Chapter 62

Malena instinctively felt a threat and started to cautiously step back.  

With a thud, her shoulder bumped into something hard. Reflexively turning around, she saw other men in uniforms standing there, having appeared without her noticing. They stood with their hands behind their backs, blocking her path.  

Quickly giving up, Malena slowly stepped inside. As soon as she was completely inside, the door closed behind her.  

The handsome man in uniform observed her movements carefully. Malena, bowing to him, fixed her gaze on the floor and opened her mouth to take the initiative.  

“Your Lordship, I came after hearing that you were looking for me.”  

“Oh.”  

The man let out a sound of admiration at Malena’s words. He hadn’t expected her to remain so composed under the subtle pressure. But that was all. Her hands, clasped politely in front of the faded apron, were tense with strain.  

The man picked up a document lying on the desk.  

“Name: Malena Sean.”  

It was her name. Malena bit the inside of her lip discreetly.  

“You have a younger brother living far away and a son attending school. You only exchange occasional messages, correct?”  

Malena slowly raised her head.  

“What… are you saying?”  

“You were once an executive of a now-defunct information guild, running a general store disguised as a cover at 17 Amir Street.”  

“……”  

“After the guild disappeared, you continued the shop as your livelihood until you suddenly sold it and vanished without a trace.”  

The indifferent golden eyes that spoke in a tone full of ridicule scanned Malena from head to toe. She swallowed hard.  

“My Lord, I do not understand what you are saying. Where is the Princess?”  

“And now you’re working as a maid in the Princess’s palace. Doesn’t that seem suspicious, Petra?”  

“……”  

“No, I suppose I should call you Malena.”  

It was over. She had been exposed.  

…Then what about the organization? The Princess?  

As a web of thoughts began to unfold with the unease spreading throughout her body, Malena’s face grew increasingly pale.  

The man stepped closer to her. His black shoes, polished to a gleam, reflected the light.  

“N-no, that’s not true! I am not Malena! Where is the Princess?”  

“What is your purpose in entering the royal palace?”  

“……!”  

“What are you scheming near my sister without fear?”  

At the words that revealed the man’s identity, Malena’s eyes widened in shock.  

It was a voice she had heard before. A voice so noble that she, as a close maid of the Princess, dared not even look at him directly. A voice she was only familiar with from hearing it.  

The man was the King of Rohadin.  

Malena hastily fell to the ground before him.  

“Your Majesty!”  

Malena bowed her head to the floor and cried out urgently.  

“I do not know what misunderstanding you have, but I know nothing!”  

Seeing Malena groveling at his feet, desperately pleading her innocence, Michael chuckled as if he had expected this.  

But the smile soon disappeared. He gave a nod.  

“Take her away.”  

At Michael’s command, two men who had been waiting by the door grabbed Malena by both arms. As they roughly pulled her up, fear of what was to come filled Malena’s eyes.  

The door opened behind her, and as she was dragged out, she shouted that it wasn’t her, that it was unfair, but her cries faded as the door closed.  

Once the commotion subsided, Walter, the captain of the Kaiserliche who had been standing behind Michael, stepped forward.  

“Your Majesty.”  

It was just a short word calling him, but Michael understood its meaning perfectly.  

It was a question of whether he really needed to involve himself in something that could have been left to them.  

Walter was right. As King, Michael only needed to command the Kaiserliche and obtain the information they extracted from interrogating Malena.  

But this matter, at least for him, couldn’t be resolved so easily.  

Malena, a maid in the Princess’s palace, had been identified by Giselle and Ras as someone aware of Erhen’s attack.  

To make matters worse, Malena was said to be the maid Giselle had recently trusted and sought out the most.  

Three pieces of information all pointed to Giselle being suspicious.  

And yet.  

Michael slowly removed his uniform jacket.  

“This isn’t just anyone’s affair; it involves Giselle.”  

“……”  

“As her brother, I must clear my sister’s name myself.”  

On the day their mother passed away, his younger sister, still a child, hadn’t cried like other children but had instead held his hand tightly.  

On the day they resolved to stage a coup against Rufus, even facing an uncertain future, Giselle had handed him a gun.  

She was that kind of sister.  

Even if everyone pointed fingers at her, Michael had to protect her. Especially in a situation where suspicions were so clear. That was his duty as Giselle’s brother.  

Walter nodded at Michael’s words. Unaware of the situation with Erhen suspecting Giselle, Walter simply believed Michael’s actions were just.  

However, it didn’t take long for Michael’s trust in Giselle to crumble.  

***

The days had been astonishingly peaceful. It was only natural. From now on, without any threats to her life, such tranquil days would continue. Just like the time after her divorce when she had moved to Heringen.  

The only difference was her heart. Unlike the past when she had swallowed and locked away unexpressed emotions, now….  

No. I couldn’t think too deeply.  

Charlotte, tying up her long hair that reached her waist, picked up the revolver lying on the table.  

Although there was no longer any reason to continue shooting lessons with Ras in this peaceful situation, she had decided to fully master the gun she had started learning.  

At least when she aimed the muzzle at the target, she could escape from distracting thoughts.  

– Bang, bang, bang.  

However, despite the sharp sound of gunfire, the bullets fired in succession missed the target by a wide margin.  

“Hmm…. It seems the illness you had these past few days has affected you significantly.”  

Ras, who was still acting as her instructor, commented. A faint scent of gunpowder lingered between them after the repeated shots.  

“Just a week ago, you were nearly perfect.”  

Ras added regretfully as he adjusted Charlotte’s posture.  

“But I believe you’ll regain your previous skill once you fully recover!”  

Speaking cheerfully, as if to lift Charlotte’s spirits, Ras reassured her.  

In truth, Charlotte’s shooting skills were exceptional for a beginner. Despite having only a few lessons, her progress had been remarkable.  

Just before she fell ill, she had been able to hit moving targets. With a little more training, she could easily match the guards employed by Lucas’s security company.  

Charlotte chuckled softly at Ras’s confident assurance.  

“You make it sound like I’m aiming to become a shooting champion.”  

Her laughter seemed to finally put Ras at ease, and he smiled.  

After recovering from her illness, the Viscountess had exuded an atmosphere eerily similar to the time when the Duke of Rosenheim had secluded himself for a month in Heringen.  

No, perhaps it was even more severe. Ras recalled Lida’s words about how the Viscountess had hardly smiled or eaten since getting out of bed.  

“Shooting is also about stamina, Viscountess.”  

At Ras’s abrupt comment, Charlotte shot him a suspicious glance.  

“You are eating properly, aren’t you?”  

“Now that you mention it, it’s been a while since you and I drank together.”  

Charlotte teased as she scanned him. But knowing his question came from genuine concern, she shrugged and set the revolver down.  

“So, is today’s lesson over?”  

“Yes. Let’s continue once you’ve recovered more. Today was too soon.”  

“You’re quite the worried instructor. Alright.”  

Charlotte removed her leather gloves. Just then, Lida entered the shooting range, carrying the coat and items Charlotte needed for her outing.  

Seeing Lida enter, Ras asked again.  

“Do you have plans? I can prepare as well.”  

“No, it’s fine. Lida and I will be enough.”  

“Where are you going?”  

“To meet the real shooting champion of this country.”  

Now that things with Erhen were settled, it was time to resolve matters with Hamern as well.  

Even if she had ended her relationship with him, avoiding him completely required returning to Heringen. 

To achieve that, she had to quickly finalize the café project within the royal palace that Michael had proposed.  

Although it was something that could proceed without her involvement, Michael insisted that she personally oversee it, a sentiment Charlotte couldn’t understand.  

But the problem arose when she went to the royal palace to handle these matters.  

“…Charlotte.”  

So, dear Overseer.  

Please understand this situation.  

Charlotte’s astonished gaze turned toward the man holding her wrist.  

He looked the same as always, neat and tidy, with his jacket buttoned up properly. Everything about him was as it had been.  

So, this was a matter of her own mindset.  

The emotions she had suppressed for the past few days began to pile up in her eyes as she looked at him.  

It was always Erhen who stirred her emotions.