Chapter 121
“We barely managed to reach the shelter, but of course there were no herbs, no physician… The only doctor on this island had gone inland right before the disaster struck. My wife came home to rest because she was pregnant, and of all times, this had to happen.”
There was not the slightest hint of lying on Müller’s face.
If that story was true… then why on earth had Charlotte done something like that?
Odette felt confused.
‘Müller’s wife dying in the shelter was an incident in the game too.’
But according to the original setting, Charlotte shouldn’t even be able to appear on Athena Island during this period.
Yet if Charlotte hadn’t come to the island, then how had Müller’s wife died in the shelter in the game?
‘Does that mean Charlotte was here at this time in my previous life too?’
If so, Charlotte killed Müller’s wife this year, then next year she accepted Müller’s support?
‘Why would the sweet angel-like heroine do something like that?’
Odette’s head felt like it was spinning. One doubt led to another.
How much of the game’s information could she trust and how much was wrong? Until now, she had believed the game without question.
‘If Charlotte killed Müller’s wife in my last life…’
A dizzy feeling washed over her. Just what kind of existence was the supposedly bright and kind female lead?
“So I also planned to search for the pink-haired girl. To figure out what she was plotting, and why she did such a thing to my wife… If I find that wretched creature, I’ll never let her go.”
Müller ground his teeth in fury.
Odette still hadn’t dispelled the suspicion that he might have approached her as Charlotte’s pawn—but that anger didn’t look like acting.
After thinking for a moment, Odette spoke.
“…Müller, is there a competent detective on Athena Island? I need to track that girl down no matter what.”
“M’lady, actually… I work as a detective in the capital. It’s embarrassing to say it myself, but I’m considered the best there.”
Of course. That was Müller’s official setting.
Odette pretended to be surprised.
“Really? Then this must be fate. I’ll hire you. I’ll pay generously. I want you to find out everything about that girl.”
She pulled a pouch of silver coins from her inventory vault and handed it to him.
Müller checked the heavy pouch and gasped.
“T–this is far too much! My regular fee isn’t even a quarter of this!”
“Then you just have to perform four times better than usual.”
Odette said firmly. The heroine had become a variable. Worst case, she might have to directly confront Charlotte.
So Odette had no intention of saving money.
“Show the full extent of your talent. Four times more capable than the ‘best detective in the capital.’”
Müller shut his mouth tightly.
“…Then I will accept the commission.”
Odette gave him a contact address.
She didn’t fully trust him yet, so she didn’t give the contacts of Gizella or Goetz.
‘I’m writing the rat’s mailing address on something like this.’
The address she gave was the capital home of the court physician she had secretly placed inside the summer palace.
Gizella visited there every day in secret. Any letter Müller sent would be delivered to Odette soon enough.
Müller soon moved to the coachman’s seat and started the carriage.
Odette planned to decide the details of how to deal with Charlotte after receiving Müller’s first report.
While she organized her thoughts, the carriage arrived at the grand gates of the summer palace.
‘At least my revenge plan itself went perfectly.’
The explosives planted in the summer palace should have all detonated by now.
The gatekeepers spotted Odette sitting in the open-roof carriage.
This officially proved she had been outside the palace during the incident.
Normally, she would have worried that her outing might reach the Count’s ears, but not today.
‘From today forward, the Count won’t have the luxury to pay attention to me.’
A few hours earlier.
Rudolf had been busy since evening. His plan depended on gathering as many journalists as possible.
“I’m telling you, His Majesty told me himself! The Exotic Garden will open tonight!”
He loudly bragged in the shared dining hall of the press building. But reporters weren’t foolish enough to believe him easily.
“You idiot! His Majesty has never once opened the Exotic Garden!”
They scoffed.
“And why would the Emperor give such news to a gossip reporter like you? It’s obviously a lie!”
They all mocked him, but Rudolf protested loudly, veins bulging.
As 10 p.m. approached, the uncertain reporters ended up following him anyway.
If the Exotic Garden was really opening, it would be the scoop of a lifetime.
‘They grumble but still come. Typical.’
To reach the Exotic Garden, they had to pass the Greenhouse Garden, because the Exotic Garden was located on its rooftop, like an island.
At the entrance to the summer garden, Rudolf almost cheered.
‘It worked!’
As promised, a single lily lay at the entrance—Dolly’s sign that her mission had succeeded.
Rudolf checked his watch. Five minutes before the scheduled opening.
Dolly and Karl should arrive before 10. And Odette would have left earlier—perfect timing.
Snickering, Rudolf crossed the garden and climbed the stairs. Two doors to the domed Exotic Garden came into view.
“Why would His Majesty open the garden at night? If he wanted to show it to the press, daytime would be better, no?”
grumbled a journalist from the prestigious Brentan Newspaper, owned by Duke Brentan.
“How would I know His Majesty’s deepest intentions?”
Rudolf only grinned.
‘Just wait. Soon you’ll all have shining eyes, thrilled with the scoop. You’ll thank me.’
They soon reached the eastern door. Another lily petal sign confirmed it.
“Everyone, there are precious birds inside. Tropical birds are easily frightened and can die from stress, you know.”
“R–really?”
“So please keep your voices and footsteps quiet.”
He said.
He had no idea if tropical birds were like that—nor did he care. The important thing was keeping quiet so the two people inside wouldn’t hear them coming.
“If His Majesty’s precious birds die from a fright, imagine the punishment. From now on—silence.”
Just as he hoped, the reporters fell deathly quiet.
The Emperor would obviously punish someone for opening the Exotic Garden—but that would become Odette’s fault once Dolly cried to His Majesty.
Rudolf was nearly trembling with excitement.
Odette would fall. He, Rudolf, would bring down Odette von Rina Albrecht.
Her reputation would be ruined—and that moment was in the door handle he held in his hand.
Just then, faint moans reached his ears. A man and a woman’s breathless whimpers.
‘Wh–what?! They’re really having a secret affair?! I thought the wine would help, but this is way better than expected!’
This was perfect.
‘Of course! Karl may be a slave, but he’s still a man. That kind of devotion isn’t loyalty—it’s lust!’
Certain it was Karl and Odette, Rudolf carefully turned the knob.
Click. The door moved. The gasps inside sounded clearer.
“Is that—?”
One reporter began speaking, but another quickly covered his mouth.
Their instincts told them—this was a scoop.
The sharpest among them probably even realized Rudolf had intentionally led them here.
But none of that mattered now. They all rushed to capture the moment—taking out notepads and cameras.
Rudolf waited until the lovers’ sounds reached their peak. Then—
BAM!
He threw the door wide open.
Inside, beneath a tropical flower–covered pergola, a man and woman were wrapped in each other, lost in desire.
‘This is HUGE!!! W-wait… what?’
Under the moonlight, their faces were clearly visible. The moment Rudolf saw them, his brain froze.
“Look over here!”
“Don’t cover your faces—show us!”
Click! Click!
Camera shutters. Excited voices.
Every reporter worked frantically to record the scene.
Only one person stood stiff as stone, face drained of all color.
Rudolf.
