KFBRV Ch 121

[Mueller] "We barely managed to crawl to the shelter, but there were no herbs, no physicians. A calamity occurred just when the only physician on this island had gone inland. My wife came to her hometown for recuperation because she was pregnant, and to think something like this would happen….."

There was no sign of deception in his expression.

If his story were true... why on earth did Charlotte do such a thing?

Odette was confused.

His wife's death at the shelter was an event that existed in the game as well.

However, according to the setting, Charlotte couldn't appear on Athena Island during this period.

But if she hadn't come to Athena Island, how did Mueller's wife die in the shelter in the game?

Does that mean Charlotte was here at this point in my past life as well?

Then, she killed Mueller’s wife this year and received his assistance next year...?

Why on earth would the angelic female protagonist do that?

Unexpected information cluttered her mind. Question after question bit at her tail.

She worried about which parts of the game she should believe. Until now, she had naturally believed the information from the game without doubt.

If she was the one who killed Mueller’s wife in the past life...

She felt dizzy. What kind of existence was the female protagonist she had believed to be good?

[Mueller] "That is why I also intended to find the woman with pink hair. To find out what scheme she had to do such a thing to my wife. If I find that wretched human, I will never let her go."

He ground his teeth, filled with rage.

Odette's suspicion that he might have approached her as Charlotte's person still lingered. However, that rage didn't look like acting.

Lost in thought for a moment, she spoke.

[Odette] "Mueller, do you happen to know a capable detective on Athena Island? It seems I must find that girl no matter what."

[Mueller] "Young Lady, actually, I work as a detective in the capital. It feels odd to say it myself, but I am the most outstanding in the capital."

She knew. That was his official setting. However, she brazenly feigned surprise as she spoke.

[Odette] "Really? This must be fate as well. Then I will entrust the request to you. I will give you sufficient fees. I want you to investigate that girl."

Saying this, she took a pouch of silver coins from her inventory safe and handed it to him.

Mueller was startled upon checking the sack containing a generous amount.

[Mueller] "T-This exorbitant amount is burdensome. My fee is not even a quarter of this!"

[Odette] "Then you need to do four times better than usual."

She spoke firmly.

The female protagonist had become a variable. In the worst case, she and Charlotte might confront each other.

Therefore, Odette had no intention of sparing money.

[Odette] "Display your competence to the fullest. Be four times as capable as your usual reputation as the capital's best detective."

At her answer, he pressed his lips together tightly.

[Mueller] "Then I will accept the request."

She gave him a contact address. Since she didn't fully trust him yet, she didn't give him Gisella or Goetz’s contact information.

To think I'd use a rat's address for this.

The address she gave was the capital address of the palace physician she had infiltrated into the Summer Palace. Since Gisella would be visiting him secretly every day to monitor him, if Mueller sent a letter to that address, it would be delivered to Odette before long.

Soon, Mueller moved to the coachman's seat and started the carriage.

She planned to decide on the detailed plan on how to deal with Charlotte after receiving Mueller's report.

While she organized her thoughts for a moment, they arrived at the main gate of the Summer Palace before she knew it.

The only relief is that the revenge plan proceeded without a hitch.

Because by now, the bombs she had planted in the Summer Palace would have fully exploded.

The gatekeepers witnessed Odette sitting in the open-top carriage. With this, she would be officially outside the castle throughout "that incident" that occurred today.

Normally, she would have worried about this outing reaching the Count's ears, but there was no need for that.

From today on, the Count won't have the leeway to pay attention to me either.

---

A few hours ago.

Rudolf had been moving very busily since evening. Because of his plan, he needed to gather as many reporters as possible.

[Rudolf] "Really, His Majesty told me himself! That he would open the Exotic Garden at night!"

So he sat in the common dining hall for reporters and chattered loudly. However, the reporters didn't easily fall for his trick.

[Reporter A] "Psh! Look at this man. The current Emperor has never opened the Exotic Garden even once!"

They merely snorted.

[Reporter B] "Besides, the Exotic Garden isn't even gossip material, so would he have picked only a gossip reporter to tell that to? It's obviously a lie!"

The reporters all rebuked Rudolf, but he insisted it was true, raising his voice with veins popping in his neck as if unjustly accused.

The skeptical reporters eventually followed him as 10 o'clock approached.

If the Exotic Garden were open, it would be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for a reporter.

They were all going to follow anyway, yet they complain.

To get to the Exotic Garden, one had to go through the greenhouse garden. It existed like an island in the middle of the greenhouse garden's roof.

In front of the Summer Garden's door, Rudolf cheered inwardly.

Things went well!

As promised with Doly in advance, a single lily flower lay at the entrance of the Summer Garden. She had said she would drop a flower in front of the entrance when she completed her mission.

Rudolf checked his watch. Five minutes before the promised opening time.

Since Odette would have departed earlier than Doly and Karl, who were set for before 10, they would likely arrive at the perfect time.

Giggling, he crossed the Summer Garden and climbed the stairs. Soon, the dome-like Exotic Garden came into view, along with its East and West gates.

[Reporter C] "But why is His Majesty opening the Exotic Garden in the night? If he decided to reveal it to reporters, daytime would be much better, wouldn't it?"

One reporter, who had been nitpicking the whole time, asked gruffly again. He was a reporter from a mainstream newspaper, the Brentano Press, run by the Brentano Ducal family.

[Rudolf] "How could I fathom His Majesty's deep intentions?"

However, he just smirked and let it pass.

Anyway, all of you will soon have eyes shining with the joy of catching a scoop! Prepare to thank me.

Before long, they arrived in front of the East Gate. Checking another lily flower mark, he spoke to the group.

[Rudolf] "Everyone, there are many precious birds inside. Tropical birds are timid, so you know they die easily if startled even a little, right?"

[Reporter C] "I-Is that so?"

[Rudolf] "So please be careful of footsteps and voices."

He spoke thus, but he didn't know if tropical birds were timid or not. Nor did he care. The important thing was that their footsteps must not be detected by the two people inside.

[Rudolf] "How furious would His Majesty be if his cherished bird dropped dead with a squawk? From now on, please make as little noise as possible."

As she intended, the other reporters became quiet as dead mice.

His Majesty would be furious at the fact that the Exotic Garden was opened. It didn't matter. The anger wouldn't be directed at him anyway. Doly would weep and plead to the Emperor, shifting the fault onto Odette as well.

He was extremely excited.

Soon, she would fall. I, Rudolf, am bringing down Odette von Lina Albrecht.

The moment that the formidable woman's reputation is ruined depends on the doorknob he held in his hand.

The moment he grabbed the doorknob, faint moans reached his ears. The sounds of a woman and a man sobbing or gasping.

C-Crazy! Are they really having a secret meeting? I did place the alcohol, but I didn't expect to hit such a jackpot!

It seemed things were about to get really interesting.

Indeed, I thought it was strange! That guy is a man before he's a slave, isn't he? Is the emotion of giving everything to a woman just loyalty?

Convinced that the sounds belonged to Karl and Odette, Rudolf opened the door as carefully as possible.

Clack, the doorknob turned. As the door opened, the panting sounds became distinct.

[Reporter] "What is th..."

One surprised reporter tried to speak, but another reporter covered his mouth. Because he sensed it with a reporter's intuition. The fact that this was a scoop.

The quicker-witted reporters would have also realized that Rudolf had dragged them here on purpose. But for now, everyone prioritized capturing this moment.

Everyone busily took out paper or cameras. To capture the figures who would become the protagonists of the gossip in an instant.

Rudolf waited for the panting of the man and woman to reach its peak. And soon, the climax.

At the moment of climax, he threw the door open with a bang!

Then, under the splendid pergola decorated with tropical flowers, he saw a man and a woman indulging in each other.

Jackpot!!! Hu, huh?

Their faces, illuminated by the moonlight, were clearly visible. The moment Rudolf saw their faces, his brain froze.

[Reporter] "Look over here!"

[Reporter] "Don't hide your faces, show us!"

Click—! Click—!

The sound of cameras and the excited voices of reporters.

Everyone in the reporter group moved their hands excitedly. Among the group, the only person stiffly frozen and pale as a ghost was Rudolf.

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