Chapter – 08
“Don’t say something so absurd!”
Even though Marien was part of the kingdom’s delegation, she skipped the grand welcoming ceremony and the banquet, which would usually draw huge crowds.
It was all to catch the attention of the First Prince Ascel. She tailored her approach to his tastes, which were said to despise ostentation and flamboyance.
‘I just wanted to show that I’m different from that crazy fiancée who throws parties every day!’
Yet, for some reason, neither the First Prince nor anyone else paid any attention to Marien.
No, attention didn’t matter that much.
‘After all, Father’s order was to secure a royal marriage with the First Prince.’
The real problem was how difficult it was to make contact with the First Prince.
Even if she wandered the palace under the pretext of a stroll, he wouldn’t appear; her requests for an audience were ignored; even asking the maids about his schedule was met with nothing but answers that they didn’t know.
“How can you perform your duties if you don’t know that? Aren’t you supposed to be the hands and feet of the First Prince?”
“…….”
“I know you’re just making excuses because you don’t want to tell me! You think I’ll never become the crown princess!”
“……We will escort you inside, Your Highness.”
The maids were polite but insincere. Their empty gestures reeked of annoyance.
Returning to her kingdom with nothing to show would only make her father treat her like a worthless child. It was normal for him to discriminate among his children based on their abilities and accomplishments.
‘I have to leave a strong impression on the First Prince—or if not him, then someone close to him.’
That was the only way to create a connection with the First Prince.
‘But how?’
She pondered, searching for a good idea.
“What’s that about?”
Marien overheard a conversation between Commander Angel of the Knights and the palace attendants.
“We can’t tell who left it.”
“When we found it, it was just a document. Since there were no signs of intrusion, it could have been an inside job…”
“But that’s just speculation. The document’s origin is unknown, yet you just leave it here? Do you have any idea what would happen if something went wrong while His Highness is in his office?”
“We… we checked several times, but there was nothing wrong with it. It’s just paper, a document.”
“Yes. And it would be a waste to throw it away considering what’s written…”
The attendant handed the paper to Angel, who looked it over while still seated.
“Damn, this is exactly the information we need.”
“Yes.”
“…Whoever left it here, we don’t know, but shouldn’t we use whatever we can?”
“That’s nonsense.”
From what she gathered, someone had left useful information for the First Prince. Angel was reluctant to use it, but the attendants said it was too valuable to discard.
Having grown up used to navigating the political subtleties of the kingdom, Marien quickly understood the situation.
‘This is an opportunity.’
Someone had left the document, and the First Prince’s aide showed interest in it.
‘If I become the one who possesses it…’
Perhaps she could catch Ascel’s attention.
The anonymous informant likely didn’t want their painstakingly prepared material to go to waste…
‘This is the right move.’
“Um…”
“May I ask, Your Highness?”
Angel’s gaze followed her as she stepped forward.
“I left it here.”
“The document?”
Marien said.
Marsha returned within two hours.
“It seems difficult to enter the Prince’s office directly, so I left it in the Commander’s office as a secondary option.”
“Oh…”
“Was it too ambitious? Should we try sneaking into the Prince’s office now?”
“No, I’m just surprised at how well you handled it.”
When she was helpless under Geppetto two years ago, she seemed no different—but now, having regained her memories, Marsha moved differently. She had regained the abilities she once had as a Paladin.
“But… are you really okay with this?”
“About what?”
“That you poured two years into this? Someone might try to steal your credit.”
“That’s nothing to worry about.”
She said it with certainty.
“No one could.”
Information has its limits. The document contained information no ordinary person could access.
‘I even left hints about my identity using secret codes used only by the palace investigators.’
If someone read it, they would notice.
Moreover…
‘And the person in question is Ascel.’
Even if he was cold to her, he was a warm person to those within the empire.
‘He will notice.’
And indeed, it happened.
Seraphina’s body glowed gently as messages began to appear:
Arrest of Geppetto Leweiz completed.
Arrest of Ruwan Leweiz completed.
…
All involved in Mart’s drug ring eliminated.
Drug-related incidents in the empire significantly reduced.
Probability of major crimes in the empire partially decreased.
Successful turning point in history achieved.
Curse mitigation calculated based on contribution to achievements.
13% reduction in the Curse of Forgetfulness.
Someone’s memory fully restored.
Someone’s memory partially restored.
This time, there were both ‘full’ and ‘partial.’
She was intensely curious.
‘Who remembered me this time?’
Laura’s suspicions were correct.
“So you brought this to aid me?”
“Yes. I did it entirely for His Highness—”
“Nonsense.”
Marien was paying a heavy price for lying.
“This is not information obtainable by a princess. This document contains the Leweiz family’s internal corruption—fully, without omission.”
It detailed their crimes, scale, and intent. It wasn’t a dossier to leverage against them; it was simply a record kept within the family.
Ascel knew where such materials were stored: a secret archive accessible only to the head or blood relatives.
“Then let me ask again.”
Ascel’s lips twisted into a cold smirk.
“Did you really bring this document yourself, Princess?”
Marien could not answer.
Ascel detected her lie because the document contained secret codes and phrases used only by the royal investigators.
‘A foreign princess could not possibly know these.’
The codes were newly implemented; Ascel himself had not devised them.
[So “the dove perched on the fountain” means “Leweiz”?]
[The only estate where the fountain is visible from the entrance is the Leweiz Marquisate.]
The woman had also included coded messages about being followed, needing assistance, and other secret phrases.
[It might reassure the investigators, showing that the palace cares about small details, which could increase loyalty.]
[Maybe.]
[Of course, the real key is funding!]
[Isn’t this just you asking for money? Give me the treasury bag already! If you skimp now, it’ll be useless later.]
Strangely…
In his memories, he had laughed at her silly words. It was odd.
“Your Highness.”
The memories faded, leaving him grounded. He realized he was indeed in Pel’s office. He lightly shook his head.
“It’s nothing.”
Chasing the faint traces of memory would only make him a daydreamer.
“What will you do?”
At least he was reassured.
“To Leweiz.”
Following the fountain clue, he was confident he could find something.
“On to the Leweiz Marquisate.”
Geppetto felt tears welling up.
“Damn it! Am I a punching bag?!”
He was actually crying.
‘The clever woman signed the adoption cancellation herself. This house is doomed! It’ll be destroyed soon!’
As soon as he regained his memories, Geppetto acted.
Even if Laura hated him, she trusted his instincts.
The problem was…
“Only you or Laura could have gotten that information from this house. You wouldn’t risk your life to do it if you weren’t the heir.”
Ascel was just faster.
“So I ask.”
But dragged back inside by Ascel at the mansion’s entrance…
“Where is Laura?”
Facing the nightmare as soon as his memories returned, Geppetto couldn’t hold back and shouted.
“Ah, she’s not here! She ran off first!”
Between the couple’s love squabbles, how many times had his back already been bent from carrying their mess?
