/
Without a doubt, Damian would get crossed.
Giving me an irreverent look, someone who was nominally the fiancée of the Crown Prince was equivalent to disrespecting Damian.
However.
‘You can’t get carried away here.’
I signaled for him to calm down, tightening my clasp on Damian’s hand.
He clenched his teeth and lowered his head again.
I tried my best to keep my expression under control.
But, I couldn’t help it. The feeling I felt inside me was as sharp as icicles.
To be regarded with total indifference like before–that I would have tolerated.
Perhaps even being treated as a young, troublesome, and irksome lady-in-waiting would have done.
But the Emperor now

‘
the way he looked at me was like he had his sights on a woman.’
The storyline of the original novel suddenly popped into my mind.
Didn’t Charlize of the original novel become the Emperor’s mistress?
To escape that cursed fate, I’ve desperately avoided the Emperor until now

“Everyone must be exhausted from the trip, go in and rest.”
“Thank you, Your Majesty.”
I lowered my head slightly and hid my face, gently biting my lip.
I had a feeling things were going to get complicated from here on out.
***
After the Emperor left, both Her Majesty, the Empress Dowager, and the Empress approached us with delighted faces.
“You’ve both done an outstanding job.”
“Your Majesty, the Empress.”
“If it hadn’t been for these two, Lebane would surely have suffered tremendous damage.”
The face of Her Majesty, the Empress Dowager, wouldn’t stop smiling after we reunited.
Before we left the Imperial palace for the South, she had almost stopped eating and drinking entirely due to distress. However, things turned out for the better.
The Empress Dowager looked at me with a mirthful face.
“There’s been rumors floating around that you’re the southern saintess.”
“Ahaha
”
No, not that, please. The embarrassment I’m feeling right now is almost unbearable

My whole body squirmed inadvertently, so I struggled to maintain my composure.
At that time, Her Majesty the Empress Dowager reassured me.
“Don’t be embarrassed, Charlize.”
“
Your Majesty.”
“What you’ve done is nothing short of extraordinary, worthy of being hailed as a ‘saintess.’”
Her Majesty, the Empress Dowager said so in a positive tone.
The Empress also helped by reaffirming.
“I also agree with Her Majesty’s words.”
Those dark green eyes looking at me were warm as always.
“What you’ve done is amazing. I hope you don’t look down on yourself for it.”
“
Thank you, Your Majesty.”
It was only then I could smile widely.
***
The Emperor, who had driven away the people around him, sat alone.
“
she’s awakened the power of the divine beast.”
At first, he was fuming at how the current situation had gone in Damian’s favor. However, his mind was more lucid now that he had cooled down.
A girl has exhibited the power of the divine beast.
Knowing this, just how much value could he squeeze out of her?
The Emperor narrowed his eyes.
“First, I should look more into this.”
Did she genuinely manifest the power, or was it all some ruse? A phony saintess concocted by the Duke to sway public opinion?
And if Charlize really can put those divine powers to use

“
I’ll have to get my hands on her somehow.”
It wouldn’t be a bad deal for that girl.
After all, wouldn’t it be more illustrious to be by the side of an emperor than that untrustworthy Damian, whose loyalty remains ambiguous?
The Emperor slowly balled his hand into a fist.
He envisioned Charlize in his grasp.
A sly smile crept across the Emperor’s lips.
***
The following afternoon.
A welcomed face visited the Crown Prince’s palace.
That face was Sienna’s.
“You have been working hard, Lady Charlize!”
Sienna had a dazzling smile on her face.
She smiled so radiantly that just looking at her made me feel better.
“I’ve heard you took great care of Lebane this time?”
Sienna said so as she put down her teacup in an elegant gesture.
“I also heard the South was saved from a plague thanks to both of you.”
“Don’t mention it.”
“Your reputation as the ‘Saintess of the South’ is nothing to be ashamed of. It’s a great title, Lady Charlize.”
Ah-ha

Feeling my face heat up, I laughed awkwardly.
I couldn’t help but wince at what she said even though the Empress Dowager and Empress encouraged me yesterday to ‘don’t be embarrassed.’
Can’t everyone just omit the word ‘saintess?’
Fortunately, Sienna didn’t want to dwell on that topic for long.
“Now that I think about it, the harvest festival is coming up soon.”
“Ah, it’s already that time again.”
I gently nodded my head.
It felt strange, surreal.
From dealing with floods in the South, summer nearing its end, and autumn with the harvest festival just around the corner.
Time certainly flies.
Sienna asked me as her eyes sparkled.
“Couldn’t you be proclaimed the Crown Princess at the harvest festival?”
“What? Me as the Crown Princess?”
Without realizing it, my voice came out a little louder.
Sienna had a face full of excitement.
“Trust me, Lady Charlize has the unwavering support of the North!”
As I looked on at Sienna, I scrunched my brow slightly without realizing it.
It was odd.
Sienna was the female lead of the original novel, yet for her to cheer me on like this

‘Shouldn’t she be upset?’
However, Sienna’s face remained unchanged while mine crumpled.
Ugh, I need to end this.
How long will I continue to worry about the relationship between Damian and Sienna?
I carefully opened my mouth.
“Do you have a crush on someone, Sienna?”
“Me, a crush?”
Sienna looked at me with a puzzled face when I asked that question out of the blue.
“Well, I never really gave it much thought.”

what?
What about Damian?
Perhaps reading my puzzled expression, Sienna shrugged lightly.
“As successor, I will inherit the title of Marquis in the future.”
“Yes.”
“I have no intention of relinquishing my title, so my future husband will have to relinquish his and reside with my family.
Give up his title?
Umm, as far as customs go, wouldn’t it be next to impossible for the Crown Prince, the future of the empire, to relinquish his title?
Sienna let out a deep sigh.
“Even after coming to the empire, I was still busy, so I’ve never had the chance to meet men one-on-one.”
“Oh, I see
”
“Ah, I get it now.”
Suddenly, a fire was set ablaze in Sienna’s eyes.
“Are there any good bachelors out there?”
“Um, bachelors?”
“Yes. Being a noblewoman, I don’t need a man of such high status.”
Sienna eagerly started pouring out words.
“All I wish for is to find someone who’s responsible, gentle, and doesn’t get jealous. Especially when I inherit the family, it’ll be complicated if they have ulterior motives.”
“Mmm. I see.”
“I’d also want him to be handsome and have a great body.”
“Oh, sure
.”
“And if he doesn’t want to be brushed aside by the people of Antes, he’ll need to be at least skilled enough to cross swords with me. And
”
Sienna’s conditions came out one after the other, leaving me overwhelmed.
“No, no! Wait!”
“Yes?”
“Then what about the Crown Prince?!”
Hearing my plea, Sienna replied, unable to hide her confusion.
“I don’t see what His Highness, the Crown Prince has to do with this.”
Oops.
I bit my lip slightly.
I didn’t even bring up any context. I sort of threw it out there.
Well, there’s no way I can explain to her that the two of them are the male and female leads so

“Viscountess Antes spent eight years with the Crown Prince, correct?”
“Um, yes, but.”
“So, I thought you two might feel a connection or closeness to each other
”
Sienna’s jaw fell as she looked at me with a stunned expression.

did I spew nonsense?
“So, you’re saying, me and His Highness, the Crown Prince?”
*Nods*
When I nodded, Sienna’s eyes widened.
“Stealing Lady Charlize’s fiancee?”
Uh, is that how it works?
She responded with a look that gave the impression that she had been told to marry her blood brother.
That’s how stunned and repulsed she was.
Frowning, Sienna opened up.
“You know, I’m an only daughter, right?”
I knew that.
She was the daughter of the mighty Antes and the next in line to become the Marquis.
“Now I know how it feels for siblings to dislike each other,” stated Sienna.
“Pardon?”
“His Highness, the Crown Prince is like a brother to me.”
Sienna solemnly declared.
“Even if all the men in the world disappeared, I wouldn’t marry the Crown Prince.”
“Nope, never. Absolutely not!”
To that extent, huh?
I was slightly saddened by Sienna’s wholehearted expression as she declared this.
Damian’s not that bad of a person to the point she needs to dislike or speak of him in such a way.
It was acceptable when I ridiculed Damian, but I didn’t appreciate it when other people made fun of him.
‘
mmm.’
Engrossed in an entanglement of subtle emotions, I was interrupted when Sienna softly spoke to me.
“By the way, Lady Charlize.”
“Yes?”
“I also have something I want to ask of you
”
Sienna, who kept looking at me, continued earnestly,
“How long do you intend on calling me ‘Viscountess Antes?’”
Huh?
“You said we were friends,” she remarked.
Sienna made a pouty face, something very uncharacteristic of her.

like who are you and what have you done with Sienna?
TL/N: Sienna follows a matrilocal custom where the husband goes to live with the wife’s parents/community after marriage.