Chapter 31

One week. That was the time it took to seek Lefevra’s help and employ people from the guild to investigate the whereabouts of the painter.

The only information they managed to uncover was an unwelcome fact.

「According to our investigation, the painter mentioned to the person who bought the painting that he would be leaving the empire.」

No matter how many times she reread the line, it did not change.

Aneta weakly set down the letter from Lefevra and held her forehead.

‘No wonder I couldn’t find him anywhere in the empire.’

For a moment, Aneta felt disheartened, then she picked up a quill. She wrote down the information Lefevra had obtained and emphasized that they must find the painter, no matter the cost.

Handing the wax-sealed envelope to her subordinate, Aneta then fell into deep thought for a long while.

‘Will I be able to find him?’

It was not easy to shake off the vague anxiety.

Aneta sighed with frustration as she picked up the teapot, but she found herself at a loss with nothing urgent to occupy her mind.

“Aneta.”

Absorbed in her thoughts, Aneta responded slowly to Carlos calling her name.

“What is it?”

She responded slowly, looking up to see him with a complex expression.

Without a word, Carlos gestured to the table.

“…….”

Following the direction of his outstretched finger, Aneta was at a loss for words upon seeing the mess she had created.

The spilled tea from the tilted teapot was overflowing the cup, making a mess on the table.

The tablecloth, once adorned with intricate gold lace embroidery, was now ruined by the crimson liquid.

“Give that to me. You might hurt yourself.”

Carlos gently took the teapot from her hands. Having dealt with a similar situation before, he wasn’t flustered and quietly began to clean up the mess without comment.

He removed the stained tablecloth and wiped down the remaining traces, then moved to sit beside Aneta. He didn’t want to watch from across the table, feeling uneasy.

“I’ll make the tea again. In the meantime, you should at least have a bite of this.”

Carlos pushed a plate of tea food toward her, knowing she likely hadn’t eaten properly all day. He recalled the times she had chewed her food with a rubbery expression, only to give up halfway.

Aneta wanted to refuse, saying she had no appetite but remembered Chris’s words about having made them early in the morning. She nodded obediently.

‘I wonder if that child is doing well.’

Thinking of the brightened face, as she reached for the cookie, a soft texture crumbled under her fingertips.

The sensation of something soft breaking apart was unpleasant.

Aneta frowned.

“It seems like today I shouldn’t do anything but stay still.”

Aneta had intended to grab a cookie but instead touched a piece of cake beside it, making a mess not only of the cake but also of her fingers, which were now covered in cream. She looked around for something to wipe her hand with, feeling uncomfortable.

“Give me your hand, Aneta.”

There was nothing suitable in sight. As she was fumbling around, realizing she didn’t have a handkerchief, Carlos gently took her wrist with a touch as soft as the cream.

Carlos paused momentarily as he reached into his pocket, seemingly about to pull out a handkerchief.

“What’s wrong? Do you not have a handkerchief either?”

“I do, but there’s no need to take it out.”

Before Aneta could react, she felt a surprising sensation that made her flinch.

Carlos, without hesitation, brought her fingers to his lips and sucked the cream off her fingers. His hot, soft tongue cleaned the cream, sliding over her skin. The indescribable sensation, accompanied by the sound of moisture, enveloped her.

His tongue moved between her fingers, creating a vivid contrast with his red lips against her pale skin, a visually provocative sight.

Unconsciously, Aneta licked her dry lips. Her fingers instinctively curled at the tantalizing interplay of colors before her.

Even though the cream was already gone, his tongue didn’t stop.

Overwhelmed by the tingling sensation, she pressed her fingers against his tongue, which eagerly delved beneath her nails, seeking more.

As his tongue moved slowly and intensely, as if sharing a deep kiss with her fingers, Aneta decided she couldn’t take it anymore.

“You’re acting on your own again.”

Noticing him lift his gaze that had been cast downward, Aneta withdrew her hand from his grasp. Her tone was calm, rather than reproachful.

“I think it’s best to stop now.”

Aneta reached her hand back towards his chin. Supporting the underside of his chin with her half-bent fingers, she felt the texture of his skin against the side of her leaning index finger.

With her thumb, which naturally settled on his lips, Aneta wiped away the glistening saliva.

As she gently pressed and pushed his moist lips, a moan-like sound escaped from between his parted lips.

Aneta held his gaze directly, then raised her hand, now wet with his saliva, in front of him.

“What is this?”

The cream had all disappeared into his mouth, but the discomfort remained.

When Aneta sighed, showing him her saliva-soaked, glistening fingers, he reached for his handkerchief and smiled.

“Sorry.”

His apology, tinged with regret, was untrustworthy.

Aneta lightly flicked his forehead, which showed no sign of remorse despite his words.

“Forget about it. A handkerchief won’t help now.”

Aneta eventually had to wash her hands.

When she returned to the office, Carlos was nowhere to be seen, and a small note was left behind.

The note said he had gone to see Russell and would be back as soon as possible, hinting at his unease about leaving her alone.

“It’s not like I’m a kid or something.”

Aneta muttered softly as she sat back at the table. Facing the remnants of the unfinished task pricked her conscience slightly.

The tea that Carlos had served had grown cold. The flavor was half gone, and the bitterness had intensified, but Aneta drained her cup anyway.

In the past, she would have believed his feelings for her would follow a similar path—cooling off as time went by.

No matter how fervently feelings burn, they eventually cool down with a prolonged wait.

But not now. His feelings seemed to know no bounds, boiling over and threatening to throw himself into the flames to keep that heat alive.

‘What should I do?’

Aneta was at a loss. It was a dilemma without an answer, one she couldn’t consult anyone about.

One thing was certain: she did not love him—at least not yet.

She couldn’t predict the future, but it was undeniable that she was gradually falling for him.

At some point, being in the same space with him no longer felt uncomfortable. She even started to enjoy their time together.

The biggest change was that no matter how he touched her, it no longer felt unpleasant.

If anyone else had done what he did earlier, she would have slapped them without hesitation.

She had no idea how to handle these new emotions, the likes of which she had never experienced in either her past or present life.

Aneta sighed and closed her eyes.

Knock, knock.

The sound of someone knocking on the door brought her back to reality.

Aneta straightened up from her reclining position.

“Who is it?”

“It’s Baron, My Lady. I have a report about the mine.”

How long had it been since the matter with the illegitimate child was resolved? What could it be this time? Aneta frowned.

“Come in.”

Baron entered as soon as permission was granted.

Aneta questioned him as he bowed in greeting.

“A mine, you say. Which mine are you talking about?”

“The Henriette Mine. My Lady”

The Henriette Mine was the family’s treasure that had made the Adenauer family the wealthiest in the empire. Given the immense profits it generated daily, any problems arising there were never trivial.

Pressing her fingertips against her throbbing temples, Aneta gestured for him to continue.

“A miner was caught trying to steal a diamond. This is a letter from the mine’s manager,” Baron said, handing over an envelope he had pulled from his coat.

Aneta tore open the plain, unremarkable envelope and quickly read through the letter that followed a brief greeting.

The miner, who had found a pale pink diamond, attempted to steal it but was caught by the manager. He was currently being held in custody.

Touching the property of a high-ranking noble was a serious offense, likely punishable by the loss of a hand or even his life.

However, no one had mentioned his punishment. Aneta, noticing Baron’s uneasy expression, looked back at the letter.

It seemed that the person who least wanted the miner to be punished was the one who had sent the letter.

The manager detailed the miner’s circumstances at length. The miner, who had always been diligent, had stolen the diamond to pay for medicine for his critically ill son.

Burdened with debt for his son’s treatment and unable to borrow more money, he had acted out of desperation.

Aneta’s expression softened slightly as she reread the manager’s plea for clemency, understanding the complexity of the situation. The manager was asking for leniency, highlighting the miner’s previously unblemished record and dire circumstances.

Desperate to save his son.

The story, filled with paternal love, was unfamiliar to her.

“It seems no one wants the miner to be punished,” Aneta said, probing for his opinion.

“We simply follow your decision, My Lady,” Baron replied firmly.

His words were sincere; he and the others genuinely hoped the miner would not be punished, though they left the decision entirely in her hands.

“Who knows about this incident?”

“Only myself, the manager, and my father. Everyone else was preoccupied with the commotion following the late Lord’s passing, so this matter hasn’t been widely known.”

“Is that so?”

Given the chaos in the domain and Derek’s death, which left the family without a resident lord, it was indeed an opportune moment for the miner. This situation likely influenced the miner’s desperate actions.

Aneta pondered the situation, weighing the facts and her conjecture. It was a pitiful and unfortunate story, making the decision all the more challenging.

“Acting according to my own will seems best. Wait here for a moment.”

Having made her decision, Aneta stood up immediately. She instructed the surprised Baron to wait, then grabbed her seal from her desk and left the office.

Aneta’s destination was the imperial palace.

She informed the guards of her purpose, and soon received permission to enter.

“Greetings to the benevolent glory of the Empire, Your Majesty the Emperor.”

As usual, she greeted him, but her expression was far from pleasant. Both Carlos and Russell noticed this immediately. Russell exchanged a glance with Carlos as soon as she entered.

‘Do you know what’s going on?’

‘No, I don’t.’

Their silent exchange ended as Aneta straightened up.

“Yes, I heard you have something to say about the mine. What’s the matter?” Russell inquired. He had also intended to discuss a matter related to her mine, so he decided to hear her out first.

“I humbly seek to propose a deal with you, Your Majesty, the Emperor,” Aneta began.