Chapter 19

“Yes, that’s right. If a punishment is to be handed down, I figured confinement would be best.”

Sure, it would have been satisfying if Diego had received a harsher punishment, but that feeling would have been fleeting.

“If the punishment were any worse than confinement, we would’ve incurred the Emperor’s disfavor.”

“But a mere confinement won’t have any effect on the Marquis at all, will it?”

“That’s true. Frankly, it’s meaningless.”

Everyone already assumed Diego would become the next emperor, and his reputation was already in the gutter. Even adding a confinement punishment wouldn’t change anything.

“But what if there’s someone to compare him to?”

What if the gem they thought was irreplaceable ended up being something that could easily be replaced?

“Are you suggesting we put someone else on the throne?”

I nodded.

“I’m going to make Prince Lionel the next Emperor.”

That Prince Lionel, who was believed to have died several years ago during the incident involving the deaths of Duke Arvan’s family.

“That’s also the most effective way to take revenge on His Majesty the Emperor and Marquis Regen.”

Those two wanted Diego to take the throne. That was why they killed Lionel in the first place. But imagine how futile and infuriating it would be for them if Lionel, alive and well, returned and took the throne.

‘Lionel is alive.’

The reason I was so certain of this was simple.

It was because he was the main male lead in the original story, the one who ended up with Alice.

Lionel probably wasn’t in the Empire right now. In the original, Alice and Lionel would meet after she went to study abroad in another country.

“Well, I’ll admit, it’s an interesting idea.”

Louis didn’t seem particularly surprised. Perhaps he had expected something like this from the moment he proposed to me.

“I don’t think this is the kind of thing a sane person would do.”

“I thought you’d say that, Your Grace.”

When I let out a small chuckle, Louis tilted his head with a puzzled look.

“Hmm, but aren’t you being a bit too relaxed? What will you do if I refuse to cooperate?”

“Well, the fact that you haven’t cut off my head right here and now seems to answer that question.”

He fell silent. But even this was a positive response.

‘He let it slide even after I suggested changing the next heir to the throne to suit our needs.’

Once this moment passed, we would be complete accomplices.

“Yeah, you’re right. Besides, I was getting bored lately anyway.”

He was the kind of man who would always pick adventure and excitement over stability.

“It may be madness, but it sounds like it’d be fun. I like it.”

Normally, I couldn’t stand how Louis just chased whatever piqued his curiosity, but in moments like this, it was convenient. Even if he thought it was insane, he wouldn’t stop me as long as it seemed interesting.

‘Even if we’re talking about putting someone on the throne who everyone thinks is dead.’

And yet, he didn’t even ask the obvious question about how Lionel could still be alive.

He just smiled at me with that glint in his eyes.

“So, where do we begin?”

“Well, first…”

I told Louis the first part of the plan I had come up with.

︵‿୨ ₊‧꒰ა ཐི༏ཋྀ ໒꒱ ˚₊ ୧‿︵

The Duke of Arvan’s mansion was luxurious. The servants were courteous, and no one tried to start any unnecessary fights.

At least, that was how it looked on the surface.

“They all pretend to be polite, but behind your back, they criticize you, my lady! Saying there must be a reason you were rejected!”

“Is that so?”

“It’s ridiculous! How could they say things like that about someone who’s about to become the mistress of the house?!”

Judging by how mad Ase looked, she must’ve toned down the severity of the criticism directed at me.

Honestly, I expected as much, so it didn’t really bother me, but I should probably do something about it. First, I calmed Ase down, who looked furious enough to explode, then sent her away. After that, I had the maids help me bathe and change into my nightgown.

“You can’t go that way, my lady.”

As I was walking down the corridor and stopped in front of Louis’s bedroom, one of the maids stopped me.

“Why not?”

“…P-Pardon? Well, because that’s the master’s bedroom.”

Another maid pointed down the corridor to a guest room at the far end, saying that was where they had prepared a room for me.

“A guest room?”

I let out a hollow laugh.

No matter how polite they act, things like this reveal how unwelcome I was.

I was supposed to be moving in as Louis’s fiancée, officially joining the Duke’s household. And yet, they were offering me the guest room?

“So, in your eyes, I must look like a guest who’ll be gone soon.”

“T-That’s…”

I waved a hand dismissively, watching the flustered maids’ expressions.

“Never mind. I’ll take care of it myself. You can go.”

I was exhausted and had no intention of wasting time on any pointless power struggles.

“…Th-that would be a problem. If the master finds out, we’ll be in trouble!”

I let out a sigh, seeing how the maids were trembling in fear.

‘How are they supposed to survive in the Duke’s household being this timid?’