Chapter 34
“Please spare me, Your Highness!”
It was Lilfey.
She looked absolutely miserable.
I thought I’d only told them to drive her out, but she looked as though she’d been severely beaten. Her clothes were in tatters, and she was a complete mess.
“Father?”
The Emperor looked troubled, patting my shoulder as if to guide me away from the scene.
“I never ordered such a punishment. That’s strange. I’ll have to look into it.”
“Don’t do that.”
“Your Majesty! Please! Princess! Your Imperial Majesty! Emperor!”
The knights holding Lilfey clamped their hands over her mouth and dragged her away, but their faces were pale. They looked as though they were terrified of what I might do if I decided to press the matter.
“Stop.”
“Gracie.”
At my gesture, the knights shoved Lilfey’s face into the ground and bowed politely to us.
“Lord Russell came by earlier.”
“Adrian?”
“Yes. He said if I overlooked the harm done to you, there would be other troubles.”
“He said that?”
Then why hasn’t he come to see me himself? What a strange guy.
“Did he suggest killing her as an example?”
“Yes. Wouldn’t that be just?”
“P–please… urgh… please, spare me…!”
The knights pressed Lilfey’s face harder into the floor until her nose began to bleed, staining the marble beneath her.
Lilfey looked up at me with tearful eyes.
I did feel a sense of kinship with her, since she came from an orphanage like I did.
But I had cherished her as one of my own, and she betrayed me. That, I could never forgive.
“Please, hand her over to me. She was my subordinate, after all.”
“I can’t just stand by and let you do something dangerous, my daughter.”
“But haven’t I been doing well lately? I’ve been working hard, behaving well, not causing any trouble.”
“…Still, no.”
That “no” wasn’t what I wanted to hear.
Then something fun came to mind.
“I really have been doing well lately, haven’t I?”
“…”
“Right, Father?”
Lilfey—my traitor.
Lilfey—the pawn of my sister.
It felt too pitiful to just kill her outright. I wanted to give her a chance.
But if she didn’t choose me this time, she wouldn’t survive.
If I kept her by my side, would my sister really leave her alone?
The one who helped ruin my face… the one who could become my sister’s weakness.
Quest! Mirror of Truth II
Find the clue to the curse on Princess Gracie’s face!
▼ The clue is in the Imperial Palace.
Reward: You may add one additional target for the counter-curse.
I could’ve avoided him, but I didn’t. Even if I didn’t want to face him, he was still the imperial strategist.
When I encountered Leonil Graham during audiences with the Emperor, we exchanged only brief greetings. He made me uneasy—but since our work overlapped, I couldn’t avoid him forever.
“So, the tea parties are mainly hosted by my sister, correct?”
“Yes, Her Majesty the Empress has delegated the responsibility to her.”
“The document with the official seal.”
When I motioned for it, Leonil handed it to me expressionlessly.
“Here it is.”
Our eyes met. That same falsely gentle smile appeared on his face. I remembered how I’d been fooled by that face at first—he had the delicate beauty of a fairy.
“Advisor Graham.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
“Don’t you think you owe me an apology?”
Leonil Graham
- Position: Imperial Strategist
- Affection toward Gracie Fletcher Gabriella Bastian: –50%
- Affection toward Kiira Fletcher Gabriella Bastian: +50%
- Affection toward Clayton de Lebois: –99%
When I look at his stats, the status screen seems believable—but when I look at my sister’s, not so much.
“I apologize for the incident the other day.”
“That’s a pretty pathetic apology.”
When I smiled mockingly, he suddenly dropped to his knees. Folding his hands neatly, he looked up at me.
“I sincerely apologize for slandering Your Highness.”
“Then you can stay in that position for the rest of the meeting.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
“Oh, and how about you stay that way until I’ve forgiven you?”
“Understood.”
He acted calm, but it must’ve been humiliating—especially since he was one of my sister’s people.
“By the way, why hasn’t my sister sent me an invitation?”
After the boating incident, she’d stopped inviting me to her gatherings. Outwardly, it was probably because of the ‘suicide stunt’ I supposedly pulled.
But I knew that wasn’t the real reason.
“But last time…”
“Last time, you and my sister pushed me into the river.”
“…Didn’t Your Highness jump in on your own?”
Where the hell is your conscience?!
I leaned my chin on the desk, drumming my fingers. Immediately, Francis drew his sword and pointed it at Leonil.
“It’s strange, isn’t it? I had no desire to die, yet my body moved on its own.”
“I don’t understand what nonsense Your Highness is talking about. Please reflect carefully on your own words.”
“It really is strange.”
Francis watched me closely, awaiting orders. He’d been avoiding my gaze earlier, but now he looked ready to obey any command.
“Let’s say I did jump in on my own—though I didn’t. Why did you and my sister just stand there? As if you knew I was going to fall.”
“…Because Your Highness often pulled bizarre stunts like that.”
Damn it, I can’t even argue with that.
Not that I was trying to prove anything. I had a different goal.
“Anyway, tell my sister to send me an invitation. How could I not be informed when I’ll soon be the Crown Princess?”
“…”
“Answer.”
When Leonil didn’t respond, Francis lightly smacked his jaw with the flat of his sword. His elegant smile twisted for an instant before he restored it.
Just like my sister.
“…Understood.”
Working in the office was both boring and entertaining.
Francis was acting strange today—avoiding eye contact but still trying to get my attention.
Coughing deliberately, picking up a fallen pen for me, handing me things I didn’t ask for.
“Are you cold, Your Highness?”
He’d asked that multiple times. I wasn’t.
“No.”
When our eyes met, I smiled. Ever since learning what Princess Gracie had done, I found it even harder to trust him.
We sat in silence for several minutes. The pen scratched softly against the paper as I read through documents, drew lines, and signed.
“Discard this one.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
Verdin approached to place another stack of documents on my desk.
“It’s been a while since we submitted the aide candidate list.”
“I haven’t found anyone suitable yet.”
That was a lie. I just wanted to keep checking for any updates regarding Leonil, even though it annoyed me. Once I chose a new aide, I’d stop seeing him altogether.
And now that Lilfey was back on my side, my sister definitely wouldn’t stay quiet.
“I’ll prepare a new list, then.”
“Keep everyone not crossed out. Remove the rest.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
Verdin handed the files to Francis, who gave me another document.
“Oh, by the way, this paper smells like roses.”
“The papers sent to Your Highness have been changed.”
“Why?”
“Lord Clayton de Lebois is running a paper business. He said he made this batch especially for you.”
The faint bluish tint was… suspicious.
“I see. Let’s pretend I didn’t hear that. It’ll only make me uncomfortable.”
“Understood.”
It’s my sister’s doing, obviously.
If it’s not mine, there’s no need to care.
My goal isn’t romance—it’s to clear the game!
“You may go.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
As he left, Francis tried to place a stack of papers on my desk. I stood to help him, but he took a step back.
“What’s wrong?”
“Ah, Your Highness… you were too close.”
He’s been so annoying today.
“Fine. I’ll stay over here. Just set them down on the desk.”
I opened the window behind me; a cool breeze flowed in.
“Your Highness.”
“Yes?”
He lowered his gaze as he set the papers down. His bright red lashes trembled slightly—beautifully. The sunlight reflected in his eyes as he looked at me, and it made my heart feel… strange.
“Your Highness… you are heartless.”
What’s with that? Out of nowhere?
He’s the one who hasn’t said a word until now!
Francis Patella
- Position: Captain of the Royal Guard
- Affection toward Gracie Fletcher Gabriella Bastian: 65%
- Affection toward Kiira Fletcher Gabriella Bastian: –10%
- Affection toward Clayton de Lebois: +5%
- Affection toward Adrian Russell: –20% ▼
“Why would you say that all of a sudden?”
I walked slowly toward the terrace railing, and he followed.
“I was… angry.”
About what?
Well, I guess that’s his normal state.
I did ruin his engagement with false rumors, strip him of his title, force him into a post he didn’t want, and shake the faith he had in his idol, Clayton.
But still, why did his fiancée lie that he had an STD? He’s a virgin, for crying out loud.
“I was angry because, Your Highness… uh…”
“Are you crying?”
