Chapter 3

“No, Your Majesty. Dislike? Absolutely not.”

‘Yes, I dislike it,’ Diana muttered only inwardly.

“However, Your Majesty, you are the Emperor, and surely, the person who becomes your companion should be the Empress of this country. There will certainly be an Empress who will rule this nation with kindness and grace.”

Just living with someone so unpredictable already overflowed with kindness and grace. 

Diana quietly offered a silent prayer for the future Empress. Whoever she was, Diana intended to serve her with sincere and passionate loyalty.

“So, does that mean you aren’t kind, Aide?”

“Of course. My personality is quite twisted. I nitpick my subordinates over trivial things, and lately, I’ve developed some insomnia, so I’ve become quite irritable.”

“That doesn’t bother me.”

“Why wouldn’t it matter? This is a position where I assist you in leading the Empire together, Your Majesty.”

If one side acted recklessly, at least the other had to remain sane. Otherwise, the Empire wouldn’t survive. Suddenly, Diana thought maybe it was fortunate that Sophia wouldn’t become Empress. Instead of witnessing the strongest Emperor-Empress duo in history, she’d experience the most nerve-wracking combination ever.

“But didn’t you say you like handsome men, Aide?”

“Excuse me?”

“I’m handsome.”

“…Well, Your Majesty, I suppose there aren’t many people who dislike handsome men.”

The fact that he could say such things so nonchalantly was infuriating. The fact that he was actually very handsome made it even worse.

“Your Majesty, you are certainly the Empire’s top groom right now. But you should consider—are looks, wealth, and power really the most important conditions for marriage?”

“So they’re not?”

“…I just realized that what I said sounds odd. Let me correct myself.”

The more Diana spoke, the deeper she felt herself sinking into a quagmire, so she quickly amended her words.

“To be honest, I have no intention of marrying right now.”

“…….”

“Now that you’ve become Emperor, I understand that your focus has shifted from succession to marriage. But that doesn’t mean you should decide on it so quickly. Your Majesty, you may have suggested marriage because I’ve been by your side for a long time and we’re comfortable together.”

Marriage was a decision that would affect her entire life. Diana hoped Evan would be cautious with this matter.

“So when do you plan to marry, Aide?”

“I plan to marry once things settle down.”

How could she think about marriage when she’d become the leader of the anti-Emperor faction? Instead of receiving congratulations in a dress, she was wearing a cloak and hearing her subordinates chant, “Down with the Emperor!” That’s why Diana’s wish was to find Dian first and dissolve the group as soon as possible.

But it wasn’t that Diana had no intention of ever marrying. She had a plan. After quitting her job as an aide, she wanted to build a small mansion on a hill with the money she’d saved, meet a caring husband, and live there with adorable children—a modest dream of her own.

She’d been preparing diligently for retirement, but then her damned brother caused trouble….

Just when she thought she could finally escape the never-ending incidents of the Imperial Palace and live a quiet life, her own flesh and blood dropped a huge bomb and disappeared. Diana quietly ground her teeth, determined never to forgive him.

“So, Your Majesty, I’ll do my best to find the right companion for you.”

“…….”

“Oh, and now it’s time for me to go train the new aides. If you’ll excuse me.”

Fearing Evan might say something else, Diana quickly bowed her head and left the office. Fortunately, Evan didn’t call her back. Diana closed the office door and let out a sigh of relief.

‘At least he won’t bring up marriage again, right?’

She already had enough to worry about, and the thought of marriage was the last thing she needed. But of course, another task had been added. As she walked down the corridor, frowning, Diana began to think about which noble ladies would be suitable as the next Empress.

“I really don’t know much about this. I’ll need Sophia’s help… Wait, but what if?”

At that moment, Diana thought. She knew well that Evan’s current interest was marriage. That meant he would meet many ladies during the process, and he might find one he liked.

But Diana’s concern was elsewhere. It was Evan’s peculiar trait. He usually seemed indifferent to everything, but once he became fixated on something, he obsessed over it to an almost frightening degree.

Whatever it was, if Evan decided to do it, he never failed. Diana had felt this keenly, watching Evan become Emperor simply because he wanted to sit on the throne.

But what if that obsession was directed at a person? And what if that lady didn’t want to marry him?

Just imagining it sent chills down Diana’s spine, and she shook her head. She couldn’t afford to worry about things that hadn’t even happened yet.

“Right, get it together. Focus, focus.”

After all, she was the one whose life was most at risk right now.

*   *   *

“So, it’s better to sneak in at night, right?”

“No! We should poison him. Slip poison into his food and finish it in one go.”

Passionate opinions from the men filled the room. Each insisted their own plan was best, while Diana sat quietly in the middle.

“Wait, wait.”

Unable to take it anymore, Diana raised her hand to stop them.

“Listening to you, I’m honestly dumbfounded—no, I’m just curious. So, what’s the best plan you’ve come up with here?”

“Oh, we actually came up with a really good one. Leader, you will be amazed.”

“…Alright, so what is it?”

“It’s this—digging a tunnel.”

The man whispered as if someone might overhear.

“We dig from outside the Imperial Palace all the way in. Then we break through right into the Emperor’s bedroom and attack him by surprise? That’s it!”

“Oh, sure. Sounds great. And how about bringing some tombstones along?”

“Right? Good idea. But why do we need tombstones?”

“Why else? Because that’s where your graves will be, you idiots!”

Diana’s patience finally snapped at this ridiculous plan.

“Dig a tunnel? All the way to the Emperor’s bedroom? Do you even know how big the Imperial Palace is? You don’t have shovels for hands and feet—how long do you think it would take to dig all that?”

“Huh? Is the palace that big?”

“Of course! The Emperor would die of old age before you finished your tunnel!”

They seemed to think the palace was just an empty lot. Diana pressed her forehead.

“And if you start digging near the palace, do you think the guards will just watch you like they’re sipping drinks? You’ll end up buried in the hole you dug!”

It was bad enough to be forced into being the anti-Emperor leader, but being the leader of such a foolish group was even worse.

“Anyway, anyway… the tunnel is out. And all the plans you’re talking about are out too.”

Diana steadied her breath, trying to calm down.

“Listen carefully. What do we need most?”

“Passion?”

“An unwavering heart!”

“Strength!”

“No, no.”

Hearing answers straight out of a hot-blooded adventure novel, Diana shook her head.

“Money. It’s money.”

“Money?”

“Yes. Whether it’s your crazy tunnel or whatever, we need basic funds to carry out any plan. What are you going to do without it? Eat grass and work? You won’t even make it near the palace—you’ll collapse from starvation.”

“Oh, that’s true!”

The group agreed and started adding their own ideas.

“Then we need to get money first. Should we rob a store?”

“How about pickpocketing?”

“Or charge a toll when people pass through alleys?”

As more ridiculous ideas followed, Diana cut in.

“No. We’re going to earn money honestly, through proper means.”

“Huh?”

“Get it together. What are we trying to do? Are we just going to be petty thieves, stealing from kids? If we do that, we’ll get caught by the guards right away and never achieve our grand and noble goal.”

Diana clenched her fist and raised her arm with enthusiasm.

“We’re here to take down the cruel Emperor who acts however he pleases and makes his subordinates suffer!”

“Woooooo!”

With just a touch of sincerity, Diana’s shout riled up the group. Cheers and applause erupted for Diana. And then, a sound came from the direction of the door.