Mr. Crimson’s question caught me off guard.

‘What?’

It had only been two days since I became the chambermaid of the protagonist. It was obviously a very short time for the outside world to know about it.

Especially in a world where the internet hadn’t even been invented.

‘Did that orange head bring me here knowing that I needed information?’

No.

It had only been a few hours since I received the map from Mila and judging by the distance between the palace and this place, it wasn’t a situation where he could have informed Mr. Crimson in advance and brought me here.

Perhaps reading my bewildered expression, Mr. Crimson proudly shrugged and spoke to me.

“I know a thing or two about palace folks. If someone comes in with a bunch of gold like that, I can get a rough idea.”

Then he took out a piece of paper and started writing my name with the golden fountain pen.

Rose Estanya.

It was actually the first time I had seen Rose’s full name.

“I don’t usually take commissions from nobles, but it’s different when it comes to the Crown Prince’s chambermaid.”

Tell me what you want, but of course you’ll have to pay me generously.”

Mr. Crimson said to me in a self-assured tone.

I was hesitant. Could I trust this person blindly?

Despite my trembling voice, I attempted to calm my tone and ask.

“Do you also deal with items?”

Upon my question, Mr. Crimson laughed and replied.

“There will be a little extra charge, but of course.”

He pulled out a ledger and held it out to me, then flipped through the pages.

“What do you desire? The Red Diamond of the ancient royal family? The lost golden scriptures of the magical era?”

The shelves were filled with pictures that looked like treasure maps.

I swallowed nervously and spoke to him.

“Before that.”

I pulled out a handful of gold coins and handed them to him.

Even if Mr. Crimson had instantly figured out my identity, I couldn’t completely trust him.

I had three days.

“I’ll give you one day.”

Mr. Crimson frowned at my words.

“Find out what is the biggest secret that Duke Tianel is hiding right now.”

If the current Duke of Tianel is the same Duke as in the original story, then his greatest secret is his illegitimate daughter.

And very few people knew that secret.

The original story clearly states that no one knows of the female leads existence except the duke and his closest confidants.

Of course, if you know how to ask, you can find out.

The problem is that it’s difficult to do that.

“Are you doubting my abilities?”

I smiled mischievously at Mr. Crimson’s question and replied.

“Of course not.”

I tapped my fingers on the tabletop and whispered.

“Get me the information I want, and I’ll give you exactly double this amount for your next transaction.”

* * *

As soon as I finished my business, I grabbed my racing heart and rushed out of the bookstore.

“This can’t be real.”

Things don’t get resolved this easily, right?

“What? Huh? What’s going on?”

An orange head was approaching right in front of me.

I glanced at the orange head.

What the hell is this guy?

I guess he’s doing me a favor, but I can’t help but feel a little creeped out.

“It’s nothing special. I didn’t have many books that suit my taste, so I made a request myself, you know.”

“Oh, what’s your taste? Huh? I’m also a fast reader, yup!”

I pressed my hand firmly against the orange head who was intruding on me and stepped forward.

I had to memorize the route well.

So that I wouldn’t forget and come back again.

It would soon be dinner time.

The male lead said I didn’t have to come to his room for three days, so at least during that time, I had my free time.

“Noisy, show me the way.”

Aaron grumbled to me with a disappointed face.

After going through all the trouble to guide me, he complained about how it was boring, saying things like treating him like a servant and so on.

As we passed through the alleyway that didn’t even look like a proper path, a huge imperial wall decorated with ivy and flowers came into view.

Aaron, as if he was used to outings like this, naturally entered through the back door, and I followed suit.

“Is it always this easy to come and go?”

“Teiron doesn’t inspect very often.”

He shook his head and smoothed his apron.

I resolved in my heart to make good use of that in the future. 

The kitchen was really sloppy.

“Rose! Are you leaving now?”

“Yeah.”

I turned to go upstairs to my room, roughly leaving the orange head behind, when Aaron called out to me in a rumbling voice.

“See you again! Rose! See you tomorrow morning—!”

“….That crazy guy.”

I covered my face and quickly left the kitchen.

It felt like I had made a mistake.

I would avoid him, even if it meant dying in the palace.

I gritted my teeth and hurriedly went up to my room.

My empty room was peaceful, and the plants I transplanted into flower pots in the morning were thriving and full of life.

I should save up some money.

The protagonist gave me a lot of money, but if I spent it recklessly and he asked me to give him the leftover money, I would have no way to do so. I had to set aside some emergency funds.

Honestly speaking, the price for information was too high.

Considering that the base unit was gold, it was ridiculous.

So, I had to find another means with a lower price, like the herbalist named Mellory mentioned in the diary.

‘She wasn’t mentioned in the diary for no reason.’

I needed information.

I quickly walked to my desk and opened the diary.

There it was, another entry, scribbled on the first page.

I wasn’t surprised.

It’s just the way this diary works.

It’s like a game system that helps you whenever it’s appropriate.

Mr. Crimson, who sells various types of rare books, is actually an information broker.

He is well-informed about the activities in the back alleys.

It’s a secret that he keeps from others.

The basic transaction price is 3 gold.

I let out a bitter laugh.

Then I turned to the diary like a madman and asked.

“What do you want from me?”

Naturally, the diary didn’t answer.

Anyway, if the diary was indeed telling the truth, Mr. Crimson would bring the information I asked for tomorrow.

Then all I have to do is ask him to bring me a formal invitation from the Third Prince.

At least then, I won’t be relentlessly pursued and killed by the protagonist.

I threw my body onto the bed.

My tense body felt as if it was releasing all its tension at once, causing me pain.

Exhaustion washed over me, and I closed my eyes.

“Ha, my fortune.”

I let out a deep sigh and wiped my face.

If the author had been a bit more generous in revealing the details, I wouldn’t have suffered like this.

I resented the things that didn’t happen.

Why did the novel begin after the crown prince ascended to the throne, and why had I been dropped here at this ambiguous point in time, before the novel had even begun.

And what in the world is Rose’s diary that is helping me.

The lack of clarity was driving me crazy.

I was frustrated and annoyed even when I just stood still.

I desperately wanted to break the protagonist’s porcelain face in half right now.

If only the female protagonist would appear, I would leave this royal palace.

Definitely.

* * *

Mr. Crimson’s letter has arrived.

His Grace the Duke has set a watch upon a young lady who looks exactly like him.

Her name is…… Serena? How did they manage to find even her name?

Honestly, I was a bit surprised. They even found out her name. The duke must have attached someone to discreetly observe her, making it difficult to find her.

‘At least she is alive and well.’

I clasped my hands together and breathed a sigh of relief.

‘My only hope, Lady Protagonist! Just hold on and appear in front of Calix at the right time.’

I recalled the original story quietly.

The female lead also had an unfortunate narrative similar to Calix’s.

Born out of wedlock and orphaned for most of her life, until she caught the duke’s eye by chance and was taken in as a noble.

‘I’m sure the duke is deep in thought right now, with his illegitimate daughter living in a filthy slum and only attached someone to observe her.’

Anyway, soon the female lead would enter the duke’s household as a noble. So, leaking this much information wouldn’t matter.

Once the female lead becomes a noble, the fact that the duke has an illegitimate child will quickly spread to the public.

I picked up a fountain pen and slowly wrote a reply.

You know that the information exchanged between us is confidential, right? If it leaks… I think Mr. Crimson knows very well what will happen.

First, I’ll enclose the agreed-upon amount.

I hope our transaction can continue for a long time.

Now it was time to give him a new request.

Please obtain an invitation to the masquerade ball that will be held in three days.

The envelope, sealed with a loud rustling sound, contained a pouch with enclosed coins.