Episode 3

“What is this absurdity?”

John looked at me with a deeply furrowed brow. I met his gaze with a faint smile.

“I am aware of your situation. It seems clear that before you used force against Major Kensington, he had given an improper order. Of course, assaulting a superior is a matter strictly dealt with by military law.”

John looked at me with disdain as I recited the facts of his crime.

“I don’t understand why Princess Charlotte has suddenly taken an interest in my affairs.”

“I believe there are sufficient grounds to consider the motive behind your crime. That’s why the court decided on your release on the condition of a noble’s guarantee and the payment of bail.”

“Are you talking about that ludicrous release decision?”

I smiled thinly at his mocking tone.

It was obvious that he, already in difficult circumstances, did not have the money to pay the hefty bail for his release.

Moreover, there was no noble in the empire who would vouch for a commoner prisoner jailed for assaulting a noble.

“So… I am considering paying that bail for you. And of course, vouching for your identity as well.”

John’s expression changed at the tempting offer.

“Why would the Princess do such a thing for me? If you want to play with me like a toy, get over it.”

A hollow laugh escaped in response to that remark.

‘Torture for amusement,’ followed by ‘playing with.’ My reputation in this country must be truly remarkable.

I shook my head as if to reassure.

“Don’t worry. I don’t have a hobby of playing with people. Of course, there is something I want in return from you.”

“Surely… you mean the loyalty you mentioned earlier?”

He squinted his eyes.

“I don’t expect genuine loyalty. You just need to work exclusively for me for a set period. After that time, I’ll set you free without any strings attached.”

“What is this work you speak of? And what is this ‘set period’ you mention?”

John still seemed unconvinced.

“I have some matters to investigate. I’d like you to become my assistant. The term is six months, under the condition of secrecy.”

“Why are you asking this of me?”

“Let’s say you fit the conditions I need perfectly. I will pay you well for it.”

“Is that so…?”

“You will be employed as a servant of the Princess’s palace, with a weekly salary on top of the bail money, and I will also cover your mother’s medical bills.”

He seemed unable to hide his surprise at this proposal. John’s mouth fell open at the considerable terms I had presented.

The Emperor’s children used separate annexes within the imperial palace, known as the Prince’s and Princess’s palaces, each granted two types of authority.

These were the rights to personnel affairs and budget management.

Until now, Charlotte had been able to replace the servants of the Princess’s palace at will because the right to personnel affairs belongs entirely to the princess, the owner of the palace.

Of course, the budget allocated to my palace, as a princess without any power, was not very large.

The budget could be reduced at any time if it displeased the Emperor’s mood.

Hiring John under generous terms would leave little of the already small budget of the Princess’s palace, but it wasn’t the time to worry about that.

John furrowed his brows, as if he couldn’t quite believe it.

I asked in a brisk voice.

“So, your answer?”

“Would ‘Master’ be an appropriate term of address?”

It was an affirmation that needed no further discussion.

*

Once I signed a few documents, John was quickly released.

These were the bail payment check and the royal identity guarantee documents.

If the identity guarantee was ever revoked, he would be re-arrested to serve the remainder of his sentence.

Thus, I had a hold over John’s vulnerability to some extent.

John still seemed to be in disbelief that he had been released from prison, slightly dazed.

“Report to Princess Charlotte’s Palace by 8 o’clock tomorrow morning.”

After leaving a brief message for John, I headed straight to the imperial palace’s library.

It was the empire’s largest archive, holding a jaw-dropping amount of books and materials.

“Pr-Princess Charlotte?”

As I entered the library, a well-built librarian jumped up as if he had seen a ghost.

“What, have you never seen a princess in the library before?”

I teased the librarian playfully, who seemed to have forgotten all about decorum.

But the librarian looked as if he had been hit and killed by a stone thrown in jest.

“I’m s-sorry, Your Highness. Please, mercy on me…!”

The librarian’s face turned pale, and he almost prostrated himself on the floor, bowing deeply.

He seemed on the verge of bursting into tears.

I sighed briefly. Indeed, my presence was unparalleled among the servants of the imperial palace.

“From today on, we’ll be seeing a lot of each other, so please take care of me, ‘Clark’.”

I read his name, which was written on the name tag pinned to his chest, in a polite voice.

Clark blinked and looked up at me while still bending over.

Was he surprised to receive a greeting instead of a scolding, or was he afraid of the fact that he would be seeing me frequently?

“Yes, yes, if there’s anything you need… please let me know.”

“Then, could you please bring me the list of materials written here?”

I handed Clark a note listing the materials I needed.

After he left to find the materials, I took a seat at the large desk in the center and looked around.

The library, situated beneath a domed ceiling, was a bright and warm space with one wall made of arched windows.

The spacious interior was filled with sturdy walnut bookshelves.

While I was taking in the library, Clark approached, waddling with a stack of printed materials.

“I have gathered all the materials you requested.”

“Thank you.”

Clark looked as if he had been insulted by my words of gratitude.

I wondered if he would have looked more at peace if I had actually cursed instead.

I let out a shallow sigh and reached for the pile of documents in front of me.

Imperial genealogies, nobility directories, the empire’s history, the empire’s laws…

These were the materials I needed to adapt and live here.

And I was someone well-versed in studying.

I was determined to memorize everything written in the books from now on.

*

Due to staying in the library until very late last night, my condition this morning was indescribable.

In my past life, I could stay up for nights without trouble, but Charlotte’s body was ridiculously frail.

“Your Highness, Sir Watson has arrived.”

As I was rubbing the sleep from my eyes and getting dressed, my maid informed me that John had arrived.

“I would have never dreamed even 24 hours ago that I would be coming to work at Princess Charlotte’s palace, my lady.”

John, whom I met again after just one day, was unrecognizably well-groomed.

His once unkempt hair was neatly trimmed, and his face, previously grimy with sweat, was now clean and revealed its true appearance.

True to his military background, John, tall with broad shoulders and a solid build, stood before me in a stiff, formal posture.

“You can drop the formalities of calling me ‘my lady’. And you don’t need to maintain such a stiff posture in front of me.”

John shrugged his shoulders and assumed a more relaxed posture.

“If you wish, I shall do so. And how about you speak more comfortably? There’s no need for formalities with a direct servant.”

His point made sense, so I nodded in agreement.

Then, I handed him a note I had prepared in advance.

“The first task you’ll do for me is this. After you’ve read the note, burn it.”

John read the note with a frown.

His green eyes moved quickly across the text, then widened suddenly.

“Are you asking me to gather information on a series of murders?”

“Right. I would like to see the detailed case records if possible.”

Serial murders, unlike ordinary homicides, leave unique characteristics at the scene.

For instance, something like the perpetrator’s habits. And those become very compelling evidence.

To confirm those characteristics, the case records were essential.

John narrowed his eyes on me.

“It seems you knew I was a former imperial military investigator?”

Instead of answering, I just shrugged my shoulders.

John made a light nod as if it didn’t matter and then disappeared.

I liked that he didn’t seem to fear or fawn over me.

Just then, a young maid came running into the room in a flurry.

“His Majesty the Emperor has commanded that Princess Charlotte also participate in today’s breakfast competition.”

“Me, me?”

I looked at the maid with a bewildered face.

The breakfast competition was an occasion where the Emperor had breakfast and conversation once a week with his children.

Of course, it was not an ordinary meal.

Ministers of state also attended, and the purpose was to engage in a question and answer to discern which of the Emperor’s children had the qualities to succeed the throne.

Naturally, Charlotte had seldom attended the breakfast competition.

After all, she was the person most distant from the right of succession to the throne.

She had kept away from studying since she was young and knew very little,

and on the rare occasions she did participate, she inevitably lost her temper and caused a scene by throwing dishes or cutlery.

Therefore, it was unlikely she would be invited to the breakfast competition.

“Why am I suddenly being called to the competition?”

As I frowned and hesitated, my maid jumped in excitement.

“Your Highness! The competition is such a good opportunity!

You spent the tiny budget of the Princess’s palace on hiring Sir Watson!

If you make a good impression on His Majesty at the competition, the budget for the Princess’s palace will increase!”

Martha’s overflowing sympathy and sense of responsibility were unfailingly displayed, even towards the meager budget of the Princess’s palace.

In the end, I had to run breathlessly to the Emperor’s palace, led by Martha, the guardian of the Princess’s palace budget.

*

“You are late again today, Charlotte.”

The Emperor clicked his tongue as I entered the competition venue, panting.

“I just received the invitation to the breakfast competition.”

When I objected softly, the Emperor gestured with displeasure for me to sit at the table.

His manner suggested he thought I was making excuses again.

As I took my seat at the very end of the table, a mocking voice reached my ears.

“Even if the invitation had been sent a year ago, I wouldn’t have expected you to arrive on time.”

“Ha-ha, Camilla. It’s not Charlotte’s fault. Surely the maids didn’t read the invitation to her.”

“Indeed, I’ve never seen Charlotte reading. She does know how to read, doesn’t she?”

The owners of the jeering voices were faces I had recognized from the imperial family tree the day before.

They were Prince Frederick, the Empress’s eldest son, and his younger sister, Princess Camilla, who particularly disliked Charlotte.

Hearing the scorn poured on me in an instant, I could understand why Charlotte might have thrown plates during the competition.

‘But I am not the real Charlotte.’

There was no reason to react to their clearly provocative words.

The more I would react, the worse my reputation would become.

I turned to the two sneering at me and smiled sweetly with a soulless kind voice.

“Oh, really?”

What I had prepared was the so-called ‘Oh, really?’ attack, known to deflate the opponent’s will.