CHAPTER 03
The ill-fated connection with that man began two years ago.
“Last night, I received a divine revelation during prayer. Peace will come to the empire only if the late emperor’s coffin is lavishly adorned with Amarantia flowers.”
With the Empress—my stepmother—saying such things, the Crown Prince and the Second Prince were thrown into a state of emergency.
“I’ll get them right away!”
The problem was that Amarantia flowers were the ‘ocean sunfish’ of the plant world.
They died if it was slightly too cold. Died if it was slightly too hot. Died if it was slightly humid. Died if it was slightly dry. Died if you gave them too much attention. Died if you gave them too little attention.
Like their nickname, “flower of the heavens,” they were nearly impossible to grow on Earth.
Even planting the seeds and giving them full care for 100 days might still not guarantee a bloom.
“Your Highness, the Crown Prince. Our family will provide the missing flowers.”
To gain favor, several noble families stepped up. Coincidentally, they all happened to have daughters.
“I heard the revelation was a lie. It’s actually a secret Crown Princess selection.”
Aristina, who had a crush on the Crown Prince, panicked at the rumors.
“I want to try too!” she insisted and somehow got her hands on rare seeds. But growing them proved incredibly difficult.
The celestial flowers all withered and died…
True to her runaway carriage personality, Aristina made a bold decision.
“In that case, let’s raid the ‘Forest of God’!”
“Pardon?”
The “Forest of God” was a sacred sanctuary overseen by the empire’s holy order. There, Amarantia flowers bloomed abundantly.
“Milady! You mustn’t! These flowers are endangered—you absolutely cannot pick them!”
“But didn’t someone get caught picking them once?”
“That was a botanist! Milady, please stop being unreasonable and come out!”
Despite the servants’ protests, Aristina went through with it. And was caught—of all people—by the head of the holy order himself:
Ruellian Lacroix.
“Oh, dear God…”
Aristina’s vision went black.
The Holy Representative. The empire’s only Sacred Spirit Knight commanding all paladins.
Even as a noble lady, Aristina had to respectfully address him as “Your Excellency.”
But far from being a benevolent, pope-like figure, Ruellian acted like a mafia boss—leading a horde of paladins, mercilessly retaliating when his turf was disturbed…
“If you’re going to commit a crime, at least don’t get caught! Of all people…!”
Duke Canel spat blood trying to clean up the mess.
But Ruellian, who had inherited his title young, held equal rank as a duke—and had just as much wealth and power.
He was known to speak bluntly even in front of the Emperor and Empress. One noble girl meant nothing to him.
“Ha! Fine, I give up.”
In the end, Aristina’s father sacrificed a priceless heirloom.
It was a pardon given in exchange for saving starving priests long ago. A one-time-only religious amnesty, no questions asked.
Forced to drop the case, Ruellian said:
“Milady, if you pull this again—you’ll face a holy tribunal!”
That’s it.
‘All I have to do is pluck the Amarantia flower and get dragged before Ruellian. I’ll show the evidence and spark his interest in the incident.’
After that, I could leave it to Ruellian.
Even if he loathed Aristina, this was a poisoning attempt that had shaken the empire.
The suspicious circumstances would surely provoke his curiosity—and his pride.
It was the perfect plan: “Kill with a borrowed knife.”
‘Great. Now, what do I need to do to pick the flower?’
…Run away from home.
Obvious, but to reach the flower garden, I had to get out of the house.
I couldn’t stay away long under the Duke’s watchful eyes, but a brief escape might be doable.
‘If I catch the Duke off guard, that is.’
Looking at the mannequins dressed in new gowns and the “Star of Aurora,” an idea came to me.
“Alright.”
I grabbed some papers from my desk.
Just thinking of what I wanted to write, my right hand—well-versed in this world’s penmanship—automatically wrote it out.
Next, the “Star of Aurora.”
I searched a drawer and found a letter opener, which I used to cut the necklace’s delicate thread.
The pearls clattered onto a plate.
Gasp.
The maids—desperately dusting, polishing statues, and trimming flowers to avoid my gaze—flinched.
I called them over.
“Come here.”
Once again, I felt how cold and intimidating Aristina’s voice was. Her naturally haughty tone made people shrink back.
Like well-trained soldiers, the maids lined up.
“What do you need, milady? A meal? A hand wash? A face wash? Bedding?”
“None of that. It’s something new…”
I pushed the plate of pearls toward them.
“I’ll give one of these to anyone who volunteers.”
“Pardon?”
The maids were shocked.
This was the same young lady who slapped them for wiping dust off her jewels without permission—and now she was giving away pearls?
Impossible. It had to be a trap. Some kind of twisted test.
I could see their thoughts clearly.
“We have absolutely no desire for your jewels, milady!”
“Of course not! Never! We’ll just work diligently within our means!”
As they tried to retreat with the perfect “model servant” answers…
SLAM! A loud sound rang out.
The maids collapsed to their knees in fright.
“We’re sorry!!”
But what they saw was unexpected.
Their villainous lady was stamping papers.
“If you don’t trust me, fine. Here’s your proof—certificates of donation for each pearl.”
The Rosen family seal. That seal itself was as good as an official document.
Even Aristina wouldn’t use it lightly unless she benefited personally.
“…?”
The maids were bewildered.
If she made certificates, the offer must be real. Of course, there must be some sinister catch… but the pearls shone with a dazzling, genuine luster.
They were already stuck in this thankless job with no escape, so…
Finally, one desperate maid asked:
“W-what do we have to do?”
“It’s simple. Just move a few things.”
I glanced around the study and added:
“And that’s all you need to know.”
(Scene Change)
“What did you say?”
Duke Canel frowned at his pale forehead.
“No way! Someone must’ve lied under pressure.”
“No, sir! I just saw it with my own eyes! The young lady returned every new dress she ordered right before the incident, saying she’d deeply repented!”
The chamberlain’s report caused a stir among the Duke’s aides.
“Really? That can’t be right.”
“She’s never given up luxury once she had her hands on it.”
“Could she actually be reflecting a little?”
“Absolutely not.”
The Duke scoffed.
“That brat? She’s up to something again. Don’t look at her! Don’t give her attention!”
Outside the window, he could see mannequins being loaded into a delivery wagon.
Rattle.
The wagon finally moved.
‘It worked!’
I stood up between the mannequins.
<Operation: Run Away Hidden Among Returned Mannequins>
It was a flawless success.
Thanks to my tall, slender figure and upright noble posture, hiding was easy. I just had to stay still and breathe quietly.
“You just did what milady said and returned the mannequins.”
“But milady… isn’t it dangerous? There are scary thieves out at night. If they see you have such an expensive necklace…”
Ah yes, rumors said a phantom thief prowled at night, targeting only valuable items. That rumor was one of the reasons I mistook this world for a detective novel.
But…
‘This coachman thinks I don’t know anything?’
I scoffed.
“That thief always sends a warning before stealing. And we’re selling this necklace immediately, so no worries.”
I dismissed his concerns and turned to the maid.
“You brought the item?”
“Yes, milady. I found it in the gatehouse storage, just like you said.”
She handed me a bundle. Inside was a tattered robe.
When I threw it over my head, everyone was shocked.
‘With all the new cloaks, why wear that rag?’
But they didn’t know. This was a family heirloom called the “Angel’s Rag.”
It concealed the wearer’s identity with divine power and provided decent protection.
Duke Canel used to hide it at the bottom of the gatehouse raincoat shelf, using it for secret errands…
‘All to clean up after his daughter’s disasters.’
Poor guy.
I fastened the robe tightly.
I was ready to start. But first, there was one last thing to do.
“We’ve arrived.”
The coachman said from the front.
Before me stood an old domed building—one that seemed like Aristina would never be connected to… until now.
I slipped in among the zombie-like people entering and bought something incredible with the Star of Aurora.
‘With this, not even Ruellian can burn me at the stake.’
I tucked it safely inside my robe.
Having a backup plan gave me courage.
Now it was time to actually do the thing.
The wagon exited the busy district and stopped in a quiet area.
“Milady, this is the spot, right?”
“Yes. You may go.”
I waved them off. The coachman and maid bowed repeatedly and ran off like their lives depended on it.
Once they were gone, I looked around.
A grand sanctuary glowing gently in the dark—the headquarters of the Holy Order.
The chapel always remained open, but few dared enter after dark. Sin-condemning statues shot terrifying gazes from their eyes.
Everyone had something to feel guilty about, after all.
But not Aristina. She never cared about that sort of thing—so she casually walked in and picked a flower like she was shopping.
‘I need that level of shamelessness. That’s how you don’t get caught.’
I walked proudly into the sanctuary and reached the Forest of God without issue.
But just a short distance in… Clink. Rattle.
I heard the sound of metal—chains—falling to the ground behind thick trees.
‘Guard dog?’
I wouldn’t be hurt thanks to the robe, but I still panicked.
I ducked behind a tree and peeked.
Not a dog—but a man.
A tall man in a cloak, just like me.
His eyes gleamed in the dark, and I had a strange feeling he might be handsome.
Then moonlight shone through the clouds—and I saw his face wrapped in bandages.
His chest, partly visible through an undone button, was covered in burn scars.
“…!”
He seemed flustered and quickly buttoned up.
He hadn’t expected someone else here.
Looking at me, he spoke.
“What are you doing sneaking around here this late? It’s like you’re here to steal something.”
I was momentarily stunned by his odd appearance, but quickly came to my senses.
‘How did he know?’
Sharp guy.
I couldn’t afford to lose this battle of wits—not even against a street-side extra.
