My Contract Husband Resembles the Male Protagonist - Chapter 79
Enya might think she’s the one being helped by Dale, but it was always her who saved him.
Her smile, always as bright as sunlight, provided him with a space to breathe.
Enya hadn’t changed one bit. She was the same girl who smiled so widely as a child, and even now, she hadn’t lost that warmth.
“…Your Majesty. Your Majesty?”
At that moment, Soho’s breath unpleasantly reached his ear.
Dale furrowed his brow as he absentmindedly wrote Enya’s name.
“What are you thinking about so deeply? I just asked whether you think it’s better to hold off or investigate the matter I reported earlier, Your Majesty.”
“…..”
Dale hadn’t heard a word.
He was too preoccupied with thoughts of Enya, occasionally losing focus like this.
‘Is he at it again?’
‘Falling head over heels in love again.’
All the advisors knew the reason for his distraction. Whenever the normally composed emperor lifted the corners of his mouth, it was because he was thinking of her.
However, the report Soho had just tried to deliver…
The advisors almost wanted to leave the room. It seemed fortunate that the emperor hadn’t heard it the first time.
“Let me report again, Your Majesty.”
Soho looked at Dale as he began to read the document.
“Recently, a noblewoman has been exploiting both merchants and commoners, treating them like servants and extorting vast amounts of money.”
“..…”
Dale’s eyebrow raised slightly.
It was the kind of disturbance he disliked. But it wasn’t something that warranted a report to the emperor.
So, there must be a reason.
Dale remained silent, listening to Soho’s account.
“The operation involves an illegal gambling den, with 26 reported incidents so far. The total damage is estimated at 280,000 crobat. There have also been 88 reports of dining and dashing, along with three nobles complaining of being bribed and swindled. Goods were taken on credit without payment.”
There were so many offenses that the list continued onto the next page.
“Inns were also used without payment, and the combined losses amount to 7 million crobat.”
“The investigation is overdue.”
Dale took the document and scanned the timeline of events.
It was something that had been happening steadily for some time.
“Who’s behind it?”
“As it says at the bottom, the culprit is…”
Soho spoke with a face full of righteous indignation.
“Lady Enya Lockheart.”
Dale’s eyes trembled for a moment.
“Enya Lockheart.”
Dale closed his eyes tightly.
The advisor sitting next to Soho quickly pulled him down into a seat, sensing the tense atmosphere that had fallen over the room. Everyone knew what Lady Lockheart meant to the emperor.
And she was a Lockheart, no less.
The precious daughter of the current Prime Minister, Duke Lockheart.
“Why was this not reported earlier?”
“Because she is Lady Lockheart.”
Dale reviewed the past records and the way the case had been handled.
It was clear that the advisors had known about this for some time. The records showed unmistakably that the case had been covered up.
“They buried this because it involved the Lockheart family.”
Thud.
Dale threw the documents onto the table.
“Pathetic. Soho, you must have known.”
“I apologize, Your Majesty. It’s my fault.”
“Yes, it is. You were at fault.”
At the emperor’s stern tone, the advisors bowed their heads, speechless. He tapped the document with his finger.
“Investigate this thoroughly. I want no room for doubt.”
“But… Your Majesty…”
“I thought you were talented individuals, but you’re all fools.”
His low voice sent chills through the room.
“Don’t say you did this for my sake, Soho. Are you a mere servant, or do you hold a position in the capital?”
“…I’m sorry.”
Soho bowed his head deeply.
Dale sighed briefly and glanced at the case file.
“People who know that Lady Lockheart has run away are behind this. It’s an impersonation.”
Reports of incidents across the empire, accusing someone who appeared to be Enya, had been filed.
There was a reason why the advisors had only learned about this a month ago.
The empire was vast, and local lords, fearful of the Lockheart family, had hesitated to report the incidents to the capital.
It was only through a recent survey of the territories, combined with a thorough investigation of the local lords, that they uncovered the truth.
The advisors had intended to cover it up.
But Soho couldn’t allow that.
