Chapter 22
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Chapter 22
Fron Polariud, Empress of the Empire.
Before becoming Empress, she was known as Lady Fron—a towering female knight.
The Emperor's first love and the biological mother of Young Prince Jayden.
'The Empress isn't magnanimous. But still, she is of the Royal Family, after all.'
Rising from the dregs as a mercenary, she lacked refinement and grace, so her reputation was abysmal!
She possessed no political acumen and had built no faction!
She was scorned from every direction!
'Yet still, with a single word, she could spare a common criminal—she is of the Royal Family!'
In the original story, she becomes the accused in Crown Prince Kiaros's assassination attempt.
Afterward, she takes her own life to prove her innocence through death.
'Truly the worst possible choice. A person who spends her life rather than her mind....'
Everyone likely suspects the Empress as the mastermind behind it all right now.
The motive was clear.
If only Crown Prince Kiaros—the son of the first wife—died, then the Empress's son, Young Prince Jayden, could become Crown Prince.
'But the Empress has nothing whatsoever to do with the war's mastermind.'
I had only ever seen the Empress from a great distance.
Still, thinking of the original story's content, I suddenly felt pity for her.
If things continued as they were, she would bear a false accusation.
'If I were to save the Empress, that would be something entirely different from having saved the Crown Prince.'
Kiaros told me he would 'reward me.'
He didn't say he would 'grant me everything I desire.'
But the Empress was inherently generous and didn't think of consequences.
'Somehow, I feel the Empress would grant me absolutely anything!'
Saving an innocent person was good, and having the Empress indebted to me was also good.
'And if I save the Empress... it will surely help the Crown Prince. He won't have to stumble around regarding the war's mastermind.'
Then perhaps an opportunity to meet Kiaros again would arise.
I was organizing information to relay to the Crown Prince in my mind.
'But when exactly does the Empress get arrested?'
She would certainly be caught red-handed without any finesse.
In the original story, there was some time to spare.
'The trigger for her arrest was probably....'
In the original story, that process wasn't detailed.
It only said in a single line: 'Due to a report from a Scroll Management Department employee.'
I too cannot know parts that don't appear in the original....
'Wait. Hold on.'
I faltered in thought.
'...But that's our department, isn't it?'
Belated shock washed over me.
'That's extremely strange.'
Let me reconsider the situation. From the moment our department staff were hired, they had poor performance records. Naturally, the entire department was saturated with a sense of defeat.
There was a pervasive belief that no matter how hard one tried, it would only become a laughingstock.
Everyone without exception was listless. Myself included.
'There's no way our department could have someone proactive enough to report suspicious members of the Royal Family!'
From an outside perspective, one might not know.
But as a member of that organization, I could see the truth clearly.
'I'd stake my life on it—no such person exists! All those types already left!'
Report someone? Hardly.
These were people who would pretend not to see something suspicious happening right before their eyes, fearing they'd get dragged into exhausting complications.
'Who is it? Who could it be? That person who reported....'
But there was one variable.
Crown Prince Kiaros, who should have already been dead according to the original story, turned the Scroll Management Department upside down today.
'A storm is about to blow through, and when it does, couldn't I be fired from the Imperial Palace entirely? If that happens, wouldn't the Empress avoid arrest?'
I was desperately racking my brain and about to leave the Administrative Support Department when it happened.
Suddenly, commotion erupted outside.
"My goodness, my goodness!"
"Good heavens...."
The workers crowded against the windows without a sound.
A bad premonition washed over me.
I squeezed through them and asked urgently.
"What's happening?"
The answer came easily.
"Good heavens. The Empress is being taken away. She's been arrested as a perpetrator caught in the act."
No, good heavens.
My mouth fell open and I blinked rapidly.
'Already?'
The Empress's arrest was happening far sooner than in the original story.
I turned around and began running.
'Is it another report from a Scroll Management Department employee?'
I ran until my breath came in gasps, heading straight for the Scroll Management Department.
My department, where I reported to work every single day.
'Could it really be... our department?'
The Scroll Management Department had a similar atmosphere to the Administrative Support Department.
Employees crowded against the windows, watching the Empress being arrested.
"What in the world is this...."
"Come to think of it, the Empress would have more than enough reason to view the Crown Prince as a thorn in her side. There's Young Prince Jayden, after all."
"Tsk, no matter how much the Emperor favors her, this is too much...."
But looking closer, I noticed the department staff had gathered around someone.
"How did you even see that again?"
"You directly witnessed her secretly purchasing poison?"
"You have quite the keen eye... Well, the Empress is rather distinctive in appearance, so it would be hard not to recognize her."
"It's not just about recognizing her. You overheard information that she'd be going to make a purchase this afternoon and reported it based on that!"
A man who claimed to have witnessed the Empress concealing her identity while purchasing toxins at the Black Market, and who provided the exact timing needed to raid the location.
'That man is really from our department?'
I moved closer to them to hear more details.
'Is it the Director? By position, the Director received the most bribes anyway. Yes, it must be the Director.'
For the first time in ages, my mind spun into overdrive.
The Empress had visited the Black Market to collect toxins more than once or twice before.
Of course, it wasn't because she wanted to harm Crown Prince Kiaros, but people would never believe that.
'Did he know all along but pretend not to, and then expose it all now because he's about to be fired anyway?'
If so, that would make sense.
But the person who answered them wasn't the Director.
"Me? I just reported it... Everyone, don't make a big deal out of it. I don't like the attention."
I blinked as I watched him laughing among the crowd.
It was clear he was the informant, yet it felt surreal.
He casually crossed his arms, then noticed me and pretended to acknowledge me.
"Namia Loapi? Weren't you supposed to leave early? That's what we heard from the Crown Prince's office."
The informant was my direct superior.
Team Leader of the Inventory Team—Oson.
'Unbelievable.'
I froze in place for a moment.
It was completely unexpected.
'Oson, the epitome of playing it safe, the one who hates standing out most, someone known throughout the Imperial Palace for self-preservation... reporting the Royal Family?'
I had worked under Oson ever since I joined.
I suppressed my shock and stared blankly at his smile.
Memories of all the time we'd spent together came flooding back.
[Team Leader, what if we changed this report format starting this year?]
[Why bother? If something goes wrong after you change it, you'll be responsible, right?]
[But there's no reason for anything to go wrong....]
[If the Director misunderstands because of the format change, that's a problem. Just leave it alone. Don't try to stand out.]
Not only did he reject methods that were clearly more efficient.
[Team Leader. I've finished the report the Director requested last time.]
[Oh, good work. But why is the author's name Namia Loapi? Change it to my name.]
[...Excuse me?]
[I told you to do it. So I did it. What are you doing? Aren't you going to erase your name?]
He took credit for every achievement of mine that seemed worthwhile.
Oson was powerless himself, but he had a talent for making his subordinates powerless as well.
[Namia Loapi, I'm stepping out for a bit. If anyone asks, tell them I went to the restroom.]
[Team Leader? There are documents that need to be sent by this afternoon....]
[Just handle it yourself. The Director won't look at it carefully anyway.]
[I don't even know what's in those documents, Team Leader. If something goes wrong, it all falls on me....]
[Ugh, stop being so petty while we work together. Anyway, I'm leaving.]
My direct supervisor—everything that went well was his doing, and everything that went wrong was my fault.
'What do I do.... What do I really do.'
I slowly pressed my lips together.
I tried to steady my trembling hands, which shook without my control.
'If I resolve this situation while saving the Empress, it seems like Oson will completely fall apart too....'
I lowered my head to hide my expression.
I had to suppress the corners of my mouth that kept rising and the laughter threatening to burst out.
'My goodness, that would be absolutely perfect for me!'
Brought to you by Valir Scans! To support our team and enjoy the latest releases, please read directly on our official site: valirscans.org