Chapter 54

“What?”

The Duke asked again. I hurriedly collected my wits.

“Supreme Justice—no, Duke, Supreme Justice, how did you get in here?”

“Decide on one and call me that.”

Since we’re from the same central ministry, I decided to call him Supreme Justice for business. He reached out and helped me to my feet while I was still in a crawling, stunned state.

“My mentor was worried about you and sent me. He asked me to hold onto Mr. Rinus.”

Still, sending someone with royal blood was overwhelming — I felt like I might die of the pressure.

“I definitely locked the door — how did you get in here?”

“Through the window.”

“The window? This is the third floor.”

“Is that a problem?”

At that moment I remembered a gossip column line about the Duke excelling in swordsmanship. He had won great distinction in war and was granted the title of Duke of Ariadne. In peacetime the Emperor had invited him to the Ministry of Justice, where he proved himself again and rose to the role of Supreme Justice… I could go on, but I’ll stop here.

‘Someone disguised themselves and snuck in with their heart pounding, while someone else just jumps in at a bound — world, really.’

Boom! Boom!

At that moment two short firework bangs sounded outside. The brooch on my chest began to glow red.

“He’s here. There’s no time — we have to finish up quickly and go!”

I pressed the vault button to reactivate the illusion magic and locked the door. Footsteps were already getting close in the corridor. As I looked around thinking we should hide, the Duke suddenly wrapped his arm around my waist.

“There’s no time, excuse me for a moment.”

Then he slung me over his shoulder and leapt out the window!

I clamped a hand over the scream that wanted to escape and squeezed my eyes shut. He carried an adult woman, and yet his movements were as light as a feather.

‘Ah, Pinea, Nicola!’

I pulled the scroll from my bosom and tore it. The sky above the building turned green and then vanished — the signal that escape succeeded and to run. He set me down only after we were well away from Rinus and out into the busy street.

“As recompense for saving you, I can ask what exactly you were doing, right?”

He was going to find out anyway.

“I’ll explain on the way to the Minister of Finance.”

“Very well.”

The Duke immediately had someone catch a carriage and joined me. On the way to the Imperial Palace I told him the whole story and showed all the evidence. Hearing the truth about the collapse of the Ga-ho Bridge, he couldn’t hide his anger.

“I didn’t expect it to be this rotten.”

“We can’t just let this pass because someone powerful is behind it.”

I planned to report this to the Minister of Finance then leak it to the press. If I reported anonymously, power could suppress it, so I intended to go through him. Hearing me, he said it was a good idea and offered to help. With someone of his higher rank backing it, it would be far more effective, so I welcomed it wholeheartedly.

“Was this your plan from the start?”

The Duke asked. I readily admitted it.

“If I hadn’t done this, no matter how much we amended the contract as you suggested, it would be meaningless. We needed a precedent for enforcing the law in case of violations.”

“So you included the contract termination clause thinking of faulty construction?”

“I didn’t expect it to be on this scale, though I anticipated problems. But finding shoddy construction wasn’t my ultimate goal.”

The Duke raised an eyebrow and pointed at the blueprints I was holding.

“You’ve gone through all this trouble to find that proof, haven’t you?”

The blueprints were only the beginning. When I shook my head, he gave me a prompting look. It felt like one of our conversations at The Can’t-Resign service.

“What I was ultimately aiming for as cause for termination was the dishonor of the Imperial family.”

“…!”

“I know nothing about the late Emperor. So even if I exposed corruption, if it didn’t feel like a grave issue, it wouldn’t matter. I needed another way. That’s when I realized: nobles and royals care deeply about honor — or rather their public face — and they will risk everything to protect it.”

“So that’s why you planned to go to the press.”

“Right. With such clear evidence and such a serious incident, if no one suppresses it, the people will be furious. If it comes out that this company had long handled major Imperial projects and committed corruption, people will assume someone above them is involved. There’s no need to mention the Crown Prince — the Emperor would likely know. Before the Crown Prince’s name surfaces, the Emperor will want this dealt with quickly to protect the Imperial family’s honor.”

The Emperor isn’t made by the power of nobles alone — he is upheld by the people’s support. That’s the strongest means of strengthening imperial authority.

Would they really ignore corruption this blatant? If so, the country is doomed and I might as well prepare to emigrate.

“How old are you?”

“I’m twenty-one this year.”

When I was possessed I was twenty, but with the merchant trading house, the aide position, and entering the Chancellery, the year passed and I turned one year older. Come to think of it, I don’t even know Cornelia’s real birthday.

“To have thoughts like that at your age — I’m ashamed of the genius they used to call me.”

“Sorry?”

His voice faltered at the absurd remark. I couldn’t explain away my rough workplace experience, so I chose humility.

“Not at all. Anyone could think that, but they keep it inside to avoid misunderstanding.”

“If that’s the case, I guess I who failed to see it should step down from the Supreme Justice post.”

“That’s not what I meant, ugh…”

When his sudden resignation declaration left me at a loss, his eyes softened slightly. That alone made the atmosphere noticeably gentler. If this were a ballroom, every young lady and noblewoman would be unable to take their eyes off him.

‘Get a grip. He’s a celebrity, a celebrity.’

I made myself a vow not to indulge in idle fantasies while looking at his face until we reached the Imperial Palace.

A few days later, the Seraphina Empire was turned upside down.

‘The collapse of Gaho Bridge that took the lives of over a hundred — it wasn’t divine wrath! The truth is shoddy work by the company!’

The truth was splashed in sensational headlines across the major papers. The newspapers flew off the shelves, and the people’s anger was palpable on the streets. The mood on the way to work was grim and tense. The vertically connected Chancellery couldn’t avoid it either.

“It wasn’t divine wrath…?”

Assistant secretaries, scribe, and clerks were all stunned into silence. Many seemed to feel guilt for knowing about the corruption and turning a blind eye.

“Cornelia, did you hear the news?”

Lukan, hurried over to my desk and said.

“A 1st grade secretary was just dragged off by the Ministry of Justice’s inspectors and investigators to be questioned.”

I smiled briskly.

“Oh? Good.”

“You…”

“Yes?”

“No way, don’t tell me.”

I leisurely skimmed documents, enjoying the rare absence of petty overtime and office turf wars. I had done everything I could and moved on.

Now let’s see what my superiors are made of.

Meanwhile, Vespera was heading to the Imperial Palace with his mentor, the Minister of Finance.

“His Majesty will be very displeased.”

“This is the consequence of neglecting something that could have been stopped earlier.”

“This time it will be hard to cover up.”

“Because this crosses the line His Majesty hates most.”

“That girl hit it right on the mark.”

Cornelia’s aim at dishonoring the Imperial family had taken hold perfectly. As a result, within two days of the newspapers’ reports, the relevant parties were under investigation and he and his mentor were summoned. Standing before the audience chamber, a servant announced:

“Your Majesty, the Supreme Justice and the Minister of Finance have arrived.”

“Bring them in!”

When the doors opened, the Emperor and the blushing Crown Prince stood facing each other. It was clear the Prince had been thoroughly scolded.

“For now, keep yourself in seclusion. Do not leave your palace until I say so.”

“Father!”

When the Emperor pointed to the door with a finger, the Crown Prince bowed his head deeply and strode out hissing. As he passed Vespera he scowled fiercely.

“Sit here.”

The Emperor took his seat again. Vespera and the Minister of Finance sat in the chairs below.

“I called you to ask how to resolve the Gaho Bridge collapse that has the Empire in an uproar.”

The Emperor knew the Crown Prince stood behind the shoddy company. This question was about how to handle it without exposing the Prince. The girl’s assessment was correct. The acting Chancellor, the Minister of Finance, spoke first.

“I believe we should proceed according to the law.”

“According to the law?”

“When drafting the contract for the Rusera Avenue construction, we supplemented previous deficiencies and created a new contract. Based on that, the shoddy construction and the dishonor to the Imperial family justify terminating the contract and contracting anew with a fairly selected company.”

Vespera added.

“Of course, we must impose severe penalties on the company that failed in its duties. Since many lives were lost, everyone involved should be rooted out and brought to justice. I understand you do not wish to reveal the Crown Prince’s connection. If so, at least measures should be taken to ensure His Highness does not repeat such mistakes.”

“Hmm…”

The Emperor stroked his beard in thought. After a long silence he spoke again.

“Who is the person who uncovered this incident?”