"I have to agree with you. This all feels too easy. I never expected the Imperial Palace to hand me this agreement this quickly and efficiently. Don't you feel the same way, Mary?"

Layla asked as she waved the letter she had received.

Most people would cherish an imperial letter; some low-level nobility might even make it a family heirloom. That was how much this letter and the imperial family impacted everything.

And yet, Layla treated this letter like it was worth less than a toy.

'What a wonderful miss I have chosen to serve. She is not afraid of anything.'

Mary admired her young miss before she chose to answer her.

"The imperial family might look like an untouchable immortal family to most, but beneath their facade lies a vulnerable family who is just as mortal and scared as everyone else. And their biggest concern is Duke Lockhart's family.

I am sure we will face much trouble once we contact local businesses."

Mary reconfirmed what Layla had said, and the situation turned grim.

"Lady Layla, would you like me to act alone and gather information? I have not been seen with you much and keep a low profile. The chances of people knowing that I am with your party are low.

I can move around and hear the local news for you."

Raziel offered, and Layla instantly agreed.

What the older teen said made sense, and he was also a good choice for observing people.

"You can start your investigation, Raziel. Here, take this. This is the information about a street rat who is good at picking up information. Use him if you want to."

Layla handed Raziel the small paper that had Robert's information.

As one of the sub-male leads (there sure were many of them in this romance fantasy), he was extremely proficient at his job ever since he was young. The only thing he lacked was solid backing and money.

If Layla had given him those things, she would have had an easier time. But she did not want to make it obvious that she was handing out all these favors.

That was why she asked Raziel to go on her behalf.

"Of course, miss. I will see that it is handled."

The older teen did not ask her a single question, and he took the paper to make predictions.

Since the letter had been delivered late in the evening, the pair knew there was no point in looking around. Most shops were closing around this time.

The imperial family had strategically decided to hand Layla this letter so late. This way, they could spread any news they wanted before Layla could make a move.

'How cunning….to the point that I want to praise the imperial family for it. But I am afraid that this is not enough to stop me. I would not have started this game if I were going to stop this easily.'

Layla was ready for this chase, knowing it would annoy her. But she was prepared to face it all for the sake of her mission.

...

'Alright, maybe I underestimated how angry and annoyed I would feel once this happened. It has only been ten minutes since this happened, but I feel irritated. Can't this man look at me straight in the face and speak like a normal person? Does he have to look away like this?'

Layla was not one to lose her patience, but this was the second shop she had visited and the second employee who made this face.

She could almost hear what he would say to her before the employee opened his mouth.

" I-I am sorry, miss, but our boss is out. If you can just come back later…"

The employee lied and was not well at that.

Layla would not have been fooled, even if she could not see and feel the owner's aura behind the wall.

"Oh! Is that so? I hope you do not mind me looking at the back of this shop. I came here because I heard that this place needed money. Are you sure the owner has on time to meet us?"

Layla asked in a frightening voice. She was good at convincing people and noticed how the employee sweated bullets when he saw what was happening.

"I-I am sure. Boss has given me strict instructions not to let anyone inside. I am sorry, but you need to leave now."

The employee was sweating, which showed his nervousness about all of this.

Layla stepped out of the shop, and she kept her composure. Of course, Mary noticed and quickly gestured for Layla to follow her.

The maid led Layla to an alley, where the young took a deep breath before unloading whatever was in her heart.

"Ugh, this annoying situation! I cannot believe that I am being forced to deal with these humans who have the mentality of a kid. What am I going to do with them?"

There was a sudden surge in Layla's mind to burn this place down. She had never felt this much rage before, so her emotions did not feel like hers.

She should have been concerned about it, but somehow, all Layla felt was an annoyance and a desire to destroy everything.

"Young miss…. are you alright? I don't think I have seen you this angry before. Is this some kind of side-effect I am not aware of? Did you eat something weird?"

Mary asked jokingly, and Layla knew that her maid was joking. But for some reason, her irritated mind did not see things like that, and she lashed out at her maid before she realized what she was doing.

By the time Layla realized what was happening, she had her maid in an almost choke-hold, and the demoness was not resisting.

"Well, this is a mess. I don't t think you are strong enough to detain me yet, miss."

Of course, her maid did not seem to find this situation dangerous or weird.