Chapter 120
<Epilogue 2>
At last, it was Kyle’s turn.
Perhaps thanks to the scolding I gave the chief attendant’s butler, Kyle came directly to the ducal residence instead of summoning me to the Imperial Palace.
“I pay my respects to the Sun of the Empire.”
As Kyle stepped down from his carriage, I greeted him while waiting in front of the mansion. Unlike when I dealt with the chief attendant’s butler, I had dressed myself with utmost care before standing before him.
From the moment he arrived, there was uncertainty written across his face. It seemed he had properly heard the story from the chief attendant’s butler. My behavior wasn’t something the Eileen he knew would ever display, so he must have found it strange. No matter how stiff the original Eileen in the novel was, she wasn’t someone who would order the Emperor around like that.
We moved to the reception room, and the Emperor took the seat of honor, guided by a maid. Leaning back arrogantly, he asked,
“It is good to see you again. Have you been well?”
This time, I resolved not to treat him kindly, but to say what needed to be said clearly and firmly.
“Well? I was kidnapped and dragged around, so of course it was difficult. It’s always hard when you leave home, isn’t it?”
I answered softly with a bright smile. Deliberately using blunt, straightforward words that clashed with my gentle tone seemed to shock him—Kyle stared blankly for a moment.
“R-right? Still, it is fortunate you returned home safely.”
“That was only possible because the kidnapper let me go. If the kidnapper had truly been a bad person, wouldn’t I already be dead?”
“…”
Kyle wore a foolish expression once more—this time even his mouth hung open. Even the chief attendant standing beside him failed to correct me, his own mouth agape.
“I shall invite you to the Imperial Palace next time.”
With only those words, Kyle hurriedly left the estate without even looking back. He was normally the type to assess others and calculate how to act, but my completely unpredictable behavior seemed to have thoroughly flustered him.
“It’s been a while, Eileen.”
It was Adrien. Just like his first appearance, he suddenly showed up and waited for me in the ducal garden. This time, I decided to remove my mask and drop the act entirely.
“Hi, Adrien? Seeing you makes me crave Harine Dessert after so long.”
“H-huh?”
“Let’s get Mother’s permission and go out together.”
“S-shall we?”
Before he knew it, Adrien was being led by my hand into the city. Harine Dessert was bustling as always with maids and servants running errands.
“I want to eat everything from here to there, so you’re buying it all.”
Sitting down, I propped my chin on my hand and grinned. I had always wanted to experience saying, “We’ll take everything here!” at least once.
Adrien looked flustered at my order, hesitated, then went to the counter. Soon after, desserts began to fill our table without a single gap. I cheered as I watched the desserts pile up into a mountain. Not only the nearby tables but even those waiting in line turned to stare.
“Can you eat all that?”
“If there’s leftovers, we’ll wrap them up.”
Brandishing my fork flamboyantly, I charged at the desserts. In reality, I would have been too stingy to do such a thing—but since this was a dream, I boldly indulged.
Whether in dreams or reality, eating is the best!
The last person I had been waiting for was Niyan. Just like in reality, after hearing Claire’s words, I went with Coa to visit the fortune teller.
“Welcome. I’ve been expecting you.”
Though his face was partly hidden by a cloak, the fortune teller who welcomed me was clearly Niyan. Knowing his identity gave me the confidence to lead the conversation.
“Coa. Could you wait outside for a moment?”
“Yes. Understood.”
After Coa stepped out, Niyan spoke as if surprised.
“I thought you would keep her by your side. You are quite perceptive.”
“Of course. Niyan Olivertz.”
“…!!”
The moment I spoke his name, Niyan’s eyes widened as far as they could go in shock.
“How do you know my name…?”
“I’m a transmigrator. I can see through everything.”
How does it feel? To be on the receiving end?
Seeing the man who used to tease me now flustered and scrambling was deeply satisfying. I went straight to the point.
“Stop fooling around and serve me.”
“Why should I do that?”
Trying to protect his pride as a great mage, Niyan shot me a rebellious glare. But no matter how much he tried to act superior, he was still in the palm of my hand.
“Because I have healing power.”
“Healing power?”
“I can undo the tremendous curses cast by the Magic Tower.”
“What?”
It must have sounded unbelievable.
The suspicious mage raised his hand to verify it. A crimson light resembling a drop of blood shot toward me—only to fizzle out immediately. Niyan’s shoulders trembled even more dramatically.
“I-it’s true!”
Oh? Good thing it can be confirmed right away.
“I shall become Eileen’s loyal servant.”
He immediately knelt from his chair. Crossing my arms, I nodded in approval.
Unlike in reality, where I had carefully watched my steps, here I did whatever I wanted, and the story progressed quickly and conveniently.
Yet what I didn’t quite understand was why Kyle continued to linger around me. Actually, it wasn’t just Kyle. Raymond, of course, and even Adrien and Niyan—all of them.
Was it because I was leading too strongly, dragging them along by force? Somehow, I ended up playing them in the palm of my hand. It was almost like—yes, building a reverse harem.
Even if I die, I’m a pursuer of one-and-only. There’s only Raymond for me—so what is wrong with all of you?
“Your Majesty. Please stop calling for me. I’m exhausted from going in and out of the Imperial Palace.”
“If we marry, that trouble will lessen.”
“….”
Even though I openly grumbled, Kyle, seemingly having thrown away his pride somewhere, fluttered his shining blond hair and gently coaxed me. His shameless face was so thick I almost pressed it with my finger.
“Adrien. Stop coming. I told you, there’s only Raymond for me.”
“You were engaged to His Majesty before! And now it’s the Grand Duke? If you’re going to have everything, let me join too!”
Even after my firm refusal, Adrien whined stubbornly.
“I’m not the Eileen you knew. Don’t cling to me.”
“That doesn’t matter!”
For a moment, I was tempted to just blurt out that I was transmigrated. But judging by Adrien’s state, it seemed nothing I said would work.
The same went for Niyan.
“Niyan.”
“Yes, Lady Eileen.”
“Why are you taking me on continent tours every night?”
“In this world, who can truly see every corner of the continent? I do it all for Lady Eileen’s enjoyment.”
Under the pretext of giving me trips, Niyan would appear and teleport me across the continent. Being able to traverse vast distances in the blink of an eye—cost-performance wise, it was probably the best in the world.
Yes, I’ll admit that.
But why do I have to do it with you?
If you did it together with Raymond, I’d sincerely praise you.
Despite my displeased expression, he didn’t so much as twitch an eyebrow. He clearly knew my thoughts and was pretending not to.
The four of them visited the ducal residence in turns. Strangely, their routes and times never overlapped. If Kyle summoned me during the day, Adrien would come the next day during the day. If Raymond visited at night, Niyan would appear the following night. As I dealt with all four without much thought, I naturally ended up spending roughly equal amounts of time with each of the three.
And eventually, that caused a problem.
One day, as if by a lie, the four of them faced each other at the same time and place. It was sometime between evening and night, on the terrace of my room. Kyle, Raymond, Adrien, Niyan—and me. A so-called five-person confrontation.
“Raymond. What brings you here?”
Kyle, entering through the room, cast a wary look at Raymond standing beside me.
“Your Majesty should ask himself. To barge into a young lady’s room without knocking at such an hour.”
“I came because I was concerned for Eileen’s safety.”
“Isn’t Your Majesty the greatest danger?”
As the two bickered, wind stirred in the empty space of the terrace and Niyan appeared. He arrived with a relaxed expression, but froze upon spotting Kyle and Raymond.
“Sir Olivertz. What brings you here?”
“Ah, I….”
“Ha. Anyone can just come, it seems. Is this some kind of plaza?”
Raymond openly mocked them.
But that wasn’t the end. Through the door Kyle had left open, the final figure entered.
“Eileen—huh!”
It was Adrien.
The four of them glared at one another warily. Without words, it was clear what each of them wanted—and that their target overlapped perfectly.
My head started to ache, but at the same time, I thought perhaps this was for the best. If I declared my heart here and now, everything could be neatly settled.
“Everyone, listen carefully. I’ve said it several times already, but I’ll say it one last time. There’s only Raymond for me!”
With a loud, bold declaration, I clung tightly to Raymond’s arm. Raymond wore an utterly satisfied smile, while the other three’s expressions darkened in complete contrast. Contrary to my expectations, the atmosphere began turning hostile.
“Eileen. You are mine.”
“Lady Eileen. I cannot give up.”
“Eileen! I’ve known you the longest. Is this how it is?”
Kyle, Niyan, and Adrien growled as they each stepped forward.
Weren’t they supposed to give up in disappointment?
Then, one by one, they drew swords from their waists. Shing. Real blades gleamed in the moonlight.
“Nooo!”
I spread my arms wide and stood in front of Raymond. Squeezing my eyes shut, I resolved to protect my favorite with my life—whether in reality or in dreams.
Then suddenly, I felt a hand stroking my head. The softness felt pleasant, and I slowly opened my eyes.
The dim terrace had vanished, replaced by brilliant light pouring down. The sudden brightness dazzled me. I, who had been standing on the terrace, was now lying on white bed sheets. And beside me, Raymond was looking down at me.
“Good morning. My Empress.”
His gentle greeting tickled my heart. Bathed in sunlight, he shone brilliantly.
Yes. I had finally become Empress—by the side of my favorite, my love, Raymond.
No matter how many men love me, it brings me no joy. I need only this one person.
“Raymond.”
Thank goodness I had awakened from the dream.
I wrapped my arms around his neck and smiled—brighter even than the sunlight shining down upon us.
