CHAPTER 43…..
“The reason I’ve been confused every time I dealt with the Princess lately is exactly that. I didn’t know how to handle the changed Princess.”
After hearing Aldensis mumble that, I snapped back to reality. I think I had been lost in thought for about a minute.
“Anyway, there’s definitely something wrong with these super-suspect faces.”
I must not let my guard down. I can’t be fooled by appearances; I have to find out if they’re the culprit or not.
Thinking that, I opened my mouth.
“I just decided to live diligently. Let’s not overcomplicate things. After all, Your Highness has already shown you can lose your temper in front of me, and your perfect Crown Prince act has long been a thing of the past.”
“Ha…”
Aldensis’s face darkened sharply. I quickly added,
“That’s not a bad thing. In fact, it might even be for the better. Don’t worry about how to treat me, just be natural. Comfortable.”
“Natural?”
“Yes.”
That way, when I interrogate you soon, you’ll be able to open your heart even more. That’s what matters.
Even if he’s not the culprit, living naturally isn’t bad advice, right? It’s good advice for life.
I said to Aldensis, who tilted his head slightly with a ‘hmm’ expression.
“I’m also dealing with Your Highness with a natural heart. Honestly, I was grateful earlier. Thank you for standing up for me in front of everyone.”
“…”
He was silent for a moment before speaking.
“I see. Indeed… hearing that is a pleasant thing.”
Then he smiled brightly again.
This time, I was prepared and didn’t fall for his smile.
Even after a few minutes, he just kept smiling faintly, as if he had no intention of leaving. Aren’t people staring too much?
To change the mood, I decided to use a traditional trick.
“Oh? There’s a strange person passing by?”
“A strange person?”
Aldensis looked back.
I tried to slip away quietly in that moment… but…
“Hm?”
He suddenly stared intently at one spot.
I was just making a random comment. Is there really someone strange?
Following the direction Aldensis was looking, I saw something appear after a moment.
Someone was rushing over, skipping across people, no, flying over them toward us.
Aldensis was surprised.
“Zikren?”
“Brother?”
Zikren was surprised too.
“Why are you here?”
“My work ended early, and I thought maybe the Princess was having friction with others, so I came to check. How about you? Finished your work?”
“This is work. I came to inform Aristina that the department store building is in good condition, so there’s no need for extra construction.”
“I already told her.”
“Oh, did you?”
Zikren looked sheepish.
“Well, since I’m here, might as well not just turn back. Aristina, want to go search the secret thief’s passage with me? Who knows? Maybe there’s something there?”
Why spoil things at the last minute?
I said to the troublemaker second prince:
“No need. Even if we don’t chase after him, the thief will definitely come to steal the ‘Ice Crown of Saint Agneta.’ I’m confident.”
“Really?”
Aldensis responded with interest.
“To declare that confidently makes me want to believe the Princess even more.”
“You can look forward to it, Your Highness the Crown Prince.”
I said confidently.
“Then I’ll see you when the opening is ready and the sacred relics are brought to the department store. You must come then. Forget about whether the thief will come or not, just trust me, Aristina.”
Aldensis and Zikren looked at each other.
They seemed to wonder about the source of my confidence.
“Alright. Then, as the Princess said, we will quietly wait for that day.”
“See you then, Aristina.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
I held the steering wheel tightly. The big day was approaching; now all that was left was to prepare the last things.
As I stepped back from the Crown Prince and the Second Prince, I looked for Benjamin with my eyes.
‘Where is he caught up?’
Luckily, I found him quickly. Benjamin was surrounded by reporters.
“…The entire Lilithes luxury hall is going inside the department store?”
“Yes. Our trade guild master…”
Our eyes met, and he nodded with a trusting gesture.
-Leave this to me.
Then…
-The requested items have also been sent.
He made a gesture to that effect.
‘Good, hamster.’
Now, only the final step remained to lure out the thief.
I hurried back to the manor and asked the butler.
“Did Benjamin from the guild send me any items?”
“The department store staff uniforms? They arrived earlier.”
Following the butler, I went to my living room where a kid was fiercely guarding a box.
Benjamin’s errand runner?
I looked at him without much thought, then blinked in surprise. It was a little hamster!
“Are you Benjamin’s younger sibling?”
“Yes.”
“I see. Good job.”
I gave the bright-eyed kid some bills and sent him off. Then I brought the box to my room and opened it.
Inside were various thief-related collectibles I’d bought at a premium.
Fragments of the roof found at the fight site with the security force, fur cut from the guard dog that vanished like a ghost but returned to its place, the remaining half of the twin statue that the thief left behind…
And the item I had specially asked Benjamin to send was there without fail.
My real target. The thief’s crime warning notice.
‘Alright, time to start the work.’
Old paper with faded ink. The thief’s unique handwriting. I carefully observed everything…
Suddenly, from outside came the sound of maids whispering. Someone had just returned from an outing, seeming to have experienced something surprising.
A moment later, someone spoke cautiously outside the door.
“Miss, would you like some tea?”
It was Sophie, my maid. I looked up.
“Come in.”
The door opened, and Sophie entered carrying a tea tray.
She placed the tray among the miscellaneous items on my desk. Then poured tea, folded her hands, and stepped back.
I pretended not to notice and kept staring at the crime notice.
Sophie looked at me hesitantly for a while, then finally gathered courage to speak.
“Miss…”
“I have nothing more to ask. You can leave.”
“It’s not that…”
Sophie took a deep breath and blurted out.
“Iris Linden, who saved the Lilithes luxury hall manager by compensating 100 million won after dismissal, is actually my sister.”
“Oh, really?”
I naturally showed surprise.
“The world’s really small. Your sister never told me.”
“Probably because she didn’t think it was important. But since she’ll eventually submit documents and you’ll find out anyway…”
Sophie’s voice dropped.
“Finally, my sister is free from that man’s hands. It’s like a dream to us sisters. It’s unbelievable. So I shamelessly beg you…”
“…?”
“Even if you dislike her, please don’t cancel her insurance. I don’t want to hear her mumble about wanting to die again. I’ll do whatever you ask, please…”
“What on earth are you talking about?”
I cut her off.
“Did you think I’d cancel the contract if I knew she was your sister? Why would I do such a stupid thing? Didn’t she tell you? Because your sister was selected as the first insured on-site, we get billions worth of promotional effect. Are you two trying to ruin my profits together?”
“N-no!”
Sophie answered startled as if burnt.
“Th-then… you mean my sister’s insurance won’t be canceled?”
“Of course not. Your sister won’t have to worry about that 100 million at all, unless our guild suddenly goes bankrupt…”
I paused, sighed softly, and brushed my hair back.
I’ll put on a little show, Sophie. I really need your help now.
Sure enough, Sophie asked in surprise.
“Is there a problem?”
“Yes, we do have a big problem at our guild. Why would such a problem come up when I’m trying to start various businesses including insurance?”
“Is it serious?”
Instead of answering, I looked at Sophie steadily. Then suddenly said:
“By the way, Sophie! You’re very skilled with your hands, right? Like a surgeon performing precise movements, you always trim my eyebrows perfectly. Drawing the line on my eyelids, shaping my lips, never making a mistake, always one stroke. So could you help me? Then we can get through this crisis safely.”
Sophie, puzzled by the sudden praise, immediately grew determined.
“If it’s something I can do… no, even if it’s something I can’t do, I will definitely accomplish it!”
“Good.”
I lowered my voice.
“For me and our guild, this must be kept secret. And do you have a true friend among the maids? Preferably one working with costumes.”
“Wait a moment.”
Sophie went out and brought friends.
“This is Mia who works with costumes. And Ellen, who does makeup like me. And Perdel, who handles mail.”
“I only asked for one, and you brought three?”
“The four of us are like one. We joined together and swore to protect each other with our lives if anything happens in this mansion.”
When there’s a common enemy, a group becomes united. These girls had bonded through enduring bullying together.
The costume team I wanted was included, plus one more for makeup. I was thankful.
“Good. I have an important mission for you all. If you succeed, you’ll be generously rewarded. From now on, we’ll plan and act together.”
I explained what we had to do.
“…”
The maids listened carefully, eyes wide, trying not to miss a word.
“Everyone understood clearly?”
“Yes, Miss!”
Then we started moving. Running busily, locking doors, testing things, running again…
Using our skills to split the day’s 24 hours, finally it was completed.
My secret weapon to lure the thief on the desired date.
Around then, news came one after another from other places.
“Besides Lilithes luxury hall, several shops in the capital contacted us wanting to sell clothing and jewelry at the imperial department store.”
“They finished displaying items sent from each costume room in the department store.”
“The interior construction of the special exhibition room is finished. Now only the treasures remain to be displayed.”
And the news we had been eagerly awaiting arrived at last.
“We received a message from Ruelian Lacroix of the Holy Order that the purification of the sacred relics is complete, and as promised, they will be delivered directly to the exhibition hall.”
And so…
The day to exhibit the sacred relics in the new department store finally came.
