CHAPTER 54………….
The carriage sped toward the Third Prince’s palace.
In just a little while, the guild to be added to the Great Plaza construction would be selected.
I could already picture how much Leonhart would hate seeing me show up uninvited.
‘Leona, it’s not like I enjoy meeting you either. Thanks to seeing you stark naked just a few hours ago, I’m still dying of discomfort.’
But what could I do? The author demanded I attend.
The intention was obvious.
‘They plan to use me somehow to push Fabius into joining the plaza construction.’
Only if Marquis Molton thrived could Bianca grow steadily into a fine villain.
In any novel, the stronger the villain, the more entertaining the story—because that makes the protagonist shine brighter.
And that was precisely why I had no intention of moving according to the author’s plan.
‘There’s no reason I should help Marquis Molton, is there?’
He was doing just fine already. Why should I bother?
From now on, I would become the villain to the villain.
With all of Adrian’s foul temper, wealth, and power.
So that someday Piace could defeat the villain more easily.
‘Sure, the story will lose some fun, but so what. This novel is ruined anyway.’
For the first time, I felt at peace—like I had finally found my true role here.
I drew the curtain across the carriage window and closed my eyes.
Moments later, Luna, who had accompanied me as an attendant, spoke carefully.
“My lord, we have arrived at the Third Prince’s palace.”
The moment I entered the audience chamber, everyone fell silent as if on cue.
By now, I was so used to it that I didn’t care.
I strode leisurely toward Leonhart, then froze.
‘W-what the—!?’
Beneath his suit, I could almost see the perfect pectorals and violently carved abs.
‘Ughhh, get out of my head!’
I squeezed my eyes shut to erase the image.
Meanwhile, Leonhart strode toward me with a look of sheer irritation.
‘Unbelievable. When I was a crow, you were nibbling and kissing like crazy… No, stop it! Don’t remember the feel of his lips!’
He stopped in front of me, puzzled.
“Are you unwell?”
“No, not at all.”
“Your face is flushed.”
“…It’s just a bit warm.”
“Is that so?”
He replied indifferently, then frowned again.
“But why are you here?”
[Step 2: (with a mocking look) Strange. I only came according to schedule—am I to be interrogated for that?]
“Your Highness, I only came according to schedule. There’s no reason for interrogation.”
“And how did you learn the schedule?”
“Of course I confirmed it with your aide. Isn’t that information I should naturally know as your advisor?”
“I wonder if it was truly the construction schedule you wanted to know… or my personal schedule.”
His words implied: Weren’t you prying into my life? You’re basically a stalker.
I had been waiting for that subject to come up. Perfect.
“Your Highness, have you heard that I’m looking for a fiancé?”
“I did hear such a ridiculous rumor.”
“It’s no rumor. It’s a fact. I’ll soon have a fiancé.”
“…You’re really recruiting a fiancé publicly?”
“Why not? It’s a very efficient way to save time and effort, isn’t it?”
Leonhart narrowed his eyes, scrutinizing me.
“After obsessing like a madman, now suddenly a fiancé? Did you take some strange medicine?”
“No, I am perfectly sane.”
“I doubt that… You should see your physician.”
“Anyway, it’s true I’ll be getting engaged. That much you should know.”
Leonhart leaned close, a mocking smile tugging his lips, and whispered.
“So you’re using this engagement as a distraction. What trick are you planning now? Do you think I don’t see through you?”
“Believe what you like. But one thing I’ll say with certainty—”
I met his eyes squarely, emphasizing each word.
“I. Have. No. Interest. In. You. Marriage is, of course, not even on the table. Not at all. Not a shred.”
“……”
“Even if Your Highness begged me to marry, I wouldn’t.”
Leonhart’s expression shifted oddly. I had expected him to be overjoyed, but… strange.
‘He still doesn’t believe me?’
Well, after twelve years of stalking, could he really take my word at face value?
“Shall I put it in writing?”
“…Are you serious?”
“If I break that vow, I’ll surrender all of Yvrante’s property to you and resign as family head. How about that?”
“Then why did you bother drafting a plan to interfere in the plaza construction?”
“To be honest…”
I had been about to say it wasn’t for that reason at all—that I only wanted to prevent the statue project.
[Step 2: (with a lofty smile) Did I expect to become an advisor with one simple proposal? The mistake was underestimating myself. I only accepted humbly.]
“…I never expected to become an advisor with just one proposal. It was my error, so I only took responsibility.”
Leonhart studied my eyes closely, as if trying to peel away the mask and uncover the truth.
Still skeptical.
I shrugged. Someday, when I got engaged to another man, he would believe it.
[Step 3: (as if it just occurred to you, casually) By the way, have you decided which guild to select?]
“By the way, have you decided which guild to select?”
“So that’s why you came… If you’re here to lobby for one, don’t bother.”
“I had no thought of—”
[Step 3: (glancing toward Marquis Molton) Not lobbying, but as an advisor, can’t I offer a useful opinion?]
‘…Where even is Marquis Molton?’
At least point him out before giving me such a directive.
Of course, I had prepared for this. Before coming, I had asked Sylph to mark him somehow if she spotted him.
Since I’d planted wind inside Bianca and Molton’s bedroom, Sylph knew his exact appearance.
I turned my head toward the gathered nobles, waiting for Sylph’s sign.
Just then, a strong gust blew in through the window, sweeping across the audience hall.
“Ahhh!”
A cry rang out as everyone turned their heads.
A middle-aged man, bald scalp dripping with sweat, was desperately chasing after his wig blown away by the wind.
That was Marquis Molton.
‘Nice, Sylph.’
I tore my gaze away and followed the directive.
“Not lobbying, but as an advisor, can’t I at least offer a useful opinion?”
No matter how I played innocent, it was impossible to fool Leonhart’s sharp eyes.
Catching on that I had spotted Molton, he openly sneered.
“Is Fabius the one you’re lobbying for?”
[Step 3: (with a haughty expression) Of course not. I recently cut ties with Fabius due to an unfortunate incident.]
‘Huh?’
Why tell Leonhart that?
It was like I was emphasizing my bad terms with Fabius…
‘Ah! That’s the point. As long as I have no ties to Fabius, Leonhart can choose him freely.’
In other words, Fabius was among the finalists, and apparently the strongest contender.
Strong enough that Leonhart would select him—if not for any ties to me.
A new directive flashed insistently.
[Step 3: (as if it’s obvious) Of course not. I recently cut ties with Fabius due to an unfortunate incident.]
“Of course not. I recently cut ties with Fabius due to an unfortunate incident.”
“…I see.”
Leonhart let the words hang.
Since I had personally declared my lack of connection to Fabius, he was now wavering.
The chance of him selecting Fabius was probably 90%.
‘Looks like I really am pushing Fabius forward with my own hands.’
Honestly, that was unexpected.
I thought the author would order me to blatantly support him.
‘Guess the author can scheme a little after all.’
Not what I anticipated, but I wasn’t panicked.
Because I knew Leonhart wasn’t simple enough to fall for such tricks.
“Your Highness, I have something to tell you.”
“If it concerns the guilds, don’t bother. I won’t listen.”
“I wasn’t going to mention any specific guild. I only wanted to share a method of spotting swindlers.”
“Swindlers?”
“Yes. Taxes meant to celebrate His Majesty’s birth shouldn’t end up in a conman’s pocket, should they?”
Leonhart’s expression shifted.
“…Go on.”
“The guild being chosen is for the greenhouse section of the plaza. Naturally, Your Highness reviewed guilds with experience in greenhouse construction?”
“That’s correct.”
“You must also have their past proposals for reference. Have you checked those?”
“I did, but nothing stood out.”
“And when you compared proposals from projects of similar scale, no discrepancies?”
I sensed a flicker of unease in Leonhart. He hadn’t gone that far.
“The budget itself isn’t useful—ignore it. Instead, pick a single detail category to focus on. You’ll likely spot something odd in labor costs or basic materials. That’s where tricks are easiest.”
It was a classic embezzlement method: inflating labor or material costs several times higher for a project of the same scale.
Leonhart checked the time, then quietly called Esir and whispered something.
I couldn’t catch it, but it was probably to delay the announcement.
After receiving his order, Esir stepped forward to address the crowd.
“Attention, please. Due to procedural issues, the announcement has been postponed. We ask everyone to return in two hours.”
Murmurs of dissatisfaction rose.
But no one dared complain directly before Leonhart.
Not even Marquis Molton.
He lingered near us with an anxious face, but in the end left with the others.
As he was about to exit last, Leonhart suddenly turned back to me.
“Perhaps…”
“Yes, Your Highness?”
“If you’re not busy, could you help me?”
Bingo.
I smiled gently.
“That, Your Highness, is precisely the advisor’s role.”
