Chapter 3

When a middle-aged man with round-rimmed glasses entered, Alicia sent Latty out under the guise of bringing the carriage over.

For a brief moment, the man stared at the small, little girl on the big chair before quickly bending over to bow.

"Lady Alicia, I heard you called me. "What's the problem?"

"First, take a seat."

The man nodded and sat on the chair closest to him, his face filled with questions. He couldn't understand or comprehend why the young lady had summoned him.

He'd had the good fortune to meet her on occasion, but he can't recall any memorable conversations aside from the obligatory greeting. He'd always seen her as the quiet little girl who stayed close to her mother and had hair and eyes that were unique to the northern part of the country.

Today was the first time he had properly heard her voice.

He suddenly realized he'd never expressed his condolences to the girl and expressed deep regret.

"I am deeply sorry for your loss and extend my heartfelt condolences." May she rest forever under Elheim's wings."

"Thank you very much."

He was taken aback by her calm response. It had only been a day since the funeral... it was natural and normal for a child her age to cry.

"....May I inquire as to why you called me? But first, I brought the documents that were requested of me, but..."

"I'd like to look at my mother's wedding contract, as well as what I'll inherit."

Ted's mouth drooped to the floor for a split second. He questioned his vision and wondered if the young lady in front of him was 22 or 12. No, even if they were 22 years old, the majority of noblemen and noblewomen were either oblivious to the situation or carefree about it.

"How could it be..."

"Do I need to ask permission to see it?"

"No, but there must be a guardian present, as well as his or her agreement." Count Kenboe is your current guardian."

Ted was taken aback by Alicia's soft smile in response to Ted's words.

"That means you won't show it to me unless Father gives you permission."

"That's not the case..."

"Ted Gowan, make sure I don't send a letter to the palace today unless you show me the documents I requested right now."

Alicia raised her chin. Her silver eyelashes fluttered, and she had a cold, dry expression on her face.

"The Queen is the one who will be receiving this letter. In it, it claims that Count Kenboe and Ted Gowan, a lawyer working for him, are stealing money from the government and, as a result, it asks for a comprehensive and accurate investigation.

Ted paused for a moment, his lips quivering, but he quickly regained his clarity and donned on the face of a seasoned lawyer.

"What do you mean?" What is embezzlement? Miss, are you having a nightmare? I understand the shock and sadness you've been experiencing recently, but this is too much..."

"Of course, the Queen will be intrigued by the letter's contents, surprised that a 12-year-old child is accusing her own father." Aren't you surprised? And I'm sure the Queen will send someone to confirm whether what was written in the letter is true when she receives it. Given my relationship with the Queen, it's not that difficult to predict. What are you going to do now, Ted Gowan?"

Ted's face turned ashen gray in an instant. She was correct. The young lady had a close friendship with the Queen. Her late mother, who died recently, was an old friend of the Queen. That, and the fact that she and the queen were blood relatives from the royal family of Coulson.

Furthermore, the Queen was Alicia's godmother. If Alicia wrote what she told him, the Queen would almost certainly send her men to the check because she was her goddaughter.

And the Queen was the country's most powerful woman. Her son, who became King a few years ago, is still young, so she controls all current state affairs.

Furthermore, she married into another family of royalty and became Queen. Her son was the King, and her family was royalty, with her father being the King. The Queen was a one-of-a-kind case, unlike previous royal brides.

In fact, she was supposed to be King at first.

That was due to the fact that she was a princess and the heir apparent nominated as the next King before her father, the late King, died.