‘W-Well, the situation isn’t bad.’

I desperately tried to think positively.

But when I thought about it, it really wasn’t such a bad situation.

Although I had just added an exciting new chapter to my embarrassing history, didn’t I achieve my goal of stopping Aspeiran?

Now it was time to rack my brains and find a way to stick close to Aspeiran’s side.

‘What should I do?’

To stay by Aspeiran’s side, becoming his subordinate would be best, but if I suddenly begged to be accepted as his subordinate, I’d probably look suspicious nine times out of ten.

Moreover, my current impression on Aspeiran is the worst. Then, the first thing I should do is…

‘I need to raise his opinion of me first.’

Fortunately, even if I didn’t know Aspeiran’s ideal type, I was certain about the type of subordinate he liked.

Our workaholic monarch liked people who could think for themselves, were capable, and never gave up in any situation.

I should target that aspect. Luckily, I had good material to work with.

I slightly lowered my head, relaxed my facial muscles, and then opened my mouth.

“I apologize for my unseemly behavior, Lord of Roakin. I was hasty because I had something urgent to tell you.”

I lowered my voice as much as possible and tried my best to imitate the archaic speech I had seen in books. It was to create a serious atmosphere.

My efforts seemed to have an effect, as Aspeiran raised his left eyebrow, showing interest.

“Something you must say, you say.”

Good. Now let’s subtly reveal the cards I have.

“My lord, perhaps you need evidence that human sacrifices were offered in Gransia?”

“Hmm.”

A faint interest appeared on Aspeiran’s face.

“Why do you think that?”

“I’ve heard that recently, His Majesty the Emperor of Gransia has been troubled by human sacrifices. Some insolent fools with swollen livers are still secretly offering human sacrifices, but it’s difficult to catch evidence.”

The tension was gradually easing. I spoke smoothly.

“And just now, I heard you call His Majesty the Emperor of Gransia’s name very familiarly. Thanks to that, I learned that you two have a very close relationship.”

In fact, I knew this from watching , but I couldn’t say that, so I made up an excuse.

“So I thought you might want to help His Majesty the Emperor of Gransia. You even tried to get testimony from me.”

Yulisis is the only precious family left for Aspeiran. Therefore, Yulisis’s concerns are essentially Aspeiran’s concerns as well.

That’s why Aspeiran would surely need evidence that human sacrifices were offered.

I asked once more to get a definitive answer.

“So, my lord, am I correct in assuming you need evidence that human sacrifices were offered?”

And as I was certain, Aspeiran slowly nodded.

“Let’s see it then. What this evidence is.”

I’ve got it!

I immediately fumbled around my waist to show the evidence. But… it wasn’t there. I couldn’t feel anything.

‘Gasp!’

Panicking, I looked down and saw that the clothes I was wearing were not the red dress, but a simple white one-piece. Someone must have changed my clothes.

I hurriedly asked Rumel.

“Um, were there any pouches with dried herbs attached to the clothes I was wearing?”

“…Ah! There were! Just a moment.”

Rumel immediately brought me six potpourris. Thankfully, they were all intact.

I held them out to Aspeiran.

“This is the evidence I mentioned.”

“This is?”

“Yes. Just before I was about to be sacrificed, I made several pouches exactly like this and distributed them.”

I grinned.

“Inside them are letters of accusation stating that ‘the youngest son of the Buren Viscount family offered human sacrifices.'”

“!”

That’s right. There was actually one more reason why I made the potpourris.

The accusation letters hidden in the potpourris. This was the bait I had prepared to definitively finish off Bigsir Buren and the villagers.

“The gate opened in Sosori Village of the Buren Viscount’s territory. I gave the potpourris to a girl named Mila, the village chief’s granddaughter. Being a greedy child, she must have sold them off by now. They should be widely spread around the area by now.”

“Hmm. Accusation letters, you say.”

Aspeiran, who had been listening with interest, stroked his chin with his finger.

“That alone doesn’t seem to be enough evidence.”

Oh, why are you pretending not to know?

“But it should be enough reason to search the Buren Viscount’s territory, right?”

According to what Bigsir Buren had blabbered, it seems that until now, Yulisis had suspicions but no physical evidence of sacrifices being offered, so he couldn’t even conduct a proper search.

If a lord locks the doors and acts defiant, one can’t force their way in without proper justification. Doing so would only unnecessarily provoke opposition from other nobles.

But with accusation letters? Using the excuse of listening to the voice of the people, the Emperor himself can step in.

After that, the clever As and Yuli would set up the game themselves. Like obtaining evidence from nearby residents through leading questions.

Aspeiran seemed to have similar thoughts, as the coldly rigid muscles of his face relaxed ever so slightly.

He spoke in a voice that was a bit softer than before.

“You managed to come up with such a scheme in a situation where you were about to die.”

“I hoped that no one else would experience such a terrible thing after me.”

To be precise, the desire to teach the incompetent and criminal Buren family a lesson was a bigger reason, but since this wasn’t a lie either, I answered confidently.

Then Aspeiran pulled up one corner of his mouth and smiled.

…What a scary face.

‘Is… is he sneering? Did I say something wrong?’

Cold sweat trickled down. But it was an unnecessary worry. Because…

“You, what’s your name?”

“!!”

After that, Aspeiran asked me for my name.

Oh my, asking for my name!

That Aspeiran, who wouldn’t even remember one’s existence let alone their name if he wasn’t interested, directly! In person!

Isn’t this a sign that he’s developed a positive curiosity about me, even if you look at it upside down!

‘Success!’

My strategy to appeal to Aspeiran’s ideal image of a subordinate had hit the mark perfectly!

I danced and cheered three times in my heart.

‘As expected of Jin Noran~ Our As’s number one otaku~. All hail Goddess Noran, who knows Aspeiran better than anyone!’

And with a beaming smile, I was about to give my name immediately, but…

…Come to think of it, I had no name to give. I couldn’t give the jarringly out of place name ‘Jin Noran’ here.

In the end, I brought up the story of the original owner of ‘this body’.

“Um, I don’t have a name.”

“You don’t have a name?”

“Yes. That’s because…”

And so, the tragic tale of the nameless woman unfolded. Amnesia, her treatment in the village, the process of being offered as a sacrifice.

When I finished the not-so-long story, Aspeiran nodded.

“I see. Understood. Then, Rumel.”

“Yes, my lord.”

“Take good care of this woman. If she needs anything, provide it. She is an important witness, so it’s only right to treat her accordingly.”

“I will obey your command.”

Rumel bowed his head respectfully. This time, Aspeiran looked at me.

“For now, stay here. If everything you’ve said proves to be true, I’ll reward you then.”

“Yes!”

Aspeiran, wearing that scary smile that looked like a sneer again, left the room.

I collapsed onto the floor with a deflating sound.

For the time being, I’ve managed to stick around here.

Four days later, in the Roakin Lord’s office.

“A letter from Lord Yulisis has arrived.”

A sharp-featured woman with ashen hair tinged with purple, braided to the side, held out a tray with a letter on it to Aspeiran.

Her name was Kiara Gordo. She was Aspeiran’s chief advisor.

As Aspeiran picked up the letter, Kiara added an explanation.

“Everything that witness said was correct. A total of 52 potpourris containing accusation letters were found in several territories around the Buren domain.”

“52?”

“That’s amazing!”

The man with dark reddish-brown hair wearing a knight’s uniform standing behind Aspeiran exclaimed in a booming voice.

He was Canis, the captain of the Roakin Lord’s Royal Guard.

“How did she manage to make all that by herself? And in a situation where she was about to die. Her will is truly remarkable.”

“Indeed.”

Aspeiran lightly agreed. At this unusual response, Kiara and Canis looked at each other with wide eyes.

A glance that contained the inner thought ‘It seems the lord views that witness more favorably than expected’ quickly passed between the two.

Whether his closest aides were surprised or not, Aspeiran opened the letter with an indifferent face.

Yulisis’s handwritten letter contained a brief greeting along with a summary of how he had used the accusation letters to bring down the Buren family.

After quickly skimming the first page, Aspeiran muttered.

“It seems the accusation letters were helpful.”

“Yes. Thanks to the accusation letters, we were able to start the search in time and found evidence that the gate had been opened and forcibly closed. We also managed to persuade residents from nearby villages, including Sosori Village where the sacrifice ritual took place, to testify.”

While listening to Kiara’s additional explanation, Aspeiran turned to the next page of the letter.

“The youngest son of the Buren family who led the sacrifice ritual and the family head who knew but turned a blind eye were beheaded and their heads displayed on the city gate, while other direct and collateral family members and retainers had their property confiscated and noble titles revoked…”

“And the residents of Sosori Village were sentenced to a maximum of death and a minimum of 10 years of hard labor, depending on their level of involvement and willingness to testify voluntarily.”

“He went in hard.”

Aspeiran pulled up one corner of his mouth as he folded the letter back to its original state and placed it on the tray.

Now that a strong example had been set of what happens when human sacrifices are offered, there would be no one else who would dare to upset Yulisis.

The case was closed.

“Lord Yulisis must have been very pleased.”

“Indeed.”

So pleased that he’s probably clinging tightly to that wife of his he’s crazy about, wagging his tail enthusiastically.

Recalling the embarrassing behavior Yulisis often showed in front of him, Aspeiran frowned.

Kiara asked Aspeiran, who was making such a face.

“Then, what should we do with that witness now? Will you send her back?”

At those words, Aspeiran’s hand paused.

Send her back, huh.

Aspeiran thought of the woman who would probably be lounging in the infirmary by now.

Small build, round head with short light brown hair dangling around her chin and jaw. White cheeks flushed with a rosy tint and innocent-looking round eyes.

And those bright brown eyes that sparkled gold every time she boldly raised her head, that nameless woman.

In Yulisis’s letter, it was written that if the woman was sent to Gransia, he would personally reward her.

Yulisis wouldn’t be stingy with the reward, so she would surely be able to live comfortably for the rest of her life.

Moreover, the woman was originally from Elbas. So he could just tell her to return once her body had recovered.

For some reason, he didn’t feel inclined to do so.