Just past noon.

The coachman standing in front of the carriage spat on the ground. As he tilted his head back, he could see the bright sunlight shining down. His colleague beside him tapped the carriage and giggled.

“The imperial palace, huh? The journey will be quite difficult.”

“D*mn it. Why is that woman going to the imperial palace? With that kind of personality, she’ll be rejected right away anyway.”

“They still need to get her married off. If we become subordinate to the imperial family, our wages might increase too.”

“Oh, shut up!”

Stupid Sezlin.

Dull-witted Sezlin.

To the servants of the Duke’s mansion, Sezlin was exactly that kind of person. Someone who stood in stark contrast to the kind Miss April, an easy target to bite and tear at.

It wasn’t just the maids who ignored her. Everyone in the mansion was a bystander, a villain who cornered her. Sezlin knew about this injustice but remained quiet in her previous life.

Because she wanted to be loved somehow. She closed her ears and pretended not to know despite all the slander.

But now that she had returned,

“How amusing.”

There was no need for that anymore.

“Ah, miss?”

The colleague who had been slacking off hurriedly tapped the coachman’s shoulder. The coachman who had been comfortably leaning against the carriage moved his body slowly. The attitude with which he had just been badmouthing his mistress was forgotten as smoothly as flowing water.

The coachman, scratching the back of his head vigorously, looked Sezlin up and down as she approached. She was going to the imperial palace, yet Sezlin, dressed in a flashy dress, looked beautiful but quite vulgar.

In a way, she resembled a poisonous plant. Her narrowed eyes had a strangely peculiar light. The black dress contrasting with her white skin looked like a handful of water scooped from the Styx (the river of the underworld).

The coachman, who had been captivated by her blue eyes that contrasted with this, belatedly cleared his throat.

“Please get in.”

“…You.”

Sezlin, standing still, looked at the parasol she was holding. The coachman, who habitually made smacking sounds, turned to look at her.

“What is it, miss?”

But the conversation didn’t last long.

With a slapping sound, a nearby pigeon flew away.

“…!”

The coachman blankly touched his throbbing cheek. When he came to his senses, he had already been slapped.

His widened eyes turned toward Sezlin, who stood proudly. Did that woman just hit him? The coachman, who had belatedly grasped the situation, trembled his chin. She must have hit him with all her strength, as he tasted blood in his mouth.

But this was just the beginning.

Sezlin happily watched his face gradually turning red. At the same time, she stamped the tip of the parasol she was holding onto the coachman’s instep.

As the sharp metal dug into his instep, the coachman’s body collapsed downward.

“Aaaagh!”

It happened in an instant. The surroundings quickly turned into pandemonium. The other maids following her also screamed and covered their eyes. Only Sezlin looked directly at the coachman who was screaming in pain.

Sezlin pressed the parasol deeper into his instep.

“Oh dear. Since you’ve injured your foot, I can’t entrust my safety to you.”

“Aaagh! Agh! Aagh!”

“Don’t be in too much pain. I was originally going to stab your eye.”

Sezlin, who was blankly looking down at the coachman who could barely breathe, cast her gaze at his colleague standing beside him. The colleague who met her eyes swallowed dry.

“You do it.”

“Pardon?”

The colleague who had stupidly asked back blinked his eyes. But he quickly came to his senses at the scream that followed. The sharp gaze slowly strangled his neck. Then at some point, his throat was completely blocked.

“I-I-I’ll prepare it.”

“That’s right.”

Sezlin extended her hand to the maid. The maid, who had barely held onto her consciousness that was about to faint, took her hand. A short vibration was felt beyond the pale hand.

With the maid’s support, Sezlin boarded the carriage. And just before closing the door, she said to the coachman who was still in pain.

“If I’m late because of you.”

“Sob, sob…”

“I’ll carve out that mouth too.”

The coachman still couldn’t do anything about the parasol stuck in his instep. Sezlin laughed lowly as she watched this.

‘How stupid.’

“Let’s go.”

Sezlin leaned back against the backrest.

Then the door closed with a bang.

“We’re departing!”

The coachman who had climbed onto the saddle held the reins.

Clatter—

The wheels moved.

* * *

The First Prince, Ludwig de Azelan.

Come to think of it, he had many similarities with Sezlin. Though their backgrounds were different, their growing environments were similar, and they were both pointed at by everyone.

A lowborn Empress. The First Prince abandoned in the vast palace. Originally, he would never have dreamed of the Crown Prince position. Like other princes, he was someone who would quietly breathe and then crumble like a leaf.

But the reason the First Prince could be mentioned as a Crown Prince was purely because of his “ability.”

<First Prince Ludwig Victorious in the Ukla War!>

<The First Prince, who played an active role as Commander-in-Chief, is scheduled to receive an imperial medal…>

<Returns amidst everyone’s reverence!>

One of the continent’s most renowned knights. The Sword Master with vast magical power happened to be the First Prince. Moreover, he had never been defeated in any war, large or small. This record later became the catalyst for receiving the full support of military families.

Thanks to this, although he started from rock bottom, he was able to build power comparable to the Second Prince. He also had ambition. The reason the Second Prince was desperate to kill him at that time was because Ludwig showed political moves.

To become the Emperor.

‘I must push forward with this marriage somehow.’

To be able to encounter the Second Prince often, she absolutely needed to be in the imperial palace. But there was no imperial princess, and a lady from a duke’s family couldn’t enter as a maid. Her reputation was already ruined in the eyes of the Empress. It was too late to study to obtain an official position.

Then there was only one way.

To marry the First Prince who had a marriage proposal.

‘The First Prince…’

Sezlin recalled the man she had met before. Ludwig, the First Prince, had lived his life obsessed with the sword. He was a typical knight who stayed away from alcohol and women, and only moved from one battlefield to another.

Because he was always covered in blood, he was also an avoided figure in social circles.

In reality, he was a bit crazy too. It was a famous anecdote that a nobleman who saw him fight wet himself. Someone who would never fall for feminine charms. Sezlin also didn’t want to jump into a fire pit with uncertain feminine tactics. Although the marriage proposal had been made, she had to somehow win the First Prince’s heart. It was a different matter from showing courtesy.

To catch him, she needed a more certain reason. Marriage was, in a way, one of the transactions to gain power. She had to present a proposal attractive enough for the First Prince to be moved.

For example,

‘Saying I’ll kill the Second Prince, or make him Emperor.’

Even without the throne, the First Prince did not like his brother. Rather, he despised, looked down upon, and cursed him. She didn’t know why. Only the fact that he hated the Second Prince enough to make him shiver was well-known, making them almost mortal enemies.

‘If I can just touch on that well.’

Perhaps a path might appear.

No, she had to create one no matter what.

By any means necessary.

‘I need to make good use of what I know.’

The time she had returned to was seven years. There were moments that threatened the First Prince during that time. Monitoring the Second Prince preparing poison. If she eliminated other threats from now on, he could safely become the Crown Prince.

Not the Second Prince, Friedrich.

“We’ve arrived, miss.”

The carriage stopped, and the coachman’s voice was heard. It seems they had already arrived after passing through the main gate of the imperial palace.

The door opened, and a knight who had been waiting bowed.

“Welcome, Lady Brioden.”

Sezlin, who glanced at the solid silver armor, then extended her hand. Taking the knight’s hand, Sezlin slowly descended from the carriage. The hem of her black dress gently touched the ground.

The eyes of those who had come to greet her, including the knight, widened.

The black dress and elaborate lace decorations. The gloves on her hands made her look like she had come to a party rather than a matchmaking meeting.

But her counterpart was a madman with only gloomy rumors. The unpredictable Sezlin Brioden. Hiding their confused inner thoughts, they barely managed their expressions.

“The First Prince is expected to arrive shortly. I will guide you to the garden.”

“Alright.”

Sezlin, who had received a fan from the maid, opened it. With a short sound of wind, the luxurious silk split. Covering her mouth, Sezlin moved gracefully. Her long eyelashes fluttered lightly as she faced forward.

Seeing this, the aide cleared his throat and hurriedly turned around. For a moment, he felt enchanted by something.

‘Better than I thought.’

When she had come in the past, she was so resentful that she didn’t even notice the scenery. Indeed, befitting a recognized prince, it was remarkably larger than the Second Prince’s palace. Moreover, it wasn’t just large; everything was neat without any deteriorated parts.

‘That means it’s receiving consistent maintenance.’

This meant that after returning from war, the Emperor was paying attention to him.

Yes, this was the optimal time.

Just now, a medal ceremony was scheduled to honor the First Prince’s achievements, and it was before she rejected the marriage proposal. It was around this time that Ludwig began to seriously check the Second Prince.

‘I must catch this.’

She couldn’t miss such an opportunity.

“This is the place.”

“…Ah.”

Sezlin, who belatedly came to her senses, stopped walking. Suddenly, the buildings were no longer visible, and only splendid flowers and a tea table could be seen.

A maid who had been waiting calmly paid her respects. Then she pulled back the prepared chair. Sezlin, who sat down carefully, put down her fan.

“If you wait just a moment, the First Prince will arrive soon.”

“I understand.”

Sezlin, who nodded, ordered tea from the maid. The maid asked her to wait just a moment and quickly left her position. The aide who had guided her also disappeared with the words, “Have a good time.” This was due to the etiquette that no one else could intrude when a royal and a noble met. Though not visible, only secret guards would be around.

Left alone, Sezlin tapped the table with her index finger.

When would he come? What should she say first when he arrives? Would he kill her if she made a proposal suddenly and it annoyed him?

A thousand thoughts mixed together.

But in the end, the conclusion was one.

‘To successfully complete this marriage.’

She had no other choice.

Sezlin, who had been tapping the table, once again grasped the fan. At that moment, she felt a presence nearby.

Could it be him? Sezlin covered her mouth while opening her fan. However, Sezlin felt puzzled by the footsteps that were gradually approaching.

It wasn’t just the sound of footsteps; faint screams were also heard.

‘What’s that sound?’

Sezlin unconsciously held her breath. She blinked her eyes slowly and listened to the surrounding sounds. As time passed, the presence gradually came closer.

And in the moment she blinked,

“Oh my.”

A man appeared. A terribly low bass voice harshly pricked her skin. Sezlin slowly looked the man up and down.

In one hand he held a sword, and in the other, he was dragging something.

When a faint scream escaped from below, Sezlin realized that what the man had brought was a person.

The man, his entire body soaked in blood, stuck the sword he was holding into the ground. Blood dripped onto the grass.

“I apologize.”

“……”

“A rat was causing trouble.”

With a voice that wasn’t sorry at all, the man sat across from her. The white chair quickly became stained with blood. The man, who had dropped the collar he was holding, crossed his long legs leisurely. Looking at that murky red light, Sezlin moved her lips.

“I greet the First Prince.”

Naturally, Ludwig did not accept that greeting. But Sezlin, who didn’t particularly point out such rudeness, took out a handkerchief from her sleeve.

The black handkerchief was extended in front of Ludwig.

He smiled faintly.

“Are you telling me to wipe the blood?”

“No.”

Sezlin gestured with her chin to the man lying face down on the ground. The man, receiving her gaze, groaned painfully.

“There’s anesthetic on the handkerchief.”

So,

“Please take care of it quickly and come back.”

‘Because I don’t want to have a matchmaking meeting with all of us together.’