TVS 9

After a long silence, I finally spoke.

“…Your Majesty, I regret to inform you… but the top-level confidential documents…”

I spoke to him as gently as possible.

“They appear to have been completely burned.”

At my words, a murmur spread among the people.

The Emperor frowned and asked again,

“What do you mean by that?”

Lowering my gaze, I continued calmly,

“Not long after the funeral, a small fire broke out in the study. In the chaos, I wasn’t able to check my father’s study until now, but I confirmed that the storage box containing important documents had been completely reduced to ashes. The documents inside as well.”

“…How unfortunate….”

Looking at the Emperor’s crumpled expression, I let out a faint smirk inwardly.

‘In truth, I burned them myself.’

The first-class confidential documents that Duke Elemore possessed—
they were none other than a list of Eti’s revolutionary army.

A document that should never exist, containing in detail the names of hundreds of key figures and commanders.

If that had fallen into the Emperor’s hands, <The Star of Revolution> would have turned into <The Star of Purge>.

Even in the original story, the documents are mentioned. But the original Katrin had no interest in her father’s secret papers, so she told the Emperor she would check and delayed handing them over out of annoyance.

During that time, Eti repeatedly sent revolutionaries disguised as thieves to the Elemore estate to retrieve it, losing comrades to the guards in the process.

Though they eventually recovered the document, the damage was severe enough to hinder the revolution.

He had no choice but to be desperate.

Until now, the Emperor couldn’t touch Eti’s life because of the power of the council—but if such evidence surfaced, both he and the revolution would be finished.

So the moment I found it, I cleanly burned it.

Not just that—every document that could negatively affect Eti, even in the slightest.

I couldn’t make him go through that suffering again.

Though, of course, it was unfortunate for the late Duke Elemore—and for the Emperor before me.

“At the time, I requested the fire station to extinguish the blaze, but in the confusion, I wasn’t able to properly thank the official in charge.”

That meant there were witnesses to the incident.

“…”

The Emperor stared at me for a long time, his brows furrowed.

“I should have come to my senses and managed things properly, but I was too consumed by grief and neglected it. Please forgive me, Your Majesty.”

Whispers spread around us.

I could still feel the Emperor’s snake-like gaze on me—but he wouldn’t be able to harshly reprimand me.

After all, I was the orphaned daughter of his loyal subject—and more importantly, today marked the 15th anniversary of his reign.

“It is regrettable, but not as regrettable as losing Duke Elemore. It’s fine. Raise your head, Lady Elemore.”

As expected, the Emperor put on a displeased expression while pretending to be magnanimous.

When I met his eyes, his venomous gaze was fixed on me—

as if trying to see through me for any sign of suspicion.

‘Look all you want. I already burned everything.’

There was nothing to find, so there was no need to be nervous.

After staring at me for a few more seconds, the Emperor frowned, clearly displeased, let out a small cough, and turned away.

Soon, people’s attention drifted away from me as well.

Watching his retreating figure, I let out a cold laugh inwardly—
and then suddenly met a pair of blue eyes.

“….”

‘Eti…!’

So he heard everything. Good. Now he won’t have to worry about that damned document anymore.

Even after everyone’s attention had shifted away, his deep blue eyes remained fixed on me beneath his cool gaze.

Perhaps that was why he tried to stop me earlier at the station.

“…”

Soon, he slowly averted his gaze and turned around.

I watched as soldiers followed behind him as he walked out the door.

‘By now, the item should have been delivered.’

Recalling the order I had given Heros, I turned my gaze away from where Eti had stood.

I was just thinking I should stay a little longer before leaving—

when the girl who had been glaring at me earlier approached, one hand on her hip.

Several other girls trailed behind her like attendants. To me, they all looked like insignificant pups.

“To think all of Uncle’s precious documents burned… I wonder how you managed the household, Katrin.”

The woman with blonde hair and green eyes was my cousin, Lucia Elemore, two years older than me.

She was the illegitimate daughter of my uncle, Count Padelmon Elemore—and the only child he acknowledged.

Raising her brows, she criticized me with a feigned look of concern.

“That’s why you should have listened to my father. When he offered to manage all of Uncle’s inheritance.”

Around the time of the funeral, my uncle Padelmon had spouted nonsense about managing the late duke’s estate for me—and I rejected him outright.

Knowing his greed, I’d sooner entrust fish to a cat.

“Your judgment seems clouded lately, and your relationship with your fiancé doesn’t seem great either. It’s not too late even now, Katrin.”

At Lucia’s words, the girls behind her nodded in agreement.

“Yes, you shouldn’t be so stubborn. It would be better to follow Lady Elemore’s advice.”

They were probably hoping to get some crumbs for themselves. The ducal estate was enormous, after all.

I let out a small laugh, crossed my arms, and looked at Lucia with an air of superiority.

“You don’t need to worry about me, Lucia. Although there was a fire, fortunately there are still plenty of documents left.”

At my words, Lucia’s brows twitched.

“Documents left?”

Back when the Duke and Duchess were alive, she used to fawn over me—but the moment they died, she started acting arrogantly, as if I had lost my backing.

That shove during the funeral hadn’t been an accident.

She really did resemble Uncle Padelmon—a sycophant through and through.

“For example, the countless loan notes from Uncle Padelmon.”

As I twisted my lips into a smirk, Lucia’s expression stiffened.

“He borrowed quite a lot of money from my father. Did you know? Among the assets I inherited are bonds specifying debts to be collected.”

“Katrin!”

Caught off guard, Lucia’s face froze in shock.

I could hear the girls around her whispering in surprise.

Padelmon had been involved in various businesses, including shady ones, and each time he had borrowed from the ducal house.

The debt documents piled up as much as his greed. Compared to the ducal fortune, it wasn’t huge—but it was more than enough as leverage.

“I almost forgot about it, but thanks to you for reminding me. I’ll be sending your father a debt repayment notice soon.”

“…!”

Lucia’s clenched fists trembled.

“Th-That… Katrin!”

“Oh, now that I think about it, among the remaining documents, there are also records concerning your mother…”

“Katrin, wait—! Hah…!”

As I pressed further, Lucia’s face flushed bright red, as if it might explode.

Lucia was the daughter of a brothel owner from one of Padelmon’s entertainment businesses.

With a faint smirk, I leaned in slightly and whispered threateningly,

“Don’t get cocky, Lucia.”

Stretching lightly, I walked along the dim corridor of the rear garden.

It was now the time when the party had passed its midpoint—when one or two people could disappear without notice.

I was heading toward the back gate, planning to go home.

I may not have met the Emperor’s expectations, but since I attended his party, I likely wouldn’t fall out of favor anytime soon.

After announcing the broken engagement and appearing perfectly composed at my first social event, there shouldn’t be any troublesome rumors either.

And I saw Eti briefly—and had that delivered—so today’s quest is done…

Ignoring the occasional indecent sounds coming from the bushes, I turned around a large pillar—

“…!”

—and found myself face to face with someone.

His face hovered more than a head taller than mine. His black hair swayed gently in the night breeze.

Bathed in soft moonlight, Eti’s features appeared even more defined.

His blue eyes were filled with unreadable emotion.

Staring intently at me, he slowly stepped closer.

Then, placing both hands on the pillar beside my shoulders, he looked down at me.

Isn’t this a little too close?