Episode 10

Episode 10. Something Only You Can Do

“Your Majesty the Empress. Have you heard the news?”

It was early in the morning. Countess Chloe, who was doing my hair, spoke.

“What news?” I asked.

“Apparently, the Imperial Concubine’s palace was searched top to bottom yesterday in the attempt to find her lost ring.”

“Is that so?”

“They say despite all that effort, the ring still couldn’t be found.”

“Oh, no,” I clicked my tongue briefly. Of course they couldn’t find it, the thing was rolling around under my bed.

“The Imperial Concubine was so distraught that she couldn’t stop crying, so His Majesty the Emperor placed a special reward on it and ordered the entire palace complex to be searched.”

“I hope it turns up soon.”

Despite my serious tone, I couldn’t focus on her words. My mind was entirely preoccupied with the pearl ring I’d found under my bed.

What am I supposed to do with it?

In the original novel, Jerome had ordered the guards to search after being shocked by Fay’s tears. Just like the Countess had said—they’d first searched the concubine’s palace, then the rooms of everyone who had visited her chambers. When that failed to turn up anything, they’d resort to searching the empress’s quarters.

And that’s where the ring will be found.

The ring, tossed carelessly beneath the bed. The culprit was the empress, of course. The entire palace was thrown into chaos over it. Helena, blinded by jealousy, had stolen the ring Fay received as the Emperor’s first gift.

After that incident, Helena’s position weakened drastically, and sinister rumors began to spread. At least, that’s what happened in the original novel.

I thought Helena stole it when I read the book…

In the original, it was only briefly mentioned that the ring was discovered beneath the empress’s bed. There were no details about how it got there.

Yes, that’s how it was.

But now the ring has suddenly turned up under my bed.

Obviously, I wasn’t the one who did it. I hadn’t even visited Fay’s palace like Helena did in the novel, let alone asked to see her chambers to steal a ring. I had no interest in interfering with Jerome and Fay’s relationship in the first place.

I frowned slightly. So who pulled this stunt?

The ring hadn’t grown legs and walked itself into my room—someone must have deliberately tossed it under my bed. I had one particular suspect in mind.

I turned to Countess Chloe.

“I think one of my maids mentioned she was going to the Her Highness’s palace yesterday…”

“Ah! You must mean that incident.” The Countess clapped her hands. “There’s an upcoming banquet at the Imperial Concubine’s palace, isn’t there? They were short on staff, so we sent one maid over to help.”

She glanced around the room. “Ah, there she is.”

She pointed to a maid cleaning the window—a freckled girl with long braided hair reaching her waist.

“She looks unfamiliar.”

“She joined us about a month ago. I believe her name is Roizen.”

“No one else went to Her Highness’s palace?”

“We had plenty of work here, too. That girl had experience making beds and doing laundry all over the palace complex before she came to us, so we figured she’d be the best fit.”

I looked at the maid called Roizen.

It’s you.

The one who planted the ring under my bed.

I still needed proof, but I was confident I’d found the culprit. If she helped with bedding duties, it wouldn’t have been difficult to snatch the ring from Fay’s room.

The question is, why do it?

It was hard to believe she stole it out of greed. Fay’s ring wasn’t even that valuable. What made it special was that it was the first gift she received from the Emperor.

If it were just for money, there were much more expensive items to steal. So why steal that ring of all things? And why hide it under my bed—so conveniently placed to raise suspicion?

“Ah.”

A low sigh escaped me.

Now I saw the whole picture. The fact that she joined just a month ago made it even clearer.

Why didn’t I think of this sooner?

If there were people loyal to the empress, then of course there’d be people loyal to the heroine of the story. Just as my informants would risk their lives for me, Fay’s people would be just as willing.

This was a scheme. Most likely masterminded by Fay herself. And her accomplice was the maid Roizen, who had joined the palace a month ago.

She was a plant from the beginning.

They must have been observing me this whole time, just waiting for the opportunity to put this plan into motion. Fay probably gave her the ring herself and staged its disappearance during a meal, playing it up so Jerome would dispatch knights to search.

Then, when the knights came here last—it would be found, just as planned, under my bed.

The rest would unfold just like in the novel.

My deduction impressed even me.

Fay, you’re more frightening than I thought.

In the book, she was written as gentle and soft-hearted. But clearly, she had a cunning side. Of course, I couldn’t be completely certain—this was all circumstantial.

Still, the sly glint in her eyes and the odd expression when she realized the ring was gone went beyond mere suspicion.

I nodded with a faint smile. Countess Chloe was saying something beside me, but I barely heard her.

I’d found the culprit, and I could guess the motive. It was a decent plan, I’ll give her that.

But unfortunately, I’m someone who knows the future. And I had no intention of letting things play out so easily.

I knew exactly what that ring was going to trigger.

Now the question was—what to do with it?

Throwing it away during a garden walk or hiding it somewhere unreachable might work, but…

But that didn’t sit right. Tossing it would only clear my name at best. And even that wasn’t guaranteed. In a situation where everyone is already suspicious of me, would the absence of the ring really clear all doubt?

Wasn’t there a better way?

As I was puzzling all this out—

“What has you so deep in thought?”

A familiar voice suddenly interrupted me. I turned around in surprise.

“Sir Leonard?”

Leonard was standing there with a lazy smile. But why was he here?

Did I make an appointment with him?

Countess Chloe, also surprised, said with a flustered tone, “Just earlier, Sir Leonard requested an audience, and Your Majesty nodded with a smile, so I assumed it was permitted.”

“Ah.”

So that’s when it happened.

Lost in thoughts about Fay’s scheming, I must’ve nodded absentmindedly when the Countess was asking about Leonard.

“Looks like there was a misunderstanding.”

Leonard, quick to catch on, assessed the situation immediately. I nodded.

“Yes. I’m afraid I’m not in the best state to receive visitors right now.”

A polite way of asking him to leave.

But Leonard didn’t budge.

“It’s alright. I only came to return the book I borrowed last time.”

He placed a book on the table:

101 Ways to Capture a Rational Heart.

Huh? I raised an eyebrow.

“I thought you borrowed four books.”

“I haven’t gotten to the others yet.”

He had no shame whatsoever. I stared at him in disbelief as he casually sat down across from me and asked Countess Chloe for tea.

“I heard knights have a mountain of work. Yet the commander himself seems quite free.”

“Of course I’m busy. Very much so.”

“Yet here you are, having tea in my quarters?”

He smiled sweetly.

“No matter how busy one is, there’s always time for tea with someone special.”

“…I think I may have seriously misunderstood you.”

“Misunderstood?”

“There are rumors, you know. That you’re so obsessed with sword training you have no interest in society, and even less in the company of women.”

“Ah, that’s quite the misconception.” Leonard shook his head in mock regret. “It’s true I have no interest in society, but not the company of women.”

Then, with a peculiar gleam in his eye, he added:

“I just hadn’t found anyone who caught my interest before.”

“And how many women have you used that line on?”

“Believe it or not, this is my first time.”

“Of course I don’t believe it.”

For someone claiming it was his first time, he was alarmingly smooth. No, he must’ve been born with this talent. Like a fox with all nine tails.

“This kind of cold treatment is a first for me as well.”

He grinned playfully, but then his expression turned serious.

“By the way… there’s been quite a stir at the Imperial Concubine’s palace lately.”

“I know. Do you suspect me too?”

“No,” He cut in sharply.

“No?”

“That’s right.”

“That’s unexpected.”

“Why so?”

“Well, given everything I’ve done…”

Take Jerome, for instance. Because of Helena’s past misdeeds, his trust in me was nonexistent. And not just him—most people would think I was the prime suspect in anything involving Fay.

“Hmm, just a feeling.”

Leonard echoed my previous words and added:

“I haven’t known Your Majesty long, but for some reason, I’m certain of it.”

His lips curved gently. His clear blue eyes shone with quiet resolve and intensity. I had to avert my gaze and try for a change in subject.

“I thought you had odd tastes from your interest in romance books, but this is truly strange.”

“Even I didn’t know my taste would be like this.”

I went totally blank.

Barely managing to hold onto my senses, I realized—he’s a formidable one. He had a retort for everything.

Just as the awkward tension grew, Leonard rose from his seat.

“Well, now that I’ve returned the book, I’ll take my leave.”

“Take care on your way.”

“Once I finish the others, I’ll come back and return them personally.”

What? I quickly shook my head.

“You don’t have to bring them in person, you can send someone else.”

“Now that you’ve said that, I must bring them myself,” He grinned broadly. “Ah, and this is a token of thanks for the great book recommendation.”

He pulled something from his coat and placed it atop the book—a black box wrapped with a white ribbon.

I tilted my head.

“What is this?”

“A new product from our family business. I hope it suits Your Majesty’s taste.”

He bowed politely and left. The moment he was gone, the maids burst into excited exclamations.

“Oh my! Isn’t Sir Leonard from the Hilbert Marquisate?”

“Then this must be one of their rare luxury items!”

“What could it be? Your Majesty is so lucky!”

Their excited chatter made me blink in confusion.

“Is the Hilbert family that famous?”

“Of course! They’re the most talked-about noble house in society right now.”

“They recently opened a new trade route, right?”

“They’ve introduced rare and exotic goods never seen before. Since everything is limited edition, every noble dreams of owning at least one.”

“Some people even rush to the stores at dawn just to get one.”

Wow. Sounds like an imperial version of an “open run.”

I knew from the novel they were a prestigious family, but I didn’t realize they were this influential. Then again, Leonard eventually goes on to control the empire’s nightlife…

Wait.

As I stared at the black box tied with a white ribbon and thought about Leonard’s background—an idea hit me.

“Countess Chloe.”

“Yes, Your Majesty?”

“Could you call Sir Leonard back?”

Moments later, Leonard returned with Countess Chloe.

“I heard Your Majesty summoned me again?”

I nodded.

“Sir Leonard, I have a favor to ask of you.”

“Of me…?”

“Yes. It’s something only you can do.”

His eyes widened in surprise. Perhaps because I, who had always been cold to him, was now directly requesting his help.

Leonard bowed with elegant grace.

“What would you have me do, Your Majesty?”