IATVWAMOLS 82

82. My Name Is Roselia, I’m a Detective (2)

As soon as the auctioneer finished speaking, the audience raised their paddles.

100 million gold, 150 million gold, 300 million gold, 500 million gold, 1 billion gold…

The bidding, which had started in the hundreds of millions, skyrocketed, quickly surpassing ten, even twenty times the starting price.

The previously composed spectators now revealed their greed. Everyone seemed desperate to acquire the Serteia Duke’s estate.

“5 billion! 5 billion gold! 7 billion! 10 billion! Who will take it? Whoever purchases it now will seize a glory that will never again appear in imperial history!”

The auctioneer encouraged the frenzy as if it were some delightful spectacle. The fall of a ducal family had become a sumptuous feast and a luxurious game for the crowd.

“What on earth….”

Frowning at the scene I could hardly believe, bold text caught my eye and demanded attention:

[Destruction Ending 62: The Irrevocable Fall]

“So, this is the ending I’ll face if things continue as they are?”

Ikart would die, the ducal family would keep making reckless investments, and eventually the mansion would be put up for auction.

If that were the case, my family or I would either already be dead or living in a misery worse than death.

The thought drained all strength from my body.

“Then what was all my running around for?”

After surviving countless near-death situations to get this far, the end was still a destruction ending.

‘This isn’t any different from the original story.’

I felt hollow.

If destruction awaited me no matter what I did, why had I exerted so much effort?

Above all, the thought of having to relive this arduous life from the beginning terrified me the most.

“No, no. I need to pull myself together.”

Though a sigh escaped in despair, I forced myself to suppress my negative emotions.

In times like this, I had to remain calm.

Indulging in pessimistic thoughts wouldn’t help solve anything.

I took a deep breath and organized the chaos in my mind.

‘How did the ducal family end up in this state?’

In the original story, Roselia’s crimes led to the entire family being labeled as the villains—a conclusion that was even considered a significant “happy ending” variant.

Reflecting on the original story, an auction like this wasn’t impossible.

But one thing troubled me.

“This isn’t from the perspective of the original protagonist, is it?”

If this were the original ending, it should’ve been centered on Seraphine, the protagonist.

Yet the ending I now observed focused entirely on the fall of the ducal family, unrelated to the original heroine.

Could it be—

“Does this predicted ending show an outcome connected to me rather than the original heroine?”

It was a plausible theory.

After all, this was the 62nd destruction ending.

That implied there were at least 61 more destruction endings, whereas the original story did not have nearly that many bad endings.

‘Truly fitting for a villainess, surrounded by traps on all sides.’

The grim reality made me sigh, but it at least confirmed two things:

One, if I failed to catch the true culprit, a miserable ending awaited me.

And—

‘If the system is showing me this ending…’

It was a kind of warning. A silent pressure from the system: if I wanted to avoid this destruction ending, I must catch the true culprit.

That’s why I had no choice but to storm into the interrogation room.

As I burst in, the ducal family’s knight flinched and lowered his sword, aimed at Countess Goht.

The Countess herself was completely pale.

She looked up at me with eyes that said she didn’t know what to do, overwhelmed by bewilderment and terror.

Ikart glared at me, his eyes sharp.

“Roselia, step aside. If you value your life.”

A chill ran down my spine, yet stepping aside wasn’t an option; otherwise, I wouldn’t have come here in the first place.

“Brother, isn’t this strange?”

“What do you mean?”

Ikart frowned but at least listened.

“If Countess Goht had orchestrated this, it’s far too sloppy.”

“What?”

“Such a bold scheme, yet she came to the ducal estate herself. Even the bandits revealed their accomplices far too easily. Where in the world would such a foolish plot exist?”

“Roselia, most people in the world are incompetent. Just because the crime seems clumsy doesn’t prove this woman is innocent.”

“Even so… this is just too strange.”

It was odd.

‘I barged in to prevent an extreme situation, but the more I think about it, the stranger it seems.’

Defending Countess Goht, I became genuinely puzzled.

All the circumstances pointed far too conveniently at her.

When Ikart’s carriage had been attacked, she had left me a meaningful message.

Even after the plan failed, she hadn’t fled, staying quietly at home.

It was as if she were advertising, “I’m the culprit—please arrest me.”

‘And that gaze.’

I could never forget Countess Goht’s first look at me.

Elegant, noble, icy yet intellectual.

In the original story, she was influential, her presence extending across noble society.

It was impossible to believe someone so charismatic would handle things so clumsily.

‘Of course, now she seems like a completely different person…’

Kneeling on the cold floor, trembling, Countess Goht was completely unlike the person I had seen earlier.

Before me, she couldn’t even utter a proper defense, blinking silently.

‘How can someone’s demeanor change so drastically?’

Could this also be an act?

“Enough nonsense. This is an interrogation; you should leave.”

“But brother—”

At that moment, while I was struggling with Ikart—

Knock, knock.

“Excuse me for the intrusion.”

A tall man entered, his quiet voice drawing all eyes.

“You’re….”

Jet-black hair, blood-red eyes.

A charming smile rested on his lips.

A strikingly handsome man entered the room with the grace of a black panther.

Upon seeing me, he waved casually.

“…!”

I instinctively glanced out the window. Night had already fallen.

‘He came on time.’

Before coming to Ikart, I had asked Kaien for help.

The situation was overwhelmingly unfavorable for Countess Goht. I needed a new clue to turn things around.

An unseen witness, undiscovered evidence… anything would help.

Kaien’s arrival implied he brought the key to resolving the situation.

Unlike me, Ikart frowned upon seeing Kaien.

“Arrogant. I never gave you permission to enter.”

“I apologize. I have urgent information to convey.”

Kaien bowed respectfully.

Polite, yet different from a normal servant. Bold yet elegant, courteous yet commanding—a peculiar blend.

Ikart’s suspicion was obvious.

“Are you the servant Roselia brought?”

“Yes, that’s right. I’m honored you remember me.”

Kaien smiled wryly.

Ikart’s frown deepened at his composed demeanor.

“Cheeky. So why did you come in without permission?”

If he were here to meddle unnecessarily, he wouldn’t be forgiven.

Yet Kaien seemed unfazed.

“Something unusual has occurred. It seems related to the carriage accident. Your Highness should check it immediately.”

“Hah. What could be more urgent than interrogating the culprit?”

Kaien smiled gently at Ikart’s scoff.

“This is precisely related to that interrogation.”

“…?”

Kaien led me, Ikart, and Philip to the ducal estate’s basement.

It was a part of the estate rarely visited: the underground prison.

Descending the stone stairs, a chilling draft hit us. Aside from torches along the walls, no light penetrated.

Compared to the mansion’s grandeur, it was shabby and desolate.

Kaien guided us skillfully, then gestured to me.

“This is it. But it might be better if you don’t look inside, Master.”

“What?”

Ikart, who went ahead of me, peered into the cell and froze. Philip muffled his mouth, trying to suppress his shock.

A terrible premonition swept over me.

‘I’ll regret it two hundred percent if I look.’

Kaien rarely said such things without reason.

Even knowing I’d regret it, I had to see it to find the clue.

“My… goodness.”

Inside the cell were the bandits who had attacked Ikart’s carriage.

All of them were dead.