Natasha proceeded to explain in detail the misdeeds that Cayena Ten had committed against her in her past life.

“Even there, you wished for my unhappiness, claiming I had relations with a duke I had never spent the night with, and then you pretended I was pregnant. Similarly, with a test flower pot and a bribed doctor.”

“Huh! Why are you saying such things now? So, are you trying to say that your punishment of me was justified? Or are you brazenly claiming that you don’t need to feel guilty towards me who nearly died in your place?”

“I’m trying to tell you why I punished you lightly despite all that.”

Picking up another book to check, this time she saw a door handle. Confident that this was the passage she had been looking for, Natasha memorized the bookshelf’s location and the titles of the books on it before approaching Cayena.

Now only this woman remained to be dealt with.

Cayena Ten, who would undoubtedly report her suspicious behavior to Kyle Letius.

“A mere banishment from the duchy as punishment for a maid who tried to slander the duchess. Although your reputation might have been tarnished when your crime was revealed, it was practically nothing. For you, whose hometown wasn’t the duchy, you could simply return home and that would be it.”

She took a step towards her opponent. Perhaps frightened by the suspicious behavior, Cayena took a step back in response.

“It must have been because I loved you so deeply in the past. I, who have survived by feeding on you to come this far, couldn’t ignore your kindness just because you betrayed me.”

As Natasha advanced once more, Cayena retreated again without fail. When the woman’s back, with nowhere left to retreat, touched the library door, she saw her opportunity.

Natasha, now right in front of Cayena, whispered softly.

“And one more thing.”

“……”

“Your life would be hell.”

Just as Cayena knew Natasha well, Natasha knew Cayena well.

Even in her dazed state, she had given Cayena Ten the ultimate punishment. Perhaps she wanted to forgive her friend, but at the same time, wanted to punish her severely.

As she said, Cayena Ten’s life back in her hometown with her family would have been no different from life in hell. She might have even wished to die at the hands of others.

Hating yet loving her family, she wouldn’t have been able to turn her back on her family who would starve without her.

Unable to leave her hometown to start a new life elsewhere, or to end her own life due to the unbearable pain, she would have returned to that hell.

Pushed by her family to take on all the menial tasks, barely making an income, and having all the hard-earned money taken away by her family, leaving her with nothing.

Yet despite all that, she would have lived a life more miserable than livestock, not even receiving love.

Was that all?

Having failed her mission, Cayena Ten was being tormented by Kyle Letius. After all, she who no longer had any reason or value to stay in the imperial palace, had entered the emperor’s bedroom.

“Whatever that wicked emperor said to you?”

“……”

“Did he threaten you using your family as hostages? Didn’t he declare he would skin your family’s heads to make new decorations for the imperial palace?”

“Sh-shut up……”

Cayena’s face turned pale, suggesting Natasha’s words were true. As if even recalling that day’s memories was painful, Cayena began to breathe heavily.

Recognizing this as the beginning of her agitation, Natasha, disregarding the other’s rough plea, pressed on fiercely.

“He probably ordered you to become his new dog, didn’t he? Telling you to come running whenever he called, mocking you by telling you to kneel and grovel like a dog?”

“I said shut up!”

“That devil.”

Natasha briefly glanced down. Only then did she notice Cayena’s emaciated body and various wounds.

Her arms and legs were all bruised blue. Several red lines were visible on the round mound barely seen through her dress. They looked like wounds from a whipping.

Her family, who would stop at beating her arms and legs, wouldn’t have struck such an intimate area. Realizing who the culprit was, Natasha leaned in close and whispered in her ear.

“Don’t you want to kill him?”

“…What?”

“That devil.”

With those words meant to put an end to the woman’s agitation.

Cayena Ten’s body trembled. Natasha finally pulled away from the woman who was shaking helplessly like a fallen leaf in the wind.

When she finally raised her head, having lowered it so her expression couldn’t be seen.

“…Yes.”

Natasha foresaw victory.

“Kill him, that devil. Bring me Kyle Letius’s heart… Please, get me out of this hell, I beg you!”

After writing down the location of the secret room on a separate piece of paper, she quickly returned to the powder room and changed back into the party dress she had hidden.

She entrusted the careless or sloppy aftermath to a maid who happened to be wandering outside, ensuring a clean finish.

Upon returning to the banquet hall, she was greeted by Dorothea’s intense welcome, who had been waiting for her eagerly. She merely smiled awkwardly at Dorothea, who asked about the court physician’s examination while saying she had finally arrived.

She nodded as her eyes met with Sieghart’s.

Shortly after, the dinner began.

The nobles seated at the table were mesmerized by the parade of lavish dishes that followed. They were eager to praise the imperial chef’s skills, saying they hadn’t changed.

A note was passed to Natasha, who was clumsily eating with her opposite hand to hide her injured one.

“The secret room?”

It was from Sieghart.

Natasha nodded, indicating she had found it.

The man then subtly turned his finger, drawing a small circle. It seemed like a signal to flip the note over.

Following Sieghart’s request, she turned the note over and found a second note in the man’s handwriting.

“Are you alright?”

The note contained a question checking on Natasha’s condition, just as Dorothea Park had done. However, his was a bit more complex.

Instead of answering, she chose to meet the man’s gaze. The interpretation was left to him.

Even though the dinner had ended, people were still enjoying the drinking party.

At that moment, Sieghart stood up first and went outside. He was clearly heading to the terrace to sober up.

Sensing the unspoken signal, Natasha also naturally stood up and followed him.

The two who met on the terrace began to cautiously discuss what had happened in the afternoon.

“I found the room. In two days, when the Imperial Knights’ hunting competition is held, our knights can check it out in detail.”

“That’s a relief. The Charliee Knights also just informed me that they’ve found the location of the contract storage.”

They even managed to find the contract storage location! Natasha was visibly delighted that they had succeeded in both missions in just one day.

Seeing the woman’s excited reaction, Sieghart smiled gently. He looked at her carefully and very cautiously lifted Natasha’s hand to check it.

“So you don’t need to push yourself too hard. As you said, the investigation two days from now is our knights’ duty, so I hope you won’t worry too much about it.”

Discovering her ruined hand, he let out a deep sigh. The perceptive man seemed to have noticed during the dinner.

“…I won’t.”

Natasha quickly replied, fearing that if she stayed silent, she might be ordered to return to the duke’s residence.

The next day, Natasha attended the imperial palace banquet.

She pretended to be sick in advance for the operation the day after, and each time she did, Dorothea Park would make a fuss, asking if her illness hadn’t improved yet.

Thanks to this, she was able to publicize Natasha’s unstable health condition to those around her.

During the banquet, she occasionally coughed lightly, causing concern from those around her. By the end, she returned to her room almost carried by Sieghart, with a pale blue complexion.

You mustn’t overexert yourself tomorrow! If you’re sick, make sure to rest!

Thanks to the concerns of those around her, it seemed she had secured an alibi for tomorrow. There would be no suspicion even if Natasha missed two days of the banquet.

And on the next day, Natasha moved to the emperor’s bedroom with Sir Dante and another knight. To avoid looking suspicious by moving in a group, the knights departed first, with Natasha following behind.

“You’ve arrived!”

“Yes, let’s quickly enter the study.”

They had somehow obtained and changed into the clothes of imperial servants.

Natasha pointed to the bookshelf where the secret room was hidden, referring to the note she had written the day before.

Sir Dante and the other knight each took a side and moved the bookshelf. It was impressive that just two adult men could lift a bookshelf larger than Natasha’s size, as expected of knights.

Sir Dante forcefully opened the fully revealed door and peered inside. The other knight went deeper inside to confirm the nature of the room.

“There are stairs here! It seems to lead to an underground passage.”

“It’s confirmed that this is a passage leading outside. We’ll go check where the passage leads to outside.”

Sir Dante saluted Natasha, saying they would be back.

“Alright, be careful. Sir Dante.”

After sending the two off, Natasha came out of the study.

While they investigated the passage, she intended to explore the emperor’s bedroom a bit more. Although it was fine now during the banquet, there might be traps set up during normal times, so she needed to look carefully.

It was when she approached the entrance. Suddenly, noise was heard from outside, which had been quiet all along.

“Yes, I said I’ll attend again! How annoying!”

Listening carefully, the voice belonged to none other than Kyle Letius.

‘Surely he’s not trying to come in?’

Natasha hurriedly checked the door to the study. If they were caught finding the secret room, it would mean death for everyone. Not only them but Natasha too would receive severe punishment.

The sound of the closed door opening followed.