Chapter 84

Lucia’s eyes shook violently.

Even though I was wearing a black wig, she must have recognized me the moment she saw my face.

Her trembling lips finally said my name.

“Ka-Katrin…?!”

“Yes, I’m the real Katrin Ellemore.”

“H-how…!”

“Well, that’s none of your business…”

It was obvious Lucia had escaped from the imperial prison with the other prisoners during the chaos of the revolution.
Now, in this village, she had been pretending to be me, Katrin Ellemore, and exploiting the villagers.

“To pretend to be Katrin Ellemore in the very village that Katrin Ellemore arrived at… you really have no luck.”

I smirked and mocked her decision.

“…?”

Eros, who had been staring dumbly at Lucia, looked confused.
Heros sharply kicked the back of his neck.

Thunk!

With a groan, the huge man fell unconscious to the floor.

“Ugh…huff…”

Lucia was so shocked she staggered back, gasping for air as if she couldn’t breathe.

Meeting me here must have felt like meeting the grim reaper.

“Did you enjoy playing Katrin Ellemore? But you should have known better. I never cared about stealing from commoners. I only went after nobles. You’re not even in the same league as me.”

“W-wait, listen, Katrin! I didn’t mean to, the prisoners here… they threatened me…”

As she stepped backward, she quickly grabbed a dagger from a table and pointed it at me with shaky hands.

“…Everyone get in here now!! We’re under attack!!”

She shouted loudly so the men outside could hear her trembling voice.

“Kill these lunatics!”

But Heros had already locked the door, and all they could do was pound on it from outside.

This wouldn’t take long to handle before the door broke down.

I smirked and whispered.

“Biyo.”

I slipped my hand into my pocket, opened Biyo’s inventory, and pulled out a dagger, pointing it at Lucia.

“I told you earlier what I do to people who insult me.”

“Ahhh!”

I wasn’t particularly skilled with daggers, but I was still the runner-up in the hunting festival.

“How do you think I dealt with my prey back then?”

To Lucia, I must have looked like a giant predator.

Her pale face turned even whiter as she dropped the dagger in her hand.
She flailed her arms and tripped over her own dress, falling hard onto her backside.

“Ouch!”

Her face was now as white as paper.

“M-my apologies, Katrin. Katrin, I was wrong.”

She stared at the tip of my dagger, trembling.

“P-please spare me. Please, just spare my life.”

Her red eyes filled with tears of terror.

“Stay still, unless you want to make me even angrier.”

I took out a rope from Biyo and tied her tightly.

Then I signaled Heros, who was holding the door, and pulled a crossbow from Biyo.

In this cramped room, a crossbow would be more effective than a bow.

The arrows were thin, sharp, and injected with a paralyzing poison—a perfect way to capture criminals alive.

Heros stepped aside, and the men burst into the room.

Crash!

“Get them!”

“You bastards!”

They glared at us when they saw Lucia tied up and Eros unconscious, then charged at us.

But of course, I wasn’t about to lose to these pathetic criminals.

“Argh!”

“Urgh!”

My crossbow bolts pierced their thighs and shoulders.
The few who managed to dodge were quickly finished off by Heros’ swift kicks.

“Ahh… I… I can’t talk…”

I had asked Elma Pharmaceuticals to add a tongue-numbing agent to the poison.
It worked perfectly—now I didn’t have to deal with their screaming.

Thud!

Heros kicked one last man in the chest, knocking him down.

“Ugh…”

“Huff…”

Now only six criminals writhed in pain on the floor, and the fake Katrin, Lucia, remained tied up and trembling.

Heros picked up my fallen hat, smiling as he came over.

“Everything has been handled perfectly, my lady.”

“Urgh…”

He was stepping on Eros’ hand, who had been playing the role of Heros.

“Good work. Now let’s call the villagers and have them take back all the stolen items.”

The room Lucia had been staying in was filled with valuables taken from the poor villagers.

“What should we do with these criminals?”

Heros looked down at the groaning men.

“They’re trash I’d like to throw off a cliff, but…”

I stepped outside the house, the cool air brushing my hair.

“If we can reuse them, that’s better.”

Biyo tilted his head from my pocket, curious.

I smiled with a wicked glint.

“We’ll use them as bait.”

“Bait, my lady?”

Heros didn’t seem to understand right away.

“I made up my mind yesterday.”

I looked up at the distant sky.
The fading sunset turned the sky dark blue as the moon shone softly.

HP: ♥♥♥♡♡♡♡♡♡♡

Etias had lost another heart.

I can’t let the sandcastle I’ve built crumble.

I looked back at Heros with a bittersweet smile.

“I have to go meet Etias.”

This fun little pretend life ends here.

“This is all Padelmon’s scheme! Everything is fabricated, Count!”

In the imperial palace’s investigation room, Aglia was being questioned based on the evidence Padelmon had confessed.

She was now adorned in clothes and jewels far more extravagant than before Etias had ascended the throne.

She had been enjoying her luxurious days, showered with gifts, and was furious at being subjected to such a humiliating investigation.

“Look, I’m the First Lady of the Empire!”

Since Etias had neither a mother nor a consort, it was natural that Aglia was the one enjoying all the glory.

“Do you think you’ll get away with this nonsense…!”

“All the evidence points to your secret dealings with Padelmon, Chairwoman Aglia. Denying it won’t help you. Most importantly, His Majesty…”

“….”

“His Majesty ordered a thorough investigation without exceptions.”

Damn it—ungrateful bastard.

Aglia ground her teeth.

But just as the incompetent former emperor hadn’t dared touch the Assembly, Etias wouldn’t be able to take her down easily.

“By the way, we received news that Lady Katrin Ellemore was captured in Quayden.”

Aglia’s eyebrows twitched at this unfamiliar name.

“We will question her as a witness regarding you as well.”

The count warned her that it would be better to confess voluntarily and began to organize the files.

At the mention of Katrin’s name, Aglia’s fingers trembled.

She was already struggling to deny her involvement with Padelmon, and if what Katrin had was revealed to the world…

It’s over.

Lowering her head, Aglia’s face twisted.

After finishing the long interrogation, she stopped by the bank and withdrew all the money she had deposited under a false name.

Then she sent a heavily paid letter to someone, her eyes burning fiercely.

It’s do or die, Katrin.