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Chapter 8
Without realizing it, my gaze drifted toward the drawer.
I noticed the lower-right drawer and made a subtle expression.
Keeping my lips tightly pressed together, I ran my fingers along the underside of the drawer and found a strangely attached panel. A thin handle protruded from the front.
A hidden drawer.
Squatting down on the floor, I carefully placed my hand on the handle.
The drawer opened with a slight scrape, revealing a suspicious envelope and a worn memo attached inside.
“Detailed Contents of the 3rd Private Contract for the Konrad Mine – For Review”
Suspicious. Extremely suspicious.
I checked the memo attached above it.
“Handler: L. Gerber.”
“Coordination of names with Fabian completed. Mine documents to be transferred within this month. Report after adjusting the accounting line.”
…Fabian.
I pressed a hand to my forehead.
It was obvious.
Fabian was the one managing Ludwig’s financial lines. This was definitive proof that Jonas had been colluding with the Crown Prince’s faction all along.
At that moment, another system window appeared.
[Quest Clue Acquired!]
How was I supposed to tell the Duke about this?
If Jonas was Ludwig’s spy, then how many outsiders had already infiltrated beneath him?
As a financial aide, influencing personnel management would have been child’s play. Pulling strings to place acquaintances into positions was something everyone did, and most people turned a blind eye to it to some extent.
Besides, in previous timelines, he had even succeeded in climbing all the way up to chief administrator of the ducal household.
Only then did I finally realize why the Duke of Rosenthal had failed in every timeline to place the Second Prince on the throne.
Ludwig had already finished all the behind-the-scenes maneuvering before the Duke and the Second Prince had even joined hands.
And perhaps… it was because of me.
Could it be that the reason Ludwig insisted on becoming engaged to me was because of this?
My expression hardened.
Even after repeating 99 timelines, this was a truth I had never once managed to approach.
“Evelyn, you…”
This was the price of abandoning the burning house and chasing only after Ludwig. I had probably been pouring oil onto the flames.
A truth I never would have discovered if the 100th regression hadn’t granted me freedom.
Step. Step.
I reflexively shrank back. Faint footsteps echoed from the end of the hallway.
Damn it, someone’s coming…?
I shoved the documents and memo into my clothes, then hid beneath the desk. I didn’t forget to carefully close the hidden drawer as well.
As the footsteps drew nearer, hushed voices followed.
“…You’re certain the documents were organized properly on your end?”
…Jonas?
“Yes, Assistant Director. There’s nothing strange with the list. However, one of the newly added people came from the place that caused problems last time…”
An unfamiliar voice. Probably someone from the finance department.
“I was informed the problem had already been resolved. If approval came through from that side, there’s no need for further objections.”
“…Understood.”
Clank. Creak.
The sound of a lock disengaging echoed as the door opened.
Ugh, they’re coming in.
Holding my breath beneath the desk, I waited silently.
Jonas stood still for a while. Strangely silent.
“…There wasn’t any particular reaction from the Grand Duke’s side?”
Suddenly, her low whisper rang out.
Who was she talking to? Hadn’t she entered alone?
“…I see. Then let’s proceed. However, I’ll personally review next week’s list.”
…A communication stone.
The fact that she possessed an item that even ordinary nobles couldn’t easily obtain unless they belonged to the imperial family only deepened my certainty.
I held my breath.
“The Konrad Mine will soon be processed on paper. The price is only one-third of its original value. The Duke’s side still hasn’t grown suspicious.”
There wasn’t much time left.
I had to act before the Duke sold off the Konrad Mine because of Jonas’s scheme.
“…Yes, the Duke intends to contact the Second Prince. There shouldn’t be any major issues, though as you know, the Second Prince has an unpredictable personality…”
“…”
“…Understood. I’ll feed false information to the Duke’s side. That should delay the alliance with the Second Prince for some time.”
With a light thunk, a drawer closed.
The quiet footsteps gradually faded away. After listening carefully for a moment, I slowly exhaled.
‘…Did they leave?’
Once the office fell silent, I cautiously rose to my feet. It seemed Jonas had gone somewhere else again.
After checking once more that the documents were still safely hidden on me, I quietly slipped out of Jonas’s office.
* * *
“So I really did hit the jackpot?”
Back in my room, I reviewed the documents I’d brought and the corners of my lips curled upward.
For something I found in such a hurry, it was an enormous catch.
The papers I’d taken weren’t forged documents, but the real thing. In other words, they were actual mine sale contracts drafted based on an A+ grade valuation.
I carefully flipped through each page.
Just as I remembered.
“Wait… Was public reporting only possible once Freedom Level reached Lv. 3?”
Then all I had to do was show this to the Duke!
How could it be this easy?!
Clutching the precious documents to my chest, I happily fell asleep.
The next day—
“My Lady…! Thank you so much! I’ve been searching for this recipe for years…!”
“You paid my younger sibling’s tuition…! Sob, how did you even know…?!”
I stared blankly, mouth hanging open.
[Quest “Sir Maren’s Wish” conditions unmet. Reward reduced by 50%.]
[Quest “Chef Pern’s Desired Recipe” conditions unmet. Reward reduced by 50%.]
….
[ stat decreased and adjusted to Lv. 2.]
Are you kidding me?
How the hell did they find out?
Grinding my teeth in frustration, I suddenly ripped the ring from my finger.
“Aaagh! Are you insane?!”
I hurled the ring into the corner of the room.
I’d been wearing it so naturally that I forgot—it was Evelyn’s favorite ring. One that everyone in the estate recognized!
And if anyone asked why everyone knew it, it was because Evelyn had once lost it and caused an absolute catastrophe searching for it.
In the end, the ring had been found beneath Evelyn’s bed, a story that had become legendary throughout the mansion.
“Ah…!”
I frantically searched my entire body.
Damn it, I have to get rid of everything that screams “Evelyn”! Anything at all!
Only after stripping off every accessory from head to toe did I finally calm down.
As I sat there breathing heavily, the system notification appeared a moment later.
Ding!
[10 Good Deeds Accumulated Reward! You have acquired the special title <Righteous Shadow Walker (Growth Type)>.]
[As a title reward, all equipment worn while disguised will automatically receive a “Perception Reduction” effect.]
[However, effect is removed upon full facial exposure.]
“…What’s the point of giving me this now?!”
Everyone already figured it out!
It was unfair, but what was done was done. I supposed I should be grateful I obtained it now at least…
In any case, public reporting was no longer an option. The only thing left was anonymous reporting. But spreading vague rumors that Jonas was a spy would obviously backfire.
“…By now, he’s probably realized the documents are gone.”
My eyes sparkled as I picked up the papers again.
Directly taking action was impossible, but planting seeds of suspicion within the ducal household would be incredibly easy.
* * *
If Jonas Kramer, financial aide of the Rosenthal Ducal House, had one source of pride, it was that he had clawed his way up from the very bottom to reach this position.
“Assistant Director! Looking at the income and expenditure reports, this level of budget is necessary!”
“I said no, didn’t I?!”
“But…!”
Jonas firmly shoved aside the documents his subordinate offered him.
It was a clear declaration that he had no intention of approving them.
The employee’s lips twitched several times before he finally retreated in disappointment.
Because everyone knew Jonas wasn’t someone who could be persuaded.
Left alone in the room, Jonas hummed cheerfully while reviewing documents. After stamping several more, he suddenly reached downward, recalling something.
There lay the hidden drawer he had concealed.
He fumbled for the handle and pulled it open.
If he reached inside, his fingers should touch paper—
“…Huh?”
Paper should be in his hand—
“…Huh?”
In that instant, his heart dropped. His mind went blank and cold sweat trickled down his face.
Tap. Tap.
He frantically groped around inside, but there was nothing.
The drawer was completely empty.
“W-Where is it?”
Jonas’s face turned pale. His heart pounded violently like he was riding a roller coaster, and his vision darkened.
It had happened only once.
He had always erased evidence flawlessly before, but hearing that he’d receive part of the mine sale funds as a reward once the Konrad Mine deal was complete had made him too excited.
That was all it was.
Just one day. He had only planned to savor the feeling a little longer before disposing of it immediately afterward.
Gnawing at his fingernails, Jonas forced himself to think.
Who? Who the hell took it? But how did they know? Is there someone who knows I’m a spy?
“Damn it…”
Ten whole years. Ten years!
Under the Crown Prince’s orders, he had started from the absolute bottom of the Rosenthal Ducal House. How much effort had it taken to climb this high?!
He had deceived even himself into believing he was truly one of the Duke’s loyal retainers, and now the moment for all that effort to bear fruit had finally come…!
No… absolutely not. Do you know how hard I worked to get here?
He had to find them.
Whoever the culprit was…
