017

I could only smile bitterly at Raph's comment.

'You've been deceived by that cunning man,' I sighed heavily without a sound, feeling unable to voice my thoughts about the devious plan he had in store for me.

'I have no evidence to raise suspicion against him, so I can't blame them for their trust...'

'What has he done to gain the audacity to betray Eleanor and pursue Cecillia instead?' I pondered in disbelief.

"It seems you're still not satisfied with today's findings," Alger remarked suddenly, snapping my focus back to him.

"Haha... I just feel something is off, for some reason," I responded, forcing out a nervous laugh.

Alger and Ralph exchanged knowing glances before Alger turned back to me.

"Eleanor, if John Burbom is indeed doing something behind our backs, do you want to call off this engagement?" Alger asked softly.

"No, even if you feel uncomfortable with him, just say the word. I can inform our father and mother tonight after they return home; they will certainly annul the engagement for you," he continued, his expression serious and compelling, making it difficult not to acquiesce.

If I were no longer engaged to John Burbom, the dreadful fate that awaited Eleanor would disappear!

'I merely needed to find a new fiancé I could trust, someone who would help me avoid participating in the Crown Princess Selection Tournament.'

Thoughts flooded my mind, and I felt optimistic about my future in this world if I accepted Alger's offer. But then I took a deep breath, realizing a crucial detail I had overlooked.

If I let John Burbom go without exposing his crimes, who could say what he might do next? It could be worse than anything described in the novel.

'John Burbom is a man who dared to deceive the daughter of a Marquess and had the audacity to approach the daughter of a Duke, so he wouldn't allow Eleanor to cancel the engagement without consequence before pursuing Cecillia for his own gain,' I thought, furrowing my brow.

'It's wiser to keep an eye on him as my fiancé, using the information I have, than to risk altering the course of the novel's original plot. I can't guarantee whether such changes would be safe for me or other innocent characters in the future.' I resolved to stay steadfast in my decision, though a sense of regret weighed heavily on my heart for not promptly annulling the engagement, considering Cecillia's future.

'While I don't like Cecillia due to her obliviousness that contributed to Eleanor's tragic fate, I won't let her fall deeper into deception by a lowly baron's son like John. I refuse to allow Cecillia, my little brother's heroine to become the second Eleanor.'

Shaking off my spiraling thoughts, I addressed Alger and Ralph with a weary voice.

"No, there's no need to cancel the engagement. We can't act on my unclear suspicions and cause unnecessary worry for our parents," I said with a bitter smile.

After weighing various problems and potential temporary solutions, I felt a dull throb in my head. Reflexively, I held my temples, prompting Alger to immediately stop the ongoing conversation.

"Okay. Let's put this aside for now. You need to rest well tonight," Alger said calmly, though concern laced his voice.

I nodded faintly, whispering a soft word of thanks before slowly closing my eyes wearily as Alger turned off the lamp on my bedside table, enveloping the room in a comforting dimness.

As I struggled to keep my heavy eyelids open, I caught a glimpse of Alger and Ralph turning toward my bedroom door. It then struck me that Ralph had only read two papers, despite clearly holding three sheets earlier.

But sleep pulled me under, and soon I drifted off, the sound of my gentle snoring filling the room.

***

Alger quietly closed the bedroom door after ensuring that Eleanor was truly asleep. He then turned to face Ralph, who remained faithfully behind him.

"You can share the other reports with me now," Alger urged as he moved down the corridor toward his study room on the third floor, Ralph following closely in silence.

Ralph nodded, retrieving the third paper as they entered Alger's study. "Upon rereading the previous two reports, I couldn't shake the feeling that something was amiss. John Burbom seems too perfect, almost as if he knows he's being watched and is going out of his way to behave impeccably."

Alger couldn't help but agree, nodding. "That's true, and my father has had his suspicions about this too."

Ralph, already aware of Alger's father's concerns, continued with his report as they delved into the details laid out in the third paper.

"But here's the key point. It's entirely possible that John Burbom, knowing he'd be under scrutiny as Lady Eleanor's fiancé, deliberately began showcasing his diligence and hard work. He may have done this intentionally to appear as someone who wouldn't tarnish or disgrace the reputation of Marquis Gwendolyn. In reality, he could be carefully hiding something else."

"Unfortunately, we've hit a dead end because his life is so plain and uneventful that there's no sign of anything unusual. His daily routine is monotonous, making it easy to spot even the slightest deviation. Yet, his lifestyle is so boring that I think Lady Eleanor's concerns might be unfounded—John Burbom seems far too simple and straightforward to be hiding anything."

Ralph concluded his lengthy explanation, setting down the third piece of paper. His final comment caused Alger to frown deeply, displeased.

After listening to Ralph, Alger nodded slowly. "I think the last point in your report is entirely unnecessary. Remove it from the final version," he instructed, considering that he might need to present this report to his father someday, should John Burbom's actions prove suspicious.

"Of course, it's unnecessary. That was merely my personal opinion," Ralph replied with a shrug, leaning back into the plush couch in Alger's study.

Alger didn't respond, choosing instead to resume the work he had set aside earlier. His evening had already been interrupted when he was forced to make time to speak with Eleanor, who had suddenly requested his attention.

Eleanor—his introverted younger sister—had always been difficult to communicate with, even with family. She tended to keep everything to herself, rarely sharing her thoughts or problems. Yet, after the incident where she hit her head, she seemed to have changed. Now, she was far more expressive, even bold, in making requests.

Alger couldn't decide whether to feel relieved or concerned about the situation.

"Lord Alger," Ralph broke the silence, his tone unexpectedly serious. "There's something I didn't include in the three papers because I only just received the information from my subordinate before coming here."

Alger paused, his quill pen hovering above the paper, and turned to face Ralph.

"At first, I dismissed it as baseless speculation. But after witnessing Lady Eleanor's behavior towards John Burbom, I can't shake the feeling that something about him is… off."

Alger's sharp blue eyes gestured for Ralph to continue, signaling his full attention.

"My subordinate claims to have overheard a regular customer following a suspicious figure. After further investigation, it was discovered that someone other than John Burbom has been managing his adventurer's guild from behind the scenes."

"So you're suggesting that John Burbom is merely a figurehead, enjoying the profits while someone else does the work?" Alger's frown deepened at the unexpected revelation.

"Precisely. At first, I thought it was just idle gossip. But given the reports we've gathered so far, we can't afford to ignore this possibility," Ralph admitted. "That's why I ordered a deeper investigation on my way here."

He handed a small scroll to Alger, who unfurled it and scanned the contents.

Alger's expression grew darker with every word.

"The person spreading rumors about John Burbom frequenting brothels… is none other than John Burbom himself."

"From this, I conclude that he intentionally appears very busy with his new business while allowing rumors to spread. This way, people's attention is diverted, and no one realizes that he is hiding something."

"If Lady Eleanor hadn't raised her suspicions, we might never have discovered this. Or perhaps, it's more accurate to say that John Burbom underestimated Lady Eleanor's ability to notice the subtleties that others overlook."

"This may sound insensitive, but I can't help feeling a little grateful for the accident Lady Eleanor suffered. Her change in behavior has brought these irregularities to light, allowing us to prepare for the worst."

"Enough." Alger's voice, previously tense with frustration, suddenly rang out loud and sharp. "I understand. Don't say another word."

Ralph fell silent, nodding quietly. He knew better than to push further and risk angering his superior.

After taking a moment to compose himself, Alger finally spoke again, his tone calm but commanding. "Continue monitoring him, but don't overdo it. We can't let him suspect that we're onto him, or he'll become even more cautious. Let him think everything is normal. We'll wait for the right moment—he's bound to slip up eventually."

As Alger turned back to his work, he muttered to himself, a cold smile forming on his lips. "No matter how perfect someone thinks they are at hiding something, there's always a loose thread somewhere. And Gwendolyn excels at finding it."

***

Time flew by, and before I knew it, I had been living as Eleanor for two weeks without any major incidents at the luxurious Gwendolyn estate. Honestly, it felt like a much-needed holiday after all the overtime I had endured in my previous world.

Unfortunately, Cecillia—the heroine—wasn't one to give up easily. She kept visiting me every weekend, no matter what excuses I threw her way.

Today was no exception.

Worse still, I couldn't refuse her this time because Duke Emmeline himself had decided to join her for their first visit to me.