TRETTHD 52

#52. No One in This World is Perfect

Raoul, who had been standing still with a bitter expression, finally spoke quietly.

“His daughter is said to be at the orphanage sponsored by Princess Velia.”

“That’s all you’ve managed to bring me?”

The Emperor’s tone was heavy with disappointment.

“Father!”

“The girl entered the orphanage around the time the Princess first began her sponsorship. Since then, the man has never once gone to see her.”

After Raoul was caught in the illegal gambling den, the Emperor had ordered a full investigation. Since the Intelligence Bureau—under the Emperor’s direct command—handled it, the Emperor clearly knew more than his son did.

It was suspicious that the man appeared at such a precise time and place, but even the Imperial Intelligence Bureau had found no indication that Khalid or Velia had orchestrated the matter.

“Tsk.”

He already knew that Khalid and Raoul were watching each other closely.

But the men Khalid had set to keep tabs on Raoul had nothing to do with this incident.

“……Perhaps some words were exchanged then.”

“That was while you were investigating illegal operations. Are you saying you were frequenting gambling dens at that time too?”

Raoul shook his head at the Emperor’s question.

“No, Your Majesty.”

Back then, he truly had no interest in gambling. It had only been a moment’s curiosity—watching had seemed intriguing, and trying it once for the experience… Who would have thought it would lead to this?

“Then are you suggesting the Princess predicted you would someday sneak into an illegal gambling hall and conveniently planted that man there in advance?”

“……”

Frustration gnawed at him.

It felt as though a thick fog clouded his vision. He was certain there were hidden strings behind this, yet none of it surfaced.

“This matter is entirely your fault. Admit it.”

“…Yes, Your Majesty.”

“Then remain confined to your palace and reflect for the time being.”

Raoul ground his teeth.

He felt utterly incompetent.

The Emperor studied his son’s twisted expression, sighed, and asked:

“Would you like me to have the informant killed? He did tarnish your reputation. If that is what you want, I’ll allow it.”

At the Emperor’s cruel suggestion, Raoul slowly shook his head.

“No. Reward him instead. Reporting an illegal establishment deserves recognition.”

“You’ve become the laughingstock of the entire Empire.”

The Emperor’s voice was sour—he clearly despised that his beloved son had become the subject of public gossip over something so disgraceful. But Raoul answered calmly.

“If anything were to happen to him, rumors would only grow—that I had him killed. So please, grant him the reward he deserves.”

At Raoul’s earnest plea, the Emperor reluctantly nodded.

He patted his cherished son’s shoulder lightly.

“For now, I will clean up this mess. Stay put and wait.”

Though Raoul burned with humiliation, he could only bow in acknowledgment and return to his palace.

Meanwhile, Velia and Khalid were enjoying a peaceful afternoon in the palace.

Since that day, they had stopped visiting the casino altogether. Their objective had been achieved, and besides, it was no longer possible to go back.

“I heard the casino was shut down?”

“Yes. Between the Emperor, the nobles, and the citizens, they were condemned on all sides. It was no longer sustainable.”

“Hm. What a pity.”

Velia sipped her tea, her tone betraying not the slightest regret.

“If you hadn’t known everything from the start, it would’ve been far harder to corner Raoul.”

“So he never managed to find a connection?”

Khalid shook his head.

“He dug around, but I left him be. By now, uncovering what really happened before would be nearly impossible.”

When the man came to leave his daughter at the orphanage Velia sponsored, they had decided to use him.

Work diligently at the designated casino, and when given the signal, report that there was an illegal facility there. It hadn’t been a difficult request.

“Thankfully, he handled it well.”

Raoul’s movements were already being tracked by Khalid’s men.

All the man had to do was recognize the signal and file the report that day. If he’d faltered out of fear, things might have gone awry. They had a backup plan prepared, of course, but this was by far the cleanest method. They had simply hoped he would keep his word.

“Not long ago, he took his daughter from the orphanage. It seems he received a generous reward as well. They say he looked very happy.”

“Is that so? Good.”

But the truth was, he’d run to the guards not because of money but as thanks for how kindly his daughter had been cared for.

“They said he asked that his gratitude be passed on to you—for taking such good care of his daughter, for the smiles she’d found at the orphanage.”

Of course, Velia had also arranged a home and funds for him to settle in the Duchy of Tessa.

But hearing that he had repeated his thanks again and again for looking after his child had touched her heart.

“Raoul handled it better than the Emperor. He acknowledged his mistake and rewarded the one who did right.”

Khalid shrugged.

Simple in theory, but not easy in practice—especially when Imperial honor was at stake.

If the Emperor had tried to silence the man, Khalid had already resolved to save him at any cost. He had even stationed his own people near the informant beforehand.

“Thankfully, it ended without further trouble.”

Velia smiled.

“The Emperor seems determined to take care of the matter himself.”

Khalid’s tone darkened.

So much effort had gone into tarnishing Raoul’s reputation, yet the Emperor would smooth it over—turning it into something trivial.

It left Khalid unsatisfied. For all their effort, the outcome was too small.

But Velia’s expression was bright.

“We expected this, didn’t we?”

In her past life, the Emperor had also covered for Raoul. She had known he would do the same this time.

Of course, back then Velia herself had worked to conceal it completely. This time, the scandal had come into the open.

“That alone is enough. People now know he isn’t perfect.”

Until now, Raoul had been painted as flawless, a paragon among princes.

But a perfect crown prince? Impossible.

Velia chuckled softly.

“People have realized the First Prince isn’t without flaws. It may seem trivial, but for those who believed he was destined to be Emperor without question, this small crack creates space for us to step in.”

She bit into her favorite pastry. Somehow, it tasted even more fragrant and delicious today.

“…The chef hasn’t changed, has he?”

Her sudden question startled Khalid.

“Why? Does it taste bad?”

“No. Quite the opposite—it’s better than ever.”

Velia’s eyes curved as she smiled sweetly.

“Mmm. Truly delicious.”

Khalid gazed at her warmly and smiled back.

“Your Highness, a letter has arrived from the Kingdom of Ronica.”

At her maid’s words, Velia hurried back to her chambers.

On her desk lay a neat stack of letters.

“This one is from Clozet, this one from my brother… ah, and even one for Mother.”

She smiled as she checked the senders, until she froze with the last letter in hand.

Though it was addressed under an alias, she knew at once who it was from.

“…Derrick.”

What had he been doing, only contacting her now?

And mixed in with letters from Ronica, no less!

“Haah…”

Velia let out a long sigh, then swiftly opened Derrick’s letter first.

[To Princess Velia,

…My mother’s health has greatly improved. I will consider the proposal you once made to me after she is fully recovered.

…For now, I intend to remain in the Kingdom of Ronica. Princess Clozet has been looking after me, all thanks to your concern.

May you remain well even in a distant land. I hope we may meet again soon.]

The letter was concise.

It conveyed all the essentials while concealing anything suspicious, in case prying eyes intercepted it.

On the surface, it even played the part of a sponsored artist writing politely to his patron. Thorough, as expected of the head of an intelligence guild.

Velia smiled in satisfaction.

The true message was hidden—her medicine had worked. That was what mattered most. She had made a promise with him before leaving for the Empire.

But his words about only entering the Marquisate of Sellon after his mother’s full recovery left her displeased. Just how long did he intend to drag this out?

Velia carefully folded the letter.

“Hm…”

It seemed he would remain in Ronica longer than she had expected.

Why was he moving so leisurely, even knowing the Marquis was near death?

“…For now.”

She resolved to write back immediately, instructing him to claim the Marquis’s illegitimate son had been discovered, and to fix a time when he would officially enter the household and begin heir training.

If left unchecked, she feared he might delay until the Marquis truly died before even setting foot in the Empire.

Derrick was a man of his word—she trusted he would not break his promise. But securing it more firmly gave her peace of mind.

With that thought, she opened the rest of her letters.

“Haha.”

As expected, Harold’s letter overflowed with worry and affection.

Every line was pressed hard into the page, as if she could see her brother’s anxious face before her. She couldn’t help but smile.

“Oh, Brother…”

He didn’t just ask if she was eating well. He even wrote about the balance of seasoning, the proportion of vegetables—every little detail. It was so like him, Velia laughed as she folded it away.

Her mother’s letter was short but filled with love and concern. And at the end, one line stood out.

“…The High Priest is truly coming to the Empire?”

Velia’s thoughts froze.

A remark she had once thrown out carelessly, meant only to provoke the Emperor and Empress, had somehow become reality.

The High Priest of the Holy Nation himself was coming to attend her wedding.

She had assumed it was only an empty bluff. In her previous life, when she had married Raoul, they had sent an invitation—but he had never come.

“And Mother as well…”

Her mother wrote that she, too, would come to the Empire—to witness her daughter’s wedding, and to see her father again.

Why had everything shifted so suddenly?

Velia was unsettled.

Too many things had diverged from the future she once knew. It was impossible to point to just one cause.

“I’ll have to discuss this with Khalid.”

These days, whenever something arose, her first thought was of him.

Realizing how much she was beginning to rely on Khalid startled her.

It truly felt as though he was becoming her lifelong companion, walking by her side.

Of course, they weren’t married yet…

“But soon enough.”

Velia smiled softly at the thought.