Rincasta knelt down. Seeing this, the first thing Stella did was cover Lina's eyes, who was standing next to her.
"Lina, you go outside for a moment."
Stella sent Lina out. Then she looked at Rincasta. The moment he apologized, she realized that Rincasta was the culprit. Kendrick gave him a disapproving look.
Gathering things up.
He took something out of his bag. As expected, it was Duke Adrian's family ledger.
"I know it's shameless of me, but I think it's only proper to return this to you in person."
Stella, who was about to ask why the ledger was taken, remained silent for a moment.
"At least you know you have no shame."
Kendrick didn't yell. He smirked and gave him a chance to speak.
"And thank you. For taking in my younger sibling."
Kendrick looked at Stella as if asking what she meant. Stella stroked the back of his hand as a signal that she would tell him later. Then, she looked at Rincasta with a stern expression.
"Explain it."
The disappearance of the Duke's ledger was a problem for Adrian and everyone else. However, Rincasta, the starting point of it all, was a problem that Stella had to solve. This was because he was a gift sent to Stella by Sercia.
"Why is this in your hands?"
Rincasta was not a knight apprentice expelled for lack of ability. He was knighted in the shortest possible time. After being disowned along with Lina, he painfully realized that without ability, he had no future. Therefore, he chose to enter Lanedict to earn money.
"I'll make a lot of money and come back."
Seeing Lina gripping his sleeve tightly, he couldn't easily move his feet. To Rincasta, Lina was the reason for his life and his everything.
"What if the director sends me somewhere else?"
He never wanted to let her disappear from his life.
"Lina, it might be hard, but don't say anything until I come back."
"Huh? You're telling me not to speak?"
Rincasta nodded.
"Yes. If you can't speak, the director will fail to send you for adoption as a means of making money. Just pretend you can't speak until your brother earns money and comes back."
After earnestly telling Lina not to say a word, he entered Lanedict. Having grown up in a disadvantaged environment, he was desperate, so he grew day by day and caught Sercia's eye.
"Hey, the face is decent, and the ability is pretty good too."
At first, Rincasta liked this. It was an opportunity to make money quickly. In fact, Sercia had given him missions a few times to carry out, and the rewards were substantial. Through this process, he learned even the secrets of the Lanedict ducal family. He also got to know Skyle.
"You said you needed a lot of money, right?"
"Yes. That's right. I'll do anything to make money."
At that time, Rincasta was so full of zeal that he was willing to kill people if necessary. However, the order given by Sercia was quite absurd.
"Be my daughter's second husband."
"Yes...?"
Rincasta remembered Stella. He vaguely recalled seeing her at Skyle's celebratory party. She was a very elegant and beautiful woman. Above all, she was Adrian's wife, and she had a husband.
"Me?"
How dare I approach a woman like that?
Rincasta just blinked in surprise. Sercia chuckled.
"It’s not difficult. That child will be grateful and touched even if you treat her just a little bit well."
Rincasta could not understand why he was being given such a mission. If that was the case, couldn't they just find another, more handsome and skilled man? As Rincasta stood there feeling dejected, Sercia gave him the real mission.
"Stay in Adrian for as long as possible like that. And extract Adrian's key data."
"If you mean key data...?"
"Ledger."
Sercia gave a substantial amount of money as a down payment.
"If you succeed in this, I will give you ten times this money. Then you’ll be able to build a comfortable home for your younger sister, too."
Rincasta wanted to give this money to Lina right away, but he couldn't. If he saw her face for no reason, it would become difficult to be separated from Lina again. Moreover, if the director sensed something suspicious, he could threaten Rincasta by holding Lina hostage. It wasn't long before things were fully settled.
'Once we finish this job and get the money, let's take Lina out.'
That is how Rincasta approached Stella. Stella saw Rincasta as nothing but a child. He tried to act mature for no reason, but it didn't work. Because she had sent him to her husband, Kendrick.
'It's dangerous.'
Sercia told him to stay here for a long time, but Rincasta couldn't. He wanted to finish his mission quickly and go to Lina. Since joining Lanedict, he hadn't been able to visit the orphanage even once and hadn't heard any news from it.
'I need to finish this quickly.'
Rincasta remembered what Sercia had said before coming to Adrian.
"What if we fail to bring the ledger?"
"Then there's nothing we can do. We have no choice but to send a different knight."
'That won't do.'
As Rincasta looked impatient, Sercia gave a different order.
"Or at least try manipulating it."
If Rincasta manipulated the ledgers, it would cause problems with the taxes paid to the Imperial Family. Then, there was a high possibility that Stella and Kendrick would also be tainted. Rincasta timidly changed the numbers in the accounting ledger little by little.
'It can't be helped. If I want to earn money quickly and get back to Lina.'
He vowed over and over again to live a ruthless life. However, seeing Stella treat him kindly made it difficult again. Stella was different from the adults he had met before. She did not regard children as mere means to an end. When she saw him fighting with other servants, Rincasta felt a sense of shame for some reason.
'I disappointed Lady Stella.'
Rincasta had been depressed for a few days. However, he could not dwell on that depression. He had to earn money to go to Lina. Heavy rain poured down, and a good opportunity presented itself to him. As he brought out Stella's tea again, he saw that the Duke's office was open. Kendrick and the others had also left their posts to control the situation.
"Ha..."
While working in Kendrick's room, Rincasta figured out everything. From the location of the ledger to the key that hid it. Saturated with guilt, he stole the ledger. Then, brazenly, he returned to Stella. His plan was to hand her the tea, somehow escape this place, and return to Lanedict. However, things did not go as planned.
"Put on your clothes. You come with me.'
He followed Stella and ended up meeting his sister.
'Lina...?'
Rincasta did not want to be separated from Lina. Stella left for the Duke's mansion without holding him back. The Duke's family ledger was still in his bag. Rincasta set off for the mansion as soon as the heavy rain subsided. His heart was leaning toward one side.
"I didn't know until now. That Lady Stella had moved our orphanage children to the Duke's mansion."
Rincasta could not betray Stella. He even confessed to Stella the orders given by the Duchess Lanedict. Stella's eyes widened when she learned the truth.
'Did Mother even give such an order...?'
Stella bit her lip tightly.
'Why on earth?'
She couldn't understand Sercia. What was she planning to do with Adrian's ledger? Stella ran a hand across her face with a troubled expression.
"I know the reason."
Rincasta wanted to make up for disappointing her.
"Lanedict has been committing tax evasion. Reporters who caught wind of it have visited a few times."
He revealed everything he knew.
"I think they are trying to divert the reporters' attention to Adrian's ledger."
Stella recalled that Skyle had entered the Imperial Family as a researcher. She had thought that Skyle had entered the Imperial Family simply for the sake of honor, rather than inheriting the family estate immediately after becoming an adult...
'Was he planning to cover up Lanedict's crimes while working for the Imperial Household?'
Disappointment in Skyle also began to gradually emerge. On top of that, he proposed that Stella enter the palace as well.
She spat out the words in a lamenting voice.
"So that's why Skyle approached me back then, too."
She recalled him acting familiar, suggesting they have a meal together.
'They must have thought that having me in the imperial palace would help them cover up the crime.'
Of course, she hadn't welcomed him warmly even then, but knowing this fact made her dislike him even more. Rincasta looked up at Stella.
"That is not the case. Brother Skyle is innocent. On the contrary..."
Rincasta gasped for breath, as if finding it difficult to speak. He squeezed his eyes shut and then opened them again, as if remembering something terrible.
"On the contrary, he helped me. I was trying to kill the reporter who was investigating Lanedict on Sercia's orders."
Stella frowned.
'Rincasta?'
It was not because she found Rincasta repulsive for trying to kill someone. She was simply disgusted by Sercia's true nature, who treated human life lightly and attempted to commit a sordid crime. However, Rincasta felt even more intimidated, believing Stella's grimace was directed at him. Still, he had to finish speaking. He couldn't let her come to think of Skyle as a bad person.
"When I was struggling to kill the reporter, Skyle suggested another method. He told me to lock him up somewhere else instead of killing him."
"Where is that place?"
"This is Skyle's Imperial Quarters."
Stella asked as if she couldn't believe it.
"So you're saying Skyle is living with that reporter?"
"Yes. If Sercia finds out that the reporter is alive, she will try to kill him again."
She knew that Sercia had a hidden agenda in sending Rincasta here, but she never imagined there would be such dark ulterior motives. Stella had no strength to hide her hardening expression.
"I think it would be best to call Skyle over here."
Stella nodded at Kendrick's words. Rincasta remained kneeling before her. Stella gestured for him to stand up. However, Rincasta lowered his head even further.
"And, I have more to say."
A puzzled Stella nodded as if to say, "Go ahead."
"I will accept the punishment for taking the ledger. It is fine if you kick me out empty-handed. After all, my Lina did nothing wrong."
Only then did Stella realize why Rincasta had brought Lina here. It was clear that she had brought her to appeal to sympathy and prevent Stella from punishing Lina as well. As expected, Rincasta had a clever side. However, perhaps because he was still young, he had a tendency to jump to conclusions.
"What are you talking about? Where are you going?"
Stella had no intention of sending both Rincasta and Lina out.
"Is it okay to stay here?"
Stella nodded. Taking the ledger was indeed something that deserved punishment, but hadn't he brought it back without committing any wrongdoing in the end? Thanks to that, she was also able to find out about the crimes Sercia was committing. Stella glanced at Kendrick.
"Is that okay?"
Kendrick, who has a soft spot for Stella, naturally nodded.
'Thank god.'
Stella smiled slightly. Rincasta was practically the key to solving this matter. He rolled his eyes, worried about whether it was really okay if he wasn't kicked out.
"I will discuss it and let you know what punishment to give you."
At Stella's words, Rincasta nodded with a happy face. Kendrick had someone bring Lara.
"Until then, just be this kid's playmate."
Lara barked, seemingly happy to see Rincasta after a long time. Meanwhile, Stella mailed a letter to Skyle.
[I have something urgent to tell you, so please visit whenever you have time.]
Her head ached at the thought of having to deal with Skyle.
"Lina, you go outside for a moment."
Stella sent Lina out. Then she looked at Rincasta. The moment he apologized, she realized that Rincasta was the culprit. Kendrick gave him a disapproving look.
Gathering things up.
He took something out of his bag. As expected, it was Duke Adrian's family ledger.
"I know it's shameless of me, but I think it's only proper to return this to you in person."
Stella, who was about to ask why the ledger was taken, remained silent for a moment.
"At least you know you have no shame."
Kendrick didn't yell. He smirked and gave him a chance to speak.
"And thank you. For taking in my younger sibling."
Kendrick looked at Stella as if asking what she meant. Stella stroked the back of his hand as a signal that she would tell him later. Then, she looked at Rincasta with a stern expression.
"Explain it."
The disappearance of the Duke's ledger was a problem for Adrian and everyone else. However, Rincasta, the starting point of it all, was a problem that Stella had to solve. This was because he was a gift sent to Stella by Sercia.
"Why is this in your hands?"
***
Rincasta was not a knight apprentice expelled for lack of ability. He was knighted in the shortest possible time. After being disowned along with Lina, he painfully realized that without ability, he had no future. Therefore, he chose to enter Lanedict to earn money.
"I'll make a lot of money and come back."
Seeing Lina gripping his sleeve tightly, he couldn't easily move his feet. To Rincasta, Lina was the reason for his life and his everything.
"What if the director sends me somewhere else?"
He never wanted to let her disappear from his life.
"Lina, it might be hard, but don't say anything until I come back."
"Huh? You're telling me not to speak?"
Rincasta nodded.
"Yes. If you can't speak, the director will fail to send you for adoption as a means of making money. Just pretend you can't speak until your brother earns money and comes back."
After earnestly telling Lina not to say a word, he entered Lanedict. Having grown up in a disadvantaged environment, he was desperate, so he grew day by day and caught Sercia's eye.
"Hey, the face is decent, and the ability is pretty good too."
At first, Rincasta liked this. It was an opportunity to make money quickly. In fact, Sercia had given him missions a few times to carry out, and the rewards were substantial. Through this process, he learned even the secrets of the Lanedict ducal family. He also got to know Skyle.
"You said you needed a lot of money, right?"
"Yes. That's right. I'll do anything to make money."
At that time, Rincasta was so full of zeal that he was willing to kill people if necessary. However, the order given by Sercia was quite absurd.
"Be my daughter's second husband."
"Yes...?"
Rincasta remembered Stella. He vaguely recalled seeing her at Skyle's celebratory party. She was a very elegant and beautiful woman. Above all, she was Adrian's wife, and she had a husband.
"Me?"
How dare I approach a woman like that?
Rincasta just blinked in surprise. Sercia chuckled.
"It’s not difficult. That child will be grateful and touched even if you treat her just a little bit well."
Rincasta could not understand why he was being given such a mission. If that was the case, couldn't they just find another, more handsome and skilled man? As Rincasta stood there feeling dejected, Sercia gave him the real mission.
"Stay in Adrian for as long as possible like that. And extract Adrian's key data."
"If you mean key data...?"
"Ledger."
Sercia gave a substantial amount of money as a down payment.
"If you succeed in this, I will give you ten times this money. Then you’ll be able to build a comfortable home for your younger sister, too."
Rincasta wanted to give this money to Lina right away, but he couldn't. If he saw her face for no reason, it would become difficult to be separated from Lina again. Moreover, if the director sensed something suspicious, he could threaten Rincasta by holding Lina hostage. It wasn't long before things were fully settled.
'Once we finish this job and get the money, let's take Lina out.'
That is how Rincasta approached Stella. Stella saw Rincasta as nothing but a child. He tried to act mature for no reason, but it didn't work. Because she had sent him to her husband, Kendrick.
'It's dangerous.'
Sercia told him to stay here for a long time, but Rincasta couldn't. He wanted to finish his mission quickly and go to Lina. Since joining Lanedict, he hadn't been able to visit the orphanage even once and hadn't heard any news from it.
'I need to finish this quickly.'
Rincasta remembered what Sercia had said before coming to Adrian.
"What if we fail to bring the ledger?"
"Then there's nothing we can do. We have no choice but to send a different knight."
'That won't do.'
As Rincasta looked impatient, Sercia gave a different order.
"Or at least try manipulating it."
If Rincasta manipulated the ledgers, it would cause problems with the taxes paid to the Imperial Family. Then, there was a high possibility that Stella and Kendrick would also be tainted. Rincasta timidly changed the numbers in the accounting ledger little by little.
'It can't be helped. If I want to earn money quickly and get back to Lina.'
He vowed over and over again to live a ruthless life. However, seeing Stella treat him kindly made it difficult again. Stella was different from the adults he had met before. She did not regard children as mere means to an end. When she saw him fighting with other servants, Rincasta felt a sense of shame for some reason.
'I disappointed Lady Stella.'
Rincasta had been depressed for a few days. However, he could not dwell on that depression. He had to earn money to go to Lina. Heavy rain poured down, and a good opportunity presented itself to him. As he brought out Stella's tea again, he saw that the Duke's office was open. Kendrick and the others had also left their posts to control the situation.
"Ha..."
While working in Kendrick's room, Rincasta figured out everything. From the location of the ledger to the key that hid it. Saturated with guilt, he stole the ledger. Then, brazenly, he returned to Stella. His plan was to hand her the tea, somehow escape this place, and return to Lanedict. However, things did not go as planned.
"Put on your clothes. You come with me.'
He followed Stella and ended up meeting his sister.
'Lina...?'
Rincasta did not want to be separated from Lina. Stella left for the Duke's mansion without holding him back. The Duke's family ledger was still in his bag. Rincasta set off for the mansion as soon as the heavy rain subsided. His heart was leaning toward one side.
***
"I didn't know until now. That Lady Stella had moved our orphanage children to the Duke's mansion."
Rincasta could not betray Stella. He even confessed to Stella the orders given by the Duchess Lanedict. Stella's eyes widened when she learned the truth.
'Did Mother even give such an order...?'
Stella bit her lip tightly.
'Why on earth?'
She couldn't understand Sercia. What was she planning to do with Adrian's ledger? Stella ran a hand across her face with a troubled expression.
"I know the reason."
Rincasta wanted to make up for disappointing her.
"Lanedict has been committing tax evasion. Reporters who caught wind of it have visited a few times."
He revealed everything he knew.
"I think they are trying to divert the reporters' attention to Adrian's ledger."
Stella recalled that Skyle had entered the Imperial Family as a researcher. She had thought that Skyle had entered the Imperial Family simply for the sake of honor, rather than inheriting the family estate immediately after becoming an adult...
'Was he planning to cover up Lanedict's crimes while working for the Imperial Household?'
Disappointment in Skyle also began to gradually emerge. On top of that, he proposed that Stella enter the palace as well.
She spat out the words in a lamenting voice.
"So that's why Skyle approached me back then, too."
She recalled him acting familiar, suggesting they have a meal together.
'They must have thought that having me in the imperial palace would help them cover up the crime.'
Of course, she hadn't welcomed him warmly even then, but knowing this fact made her dislike him even more. Rincasta looked up at Stella.
"That is not the case. Brother Skyle is innocent. On the contrary..."
Rincasta gasped for breath, as if finding it difficult to speak. He squeezed his eyes shut and then opened them again, as if remembering something terrible.
"On the contrary, he helped me. I was trying to kill the reporter who was investigating Lanedict on Sercia's orders."
Stella frowned.
'Rincasta?'
It was not because she found Rincasta repulsive for trying to kill someone. She was simply disgusted by Sercia's true nature, who treated human life lightly and attempted to commit a sordid crime. However, Rincasta felt even more intimidated, believing Stella's grimace was directed at him. Still, he had to finish speaking. He couldn't let her come to think of Skyle as a bad person.
"When I was struggling to kill the reporter, Skyle suggested another method. He told me to lock him up somewhere else instead of killing him."
"Where is that place?"
"This is Skyle's Imperial Quarters."
Stella asked as if she couldn't believe it.
"So you're saying Skyle is living with that reporter?"
"Yes. If Sercia finds out that the reporter is alive, she will try to kill him again."
She knew that Sercia had a hidden agenda in sending Rincasta here, but she never imagined there would be such dark ulterior motives. Stella had no strength to hide her hardening expression.
"I think it would be best to call Skyle over here."
Stella nodded at Kendrick's words. Rincasta remained kneeling before her. Stella gestured for him to stand up. However, Rincasta lowered his head even further.
"And, I have more to say."
A puzzled Stella nodded as if to say, "Go ahead."
"I will accept the punishment for taking the ledger. It is fine if you kick me out empty-handed. After all, my Lina did nothing wrong."
Only then did Stella realize why Rincasta had brought Lina here. It was clear that she had brought her to appeal to sympathy and prevent Stella from punishing Lina as well. As expected, Rincasta had a clever side. However, perhaps because he was still young, he had a tendency to jump to conclusions.
"What are you talking about? Where are you going?"
Stella had no intention of sending both Rincasta and Lina out.
"Is it okay to stay here?"
Stella nodded. Taking the ledger was indeed something that deserved punishment, but hadn't he brought it back without committing any wrongdoing in the end? Thanks to that, she was also able to find out about the crimes Sercia was committing. Stella glanced at Kendrick.
"Is that okay?"
Kendrick, who has a soft spot for Stella, naturally nodded.
'Thank god.'
Stella smiled slightly. Rincasta was practically the key to solving this matter. He rolled his eyes, worried about whether it was really okay if he wasn't kicked out.
"I will discuss it and let you know what punishment to give you."
At Stella's words, Rincasta nodded with a happy face. Kendrick had someone bring Lara.
"Until then, just be this kid's playmate."
Lara barked, seemingly happy to see Rincasta after a long time. Meanwhile, Stella mailed a letter to Skyle.
[I have something urgent to tell you, so please visit whenever you have time.]
Her head ached at the thought of having to deal with Skyle.
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