However, the contents of the letter revealed something I had never even considered.

‘That I poisoned the Empress’s tea through a maid serving her?’

When the master is harmed, it is perhaps natural to investigate those who served that master first.
The letter stated that as a result of questioning the maids and servants, one maid couldn’t endure the torture and confessed. Moreover, the maid pointed me out as the culprit. So, to dispel suspicions, it was written that I should sincerely cooperate with the investigation.

‘What is this…’

It was so absurd and unbelievable that words wouldn’t come out. Now, it felt like all the pieces of the puzzle were falling into place.

So, that’s why they invited me to the tea party. Everyone who sat closest and mentioned Asdel was also trying to scapegoat me as the culprit.

While I sat in the office, still in shock and pondering the contents of the letter, an urgent voice calling me from outside reached my ears.

“Miss! It’s Amy. May I come in?”

“Come in.”

Even before I finished speaking, Amy opened the door and hurried inside.

“Miss, something big has happened!”

I didn’t know what it was, but Amy’s face was covered in sweat as if she had rushed here in a great hurry.

“Something big? What happened?”

“Well, right now, the royal guards are saying they have to search the mansion, so they’re asking to open the door. What should we do?”

“The royal guards are here?”

“Yes. But the atmosphere seems unusual, so the steward said he would block them for now and asked to quickly inquire about Miss’s intentions.”

Sending a letter to request my direct cooperation with the investigation and simultaneously trying to search our house—something was definitely amiss.
This meant they were completely convinced I was the culprit.

‘What should I do?’

In the midst of confusion, I quickly turned my mind to find a solution.

Since they were royal knights, I had no power to stop them until the end.

However, that didn’t mean I could just let it happen.

They said they were going to search the mansion.

It was clear that they intended to secure evidence that I had tried to poison the empress.

‘Ah!’

In that moment, the memory of Asdel, whom Blake had brought to me last time, flashed into my mind.

I didn’t know how they found out, but it seemed they were looking for the crucial evidence, Asdel.

Fortunately, Asdel was not here right now.

I had left him with the Ravellon Duke as soon as I received him from Blake.

Since most of my life took place at the duke’s residence, I had kept him there. If not for that decision, I would have been in a difficult situation by now.

“Tell the steward to open the door.”

“What? The door?”

Amy asked me with a surprised look.

“Yes. Open the door and let the royal guards search the house. However, tell them to keep an eye on me so that I don’t do anything foolish.”

“Yes. I understand, miss.”

To convey my orders, Amy immediately left for the office.

Afterward, when the guards entered, the mansion became noisy.

I sat quietly in the office, attending to my work until the search was over.
Anyway, since they wouldn’t find what they wanted no matter how much they searched this house, there was no particular unease. It was almost the end of the work when suddenly familiar and unfamiliar voices started coming from outside the door. “Move aside!” Then, with someone’s loud voice, the office door opened with a bang. As I lifted my head to look towards the door, I saw the steward and several servants, including Amy, who were trying to block the way with their arms. And beyond them, royal guards in armor were trying to push their way through into the office. “This is Lady Rosentia’s office! Even if you are royal guards, you cannot enter without the lady’s permission!” The steward shouted, trying to block them, but the guards were relentless. Eventually, the guards who pushed with force entered the office. “Even if it’s for an investigation, isn’t this a bit rude?” My gaze, which had been on the documents, turned back to the guards who had rushed into the office. As I stared at the guards with a cold look, the man at the forefront took one more step forward and spoke. “Excuse us, Lady Rosentia. I am William Loynes, the deputy commander of the royal guards who came here with the royal decree to investigate myself.” Introducing himself as the deputy commander, the man simultaneously signaled the guards with a quick glance.
“I apologize, Lady Rosentia. I am William Loynes, the deputy commander of the royal guards who came here with the royal decree to investigate myself.” The man who introduced himself as the deputy commander simultaneously signaled the guards with a quick glance. Upon receiving the signal, the guards moved swiftly and aligned themselves in a row in front of the door.