I’m the Only One Who Can Guide the Tyrant to Sleep - Chapter 24

Meriette couldn’t help but suppress a chuckle that seemed to be emerging involuntarily.

“What are you talking about?”

“In truth, I… I also want to catch the Empress’s eye.”

Meriette managed to stifle her laughter.

“Is that so?”

“Yes, that’s why you’re my role model.”

“Role model?”

“Yes! Since I was first assigned here, I’ve truly admired you.”

“Hmm…”

“I’ll probably never dream of reaching a position like yours in my lifetime.”

Meriette, with her shoulders slightly raised, unintentionally began to comfort Evanse.

“Oh, you can do it too. Just don’t be too hasty.”

“Really? Can I be like you, Meriette?”

“In that case, this is just for you. Among the new maids who recently came to the Crown Prince’s palace, you’re the most diligent, just as you said. After all, I’m a bit of a veteran, right?”

“Yes, that’s true.”

“So, the other maids find me a bit intimidating because of that. Well, it’s understandable. It’s probably tough, you know, with such a huge difference in experience.”

“Right, right.”

“In that regard, you, what should I say, have some guts?”

Evanse clasped her hands together with an appreciative look.

“Meriette…”

“But before that, it might be a good idea to take off those thick glasses. The kid looks gloomy with them!”

Evanse instinctively lowered her head, avoiding Meriette’s hand as if she was about to remove her glasses.

“So, the documents you were looking at just now in that drawer, were they also something the Empress ordered?”

“Huh? Oh, these are…”

Gradually letting down her guard, Meriette stuttered as she spoke, looking at Evanse, who was now raising the corner of her mouth.

However, her eyes behind the thick glasses remained entirely devoid of humor.

***

Meriette diligently inquired about the evidence.

“How about this? Will this be enough?”

We discreetly exchanged documents behind the building.

What she had done was even more sinister than I had anticipated. It wasn’t just a matter of swiping a few snacks.

‘At this level, it’s embezzlement, plain and simple.’

If this ledger were exposed, it would cause a huge commotion within the palace. Meriette’s dismissal would be a given, and her family might also suffer the consequences.

Moreover, this ledger contained evidence that she had embezzled the Crown Prince’s budget and redirected it to the Empress’s palace.

‘If this ledger is revealed, they might even suspect the relationship between the Empress and Meriette.’

If it were revealed to be related to the Empress, the noble factions would be elated. At a time like this, they might not even hesitate to take action against the Empress.

‘That’s problematic.’

It wasn’t what I wanted. If it went that way, it would put Floria at risk, and ultimately, it would benefit the noble factions.

What I truly desired was to take down the noble factions, make Floria and the Empress our allies, and ultimately have Caesar ascend to the throne.

A way to persuade the Empress without making her lose her crown… I still don’t know.

Well, anyway, that was the ultimate goal.

“Hmm? How is it? Will this be satisfactory for the Empress?”

“Hmm… Not bad.”

I smiled at Meriette and tucked the ledger into my embrace.

“I’ll deliver it directly to the Empress. It shouldn’t take too long.”

“Really? Please, just make sure you speak nicely, okay? I’m really counting on you.”

“Of course. Thank you for your hard work. I’ll be in touch.”

With insincere words, I quickly parted ways with Meriette. Now that I had the ledger, there was no reason for me to meet her again.

She’d probably get anxious if I didn’t contact her. But she couldn’t openly talk about our dealings. She had more to lose than anyone if rumors started circulating.

‘I didn’t expect to have to worry about this.’

Meriette’s misdeed was more serious than I had anticipated. It was an unexpected obstacle.

‘But now I have the ledger in my hands. I can deal with Meriette whenever I want.’

As I walked away, deep in thought, I suddenly stopped. There was another unexpected obstacle: where to hide the ledger.

A place within my reach was either the Princess’s palace, a small dressing room assigned to me in the palace, or my home.

‘They’re all risky.’

Even if the ledger were discovered, it had to be in a place unrelated to me. Even if Meriette implicated me as the mastermind, it should sound like the desperate excuse of a scapegoat.

‘Where should I put it?’

As I pondered the locations, one name suddenly came to mind: the ‘Katana Detective Agency.’

‘Why not meet them for once?’

It seemed like a good idea to check in advance whether the person I had in mind was really the one, and if so, how I could make use of them.

‘I also want to assess their abilities.’