I recalled the notebook I had given the Duke.
Seven years from now, an old book would be discovered in the library, and as soon as its true nature was revealed, the Lord Bell estate would be turned upside down.
It was the bribery ledger of Ador Novan, who was once a military judge within the Lord Bell Knights, and the highest-ranking one at that, judging the sins of the incidents that occurred within the order.
The book meticulously recorded how he had taken bribes from knights who had committed crimes and given them lighter sentences.
Ador had hidden it in a blind spot in the library, where it was discovered by chance.
Since it wasn't officially registered, it was free to bring in and take out, and since the amount of books was so vast, finding his ledger was as difficult as finding a needle in a desert.
It was a ledger he had created to prevent the knights who had bribed him from backstabbing him in the future.
He intended to hide it away and dispose of it later, but he never got to retrieve the ledger.
Because he died suddenly of a heart attack.
In the end, all the knights listed in the ledger were severely punished, but Ador, who had taken the bribes, received no punishment at all.
Instead, an amount equal to the multiple of the bribes he had taken was recovered from the Novan family's wealth, and the incident where the family members came to the estate, crying and begging for leniency, quickly became famous.
But in the end, the Duke did not grant their pleas.
'But right now, Ador is alive.'
He's just on a long vacation, currently resting.
He's probably planning to spend the money he received as bribes and then return to work to retrieve the ledger, but it's already too late.
'Because I've taken it.'
To be honest, I didn't care whether Ador took bribes or not.
It wasn't really my business.
So, even though I knew where the ledger was hidden, I didn't bother to find it.
I didn't want to get involved in unnecessary trouble, and it didn't seem like it would be of much help to my plans.
But...
'If Zelac Mallid is included in that ledger, things change.'
It was Aen's words that made me remember that Zelac's name was written in that bribery ledger.
'I don't think Sir Zelac, who turned his subordinates into paraplegics through abusive acts disguised as sparring, is in a position to talk.'
'I couldn't do anything about the case that was concluded as an accident in court before I became the commander, but thanks to you, miss, I feel so much better. I think it was a good choice to take you as a disciple after all.'
That's when I remembered.
The biggest reason why the Lord Bell estate was turned upside down when Ador's ledger was discovered.
It was because Zelac Mallid, the commander of the Second Knights, had also bribed his way through and manipulated the trial.
After the truth came to light, Zelac was branded with dishonor and kicked out of Lord Bell, unable to be accepted anywhere, and ended his life as a knight.
It's the story of a man who will fall on his own if you wait.
'When am I supposed to wait?'
I knew how to bring him down, so there was no need to drag it out.
'Well, why did you provoke me?'
If Aen hadn't provoked me, I wouldn't have gone this far.
"Huu."
Plop.
A sudden wave of fatigue washed over me, and I collapsed onto the bed.
As soon as I returned from sparring, I immediately ran to the library and searched all the locations where the ledger was said to have been found.
'On top of that, dealing with the Duke.'
I was tired enough.
'The Duke hates me terribly, though.'
I kept waiting for him in front of his office.
As soon as he came out, I called out to him, but he kept ignoring my call.
Eventually, he only looked at me after I blocked his path.
'He looked like he was going to kill me with his eyes.'
Was it because Aen had become my swordsmanship master? The way he glared at me was more intense than usual.
So, I was a little worried.
I was worried that he wouldn't even check it because it was dirty from me touching it.
'Then... I'll have to make him look at it.'
If it's quiet after a few days, I'll have to think of another way.
Thinking that, I slowly closed my eyes.
"..."
Soon, my consciousness faded.
The night of the Duke's estate, trapped in silence, grew deeper.
And the next day.
I am realizing in real time how futile the worries I had before going to bed yesterday were.
"It's Ador Novan's bribery ledger."
The Duke, who had summoned me as soon as morning came, said that as soon as he saw me.
"Did you know and give it to me?"
The Duke asked, watching me with sharp eyes that seemed to see through the abyss.
'Did I know and give it to him?'
Of course, I knew and gave it to him.
But...
"I'm sorry, Duke."
"..."
"I don't know what a bribery ledger is."
If I say here that I knew it was a bribery ledger and gave it to him, it will only raise unnecessary suspicion.
So, I decided to deny it altogether so that he wouldn't delve any further.
Usually, such an excuse wouldn't work, but...
'I'm 10 years old.'
An ordinary 10-year-old doesn't know what a bribe is or what a ledger is.
Besides, my education is inadequate.
It wouldn't be strange at all if I didn't know what a bribery ledger was.
"...You don't know?"
"Yes..."
I even deliberately lowered my head as if I was sorry.
I thought the Duke would suspect me appropriately and then stop.
But the Duke watched me for quite a long time.
He was clearly suspecting my words.
'He's persistent.'
Just as I was thinking that, he asked again.
"Then why did you bring this to me?"
It felt like I was being interrogated.
But I had expected this too.
Even I would have found it suspicious that I found a bribery ledger without knowing what it was and brought it directly to him instead of the librarian Giles or the butler Rigrin.
So...
"Because I was scared."
I took out the words I had prepared in advance.
"...Scared?"
"Yes... The thing with all the names and numbers written on it looked like a grimoire. So I thought I should give it to the Duke. I thought the Duke would be able to solve something like a grimoire."
It was a really childish idea.
But so what.
'I'm really a child.'
At times like this, being young is really useful.
Even ridiculous nonsense sounds plausible.
See.
"I see."
'His gaze has softened a bit.'
To other people, they might all look like the same expression and gaze, but I can tell right away.
'Still, it's unexpected.'
Considering his personality, it wouldn't be strange if he suspected me a little more.
Well, good things are good.
'Let's get out of here quickly before I get suspected again.'
It was the moment I was about to say goodbye to wrap up the conversation.
"Commander Aen Lixus should be there too."
"...?"
Why is Aen's name coming up all of a sudden?
I looked at him with bewildered eyes as a person who was too out of the blue was summoned.
The Duke was still staring at me with a blank expression.
He seemed to be waiting for an answer.
It seemed to be a question.
I had to say something, so I parted my lips and said anything.
"Commander Lixus... the Duke is stronger than him, so."
I hate to admit it, but it was true.
The strongest person in this family is Duke Ego Lord Bell.
"So?"
I smiled foolishly.
Aen's name even coming up made this place really uncomfortable.
'Can I go now?'
It's troublesome and uncomfortable.
I thought I could get away with an appropriate excuse, but he was more persistent than I thought.
And in a really strange direction.
'Should I have just given it to Rigrin?'
Then I could have glossed over it appropriately.
'I tried to take care of Zelac quickly, but I'm just getting caught up in it.'
Still, once I get out of this office, this matter will be completely out of my hands.
I lowered my head and just waited for him to tell me to leave. But...
"...Ador Novan's bribery ledger was being secretly searched for by the family."
I was startled by that and looked up.
'Was it?'
I had no idea.
Well, I couldn't have known since it was being secretly searched for.
Giving Ador Novan a long vacation might be part of that.
"There were circumstances that Ador Novan took bribes, but it was difficult to punish him because there was no evidence."
Clack.
He threw Ador Novan's bribery ledger on the desk and looked at me.
His gaze seemed complicated.
"You found that. And on top of that, you brought it to me. Do you know what this means now?"
Do I know what it means?
'I know very well.'
I just wanted to punish Zelac, but it seems like I unintentionally gave the Duke a big help.
As soon as I realized that fact, I felt a chill, but I didn't show it.
Instead, I smiled brightly at him.
"I'm glad I was able to help the Duke."
Of course, it's a lie.
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