Chapter 165
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 165
"I’m ruined! I’m absolutely ruined!"
Wails of despair echoed from the Imperial Palace’s interrogation room.
The Imperial Investigator questioning the woman wore a grim expression, the situation leaving a bitter taste in his mouth.
The woman brought in by imperial decree was Cecil McGraw. She was rumored to be the first woman identified as a passenger on the Kingdom. Because the rumors were true, her life had been turned utterly upside down.
"My parents said they’d disown me! They told me to get out of the house! What am I supposed to do now?!"
"I mean... why would you even go to such a place?"
"Was I the only one there? Honestly, there were plenty of people far more important than me! So why am I the only one being dragged in like this?!"
"If you feel so wronged, then give us the names of the other passengers you saw. We’ll summon them as well."
The investigator had said it merely to shut her up, but Cecil was standing at the edge of a cliff—no, she had already tumbled into the abyss. She had no intention of protecting anyone else’s secrets.
"Bella Listerwell! That woman was definitely there too!"
When that unexpected name dropped, the investigator tilted his head in confusion.
"Are you referring to Lady Bella of House Viscount Listerwell? She is known to be quite virtuous and proper..."
"And was I rumored to be promiscuous before this? Every passenger on that ship acts like a perfect gentleman or a refined lady on the outside, don't they?"
It was a convincing argument. The investigator stroked his chin before pressing further.
"Is there a specific reason you believe it was Lady Bella Listerwell? Did she reveal her name or her face?"
"It wasn't like that, but it was obviously her. Her hair color and build were identical, and most importantly, she had moles right here and here."
"Moles...?"
As he repeated the word with skepticism, the woman pointed to her own nape and scoffed.
"You’ve never seen Bella Listerwell in person, have you? She always goes around with her chest bared. On that pristine décolletage of hers, there are exactly two moles. Men call them 'chocolates.' Everyone knows about them."
"Is that... true?"
"Ask the men who were in here before me. Anyway, the woman on the ship had moles in those exact spots, so it had to be Bella Listerwell. Though I only saw her once on the vessel."
The investigator jotted down the details, though he didn't truly believe her. How could someone be so certain about the exact placement of another person’s moles?
However, just as Cecil McGraw suggested, when he questioned the men, their testimonies were identical.
"Ah, Bella Listerwell’s 'chocolates' are famous, aren't they? One on her neck and one on her upper chest. Their placement is... quite suggestive."
"They’re likely the sweetest chocolates in the world. Do I remember the location? Roughly here and here, I’d say."
"Bella Lis— Ah, yes, I remember. Those moles are quite famous. That woman was there as a prize, Kailas... Ah, it’s nothing! I must have been mistaken for a moment. My tongue slipped."
Every man he asked pointed to the location of Bella’s moles with unerring accuracy. Deeming Cecil McGraw’s testimony reliable, the investigator sent a formal summons to Bella Listerwell.
「...There has been testimony identifying you as a passenger on the ship Kingdom.
...You are hereby summoned as a witness in this case, which His Imperial Majesty the Emperor has personally ordered to be investigated. Please appear by September 8th.
If you have any objections, please submit a formal appeal directly to the Imperial Incident Investigation Team.」
*
News that an Imperial Investigator had served Bella Listerwell with a summons spread like wildfire.
No one knew who had leaked the information, but it couldn't be a lie. The Emperor was personally invested in this investigation; anyone spreading false rumors would surely face execution.
Bella had no idea that a matter she had carelessly dismissed would return to haunt her like this.
"It wasn't me. It was Harriet. My cousin apparently disguised herself as me again and boarded that ship. I even have a witness."
Bella argued her case softly and without hesitation when she arrived at the Imperial Palace to submit her objection. She spoke with confidence because she truly had never set foot on that ship.
But the investigator’s gaze remained clouded with suspicion.
"You mentioned a witness, but how can that person be certain it was Lady Harriet Listerwell?"
"Because that person is the one who took her there."
"Oh? In that case, who is this person?"
"That’s..."
Bella, about to answer, caught herself. It seemed too risky to expose Tez’s presence on the ship.
"That... that person will come and testify in person."
"I see. We will postpone Lady Bella’s summons for one week. During that time, the witness you mentioned must come forward and testify."
"Of course. But... if it is proven that Harriet impersonated me to board that ship, what happens then?"
"A summons will be sent to Lady Harriet Listerwell. And if the impersonation is confirmed, Lady Bella, you could even sue her for fraud."
For a moment, Bella had to hold her breath to keep from beaming with delight.
‘Harriet. You probably thought this was revenge, but what now? It seems I can finally crush you completely.’
She saw this incident as a golden opportunity. She had been feeling a sense of crisis lately because Harriet’s reputation had improved so much; for such a scandal to break now was perfect.
Before meeting Tez, Bella preemptively explained the summons to her social circle.
"You wouldn't believe how shocked I was to receive a summons. I never went near that place. But it turns out Harriet seems to have impersonated me again."
"I’ve been patient, believing Harriet would eventually repent for her actions, but I don't think I can stay silent this time. It’s simply too malicious."
"The truth will come out soon. Don't worry too much."
As she spread her narrative, she waited for the same reaction she always received in the past: for the perception to spread that she was a pitiful victim and Harriet was a promiscuous, wicked wretch.
But the atmosphere was different than before.
She first sensed the shift when a friend cautiously approached her.
"Bella. I believe you. There’s no way you would have boarded such a ship. ...But I don't think the person who impersonated you was Harriet."
"What do you mean by that, Lizbet?"
"Well, honestly, Harriet is now in a position to have an audience with Her Imperial Majesty the Empress. Do you really think someone like that would pull such a foolish stunt as impersonating you again?"
Bella forced an awkward smile as she tried to process her friend’s words.
"So what you're saying is... I'm accusing the wrong person?"
"Oh, no. I just thought maybe you were misunderstanding something."
Bella’s face instantly stiffened. "Misunderstanding? What misunderstanding?"
As she pressed, Lizbet’s face flushed with embarrassment, but she didn't back down.
"The truth is... everyone’s been talking behind your back. They’re asking how you knew it was Harriet who impersonated you."
"What?"
"Since it’s come up, tell me. How did you know that? To know that Harriet dressed up as you to be there, the person who told you must have also been on that ship, right?"
Bella, about to retort with something obvious, suddenly paused. Uttering the truth would be tantamount to admitting, ‘I associate with the kind of promiscuous people who frequent that ship.’
But if she denied it, she would have no answer for how she was so certain it was Harriet.
Caught in a trap of her own making, Bella barely managed to stretch her lips into a thin smile.
"It’s difficult to share all the details right now. This matter is quite sensitive. But soon, a summons will be sent to Harriet. To Harriet, not to me."
"Uh... right. Okay."
Lizbet nodded and left, but Bella knew the reaction wasn't genuine.
‘I need to talk to Tez immediately.’
When did high society, which had always been kind only to her, start caring about the reputation of someone like Harriet?
Bella could neither acknowledge nor understand this shift. Or rather, she believed she didn't have to. Harriet would soon fall, and people would turn their heads away, whispering, ‘As expected, Harriet Listerwell is a terrible girl.’
She met Tez when there were only two days left until the deadline set by the Imperial Investigator. As usual, they met in the Audience Room.
"Tez!"
"Bella? Why the long face? You’ll get wrinkles on your pretty face."
He gently pulled Bella into his arms and stroked her hair. His actions, which had become increasingly like those of a lover, gave her a strange sense of fulfillment.
Bella whined, her voice thick with a nasal, performative pout.
"I’m in so much trouble because of Harriet. Someone who saw her on the ship testified that 'Bella Listerwell was on board.'"
"What? No, how could they...!"
"Exactly! How could they mistake her for me? They must have been high on some drug. Because of that, they sent me a summons!"
At her words, Tez let out a hollow laugh, then tilted his head as if recalling something.
"Well, she did look quite a bit like you when she dressed up. I can see why you used to impersonate her."
"What did you say?"
"You two are cousins, after all. You have similar features, and your height and build are nearly identical..."
At that, Bella pushed her chest forward. "She doesn't have this."
"That may be true, but that day, she looked quite... ample. As if she’d padded herself."
"Hmph! So she knows she’s lacking. Anyway!" She looked up at Tez with piteous eyes, slowly stroking his chest. "Please go to the Imperial Palace and testify that the woman was Harriet. Then my summons will be canceled, and they’ll call her instead."
She looked at him with heavy expectation.
But Tez, who she expected to agree immediately, remained silent. He took Bella’s hand from his chest and gently lowered it.
"Tez...?"
"I’m sorry, Bella. That’s a bit difficult."
"What? Difficult? What do you mean?"
At her innocent-sounding question, Tez burst into an incredulous laugh.