episode_0192

After a while.

When he brings me the order issued by the Grand Duchy, I take a look at it.

“Umm…”

While quickly flipping through a stack of documents written in familiar handwriting, the awkward handwriting caught my eye.

“This is it.”

It looks like it imitated my handwriting.

When I looked at the contents, I clicked my tongue when I saw that the Ministry of Information was asking for authentication.

“Tsk tsk… I can’t believe there’s a guy like this in the Grand Study Department.”

Thinking like that, I ask Carol.

“So what happened to this?”

Carol responded to my words by stroking her beard.

“Well? I haven’t even seen this kind of chore myself. Let’s ask the secretary.”

Saying that, I get lost in thought as I watch Carol get up from her seat and go outside.

But what did the counterfeiter request authentication for?

Intelligence Service authentication is used to transport classified artifacts.

This certification was prepared because these items were mainly custom-made for dwarves and elves and should not be released to the public.

Is there really any use for this?

When you’re lost in thought like that.

Carol comes inside with a woman in her 40s.

“Your Royal Highness, this is my secretary, Lady Hannah.”

Hannah, who looks quite plump, bows her head to me and says.

“Nice to meet you. My name is Hannah.”

“Nice to meet you.”

While saying that, let’s give Carol a look.

Carol clears her throat and says.

“Hmm… Hanna, how was this order processed?”

When Carol hands over the forged order, Hanna frowns and becomes lost in thought.

“This was certified by the Ministry of Information and passed on to the Ministry of Defense?”

I frown at those words.

Are you saying they blatantly forged it and took it with them?

If it weren’t for the fact that I wrote it down separately every time I issued an order, I wouldn’t have known about it at all.

But one question…

“What did you ask for authentication for?”

Hannah answers my question.

“Shall we check the certificate details?”

I’m curious about that, so I ask.

“Is the certificate usage history confirmed?”

-Nod.

“The certificate has a serial number, so it can be traced back if it was used in the Roman region. Because there is a way to write down the certificate serial number at each gate.”

“Oh? You’re better prepared than you think, right?”

Hannah nods her head at my words.

“Can’t someone steal it? So, I keep the cereal combination formula and certification details as much as possible.”

I smile in satisfaction at those words.

“Yes. You can tell its purpose from this. Now all we have to do is catch the criminal, right?”

I give the order to Carol and say:

“First, please request this handwriting.”

Although he imitated my handwriting, it looked a little awkward to me.

I think that part will be an important clue.

“Oh, and while I’m at it, I’m just saying this. How is Amon?”

Carol answers what I said.

“I think I’m slowly returning to Roman.”

“Really?”

Intelligence agents were assigned to the local area, but there was no sign of contact with other demon worshipers.

“So you haven’t found the Locust yet?”

“No related reports have been received from that side either.”

“Sseu-eup… I can’t help it. First, let’s see what Amon does when he comes back.”

Amon toured the provinces for nearly six months and recruited protesters.

At first, he toured mainly rural areas and then traveled to cities to attract imperial citizens as protesters.

In a way, it is only natural that they feel the social injustice is so severe.

The existing order of the empire was centered around the aristocracy.

In comparison, city residents and peasants cannot help but feel alienated.

“I’ll just go.”

That’s how I leave the intelligence department.

***

I read all the books I picked up in the office.

It’s heartbreaking to see that the last page of a long novel has only the obscene text “Continue” written on it.

“Ugh… Why does it end here?”

I feel disappointed when it ends with a scene where Dean and Dora fight each other.

“But I really lost track of time while reading this.”

Recently, I read it whenever I have time.

Of course, there are some sexy scenes, but basically, just imagining the two bickering and having a conversation is heartwarming.

“It would be nice if Debian was more humane like Deang.”

The problem is that her husband is so impersonal.

Is that all? How many times have I been humiliated by his lack of sexual desire, almost like a eunuch?

“But we kiss a lot these days.”

Unlike before, Debian even allows kissing.

It can be seen as a huge improvement, but it seems that Debian is not interested in such things, to the point that anyone would mistake him for a precocious lady and me for a lecherous man.

So… it’s inevitable that I feel upset because it feels like I’m the only one who wants it.

“But where can we at least kiss?”

Last night too

I kissed him.

Now that I think about it, when was the last time we naturally kissed?

At the wedding ceremony, Devian, who was drunk, kissed first and we naturally kissed.

Then a thought occurred to me…

“Did you drink a lot this time?”

However, he gives up the thought because he does not drink excessively unless it is given to him by an adult.

“But… who is the author of this novel?”

A woman attacks the man she loves.

It’s too sexy, right?

To be honest, I think subduing a man with one’s own strength is both sexy and cool at the same time.

In the novel, Dora can control mana, so the scene where she pins down the man Deang with force and climbs on top of him can be said to be the highlight of volume 1.

A woman… can do it from above.

The Bible says that women belong to men and must remain chaste and abstain from sexual desires.

But a woman is doing it on top of a man.

When I first realized something like this was possible.

I was greatly shocked.

That’s also true when you receive sex education.

Because I was taught that women lie down and men put their bodies on top of the woman’s body.

but.

This novel is different.

In the novel, Dora torments Deang every night and squeezes out his affection.

Is it because I read a novel like this?

I keep looking at Dora and Devian and imagining myself and Devian overlapping.

I imagine myself attacking Devian every night and squeezing him…

-My heart is pounding… my heart is pounding.

It’s an unrealistic imagination, but just that alone makes my body start to heat up.

Is that why?

“I hope volume 2 comes out soon.”

But… where can I get volume 2?

Who is the author in the first place?

I pick up the book and look for the title and author’s name, but I feel disappointed when I see that it is not written anywhere.

***

A few days after visiting the Ministry of Intelligence.

-smart!

I answer the knock by signing the document.

“Who?”

-His Royal Highness the Grand Duke, the Minister of Information visited.

I say that while flipping through the documents.

“Tell them to come in.”

-Squeak.

“Hello?”

When the door opens, Carol bows to me and I reply.

“Yes, yes. Did you find out what was going well?”

“Yes… But… I wonder if I can tell you this.”

When Carol spoke in an embarrassed voice, I asked back with a smile.

“Why? Is the criminal so big that the world’s Minister of Information is afraid of him?”

He doesn’t seem to like my joke, but his expression remains stiff.

“Then let’s talk over a cup of coffee first.”

So I offer you a seat…

The maid brings coffee.

When there is a moment of silence between us.

“So who is the culprit?”

At that moment, a person presumed to be the culprit passes through my mind.

Theodora is probably the culprit.

If she had the title of emperor, it would be no small feat to capture and threaten a person from the Archduchy.

That’s why Carol probably also feels uncomfortable talking about it.

If the emperor is the culprit, it is not a forgery of official documents.

How can the nominal head of the executive branch be punished for exercising his authority?

Moreover, even if they could be prosecuted unreasonably, it was obvious that they would be released due to the emperor’s privilege.

I don’t like shows like that, and it’s obvious that it will have the opposite effect.

“I know why you are so hesitant. If the emperor forges an official document, he will be punished…”

“That… turned out to be Secretary Lucius.”

A completely unexpected person jumps out of Carol’s mouth.

“Huh? Lucius?”

Forgery of official documents is a serious crime.

A few decades in prison is a basic starting point.

I don’t understand why Lucius, who knew that well, would do something like that.

“Is that true?”

Carol nodded slightly at my words.

“They say you get hit in the foot by an ax you trust.”

Carol looks at me strangely.

“When you think of an axe, it’s an axe. What is an axe you trust?”

I sigh when I see that they don’t understand Korean proverbs.

“There is such a thing. Are there any guards outside?!”

Let me shout loudly outside.

-Squeak!

“Did you find it?”

The guard opens the door and enters quietly.

“Arrest Secretary Lucius immediately, the charge is forgery of official documents.”

“Yes!”

I can hear the guards leaving the office like that.

“Grand Duke… are you okay?”

I nod my head at Carol’s words.

“Well… I thought a day like this could come someday.”

From the beginning, I have a set number of people I trust.

In the original work, Agrippa, who valued loyalty, and Mary, who is a woman but strong and trustworthy.

I don’t trust anyone else but him.

“Hehe… You are bolder than I thought.”

“That’s because anyone can betray.”

Of course, the problem arose sooner than I expected.

If you’re lucky, you’re lucky. When the civil war broke out. It would have been more difficult if a traitor had come out.

When I think like that.

“But what will Secretary Lucius do? Will you please release me soon?”

I shake my head at those words.

“No? Are you going to handle it according to the law?”

I am the one who rules the empire.

If you commit a crime but are released because you are close to me, who would think the law is strict?

The law must be equal for all.

Even the emperor only has the powers specified in the law and cannot exceed his powers.

Of course… the emperor’s privileges are so fraudulent that there are almost no things he can’t do.

“Um… are you really going to do that? Still, you followed His Highness quite a bit, didn’t you?”

I say that as if I were dumbfounded.

“If you really followed me, you wouldn’t have forged official documents. Besides, this matter is important. In the future, people working at the Ministry of Education also need warnings.”

“That… But…”

When Carol tried to say something, I raised my hand and stopped him.

“I know what you’re trying to say. But I can’t help it.”

Saying that, he heads to his desk to continue working.