The Regressed Empress Tames the Hunting Dog - Chapter 21

Bellia pulled her hood down deeper to cover her silver hair.

Tap tap tap, Ben quietly followed behind Bellia as she walked.

What in the world was going on this time?

“Princess.”

“Shh! Never call me by that title.”

Ben was worried, as she only told him to follow quietly without explaining what was happening.

‘I hope it’s nothing dangerous…’

The Princess Bellia had changed a lot recently.

To the point where he could hardly adapt.

‘She must have her reasons for everything.’

But Ben, the loyal knight, simply looked around quietly.

The place they arrived at was a tavern in the residential area.

He remembered going around to several shops in this area before. As Ben recalled running into the Second Prince by chance back then, his face gradually turned pale.

Lately, whenever Bellia moved about, all sorts of incidents kept happening, so he couldn’t help but worry.

Despite clearly knowing Ben’s concerns, Bellia simply kept walking silently.

“Welcome!”

The person who appeared to be the owner greeted Bellia and Ben as they entered the tavern. He had a very warm demeanor.

This place, which sold alcohol and also served as an inn, was extremely lively.

From people drinking beer and having meals, to travelers who seemed to have just visited the capital, to mercenaries. All sorts of people were gathered, chatting happily.

Amidst the noise, Bellia smiled gently and approached the owner. Then she whispered, just loudly enough for him to hear. Though her voice was soft, her tone was clearly confident.

“I’ve come to find the diamond on the third floor.”

Having already checked all the other potential locations, she was certain he would be here. The owner examined Bellia’s face briefly, then nodded as if he understood.

“Yes. I see.”

Then he grinned and shouted.

“Well then! How about some food? Everything is delicious, but the stew is especially amazing!”

“Then please bring me the stew. Could you send it up to the room?”

“Of course!”

Bellia received the key from the owner and slowly climbed the stairs.

Ben followed behind her.

‘A password?’

He recalled Bellia saying something similar last time.

As Ben was pondering the situation, Bellia stopped in front of the room at the very end of the second floor.

“Sir Ben.”

“Yes?!”

When she called out to Ben, who had been giving her a suspicious look, he was startled as if caught off guard and answered in a flustered manner. Seeing his reaction, Bellia smiled slightly before speaking quietly.

“Please wait here.”

“…Will you be alright?”

“Of course. Just remember what I told you before we left.”

Ben mulled over Bellia’s words.

What Bellia had said as they were leaving the palace.

If she came out smiling very brightly after everything was done, he should draw his sword without hesitation.

It made absolutely no sense.

“Understood?”

“Yes…”

“Then I’m counting on you.”

After confirming Ben’s nod, Bellia immediately opened the door without knocking and went inside.

The room looked no different from an ordinary inn. A bed, desk, and some basic furnishings were placed about.

Bellia stood in front of a small dresser with a mirror on top. Then she used the key she had received from the owner earlier to open the third drawer.

‘As expected…!’

As anticipated, there was a small statue inside the drawer. Without hesitation, she reached out and pushed the statue back, causing a slight vibration as the dresser moved sideways to reveal a new passageway.

Bellia hunched down and passed through the passage, emerging into a small space.

As soon as she entered, someone addressed her with meaningful words.

“So you’ve finally found your way here.”

It seemed like a friendly welcome at first glance, but somehow she felt she understood the hidden meaning behind these words.

He was probably referring to how she had been going around restaurants, bookstores and such, searching for this place.

“Well, that’s fine. Please, have a seat.”

There sat a man who looked somewhat young.

Bellia sat down with a smirk, seeing him unchanged.

“So, what reason do you have for seeking out the branch manager of this insignificant information guild?”

“Insignificant? Your modesty is excessive.”

Just being affiliated with the continent’s top information guild was impressive enough. Even more so for being not just an ordinary informant, but a branch manager.

Bellia remembered him as someone who had helped her in her past life.

Even when everyone mocked her as the abandoned empress, he had secretly assisted her until the very end.

“Hahaha. I’m at a loss for words, being held in such high regard by the noble princess.”

The man sneered.

But Bellia paid it no mind.

She had thought he would already know she was a princess. If he couldn’t even figure out that much, there would be no reason to work with the information guild.

And above all, his help would be needed for Callid to ascend to the throne in the future.

“I have a request.”

“Well then, let’s hear what kind of request it is.”

Bellia began explaining that she wanted a rumor spread among the people of the empire.

The content of the rumor was that the Second Prince Callid had discovered a gold mine.

Moreover, it wasn’t even in the joint search area of the Ingot Empire and Ronica Kingdom, so by principle, all rights would go to the discoverer.

So while the gold mine belonged to Callid, since he knew the two countries were investigating together, he couldn’t monopolize it alone, so he was planning to give up a certain portion of shares to the Ingot Empire and Ronica Kingdom.

The man listening quietly crossed his arms and fell into thought.

“Honestly, all of this information you’ve just shared is of extremely high value.”

The Second Prince Callid discovering a gold mine.

And not in the eastern region where Prince Raul and the Ronica Kingdom were searching thoroughly, but in the south.

This was quite expensive information.

The empire was still in a situation where the crown prince had not been decided, so even though the First Prince’s faction currently had the upper hand, both princes still had a chance. Because of this, the nobles were also secretly trying to balance between them.

But this story Bellia shared meant that an enormous source of funds had emerged for the Second Prince, which could be quite important information for the nobles of the empire.

“But are you really saying you want this story spread merely as a rumor?”

“Yes. Please make sure the content I mentioned earlier spreads among the imperial citizens at the time I desire.”

“Hmm. That’s not too difficult.”

Bellia continued speaking.

“Along with that, it would be good to add that he rescued Prince Raul and defeated the monsters. You know that he and I will be engaged soon, right? Try mixing in that story as well to create a splendid heroic tale.”

The man smiled at Bellia’s words.

It wasn’t a difficult request. Rather, what he gained was even greater. It was information too valuable to simply charge a request fee for.

But before calculating the fee, he had to consider the fact that she couldn’t make this request without revealing this information to him. Plus, the fact that once it spread as a rumor, the value of the information would be damaged.

‘I suppose the purpose of all this is to strike the First Prince from behind.’

But if the princess moved directly, there was a very high chance the information would leak to the First Prince staying at Ronica Palace before the rumors could spread.

If one considers that commissioning the information guild was the method found to completely block even such a possibility…

‘What a clever princess.’

Moreover, if she was trying to gauge his abilities in the process of setting the price, it was truly an ingenious method that made him want to applaud.

He nodded.

After deducting the offset value, now he had to calculate the rest.

“How were you thinking of calculating the request fee?”

“I’ll pay with information I have.”

The man burst out laughing heartily.

It was a question asked assuming she would naturally pay with money. But to say she would pay with information.

“As you probably already know, our guild’s level of information is quite excellent. It would be more convenient for you to pay with money instead.”

“You’re dismissing the information I have without even hearing it.”

When Bellia spoke coldly, he responded with a smile.

“Rather, isn’t it you who are underestimating us? Lunes isn’t the continent’s top information guild for nothing.”

It wasn’t the time to be having a pointless battle of pride, but somehow she didn’t want to lose.

Bellia raised the corners of her mouth and spoke softly.

“What information do you need right now?”

What would be good to say to pique this man’s interest?

After much deliberation, Bellia smiled and met his eyes.

She had several cards to play, but this time she decided to go with a direct approach.

“That’s right. You’re looking for Viscount Selon’s illegitimate child, aren’t you? I know where they are.”

At Bellia’s words, his expression instantly turned cold.

“First question. How did you know we’re currently looking for that child?”

“Well. Do I have any reason to tell you that? Isn’t it enough to just provide accurate information?”

For information provided to the guild, what matters is not how the information was obtained, but how accurate it is. So Bellia had no reason at all to answer this question.

“Oh, of course! It’s not like I got it from a guild member or anything. The request to find Selon family’s illegitimate child is only known to you, right?”

Looking at Bellia speaking brightly, the man’s thoughts were in turmoil.

There was one more person who knew this fact. It was the client who requested to find the illegitimate child. But there’s no way he would have told anyone about this. It was that secret and confidential of a request.

The man, who knew this fact better than anyone, looked at Bellia with a cold gaze.

“Derrick. Work with me.”

At those words, the man’s expression hardened.

“…Where did you hear that name?”

Derrick furrowed his brow and pressed his temples.

How could Princess Bellia know this name that no one in the guild knew?

Bellia simply continued what she was going to say with a calm expression in response to Derrick’s question.

“As you can see, I have a lot of information that even you didn’t expect. You won’t regret it.”

Things more useful than the information the guild currently possessed.

Facts that only Bellia, who came from the future, could know.

“…Then, second question. Tell me where that child is.”

His tone became sharp.

“We’ve already identified the child’s whereabouts. So if what you’re saying is a lie… We will never accept your requests again.”

Normally, Derrick wouldn’t have asked like this, but now he couldn’t help it. Because.

“They’re right here. Derrick Selon.”

It was a story that must never be revealed.