“I barely managed to get to the shelter, but there were no herbs or doctors... The only doctor on this island went inland and that’s when the disaster happened. My wife was pregnant and came back to my hometown to recuperate, but who would have thought something like this would happen?”
There was no sign of a lie in Muller's expression.
If that story is true... why on earth did Charlotte do that?
Odette was confused.
'The incident where Muller's wife died in the shelter also happened in the game.'
However, according to the setting, Charlotte cannot appear on Athena Island during this period.
But if Charlotte hadn't come to Athena Island, how did Muller's wife die in the shelter in the game?
'So, does that mean Charlotte was here at this point in her past life?'
So then Charlotte killed Muller's wife this year, and then received Muller's help next year...?
'Why on earth is the female protagonist an angel?'
Odette's mind was in turmoil due to the unexpected information. One question after another followed.
She was having trouble figuring out how much she should believe in the game. Up until now, she's taken the information in the game for granted without question.
'If it was Charlotte who killed Muller's wife in the past life...'
It feels like a distant memory. What kind of person is this female protagonist that I believe to be good?
“That’s why I, too, was thinking of finding the pink-haired woman. What on earth was she up to that made her do such a thing to my wife... I won’t let that vile person off the hook once I find him.”
Muller ground his teeth in anger.
Odette still had doubts that he had approached her as Charlotte's person, but his anger did not seem like acting.
Odette lost in thought for a moment, opened her mouth.
“...Muller, is there a detective on Athena Island that we can use? It seems like we need to find that girl.”
“Miss, the truth is... I work as a detective in the capital. It’s a bit embarrassing to say it myself, but I’m the best in the capital.”
She knew because that was Moeller's official setting.
But Odette opened her mouth, pretending to be shocked.
“Really? This too seems to be fate. In that case, I will entrust this task to you. I will pay you a sufficient fee. I would like you to find out about that girl.”
As she said this, she took a pouch of silver coins out of her inventory safe and handed it to Muller.
Muller was surprised to see a sack containing a fairly generous amount of money.
“This, this excessive amount is burdensome. My attorney’s fee is not even a quarter of this!”
“Then all you have to do is do it four times better than usual.”
Odette said firmly. The female protagonist has become a variable. In the worst-case scenario, Charlotte and Odette could face off.
As such, Odette had no intention of saving money.
“Use your full potential. Four times more than your usual abilities as the best detective in the capital.”
Muller kept his mouth shut in response to Odette's answer.
“Then I will accept it.”
Odette gave him directions on where to contact her.
As Odette still doesn't completely trust Muller, she doesn't give him Gisela or Goetz's contact information.
'This is where the rat's address is written.'
The place Odette had told him was the address of the palace where the palace doctor had infiltrated the summer palace.
Gisela would be secretly visiting that place every day to keep watch, so if Muller sent a letter to that address, it would be delivered to Odette in no time.
Muller, who had soon moved to the stables, started the carriage.
The detailed plan on how to deal with Charlotte was to be decided after receiving Muller's report.
While Odette was gathering her thoughts for a moment, she arrived at the main gate of the Summer Palace.
'The only good thing is that the revenge plan went off without a hitch.'
Because it was the right time for all the bombs planted in the Summer Palace to explode.
The gatekeepers spotted Odette sitting in an open carriage.
This would officially keep her out of the castle for the entirety of 'the incident' that occurred today.
Normally, she would have worried that the Count would hear about this outing, but there was no need for that.
'From today onwards, even the Count will not have the luxury of paying attention to me.'
A few hours ago.
Rudolph was very busy in the evening. He had to gather as many reporters as possible to cover his plan.
“Really, His Majesty told you? That he opens the gardens of a foreign country at night!”
So they sat in the press-only cafeteria and chatted loudly. But the press did not fall for Rudolph's tricks so easily.
“Hey, you little punk! This Emperor has never visited a foreign garden before!”
And he just snorted.
“Besides, the gardens of foreign countries aren’t even gossip, so why would you pick out a gossip reporter and tell that? It’s obvious that it’s a lie!”
The reporters all criticized Rudolph, but he insisted that it was true, his neck bloodshot as if he was being wronged.
The reporters, who had been wondering for a long time, finally followed Rudolph as 10 o'clock approached.
If a foreign garden had really opened, it would have been a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for a reporter.
'Why are you grumbling when everyone else will follow you anyway?'
In order to get to the foreign garden, you had to go through the greenhouse garden. The foreign garden was an island-like place in the middle of the rooftop of the greenhouse garden.
Rudolph shouted for joy at the garden gate that summer.
'Things worked out well!'
As he had promised to Dolly, a single lily had fallen at the entrance to the summer garden.
When Dolly successfully completed her mission, she would drop a flower in front of the entrance to the summer garden.
Rudolph checked his watch. It was five minutes before the appointed time to open the door.
Dolly and Karl would arrive before ten o'clock, and Odette would have left even earlier, so it seemed like they would arrive in perfect timing.
Rudolph crossed the summer garden and climbed the steps. Soon he came into view of the dome-like garden of the foreign country, and the two gates leading to it, the east gate and the west gate.
“But why, His Majesty opening the foreign gardens to the public in the dark of night? If he is going to open them to the press, it would be much better during the day.”
One of the reporters who had been nagging him the whole time asked him rudely again. He was a reporter from a mainstream newspaper. A reporter from the Brentano newspaper run by the Brentano duchy.
“How can I understand His Majesty’s profound thoughts?”
But Rudolph just laughed it off.
'Anyway, all of you, your eyes will soon light up with joy at having caught a scoop! Get ready to thank me.'
They soon arrived at the gate. Rudolph, who had confirmed the sign of the lily flower again, spoke to the group.
“Everyone, there are so many precious birds inside. Do you know that tropical birds are timid and will die quickly if startled even a little?”
“Is that so?”
“So, please pay attention to the sound of footsteps and words.”
Rudolph said so.
Rudolph didn't know whether tropical birds were timid or not. It wasn't his business.
The important thing was that their footsteps should not be heard by the two people inside.
“His Majesty, how upset would he be if his beloved bird squeaked to death? Please try to keep your voice as quiet as possible from now on.”
As Rudolph had intended, the other reporters became as quiet as mice.
Your Majesty, you must be amazed at the opening of a foreign garden. It doesn't matter. It's not your fault anyway.
Dolly cries and pleads with the Emperor, and he will blame Odette for this mistake as well.
Rudolph was very excited.
Soon Odette will fall. Rudolph will fall Odette von Lina Albrecht.
The moment when that great woman's reputation is ruined hangs on the doorknob that he holds in his hand.
The moment he grabbed the doorknob, a faint groan came to Rudolph's ears. The sound of a woman and a man sobbing.
'Oh, crazy! Are you two really having a secret meeting? I put down the alcohol, but I didn't know it would be this successful!'
It really seems like it's going to get more fun.
'Well, I thought it was a bit strange! Wasn't that guy Karl a man before he became a slave? Would giving everything to a woman be loyalty?'
Rudolph convinced that the voice was Karl and Odette's, opened the door as carefully as possible.
The doorknob turned and the sound of panting became clearer as he opened the door.
“What is this...”
One of the surprised reporters tried to open his mouth, but another reporter covered his mouth.
It was because he had a hunch from the reporter's observation that it was a scoop.
The more astute reporters would have also noticed that Rudolph had dragged them here on purpose.
But for now, everyone's top priority was to capture this moment.
Everyone was busy taking out their papers and cameras so they could quickly capture the person who would become the subject of gossip.
Rudolph waited for the two men and women's panting to peak. And soon it did.
Rudolph, certain of the climax, flung open the door.
Then, under a gorgeous pergola decorated with tropical flowers, a man and a woman were seen engrossed in each other.
'This is awesome!!! ...Huh, huh?'
Their faces were clearly visible in the moonlight. The moment Rudolph saw their faces, his brain stopped.
“Look this way!”
“Don’t cover your face. Show me your face!”
Click-! Click-!
The sound of cameras and the excited voices of reporters.
Everyone in the press corps was waving their hands excitedly. The only one in the crowd who stood stiff and thoughtful was Rudolph.
There was no sign of a lie in Muller's expression.
If that story is true... why on earth did Charlotte do that?
Odette was confused.
'The incident where Muller's wife died in the shelter also happened in the game.'
However, according to the setting, Charlotte cannot appear on Athena Island during this period.
But if Charlotte hadn't come to Athena Island, how did Muller's wife die in the shelter in the game?
'So, does that mean Charlotte was here at this point in her past life?'
So then Charlotte killed Muller's wife this year, and then received Muller's help next year...?
'Why on earth is the female protagonist an angel?'
Odette's mind was in turmoil due to the unexpected information. One question after another followed.
She was having trouble figuring out how much she should believe in the game. Up until now, she's taken the information in the game for granted without question.
'If it was Charlotte who killed Muller's wife in the past life...'
It feels like a distant memory. What kind of person is this female protagonist that I believe to be good?
“That’s why I, too, was thinking of finding the pink-haired woman. What on earth was she up to that made her do such a thing to my wife... I won’t let that vile person off the hook once I find him.”
Muller ground his teeth in anger.
Odette still had doubts that he had approached her as Charlotte's person, but his anger did not seem like acting.
Odette lost in thought for a moment, opened her mouth.
“...Muller, is there a detective on Athena Island that we can use? It seems like we need to find that girl.”
“Miss, the truth is... I work as a detective in the capital. It’s a bit embarrassing to say it myself, but I’m the best in the capital.”
She knew because that was Moeller's official setting.
But Odette opened her mouth, pretending to be shocked.
“Really? This too seems to be fate. In that case, I will entrust this task to you. I will pay you a sufficient fee. I would like you to find out about that girl.”
As she said this, she took a pouch of silver coins out of her inventory safe and handed it to Muller.
Muller was surprised to see a sack containing a fairly generous amount of money.
“This, this excessive amount is burdensome. My attorney’s fee is not even a quarter of this!”
“Then all you have to do is do it four times better than usual.”
Odette said firmly. The female protagonist has become a variable. In the worst-case scenario, Charlotte and Odette could face off.
As such, Odette had no intention of saving money.
“Use your full potential. Four times more than your usual abilities as the best detective in the capital.”
Muller kept his mouth shut in response to Odette's answer.
“Then I will accept it.”
Odette gave him directions on where to contact her.
As Odette still doesn't completely trust Muller, she doesn't give him Gisela or Goetz's contact information.
'This is where the rat's address is written.'
The place Odette had told him was the address of the palace where the palace doctor had infiltrated the summer palace.
Gisela would be secretly visiting that place every day to keep watch, so if Muller sent a letter to that address, it would be delivered to Odette in no time.
Muller, who had soon moved to the stables, started the carriage.
The detailed plan on how to deal with Charlotte was to be decided after receiving Muller's report.
While Odette was gathering her thoughts for a moment, she arrived at the main gate of the Summer Palace.
'The only good thing is that the revenge plan went off without a hitch.'
Because it was the right time for all the bombs planted in the Summer Palace to explode.
The gatekeepers spotted Odette sitting in an open carriage.
This would officially keep her out of the castle for the entirety of 'the incident' that occurred today.
Normally, she would have worried that the Count would hear about this outing, but there was no need for that.
'From today onwards, even the Count will not have the luxury of paying attention to me.'
***
A few hours ago.
Rudolph was very busy in the evening. He had to gather as many reporters as possible to cover his plan.
“Really, His Majesty told you? That he opens the gardens of a foreign country at night!”
So they sat in the press-only cafeteria and chatted loudly. But the press did not fall for Rudolph's tricks so easily.
“Hey, you little punk! This Emperor has never visited a foreign garden before!”
And he just snorted.
“Besides, the gardens of foreign countries aren’t even gossip, so why would you pick out a gossip reporter and tell that? It’s obvious that it’s a lie!”
The reporters all criticized Rudolph, but he insisted that it was true, his neck bloodshot as if he was being wronged.
The reporters, who had been wondering for a long time, finally followed Rudolph as 10 o'clock approached.
If a foreign garden had really opened, it would have been a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for a reporter.
'Why are you grumbling when everyone else will follow you anyway?'
In order to get to the foreign garden, you had to go through the greenhouse garden. The foreign garden was an island-like place in the middle of the rooftop of the greenhouse garden.
Rudolph shouted for joy at the garden gate that summer.
'Things worked out well!'
As he had promised to Dolly, a single lily had fallen at the entrance to the summer garden.
When Dolly successfully completed her mission, she would drop a flower in front of the entrance to the summer garden.
Rudolph checked his watch. It was five minutes before the appointed time to open the door.
Dolly and Karl would arrive before ten o'clock, and Odette would have left even earlier, so it seemed like they would arrive in perfect timing.
Rudolph crossed the summer garden and climbed the steps. Soon he came into view of the dome-like garden of the foreign country, and the two gates leading to it, the east gate and the west gate.
“But why, His Majesty opening the foreign gardens to the public in the dark of night? If he is going to open them to the press, it would be much better during the day.”
One of the reporters who had been nagging him the whole time asked him rudely again. He was a reporter from a mainstream newspaper. A reporter from the Brentano newspaper run by the Brentano duchy.
“How can I understand His Majesty’s profound thoughts?”
But Rudolph just laughed it off.
'Anyway, all of you, your eyes will soon light up with joy at having caught a scoop! Get ready to thank me.'
They soon arrived at the gate. Rudolph, who had confirmed the sign of the lily flower again, spoke to the group.
“Everyone, there are so many precious birds inside. Do you know that tropical birds are timid and will die quickly if startled even a little?”
“Is that so?”
“So, please pay attention to the sound of footsteps and words.”
Rudolph said so.
Rudolph didn't know whether tropical birds were timid or not. It wasn't his business.
The important thing was that their footsteps should not be heard by the two people inside.
“His Majesty, how upset would he be if his beloved bird squeaked to death? Please try to keep your voice as quiet as possible from now on.”
As Rudolph had intended, the other reporters became as quiet as mice.
Your Majesty, you must be amazed at the opening of a foreign garden. It doesn't matter. It's not your fault anyway.
Dolly cries and pleads with the Emperor, and he will blame Odette for this mistake as well.
Rudolph was very excited.
Soon Odette will fall. Rudolph will fall Odette von Lina Albrecht.
The moment when that great woman's reputation is ruined hangs on the doorknob that he holds in his hand.
The moment he grabbed the doorknob, a faint groan came to Rudolph's ears. The sound of a woman and a man sobbing.
'Oh, crazy! Are you two really having a secret meeting? I put down the alcohol, but I didn't know it would be this successful!'
It really seems like it's going to get more fun.
'Well, I thought it was a bit strange! Wasn't that guy Karl a man before he became a slave? Would giving everything to a woman be loyalty?'
Rudolph convinced that the voice was Karl and Odette's, opened the door as carefully as possible.
The doorknob turned and the sound of panting became clearer as he opened the door.
“What is this...”
One of the surprised reporters tried to open his mouth, but another reporter covered his mouth.
It was because he had a hunch from the reporter's observation that it was a scoop.
The more astute reporters would have also noticed that Rudolph had dragged them here on purpose.
But for now, everyone's top priority was to capture this moment.
Everyone was busy taking out their papers and cameras so they could quickly capture the person who would become the subject of gossip.
Rudolph waited for the two men and women's panting to peak. And soon it did.
Rudolph, certain of the climax, flung open the door.
Then, under a gorgeous pergola decorated with tropical flowers, a man and a woman were seen engrossed in each other.
'This is awesome!!! ...Huh, huh?'
Their faces were clearly visible in the moonlight. The moment Rudolph saw their faces, his brain stopped.
“Look this way!”
“Don’t cover your face. Show me your face!”
Click-! Click-!
The sound of cameras and the excited voices of reporters.
Everyone in the press corps was waving their hands excitedly. The only one in the crowd who stood stiff and thoughtful was Rudolph.
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