“The secret about the item that exploded the fountain was written on this paper. It says it’s a very small bead, and when it meets water, a strong explosion occurs. Alex said Rudby took this, and just when it fell into Rudby’s hands, it exploded?”
“But we can’t conclusively say that Prince Rudby did it. We didn’t see it firsthand.”
Having only suspicions ultimately meant they couldn’t hold Rudby accountable. However, the likelihood that he committed such an act increased since the object Rudby took from Viscount Pigman caused the incident.
“Now that we know this much, is there no need for further investigation?”
Leharht mumbled while looking at the paper, and then fell silent for a moment. Then he casually said,
“But is Rudby still not learning?”
“What?”
“It’s like that. After two years of being away, he seems to be sharpening his teeth a lot, but why is his behavior so transparent?”
Leharht smiled as if he found Rudby cute, covering his mouth with the paper. Although only his mouth was covered, Etienne was surprised to see his face exposed. Leharht’s eyes sank coldly.
The smile he just showed didn’t seem genuinely joyful; rather, he seemed angry about what Rudby had done.
“The things he does, wanting to become an emperor, are truly pathetic.”
Upon hearing Leharht’s muttering, Etienne recalled Rudby, who had become an emperor. Even when trying to remember how it was when he became an emperor and shortly afterward, there weren’t many memories.
With the change in emperors, the atmosphere became chaotic, making it difficult to easily move around the imperial palace for a while. Especially the Claire family, which had supported the crown prince, was even more subdued.
Leharht, who was staring intently at Etienne, spoke up.
“Are you thinking about the past?”
“How do you know that Prince Rudby became the emperor?”
I’m not sure how much Leharht knows. He acts like he knows everything, so every time I try to explain, he seems to already know everything.
“Well… I’m not sure. For example, there are ten gems in this pocket.”
Leharht showed the money-filled pocket he had. As he gently shook the pocket, the items inside made a sound as they collided with each other.
“If you take three gems from here, is that a lot or a little?”
“If you take less than half, wouldn’t it be little?”
“Right? Now, if you imagine not knowing how many gems are inside and you take three, is that considered little?”
“I don’t know if it’s a lot or a little because I don’t know the total number.”
“That’s how my visions of the future are. So, I don’t know if I know a lot or what’s most important.”
Leharht handed the pocket to Etienne.
“So, I’ve given you all of the future. If I tell you everything I know, you can determine whether the future I’ve described is part of it or the whole.”
Etienne silently fiddled with the pocket. It was heavy. When she loosened the opening, there were gold coins, silver coins, copper coins, and even gems mixed inside.
“I’ll tell you, so will you judge?”
“Um…, no.”
Etienne closed the opening of the pocket. When she extended it toward him, Leharht looked at her as if asking what she meant.
“I feel like I asked a meaningless question.”
“If it comes out like that, there’s nothing to say. Then shall we talk about something else? Your debutante ball is coming up soon.”
Instead of answering, Etienne extended the pocket, but Leharht didn’t accept it.
Inevitably, Etienne lifted the pocket onto her thigh. She fiddled with it unnecessarily. She wanted to divert her attention to something else now.
Leharht, pretending not to see the unexpected emotion he revealed, unfortunately, the situation did not flow as I wanted.
“Etienne.”
Leharht gazed at Etienne’s hand, which was touching the pocket. Her fidgety fingers were expressing her turmoil. She couldn’t keep her hand still; she was visibly confused.
Leharht lifted his elbow onto Etienne’s body and rested his chin. Ignoring Etienne’s bewildered gaze, he spoke.
“I like you.”
Etienne, caught in Leharht’s gaze, couldn’t turn her eyes away.
“So, I’m really looking forward to that day. It’s like being more excited the day before a day off than on an actual day off.”
Feeling a thirst in her throat, Etienne tried swallowing, but it only intensified her thirst.
“Excitement is naturally bigger when you’re waiting, right?”
Why is this man saying he’s excited? I don’t know how to respond.
“But… I could refuse, you know.”
“Even if you spend your day off free and boring, you won’t know until that day comes. So, don’t dampen my excitement. Now that I’ve stood up, Claire will come to pick you up soon. Be careful, and see you again.”
Leharht gave her a rough pat on the hand and stood up.
“The pocket is a down payment.”
“What?”
“I’m getting up; Claire will come to pick you up soon. Be careful, and see you before the debutante ball.”
With those words, Leharht left the room with a light smile.
Left alone, Etienne stared blankly at the pocket clenched in her hand and the unfamiliar door of the room.
Sleep had completely eluded her.
When scheming men desperately battle for her favor in the male harem
This one’s also on my reread list! The rivalry, scheming between the men in the imperial harem are just as intense and thrilling as in classic palace drama novels, where concubines fight to the death. Give it a read, girls! I promise you won’t be disappointed.
Synopsis:
“I am not worthy of her… but I still want to be by her side, even if only as a loyal dog…”
Those were the painful whispers of Yue Guanyi – the proud Crown Prince of the Great Qi, who was torn between deep love and a guilty conscience. Despite holding the supreme power of the Imperial Guard, he still could not forget the dark past when he was sold into a brothel.
Fate played a cruel twist when Qiu Shuzhi – a young female official who had just passed the imperial examinations with top honors – stepped into his life. She did not know that she was the one who had saved him from a tragic fate many years ago. And now, her heart was the target of pursuit for both Yue Guanyi and the powerful Empress Dowager Qin Qing.
While Yue Guanyi only dared to silently care for and protect the one he loved from afar, the Empress Dowager Qin Qing openly expressed his feelings and did not hesitate to take advantage of his power to approach Qiu Shuzhi. The covert struggle between the two most powerful forces in the imperial court began…
Trigger warning: All men in this novel are yandere style.
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