“Ah! How does this work?”

She never imagined the object itself would become a key.

“It’s a key to a private rental safe deposit box for secret clients of the Imperial Central Bank.”

“Oh!”

The key Lorraine had exchanged for her life had letters inscribed on it.

“Charlotte-PB0859S1434? Is this the ID and password for the private deposit box?”

Instead of answering, he tightly gripped the key and hurriedly stood to leave. Debbie grabbed his collar.

“I told you once before. The inventory check section on the publishing house supply room door. Leave a trace there, and I’ll help you actively.”

Just as he was about to speak, Debbie placed her finger on his lips to silence him.

“Please consider it for Lorraine’s sake.”

Tears welled up in Debbie’s eyes.

“I want to help you.”

“Not that section. Remove the inventory memo slot and turn it over. Now, I must go.”

He left those words behind and entered the adjacent room.

Click.

The sound of the door closing echoed. If she were to open that door again, he would undoubtedly be gone.

Nevertheless, Debbie felt joy that he hadn’t rejected her offer of help.

‘The phantom thief and guest columnist AB really is Mr. Fret.’

The man Lorraine loved, the shadow figure who effectively controlled Voluptas and had connections throughout the entertainment industry.

The man who had ruthlessly crushed the competing establishment Raphsa to make an example of them.

And her first adult experience.

Tears flowed, though she wasn’t sure if she felt relieved that he was the phantom thief, or upset that she had once dreamed of being with him without knowing he was the person Lorraine loved.

‘Why am I acting like this?’

Debbie quickly wiped her eyes with her palm.

* * *

On her first day at the villa, she slept continuously. On the second day, depression left her unwilling to do anything, so she just stared blankly out the window.

By the third day, the caretaker couple suggested a walk and showed her around the villa grounds, which improved her mood slightly.

‘Being wealthy really is nice.’

The villa was ideally situated. Located not too far from the capital yet surrounded by other modest villas, it offered both tranquility and beautiful scenery.

Debbie followed the couple along a quiet walking path. Though the path itself wasn’t particularly special, security guards stationed throughout caught her attention.

Their attire seemed too elaborate and eye-catching for mere path guards, resembling impressive uniforms.

When Debbie eyed them suspiciously, the caretaker smiled and explained.

“Not all nobles can own villas like this. Even with money, some places can’t be bought. Just beyond that ridge is the Emperor’s villa, so one cannot cross over carelessly.”

“Really?”

Debbie was surprised by this belated realization.

‘We were drinking and partying with the staff in such a dangerous(?) place! The Emperor could have passed by, seen our unseemly behavior, and ordered us removed from his sight!’

The security guards on the path were essentially former imperial guards.

“Indeed. We occasionally encounter His Imperial Majesty, and at such times, even looking at him is considered disrespectful. You must prostrate yourself completely until he passes by.”

The caretaker chuckled.

Hearing this, Debbie gazed toward the direction where the Emperor’s villa supposedly stood.

While the nobles’ villas were relatively close to each other, the Emperor’s residence was only nominally neighboring—separated by a low mountain and forest that formed a natural boundary, keeping it entirely out of sight.

The distance seemed to warn against any attempt to peek.

“Hmm.”

Having suffered emotional wounds from attracting the attention of those in power due to her parents’ situation, Debbie shuddered at the thought.

Even in her imagination, she couldn’t picture what the Emperor’s villa might look like.

* * *

There was a woman.

She appeared to be in her early thirties but possessed a formidable dignity that suggested otherwise. She was an uncommon beauty.

Even without the tiara on her head, her finely braided upswept hair could easily be mistaken for a crown. Her silvery hair was so smooth and fine that it gleamed with a sharp metallic luster.

Her eyes, which appeared colder due to sharply angled eyebrows, were surprisingly a delicate pink, contrasting with her severe impression.

Her naturally slender and sensitive jawline enhanced her cool demeanor.

The ladies-in-waiting who served her always maintained straight postures in a state of constant tension.

Though teatime was supposedly when their mistress was most relaxed, even this relaxation contained a discipline and courtesy honed to needle-like sharpness that prevented anyone from daring to make even a breathing sound.

“Hmm…”

Judging by how she repeatedly stirred her tea two or three times today, her mood seemed particularly displeased. Consequently, her attendants were even more careful with their conduct.

Slightly furrowing her brow and lowering her eyelashes, she set down her teaspoon.

With elegant and textbook hand movements, she first savored the tea’s aroma before taking a light sip. However, she didn’t seem to enjoy the taste.

When she put down her teacup, the ladies-in-waiting cautiously approached to bring another teapot, but when she cast them a cold glance, they quickly retreated to their original positions.

“Count Shambali has been engaging in some inappropriate cute behavior?”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

Seated across from her was a kindly elderly gentleman with the appearance of an aged raccoon.

“Something that could harm me. Do you know exactly what it is?”

“We’re still investigating. It seems he was trying to cover his tracks and silence someone. Do you have any suspicions?”

Looking at him as he asked discreetly, the Dowager Empress laughed with a sharp voice that resembled a snort.

“Well. Perhaps rumors about having a child hidden somewhere?”

The Empress laughed, but no one watching dared join her.

“Or perhaps repeated scandals from my family that don’t match our status?”

She continued speaking, narrowing her pink eyes.

“Rumors have killed and resurrected perfectly healthy people countless times, so who would believe them? But even for in-laws, this seems excessive. Whatever embarrassment of mine they might bring forth would be less shocking than my family’s, Duke Reyners.”

At the Dowager Empress’s words, the elderly gentleman, addressed as Duke Reyners, let out a chuckle.

“Marquis Clarence tends to be honest with his desires. However, if his scandal breaks, mutual destruction is inevitable.”

Click.

At those words, the Dowager Empress set her teacup down on the saucer loudly enough to make a sound. The tea rippled to the brim but not a single drop spilled.

“I didn’t marry into the imperial family to increase my family’s wealth. Nor was it for some lowly count.”

Duke Reyners merely smiled and drank his tea in response.

“So, will you accept the striking workers’ requests as they demand?”

“Compromise doesn’t exist in my vocabulary.”

Dowager Empress Stella spoke firmly.

“But His Imperial Majesty thinks differently. He seems to be halfway convinced already.”

“That child knows nothing about politics.”

The Dowager Empress’s voice rose slightly.

“We’re still dealing with the aftermath of expenditures advanced during the previous Emperor’s conquest wars. With such enormous debt, we simply cannot accept a compromise.”

“Ominous signs are gradually appearing, Your Majesty.”

“I know. I’m aware of the conspiracy theories claiming I’m the mastermind, that all the embezzled national treasury goes to my family. Still, wage increases are out of the question.”

“Is there truly no other way?”

“The economic growth rate has just started rising, and we’ve entered a surplus. We cannot sacrifice the future for a momentary taste of sweetness. Tax rates and wages remain frozen. I believe we concluded this discussion last time. Didn’t we?”

“That’s true. But will you be alright? Even if everyone blames you and turns against you?”

At Duke Reyners’s words, Dowager Empress Stella’s eyebrows rose.

“Tell those with complaints to request an audience with me directly. I intend to thoroughly punish one as an example this time.”

Duke Reyners nodded at her words.

“I am always Your Majesty’s chess piece. Use me as you wish.”

The ladies-in-waiting observing this exchange grew even more tense.

Each being a daughter or spouse from a powerful family, they knew that everything they saw and heard would certainly be relayed back to their families.

Dowager Empress Stella observed with a passing glance whose complexion changed.

Hmph. So it’s you.

Stella mentally marked one of the ladies-in-waiting.

* * *

Debbie returned to the publishing house.

She had only rested for four days, but with Louis coming to whine at her, she wasn’t in a position to rest comfortably.

Debbie imagined venting all her complaints internally as she went to work.

“Wow! Perfect timing! I was just in a difficult spot.”

Reporter Benjamin, worn down by overwork, welcomed Debbie, and Team Leader Louis jabbed him in the side.

“You could have rested longer.”

Louis pretended to be concerned while displaying poor acting skills. Debbie responded with a bitter smile.

“No, how could I rest when everyone is so busy?”

“I hope I didn’t pressure you unnecessarily.”

‘Yeah right. Your whining all the way at the villa was the real pressure.’

At least Gray would prioritize tasks and precisely identify what needed to be done.

Unlike Louis, who would say both this and that needed to be done, telling her to figure it out herself and bring back results without any clear direction.

‘I thought I was pointing out the obvious, but the editor-in-chief’s absence is immediately noticeable.’

Debbie began processing articles in quick succession to help the floundering Louis.

Benjamin, who had been struggling to determine what to do first, brightened up watching Debbie.

“Wow. You’re getting quite good now. Good enough to drop the ‘trainee’ label.”

Louis then casually asked.

“By the way, Debbie, is your column ready?”

Debbie tried her best to maintain her professional persona B, but couldn’t remain calm with the deadline looming.

“Not yet…”

Debbie’s voice trailed off.

“The deadline is urgent and you still haven’t prepared your column? What are you thinking!”

Louis erupted in anger.

She was too stunned to speak. Because of what happened to Lorraine, her interview subject, she couldn’t even go home and had been practically confined to the villa.

He seemed to treat this like she’d been slacking off. Louis must have realized his mistake, as he quickly changed his tone.

“I understand the circumstances were unavoidable, but what makes a professional a professional? You can’t miss deadlines. Especially with the editor-in-chief absent, all responsibility falls on me.”

Listening to his complaints, Debbie kept her lips tightly sealed.

Since she had been writing columns based on personal experiences until now, it was natural that Louis wouldn’t understand what such pressure meant to Debbie.