Unbeknownst to Me, I’m Secretly Dating the Emperor — Chapter 5

STOP MOVING!

EVERYONE, STOP WHAT YOU'RE DOING AND MOVE BACK AGAINST THE WALL!

WE ARE HERE TO ARREST THE CRIMINALS INVOLVED IN THE DUKE OF CAMELOT'S BRIBERY CASE,

AND THOSE WHO HELPED CREATE A SLUSH FUND!

BRIBERY? WHAT IS GOING ON...?

IF EVEN THE INSPECTION SQUAD IS INVOLVED, THIS MUST BE SERIOUS...

WHY IS DONOVAN JUST STANDING THERE AND NOT STEPPING FORWARD?

...!!!

ARE YOU DONOVAN SCHULZ , THE PERSON IN CHARGE OF THE MINISTRY OF FINANCE?

Y-YES, THAT IS ME...

ACCORDING TO THE INTERNAL INVESTIGATION BY THE INSPECTION BUREAU,

AFTER YOU WERE APPOINTED AS HEAD OF THE MINISTRY OF FINANCE-

THE FINANCIAL OFFICIALS IN THE WESTERN REGION, INCLUDING THE DUCHY OF CAMELOT,

APPEAR TO HAVE DELIBERATELY FALSIFIED DOCUMENTS TO HELP CREATE A SLUSH FUND.

WE ALSO DISCOVERED EVIDENCE THAT TAXES WERE MANIPULATED,

AND THE MONEY SIPHONED OFF WAS USED TO ACCEPT BRIBES SEVERAL TIMES.

WHAT?!

TH-THAT'S IMPOSSIBLE!

ARE YOU SURE YOU HAVEN'T MISUNDERSTOOD SOMEONE?

WE'LL FIND THAT OUT DURING INTERROGATION.

THEREFORE, WE WILL TAKE IN BOTH YOU, AS THE RESPONSIBLE OFFICIAL,

AND THE WESTERN-REGION OFFICIAL WHO WROTE THIS REPORT-

ANDREW NORPEN.

TH-THIS IS ABSURD!!

WAIT, THAT'S...

ISN'T THAT THE WESTERN REGION STRATEGIC MATERIALS TRADE REPORT?

THAT'S THE WORK I DID FOR CONNIE...!

ARE YOU THE ONE WHO WROTE THIS REPORT, NORPEN?

N-NO, I'M NOT!

I WAS THE PERSON IN CHARGE, BUT I DIDN'T WRITE THE DOCUMENT MYSELF!

CONSTANCE!

CONSTANCE OVER THERE DID IT!

HUH?

ME?

IS WHAT NORPEN SAID TRUE?

W-WELL...

CONNIE...!

I CAN'T REALLY TELL JUST BY GLANCING AT IT, BUT...

I THINK IT DOES SEEM LIKE I'M THE ONE WHO DID IT...

TAKE AWAY EVERYONE INVOLVED

IN THE DUKE OF CAMELOT'S ILLEGAL ACTIVITIES!

DRAG THEM OUT!

LINA, WHAT ON EARTH IS GOING ON?

WHAT WAS SHE THINKING, DOING SOMETHING LIKE THAT...?

STAY CALM...

DID CONNIE REALLY DO SOMETHING LIKE EMBEZZLEMENT?

RECKLESSLY STEPPING FORWARD HERE WON'T HELP CONNIE AT ALL.

IT'LL ONLY ADD ONE MORE PERSON TO THE DETENTION CENTER.

...CONNIE ENDING UP IN CHARGE OF THE WESTERN TERRITORY'S DOCUMENTS WAS DEFINITELY NO COINCIDENCE.

THERE WAS A CLEAR INTENTION BEHIND IT.

A FILTHY DESPICABLE INTENTION BY DONOVAN...

TO PIN EVERYTHING ON CONNIE...!

DOES HE REALLY THINK

I'M JUST GOING TO STAND BY AND WATCH?

...THE RECORDS ARE STILL ALL THERE.

AND NUMBERS DON'T LIE.

I'LL MAKE THEM PAY DEARLY FOR DARING TO MESS WITH CONNIE...!

Hm-hmm~♪

Heheh-heh~♪

A PEACEFUL END TO THE DAY~♪

CLEANING UP BEFORE CLOSING IS SO FUN~♪

...BUT THIS REALLY IS STRANGE.

NOT A SINGLE CUSTOMER FINISHED THEIR COFFEE AGAIN TODAY.

THE NUMBER OF REGULARS HAS BEEN STEADILY INCREASING, TOO,

SO WHY DOES EVERYONE LEAVE ONLY THE COFFEE BEHIND?

I USE ONLY THE FINEST BEANS AND BREWING EQUIPMENT TOO...

What Could Be The Problem?

OH, A CUSTOMER?

I'M SORRY, BUT WE'RE ABOUT TO CLOSE SOON.

IF THAT'S ALL RIGHT WITH YOU, ANOTHER SHOP MIGHT-

...HAA.

SO I ENDED UP COMING HERE AFTER ALL.

THIS WAS THE ONE PLACE I REALLY WANTED TO AVOID...

A LITTLE EARLIER—

...I SWORE TO MYSELF OVER AND OVER NOT

TO GET INVOLVED WITH ANYTHING FROM THE ORIGINAL STORY

AND YET, THIS WAS THE ONLY METHOD I COULD THINK OF....

THIS PLACE MAY LOOK LIKE AN ORDINARY CAFÉ ON THE OUTSIDE,

BUT IT IS ACTUALLY THE HIDEOUT OF THE EMPEROR'S DIRECT INTELLIGENCE GUILD.

AND THE CAFÉ OWNER, KYLUS,

IS THE HEAD OF THE INTELLIGENCE GUILD AND ONE OF THE EMPEROR'S CLOSEST AIDES.

...THAT'S WHY I CAME HERE.

I DID GATHER AS MUCH INFORMATION AS I COULD FOR CONNIE'S SAKE, BUT...

SINCE I DON'T KNOW EXACTLY WHO IS INVOLVED IN THIS SITUATION,

EVEN IF I SUBMIT A REPORT, INFORMATION COULD BE LEFT OUT

OR DELIBERATELY COVERED UP.

I HAVE TO DELIVER IT AS DIRECTLY TO THE EMPEROR AS POSSIBLE,

IF I WANT TO SAVE CONNIE...!

...WOW.

THE INSIDE REALLY IS SET UP LIKE A PROPER CAFÉ, TOO.

WELL, OF COURSE. IT IS A REAL CAFÉ.

THEY'RE ACTUALLY OPEN FOR BUSINESS, AFTER ALL...

...WELCOME, DEAR CUSTOMER.

WHAT BRINGS YOU HERE?

THAT PERSON IS...

"(OMITTED)... BROWN HAIR THAT SOMEHOW LOOKED SHADOWED EVEN UNDER THE SUNLIGHT,"

"THOUGH IT WAS THEIR FIRST MEETING, HIS GENTLE EYES CURVED LIKE CRESCENT MOONS, AS IF THEY HAD KNOWN EACH OTHER FOR A LONG TIME... (OMITTED)

"AND GREEN EYES THAT FELT STRANGELY COLD WHEN ONE MET HIS GAZE... "

SO HE'S THAT KYLE SEYMOUR FROM THE ORIGINAL STORY

THEY SAID HE LOOKED LIKE A TYPICAL GLOOMY SECOND MALE LEAD, AND IT'S TRUE.

The Novel's Description Was Accurate.

BUT....

...IS IT NORMAL FOR A SHOP OWNER TO ASK A CUSTOMER,

"WHAT BRINGS YOU HERE?"

U-UM....

I'D LIKE TO HAVE A CUP OF COFFEE.

WOULD IT BE OKAY TO ORDER NOW?

...!!

REALLY?

...PARDON?

I ASKED IF YOU TRULY CAME HERE TO DRINK COFFEE.

BECAUSE TO MY EYES, IT SEEMS YOU CAME FOR ANOTHER PURPOSE.