However, as they became increasingly drugged, there was less funding to squeeze out of them.

So to produce new funding sources, they invited vain and impulsive businessmen or naive young nobles who hadn’t inherited their families to this cruise ship.

‘That’s why I acted like a nouveau riche.’

So the criminals would reversely get caught by us.

And the ‘will be some stimulation’ comment meant…

“You really have a bad personality.”

“Thank you for the compliment, Miss.”

It meant the mages on this cruise ship would soon go crazy trying to track down Cassian.

Since he finished analyzing the ship’s interior and simultaneously caused an incident to upset them.

As evidence.

“The ship is sailing on a strange course.”

Panicked voices of what seemed to be officials could be heard.

*

A ship was perfect for trapping the few of us if done wrong.

So reversely, making them the minority was the most effective method.

I had already taken all necessary measures by sacrificing my sleep last night.

Of course, I contacted the mages doing labor under Cassian too.

‘Vacation, you said vacation!! Shouldn’t you not torment us during vacation, Assistant Saliche!’

‘Are you crazy? The criminals do this because they’re confident in their skills, and you want us to create magic they can’t block within three hours?’

No need for self-introductions.

The criminals’ excuses were a bit long, but did I have any reason to listen?

Still, criminals understand criminal hearts best, so even while grumbling, the ones who had tried to line their own pockets produced good results.

If they didn’t listen, their restraints would seal their magic power, which was essentially a death sentence for mages.

Being kind and never having committed crimes, I wouldn’t know.

After preparing to change course according to my purpose, I naturally gathered the knights.

Eight hours by carriage from the capital was practically a short distance for the knights Cassian personally trained and developed.

Even if things went slightly wrong, I had created ways to deal with that too.

“Well then, I should enjoy what I can before getting bored.”

“Wise words, Miss.”

It was time for us who infiltrated this cruise ship to make our infamous mark.

*

“Ah, how dare you treat that so carelessly!”

“Carelessly? How much is it? I can compensate for everything, can’t I?”

I was stirring up the inside of the ship, deliberately destroying their main trade goods along with Cassian.

Crash–!

“Oh my, Miss! Miss, you really shouldn’t do this. Our cruise ship is elegant and dignified—”

“Elegant? Dignified?”

I sneered.

“When you’re all red-eyed with greed anyway. I’ll compensate you, won’t I?”

Swoosh–!

I deliberately scattered gold coins while showing off my skill at displaying both wealth and malice at once.

As gold coins bounced here and there on the ground, not just the employees but even well-dressed individuals were seen rushing to collect them.

“Were you starved for days? Why are you so desperate to pick them up?”

Among them were some who clearly looked drug-addicted, and I carefully memorized them.

“Isn’t it funny how they scramble for such petty money?”

“Indeed, whoever invited you here should come out and beg for forgiveness, Miss.”

“That’s right, I clearly remember saying they would regret it if I wasn’t entertained.”

As I tapped my fan while scanning the employees, those who had been frantically picking up gold coins froze and rolled their eyes.

“Was it you?”

Every time I pointed with my fan,

“Ah, was it that one?”

They have faces hoping they wouldn’t be singled out.

“Ha, how annoying. They all look equally pathetic.”

“You speak the truth, Miss. They look unworthy of existing in this world.”

“Who says otherwise? They’re truly in! com! petent!”

Some people showed instant reactions to my emphasized words.

Of course, we didn’t miss those reactions either.

‘It’s like a trigger word for mages.’

The funny thing was they showed such obvious reactions while being unaware of it themselves.

They’re either innocent or stupid.

“It’s natural that you can’t be compared to such useless… things, right?”

While memorizing those who reacted to another specific word, I exchanged glances with Cassian.

When I tapped his chin with my fan, he smiled coldly with sharp eyes.

“Indeed, my lovely Miss only speaks the truth.”

“Yes.”

Boom–!

A thunderous sound echoed throughout the cruise ship.

“Wh-what is this…!”

“Who is it, is there a traitor?!”

“Urgh, defense, defend!”

“It’s a trap! The transmission formula—!”

Panicked voices of mages echoed through the thickly spreading smoke.

And when all the smoke cleared…

“Hmm, truly incompetent indeed.”

“Y-you, who are you!”

The mages were all bound in a row, wearing humiliated expressions as their magic failed to activate at all.

Because Cassian’s restraints, aimed precisely at the targets, didn’t miss a single one.

‘As expected, Master’s reputation isn’t for nothing.’

And the smoke we spread wasn’t just ordinary smoke.

“Ugh, urp. My stomach hurts…”

“Wa-water…”

It was smoke that temporarily detoxified those addicted to illegal drugs, making them react adversely at the sight of them.

Because they shouldn’t take the illegal drugs scattered everywhere while we were cleaning up.

As the cruise ship approached the dock I had designated, with knights lined up there, I returned my disguised hair color to its original state.

“I am Roselita Saliche, assistant to the Second Imperial Prince. As of 10:22 PM, I am arresting you for illegal drug distribution and manufacturing, deception and embezzlement against noble houses, and forgery of official documents.”

Along with my declaration, Cassian’s disguise beside me was also removed.

“But… surely… when we drove them together… they should have fallen into the river and died!!”

And to those words shouted by the stupid mage,

“Then we’ll add attempted murder of a member of the imperial family to the charges.”

I diligently added the crime to the list.

*

“Do you think we’ll submit just because you’ve arrested us?”

The mages, now being properly restrained by the knights, began to speak up in frustration.

Of course, I was letting their words go in one ear and out the other while giving search instructions to the knights.

“Mages especially love putting things in their jacket inner pockets, right? Don’t just let it slide, search them thoroughly.”

“H-how dare you search people so carelessly!”

“Sometimes they have weird tastes and hide things in really unbelievable places, so if they resist too much, take them away and strip them completely.”

“Y-you devil…!! You’re interfering with our great work because you don’t understand!”

Of course, since prolonged exposure to noise isn’t good for mental health.

“Ah, definitely take that person who just spoke and strip them, they seem to have the most important information.”

“Understood, Assistant Saliche! We’ll search them thoroughly.”

Of course, we didn’t miss searching the ship either.

Knights would have raided their lodgings in Ilium by now too.

“Rose, here.”

While I was quickly drafting documents based on the search items brought by the knights, I widened my eyes at the thick stack of documents Cassian held out.

“This is what you wanted most, right?”

Documents with slightly different but similar cover colors.

None other than this cruise ship’s operating ledgers.

“With this, Lady Wilhelmina will be safe too.”

“Yes.”

I nodded without holding back my emerging smile.

Dawn was breaking beyond the forest surrounding the dock.

While flipping through the ledger, I suddenly looked at Cassian.

Like me, he was standing at the scene, organizing evidence collected by the knights and directing the investigation of those under the influence of drugs.

It was a sight I had grown accustomed to over a year and a half of countless chaotic scenes.

But somehow today, an emotional surge welled up from deep inside.

‘Somehow I realized.’

The reason why I wasn’t in mortal danger during this incident in Ilium.

‘It seems to be because Cassian experienced it instead.’

Originally, the incident involving Wilhelmina grew after Roselita was poisoned by the wine she offered and nearly died.

Moreover, the drug-dealing mages were convinced that Cassian ‘would have died.’

That meant they had used poison. There was no way not to know.

“Your Highness.”

“What is it, Rose?”

Although Cassian didn’t know the original content,

“I’m sorry.”

I felt like I needed to apologize for some reason.

“…What for?”

However, Cassian’s face hardened more than expected at my words, looking serious.

“Don’t tell me you’re so sick of having your vacation interrupted that you really want to submit your resignation?”

“…What?”

This time it was my turn to look dumbfounded.

‘After I finally got sentimental and tried to convey my sincere feelings!’

Cassian even handed over the documents he was holding to a knight temporarily and grabbed both my arms firmly.

“No, Rose. Don’t abandon me.”

“No, why did the conversation turn that way!”

“You don’t need to apologize to me for anything else.”

“No, it’s not like I made a mistake at work, so why would submitting a resignation letter be something to apologize for.”

“You’ve tamed me, Rose.”

“What?”

No, when did I ever?

If you put it that way, hasn’t Cassian also tamed me to adapt to this harsh work environment?

As I felt indignant, Cassian’s eyes curved mischievously as he whispered.

“So please don’t think unnecessary thoughts and take responsibility for me, my lovely Miss.”

At that familiar smile, the emotions that had strangely started to well up flew away.

Really, my superior…

Read my emotions too arbitrarily.