Chapter 5
“……”
I was summoned separately to the Emperor’s reception room.
The reason was obvious.
I had nearly turned the Crown Prince of the Empire into a eunuch right in front of the Emperor.
‘That bastard Ulysses, who does he think he is, going off to get treated like he’s the victim?’
I’m going to be executed soon anyway. He should’ve stayed a eunuch.
Ugh, what a waste.
As I sat on the sofa grumbling to myself, a warm cup of tea was placed in front of me.
Was it just my imagination? Reality suddenly hit me hard.
‘Is this cup of tea… my last supper?’
If they’re going to give me a last supper, couldn’t they have made it a bit nicer?
Despite my grumbling, I couldn’t bring myself to touch the tea and just stared at the floor.
Then, the Emperor gave an order.
“Lady, look at me now.”
“……”
“Go on. It’s alright.”
Is “it’s alright” his way of saying do you know your sin?
My feet figuratively frozen in fear, I bowed deeply and replied.
“I have committed a grave sin deserving of death.”
Honestly, I didn’t think it was that grave. He attacked first. But unfortunately, my opponent happened to be the Empire’s one and only Crown Prince.
I was bracing for the wrath to come when the Emperor said something unexpected.
“It’s not a sin worth dying for. More importantly, Lady, how’s your wrist?”
“…Huh? Ah.”
I belatedly raised my head and looked at my wrist. Ulysses had grabbed it so hard that a clear bruise had formed. No wonder the Emperor brought it up.
‘If I go home like this, it’s going to set off a worry bomb.’
Especially the Duke. He’s going to lose it.
‘Wait… why am I worried? I’m going to die soon anyway.’
But the Emperor spoke again, with a surprisingly apologetic expression.
“Ulysses really did grab you hard. He’s my son, but he still has many flaws.”
I blinked rapidly in disbelief. Was the Emperor always like this?
The version of the Emperor I knew from the original novel was incredibly strict. Especially toward the Crown Prince. Ulysses had suffered from a lack of affection since childhood. That’s why he’d become obsessed with Dalia, who overflowed with maternal warmth.
“Your wrist must hurt. I’ll summon a healer for you right away.”
The Emperor’s expression looked sincere as he spoke.
Had he… transmigrated too, like me?
I couldn’t believe something like that would happen to someone else too—but otherwise, I couldn’t explain his attitude.
Suspicious, I shook my head.
“No, thank you. Your concern is more than enough honor.”
“Duke Prabice must be worried.”
Ah, so that was it.
My suspicion vanished instantly. The Prabice family had enough wealth and power to even challenge the imperial family.
I raised the corners of my lips and shook my head again.
“It’s fine. But may I humbly ask that His Highness the Crown Prince refrain from acting out again?”
“Of course. I’m sorry for today.”
“Your Majesty need not apologize. Please, take back your words.”
The Emperor nodded, seemingly satisfied with my answer. Then he leaned back into the sofa and changed the topic.
“By the way, I hear you made Lady Hebe cry. And even ruined a hat she had bought for me.”
Wait, what? I ruined a hat she bought for the Emperor?
I opened my mouth, ready to defend myself, but—
“How very thoughtful of you. I didn’t even like that hat Hebe brought me.”
“…Excuse me?”
“Flowers and ribbons? How childish. And yellow? My taste is far more refined than that. She almost insulted me.”
I stood frozen in shock.
What… what was going on?
Then I remembered—this woman would be Dalia’s future mother-in-law.
And what is the enemy of my enemy?
Exactly. My friend.
‘Maybe she’s… a good person?’
That fragile hope was shattered with her next words.
“I’m so glad we have you, Lady. A wild man like Ulysses needs a strong woman to keep him in line.”
Damn it. Of course.
In Evelyn’s life, aside from luck with money and family, she had nothing going for her.
“He’s just foolish and clinging to Hebe right now. Time will fix that. If it comes down to it, I’ll force the engagement—”
“Ah, no. Really, it’s quite alright!”
I almost screamed and frantically waved my hands.
An engagement to the Crown Prince? What a nightmare.
‘I’ll never marry! I’m going to live with Mom and Dad forever!’
When did I decide that? Yesterday—while shopping with Henry.
The Emperor looked disappointed.
“Why? Didn’t you like Ulysses so much?”
Well, yes. Evelyn did.
I started thinking quickly.
This Emperor was essentially the ultimate matchmaker. She was determined to see me and Ulysses get together.
And she was trying to use our marriage to fix her son’s emotional instability and behavioral issues.
She wouldn’t believe me if I simply said I’d changed my mind.
‘I didn’t want to resort to this, but…’
I put on a wistful expression and spoke softly.
“In truth… the day His Highness rejected me, someone else proposed to me.”
“…What?”
The Emperor leaned forward in shock, clearly caught off guard. Her reaction made it easier for me to play along.
“He gave me a beautiful bouquet of roses and a ring. Things even the Crown Prince never gave me. I felt so happy—he truly seemed to love me.”
I glanced wistfully out the window, then turned back and smiled brightly at the Emperor.
“So, I decided to accept his proposal.”
Watching the Emperor’s stunned face, I thought to myself—
I could make a killing as a con artist.
‘And the moment I get home, I need to find myself a fake fiancé.’
If I get caught this time, it’s the death penalty for sure.
Maybe I’ll offer a salary… something like enough to buy a mansion every month.
Meanwhile, at the Imperial Palace’s Magic Tower…
Dalia was anxiously biting her nails.
‘Why haven’t I heard anything yet?’
After bumping into Evelyn and her father at the boutique, Dalia had taken the ruined hat and gone straight to Ulysses, her eyes brimming with tears.
Then she had said just one line—
“It was a gift for His Majesty the Emperor… and now it’s ruined.”
Simple-minded Ulysses assumed Evelyn had destroyed the hat. Enraged, he stormed off, telling her to wait.
But a whole day had passed—and still, nothing.
By the time Ulysses knocked on the door to Dalia’s lab, her thumbnail was already shredded to bits.
“Dalia.”
Finally!
She opened the door, heart fluttering.
“Your Highness.”
But something about his expression didn’t match her expectations. He didn’t look happy or angry—just strangely conflicted.
‘Why?’
Surely, he must’ve met Evelyn today. He should be furious, ready to explode.
Even if Evelyn had holed up for a few days, there’s no way she would’ve given up on him so easily.
She must’ve caused a dramatic scene thinking Ulysses had invited her.
And Ulysses should’ve come back completely sick of her.
But what he said next completely defied her expectations.
“Lady Prabice says she doesn’t love me anymore.”
“…What?”
“She kept denying anything about the hat, but either way, she won’t bother you again. Said she doesn’t love me and has no interest in you either.”
“That’s…”
“So you can rest easy now.”
Ulysses pulled Dalia into a hug. As she leaned into his broad chest, she was bewildered.
‘Lady Prabice doesn’t love him anymore?’
Impossible. Evelyn had everything in the world—except Ulysses.
There’s no way someone with such a strong sense of ownership would just give him up.
‘And she mustn’t give him up.’
Dalia clenched her teeth. Then, pushing against his chest with tears in her eyes, she spoke.
“Your Highness, that can’t be. She must’ve only said that because she was in front of you. If that were true, she wouldn’t have humiliated me at the boutique. Even Duke Prabice himself joined in.”
“…What?”
With just one teardrop and a whisper, Ulysses’s fury reignited.
‘Even the Duke got involved?’
Of course he reacted that way. Ulysses had rushed off without even hearing the whole story.
Dalia let her tears flow freely as her shoulders trembled.
“She’ll keep tormenting me… I’m so scared, Your Highness…!”
“Dalia…”
Ulysses’s eyes wavered with sympathy.
Dalia smiled to herself.
So easy to manipulate.
But then Ulysses ran a hand through his hair and muttered in confusion—and Dalia’s smile froze.
“But… Mother said she got engaged to someone else…”
Engaged? What now?
Dalia was surprised for only a moment. Then, she quickly grasped the situation.
‘Ah, so that’s what this is.’
So Evelyn was pulling a jealousy act.
But the more Evelyn tried, the better for Dalia. She clung to Ulysses’s neck.
“With someone like her, buying off a fake fiancé is nothing. It’s definitely a lie.”
“Then are you saying she lied to me and my mother?”
Ulysses’s ears perked up. Dalia didn’t miss the chance to whisper in them.
“If Her Majesty finds out, she’ll be furious. So let’s verify it ourselves first.”
“How?”
“Send an invitation. Tell her to bring her fiancé.”
Evelyn couldn’t regulate her emotions. Even if she brought a fake lover, she’d blow up when she saw the person she truly loved standing beside Dalia.
Dalia smiled sweetly.
