Chapter 64

Carla spoke sternly.

“Don’t hide it, My Lady, please tell me the truth.”

“I already said everything.”

Funny enough, the hardest thing for Annie was to trick Carla.

Carla’s face, sitting face to face in the carriage, had no sign of the usual playfulness. It was scarier than the tyrant.

Annie felt a little sweat on her back.

‘You’re like a starving ghost**…’

Annie replied quite brazenly to her maid’s eyes, hoping for an explanation.

“I was just giving advice on business. He was on the front line a while ago.”

“Why do you keep saying nonsense?”

“Because that is true. Are you telling me to make up a story that doesn’t exist?”

Carla sighed because of Annie. The tyrant wasn’t a man to call people to the Imperial Palace for just that.

She didn’t know what the two were talking about, but Carla was worried for Annie like a child near water without its parents.

It was a different thing from Annie’s cleverness, which she usually trusts. Normal people’s common sense cannot work for a crazy person.

“There was that crazy tyrant but no aides. I’m sure he must be a killer who even enjoys dealing with swords.”

“Carla.”

“Then, even though it was the same as the bazaar, why would there be no escorts today? Would he have done that because you were considerate of the aides?”

It was one of the things that she really didn’t understand. The Emperor would go without a servant, let alone an aide.

Carla pressed and asked.

“Is it possible that he killed them all like the rumors?”

“Stop. His Majesty is not as cruel as you think.”

“How do you know that? It’s dangerous, really.”

Carla’s eyes were drowning in worry. She feared that her dear Lady would go through something tough and hurtful that she didn’t want to imagine.

Annie reached out her arm and held Carla’s hand tight.

“His Majesty gave me a polite invitation and offer, not a blackmail. If he was a person without common sense, as you said, he wouldn’t have followed that procedure. I got all the contracts, and look, His Majesty’s signature.”

“…”

“It’s not all that you see.”

In the end, Carla sighed as if she couldn’t help it. Annie entered the mansion while giving Carla a lot of comfort.

*

“… So, for the time being, I have to come and go to the Imperial Palace, please keep that in mind. This is the contract.”

Annie’s small hand placed the contract on the table.

Her family was shocked. It was a more serious reaction than when she declared non-marriage six years ago.

Annie clicked her tongue.

‘I had predicted it to some extent, but this wasn’t exactly what I expected…’

Everyone’s face, except for her mother’s, Lopez, turned white.

Annie, who cleared her throat, continued.

“You don’t have to worry. This is not very difficult, and His Majesty will also reward the Dsev family the right amount of compensation…”

“Annie Mill Dsev, are you crazy?”

When David asked, Hyria, who sat next to him, pinched his arm.

“Honey, why are you saying that to a lady?”

“You stay still. She didn’t know her neck was precious…”

Annie’s father also seemed to agree, he didn’t stop David. Rather, he even frowned on his thick eyebrows. Annie was his pride and empire-recognized daughter.

But what? She said she cooperated with the tyrant fearlessly.

“Even if the family profits, it is absolutely not possible. His sword won’t stand still if you spit the right words, and if you speak the wrong things, the words will come from the ministers.”

“Father.”

“Go back right now. I will somehow fix it.”

When Annie tried to add a word, Lopez opened her lips.

“Annie.”

“Yes, Mother.”

“How was the masquerade ball?”

The unexpected change of topic made the family puzzled.

Lopez said in a soft voice.

“Did you just look around this year?”

Annie, who was trying to deny it, paused. Why did Ejed, who suddenly asked for a dance, come to mind?

Annie took a breath and shook her head.

“No. I danced to one song.”

As Annie responded, Lopez looked at her with curiosity.

“I see. Just go.”

“But…”

“I will take care of the rest.”

Following her father’s words, Lopez glanced at her family. The cold eyes trembled her family, including the father. This was because the real power of the Dsev family was Lopez.

David, who hesitated for a while, suddenly said out.

“Mother, this is too dangerous. Getting entangled with the tyrant.”

“It’s not as dangerous as you think. His Majesty never held a sword against servants who helped in public affairs.”

“But by the rumors…”

“Who is the source of the rumor?”

“The Imperial servants…”

“Did you hear it directly from them?”

“…”

“When, where and how did they claim to see it? Also, for what reason did His Majesty cut anyone?”

Lopez was tenacious enough that even the chief of investigation could stick their tongue out.

Annie quietly left her seat.

Notes:

**) Ghost that died of starvation: The saying describes how one can be in a bad spot by saying the wrong thing to someone very keen on something.