I’m the Only One Who Can Guide the Tyrant to Sleep - Chapter 22
‘Let’s see. What would Her Highness like? Chocolate? Or maybe candies? Is it cookies again? Oh, should I buy something for Crown Prince as well?’
I leisurely strolled around the market, observing the stores. While passing by one, a man bumped into me, a hard bump on my shoulder.
“Ouch!”
Without a word of apology, he hurriedly walked past me and disappeared into a narrow alley. He was dressed in a completely black robe that covered his entire body.
‘What’s with that outfit?’
His attire was suspicious enough to pique my interest, more than the pain from the collision.
Without thinking, I glanced toward the alley he entered, and a single thought flashed through my mind.
‘The Black Market!’
The Black Market was a place I had always thought I would visit someday to gather information about a guide whose existence I wasn’t even sure of. The problem was that I didn’t know where the Black Market was located.
‘I wonder if following someone so suspicious might lead me there…’
I had an intuitive feeling that I should follow him. After glancing around cautiously, I headed towards the alley where the man had disappeared. The alley was considerably darker than the bustling market.
‘I didn’t know such a place existed.’
With a fearful heart, I stopped halfway around the corner and cautiously looked ahead. At the end of the alley, I noticed a piece of paper lying on the ground.
What’s this? I wondered. Maybe it’s something very important, like instructions on how to enter the Black Market.
I swallowed nervously and rushed forward to pick up the paper. I could see some crumpled writing on it.
「24-hour free consultation! Absolute confidentiality guaranteed! Specialized in gathering evidence!」
“Huh?”
As I turned it around, this time there was an unusual symbol drawn, and below it…
‘Katana Detective Agency’ was written.
“Brothel?”
It was only now that the writings on the front started to make sense. Free consultation, guaranteed confidentiality…
“What? It’s just an ordinary brothel in the back alley.”
I was about to crumple the paper and throw it away, but something made me pause. The symbol on the back seemed oddly familiar.
‘Where have I seen this before?’
Katana Detective Agency, Katana Detective Agency… Somehow, as I pondered the somewhat familiar name, a memory from the original story briefly crossed my mind.
‘No way… Could it be… that Katana?’
But the Katana I knew was not someone who would be involved with a brothel in a back alley.
‘No, but Katana was a mysterious figure who kept his identity hidden. No one knows what his past was like.’
More than anything, it was this symbol. Could there be another symbol as unique as this?
I carefully put the paper inside my pocket.
‘There’s nothing to lose.’
My heart raced. If the Katana on this business card was the person I had in mind, then he would undoubtedly become a more reliable ally than anyone else.
***
“So yummy!”
With her mouth full of chocolate, Flora struggled to speak clearly.
“Please eat slowly, Your Highness.”
“Okay!”
I carefully wiped Flora’s hands, which were covered in chocolate. Even in that brief moment, her little fingers fidgeted as if eager to eat more snacks.
I smiled warmly, observing her.
“Evelyn, you look happy.”
“Yes, I am.”
Although I hadn’t found the guide yet, I had solved one problem.
“You seem worried…”
“About what?”
Flora dropped the chocolate chip cookie she was holding, and it landed with a hard thud.
“Huh? Is there something wrong with the taste?”
“No, it’s not that…”
Flora swallowed the cookies she had in her mouth and continued.
“It’s just that I suddenly remembered my imperial studies homework…”
“Imperial studies homework?”
Flora was learning various subjects from a private tutor, and lately, she had been progressing quickly and had homework to do.
She had been complaining about it once a day, saying it wasn’t easy. It seemed that when she heard the word “worries,” homework came to mind again.
“What did your imperial studies homework involve?”
“It’s about the lifestyle of high-ranking nobles… I have to experience it and write about it myself.”
She sighed deeply, seeming reluctant to even think about it.
“My appetite disappeared…”
She even pushed the plate of snacks away. It was a very adorable sight.
‘The lifestyle of high-ranking nobles, huh…’
“How about attending a ball, then?”
“A ball?”
“Yes, nobles often host balls, especially high-ranking ones. If it’s such an event, it shouldn’t be difficult for Princess Flora to attend.”
Flora wore a thoughtful expression.
“But won’t it be bothersome?”
“You only need to attend and enjoy delicious food, right?”
“Hmm…”
“How about asking Her Majesty the Empress? If she agrees, you can go, and if not, we can consider something else!”
My proactive suggestion made Flora nod hesitantly.
“Well, if it’s something difficult, Mother probably won’t allow it.”
“That’s right.”
“Okay, then I’ll ask her next time!”
I smiled as I watched her reach for another cookie.
High-ranking nobles and a ball. It was highly likely that the ball Flora would attend was hosted by Duke Spiegel.
