TTI 10

 Rowell Hessen is a deceased person. It has been a well-established fact for over ten years.

But now, suddenly, it's uncertain whether Rowell is alive or dead?

After Monique left, Rowell found herself chuckling as she recalled their conversation.

'Attempting such a simple ploy.'

Thinking of Rowell as an inexperienced young lady unfamiliar with social etiquette, such words could naturally come to mind.

She behaved as if she were, and deliberately spread such rumors, but to fall for it so easily.

Even Monique seemed satisfied with Rowell's response, going as far as saying,

[You can consider me like your mother, Lady Annette. I'll support you in your future palace life. If you need anything, just tell me.]

My mother died a long time ago, killed by your husband. I wondered how Monique's expression would change if I mentioned that fact, but Rowell didn't bring it up. The moment Monique came to find her, she was destined for a downhill path.

'There's no need to rush.'

Like splitting the belly of a prey when it's fattened enough. Until then, she would serve her purpose just fine.

Rowell stood up coldly, leaving behind two chilled teacups. The maids waiting behind hurriedly approached, wrapping a shawl around her shoulders.

"Lady Annette, we'll escort you to your room...."

Snap!

With a sharp sound, the maid holding the shawl recoiled, clutching her cheek. Tears welled up in her eyes as she gazed at the suddenly swollen cheek.

"L-Lady Annette... why on earth?"

"Why, you ask?"

As if it were absurd, Rowell countered.

"If a trespasser enters a house where the owner is absent, you should break the dog's neck."

What's the use of a dog that can't even guard its own home?

Moreover, if the dog that's cohabiting with the intruder is considered.

In front of Monique, who was waiting for Rowell, there was neatly arranged refreshments. Could such treatment be received just because Monique happened to push her way in with authority?

'Monique coming precisely when I was absent is no coincidence.'

The palace has ears even on the walls. That's no fiction. And for someone like Rowell, who hides many things, it's only right to break down walls.

"Everyone leave. You're not needed."

The sudden declaration made the maids' expressions sharp.

"We've all been here longer than Lady Annette. If you treat us like this..."

"Treat you like this, intending to kill me? Or do you want to confess to the Empress?"

"N-no, it's not like that."

As the Emperor's name entered Rowell's mouth, a sense of fear swept over the maids. The fact that the current Emperor is a merciless man is something the maids in the palace knew best. It might be a natural occurrence for them to be afraid, considering everyone who knows the Emperor is fearful of when his sword might be drawn. Even the maids.

As Rowell looked at those who quickly lowered their heads when she glared at them, she sneered inwardly.

'Unbelievable.'

She already knew that the maids who helped her when she lost consciousness in the bathroom had been disciplined.

But now, on top of Monique pushing her way in while she was absent, she received refreshments. Clearly, she had made a mistake.

So, how uneasy must it be to think about informing the Emperor?

Rowell remembered the maids whispering to each other on the day she moved to this palace.

[Is that woman, uh, the bride?]

[Yeah. We even bet on whether we'd lose our necks or get stabbed in the belly. Lost the bet.]

[Would she want to live like that? Going around pretending to be the consort while the Emperor talks about others...]

[Still, as long as she's favored by the Emperor, we only have to bow down now.]

Perhaps half of them faithfully report every detail of Rowell's daily life to the Emperor, while the other half cleverly line up at various places.

'Well, not just them, but if I change maids, the result will be similar.'

Replacing the maids now that Monique has left makes sense. At least the next assigned maids won't choose Monique when picking, that's for sure.

'Above all, it's good that I was planning to change the maids anyway.'

Monique unexpectedly created a useful pretext.

"Do you have anything else to say? If not, go."

As Rowell gestured towards the door, the maids, who were watching for cues, hesitated before heading towards the door. The expressions of those leaving were quite gloomy; surely, if they tell the head maid that they were driven out by Rowell, they will surely face disciplinary action.

As the maids exited and just before the door closed completely,

"Oh."

Rowell opened her mouth as if she had just remembered something. Then, she gestured to the maid who was holding the door latch.

"You, come back here."

"Yes, yes? Are you talking to me?"

"Yeah. It will take some time for a new maid to be assigned, and someone should help me change clothes. Stay here."

The maid called by Rowell seemed to hesitate for a moment, then reluctantly came back.

"What's your name?"

"Mabel... Lindel."

"Okay. That's a pretty name. It'll be cold, so let's go inside after helping me change clothes."

A faint joy appeared in Mabel's gray eyes at Rowell's compliment.

Having avoided punishment and feeling relieved that she won't receive any more reprimands from Rowell, Mabel's demeanor reflected her satisfaction.

Rowell, watching her, recalled the information she received from René.

<Simone Lindel. Heir to the Lindel Marquis, current Emperor's First Knight.>

Such basic personal information was already known to her.

What caught her attention was the family relationship below.

<Sibling relationship - Younger sister: Mabel Lindel>

As Rowell headed towards her room, she glanced at Mabel following her. The symbolic gray eyes of the Lindel family met hers.

In the future, those eyes would surely observe her every move closely.

'And it will be thoroughly conveyed to Peter.'

The walls of the palace had ears. Rowell intended to make good use of the palace's ears.

* * *

The next day.

"Please assign Lady Anette's protection to me, Your Majesty."

Peter's hand, flipping through documents, abruptly stopped. He stared at the knight standing in front of him. Simone's gray eyes were filled with determination.

It wasn't a joke. The documents dropped from Peter's hand after a quick assessment.

"I thought you wouldn't agree to take care of Anette Martinek."

"I still don't willingly accept it."

"Then what changed your mind? I heard that she visited you and Noah yesterday. Was there something that moved your heart at that moment?"

"After she visited me and Noah yesterday, I heard that all the maids in Cheyen Palace were dismissed, except for my younger sister."

Cheyen is the name of the palace where Rowell currently resides.

"It's hard to consider all of this just a mere coincidence. Since every move seems suspicious, there must be some hidden agenda, right?"

"If you're worried about my sister, I can change the palace assignment for her."

"I appreciate the offer, but my sister is fine. I'm just uncomfortable not knowing what Anette Martinek wants."

Before approaching Peter, Simone had already discussed this matter with his close friend.

Noah was among the smartest people Simone knew, and because the story he was about to tell concerned Anette, they couldn't just grab anyone for discussion.

"Noah, Anette Martinek's actions seem suspicious. She came to you yesterday and talked about strange things, saying that Rowell Hessen might still be alive..."

"No, if Rowell Hessen is alive, the real question is whether Her Majesty will look for her. That was the question."

"Aren't they the same thing?"

"No, they're different."

Noah's words were decisive. Unbeknownst to them, Noah was the only one who pinpointed the essence of Rowell's question and was the only one who questioned Rowell.

What do you want?

It was also the key to Rowell's actions.

"The premise that Rowell Hessen might be alive is meaningless. The important thing is whether Her Majesty will look for her."

"Why? Isn't it important what Anette Martinek knows?"

"What's important is that Anette Martinek tested Her Majesty's intentions with us."

And also subtly concealed the suspicion that Rowell might still be alive.

Noah reacted much more sensitively than usual to Anette's story. According to Simone's opinion, since the incident with his most cherished fountain pen breaking, Noah had not been this sensitive before.

Therefore, Noah warned Simone with a face with slightly darker shadows under his eyes.

"Leave Anette Martinek alone, Simone."

"...Can I ask for the reason?"

"It's certain that she knows something about Rowell Hessen and what we're looking for. But playing cards at the same table, our hands are too different from hers."

Anette knows well that Rowell Hessen is a hand that can shake them without exerting much effort.

But what about them?

"We can't approach her recklessly without knowing what she wants."

"We can find out what she wants."

Simone couldn't understand why Noah was reacting so strongly. He had seen many people working silently by Peter's side, even knowing how they opened their mouths.

"Whether it's through threats or coaxing, people eventually reveal what they want. Don't you know that too?"

"Simone, your words are right. Rewards and punishments always work well. However..."

But there was one thing Simone didn't know.

That there is a category of people to whom neither threats nor coaxing work.

"...It doesn't work on someone who has nothing to lose."