The Duke didn’t say anything. The fervor he had just displayed seemed to have vanished, and now he stood beside me, exchanging glances with Tethel.

“It seems like we need to say more to make him really hurt. Let’s stop talking.”

“Yeah. Stop just talking and do something. I don’t like having an uninvited guest in my own palace, especially one granted to me by the Empress.”

“Let’s see how far you can go.”

That was the end of the conversation. Perhaps thinking there was nothing more to gain by talking, Evan distanced himself, concluding with that statement.

“Ken, bring some salt and sprinkle it generously over there.”

“Salt?”

“Yes. Something impure entered my sacred palace, so I want to purify it.”

“Ah, I see.”

Ken hurriedly went over, not knowing what it was for. After that, Tethel chuckled, lowering her head.

“That was so refreshing!”

“Really?”

“I…”

Tethel, whether to check if the Duke had left or not, or like a meerkat, stretched her body to check and then stuck close to me.

“I really disliked Duke Evan. He subtly tended to ignore the Empress at every opportunity. Although he claimed to be my childhood friend…”

“Is that so?”

I thought Tethel might dislike Lian because she always carried resignation letters, but it seemed not. Tethel surprisingly seemed to like Lian quite a bit.

“Yes. So it was quite refreshing. Even though it’s likely that after leaving him like that, he’ll bother the Empress again… still… ever since Empress Mama came, it’s been quite reassuring because Empress Mama has been quite firm with the Emperor.”

“Is that so?”

“Yes!”

She grinned and, belatedly realizing she had things to do, made noise as she patted down what she had held in her arms.

“I didn’t come here to eavesdrop on conversations.”

“I understand.”

“Oh… yes. I came to report after finishing the investigation. The investigation about those I mentioned earlier. We imprisoned and interrogated them in different places, and because nothing could be leaked, their anxiety kept growing.”

“So?”

“At some point, they started asking. If confessing their sins directly would change something.”

“They said that?”

“No. It would be boring if they did. Well, not that it’s boring, but they said, ‘It’s useless to confess now.’ Something like that.”

Tethel, who had been grinning ominously, clapped her hands belatedly. It seemed like she was worried about appearing as a bad person.

Watching him looking a bit embarrassed, I asked the question first.

“They must have been more anxious. Did they hear from others excluding themselves?”

Tethel nodded with a sly smile.

“Yes. After hearing that, they all changed their minds. Ultimately, what they said was, someone behind the scenes was helping them. They were given additional allowances on top of their pay for their work in the palace. Most of their tasks were surveillance, and among them, some received special orders.”

“The ones receiving special orders… were they the ones around Ruedello? Like maids and servants.”

“Yes, that’s right. Did you know?”

“I suspected it when I started doubting Ruedello. If Ruedello hadn’t been so afraid, if he hadn’t looked around after having a terrible nightmare, I would have had only suspicions. Knowing that Elventro Viscount was involved…”

“Surprising. I thought it would be Duke Evan.”

At that, Tethel awkwardly laughed.

“That’s right. I’m sorry. That’s all I found out first.”

“That’s enough. There’s no need to be too disheartened. You seem to like doing your job perfectly. Regretting what’s not perfect, huh?”

Tethel, who seemed to enjoy doing her job perfectly, had a sad expression. An expression of regret for not being perfect.

“The investigation on your side was the same. Everyone gathered to tell about Viscount Elventro.”
“I suppose. I wonder if I told Lian the same….”

It was then.

“Even though the Emperor Jim has left, they talked about that family as if everything was planned.”

Lian appeared.

“Lian?”

Lian, who had quietly approached us, was now by our side. I hadn’t noticed him because he was receiving a report from Tethel.

“When did you arrive?”

“I came right away after hearing that Evan visited the Star Palace.”

“Ah, I see. Did you meet him?”

“I did. He wanted to talk. So, after saying let’s talk later, he came straight here.”

Was that the firm part of the conversation Tethel mentioned? Lian looked at me as if examining me.

“Anything unusual?”

“No, nothing really happened.”

“I’ll report the details later.”

“I want to hear directly from Bella.”

Tethel, proudly announcing that she would speak, puffed up her shoulders, but Lian frowned.

“Today, Tethel will report to you.”

I didn’t want to say what I said again. It would be awkward.

Meanwhile, Ken, who had gone inside, came out and sprinkled salt into the air.

“…What is that?”

“It’s to get rid of impurities. The Duke came and went.”

“It seems like something big happened.”

“I will objectively tell you. Your Majesty.”

“…Understood.”