CHAPTER 2: TREASON

The last thing I could remember was the knight rushing for my aide, and my shaking hands that wiped off the blood from my mouth.

I didn't wish to die yet, but I feel like I am going to die today. Although, the nether's God, Hades, would never allow me to do so. I have a mission to fulfill.

As crazy as it may sound, when I awoke, I was dressed in all black, with a knight's uniform.

What the hell did they do to me when I was unconscious?!

The people were gloomy, but I could hear some laughs from a distance. It did not take long for me to realize that all the guests were wearing black. This could be the Duke's funeral.

“Damn it... why'd he have to die so soon? My antidote...” As I was biting my nails, a hand caught my attention.

I looked back at whose hands that touched my shoulders belonged to. It was the knight from yesterday. He was wearing a gloomy expression on his face, as he handed me a Bouquet of flowers.

Feeling bewildered by all this sudden funeral, I did not accept the flowers and immediately ran to look for answers. I could feel the cold stares from the nobles glare a hole through me, but I couldn't care less.

“The successor has run away! Quick, capture her grace!” One of the female knights shouted as the knights in front of me unsheathe their swords.

What the hell? Which successor?

Letting out a sigh, “This is my past life all over again...!” Well, being chased is quite my specialty. From not so far away, I saw a dog hole, and nobles in the way.

Thinking that these nobles wouldn't be fending me off, I dashed, shoving the people who were in my way. I could hear their curses as they stood up, cleaning their dresses, and shouting my name like crazy.

I couldn't care less. Previously, I thought I'm only supposed to find my other half. However, I'm all of a sudden the successor?

Additionally, I'm also forced to live in fear within three years. I have experienced death already, and I must say it is indeed quite painful.

Experiencing death the second time from a wicked potion, would be insane and being captured... would be hurting my pride.

“Get out of the way!” I shouted, as the nobles scrambled. But then, as if I knew what would happen, I stopped as I felt a hand swung over in front of me.

His presence was intimidating. With his black suite, and cold stare, I could feel that this guy is somewhat influential and one I wouldn't dare mess with.

“Who....?”

He came close to me as he peeked behind him. It seems he had realized that there was an escape route, and took the chance to apprehend me.

“Your grace, it's the Duke's funeral. As his Grace's daughter, I suppose you are heartbroken, however, this shall not be the reason to cause a ruckus in such an event.”

The voice was deep, as deep as his red eyes were. I didn't know who he is, nor who I am right now. I was the Duke's private detective, and then suddenly I'm his daughter?

“I'm his daughter...? How–?” Before I could finish, his gloves covered my mouth. His breath touching my ears, and his voice whispered a secret.

“You are publicly known as the Duke's daughter. If you dare say a word that will prove you to be an outsider, that poison inside you will kill you in an instant.” He said, as he took a step back and faked a smile.

He raised his hand in order to signal to the knights that the matter was taken care of, and the next thing I knew is I was being taken to an unfamiliar room.

“What the hell does this mean? I mean...” Lost in words, I panicked. I couldn't understand what everything has happened. As dumb as I admit being, this is hard to process.

The man from earlier was now wearing a more formal suite, which was blue, and he looked very Royal in that. I was sitting across him, and he leaned closer to me by bending on the table.

“Very well, let me start from the introductions,” He said calmly as he snapped. “I'm the count's older brother, Lean Agust,” He eyed me as he fixed his sitting position in a way that was comfortable.

If I remembered correctly, there were two people I had to find. Saeyun, my other half and, Count Mattheus. However, as far as I know from the historical times, the eldest are to inherit the county, however, Mattheus is titled the count despite Lean's age difference.

He let out a laugh as if he read my thoughts. “I'm the Duchess's husband, so I couldn't inherit the position of count.”

I nodded as I finally understood. “Then, could this be you're also involved with the problem at hand?” I asked. Truthfully, I don't know anything about this solving cases thing, that's why I'm trying to find information by interrogating this man.

“Well, indeed so. Before the Duke passed away, he had handed me the poison controller inside you. That means, I control your life.”

Just now, he sounded scary. Well, he's quite handsome to compensate for that attitude.

“As you may have already known, the Emperor had sent my younger brother to search for the serial killer who had killed his younger brother, His highness Lexus,” He started off, and I made sure to listen to everything. “However, it has been two years since my younger brother reported to the emperor. The Duke had complained a lot of times to the emperor, with suspicion that my younger brother had been lost, but he turned a deaf ear to it.”

I cut him off. “Why would he?”

Agreeing with my question, he snapped at me and sighed. “There was no way we would know. It would be treason to assume the intentions of the emperor.”

Indeed, it was strange that the emperor would turn a deaf ear to it. The count has a huge part to play in finding his younger brother. There was no reason not to send anyone to search for him.

“As someone who cherishes my younger brother, I approached the Duke, and asked him to help me find my younger brother, in exchange for finding out what the emperor was plotting.”

Wait, what?

Deep in my thoughts, I didn't notice that a maid had already entered to hand an artifact to the Duke in front of me. “So you've been acting as a double agent for the Duke of south?” I asked, abruptly.

The maid had just left the room, and that caused the Duke in front of me to briefly panic. “Tone it down, will you?” He said, aggressively.

Well, if he wasn't handsome, I would have given him my punch. Not that I can, anyway.

I laughed at my own thoughts, and he snapped at me, bringing me back to reality.

“Now that the Duke has passed away, We are trying to get you as the successor in order to make things work.”

“Why would I be needed to be part of this?,” I asked, as I couldn't get why I had to be the heir all of a sudden.

He simply smiled at me, and handed me the artifact that was on his hands since earlier. “This is something that the Duke had planned.”

I observed the artifact on my hand. Its shape is of a diamond, and its color was golden. It was indeed quite a sight to behold. If it was the old me, I would kill to obtain this treasure.

“What's this?”

The long and slender fingers of his tapped the golden artifact and looked at me straight in the eye. It caused me to blush all of a sudden with the sudden eye contact from a handsome man.

Thank you, oh Hades.

“That's an artifact of the South that the emperor has long coveted. Our plan was to send you to find the serial killer, and my younger brother. After you have found the both of them, we would interrogate them two and figure out the Emperor's intentions.”

I raised my hand. “But, wouldn't it be considered treason to be plotting something to the emperor without his knowledge?”

“Yes, that's why we're doing this exactly. Truth be told, His highness Lexus, before his death, was holding onto a fake copy of this artifact. It seemed like the serial killer was pursuing this, and once learned it was fake, disposed of his highness Lexus, and the artifact. Can you connect the dots yourself?”

I thought deeply, and finally I started to get it. The artifact is a bait.

“You're telling me that I have to act as the Duke's heir, and go missing all of a sudden, because of course, I have to find the serial killer. As the Duke with the power to manage the household's artifacts, the serial killer herself would find me making the job easier to be done. And...”

“And?”

“Coincidentally, the emperor also seeks for the artifact, so you had suspicions that... uhm... I'm not really sure how to say this.” I hesitated.

What if I get beheaded by assuming too much?! I don't even know why my other me is going to kill for this arti– ahem.

(A/N: FOR REFERENCE, SHE MENTIONED SHE'D KILL FOR THIS ARTIFACT IN THIS CHAPTER)

“Say it.”

“So you had suspicions that... the emperor himself was the serial killer. The question is, why would he order the count to find the serial killer if he is the serial killer himself?”

He tapped on the table and spoke, “For formalities. People would suspect too much if he sent no one to investigate. That's why I suspect that my brother had gone missing because he figured it out too.” Then he added, “Actually, I haven't had suspicions that the emperor himself is the serial killer. The serial killer could be his underling or whatever. However, all I know is he's up to something not–so great.”

Has he ever not considered his brother to be dead? I think he's overthinking things too much, and he's just too delusional.

Well, I can't say anything against him as he's holding my life on his hands.

SCRATCH THINKING OF ANYTHING! I'LL JUST DO WHATEVER MY MASTER TELLS ME TO AND–

“Ugh!!” I collapsed to the ground and all I could see is the young Duke, come to aid me. Then a vision appeared.

Blonde hair... red eyes... however... it's a man? He was wearing a necklace... a shining necklace.

What was that?

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