Chapter 9
After getting off the Carriage, I took Isaacs hand and looked around.
I walked for a while and searched where Claras debut would be, but I couldnt tell where it was because the sun was already setting.
Me and Louis held hands tightly and followed only Isaac, who knew the imperial palace like the back of his hand.
Lets go through the back door so we wont get caught by mother.
Perhaps because he had been in and out of the Imperial Palace while training to be a knight, Isaac took the two of us into the back door of the Rose Hall where the ball was held.
Wow. Pretty.
Hold on a second. Louis, you have to keep Siel in check. Isaac went to the lookout and we stayed in the background and observed the garden.
If the historic Duke of Valentine boasts a mid-to-late look, the imperial palace was up-to-date to the taste of the Emperor.
Ciel, look at this!
Whats that?
Louis, who found something, called me. There were traces of something buried under the soil of the garden.
Oh, did you find something? At any rate, I squatted and dug the dirt, admiring the talent of our youngest brother, who had a brilliant mind and a keen eye.
Then the worm comes out? She told herself sarcastically and Louis pretends to be innocent and steps back.
Im not scared at all. Oh, whats this? I was curious about what was buried, so I searched hard and found a paper bag inside.
This is a bit ominous. Sensing the crisis, Louis quickly took the envelope from my hand.
Give it to me.Personnel verification file for candidates on behalf of the next Secretary of State. Whats this?
What?
I did, but maybe I did get something dangerous. The foreboding grew stronger. Louis has yet to understand the exact meaning of such difficult words even though he can read them aloud.
But Im different. Because I have adult knowledge as it is.
Wait, give it to me.
I quickly stole the document with my eyes. Even if you read it roughly, its not something thats meant to be buried here.
What are you guys doing there? Louis and I looked up at the man standing behind us, his hands full of dirt.
Yikes. I think were screwed.
* * *
Alex stepped out of the crowded party and into the garden. It has already been three years since he started his official duties, and he has officially continued his career after being ordered by his father, the Emperor.
Negotiations with neighboring Kingdoms were successful. However, despite his excellent results over the years, the Emperor still gave no definite answer.
You dont have enough justification.
In other words, there is still a lack of justification to make himself the Crown Prince. It was more than possible to guess who was behind it.
Princess Royal, Empress Rote, Mothers enemy and Mistress of the current Imperial palace. As the head of the aristocracy who revered legitimacy and authority, she always regarded Alexs presence as a thorn in her eye.
Like a bug.
The Empress Rote hated Alexs mother. His mother was killed by someone for daring to bear the Emperors seed. He could tell who the culprit was without having to tell him.
Those who feared the power of the Empress disguised his Mothers death as an accident, even though they clearly saw signs of death from poison.
After his mothers unjust death, Alex decided. He will surely be an emperor and clear his mothers false accusations. He wasnt going to do anything to do that.
If he marries Duchal house Valentines daughter, there will be enough justification.
There was a time when the Emperor mentioned it as a passing story. Its funny that this is said about a child who is only 10 years old, but the marriage of the royal family requires a proper identity.
If he marries Siel, Alex gains a strong backing, the Duke of Christopher Valentine, the supreme power of the empire, whom even Princess Rotte cannot carelessly treat. Its Valentine.
According to his research, the Duke of Valentine has five children in total.
Three sons, one daughter, and Clara the adopted daughter. A woman with no blood-ties to the family whatsoever.
Clara was adopted because the Duchess did not have a daughter, and as soon as she did, Siel, the Duchess biological daughter, was born.
So Clara Valentine is nothing but a scoundrel.
She said she liked you the most.
Alexs Mother was an unwelcomed scoundrel in this imperial palace.
With the arrival of Empress Rote, who received a formal bookkeeping, his mother naturally became a person without even a record.
So he had a prejudice without realizing it. Like the Empress who bullied his mother because she was lower than herself, however-
Siel is a different person.
Let go of me!
The childs voice, which couldnt be heard at the party, sounded very similar to that of Siel of the day. Ladies who are about to make their first social debut will enter soon, so there should be no one in the garden right now.
He cant just let the fuss slip away. Alex pulled the sword straight out and headed for the garden.
There were two well-dressed children, and one of the imperialists, Count Reuben.
Give me my sister!
I wont until you give me that envelope!
No. You cant do this!
Alex was speechless by the absurd scenery in front of him. Its definitely Valentines third son, Louis Valentine, whos pulling the mans pants hard on the floor.
(T/N : Its official, Louis is the best.)
And the girl, caught in Count Reubens hands, is holding the envelope tightly against her chest.
What brings you here, Valentines young miss, and Valentines young master?
Your Highness! Fortunately, Siel Valentine remembered Alexs face.
In the meantime, Louis, standing next to the captor, attacked Count Reubens family jewels with all his might.
(T/n : ANOTHER POINTS)
I told you to let my sister go!
Woo!
When Count Reubens body, which had been hit by in his baby maker, collapsed, Siel jumped off, grabbed her brothers hand, and immediately hid behind Alex.
Your Highness, help me.
Huh? Your highness? You mean, Your Highness Alex?
Count Reuben, What happened.
Count Reuben fell to the floor and was in agony, unable to say a word.
Alex looked after the two children behind him in the meantime. He doesnt know why these kids are here.
However, if anything happened to the child of the Duke of Valentine, the youngest daughter Siel, who is also famous for always getting pampered by the Duke, a big problem would surely arise.
Both of you, all right?
Your highness, please look at this document.
Siel Valentine readily came before him with a document that she had not given away despite Count Rubens threat. Leaning against the dim light shining through the window, he read down the document.
The personnel verification file for the next nomine on behalf of the State Department?
Whats that?'
The young master Louis may not know, but Siel Valentine seems to have already noticed how important the document is.
He put the document back in the envelope and asked Siel.
Where the hell did you get this?
It was buried there. Hes here to get this. Siel pointed to Count Reuben in a clear voice.
I-I dont know anything.
Count Reubens response, who is trembling while talking, is suspicious. Alex went straight into the blame.
You say you dont know, when this thing out here is your father-in-laws corruption?
Marquis Romford, Count Rubens father-in-law, is one of the most prominent ministers of state and one of the nobles who backs Emperor Lautte.
Judging from the original documentation, he decided to steal evidence of the Marquis Romfords corruption from the imperial court and hand it over to the Marquis, Alex shook off the soil and put it in an envelope.
Ill take this. If you dont go away right now, your neck will no longer be intact on your shoulders, not your master.
That was the maximum generosity Alex could show. Count Reuben ran away and Alex looked at the muddy children.
Siels behavior was somewhat dubious. Not like the youngest daughter who grew up with only love, she even brushed off the dirt from her grunting brothers clothes.
My brother Louise, thats great. If it werent for my brother, I would have died.
Thats why you shouldve just gave it away or why didnt you give it to me instead? Even at the words of Lewis, Siel didnt even bat an eye.
But this was a really important piece of data. Isnt it, Your Highness?
Thats true, but how the hell did this little girl find out?
It must have been quite difficult for a child to understand and contained many words she didnt know.
In fact, her Brother Louis doesnt seem to know what it is yet.
Do you know what this is about?
Yes, its proof of corruption of the newly elected State Department Minister. Im glad for you, because now Marquis Romford is going to drop out of office as the next Secretary of State.
Its good for me? Why did you think so?
Because it is the greatest danger that will threaten your Majestys power in the future.
Unlike when she was acting cute with a short tongue in front of her sister, Ciel Valentine seemed to know not only about Alex but also the fact that there was an imperial daughter behind the Marquis of Romford.
Considering that this involves the Valentine as witness is a coincidence, now they cant just doesnt go unnoticed. He concluded that and set a good example.
I think I should thank you very much, Valentines princess.
For whatever reason, this kid is worth using. With that thought, Alex willingly knelt in front of Siel.