Once a month, the retainers would gather to deliver regular reports on the Marquisate’s various business affairs.
As always, I sat through it with a bored face, yawning exaggeratedly, only to shut my mouth promptly when I caught Molga’s disapproving glare.
“I’ve heard the Emperor’s mania grows worse by the day. Marchioness, whom do you plan to support as the next emperor?”
At the long-serving baron’s question, I let out a soft nasal sigh.
Feigning disinterest as I spun my pen, I still listened closely to their conversation.
“But there’s no viable candidate. No one stands out clearly enough to support. Would you back a collateral relative with imperial blood, or a mere six-year-old prince?”
“This may just be talk between us, but the imperial family is thoroughly corrupt.”
Each remark echoed my own thoughts. I couldn’t help nodding in agreement.
I knew all too well that once the retainers got going on the doomed future of the empire, the conversation could drag on forever. Propping my chin up, I drifted into thought.
‘Theo would never kill me.’
That was something I’d worked hard for, ever since I realized this world was from a novel.
‘You can tell just by the way he treats me.’
True, it was partly the fruit of all my efforts to avoid dying by his hands—but truthfully, it was inevitable. Even if that hadn’t been the case, I could never have been cruel to Theo.
He’d been beautiful and adorable from the moment he could walk—any other noble family’s children paled in comparison.
Ah, the power of the male lead buff.
And more than anything, Theo was such a sweet child. Even if I hadn’t known anything, I would’ve tried to be a good older sister to him.
And no, it wasn’t just because of his face.
Arms folded, I nodded to myself. Suddenly, a conversation from last night over dinner with Theo came to mind.
He was about to graduate top of his class from the academy—a proud moment for him, and for me, his sister.
I had to give him a worthy gift.
After all, I was the famed wealthiest person in the empire—the Marchioness of Metheisa, no less.
I wanted to give him something truly special.
“I can’t help but be worried.”
“Quite aside from justification, there’s no successor ready to replace the Emperor.”
“No heir, huh…”
Snapping out of my musings, I realized they were still going on about the imperial crisis.
The last retainer’s remark sparked a flash of inspiration.
A slow smile crept across my lips.
“That will be all for today’s meeting.”
“Pardon? But there are still unresolved matters, Marchioness.”
“We’ll discuss those later. There’s something urgent I must attend to.”
I felt Molga eyeing me with suspicion, her narrow gaze sharp. I waved her off.
Lately, my biggest concern had been Theo’s graduation gift. I had finally narrowed down the list.
I was practically humming to myself.
ִֶָ___________𓂃 ࣪˖ ִִֶֶָﾒ ་༘࿐__________
“There’s an old saying, you know.”
Anton clicked his tongue at me, clearly exasperated.
Unfazed, I calmly wiped the blood off the imperial crown with my sleeve.
“History calls those who fail traitors—but those who succeed, heroes.”
Anton simply shrugged in response. I wasn’t looking for a reply anyway.
My gaze lingered on the sword that had pierced the Emperor’s heart.
“To think you committed treason just to give your brother the Emperor’s throne as a graduation gift… I knew you were reckless, Marchioness, but now I’m starting to think you’re actually insane.”
Anton couldn’t hold back a sigh.
He kept muttering behind me, but I was too focused to catch it.
“This is how we save the empire. If we let that idiot continue to rule, we’d be ruined in no time—especially with no heir in sight.”
“If only he’d stayed quiet.”
“And it’s not treason if we succeeded. It’s a revolution.”
Once the blood was wiped clean, I lifted the now-spotless crown and beamed.
Anton sighed and swiftly gave a few orders to the knights.
‘The infamous Lizebrion, known for her ruthlessness—what difference does one more corpse make?’
That’s probably what he was thinking.
But I had no idea.
No idea just how far-reaching the consequences of that casual thought would be. Once the Emperor was dead, everything began to change.
Theo, who had just graduated early at the top of his class, clutched his head the moment he heard the news.
“I did say I’d love any gift from you, but…”
“But?”
“You’re telling me you can’t make it to my graduation because… you were out executing the Emperor?”
Theo gave me a crooked smile.
“You said you’d love any gift I gave you! Do you even realize how much effort I put into this? How insanely busy I was?”
I fired back indignantly, but Theo just stared at me like he was trying to determine if I’d finally lost my mind.
That look was all too familiar. I could only roll my eyes and look away.
“I wasn’t expecting anything ordinary, but…”
I pretended not to hear Theo mutter under his breath.
To be fair, I had multiple reasons for doing it. To secure my own future, to save the empire—two birds, one stone.
And Theo didn’t even appreciate it.
All this was for our happy future together.
Theo groaned and rubbed his temples.
“Theo, I prepared this gift just for you. Won’t you accept it?”
“Sister…”
He looked at me like he truly believed I’d gone insane.
As he let out a deep sigh, I did my best to coax him.
“You were made for absolute power.”
“…”
“Emperor Theo. It sounds amazing.”
“…Do you mean that?”
“Hm?”
“Do you really think I suit the role?”
Despite having protested so much earlier, Theo now looked almost serious.
Worried he might suddenly change his mind, I quickly nodded.
“Of course! You’re the best, Theo!”
To hell with it—I threw up double thumbs as his mouth twitched at the corners.
“You think I look cool?”
“Is that even a question? No one’s ever looked better in the imperial crown than you!”
“…Fine. I’ll do it.”
Yes! That’s what I’m talking about. My gift of the throne finally has meaning now.
Convincing Theo was easier than I thought.
He tries to act all reluctant, but he’s surprisingly weak to flattery.
He did mutter something about the throne being a hassle, but I ignored it.
My sweet Theo wouldn’t dare turn down the imperial throne I handed him.
“Theo, congratulations on graduating.”
“Thanks… Sister.”
His face still looked unsure—like he hadn’t quite come to terms with this.
Worried he’d back out, I gestured to the attendants waiting nearby.
The coronation for the new emperor, Theo, was about to begin.
With the imperial throne vacant, anxiety among the people would only grow.
To stabilize the empire and avoid gossip, Theo needed to be crowned immediately.
As I gave the signal, Theo looked on the verge of tears.
He seemed to realize he couldn’t back out now, not after what he’d said.
As the attendants “escorted” him away—well, respectfully dragged him off—I waved cheerfully.
See you in a bit.
“You really pulled it off, Marchioness Metheisa.”
With Theo gone and the coronation prep underway, someone entered the emperor’s office unannounced.
Since I had killed the Emperor, I was also acting on behalf of the crown.
Annoyed at the lack of warning, I frowned and turned my head.
“Count Aos?”
“I came in shock after hearing the news. The high-ranking nobles are all equally stunned.”
The moment I recognized him, my scowl deepened.
Count Aos was one of the top five people I hated dealing with.
I led the aristocratic faction now, but Count Aos had been its previous leader—a conservative through and through.
We both opposed the Emperor, but that was where our agreement ended. We clashed on nearly everything else.
I represented reform; he represented tradition.
“What’s so hard to accept? I’m the one who led the revolution, not you lot, who just grumbled and hesitated.”
Count Aos let out a hearty laugh—probably fake—then nodded with a pale face.
“Indeed. And now you’re placing your own brother on the throne.”
“You’re here to object to my rebellion?”
I casually reached for my sword, ready to strike. Count Aos raised his hands and shook his head.
“Your brother is well-known throughout the empire. No one doubts his ability. But…”
“But?”
“Today may sow the seeds of future disaster.”
Ugh, that sly old snake.
Just hearing his voice was exhausting.
The vagueness of his words made me wary, but I kept my smile firmly in place.
“Then that disaster will be an enemy of Metheisa.”
“To end one imperial line and start another is no simple task.”
“Your warning is noted. But if your advice turns into a threat, know that the new royal house will treat it seriously.”
Count Aos laughed again, but his eyes were anything but amused. The whole interaction left a bitter taste in my mouth.
“I look forward to the coronation. I hear it’ll be quite grand, despite the short notice—as if it were planned all along.”
“Revolutions don’t happen overnight.”
Now openly annoyed, I sat down and crossed my legs.
Despite being far older, Count Aos had to bow to me thanks to my status—and it must’ve stung his pride.
But he didn’t flinch, only smiling faintly.
“May the sun god guide the future of Prios.”
Taking the hint, Count Aos turned and left without looking back.
Yeah, he was definitely here just to get under my skin.
‘The backlash is weaker than expected… but for Count Aos, my sworn nemesis, to just walk away quietly?’
There had to be more going on.
The image of Theo, wearing the imperial robes and ruling from this office with sexy authority, vanished from my mind thanks to that damn wrinkled old tiger.
Feeling uneasy, I watched Count Aos’s retreating back for a long, long time.
