Chapter 30

No one knew.

Even his liege and that “self-proclaimed granddaughter” probably hadn’t noticed.

Logan Anderson had always stood quietly by their side.

When the little girl first had an audience with his master.

When his master summoned her to his office for the first time.

When the shocking sight of his master seating the child on his lap unfolded before his eyes.

Even when His Majesty postponed his work and headed for the laboratory because he wanted to give the child a present…

‘How is that even possible?’

Halfway to the laboratory, Logan fell deep into thought.

As far as he knew, his liege… His Majesty the Emperor… wasn’t someone who kept children close.

Hadn’t he never once spoken warmly even to his own children?

‘Yet she won his heart in such a short time.’

Of course, there was something different about that child compared to others her age.

She grasped situations quickly.

She didn’t cower before the Emperor.

She didn’t cry, whine, or throw tantrums.

‘Most of all, she’s unbelievably adorable.’

Logan quietly recalled Cecilia from just a little while ago and let out a thoughtful hum.

Honestly, wasn’t pink hair cheating?

Those long pink twin braids amplified her cuteness to an unfair degree.

‘More importantly, why did she ask me to do this?’

He was known throughout the imperial palace for his sharp, cold appearance.

To the point where people called him “the person most likely to give you a heart attack if you suddenly ran into him.”

‘What could possibly be inside this?’

Unable to resist any longer, Logan unfolded the crumpled piece of paper in his hand.

Written inside was a short message that looked as though the child had written it herself.

…Was it just him, or did the postscript feel more important than the actual message?

‘Perfect!’

Now that I’d secretly asked the aide mister to deliver the note, everything on that side should be fine.

I let out a satisfied little huff.

If you asked why I picked the aide out of all those people, the answer was simple.

‘Because he looks scary.’

The aide probably didn’t realize it himself, but he actually looked pretty intimidating.

To the point where even a favor from him sounded like a threat.

‘Though somehow he doesn’t stand out much when he’s next to Grandpa.’

Maybe Grandpa’s presence was just that overwhelming.

Tilting my head for a moment, I silently apologized to the researchers who had probably met him by now.

Sorry, big brothers and big sisters.

That threatening… I mean, request letter must’ve caught you off guard.

But if I wanted to keep the ingredients for Sparkle Powder from reaching Mom and Dad’s ears, I didn’t have a choice.

As far as Mom and Dad were concerned, my personal laboratory had to remain nothing more than “a place where I could play Daddy Kyle.”

Anyway, that’s one problem solved.

‘But the biggest problem is still left…’

Resting my chin on my hand, I let out a long sigh.

How am I supposed to find the person with killing intent toward Mom?

That’s definitely important.

But even more than that…

‘Even if I somehow get lucky and find them, how am I supposed to convince everyone else?’

The easiest and most reliable method would be to demonstrate the existence and effects of the Sneeze Powder right in front of everyone.

But after thinking it over all day yesterday, I’d concluded that I needed to keep the Sneeze Powder a secret for now.

Never mind whether Mom and Dad confiscated it.

‘Bertolt can’t find out about the Sneeze Powder.’

Let’s say I shouted.

“This is actually Sneeze Powder. Let’s not worry about where I got it for now. It lets me tell who’s trying to kill me!”

Everyone would probably go, “Huh?”

Then after hearing Mom and Dad’s testimony they’d all go, “Wow! There’s actually an amazing powder like that?”

Including Bertolt.

Then he’d make his plans even more thorough.

I’d have no idea if I could stop him.

Mom would be in even greater danger.

The family would collapse.

Society would collapse.

The world would end…

‘Nooooo!’

I shook my head hard, trying to chase away the gloomy thoughts.

Enough thinking about terrible futures.

‘It’s always better to keep your trump card hidden.’

The researchers and Grandpa already knew the ingredients of the Sneeze Powder.

But they still didn’t know what it actually did.

Grandpa wasn’t interested in this sort of thing like I was, so he probably wouldn’t bother researching what it was used for.

Even if the researchers eventually figured out its effects on their own…

‘I don’t think they’d go around telling people.’

Those were the same people who hadn’t even heard the rumors about Mom and Dad, who were basically the hottest topic in the imperial palace these days.

Satisfied with my perfectly reasonable conclusion, I nodded to myself.

The researchers have no friends.

Therefore, it’s safe!

Anyway…

“Sigh.”

How am I supposed to prove that someone is a bad person?

Just as another frustrated sigh escaped me…

“Is something troubling you?”

Grandpa asked from the sofa across from me, where he’d been reviewing documents.

I let out another long sigh before answering.

“Why don’t bad people ever admit they did bad things?”

“Did someone mistreat you?”

“Not me…”

Besides, to be precise, it’s more like they’re going to do something bad.

‘Though honestly, I think they’ve probably already done something.’

Tracing the patterns on the table with my finger, I continued thinking.

The Empress suddenly collapsing after being injected with a lethal amount of demonic energy.

Then after the Empress woke up, a maid glaring with killing intent at Mom, the person who had saved her.

‘That’s way too suspicious.’

Sure, it might be a bit of a stretch to conclude that this person was the one who tried to kill the Empress.

But no matter how I thought about it, this wasn’t something I could just ignore.

Partly because they were a threat to Mom.

Well, mostly because of that.

But even aside from that…

‘The Empress is someone Mom cares about.’

I remembered what Mom had told me the night before we left for the imperial palace.

Just as Mom was someone I wanted to live a long, long life…

There was someone like that for Mom too.

So how could I possibly ignore it?

They might be the one who tried to hurt someone precious to Mom.

“I wish everyone could tell at a glance that this person did something bad.”

Then I wouldn’t have to worry about all of this.

‘Maybe I should ask Daddy Kyle to invent something like that.’

I was pouting while sinking into yet another train of thought.

“There isn’t no way.”

Grandpa casually set down the documents he was holding and spoke.

“That’s exactly why Vervium exists.”

My eyes immediately widened.

“Vervium? What’s that?”

“It’s a potion that compels people to answer every question truthfully. A type of truth serum.”

“Gasp.”

Something that useful actually exists?

Well, I guess it makes sense.

A great power caught in endless wars would naturally have something like that.

‘Wait a second.’

A thought suddenly struck me, and my eyes sparkled.

Then maybe Bertolt could…

“Of course, Vervium has no effect on those blessed by the gods, such as members of the imperial bloodline.”

Aww.

I slumped my shoulders in disappointment.

But wait.

“Then if you used Vervium on Mom, wouldn’t you find out whose daughter I really am?”

Then why hadn’t Grandpa and Bertolt used it?

“Vervium is useless against your mother. Her ability completely nullifies its effects.”

“Oh.”

I have no idea how he knows that, but okay.

I gave a small nod.

Grandpa stared at me for a moment before adding one final sentence.

“I have no intention of using it for something like that.”