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The empress could not have known that accusing someone of theft was not a threat.
A much more significant and heavier charge would have been required to do business with me.
“Now, Princess. Do you remember what this is?”
The empress laughed as she fluttered the paper with the pattern I had found on the monster’s body.
“There’s an alarming sentence written here. Did you know that?”
This is a disaster.
I lifted my head a little more, trying not to be caught flustered.
“It was engraved on the monster’s body during the subjugation mission. It has nothing to do with Peresca.”
“Of course I know. But people don’t really care about that.”
The empress’ thin gaze passed through me as if it were penetrating me.
I felt a cold sweat without realizing it, as I felt like she was seeing through me.
“It’s just an irrelevant piece of paper.”
“But we can make a story. Young Duke Leonard tried to rebel.”
“Who would believe such an outrageous lie?”
“They will believe it. After all, people don’t care about the truth. I just need some interesting stories to catch people’s attention.”
The empress explained in a somewhat pessimistic tone.
“Didn’t you experience it? Princess and Young Lady Brande. Suddenly, you are a crown princess candidate, and all sorts of speculations are attached to you just like that.”
… I can’t deny it.
I had only received a wreath from Caesar.
Nevertheless, I had become a crown princess candidate before the whole empire, competing with Yulika.
The truth didn’t matter to them. They just needed something provocative to talk about.
“With a little probability, provocative rumors of a conspiracy to treason spread quickly.”
“How long will such false incitement last?”
“It won’t last long. But not until after the young duke’s head falls off. The crime of treason is not light.”
Contrary to my anxious rebuttal, the empress’ tone was full of confidence. It must have been a scenario she had already prepared with enough consideration.
She was right. It was too late, even if the truth came out later. This was a different matter from theft.
“Your Ladyship, don’t you think about the rebound after the truth is revealed?”
Finally, I asked, even though I knew it was useless.
But as if that had already been expected, the empress didn’t change her expression.
“Do you think I would have done this without taking that risk?”
This was the end.
There were no more words to refute, no more to persuade.
‘Is this my fault?’
A terrible regret came over me.
I found human malice so ridiculous. I took Yulika’s desire lightly.
If it wasn’t for what was written in the sentence. If I hadn’t left it to Yulika. If only she couldn’t interpret the sentence. If I hadn’t gone out on the offensive in the first place.
I knew this was nothing but a theory of consequence. Nevertheless, regret did not stop.
‘I was prepared for an attack towards myself, but…’
I never even thought about it.
That there was a way to hurt and destroy the people around me.
Because in my previous life, there were no people around me who could be my weakness.
“I’ll give you a chance to choose, Princess.”
The empress was more arrogant than ever.
“If I publicize the young duke’s conspiracy to treason, the young duke dies. But you are right. The truth will come out one day, and after that, I will suffer even more.”
Will you drive Leonard to death and seek the fall of the empress?
Or will you step back and save Leonard’s life?
“What are you going to do, Princess?”
As if she cared for me, the empress rushed me to answer with a soft voice.
Whatever the outcome, it seemed that all responsibility lay with me.
I shifted my gaze to Yulika, who was sitting on the right-hand side of the empress.
She sat with her face down; her face paled the whole time.
‘Is this what it meant that you sympathize with me?’
Stupid. Very stupid.
… Yes, I was very stupid.
“I would like to ask you one thing. Will you make the same threat to His Highness?”
I asked, glaring at the empress.
The empress raised her chin slightly and tilted her head slightly to her side.
“‘Threat’ is an ugly word, Princess. I’m just going to schedule his engagement with Young Lady Brande.”
“Do you think he will comply?”
“He will.”
Yes, I guess so.
“I know more about the crown prince than you think.”
Caesar was not one to covet the emperor’s throne at the expense of his friends.
Because he only wanted to become emperor because of his promise to me.
“Even if he’s a wolf, he’s just a pup. Not even a dog.”
I clenched my fists hard.
My fingernails dug into my palms with all my strength.
My whole body was trembling with anger. But now, there was nothing that could be done hastily.
“… What do you want from me?”
I asked.
In fact, I had already guessed what she was going to ask me.
“Don’t worry. I have no intention of making such a rude request to Peresca to leave the affair and leave.”
Of course.
It was right not to let the transaction overflow. Otherwise, there would be a headwind.
‘If it spreads into an argument against the whole of Peresca, surely my father will raise all the other families related by blood to Peresca and go to war.’
The woman was shrewd enough to know that. She was a fox seasoned enough to bite a wolf’s neck.
“Please officially declare your abdication of the crown princess candidate position.”
Therefore, the empress’s threats were limited to me.
“Of course, you will refrain from any private meetings with the crown prince from now on. You can’t make excuses for unsavory rumors. What do you think? I don’t think this is an irrational deal.”
‘You’re trying to set people up in a cowardly way and discuss irrationality?’
I wanted to curse, but I bit the inside of my cheek hard to swallow the words. The taste of fishy iron lingered in my mouth.
“… I will accept that proposal. So please give me back my brother.”
The tip of my words trembled a little, so I closed my eyes to hide the pain.
***
I wanted to get out of the palace as soon as possible.
I felt like the dirty, sticky, unpleasant air was hanging on me.
I walked down the hallway with a great stride, abandoning all the elegance a young lady should possess.
“Princess.”
What caught me was Yulika’s voice from behind me.
As I looked back, Yulika trembled at my gaze. She was frightened by my anger.
But now I did not pity her.
I didn’t know the price of sympathizing with her would be so great.
“What is it?”
Yulika opened and closed her mouth at my biting tone.
But soon, she looked at me with a glare as if she were determined.
“You don’t have to be upset, do you? You have everything.”
“… I beg your pardon?”
“I have been educated to become the crown princess since birth. I have nothing but this.”
In a trembling voice, Yulika began to make absurd excuses.
“But you have everything, don’t you? Even if you’re not by His Highness’ side, you know how to raise your honor.”
“So, there’s nothing I have to be upset about?”
“It wasn’t easy for me to make this decision either. But—”
“My lady.”
Slowly, I took a step closer to Yulika.
Yulika was startled and took a step back. But since her stride was shorter than mine, soon I was looking down at Yulika.
“Are you asking for my understanding? Me, who has been harmed because of you?”
Because she could not hide, Yulika froze like a rabbit in front of a wild beast.
“Don’t pretend your cowardice and injustice can’t be helped. No matter what reason you put it on, the trash you’ve committed won’t go away.”
“Are you bluffing to the end?”
Yulika became furious at my venomous remarks and shot at me.
“You lost. That’s all. I’m the one who’s going to take your position.”
“So, are you happy?”
“Of course.”
“Then why did you run out to make excuses for me?”
“That’s—”
Yulika finally avoided my gaze. Her words blurred in the end, not a complete proper sentence.
“Yulika Brande.”
I whispered her name.
Yulika looked up in surprise as if she had caught fire. Yulika’s eyes glistened.
“I do not forgive people who touch what is mine without my permission.”
“W-What do you mean—”
I whispered into Yulika’s ear.
“Take good care of my man for now. I’ll take him back anyway.”
Yulika’s shoulders trembled. Her face was white as if she were terrified.
I never get angry easily.
But if you make me angry, you’ll have to pay the price.
I turned and left the hallway, leaving Yulika frozen.
***
Leonard returned to the mansion three days later.
It seemed that it had been concluded that there had been a misunderstanding due to the communication problem, and it was not theft. There was not a mention of who the person involved was.
The day Leonard was due home.
I gathered my knees together on a chair drawn to the terrace and gazed endlessly at the entrance to the mansion.
The thin negligee fluttered in the cold wind that signaled the beginning of winter.
“My lady, you will catch a cold.”
“It’s okay. It’s not cold.”
Agoth and Bessie took turns trying to convince me several times, but I refused both of them.
To be honest, I thought I could be cool only if I were hit by a cold wind.
However, Agoth, who came for the fourth time, did not leave the terrace. She quietly approached me, knelt on the floor, and leaned on my leg.
“What’s wrong?”
“It’s just- You look cold.”
Agoth smiled and said. What are you talking about, I muttered, and smiled bitterly too.
“What will happen in the future? Are you not going to the palace anymore?”
“I will continue to take care of the training of the Knights Order trainees, so I won’t return to my hometown.”
“What about His Highness?”
Caesar…
He told me to wait until he was strong enough to protect me.
What is he doing now?
Am I suffering and lamenting over the fact that I couldn’t protect Leonard?
I don’t know.
If I think too much, the turbulence in my heart will grow stronger, and I will not be able to bear it.
“Ah, my lady, look. It’s the young master.”
Agoth got up from her seat and shouted. I, too, got up from my chair and walked to the patio railing.
Leonard was just getting out of the carriage. Kegor, the butler, grabbed Leonard as if supporting him.
“He’s lost a lot of weight… Oh, my lady!”
I immediately ran out of the room and towards the first floor hall.
Barefoot and wearing a negligee, without dignity. But I didn’t care. The blanket over my shoulders had also fallen somewhere in the hallway, but I didn’t stop.
Leonard was already in the hall when I ran down the stairs to the first floor.
“Brother!”
Leonard, talking with the butler, turned to me at my shout.
He looked as neat as usual. He still had kind eyes and soft lips. However, he seemed a little thin.
“Helena.”
I ran straight to Leonard and hugged him.
“Hey, Helena. You’ll catch a cold in this outfit, right?”
Leonard hugged me in a voice that had not changed at all. That made me feel emotional somehow.
Leonard took me out of his embrace, took off his coat, and put it over me.
“You must have been worried.”
“Of course. What did they say?”
“It’s alright. Starting tomorrow, I will also return to the Knights Order.”
“That fast?”
“Yeah. Everything is fine except that the relationship between the Red and White Knights has gotten worse than before.”
Leonard said with a smile. It seemed like he told me to smile, so I forced myself to smile.
‘I’m glad you’re back safely.’
I felt relieved now that I had seen him with my own eyes.
And I was even more determined.
‘I have to protect it.’
I will become stronger
To protect my loved ones.
So that my loved ones don’t get hurt.
And.
To bring back the one I love.