~Chapter 88~
‘What… what is this…?’
Aisha’s face turned pale with shock. Everything was confusing. Was her information leaking from somewhere she didn’t know? Who was this person, and how much did they really know?
Her violet eyes hurriedly moved down to read the rest of the letter.
“You might not know, but I am a subscriber named Hans Dworik.”
“Hans Dworik…?”
Aisha paused for a moment.
“Did you say Hans Dworik?”
Til narrowed his eyes, as if he remembered something.
“Wait. Isn’t that the reader who has subscribed to ‘Sunday’s Exposé’ since the very first issue?”
“Yeah, that’s right.”
“If I remember right, he always paid the most money, too.”
“That’s true.”
Hans Dworik.
Just like Til said, Hans had subscribed from the very first issue of “Sunday’s Exposé.”
Every time, he not only paid the regular subscription fee, but also donated a huge amount of extra money. No one had ever donated more than Hans Dworik—not even once. Whether you added it all up or looked at each issue separately, he was always the top supporter.
But even though he gave so much, Hans never asked for any special rewards. Not even silly things, like Kilian’s lip mask or anything like that.
He gave the most money but never asked for anything, so for Aisha, he was a great customer.
Sometimes, Aisha had wondered why. Why would someone spend so much money on “Sunday’s Exposé?”
Was he a rich noble?
Or just really interested in gossip?
But she never imagined he would contact her first.
“I hope my sudden letter didn’t make you too uncomfortable.”
“……”
“But I had no other way. I’m writing because I want to suggest something to you.”
A suggestion?
“I can’t say it in a letter, so please come to the address written below at the right time.”
“Wait, what is all this?”
Til, who was now sitting close beside Aisha, frowned.
“Is this guy crazy?”
“……”
“Something’s wrong.”
“You think so too?”
Til nodded.
“He acts polite, but he never says how he knows Aisha Ashton is Vivi Bubblemouth.”
Til was right. The letter sounded polite and thoughtful, but Hans Dworik never explained anything about himself.
“Don’t go.”
Til frowned even more.
“We’ll investigate what’s going on. You should stay safe.”
“……”
“If it gets out that you’re Vivi Bubblemouth and the publisher of ‘Sunday’s Exposé,’ it’ll be even more trouble. It was bad enough when Kilian Winters found out…”
“Til, look at this.”
“What?”
“Down here at the bottom.”
Aisha pointed to the very last part, where the writing was small.
There, it said:
“If you refuse my offer, your secret may be revealed to the world. I’m good at keeping secrets, but I’m not the kind of person who stays quiet when needed. I really hope that won’t happen.
Hans Dworik.”
It was a threat.
If she didn’t do as he said, he would expose everything.
“That bastard…”
Til’s forehead bulged with veins from anger.
“Fine. Then let’s go. But not you.”
“Huh?”
“I’ll go. I’ll take care of it myself.”
“……”
“If he ends up buried underground, he can’t talk, no matter what.”
Well… he wasn’t wrong, but…
“I’ll make sure he learns what happens if he talks too much.”
Til kept muttering angrily, but Aisha’s eyes stayed fixed on one spot.
“Tonight, 11 o’clock. The place is…”
Hans Dworik had written the meeting place.
It was late at night.
The sky was already dark, and even though it was spring, the night wind was still cold.
Normally, Aisha would still be in her bedroom. But tonight, she was sitting in a carriage, looking out the window.
‘Damn it.’
In the end, Aisha decided to meet Hans Dworik.
Til had tried to stop her until the very last minute.
There were three reasons she decided to go.
First, if Til did something to Hans and got caught, the good reputation Rune had just built would be ruined.
Second, even if Til did kill Hans, maybe Hans had already told someone else about her.
And third…
Even if it was a fake engagement, she didn’t want Kilian to get in trouble because of this.
“We’ve arrived.”
The carriage stopped smoothly. The door opened, and Til was waiting outside, helping Aisha get down.
“I really don’t like this. Let me go with you.”
“Do you really want everyone to think ‘Sunday’s Exposé’ is working with Rune?”
Aisha sounded frustrated.
“You already hid dozens of people around here. That’s enough.”
“But, Aisha…”
“Just watch from behind. If anything happens, come help me. That’s enough.”
Til still looked unhappy, but he had no choice when Aisha was this determined.
Aisha lifted her head and looked forward nervously. Ahead of her, in the dark woods, stood a large mansion. It was probably a villa.
‘Everything about this is suspicious. Even the owner’s name is fake. The landowner’s name is fake, too.’
Til had checked already, but found nothing. The only way to find out who Hans Dworik really was, or what his suggestion was, was to meet him in person.
Aisha took a deep breath, trying to ignore Til’s worried look, and walked forward.
She reached the front of the villa soon.
‘Should I knock?’
She thought about it, but the door wasn’t locked. She carefully opened it and walked inside.
‘It’s so dark… And I don’t hear anyone…’
It really was a suspicious place, just like she thought.
Stiff with nervousness, Aisha walked toward the parlor.
There, in the moonlight by the window,
she saw someone standing with their hands behind their back.
Aisha stopped and squeezed her sweaty hands.
“Mr. Hans Dworik.”
“……”
“Is that you?”
The man didn’t answer, but slowly, very slowly, turned around to face her.
The moment he did, Aisha’s face froze.
“Hello, My Lady.”
“Your, Your Ma…jesty…”
“This is the second time we’ve met this close.”
“Emperor… Your Majesty…?”
Because the one waiting for Aisha at the villa
was none other than Belmore Ellington, the Emperor.
