CHAPTER 35: URGENT LETTER

"Could it be... Could it be that your organization still exists?!"

"Oh, don’t even doubt it. We are more alive than anyone else."

After Serpens smiled and said this, the emperor’s expression twisted and paled, while excited whispers rapidly grew throughout the rest of the banquet hall.

"After so many years of not having to remember our existence, how does it feel to meet old friends?" the man said laconically.

Meanwhile, Cedric de Stone, the current ruler of the Eidelman Empire, could not even hide the fact that his anger and excitement were growing with every passing second. The emperor rose from his throne and pointed at the man in front of him with a trembling finger:

"What... What are you trying to achieve by coming here?!"

"Oh, don’t be so upset," Serpens smiled. "I just came to deliver a gift to Your Majesty."

"A gift...?" the emperor asked in a trembling voice.

"It’s your birthday today, isn’t it?"

"....."

In the midst of this tense conversation, Serpens suddenly took out an object that immediately attracted everyone’s attention. As he removed the dark cloth in which the object was wrapped, everyone present was truly stunned by what they saw.

"This... This is..."

"Your Majesty, you must recognize this item, don’t you?"

A gold amulet engraved with initials, which the emperor had given to his only daughter, Angela Stone, on her birthday. Of course, even after many years, the emperor could not forget about it. And now, seeing this item, the emperor finally lost his composure.

"My daughter..." The emperor’s voice trembled. "I knew from the beginning that my daughter’s disappearance was the work of your rotten organization!"

"What? What the hell is he doing...?"

At that moment, I must admit, I was just as stunned as the emperor himself. After all, I really couldn’t understand what my father’s former trusted subordinate, and now mine, had in mind.

The mystery of the disappearance of the main character and the people behind it was one of the main mysteries of the plot, which was investigated throughout the game. In other words, according to the original script, the Weinstein family’s involvement in the case was supposed to be revealed only towards the end of the game, as was the villain’s punishment.

So why the hell was Serpens doing all this right now?!

To be honest, I was confused and annoyed at the same time. And now, tell me, how am I supposed to clean up this mess?

Well, anyway...

"You...!!! Answer me immediately, where is my daughter now?!"

While everyone present was completely stunned by what was happening, the emperor finally lost his temper and started yelling at Serpens. Serpens, in turn, just smiled, as if he enjoyed watching this man lose his temper.

"Your Majesty, you are rushing things. How about welcoming your dear guests properly first?"

"Bastard!" the emperor spat. "What do you want from me? Answer me immediately, where is my daughter, before I have you arrested!"

"Arrest me?" Serpens smiled. "Your Majesty, do you even know the man you are about to arrest?"

"..."

The emperor paused for a moment, staring intently at the face of the man in front of him. But no matter how hard he tried, he couldn’t recognize him. Even without the mask, the voice and mannerisms of this insolent man were completely unfamiliar to him. This caused the emperor’s previous resolve to waver.

"You..." he said slowly. "You are definitely not a member of the Weinstein family."

"Ha. How perceptive of you."

"Then who the hell are you...?"

"That, Your Majesty, is for you to find out for yourself. I’m not going to reveal my cards prematurely either."

"You...!!!"

"Well, since I have given you my gift, my mission is complete. I wish you a pleasant continuation of the banquet, Your Majesty."

"You vile spawn...! How dare you...!"

Ignoring the emperor’s insults, Serpens Strange only concluded his speech mockingly:

"I sincerely hope and will wait for the moment when you manage to catch me, Your Majesty."

"....."

After Serpens openly mocked the ruler of this empire, no one was able to stop him when he was about to leave. In the end, the Shadow Order’s squad of henchmen left the banquet hall as grandly as they had entered it. Before finally leaving the room, Serpens glanced at the crowd and our eyes met.

Through his mask, the man smiled at me with his eyes, as if asking:

"Well, madam, did I do well today?"

At that moment, I just wanted to grit my teeth.

Yeah, that’s not the word...

When the threat to the banquet hall had passed and the emperor was finally able to summon the guards, it was already too late. In the end, the henchmen of the criminal organization instantly vanished into thin air like shadows. At that moment, the commotion in the hall continued to grow. People were frightened and agitated by what had happened, and, of course, there could be no question of continuing the festivities.

At that time, while I was in a state of prostration, immersed in my own thoughts, I did not immediately feel someone pulling on my sleeve. Finally, I came to my senses and looked at Ruby in confusion.

"Auntie, is it finally over?" the girl said plaintively. "Are those scary men really gone?"

I sighed and stroked Ruby’s hair.

"Yes, they’re definitely gone." My tone softened noticeably as soon as I spoke to Ruby.

"Ugh, I was so scared..."

"Don’t worry. Everything’s fine now."

As I continued to reassure Ruby and stroke her head, I realized that I needed reassurance just as much as she did at that moment. After all, I had no idea what was going to happen next. And would I even manage to get out of this mess after Serpens’s stunt...

At one point, I even thought I caught the emperor’s gaze as he looked at the crowd. And although I had no idea whether he recognized me or not, I still had an unpleasant feeling inside. After all, I definitely didn’t want to be ambushed right now.

"Lady Weinstein, are you all right?" William Dickens soon appeared beside me as I made my way through the crowd of excited people. The man looked at me strangely, as if there was more to his words than simple concern.

I forced myself to smile stiffly.

"I’m fine. How about you, Your Excellency?"

In any case, surrounded by the crowd in the banquet hall, we couldn’t discuss what had happened the way we really wanted to. So we had no choice but to continue playing this game for the public.

"Everything’s fine. It seems we’re lucky that it ended this way and no one was hurt."

"Yes, indeed."

As we talked, I kept catching the glances of those around us, which, of course, did not bode well. And if before these glances were related to my less than stellar reputation in society, now there was another meaning behind them.

Ultimately, no matter how fallen a woman without honor or dignity I was, there was no denying that I was also a member of that very villainous family that once held the entire empire in fear. And especially after what had happened, conflicting views towards me were inevitable.

In fact, I didn’t really care about that, because ever since I moved to this world, I had developed a thick skin almost immediately just to survive. But, of course, the same could not be said for Ruby...

I couldn’t allow my personal affairs to harm the child’s psyche in any way. And so I made that decision.

"Your Highness, my niece and I are a little tired, so we are going to return early."

"....."

Duke Dickens seemed somewhat surprised by my statement, but he responded immediately.

"Of course," he nodded slowly. "In that case, shall I have someone escort you?"

"There’s no need," I shook my head. "We can get home on our own."

"Well, in that case, I won’t keep you any longer."

"Thank you."

After I politely took my leave of Duke Dickens and was able to leave the banquet, I felt as if I could breathe freely again. Ruby and I left the banquet hall and were about to return home.

"Congratulations! The quest ’Incident at the Banquet’ has been successfully completed! Would you like to receive your reward now?"

Unnoticed, a notification flashed in the corner of my vision, which, to be honest, I didn’t have the energy to deal with right now. So I just brushed it aside without even looking to see what reward I had received for completing this quest.

It was probably the same insignificant amount of diamonds as last time. Nothing special.

I just sighed.

In fact, I didn’t regret my decision to leave early at all. Even though it was a grand banquet held in honor of the emperor’s birthday, there was little to enjoy about it. Besides, the main purpose of my presence at this banquet had already been fulfilled, so I saw no reason to stay here any longer.

Meanwhile...

"Auntie, are we leaving already?" At that moment, as we walked down the empty corridor of the palace, the main villainess turned to me uncertainly.

"Yes... You’re tired today, aren’t you? You should go to bed early."

Hearing my words, Rubiella shuddered and lowered her head. Soon, she spoke in a noticeably dejected voice:

"Auntie, if you’re leaving just because of me, then..."

"Oh."

Apparently, despite all my efforts, some of the girl’s prejudices and fears from her past still remained. Even now, Ruby considered herself a burden that had prevented her aunt from enjoying the holiday.

I hastened to reassure her:

"Of course not, don’t be silly! Actually, I’m tired today too."

"Really?" she asked again.

"Mm-hmm. So let’s go back and get some rest."

After I said that, Ruby’s mood improved noticeably, and she even smiled.

"Okay!"

But, as it turned out, I didn’t get the chance to fully rest after what had happened. Upon returning to the estate, I was greeted with some unpleasant news.

As soon as I put Rubiella to bed and quietly left her room, I almost immediately ran into the butler in the dark hallway.

"Edison?" I asked in surprise. "What are you doing here so late...?"

Meanwhile, the old servant looked very serious.

"Madam, I apologize, but an urgent letter has arrived for you," he said unexpectedly.

"An urgent letter...?"

As soon as I glanced at the envelope in the butler’s hands, which bore the seal of the imperial family, I immediately understood everything. In the end, all I could do was take a deep breath.

"His Majesty the Emperor urgently summons you to the palace."