The break room was large and fancy. The woman who managed to sneak in was frantically searching for something without even having time to feel relieved.
Her head turned so much that she could hear a whoosh, whoosh. And then.
"Found it!
The woman muttered happily as her pent-up breath burst out. Then, as if startled by something, she covered her mouth and ran away at a brisk pace.
She stopped in front of a table used to store her belongings.
And on top of it, there was a silk box whose owner had left it there.
The woman who had been nervous throughout the party smiled broadly.
This banquet hall was only open to royalty and above, and even servants could not easily enter and exit it. So, although the security outside the door was tight, paradoxically, there was no surveillance inside the door.
The attendants were still waiting outside the door. The ladies were asleep. So the Queen and the chief maid, who had been off guard, seemed to have accidentally left the necklace here for a moment, where no one was present.
'That's great. I was having a hard time bribing the Queen's close maids!'
She had already ordered her subordinates to try to steal the necklace several times. However, the maids did not come close, and the Queen never took the necklace off her body.
She kept looking for an opportunity, but she was so anxious that she couldn't find any openings. The woman, who was suffering from the pressure of having to complete the mission, felt like she was going to burst.
'The Queen trusts me enough to invite me here, so even if she finds out later that something was stolen, it will be difficult to identify the culprit, right?'
There were seven ladies she trusted. Besides, she thought it would be much better to take action herself when the opportunity arose rather than trying to bribe maids.
'As soon as I get out of here, I need to create a maid who can take the blame for me.'
The woman grabbed the lid and smiled wickedly.
Dalgrak!
With a little force, the unlocked box opened wide. As if it had been waiting, the magic stone necklace quietly twinkled on the cushion.
The woman was momentarily entranced by the brilliant colors, then reached out her hand in a hurry.
Yes.
The woman hurriedly took out the necklace and hid it in her bosom. At the same time, she took something out of her other bosom and put it in the box.
"It's okay..."
The woman looked down at the box, muttering happily.
To her surprise, the blue gemstone necklace was still sparkling inside the box. When she closed the lid, it was as if nothing had happened.
Her lips curled in joy as she successfully completed the perfect crime. The woman turned around, feeling her chest where the necklace was hidden, to quickly leave.
"Ma'am?"
"Ack!"
But she suddenly hesitated at the sound of a voice.
'Oh my, there was definitely no one there!'
But on the other side, the person she most didn't want to see appeared.
"What are you doing there?"
Julia asked with a smile. Her smile was as kind as usual, but her words were heartbreaking.
"I'm sorry, Your Majesty! The magic stone necklace is so pretty. I happened to see the head maid leave it here earlier... I wanted to see it one more time, so I ended up sneaking in like this, which was rude."
The woman used her wit to make it sound plausible. She was a capable person who never let anyone know, even though her family was short on money.
Her pretty purple eyes blinked, and then Julia nodded.
"Oh, I see."
The sound of shoes clicking on the marble floor came closer. The woman felt a sense of relief at the unchanging soft voice.
"I also thought you took the neck lace from that box."
A thud. The woman almost clutched her chest and barely managed to control her expression. Her hands and feet reflexively grew cold.
"Wow, Your Majesty, what is that? Absolutely not. How could I dare do something like that?"
Julia stopped in front of the box. Long, white fingers opened the lid and picked up a blue necklace.
"That's true. I guess I was mistaken. I've heard rumors that some power is after this these days."
"No, I'm embarrassed because I couldn't control my desire to see it more. I'm sorry for worrying you for no reason."
"No, it was my fault for doubting you. I'm sorry for the misunderstanding."
Julia put the necklace back on and apologized softly. The woman smiled as the tension eased.
"No, it was quite possible that you misunderstood."
Thank goodness. She is still young and innocent. To be honest, she is too innocent to be a Queen...
"Then, can you show me what you just put in your arms?"
"... Yes?"
A cold sweat ran down her back. The woman hesitated and took a step back.
Then, a young, innocent, and incomparably gentle Queen appeared before her eyes.
"If it's not a necklace, I wonder what you have in your bosom. Could you show me, Marchioness Flora?"
Julia smiled kindly and held out her hand. The Marchioness Flora clasped her pale hand against her chest.
'Cheer up, calm down. Calm down...'
The Queen, whom she had known for a long time, was affectionate and not picky. She was a woman who did not dislike or suspect anyone.
"That's well, actually. I really wanted the Queen's necklace because it was so beautiful. So I pestered my husband and had a hard time getting him a similar necklace."
So, just get through it now!
"I wanted to compare how similar it was to the Queen's, but I was worried that you might be offended if they were the same! That's why I just snuck in and took a look..."
The Marchioness Flora made up an excuse, which was improvised but quite plausible.
Julia listened to her in silence, as if she were curious. Then, when she finished speaking, she smiled as if to tell her not to worry.
"I see. Then, you must have a blue magic stone necklace in your arms right now, just like the one in the box?"
"Yes, Your Majesty. The design and color are the same, so you might get confused..."
"No, that won't happen."
Julia interrupted gently.
"Because my necklace is purple."
"Yes?"
The Marchioness Flora asked back with a look of momentary incomprehension. But Julia nodded elegantly as if to tell her to show it to her.
Although she was bewildered, when she cleared the charges herself, Marchioness Flora obediently took the necklace out of her bosom.
'Are you stupid? I'm fine, but I'm so drunk that I can't even see the colors... Ugh!'
But surprisingly, what she was holding in his hand was a purple necklace.
The Marchioness Flora was so surprised that she dropped her necklace.
Bam.
"I hope there are no traitors among the ladies."
Julia muttered, snatching the falling necklace.
"Ah, ah, no! I'm not a traitor?!"
Marquise Flora, who had not yet fully grasped the situation, denied it in a scream. Her mind was in turmoil.
What the heck? I clearly stole the magic stone necklace, but why is the color...!
"It's no use trying to avoid it."
Julia picked up the necklace from the box. For some reason, all the blue gems had turned black.
"Ack!"
The Countess Flora doubted her eyes, but Julia retorted with a calm face.
"The magic stone necklace never existed in the first place. It was originally purple, and I just hoped that the black wolves would fall for it, fearing that Semele and the Magic Tower would unite."
The secret was revealed. The Marchioness Flora was horrified.
'It was a trap!'
Did you know everything? That they were after Semele, and that I was their lackey?!
The Marchioness Flora backed away hesitantly, panicking.
"Just like my necklace is purple, this one was originally black. Who gave it to you?"
Julia asked directly. At those words, the expression on the Marchioness Flora's face changed as if a button had been pressed.
If she tells her that, her family will be torn apart.
"If the question was difficult, let's change it. Where are the black wolves now?"
So, let's just shut that mouth!
"Ah!"
A traitor blinded by greed and fear rushed forward with his claws raised. But.
Bam!
"Gasp, huh!"
The Marchioness Flora gasped in surprise. Julia turned her head at the threat being put to rest before she could even cast her spell.
"Mion?"
"Yes."
Endymion answered softly, pushing Julia away while holding on to the Marchioness Flora with one hand.
"Heh... heh! Your Majesty. I said I would use binding magic! Your Majesty, are you alright?!"
Boris came rushing in through the open door, looking bewildered.
"What are you using it for when it's so late?"
"That's not it. It's because the Queen didn't give a signal!"
Boris was taken aback. Regardless, Endymion snatched the dagger from under the sleeve of the Marchioness Flora and handed it over to him.
"Ahh! Wait a minute! This, this is all a misunderstanding, listen to me!"
"Yes, let's go comfortably together. Please cooperate."
Boris quickly used magic to bind her limbs and took the evidence away. The struggling Marchioness Flora was dragged out with her mouth gagged.
"Got it, you punk."
Julia looked around the scorched-earth lounge and approached Endymion, nodding.
"Send the knights to Marquis Flora's residence immediately. Everyone associated with them must be eliminated at once."
"Yeah, that would be good."
Julia, who readily agreed, soon became bitter. One of her closest ladies was the culprit.
But she ended up chuckling because of Endymion, who was examining her every nook and cranny with earnest eyes.
You rushed in earlier than planned, before I could even reach you. What else are you worried about?
How unusual it was, to the point where he didn't even seem interested in catching the weed.
"You're really overprotective of me. In fact, even Boris didn't have to come forward."
Julia said teasingly. Endymion pretended not to hear and calmly wrapped his arms around her waist.
***
Boom!
"Wh, what are you doing! I'm innocent!"
Marquis Flora was secretly dragged out of the banquet hall.
As Julia singled out the suspicious female nobles, Endymion simultaneously selected the male nobles.
Marquis Flora, who had moved to play a card game with others, did not know what was going on, but soon realized it.
'Right, we have to get rid of the evidence in the mansion quickly!'
One day, his wife asked him about evidence of joining hands with suspicious investors.
He was struggling to maintain his business without being able to reveal his financial status due to his pride, but with their help, he ended up sitting on a mountain of money.
It was a pretty sweet price to pay for accepting some of the more often than not Incomprehensible, strange terms and conditions.
They were not Semelein, and they did not reveal their identities, as his wife had met them at a foreign auction house. However, they were excellent businessmen, and their help made him a millionaire.
Marquis Flora was uncomfortable with the anonymous business associates, but he gradually became insensitive to the sweet taste of money, so he began to gradually grant them everything they asked for.
Information on certain lands, including the capital, the distribution network of certain goods, details on nobles holding important positions, and even royal secrets.
Recently, he was able to purchase expensive Cheryl bulbs, and every day felt like he was walking on clouds. But then, he suddenly had to buy them...
"Admit the charges and cooperate. Then, even if it's treason, you can still be tried."
The deputy commander who was dragging them to the dungeon spoke sharply. The weak-willed Marquis Flora was startled by those words.
"Bah, bah, treason?! That's ridiculous!"
It seemed like the situation was serious.
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