I never intended to make them find it anyway. Even if they did, they'd pretend not to see it, so what.
What they should be finding is…
“Ooh! Treasure hunt! I’ll find pretty stones.”
“Yes, pretty stones?”
“Ooh! Stones that shine with Aurora light! Let’s do a knuckle-crack punishment again! The person who finds the least… .”
“That’s too barbaric.”
“Barbaric?”
“Yes, Your Highness. Wouldn’t there be another punishment? For example, singing a song or reciting a poem?”
Rozalina said with a gentle smile. Her contemptuous eyes curved gracefully.
It was as if she were saying, ‘I don’t know if you can do that.’ The maids also nodded vigorously, as if they didn’t want to be hit anymore.
“How about doing something like that? I’ll teach you how to do it.”
“I don’t want to.”
Rozalina was taken aback.
“Yes?”
I make the rules here. It had to be the most humiliating method possible. That way, they would desperately try. Especially kids like Rozalina.
“It’s not fun. Hmph, you’ve become boring.”
“Your, Your Highness?”
“Cherryna, Rosie. Tell her to go. I don’t want to play with someone boring. We’re not friends anymore! Starting now!”
“Your Highness, I’ll find the most for you!”
Rozalina said in an enthusiastic voice and ran into the garden. As if she had forgotten her refined demeanor. Her determination to remain by my side was evident.
She must think there’s something to gain.
“We’ll go too!”
“I’ll find the most, young lady!”
Cherryna and Rosie quickly ran into the garden as well.
I crouched on the ground and watched them diligently picking up stones, like they were picking greens, and laughed viciously.
No matter what schemes you have, I will be above them.
I need to practice my finger exercises.
Since they seem busy, should I sneak around and look for them? Cherryna and Rosie probably use codes. Where do assassins usually leave such marks?
Let’s think.
It would be in a place that wouldn’t be damaged by rain, snow, or wind.
For example, in the crevice of a large rock like this.
“There it is.”
I grabbed something like paper from inside the crevice and took it out. Numbers and dots were written on the note.
It’s incredibly sloppy. It means they underestimated me. The markings in other places won’t be this easy.
I don’t know what this means, but it’s probably good to have it. How would I know when or where I can use it again?
Or maybe a way to decipher it will come up.
For now, I plan to put it in the jewelry box in my room.
It’s a box with a large heart-shaped jewel, somewhat like a Magical girl compact.
Anyway, it was a jewelry box that nobody touched because I disliked it.
And while the girls diligently searched for Aurora light stones, I was able to find another note.
While I hid it in my pocket, the three who had finished the treasure hunt ran towards me. Their eyes were filled with a certain exhilaration.
Full of spite, anger, and competitiveness.
Their hands, holding the stones they had found, were covered in dirt.
“I found the most, right?”
Rozalina laughed triumphantly. Her face seemed to have forgotten her own purpose. Cherryna and Rosie shook their heads with pale faces.
Praise for the winner.
“Well done, Rozalina! I look forward to working with you tomorrow! If you collect 100 of these stones, I’ll make you a necklace later!”
“…A necklace? I… .”
“You don’t like it? It’s a gift from a friend.”
I puffed out my cheeks.
“No. I’m just so happy.”
Rozalina replied in a stiff tone. Her face didn’t look very happy either.
And punishment for the losers.
“Rozalina, give Cherryna and Rosie knuckle-cracks! That’s the treasure hunt rule!”
While Rozalina vented her anger on the losers, I grabbed the Aurora light stones they had diligently searched for.
Hee hee hee. Treasure hunt, success.
Three days later, Duke Spelman…
“Strange. There’s still no contact from Cherryna and Rosie. We were supposed to find out the Crown Prince’s guard change schedule.”
Duke Spelman muttered softly.
Something must have gone wrong. Even if they couldn’t find anything, they were supposed to leave a message. But there hadn’t been a single message for days.
Duke Spelman watched his son reading a book while drinking tea.
Unlike his daughter, who became an idiot due to a severe illness, his son was an intelligent and perfect heir. Although there were some shortcomings.
Duke Spelman had never seen a child smarter and more suited to the dukedom than Augustine.
Evelyn Spelman.
A child who absorbed knowledge like paper absorbs water. A child who was more suited to Spelman than anyone else. If it weren’t for the accident, she would be in that position now.
That’s why he felt regretful every time he saw Augustine. Moreover, Evelyn had patience and composure. It was different from the somewhat aggressive Augustine.
Now, she has become a child and has been reduced to a tool.
‘It would be better to send Augustine than to go myself.’
After all, there were too many eyes watching Duke Spelman.
Augustine was the perfect pawn in this situation.
“I think you should go, Augustine.”
“Me?”
Augustine looked away from his book and showed his discomfort. Duke Spelman disliked his arrogance, his inability to hide his emotions.
Un-Spelman-like.
Duke Spelman skillfully concealed his inner feelings and spoke softly.
“Who else would there be? And check on your sister.”
At those words, Augustine frowned. He said coldly.
“I don’t want to, Father. That girl isn’t my sister. She’s a useless bug.”
Duke Spelman calmly countered his malice.
“But thanks to her, we were able to discreetly plant someone in the palace. Even such bugs can be useful, Augustine.”
“…Hmph.”
“Besides, the Crown Prince had to let Count Carma escape while he was still alive. That means your sister has served her purpose.”
Augustine twitched his eyebrows. Since Duke Spelman had said it like that, he couldn’t refuse the order.
Duke Spelman was a gentle dictator. Augustine, who hadn’t yet inherited anything from the Duchy, had no choice but to obey his father.
Augustine closed the book he was reading.
“I’ll go. Can I go tomorrow?”
Duke Spelman nodded. Their faces showed no consideration for informing the palace beforehand, or contacting Evelyn.
As if Spelman’s will was above all else.
And Evelyn was completely unaware of the unwelcome guest that would soon arrive.
Rosie and Cherryna were eager to leave my side. So, when it was time to leave work, they disappeared like ghosts, whether I was asleep or not.
Anyway, at that time, the guards would strengthen their patrols, and my movements would be restricted.
That actually helped me. I could do what I needed to do without pretending to be a child.
I spread out the notes I had collected over the past three days and stared intently at them.
“It’s amazing that you’re doing other things while holding onto them like that.”
It seems to be a series of numbers, but the numbers written on the notes collected over the three days were all different. What does this mean?
Ugh, I wish novels would describe these things in more detail!
I stuffed the blanket into my mouth and stamped my feet.
No matter how much I thought, nothing came to mind. Should I just grab Cherryna and Rosie by the collar and ask them? It seems like a few knuckle-cracks would make them spill the beans.
I sighed deeply.
This is exactly how Hong Gil-dong felt. Unable to call his father “father” even when he saw him.
I rolled around on the bed, holding the five notes one by one. Then…
“Ugh!”
I was about to lose my balance and fall off the bed. And an unexpected sound came from outside.
“Your Highness, the Crown Princess must be asleep by now… .”
“Then I’ll just come out… .”
The door opened, and Cerden and I met eyes. A thud echoed, and silence fell for a moment.
The timing was perfect.
The soreness in my buttocks was forgotten in the shame. Cerden scanned me.
I swallowed nervously, slowly lowering one leg that had been draped over the bed.
What they should be finding is…
“Ooh! Treasure hunt! I’ll find pretty stones.”
“Yes, pretty stones?”
“Ooh! Stones that shine with Aurora light! Let’s do a knuckle-crack punishment again! The person who finds the least… .”
“That’s too barbaric.”
“Barbaric?”
“Yes, Your Highness. Wouldn’t there be another punishment? For example, singing a song or reciting a poem?”
Rozalina said with a gentle smile. Her contemptuous eyes curved gracefully.
It was as if she were saying, ‘I don’t know if you can do that.’ The maids also nodded vigorously, as if they didn’t want to be hit anymore.
“How about doing something like that? I’ll teach you how to do it.”
“I don’t want to.”
Rozalina was taken aback.
“Yes?”
I make the rules here. It had to be the most humiliating method possible. That way, they would desperately try. Especially kids like Rozalina.
“It’s not fun. Hmph, you’ve become boring.”
“Your, Your Highness?”
“Cherryna, Rosie. Tell her to go. I don’t want to play with someone boring. We’re not friends anymore! Starting now!”
“Your Highness, I’ll find the most for you!”
Rozalina said in an enthusiastic voice and ran into the garden. As if she had forgotten her refined demeanor. Her determination to remain by my side was evident.
She must think there’s something to gain.
“We’ll go too!”
“I’ll find the most, young lady!”
Cherryna and Rosie quickly ran into the garden as well.
I crouched on the ground and watched them diligently picking up stones, like they were picking greens, and laughed viciously.
No matter what schemes you have, I will be above them.
I need to practice my finger exercises.
Since they seem busy, should I sneak around and look for them? Cherryna and Rosie probably use codes. Where do assassins usually leave such marks?
Let’s think.
It would be in a place that wouldn’t be damaged by rain, snow, or wind.
For example, in the crevice of a large rock like this.
“There it is.”
I grabbed something like paper from inside the crevice and took it out. Numbers and dots were written on the note.
It’s incredibly sloppy. It means they underestimated me. The markings in other places won’t be this easy.
I don’t know what this means, but it’s probably good to have it. How would I know when or where I can use it again?
Or maybe a way to decipher it will come up.
For now, I plan to put it in the jewelry box in my room.
It’s a box with a large heart-shaped jewel, somewhat like a Magical girl compact.
Anyway, it was a jewelry box that nobody touched because I disliked it.
And while the girls diligently searched for Aurora light stones, I was able to find another note.
While I hid it in my pocket, the three who had finished the treasure hunt ran towards me. Their eyes were filled with a certain exhilaration.
Full of spite, anger, and competitiveness.
Their hands, holding the stones they had found, were covered in dirt.
“I found the most, right?”
Rozalina laughed triumphantly. Her face seemed to have forgotten her own purpose. Cherryna and Rosie shook their heads with pale faces.
Praise for the winner.
“Well done, Rozalina! I look forward to working with you tomorrow! If you collect 100 of these stones, I’ll make you a necklace later!”
“…A necklace? I… .”
“You don’t like it? It’s a gift from a friend.”
I puffed out my cheeks.
“No. I’m just so happy.”
Rozalina replied in a stiff tone. Her face didn’t look very happy either.
And punishment for the losers.
“Rozalina, give Cherryna and Rosie knuckle-cracks! That’s the treasure hunt rule!”
While Rozalina vented her anger on the losers, I grabbed the Aurora light stones they had diligently searched for.
Hee hee hee. Treasure hunt, success.
Three days later, Duke Spelman…
“Strange. There’s still no contact from Cherryna and Rosie. We were supposed to find out the Crown Prince’s guard change schedule.”
Duke Spelman muttered softly.
Something must have gone wrong. Even if they couldn’t find anything, they were supposed to leave a message. But there hadn’t been a single message for days.
Duke Spelman watched his son reading a book while drinking tea.
Unlike his daughter, who became an idiot due to a severe illness, his son was an intelligent and perfect heir. Although there were some shortcomings.
Duke Spelman had never seen a child smarter and more suited to the dukedom than Augustine.
Evelyn Spelman.
A child who absorbed knowledge like paper absorbs water. A child who was more suited to Spelman than anyone else. If it weren’t for the accident, she would be in that position now.
That’s why he felt regretful every time he saw Augustine. Moreover, Evelyn had patience and composure. It was different from the somewhat aggressive Augustine.
Now, she has become a child and has been reduced to a tool.
‘It would be better to send Augustine than to go myself.’
After all, there were too many eyes watching Duke Spelman.
Augustine was the perfect pawn in this situation.
“I think you should go, Augustine.”
“Me?”
Augustine looked away from his book and showed his discomfort. Duke Spelman disliked his arrogance, his inability to hide his emotions.
Un-Spelman-like.
Duke Spelman skillfully concealed his inner feelings and spoke softly.
“Who else would there be? And check on your sister.”
At those words, Augustine frowned. He said coldly.
“I don’t want to, Father. That girl isn’t my sister. She’s a useless bug.”
Duke Spelman calmly countered his malice.
“But thanks to her, we were able to discreetly plant someone in the palace. Even such bugs can be useful, Augustine.”
“…Hmph.”
“Besides, the Crown Prince had to let Count Carma escape while he was still alive. That means your sister has served her purpose.”
Augustine twitched his eyebrows. Since Duke Spelman had said it like that, he couldn’t refuse the order.
Duke Spelman was a gentle dictator. Augustine, who hadn’t yet inherited anything from the Duchy, had no choice but to obey his father.
Augustine closed the book he was reading.
“I’ll go. Can I go tomorrow?”
Duke Spelman nodded. Their faces showed no consideration for informing the palace beforehand, or contacting Evelyn.
As if Spelman’s will was above all else.
And Evelyn was completely unaware of the unwelcome guest that would soon arrive.
Rosie and Cherryna were eager to leave my side. So, when it was time to leave work, they disappeared like ghosts, whether I was asleep or not.
Anyway, at that time, the guards would strengthen their patrols, and my movements would be restricted.
That actually helped me. I could do what I needed to do without pretending to be a child.
I spread out the notes I had collected over the past three days and stared intently at them.
“It’s amazing that you’re doing other things while holding onto them like that.”
It seems to be a series of numbers, but the numbers written on the notes collected over the three days were all different. What does this mean?
Ugh, I wish novels would describe these things in more detail!
I stuffed the blanket into my mouth and stamped my feet.
No matter how much I thought, nothing came to mind. Should I just grab Cherryna and Rosie by the collar and ask them? It seems like a few knuckle-cracks would make them spill the beans.
I sighed deeply.
This is exactly how Hong Gil-dong felt. Unable to call his father “father” even when he saw him.
I rolled around on the bed, holding the five notes one by one. Then…
“Ugh!”
I was about to lose my balance and fall off the bed. And an unexpected sound came from outside.
“Your Highness, the Crown Princess must be asleep by now… .”
“Then I’ll just come out… .”
The door opened, and Cerden and I met eyes. A thud echoed, and silence fell for a moment.
The timing was perfect.
The soreness in my buttocks was forgotten in the shame. Cerden scanned me.
I swallowed nervously, slowly lowering one leg that had been draped over the bed.
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