Chapter 2

“You! What kind of nonsense are you spouting!”

Diana, shocked by Sophia’s words, quickly scanned her surroundings. After confirming once more that they were alone in the room, Diana denied it.

“I’ve explained this countless times—absolutely not. If that damned brother hadn’t done anything weird, none of this would have happened.”

In truth, Diana’s life may have started to unravel not when she met Evan, but from the very moment she was born. From the instant she was born as Dian’s younger sister. She had known since childhood that her brother would always get into trouble, but it was only recently that she learned he had finally caused a major incident.

I’m sorry, little sister. Please don’t look for this useless brother.

When Dian, who had come to the capital for a visit, hadn’t contacted her for quite some time, Diana went to the lodging where he had been staying. Upon finding a letter, Diana was left in shock. Her brother had become the leader of a newly formed anti-Emperor faction, and not long after taking the position, he had run away. The lodging where Dian had stayed had already become the gathering place for the anti-Emperor group. While Diana was reading the letter, the group arrived at the lodging, and the startled Diana hastily donned a nearby mask and cloak.

“Oh, leader? What’s with the mask and cloak?”

“Uh, uh… well, since I’m the leader, I thought I should look a bit different?”

“Is that so? You do look more impressive. But your voice seems a bit higher than usual.”

“Ahem, my throat gets like this when it’s hoarse. It happens sometimes when I drink.”

She managed to deceive them by pretending to be Dian, but the real problem was their actions. Diana tried to use her position as leader to dissolve the group, but it was impossible.

“What? You’re saying you won’t be leader anymore?”

“Yes. On second thought, this is too dangerous for all of you….”

“I see, then we’ll just have to pick a new leader.”

“…Huh? What? How?”

“Don’t you remember? When we choose a new leader, the strongest one gets the position. Come on! Let’s fight again! Whoever wins will be the next leader!”

Diana desperately tried to stop the group from fighting in the lodging. Only then did she realize that no matter how hard she tried to step down and disband the group, it was useless with these people.

“Fine, fine! I’ll just keep being the leader!”

“Woohooooo! That’s the spirit, Leader!”

In the chaos of flying fists, Diana shouted. And so, Diana became the leader of the group.

“I laughed so much when I first heard you. Even at home, I couldn’t stop laughing, and the servants started looking at me strangely.”

“Good for you. I can only cry. My idiot brother’s face is now known to that whole group, and if this keeps up, our family will be branded as traitors.”

At least, since the group was newly formed, they hadn’t done anything yet, and they didn’t know Dian’s exact identity. There was still hope.

“For now, I’ll have to act as the leader and gradually dissolve the group. It’s easier to control them if I stay in charge.”

“That’s why you came to my house today, right?”

As she spoke, Sophia stood up and retrieved something from behind the curtain.

“Here, the things you requested.”

Cloak, mask, gloves, and shoes were placed before Diana. Sophia explained each item.

“The cloak and gloves are made from the most durable fabric, thickly layered, and the shoes have raised heels just as you asked. You’ll need some time to get used to the height.”

To imitate Dian, Diana needed to adjust her height, so she ordered shoes with heels.

“And the thing you wanted most.”

Finally, Sophia picked up the mask.

“I made it so that your voice will naturally change when you wear it. Try it on.”

“Did you really make it? Just like I said?”

“Of course, you know what kind of family we are.”

If there was something especially notable about the Christine Marquisate, it was their wealth. The family owned a merchant group so large that there was hardly any item in the empire untouched by them.

“Honestly, I just mentioned it, but you finished so quickly…. Thank you. How much is it?”

“Nothing. It’s free.”

“What?”

“You gave me so much entertainment, that’s worth the price.”

“…Well, anyway, thanks.”

Even as she helped Diana put on the mask and cloak, Sophia’s smile never faded. With gloves and shoes on, Diana’s appearance was unrecognizable.

“Now you really look like a sturdy man.”

Sophia looked Diana up and down with satisfaction. Diana, too, felt conflicted as she saw herself in the mirror.

“Yeah. It came out well, but… now I have to act as the anti-Emperor leader like this, right?”

“Since it’s come to this, just enjoy it. You actually look cool. Maybe I should join the anti-Emperor group under you.”

“If it’s you, you’d probably start a real rebellion, so please don’t.”

If she ever met that damned brother, Diana swore she wouldn’t let him off easily. She secretly swallowed her tears.

*   *   *

“Such wicked anti-Emperor scoundrels must be rooted out.”

Scratch. The pen Diana was using for work pierced through the paper. She slowly raised her head. There stood Hamel, the captain of the imperial knights, grinding his teeth in anger before Evan.

“Sending assassins to your bedroom, too. That’s nothing short of a declaration of war. Even now, they might be lurking somewhere in the palace, blending in like rats as they work.”

At Hamel’s words, Diana knocked over the ink bottle and hurriedly wiped the desk. As her actions became noisy, Evan and Hamel’s gazes turned to her, so Diana quickly smiled to defuse the situation. It was almost laughable how much Hamel’s words hit home.

“So, how do you plan to find them?”

“First, we round up all the suspicious people, and if we t*rture them, some will surely confess.”

“T*rture?”

“Even if we start with their fingernails, there will be plenty who talk.”

Unconsciously, Diana checked her own fingernails and considered making an excuse to leave. She had always known Hamel was hostile to the anti-Emperor group, but now she felt it even more keenly.

Fortunately or unfortunately, Evan didn’t seem interested in Hamel’s words. Of course, Hamel didn’t care and continued to lay out plans to destroy the anti-Emperor faction.

“Or perhaps it’s best to strengthen the nation. If I may be so bold, how about a royal marriage? If you wed a lady from a good family, it would surely help.”

“Oh, I’ve already asked about marriage.”

“Excuse me?”

“I proposed to my aide.”

At Evan’s bombshell, Diana quickly stood up.

“No! I mean, yes! He did ask me! He asked which lady he should marry.”

“Oh, did he? Then that’s good.”

With Diana’s cover-up, Hamel’s face brightened.

“In that case, Your Majesty, you should issue a selection decree. If there is an Empress, the imperial family will be even more stable.”

“Yes, let’s do that, Your Majesty. I agree as well.”

Diana quickly added her support. To reveal a proposal in front of others—if this got out, her days working in the palace would be over. After Hamel left the office, Diana continued to persuade Evan.

“Your Majesty, what you need now is the power of a prestigious family. If you wed a lady from such a family, as the captain said, it will help stabilize the imperial family.”

“…….”

“So, just in case, may I ask, Your Majesty, do you have any thoughts about marrying Sophia…?”

“No.”

“But could you please consider it just once more? Marquis Christine family’s status is second to none, and Sophia isn’t weak enough to be easily defeated.”

If the two of them became Emperor and Empress, no country would dare invade. In many ways, they were a perfect match.

“What’s the point of a fancy fly? No matter how dazzling, it’s still just a dung fly.”

First cockroaches, now dung flies. Diana quickly gave up on marrying these two off, seeing how their relationship never changed over the years. Meanwhile, Evan stared at Diana and asked,

“Aide.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“Do you dislike marrying me?”