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Chapter 46
Truthfully, I wanted, just like Harnen, to elegantly flatten their noses.
But having lived in Korea and suddenly being reincarnated as a commoner here, there was no way I could have known how to do that.
The barrage of endless questions made me instinctively shrink back.
I listened to their questions, feeling thoroughly intimidated, and after their relentless prodding, I finally spoke.
“I-I don’t know. Honestly, I couldn’t even understand what you were asking.”
“Oh my…! This was such an easy question… I’m shocked that someone who graduated as the youngest from Atlanta Academy can’t understand it.”
Finally, the group’s faces twisted into the smirk I had been wanting to see.
That smirk felt as if they were mocking me, silently saying, “What have you even done until now?” A surge of indignation rose within me.
“B-But my duty is that of a civil servant. I don’t know anything about your field, yet conversely, you don’t know anything about mine either.”
I boldly lifted my chin and said it, causing the group to stare at me in confusion.
“……What?”
“I also have a few questions for you.”
I took a deep breath and unleashed my questions one after another.
“Do you know what SWOT analysis is? Are you familiar with cause-and-effect analysis? Can you solve NCS exam questions? Can you calculate the concentration of a salt solution?”
These questions wouldn’t work here, but since I had spent three whole years in my previous life preparing for employment, this was my field.
Because of my counterattack, the chairman’s atmosphere turned sharply cold.
If the emperor hadn’t appeared at just the right moment, the situation might have escalated to an extreme.
“How… interesting a dialogue.”
The emperor, stepping toward us without any prior notice, gave a slight smile as he glanced over the group surrounding me.
His pale pink eyes rested on Yeongsik, who was at the forefront.
In a slow, deliberate voice, the emperor spoke.
“You… are the third son of the Count of Geilant in the northwest, correct?”
“Y-Yes, Your Majesty.”
“From what I’ve observed, the questions you asked my subjects were all lessons taught to become a proper hostess. You were taking groom lessons to become an excellent hostess. However…”
His seemingly kind yet indifferent voice cut sharply through the air.
“Unlike you, who must elevate your value through such cultural knowledge to be recognized, my subjects already possess inherent value. Therefore, such trivial knowledge is unnecessary for them.”
No noble present misunderstood the meaning of the emperor’s words.
Blushing with shame, Yeongsik never dared set foot in the capital again.
With one example set, the nobles completely stopped mocking me openly in official gatherings.
Thanks to the emperor, the crisis passed smoothly—and to my advantage.
That was my first real encounter with the emperor.
‘Even though such incidents no longer happen, I still remember the pressure and anxiety I felt back then.’
Especially when receiving the piercing gazes of nobles in a banquet hall like now.
‘Ah… I want to go home…’
At home, it’s warm and happy, and there’s even cute Asu!
Why!
Why can’t I go home!
Before I could even sigh inwardly, the nobles, having caught onto the game, began approaching.
Watching them with wide-open eyes, I thought of Asu, who must be at the mansion right now.
Asu… I particularly want to see you today…
“…Hmm?”
Akes tilted his head while receiving a report.
Violetti, who was standing beside him, looked puzzled.
“Is something wrong, Your Majesty?”
“I thought I heard some noise from somewhere.”
“I didn’t hear anything, Your Majesty.”
“……I see.”
Akes answered slowly, leaning back in a chair prepared for his child-sized form, which fit him perfectly.
“So, all the spies sent to the Baharman Duke’s mansion were killed.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
“And since then, the mansion has not hired any new servants.”
“Exactly.”
Akes narrowed his eyes and tapped the armrest lightly.
Sudden deaths of spies.
The Duke’s refusal to hire new servants afterward.
These circumstances pointed to only one conclusion:
The Baharman Duke had discovered all the spies.
“……Suddenly, he identified all the spies in one day, huh.”
Muttering slowly, Akes asked,
“Did you check for traitors?”
“Yes, we did, but no one showed any suspicious signs.”
“Is there a possibility the information was leaked?”
“The Baharman family’s intelligence-gathering capabilities are relatively weak, so the possibility is extremely low.”
“Right… then how did the Baharman Duke obtain the information?”
There were more suspicious points.
First, how did he know where the shrunken body was and send assassins?
Second, how did he flawlessly block Einra’s affinity with nature?
Einra’s affinity with nature was exceptional—far beyond the ordinary, almost superhuman.
Being contracted with the Water Spirit King, gaining the favor of not just water but other spirits, and commanding them at will—it was practically unreal.
Yet Einra could do it.
And to think he blocked all of Einra’s nature affinity?
“……Dante.”
Akes’ crimson eyes deepened.
“Surely, he’s hiding something…”
Even if he wanted a source to uncover it, it was impossible because the mansion didn’t hire new staff.
Even attempting to infiltrate in disguise among existing servants couldn’t bypass the mansion’s enhanced security.
‘There’s no way to find out.’
The fingertips tapping on the armrest froze.
Akes normally did not eliminate enemies immediately.
Rather than cutting off their lifelines completely, he preferred keeping them as controllable variables.
This time, he had the same plan—until a sorcerer named Dante continuously introduced variables.
“……Things I can’t keep in my grasp,”
His red lips curved into a refined line.
“Are better off removed entirely.”
No more unexpected variables should arise.
Of course, he was still slightly curious to observe patterns, but he could not allow anyone who might harm Einra to live.
Having made the decision, Akes rose from the chair and looked at Violetti.
“In the study, there should be materials on the Baharman Duke.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
“Select evidence showing he plotted rebellion and organize it. Also, sort other offenses by severity.”
“Yes, Your Majesty,” Violetti replied calmly.
Akes, about to leave without lingering, paused.
“……Count.”
“Speak.”
“What time does the banquet end today?”
There was a subtle hesitation in the question.
Violetti, noticing the transparent question from her master, stared at him briefly.
A different emotion blended into his red eyes, distinct from before.
Her cheeks, usually as white as pearls, had a faint pink blush, making her appear exactly her age—matching her shrunken body.
“The exact ending time of the banquet is uncertain, but typically, a royal palace banquet goes past midnight.”
“……As expected.”
Akes muttered softly, turning his body.
His profile seemed somewhat sulky, but regarding matters related to the Spirit Practitioner, he often looked like an ordinary person, so it was not surprising.
“You may leave now.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
Violetti saluted and exited the Duke’s office.
There was a mountain of work waiting.
