His Highness’ Secret Accountant

The Stellen Kingdom was filled with both rumors and truths about his family.

At the end of the stories was always the Duke's son, who had disappeared. The public turned to Louis Daniel, and they wanted him.

Strictly speaking, maybe it was more accurate to say that they wanted someone they could speak ill of…

A bitter smile hung around Louis' mouth for a moment.

"Hm…"

Lily hesitated at his dark expression and tapped the tip of her shoes on the ground.

Then, she gathered her long skirt and sat down beside Louis.

"Is Mr. Mattel still missing? I tried asking around the square, but found nothing."

"Even if that man finds him, what is he going to do… His circumstances aren't good enough to give him ten gold coins without hesitation."

"…"

It didn't take her long to realize that the person he was referring to by ‘that man' was his father.

Feeling Louis' fierce gaze, Lily pouted her lips and mumbled, ‘I'm sorry…', in a low voice.

Ugh…

Seeing Lily like that made him feel like he was somehow guilty.

A child who pretended to be bright on the outside, but always felt intimidated.

A child who was willing to blame herself for anything.

The fact that she resembled his sister was unfortunate and annoying.

Louis' eyebrows flinched slightly as he sensed his change.

It was clear that something had happened to his head after facing dramatic situations at once.

Letting out a small snort, Louis got up from his seat and dusted off his clothes.

"Let's go now."

"What?"

"We can't stay here forever."

When he finished speaking, Louis' steps were suddenly far away.

Lily hurriedly stood up and shouted, ‘Wait for me!', loudly.

At the same time, Louis, who was walking ahead, smiled in a good mood.

Although he wasn't aware of it.

Trudge, trudge.

The two people who were moving busily stopped under a wooden board at the end of the square.

Immediately, the people in the square gathered behind the guard who was putting up the posters.

"Tsk, tsk, I knew it. Rumors aren't for nothing."

"I can't believe the upper class is even worse. How shameless."

"How can a person do such horrible things?"

"Those cold eyes never sat well with me."

Voices of reproach flowed from the mouths of passers-by who read the contents.

Unfortunately, no one defended the subject of criticism. Not a single person.

"Pri… Prince, let's go quickly! I had breakfast early so I think I'm hungry."

Lily's urgent voice called for Louis, but it was too late.

Louis' blue eyes scanned the white cloth hanging on the wall.

"…"

Louis' hands trembled slightly as he looked at the wall.

He seemed to be making fun of himself a few days ago, when he thought he would be calm because it was something expected.

Ah…

Soon after, he let out a low sigh and his steps resumed walking towards his destination.

[Public Execution]

As he got farther and farther away, clear writing appeared behind him.

Along with the red seal of the royal palace underneath it.

***

Ding-dong.

The clear sound of the bell announcing the entry echoed through the interior.

Immediately, Orhan, who was well-dressed, turned to the door.

"You seem to have gone somewhere?"

"I just came back from the square."

At Orhan's question, Louis replied in a formal voice.

It had been ten days since he started living here.

In the meantime, a lot of big and small things happened.

The Duke's mansion, which he visited for the last time under Theon's command, was filled with pitch-black darkness and silence.

Leaving behind the servants who had fallen asleep without knowing anything, Louis' gaze looked for only one person.

A person who stood by his side and protected him since he was a child.

Although his hair was now white, the old gentleman always kept his neatness.

Unlike the silent call, Mattel, who was always smiling kindly, was nowhere to be seen.

Expect a small note on the table, as if to prove his absence.

"I have something… to tell you."

After hesitating for a long time, Orhan spoke cautiously.

Unlike his manly appearance, he was always thoughtful.

Was it because he knew Orhan's personality? He didn't have to listen to what he was going to say to know.

He was giving him his condolences for his father, who would soon turn into a cold body.

Louis shook his head silently at Orhan's modest attitude, as if he was fine.

His heavy steps passed through the long corridor and headed for the stairs.

***

Even though it was early in the morning, the vast Arin Square was crowded.

The merchants, who were busy preparing their business every time, were absent today.

The Supreme Court Justices, dressed in black priest's clothes, appeared on the raised platform.

Seeing their stiff expressions, the people gathered also maintained a solemn atmosphere.

Trudge, trudge.

Through the crowd, members of the knights appeared in a line from both sides.

Even though they did nothing wrong, they were intimidated by their serious appearance.

Clank, clank.

Soon after, the main character of the day appeared.

It had already been a long time since Duke Daniel's always well-organized appearance had disappeared.

His appearance, which had become messed up in the course of a few days, was no different from those who roamed the streets begging.

Nevertheless, the Duke's attitude was nothing but refined.

He made a horrible sound of metal whenever he walked with his whole body chained up, but his steps were confident.