His Highness’ Secret Accountant

Milton's eyes shook quickly, aimlessly.

‘Ah… I'm sure the Young Lady got it wrong. Even if she saw it, there was no way you could point a knife at you.'

‘No.'

‘?'

‘The arrogant bitch told me to confess all my sins.'

‘That… I'm sure she just said it without meaning it. You know how feeble the Young Lady is.'

‘Well, after drinking the water of the Royal Palace, she must have thought she really became a member of the royal family.'

Duke Daniel's shoulder moved up and down, and he smiled sarcastically.

Immediately after, he opened the drawer of a small table.

‘Clofo. Only a few drops paralyze the whole body.'

Duke Daniel said, looking around at the small glass bottle in his hand.

The purple liquid in the bottle shone subtly in the light, as if answering his words.

‘This time… I don't think I can follow my Lord's will.'

Milton clenched his fists and spoke in a trembling voice.

How could he say the terrible words that he would kill his own daughter as if it was nothing…

Milton's mouth trembled as he finished speaking.

‘You can't follow… Did you say your wife and children were staying near the border?'

‘T-That…!

‘Is your daughter in a lot of pain right now? I heard there's no cure and that you need a lot of money… Are the wages you receive from me enough?'

‘…'

‘Tonight, the gate will be opened. Make sure you go without anyone seeing you.'

Duke Daniel handed Milton the crystal bottle he was holding.

Unlike Milton, whose face was already covered in tears, Duke Daniel seemed to be relaxed, even showing a smile.

The Duke's gaze passed Milton, who had fallen into despair, and headed behind his back.

As if he had found something, he lifted one corner of his mouth and smiled sarcastically.

Through the gap in the closet, another eye could be seen shaking violently.

***

"I can't forget the terrible things I heard and saw there."

"…"

"After that, it was as Your Highness knows. She didn't even have a national funeral. Because it was a suicide…"

Even though she never took her own life…

After he finished speaking, a faint laugh erupted from Louis' mouth.

His appearance, talking about it calmly, was precarious.

Looking at Louis, Theon's eyebrows furrowed.

He grabbed hold of his shaky emotions and decided to keep his reason.

Theon, who had remained silent, slowly opened his mouth.

"The important thing is the existence of a ledger."

At Theon's low voice, Louis rummaged through his chest.

Soon after, small pieces of crumpled paper scattered over the round table of their own accord.

"They're part of the ledger. This alone could be a pretext for opening a trial."

A shallow sigh came out of Theon's mouth as he looked at the pieces of paper.

"It's a pretext, but it's not enough as a piece of evidence."

"I know where the original is. If Your Highness moves in secret, I will come to you."

"The servant you mentioned earlier, how long has he been working with the Duke?"

"He's been around since I was… very young. He's a man my father treats like his own flesh and blood."

"Leave that fellow to me. A sick daughter on the other side of the border… It's a good negotiating tool."

"…"

"Don't worry. I'm going to help him. He must have been forced to do it for his sick daughter. I can't forgive him for his sins, but at least I won't discard him."

"Thank… you."

Louis said, swallowing a sob. Seeing that, Theon hesitated to speak.

As he was about to speak slowly, as if he had made up his mind, a distinct sound came through the window.

Tap, tap, tap.

Soon after, a red cloth was fluttering freely from the ankle of the carrier pigeon that appeared.

***

"We have to go back."

Theon's appearance as he rushed in made it clear that it was urgent.

His gray eyes, which were shaking slightly as if he was anxious, seemed to tell her everything.

Ayla, who was lying on the end of the bed while looking through a book, fixed her gaze on Theon.

"What? Going back? Where to, all of a sudden? It has become quite dark outside."

"To the Royal Palace. Get ready. I can't leave you here because I'm anxious. Though I don't know even if we are together…"

Theon blurred his words and turned his steps towards the window.

Elin had prepared the bed and blankets for her as Theon had told her to rest well tonight.

‘Now that I was enjoying being in a soft bed after a long time…'

There was certainly a reason. Because she was not a fickle person, Ayla put down the book she was reading while pouting her lips.

"What about Louis?"

"He went back."

"Without even… saying goodbye?"

"…"

"You are all too much."

Ayla's eyelashes turned downwards as she muttered to herself. A sense of sadness could be felt in her small, twitching lips.

"So, what did you talk about? Why did Lily come here looking like that… What Lily said is not true, is it?"

"…"

"No one tells me anything. Not Lily, not Elin, not Orhan… And not even Your Highness. It's something that concerns me, I should also know."

Despite Ayla's pressing, he was silent.

Keeping his gaze out of the window, only the occasional sigh filled the interior of the room.

‘So… it's true.'

And she could tell. It's not that he wasn't saying it. He couldn't say it.

"Get ready. I'll be outside."

***