muttered, sounding like he was pouting. He looked both bashful and strangely proud.
“I wasn’t buttering you up.”
I called out to his retreating back. *Is he embarrassed?* I gave a light shrug and headed home.
*･☪D✶༄ ‧₊˚a⋰˚☆m✶༄ ‧₊˚
The next day, as soon as I arrived at work, a knight beckoned me.
“Ms. Carolina Diaz. Come this way.”
“Yes.”
As I approached, he leaned in, his voice a mere whisper.
“Orders have arrived to confirm the safety of Constance, who is being held in the Imperial Palace detention center.”
My expression brightened, but the knight signaled for me to keep quiet.
“It is a direct order to move in secret. No explanation needed, as you are already aware of the situation.”
He studied me, verifying that the intel had been relayed correctly.
“I understand.”
I kept my voice low. *They said they couldn’t release her until the investigation of the House Camelot estate was finished.* It felt like an unfair trade, but this was a relief.
The knight added, “I have told them that we are seeking your cooperation for a cross-examination of statements. Act accordingly.”
“Yes, absolutely!”
I pulled on a mask of professional tension.
“Then let’s go, Ms. Carolina Diaz.”
The knight raised his voice just enough for the room to hear. I cast my eyes to the ground, feigning despondency, and followed him. Behind me, the whispers began. It was the trio of chatterboxes—the ones who spent their days licking the boots of anyone associated with Andrew. When Andrew had been dragged away, they had acted like mourners, but the moment rumors of his release surfaced, their vigor had returned.
“Is it Carolina Diaz’s turn?”
“Must be. Donovan and Andrew are out, but Constance is still in. Why else would they call her?”
“I guess Constance finally snitched on her accomplice.”
“Well, it was too big a job for her to do alone.”
Their voices were sharp, designed to reach me. They seemed to view my silence as an admission of guilt. *Or perhaps they just find it bitter that misfortune has struck me, since they’ve always disliked me.*
They were five years my senior at the Academy, but after failing their exams repeatedly, they’d arrived at the ministry at the same time I did. My early graduation was a thorn in their side. *Is that my fault? Maybe if your brains weren’t so stagnant.*
If not for the need to maintain secrecy regarding the investigation of House Camelot, I would have torn them apart. *Just wait, Kailus, Everett. I’ll make them pay for my ruined reputation later.*
I walked on, ignoring them. Once a rumor takes root, it’s like a weed; it’s nearly impossible to prune. If I left this alone, it would solidify into a narrative that Connie and I were the real culprits who had dodged justice.
*Think about the important things. Getting Connie out safely comes first.*
I mentally recorded their names and grievances in red ink. But the trio lacked any semblance of common sense. Emboldened by my silence, they took it a step too far.
“Maybe someone higher up than Carolina Diaz is involved?”
“Could be. They say House Renkels and House Camelot don’t get along.”
Finally, they dared to mention my mother’s family. As the name House Renkels echoed, the other employees, who had been watching the scene, scattered like cockroaches under a sudden light.