“Master, please take a look at this.”

Anika, who was searching through the past trading records of her late father at Rohos Castle, raised her head at those words. Dahel was walking towards her, holding a red notebook.

“It’s an account book that the former lord used to keep of his dealings with those he specially managed, but don’t the names look familiar to you…?”

Anika’s eyes widened slightly as she examined the account book Dahel had opened.

It was true. All the names written in the book were familiar to her. They were all her father’s close friends, and all of them were no longer of this world.

Half of them were killed by the king, and the other half…

“…were poisoned.”

“Yes.”

“But this isn’t enough of a clue.”

From the records, it was clear that her father had received money from his friends, but the details column was empty. With just this, it was merely a list proving the fact that her father was a man who had monetary dealings with his friends.

However, Dahel shook his head.

“No, it’s enough. All of these people bought one thing from the former lord.”

Dahel, who had handed her the account book, approached the bookshelf. Anika watched with surprised eyes as he pulled out books to reveal a hidden space she never knew existed.

Dahel turned around after taking out something that was inside. Only then did Anika realize what her father had gone to the trouble of separately preparing a space to hide.

It was a silver tea caddy.

Isili was sitting in the reception room of the neighboring kingdom’s royal palace.

He had arrived in Edegrune last night. There was only one reason. The Second Princess had decided to send him to Aglante.

One day, the Second Princess suddenly appeared at the Empress Palace and said she would send him to Aglante. The talk had already been finished with his mentor, Tanel.

Isili had no complaints about it. Wasn’t it what his mentor wanted? Considering the favors he owed him, Isili could do anything.

The Second Princess, Talia Luntalis, told him to cooperate with what the Archduke said, and gave one more order.

“Find clues about the missing Second Prince.”

His mentor Tanel also said something similar.

“The person my mentor served has disappeared. Information is needed.”

And Tanel added,

“The last place he went was the Leden Palace. The current Queen of Aglante was formerly the Princess of Leden. She might know something.”

So when it was followed by saying to find out clues even if it meant catering to the Queen’s whims, Isili willingly agreed.

It was then that the door to the reception room opened. Isili reflexively raised his head towards the sound. The King and Queen of Aglante were standing there.

Isili, who didn’t expect to have a private audience with the royals so soon, hurriedly got up from his seat and bowed. The Queen sat in front of him first, followed by the King. It was not the usual order, so Isili took note of it.

The Queen, who had been looking at his bowed figure for a moment, gestured. It was permission for him to sit.

With him seated in front of her, the Queen spoke first.

“I heard the physicians of the Empress Palace are skilled with medicinal herbs.”

“My skills are humble, but I am aware there are those who see it that way.”

“Humble, you say. Words that degrade oneself only bring shame to the master.”

It was a strange way of speaking, as if thorns were embedded between each word.

Isili was a little perplexed, as there was no reason for him to be disliked by the Queen. The Queen, who was looking at him with an expressionless face befitting her royal lineage, asked,

“Do you know much about poisons?”

The first day of the banquet arrived.

It was one of the days Rahelika disliked a little more than usual. Rahelika did not like banquets. The main reason was that it was tiring to clash with people, but today there was one more.

Talia Luntalis. That ill-mannered sister of hers turned her head away as soon as she saw her.

“Let’s go over there.”

And Talia took the gathered nobles with her to the opposite side of Rahelika. Rahelika let out an empty laugh at that absurd behavior, but couldn’t openly confront her. If she did, there would be a commotion, and if there was a commotion, Father would reprimand Talia.

But that didn’t mean she wasn’t upset. As if avoiding her wasn’t enough, Talia went straight out of the banquet hall with her friends.

She did say she wanted to drink a lot and get some air, but that was just a lie to make an excuse. Rahelika had been watching that side the whole time, so she knew Talia hadn’t drunk anything more than light fruit wine.

Someone who doesn’t get drunk even when drinking with merchants wouldn’t get drunk on something like that.

Nevertheless, the reason why she went outside the banquet hall was obvious, so Rahelika grabbed a passing servant and drank a few glasses of alcohol.

Since she didn’t usually drink much, her face soon became flushed. Realizing that she was the one who really “needed to drink a lot and get some air,” Rahelika moved her steps towards the door. A few people who were just waiting for her to speak to them according to the court etiquette lingered, but she didn’t even spare them a glance.

Serben followed beside her, who was staggering just enough not to be noticeable.

“His Majesty the Emperor said not to leave your seat for too long.”

Rahelika responded half-heartedly to the knight who was nothing more than her father’s faithful dog.

“I know.”

“He also said to stay in a safe place.”

Ever since Iris had a bad dream, Levernen had become extremely attentive to his daughter’s safety. It was to show off to his wife.

Rahelika waved her hand.

“I said I know.”

“It’s dark outside.”

The knight’s words were just an excuse.

It wasn’t dark outside the banquet hall. It was none other than herself who had ordered to light up the entire palace in preparation for the banquet.

Furthermore, if it was too dark for her to go out, Talia wouldn’t have been able to go out either.

Nevertheless, the reason the knight was saying such things was clearly to dissuade her even if he had to lie, so Rahelika twisted the corners of her mouth.

“Are you worried your colleagues won’t do their job properly?”

If she was in danger inside the palace, the knights would be the first to be questioned, so that’s what she meant.

Serben just stood there, staring at her blankly. Rahelika, whose mood was twisted on the knight’s neat face, threw the fan she was holding on the floor. With a clack sound, the gazes of a few people were drawn to this side.

What did it matter? Even though she knew her father would soon look this way, Rahelika did not correct her behavior. Talia wasn’t here anyway. Who cared if sparks flew to others?

She muttered,

“Annoying things.”

“You’re drunk.”

“Disgusting.”

“There are many eyes watching.”

That probably meant to mind her manners and save face.

Even though she knew the knight wasn’t being that disrespectful, Rahelika arbitrarily twisted it that way. Having a crooked conversation with one of the only two younger sisters, blaming a knight arbitrarily was nothing.

She asked with a sneer,

“Among them would be your eyes too, right?”

This young and respectable knight was one of Levernen’s close knights, and also had the role of conveying what he heard and saw to his master.

Serben did not answer her words. Rahelika regretted throwing her fan on the floor. She should have thrown it at this knight’s face. Then at least she would have felt refreshed.

She brought her face close to his chest and whispered,

“You act noble, but you’re nothing more than a toy that Father threw at me.”

In exchange for preventing the marriage of his eldest daughter, Levernen had several knights who could be pulled into and kicked out of that daughter’s bedroom a few times without any consequences. Serben was one of them.

He probably knew that himself. He would naturally be checked periodically to see if his body was clean. Rahelika sneered,

“Doesn’t it hurt your pride?”

“If there is a set purpose, it is my part to submit to it.”

“How boring.”

There was no fun in tormenting him when he didn’t show a single tear or a piece of anger even when poked.

She suddenly wondered if their relationship would have been better if Talia had been like that knight.

If she had been obedient and listened well like that knight, it would have been just her getting angry alone anyway, so there would have been no reason to fight.

Rahelika, who briefly had an imagination that would never come true, shook her head.

“Enough. What’s the point of teasing a wooden thing like you? I’ll stay here without going out, so you can go back and tell Father.”

And she snapped her fingers at the servant next to her. The knight, who confirmed her demonstratively receiving support from the servant, bowed and turned his back. Rahelika, who watched his back for a moment, pushed the servant away.

“You go over there too.”

It was then that the door behind her burst open. Startled, Rahelika frowned and looked back. This door could only be used by the imperial family, and even Oriens couldn’t open it so roughly, ignoring all etiquette.

However, when she saw the person coming through the open door, she could only freeze in place. The crowd also became quiet in an instant as if splashed with ice water.

“My, why is everyone so surprised?”

And Nethefel Luntalis smiled, looking at the dozens of eyes fixed on him.

“I just attended after receiving an invitation.”