Unbeknownst to Me, I am Secretly Dating the Emperor - Chapter 66

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 66
Even as exhaustion weighed on her, the way she lifted the corners of her mouth into a smile looked almost pitiful.
‘If it had been something else, I would’ve just let her rest.’
As Lucy had said, the most urgent and important task being handled in this place right now was tracking down the whereabouts of the Iron Ore from the Camelot Territory.
If my suspicion was correct, this case could be resolved, and then the Blue Hawk’s workload would shrink considerably as well.
‘Ultimately, I’m helping Kyle.’
I gathered my courage and produced the two Maps I’d brought with me.
Then I moistened my lips slightly before opening my mouth.
“While I was reading through materials Lucy gave me about the Iron Ore from the Camelot Territory, I formed a hypothesis—what if the Iron Ore is still somewhere within the Territory itself?”
At the mention of “Camelot Territory,” Kyle, who had been lounging half-reclined in his chair, straightened his posture.
The dull glaze that had clouded his eyes until moments before sharpened instantly.
“You formed a hypothesis?”
Kyle, abruptly shifting into work mode, pressed me forward.
As Kyle focused on my words, I gained confidence and continued in a much clearer tone.
“I remember seeing a record that Camelot Castle was built in year 373 of the Western Kingdom calendar. Castles constructed in that period…”
Kyle grasped what I was about to say with keen intelligence.
“It was right after the Civil Unrest ended, so creating Secret Spaces for evacuation became briefly fashionable. Though once Teleportation Scrolls were invented, the trend died out quickly due to efficiency concerns.”
Conversations with someone well-versed in general knowledge were remarkably comfortable.
“Exactly. I thought the Iron Ore might be hidden in one of those Secret Spaces, so I conducted my own investigation.”
Just as I was about to unfold the two Maps before Kyle and explain that Camelot Castle appeared to have a Secret Space as well.
I belatedly noticed that all the other Office staff had turned their gazes toward me.
The Office had fallen silent, as if waiting for an actor’s soliloquy on stage.
The weight of their attention left me momentarily speechless.
‘I think I’m developing stage fright I never had before.’
Yet six pairs of eyes continued to urge me forward relentlessly.
‘I haven’t felt this kind of focus since my Academy graduation ceremony.’
Ideally, the Iron Ore would be exactly where I predicted, in the Secret Space. But even if it weren’t, this wouldn’t be wasted effort.
If the Blue Hawk came to know the location of the Secret Space through this investigation, we could preemptively block Duke Camelot’s escape routes in future incidents.
Moreover, inside the Secret Space lay a Safe where the Camelot family’s hidden assets were stored.
‘It’s just a matter of how much—there’s definitely something to gain.’
Because I was confident, the stares didn’t feel entirely burdensome.
After taking one deep breath, I continued my explanation.
Perhaps from running simulations in my head multiple times before Kyle arrived, I didn’t show much sign of nervousness.
“This is a Map drawn just before the Western Kingdom fell. And this one was created during the Empire period.”
The one from the Kingdom period had been drawn when taxes were levied based on the castle’s area.
It appeared to have been transferred here when the kingdoms unified.
The one from the Empire period was a sort of architectural blueprint for castle repairs.
‘This one must’ve been collected for reconnaissance purposes.’
“Looking at this Map from the old Kingdom period, you can see this area here is marked as a wall.”
By then, the other employees had already gathered in a semicircle around Kyle and me.
Watching the Maps unfold.
Since we’d come this far, I picked up a Feather Pen and pointed to one section of the Map so everyone could see clearly.
This was full presentation mode now.
“But when you look at the Map drawn in the Empire period, there’s a small space between the lord’s study and an adjacent room.”
The Map from the Empire period was likely to be accurate.
Unless the interior had been redesigned since then, it would be a space where nothing but an enormous curtain hung to conceal the entire wall.
‘According to what I was told, pressing certain decorative bricks behind the curtain in a specific sequence would cause the wall to rotate.’
“Isn’t that strange? If it’s a wall, it means they built it far thicker than necessary, and if it’s an empty space, they created a pointless dead space—and a blind spot right next to the lord’s study, no less.”
I started by raising questions to plant doubt in the other employees’ minds.
Befitting a place that deals in information, the staff readily picked up the thread I’d offered.
“Is that where the Secret Space entrance is?”
Nadan condensed my explanation into a single line.
“If my hypothesis is correct.”
Though I was 100 percent certain, I answered modestly for now.
However, people whose profession is suspicion and rebuttal didn’t simply accept my words at face value with admiration.
“But isn’t there also a possibility that the structure changed in the nearly two hundred years between the two Maps? Like what Lina said—maybe they filled in the dead space or blind spot they didn’t want, then opened it up again later.”
Sophia raised a counterargument thoughtfully.
It was a plausible-sounding hypothesis if you didn’t know a Secret Space existed.
“If you disturb that wall, it would cause significant structural damage to the castle. The structure couldn’t have been changed.”
Fortunately, Derek rebutted Sophia’s point instead of me.
“And among the types of Secret Spaces that were popular in the Western Kingdom, there is indeed a structure like that. It’s such a rare case that it’s not well-known, but it does exist.”
As Derek finished speaking, a brief silence settled over the Office.
Everyone was lost in thought, verifying my hypothesis.
I waited patiently for them all to finish their consideration.
‘Because I already know the answer.’
After a few minutes, Kyle slowly opened his mouth.
“I think so too. It does seem odd. It’s worth investigating. I’ll dispatch an operative capable of infiltration.”
‘Yes!’
Kyle had taken my opinion seriously.
“Lucy, I’m counting on you.”
Upon receiving Kyle’s instruction, Lucy left to send a Messenger Bird.
Kyle’s face, which had been slightly sharp from concentrating in his exhausted state, softened back to its usual gentleness.
“I’d be pleased if the Iron Ore is in the Secret Space, just as you predicted.”
Kyle spoke to me almost playfully.
‘Even if the Iron Ore isn’t there, there will definitely be precious metals.’
“I really hope so. We’ve exhausted every plausible lead, and it’s been frustrating coming up empty-handed.”
Nadan proceeded to lament the hardships they’d endured so far, speaking in the tone of someone unburdening themselves.
It seemed the reports only mentioned cases that had yielded something at least vaguely promising.
Nadan’s lament stretched on quite long as he listed every possibility except for the item being within the castle itself.
Until Sophia gently steered the conversation in a new direction.
“If the Iron Ore is still in Duke Camelot’s possession, it can be confiscated, right? Since it’s Criminal Proceeds. Think about that and feel better.”
Combined with the fines levied previously, the Camelot family would sustain such serious damage that they couldn’t recover for quite some time.
At Sophia’s words, the employees, each harboring their own ill feelings toward Duke Camelot, shared a dark laugh.
‘If he loses an entire year’s worth of mining output to confiscation, won’t that sting like hell?’
I too harbored resentment toward Duke Camelot.
We exchanged wicked smiles that would have anyone passing by assume we were plotting a crime, and once the employees’ moods had lifted, they began to file out one by one.
“Lina, good work.”
“We need to go provide support for the field operatives being dispatched.”
Now only Kyle and I remained in the Office.
With work mode concluded, Kyle slouched again.
Kyle pressed gently at the corner of his eye, as if a headache was setting in.
The bloodshot veins stood out remarkably, contrasting with his green irises.
“Um… there’s Fatigue Recovery Medicine in the Rest Room. Would you like me to bring you some?”
Kyle politely declined.
“I’ve already had several bottles. If I drink more, I’ll exceed the daily allowance.”
Kyle smiled gently.
After resting a moment, it seemed he’d regained his energy.
Sensing his opportunity, Kyle began a casual personnel conversation.
“You’ve grown quite close to everyone in a short time.”
“They’re all kind.”
No matter how experienced a career hire might be, it was exceedingly rare to find colleagues who would take a brand-new employee’s suggestion seriously without giving her even a hint of condescension, especially when she was speaking up earnestly.
I’d come to like the people in this place a bit more than before.
“I see.”
Just then Kyle suddenly laughed like a mischievous boy who’d thought of a prank.
With a bright smile that seemed to hide some scheme, Kyle made a subtle proposal in a suggestive tone.
“By the way, Lina. Would it be alright if I called you Lina too? It seems everyone else does.”

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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