C77
Elliot asked his subordinate without losing his composure.
"What's the problem?"
"A team from the imperial palace investigation has arrived! They said it's a surprise tax investigation!"
Elliot clicked his tongue. Making a fuss over something like this.
"It was expected. The imperial family would somehow like to make a dent in our Lady Liena and Cassius."
Recently, Liena's reputation couldn't be better. The world called Liena nicknames like the best administrator of this century and the second Saint.
"But it's still not enough. Because she's a much bigger person than they think."
Even if you take all the rhetoric in the world and combine it, it's nothing compared to the real Liena. That's how amazing Liena was just by existing.
The Iver guild, in whom Liena trusted and entrusted. Elliot planned to risk his pride and make Iver the best guild on the planet.
"Where is the investigation team now?"
"They entered on their own and headed there to search Lady's office first."
"Don't worry. There's nothing they can criticize."
"That's true."
"The guild owner is absent for other matters, so I'll have to meet with them. Let's go."
"One moment. I have something else to tell you..."
"What else is there?"
The employee hesitated and responded to Elliot's cold question.
"The person sent as the head of the investigation team is the second prince."
"Terence Belver Asteroth?"
Not long ago, a new prince appeared.
Although born before the crown prince, he wasn't the empress's son and ascended late to the imperial throne, so he was named the second prince.
There were no inconsistencies. It was easy to predict that the emperor would support the second prince for the time being to solidify his position.
"But what is this? What is the cause of the rising anxiety from below? The answer was obvious."
"There is a connection between Ethel Wallace and the second prince."
The two danced together at the emperor's birthday banquet. Still, Liena told Elliot that their relationship was questionable.
Duke Leandro once saw the second prince volunteering to be Ethel's escort. Elliot gritted his teeth at the thought of Leandro.
"Stupid human. What's the point of saying that when the divorce is already over?"
Leandro, who had never met the second prince before, naturally had no choice but not to know, but it was none of Elliot's business. The mistress Elliot served was Liena, not the Duke of Cassius.
Anyway, the task at hand was to deal with the second prince.
Naturally, the tax investigation didn't bother him at all. His work was always perfect.
"Second Prince, I will take this opportunity to learn in detail about your relationship with Ethel Wallace."
At first, as much as he underestimated Ethel, he thought it was just a simple affair with the second prince, but suspicions began to arise that there might be something more.
An hour later, Elliot felt a little anxious. It was within the expected range for the second prince to roam the guild instead of quietly having tea in Elliot's office.
But why...
"Why are you ignoring me like this?"
Apart from avoiding personal conversations, Terence didn't even exchange the usual greetings with Elliot. After a blatant declaration of disdain.
"Your Royal Highness, you have examined the entire office area, and only the product warehouse remains."
Elliot spoke again. With a sociable smile.
"As a proud member of the Asteroth Empire, in Iver, we are willing to cooperate with the investigation. However, the accounting books and supporting documents are all that I sent before."
"......"
"I swear that Iver has always strived to comply with imperial law and will continue to do so in the future. That's the philosophy of the guild owner, Liena."
At that moment, a faint laughter from the second prince, who was facing away, was heard. Tsk.
"Your Highness?"
"No. Let's start with the product warehouse."
The second prince's face was expressionless as he turned to look at Elliot's call. But Elliot was sure. The fact that he had laughed at him.
"Arrogant bastard!"
Slowly, his patience reached its limit.
He was already very upset about Tara's situation, but he couldn't believe that guy was ignoring him and even mocking him.
Elliot's pride, which was at the top of the sky, couldn't tolerate it.
He boasted to a fool that he was fortunate to be born with royal blood. Take a look at the product warehouse and see what you find!
The investigation team headed to the product warehouse and carefully examined numerous stored items. However, Terence, who had guided them here, simply wandered around the warehouse without even bothering to investigate. In fact, he always had that insincere attitude.
Elliot felt furious. If things continued like this, there was a high chance that not only the second prince but also Ethel, who was suspected to be related to him, would be equally pathetic.
"Well, that's enough. The fact that it's pathetic doesn't mean their sin disappears."
Elliot will punish both. The second prince arrogantly interfered in Lady Liena's affairs, and Ethel made tears well up in her eyes. Especially Ethel kept bothering him.
"But let's take it easy. Because I have no intention of losing my life."
He would just make the rest of their lives a little more painful. Elliot smiled sinisterly to himself.
"Something is strange."
At that moment, Terence's unexpected comment got on Elliot's nerves.
After finishing the inspection of the product warehouse, they were about to return to Elliot's office.
"What's strange?"