11.1. The Leaker Uncovered - Part 1

"W-wow!" I can't help it and stare when we arrive to Liana's private rooms. Erik carries me in his arms again which I thoroughly enjoy this time.

"It's as I've always imagined a super rich person's apartment to be like," Erik agrees.

The room is unbelievably spacious and it's only the entrance lobby. My whole apartment would fit in here! Everything is meticulously clean and super modern. I don't see any stuff lying around like in my place. I admire the way Liana is able to show off her wealth by total minimalism.

"You're finally here," Ingri appears in the door opposite to us.

"Sorry, I didn't want to wake up Ryuuto too early," Erik says. "Did you have breakfast already?"

"Not yet," she shakes her head. "Liana refuses to eat until we confront the leaker. Follow me."

She leads us through two rooms into the study. This room is quite different from the rest of the mansion—full of antique furniture and paper books. Liana is sitting in the armchair and looks tired even though we've just woken up. Fefnir is sitting near her, browsing the news on his tablet again. I notice strange formations on his hands.

"Fefnir, your hands...!" I exclaim.

"Yeah, real scales," he nods and lets me touch them. "They've started growing properly overnight. There's one unpleasant side effect, though."

"A side effect?" I don't understand.

Fefnir sighs and ruffles his hair. Quite a lot of them fall off.

"You're losing your hair!" Erik is shocked.

"The Dragonkin are all scaly," Fefnir explains to him. "I guess my horns should be growing soon as well."

I'm glad the only difference in your case are the wings, Erik is relieved.

And hollow bones... altered digestion... stronger lungs probably... golden eyes... mana, I name.

But you stay pretty, he insists while sitting down into the armchair to Liana's right. He positions me on his lap, giving Ingri an eye candy.

Beauty is subjective, Erik, I insist. We aren't human anymore so our perception of beauty will most probably change over time.

"So... the leaker?" Erik asks aloud. We can't speak telepathically for too long because then we make unnaturally long pauses.

"Two of them actually," Liana informs. "One of them dumb, the other more cunning."

"Two?" I'm surprised. "Is it one of the maids then?"

"It is," Liana nods. "The information that I was the Celestial viceroy ingame appeared online almost immediately. But I suspect she didn't release it on her own and rather gossiped to other people in my mansion. What a bonehead."

"And the other?"

"I strongly suspect one of my bodyguards," Liana sighs, disappointed. "We checked the security logs that overlapped the time the information was released with respective work shifts. Only a handful of people fitted those criteria and even less talked to the maid in question that day. Besides, I've been having problems with tiny leaks for over a year now, especially when travelling, so it must be one of the people I take with me."

"So we have our main suspects and just need their confession," Fefnir concludes.

I knew it, Liana was on the task almost the whole night. No wonder she looks so worn off. After the incident is over, we'll have to insist she rests even if I have to talk to the doctor about it. Where's Dr Stein anyway? I guess Liana doesn't want her to witness it.

One of the maids enters the study and I recognise it's the one from yesterday that felt guilty. I'm relieved that Liana was able to identify her even without my telepathic help. The woman is probably in her late twenties, quite young. If she's just dumb, I hope Liana will have mercy.

The maid puts a tea set on the table and intends to leave.

"Stay, Anna," Liana orders and her voice is cold.

The maid flinches. She can tell something's wrong.

"Sit," Liana points to the sofa in front of her.

Anna shivers but obediently sits down.

"M-Miss, I-I...," the maid is nervously squeezing her apron. "I didn't do anything!"

"How long have you been employed here?" Liana looks sternly at her.

"T-three years," Anna gulps and starts to shake.

"Are you aware that you're still bound by the confidentiality contract?" my viceroy narrows her eyes.

"I didn't post it!" the maid jumps.

"I didn't say anything yet," Liana says calmly.

She's telling the truth, I say to Erik. She didn't post it but she knows who did.

"But you told the information to someone else," Liana leans towards her. Menacingly. "Who posted it then, Anna?"

"I... I...," the maid is sobbing at this point.

She's scared, Erik, I realise. Not by what Liana might do to her, though. Her fear goes elsewhere.

Is it possible that whoever she stupidly told it to is threatening her? Erik deduces.

Most probably, I agree.

"Are you being threatened by the person who got the information from you?" Erik asks aloud.

"Y-yes," she whispers and lowers her head.

"Anna," Liana faces the maid again. "I'm disappointed that you gossiped with other servants even though your contract forbids it but whatever that person is threatening you with, you know I can protect you, right?"

"Y-yes, Miss," Anna keeps sobbing.

"So who is it?" she presses on but generously gives the maid a few moments to catch her breath.

"P-Paul," Anna lets out weakly after a pause.

Liana sighs and I can feel her utter disappointment. Did she consider him a loyal employee until now?

Is she telling the truth? Erik wants to make sure.

Yeah. She's one of those people who aren't able to lie effectively. Or hold a secret. Ask what is he threatening her with. She's really nervous and not only because she's being interrogated.

"Does that Paul have something incriminating on you?" Erik asks for me. I'm glad he does. Liana knows too well that logical deduction isn't my forte.

"P-photos...," Anna twitches and inadvertently looks Fefnir's way. She widens her eyes when she takes a proper look at him and discovers the forming scales.

"Hana!" Liana calls her trusted housekeeper who was apparently waiting behind the door because she appears immediately.

"This one did it?" Hana shakes her head, also deeply disappointed. "Anna, you stupid, that blabbering mouth of yours ruined your future career."

"I'm so sorry, Miss Richter, Mrs Hana," the maid is crying uncontrollably at this point.

"Paul did it," Liana says tiredly. "Bring him here so that he doesn't suspect anything. Tell two other bodyguards to come as well just in case."

Hana nods, looking pale. The betrayal of one of Liana's direct employees is a nasty thing.

"Normally I'd confront him without you being here," Liana says and I feel embarrassment from her. "But, frankly, I feel so weak I'm afraid I might faint. Having you with me..."

"Say no more," Fefnir puts his hand on her shoulder. "You have our support, you know that."

"What are you going to do with her?" Ingri, who's been silent the whole time, finally speaks up and points at the sobbing maid.

"A-are you going to fire me, Miss?" Anna shakes.

"I should, shouldn't I?" Liana scratches her chin. "But you've been working excellently so far and I'm not a person who can't forgive one blunder."

"S-so...?" Anna looks up, hopeful.

"Still, I can't fully trust you after this," Liana adds. "You can stay in my company but not as my personal maid. Hana will arrange a transfer for you."

"O-oh," the maid is both relieved and sad at the same time. I guess working for Liana directly comes with all sorts of perks and quite a salary.

Two bodyguards come to guard the entrance but I'm still nervous. What if he turns violent?

Don't worry, they'll handle him, Erik assures me. Besides, we have Fefnir here as well. It seems his transformation doesn't make him feel weak.

Because he's a Dragonkin, I say and I'm glad that I can distract myself by explaining. They have extremely strong bones and muscles. Even if they're hurting, they're pretty resilient towards pain.

Whereas your and Liana's bones and are getting weaker, he's saddened.

We stay silent, anxiously waiting for this Paul guy to arrive. Liana is resting, Fefnir is checking the news again and Ingri is managing my profile. Erik is hugging me and doesn't say anything specific even in his mind. Anna continues sobbing. We all want it to be over.

"I'm here, Miss Richter," a man in his forties with a beard finally enters the study. "Do you need me to escort you some...," he widens his eyes when he sees the sobbing maid. He quickly puts two and two together, turns back and tries to flee.

Only now he notices the two bodyguards standing by the wall. They readily seize him.

"You bitch! Did you tell on me? Stupid whore!" Paul starts spouting insults. "It'll upload automatically unless I cancel it, understand, you slut?"

Anna is on the verge of fainting but Fefnir catches her and lies her down on the sofa.

"On his knees in front of me," Liana orders coldly.

The bodyguards raise their eyebrows but they manoeuvre Paul towards Liana and push him down. It's as if something in Laura Richter just snapped and I can feel my viceroy for the first time in real life. The pain, anger and betrayal were too much for her human psyche—I get the first glimpse of a Celestial mind. It's not only our bodies changing, it seems to be affecting our minds too!

"Hey," he's furious and tries to free himself desperately.

"Why?" Liana asks and her expression is unreadable. Not to me, though. I can feel her fury and I've never felt anything like that from a human before.

"Money, what else!" he snaps.

"Was I not paying you enough?" Liana tilts her head.

"They offered me three million," he grins.

The hate he feels towards Liana is making me nauseous. I know for sure it wasn't his first betrayal, only the biggest one that finally uncovered him.

"Did you sell information on Laura before?" I ask myself as I don't have time to discuss it with Erik.

"You have no idea!" he chuckles.

It's just a hint of a gesture Liana does and Paul is suddenly lying on the ground, coughing blood from his mouth and swearing. I blink, unsure what just happened. It seems Liana made a silent order and one of the bodyguards hit Paul. Hard.

"L-Li?" I gulp because the mixture of emotions I feel from her is anything but pleasant. It's dark and full of rage at the same time.

"How did you get Anna's photos?" Liana's voice is a whisper. Still, it somehow resonates the room. Even Fefnir shivers.

"The bitch was whoring around the mansion," Paul starts laughing madly. "I've just stolen the footage as evidence. It's quite juicy."

I feel total shame from Anna but it fades in comparison to what Liana feels right now. This is how I imagine Celestial wrath.

"I suppose you think that now I'm going to call the police and have you arrested," she says in an unnaturally calm tone.

"I have my money," he shrugs. "I can have everything I want even in home arrest."

Liana clicks her tongue. "Just simply fire you? Hana!" she calls for the housekeeper again.

"Yes, Miss," Hana appears from behind the door once more.

"Banish this scum from my district and put him on the EU unwanted list," Liana orders.

At first, I have no idea what that means but judging by Paul's horrified expression it must be a terrible punishment. I massage my temples. My head starts to hurt. Too many turbulent emotions.

Are you okay? Erik asks, concerned, because he feels my unease.

Just a minor headache, I assure him.

"Y-you can't do that!" Paul tries to get up but he's smacked down again.

"Oh, yes I can," Liana smiles darkly. "You thought it's just an urban legend? Well, good luck in your future life. Get him out of my sight!"