The list of bribes Lucian gave to the High Priest in exchange for concealing the theft of sacred artifacts.
He found the ledger with that list and the Marquis family’s seal.
“That’s not all.”
“What else is there?”
“It seems that over the past five years, he was also caught illegally distributing poisonous substances. Unfortunately, that poison even reached the hands of rebels, so the Imperial Family is taking the matter very seriously.”
“Ah….”
It wasn’t particularly surprising.
Well, typical of Lucian Berto, isn’t it?
If anything, it’s more surprising that it’s only being revealed now.
“There’s more.”
“More?”
“Yes. Illegal loans, organ trafficking, death threats against ordinary citizens, and numerous other crimes too many to list have been revealed, causing great public outrage.”
I blinked quietly.
He really is… an extraordinary person.
To be hated by the temple, the Imperial Family, and now the entire nation.
How wonderful. He’ll live a long life from all the curses he’s receiving.
I inwardly sneered, imagining Lucian struggling in his predicament.
Thanks to this, the incident of Adriel and me infiltrating the Marquis’s mansion while Lucian was busy denying charges in court seemed to be naturally buried.
“I guess this is what they call karma.”
This is why you should live righteously.
If you do bad things, they’ll all be exposed eventually, right?
Today, I gained another great insight as I checked the desk clock once before getting up.
It was almost time for the tea time I had promised Echo.

***

Two weeks have passed since that incident.
During this time, I’ve been going back and forth between the Imperial administrative office and the Berto Marquis’s mansion with legal documents to register Echo into the Ferial Count’s family.
Of course, I didn’t directly speak with Lucian, who was detained in the Imperial Palace, but reached an agreement with the former Marquis Berto, who was acting as the Marquis’s representative.
The former Marquis Berto seemed only concerned with saving his son from his predicament and showed no interest at all in Echo’s welfare.
This was evident when he immediately signed the document for Echo’s adoption as soon as I showed it to him, as if telling me not to bother him with such matters.
Anyway, everything was going smoothly.
“A leaf has fallen on your head.”
Thanks to Adriel. Thanks to this man.
In a garden in the capital. Just as I was about to cross a bridge over a small lake, Adriel called me to stop.
“What? Where?”
As I touched my hair and asked again where the leaf was stuck, Adriel stared at me intently.
After hesitating for a moment, he asked me.
“May I remove it for you?”
Huh? There’s no real need for that.
But somehow, seeing his tense expression, I couldn’t help but nod.
With my permission, Adriel’s Adam’s apple bobbed as he reached for my head.
“…Is it gone now?”
“…Yes.”
When I looked up again, I saw Adriel preciously holding a green leaf.
“……”
How strange that even I’m feeling odd about this.
I secretly smoothed down my tingling chest and continued walking.
Is it because of this place?
Looking around, I could see many couples with children or lovers showing affection.
They seemed to have come out to enjoy the green garden of summer.
I think we chose the wrong location.
I glanced at Adriel, who was fidgeting with the leaf.
I was the one who called him today to discuss past events, but Adriel was the one who chose the location.
It was curious that he suddenly wanted to meet outdoors, but since I also wanted to leave the mansion, I came out without much comment.
Being like this feels just like we’re dating.
I tried to shake off the embarrassing feeling and asked him.
“Have you heard about the punishment Marquis Berto received?”
“I heard he was sent to the frontlines of the border region for the next 50 years. Considering his crimes, death would have been appropriate, but since it’s essentially the same as being permanently banished from politics, I think it’s as good as a death sentence for someone like him.”
Well, that’s true.
A man who has enjoyed all the privileges of nobility his entire life has now lost everything and been sent to what amounts to a battlefield.
I nodded and muttered.
“Taro must have followed Lucian, too?”
“If you’re referring to the demon who followed Marquis Berto, I believe so.”
“Hmm… that’s a bit disappointing.”
I had a decent relationship with Taro after all.
It was sad to think we parted without saying goodbye.
As I was walking along the well-maintained garden path with a sunken mood, I heard a somewhat disgruntled voice from beside me.
“Do you regret sending him away like that?”
“What?”
What is he saying?
I blinked at Adriel.
His red eyes seemed deeply sunken. Just as I was about to ask why he suddenly looked displeased with his slightly furrowed brow, Adriel opened his mouth with a determined expression.
“For you, I can endure anything.”
“……?”
What is this man saying now?
I blankly processed his words in my mind.
But Adriel didn’t give me time to think and suddenly pulled my hand. Then he placed it on his broad, firm chest.
“If you wish, you can pull my hair hard like before, or step on my chest with all your might—I don’t mind any of it.”
“What? No, wait, wait a moment. What are you saying….”
“I’ll become whatever you desire.”
Just as I startled at the firm sensation under my palm and twitched my hand.
“Choose me.”
He firmly interlaced our fingers and was looking at me with yearning eyes.
“After all, I’m the only man who can satisfy you, aren’t I?”
“W-what, what….”
I couldn’t speak properly.
I was literally standing there with a foolish expression. Even when passersby were giving us strange looks.
After a long moment, the answer I finally gave was pathetic.
“W-what did you say?”
I think my ears must be playing tricks on me.
Despite my attitude that seemed to say “stop joking,” Adriel confessed with an unwavering voice.
“I like you.”
“L-what?”
“So much that I wish even these ordinary moments with you could last forever.”
What is this….
“Rosemary Ferial, I like you.”
“W-wait, wait a moment!”
I hurriedly covered Adriel’s mouth with both hands.
Is he a bulldozer or what?
And this is a joke, right? Huh? It must be a joke… right?
“Let me clarify in advance, this is neither a casual statement nor a joke.”
Not a joke…?
After rubbing my eyes and looking again, Adriel appeared completely serious without a hint of wavering.
Is this man really saying he likes me right now?
I couldn’t believe it.
Ah, could this be a dream?
I removed my hands from Adriel’s mouth and pinched my cheek hard.
“Ouch….”
“This isn’t a dream either.”
When I tried to pinch my other cheek, Adriel carefully caught my hand to stop me.
As the warmth of Adriel’s hand registered in a different way, my face instantly heated up.