Chapter 2. The Changed Beginning of the Original Work

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[All unmarried ladies of the capital must attend.]

The capital seethed with excitement at the emperor’s command.

The emperor was certainly terrifying enough to be secretly called a tyrant. Considering the families that had been reduced to ashes overnight with their heads cut off by his hand, becoming his wife and living out one’s days would be a terrifyingly fearful choice.

However, despite such adverse conditions, it was an irresistibly attractive opportunity for any noble with ambition.

Moreover, the emperor was handsome. Like a sweet reward gained from selling one’s soul to the devil, he was such an enchanting beauty that looking at him made one forget what kind of person he was and fall into a state of rapture.

Because of this, many admired him. There were even ladies who wanted to spend a passionate night in his firm embrace, even if it meant risking their lives.

“Which lady will be chosen?”

In particular, the pro-emperor faction ladies of marriageable age couldn’t hide their excitement and blushed. Wary glances between them were busy beneath the surface.

“They say even the saintess has been invited.”

The saintess.

The ladies frowned. The saintess would be a strong candidate for empress.

Hadn’t there even been a strange rumor that a painter who tried to paint the saintess’s portrait fell so in love with her beauty that he gouged out his own eyes? Imagining the saintess standing beside the handsome emperor, they had to admit, frustratingly, that they would make a perfect match.

In the dampened atmosphere, a lady with a flushed face objected.

“But she’s not a noble lady, is she? In terms of status, wouldn’t Lady Brishel have the highest possibility?”

“Hmm, will Lady Brishel come?”

“My goodness, it’s an imperial command! Of course she’ll come. All the nobles from the duke’s faction have attended.”

She would be a strong candidate if she attended, if only she attended. But whether Lady Brishel attended or not, both scenarios were unpleasant for the pro-emperor faction nobles, and the ladies were frowning when it happened.

“My, who is that?”

Someone who had appeared.

It was Karlea von Bloodina.

The ladies’ lips twisted at her appearance.

It’s easy to mock someone else to erase one’s own anxiety. Especially if that person is universally disliked.

It started with someone snickering.

“Heh, no matter how beautiful, no matter how noble her status, there’s one person over there who will never be chosen by His Majesty.”

A sharp opinion was added.

“Oh my, that’s so true. How pitiful! Coming without an escort, that’s so like her. Even the family knights avoid her, don’t they?”

The ladies’ gazes all poured onto the red-haired woman. Sneers spread sourly. Everyone was bold despite knowing she might hear them due to the relatively close distance.

Karlea was known to be quite a mad woman, but they also thought she wouldn’t dare act crazy at an event where the emperor would appear.

Those who had suffered much from her in the past eagerly seized this opportunity to wag their tongues.

“Did you hear about what happened between her and Lady Ralph yesterday? She got slapped and had wine poured all over her.”

“Yes, that’s what they say. It was truly an indescribable sight. To still come to this event after suffering such humiliation, she’s remarkable in many ways. The representative noble of the pro-emperor faction who should be supporting His Majesty, ha, really, what a disgrace!”

“I suppose she doesn’t care about anything as long as she can be by His Majesty’s side. Just look at everything she’s done to His Majesty so far… Even His cold Majesty looks at her like she’s an insect.”

“Lady Ralph’s situation was truly unfortunate. Seeing her bully nobles from the same faction, she really doesn’t seem human… Tsk, she’s quite quiet today, isn’t she?”

Hmph, seems she knows fear after all.

The sound of malicious giggling spread like wildfire.

❀❀❀

‘Yes, I see. I get it. I’m the outcast.’

Only after arriving at the banquet hall did Karlea fully understand why the butler and Cassie had been unable to properly explain what had happened, their faces pale white.

She had expected it, but Karlea’s reputation was even worse than she had thought.

‘Sigh. This makes it impossible to do anything.’

She sighed as she looked around at her surroundings where no one approached her. At this moment, even her lifelong confidence in her friendly smile seemed ineffective. Moreover, hearing stories related to His Majesty the Emperor made her unnecessarily anxious.

It seemed the original Karlea had liked El too, but just like her childhood personality, she had gone mad with jealousy and unhesitatingly done things she shouldn’t have.

‘At this rate, I won’t even get to speak to El.’

She swallowed her disappointment with effort. She knew that even as Lady Bloodina, without any special connection, she couldn’t easily meet the emperor.

Moreover, today was the beginning of chapter one of the original work. Surely El’s attention would be focused entirely on the saintess. Perhaps he wouldn’t even exchange words with her, let alone meet her gaze.

‘Even so.’

It was hundreds of times better than dying and leaving his side forever.

‘Because I’ll be able to see him from a distance at least.’

Karlea imagined with a warm smile.

If by some miracle she could have a conversation with El, she could say, ‘I am your mirror.’ She could try saying that.

But she laughed at her own thought.

She would certainly be treated like a madwoman. Since their relationship was said to be bad, he might even avoid her more, looking at her like an insect.

‘Right, today I’ll just enjoy myself with the heart of a successful fan and then leave.’

Since no madman would ask her to dance, it didn’t seem bad to watch El and the saintess’s beautiful first meeting.

But when did it start?

Karlea suddenly realized that the banquet hall had fallen quiet as if a mouse had died. And that everyone’s gazes were directed in one direction.

More precisely, everyone was looking behind her.

‘What…?’

Cold sweat ran down her back. What could be behind her?

As she was about to turn around, swallowing dryly, some warm sensation settled on her shoulder first.

The first thing that touched her was someone’s finger.

“You were here?”

What came next was a voice so low and soft it was surprising.

‘Ah.’

The moment she heard that voice, she felt something truly strange.

She felt like crying and her chest tightened. Her vision wavered as if she were dizzy.

She slowly turned her body, feeling dazed as if drunk. And she saw him.

“I finally found you.”

There were those brilliantly shining golden eyes.

❀❀❀

Tall stature, beautiful face. Dark black hair naturally disheveled, casting shadows near his eyes.

Everything about the man was perfect.

His gently curving eyes were so pretty that despite knowing he was a tall man, her first thought was how beautiful he was.

But clearly… there was a face she couldn’t fail to recognize, transcending time, right before her eyes.

Karlea felt her heart pounding madly.

‘My young tyrant. My emperor. So this is how you’ve grown. So splendidly, so impeccably, like a painting.’

The anxiety that had built up from leaving the child alone melted away.

In that moment, memories of their poignant past flashed before her eyes.

A peaceful time once, a conversation they had one day.

— This mirror’s wish is for Your Majesty to become a good emperor! So, question. If you k*ll someone because you’re in a bad mood, are you a good adult or a bad adult?

‘Drop that coaxing tone. You talk too much. Such an impertinent mirror.’

— Oh my, why? If you become a good emperor, everyone will love you, won’t they? A gorgeous beauty like from a fairy tale would fall for Your Majesty at first sight!

‘Then what about you?’

— Pardon?

‘If I become a beloved emperor, will you stay by my side too?’

— Oh, I’ll be there too, won’t I?

‘…Then I like that.’

— What?

‘I’ll try it, being a good emperor. So… stay by my side. You’re my mirror, after all.’

Karlea emerged from her memories of the past and looked at the man in the present.

Whether by coincidence or mere illusion, his golden eyes also seemed to be intently examining her.

From his beautifully curved, well-shaped lips to his kind eyes that curved like spring flowers.

His disheveled black hair was so naturally stylish that she felt quite proud. About to smile broadly with joy at seeing him, she suddenly froze her expression.

‘Oh no, I’m Karlea now.’

She was no longer his mirror. Moreover, since Karlea and the emperor’s relationship was said to be terrible, carelessly opening her mouth might lead to disaster.

Karlea silently looked at him, then rolled her eyes.

‘Right, for now, I’ll just greet him and withdraw.’

Sometimes retreat is the wise course of action.

“Where are you going?”

But she couldn’t do as she planned. Before she could escape, her wrist was caught.

But that wasn’t the end.

“Oh!”

El’s large hand slid down to her hand and overlapped it as if holding hands.

Karlea was shocked.

“You came to see me, didn’t you?”

S-she did? Are you two close enough to make appointments?

She inwardly broke into a cold sweat at El’s confident words. Hadn’t she been told that Karlea and the emperor’s relationship was bad? Then why did his tone seem so familiar?

“Y-Your Majesty?”

“Yes, Karlea.”

But when his prominent knuckles dug between her fingers, she bit her lip, unable to bear the spreading chill.

‘Ugh.’

It was strange. A peculiar heat that seemed to be remembered by her body dominated her skin.

While confused about what this meant, her captured hand was gently pulled. Her body was naturally drawn in that direction. As the distance narrowed, the man’s strong perfume invaded her nose, and then their eyes met.

“This way.”

“…What?”

It was at that moment.

“What’s wrong? You should look this way.”

It was like watching the sun slowly crumble on a person’s face.

“Be happy to see me.”

A trace of wariness, doubt, curiosity.

“Be completely delighted.”

That gaze, filled with various emotions, transformed as if discovering something after an intense stare. It melted like dissolving sugar, becoming languid.