LIGHTNOVELSTORY Chapter 11
Chapter 11 Marriott’s eyes gleamed stupidly. She looked like she would do anything to be recognized by the Duke of Spiegel.The look on her face confirmed my suspicions.‘It’s just like the naughty cat Chocho, whose most important thing is his connection to the boss!’In the storybook, Mumu, the squirrel, uses this to set Chocho a trap. ‘Don’t you want to be recognized by Tiger? I’ll show you how to do it.’‘How? What can I do?’‘Mr. Tiger likes powerful beasts like himself, so let’s show him how strong you are!’But true power moves in the dark. The tiger’s hypocrisy was evident in the way he pretended to care for the animals, even while he was being mean on the inside. He couldn’t believe he was recounting his misdeeds in front of him.The tiger draws a line with Chocho for that. To prove that he didn’t do anything as bad as Chocho, and that he didn’t intend to. This is where I got the hint.Just like Mumu did to Chocho, I smiled softly and spit out the words I had thought in advance.“What do you think you’ll need to convince Duke Spiegel? Proof of everything you’ve been doing, Miss Marriott.”“Proof?”“Yeah, just present it, and Duke Spiegel will believe you, Miss Marriott.”Marriott’s evidence would supersede Mumu’s words at the feast. If it proved true, the Empress would draw the line at Marriott.“But until now, I have worked hard not to leave any evidence, so I don’t know what to give….”Marriott muttered with a bewildered look on her face, as expected. She wouldn’t be stupid enough to leave evidence.“I can’t believe you did that. You’ve done something stupid. Then Her Majesty will have no way of knowing….”“How could there be no way?”“Hmm….”“I’m begging you! Anything, anything!”An impatient Marriott shouted. I pretended to be worried and spit out the words I had been thinking about.“If that’s the case… hmm, are you going to do this?”“Wh-what is it?”I paused, then finally said, as if I had no choice.“This is the only way left… Miss Marriott, have you been stealing snacks and fabrics from the Crown Prince’s Palace?”“Yeah, but there wouldn’t be much evidence for that…”“Maybe so far, but from now on, it’s going to be different.”“Huh?”“From now on, you’re going to create evidence on purpose!”“You want to make evidence on purpose?”“Yes, you are making a list of everything you stole, and how you’ve used them to benefit the Empress.”I shuddered even as I spoke. How many things had Marriott stolen from Caesar over the years?I would like to stop such evil deeds immediately, but for the greater good, I had to put up with it for now.It’s just snacks and fabrics for now, but Marriott’s evil will only get worse. Sadly, it would have been better to completely dispose of Marriott before that.‘I have to secretly bring some snacks for Caesar…’“Do you think that would be enough to get the Duke to accept me?”“It would be a little awkward, of course, since it’s proof after the point at which I said I’d introduce you, and it’s purely a matter of luck whether the Duke believes you or not.”I shook my head sadly, so as not to give Marriott time to doubt.“Even now! I’ll do it right now! Is that okay?”“What… It’s not impossible, if I say so myself.”“Please! Really, after all I’ve done so far, Is it because of me that the Crown Prince couldn’t do anything alone?”I nodded, barely containing my disgust.“Yes, Her Majesty is not unaware of your loyalty, Miss Marriott, and I’ll make sure to tell her.”“Really?”“Yes, but please be ready as soon as possible. Her Majesty doesn’t like to be kept waiting.”“Of course, thank you so much!” ***** With light steps, I made my way to the marketplace near the imperial palace. It was for Floria.‘I have to buy some snacks from the market and give them to her.’Floria could only eat healthy snacks strictly controlled by the Imperial Palace.But what’s good for the body is not good for the mouth. After accidentally eating a snack from the market, Floria had been begging me to buy her one every day ever since.‘I usually refuse, but today is a good day.’I read the fairy tale book thanks to Floria, and it gave me a hint to deal with the Marriott!When I thought of Marriott, who held my hand and said thanks again and again, I could almost snort.‘Stupid.’After talking to Marriott, whatever little sympathy I had left was gone.She was truly vicious. She didn’t have an ounce of guilt for tormenting Caesar.‘Now the only thing left to do is for the fall of Marriott.’She will bring in her own hands the evidence that will destroy her. I just need to publicize it.“Let’s see. What does the princess like? chocolate? Or candy? Cookies? Oh, right now, shall I buy it for the Crown Prince as well?”I looked around the market entrance with a light step. As I slowly passed the shops, a man bumped me on the shoulder.“Ouch!”He brushed past me without apology and quickly ducked into an alley. He was dressed in a black robe that covered his entire body.‘What is that dress?’I was more interested in the man’s attire than the pain.As I stared at the alleyway he was heading down, a single thought popped into my head.‘The Black Market!’The black market was somewhere I knew I had to go at some point to get information about a guide that might exist somewhere. The problem was, I didn’t know where the black market was.‘If that’s where a suspicious person is headed, maybe…’My intuition told me to follow him.After a quick glance around, I cautiously made my way to the alley the man had entered. The alley was dark in contrast to the marketplace.‘I wonder if there was such a place.’I stopped at the corner and peered out of the corner of my eye. I saw a piece of paper lying at the edge of the alley.I wondered what it was. Maybe it was something important, like instructions on how to enter the black market.I swallowed dry saliva and ran back to grab a piece of paper. Scribbled letters appeared. [24 hours free consultation! Absolute secrecy guaranteed! Evidence-collecting expert!] “Huh?”When I turned it back, a strange pattern was drawn this time, and underneath it…It was written ‘Katana Detective Agency’.“Are you excited?”The words on the front began to make sense. Free consultation, confidentiality guaranteed…“What, it’s just a fun place in the back alley.”I stopped while trying to throw away the paper with a dry face. No matter how you look at it, the pattern on the back was familiar.Hm, I think I saw it somewhere.’Katana Detective Agency, Katana Detective Agency… As I pondered the familiar name for some reason, the story flashed through my mind at that moment.‘No way… That katana?’But the Katana I knew wasn’t the kind of person to hang out in back alleys like this.‘No, but Katana was a shadowy figure, and no one knows what his past was like.’Above all, this pattern. Could there be any more unique patterns like this?I put the paper in my arms.‘I have to go down to see it.’My heart was pounding. the katana in this business card was who I thought it was, then he would be a stronger ally than anyone else. **** “It’s really delicious!”With a muffled voice from the chocolate in her mouth, Floria said, stomping her feet.“Eat slowly, princess.”“Wow!”I thoroughly wiped Floria’s hands covered in chocolate. her little fingers twitched as if she couldn’t wait to eat more.I smiled at the sight.“Evelyn, you look happy.”“Yes.”Although I haven’t found a guide yet, I’ve solved one problem.“My worry have been resolved.”“I see…”Floria dropped the chocolate chip cookie she was holding and hardened.“Huh? Why? Does it taste weird?”“No, ugh…”Gulping, Floria spoke again after swallowing the sweets in her mouth.“It’s not that, it’s just that I suddenly remembered my homework…”“Homework?”Floria said that she was learning several subjects from her tutor, she’d been progressing so well that she had homework.She complained that the homework was not easy, and she had to do it once a day. It seems that homework came to mind again when I said that it was something I’ve been worried about.“What did you say the homework was for imperial studies?”“The lifestyle of high-ranking nobles… You have to experience it and write about it.”Floria let out a deep sigh as if she didn’t want to think about it.“I lost my appetite…”In the end, she even pushed the plate full of snacks. She so cute.‘It’s the lifestyle of high-ranking aristocrats…’“Then how about going to the banquet?”“Banquet?”“Yes, nobles often hold banquets. Moreover, high-ranking aristocrats do. If it’s such a banquet, it wouldn’t be difficult for the Princess to attend.”Floria made a worried face.“But wouldn’t it be bothersome?”“All you have to do is attend and eat some of the delicious food?”“Hmm….”“Why don’t you ask the Empress ? If we’ll go, otherwise I’ll think of somewhere else!”Floria nodded, surprised at how proactive I was.“Well, if it’s difficult, Mother won’t allow it.”“Yes.”“Okay, then I’ll ask her next time!”I smiled as I watched her pick up the cookie again.High nobles, and banquets.Most likely, the banquet Floria would be going to would be Duke Spiegel’s.