Chapter 47
Kang Moon-soo and Seo Hye-ju had gotten one thing wrong. Anjilina Chimac, who had become the novel's protagonist, hadn't skimmed the original story and made a mistake. Far from it—she'd read it so many times she knew it inside and out, practically memorized!
And that overconfidence had led her to ignore the story's pacing and rush things ahead. That was the blunder.
"This is so unfair..."
Anjilina pouted as she flipped through the notebook where she'd jotted down everything she remembered from the original novel.
"This is so unfair..."
She was so wronged that all she could do was repeat herself. She'd followed the original story almost word-for-word, so why had the outcome gone off the rails? That was why she felt so indignant.
"Where did I screw up?"
She gnawed at the neatly manicured nails her maid—her nanny's daughter and childhood friend—had done for her, replaying the past in her mind. And her conclusion?
It's unfair!
If she'd thought it was her own fault or mistake, she wouldn't feel this way. For her, it was the most natural judgment possible.
Frustrating!
She wanted to vent to someone, get some comfort—but this was a secret she absolutely couldn't let slip. Not to anyone, not even the handsome guys she'd gathered with the novel's help...!
Knock knock.
"Miss Anjilina."
She flinched at the knock on her bedroom door and quickly hid the notebook.
"...What is it?"
Having possessed the protagonist meant she'd inherited her memories too, including childhood moments with the maid. But that was it. Their lives had merged, so even though her looks were the same, her speech and behavior were no longer those of the real Anjilina Chimac.
For example? The real protagonist would regularly visit an orphanage in the slums with only her escort knight, doing volunteer work. But she had quit in disgust after the dirty kids clung to her demanding playtime.
Ah! Of course, she hadn't forgotten to snag the "protagonist's man" from the orphanage before she stopped going...
"The boy you brought home has left."
"What?! When?!"
"Not long ago."
"Grab him right now! Don't let him out of the estate until I get there—"
"Miss."
Anjilina swallowed hard at the stern voice from beyond the door.
"Another lecture?"
"I've given up on that, so relax."
"......"
"Baron Brocollin is waiting in the drawing room."
"How rude! Showing up unannounced like that...!"
"Shall I send Baron Brocollin away? Politely say you're tied up with tea this afternoon with young master Pimaang—"
"W-Wait! If you say that, it'll just pile on more misunderstandings...!"
Anjilina's irritation boiled over. The maid was supposed to be a trusty childhood friend per the novel's setup—why was she so useless?
"Miss. Your voice is loud."
"...Tell him I'm too tired to meet today."
"What about the boy?"
"Don't worry about it. I'll handle him later."
Her head throbbed.
"What about the parting words from that boy, then?"
"Why are you telling me this now?! What did he say? Something about going to a friend's birthday?"
"...I hesitated because I worried it'd hurt you."
"What did he say?"
"Tell that lying bitch sister of mine. I'll never forget the way she looked down on my precious siblings like trash until the day I die."
"......"
This was so unfair. She wasn't an actress—how was she supposed to control her expressions perfectly? The orphanage kids pawing her clothes with filthy hands, kissing her cheek with stinky breath, wiping their faces on her dress instead of a towel... She still shuddered thinking about it.
"Miss."
"What now?"
"Prince Leon has requested you avoid unnecessary meetings."
"Unnecessary...?"
What was this about?
"The escort knight issue can pass as an accident, but he asks you refrain from suspicious behavior until the wedding."
"Wedding?! Are you insane?! I never agreed to that!"
"It was the condition for mediating the war. Have you forgotten already?"
"Don't make me laugh! I did it because I wanted to, not for him!"
"Miss..."
"Get my clothes ready right now. I'll go set the prince straight—"
Creak!
She jumped as the bedroom door suddenly flew open, her anger halting mid-breath.
"Anmirina sis?"
"You're so noisy since morning."
The lustrous silver curls and similar face shape made their sisterhood obvious at a glance, but her fox-like upturned eyes gave her a completely different vibe.
Anmirina Chimac. This two-years-older sister could say the most infuriating things, but in the original story, the protagonist would brush it off with a breezy smile. But as a reader, she couldn't stand this third sister who tormented the protagonist. So, conflict!
That's when their relationship turned icy.
"What beef do you have now?"
"Oh my! A lady shouldn't use such vulgar words."
"And a lady barging into someone else's bedroom is fine?"
"Sorry about that."
"What?"
Anjilina thought she'd misheard.
"Sorry. Your maid was crying, so I got worried and came in."
"......"
She hadn't misheard.
This woman is apologizing to me?
In her memories, the sister had never apologized once. Admitting fault and saying sorry so easily? She couldn't believe her eyes.
"Who are you?"
"Oh my! Your sister, obviously. What else would I look like?"
The usually sullen third sister was beaming. Had something good happened? But she decided not to ask, lest it sour her mood.
"Ah! Right, Anjilina. Listen and rate this for me."
"What?"
"Oppa~♪"
"......"
Was this really Anmirina Chimac, the third daughter of the Chimac count family who picked fights with the protagonist at every turn? The character setting was crumbling.
"Well?"
"Huh? What about it?"
"Think guys would like it? That's your specialty, right?"
"...Gave me chills."
"Really? Guess I need more practice. Thanks for the advice."
"......"
The third sister, who she'd seen as a thorn in her side, was smiling through the harsh feedback. This couldn't be right. Something was off.
What the hell?! What's going on here?!
She plunged into greater confusion than ever.
* * *
Looking at just founding myths, building a nation seems incredibly tough. Offspring of gods, acknowledged by gods, commanded by gods, or ruled directly by gods...
But those are just fantasy tales to legitimize rule and tradition.
In reality? Powerful clans—modern terms would call them real estate conglomerates. They forged pacts like "Help each other if attacked!" to solidify dominance, and blood ties made those alliances ironclad, laying the groundwork for "nations."
In other words, no big deal.
Like-minded lords banding together makes a "kingdom," and the strongest lord in that kingdom becomes "king." That's it.
"Explaining it so simply again."
"It all depends on how well you sway the guests, Duke."
"Speak. Who do I approach with what at the banquet?"
Somac Duke's eyes brimmed with trust as he looked at me. Because every noble I'd named had shown up without fail.
"They're all key, but Count Pimaang—who guards the empire's seas—is the most crucial."
"Why him?"
"Because he pledges loyalty to the empire, not the emperor."
In the original novel, he's painted as a war hawk defying the emperor, but is it wrong for a thriving empire to invade neighbors? War isn't right, but is it normal for an emperor to ditch national growth because the protagonist hates war?
"But his son—whom he mentors—betrays him for love, bolstering the emperor's power."
"Absurd."
The story packages this unfilial son as a "principled handsome guy" by the protagonist's side, but to me, he's an idiot blinded by love. Is rebelling against parents "principled"? If he hated their decisions, he should've opposed them from the start. That's principle. Rebelling only after some woman—not even his partner—whispers in his ear? Just dumb.
"We need to paint the emperor as incompetent."
"Tall order. He's hailed as the greatest emperor in history."
"He has the talent, but frame it as him blinded by a woman, unable to see the big picture."
"I see..."
No matter the gifts, if you don't use them, you're incompetent.
"Now comes the real part."
"I'm listening."
"Keep stoking their loyalty: 'What if the emperor sacrifices national interests for one woman?'"
"You don't mean...?"
"I guarantee it. The emperor won't give up Anjilina Chimac. Confirmed in the book."
The emperor. Among the handsome guys who like the protagonist, he's the least believable. A childhood scarred by succession struggles finds strength meeting the young protagonist—that contrived backstory forces his obsession.
"Certain?"
"Absolutely."
"Poor Count Pimaang. Greater trust means greater betrayal."
Somac Duke tsked sympathetically, but he was smiling.
"The others matter too, so handle them well."
"Hm. Guests should arrive soon. I'll head out."
"I'll go too."
"Hm? Baron Amolrang's attending the banquet?"
"No. I'm infiltrating Chimac County from now on."
"...I'd send anyone else without hesitation, but hearing it from you makes me uneasy."
"Is that so?"
Did I mess up somewhere?
"Treasures are safest kept close, Baron."
"You flatter me."
"If I had an unpaired daughter, I'd introduce her to you... Who knew I'd regret not having one! Haha!"
"I'll be off."
I turned to leave, hiding a wry smile.
"Wait. I'll assign an escort."
To me, that sounded like "I'm sticking a watchdog on you." Refusing would mean no go. It wasn't some top-secret op from allies, so I accepted gladly.
In exchange, "Make it someone skilled in swordsmanship for protection. I'd like to learn on the way."
"No wonder the strict knight commander approved you so quickly."
"Did he?"
"He's shy despite appearances. Said your talent's average but your effort's impressive."
"He scolds me for being slow every time we meet..."
Praising me behind my back? My chest swelled with pride.
"Tell me your goal in Chimac County. Then I can pick a fitting escort."
Somac Duke seemed awfully interested in me. I'd shown some un-baron-like sides, sure.
"Internal division."
"Hm?"
"I'll help the prince—who wants blood ties with the Chimac counts to check you—rush the marriage."
"...Baron. Won't that harm our house?"
"If the empire doesn't interfere."
"Even so, for one woman...?"
"Trust me."
If the emperor sticks to canon, he'll do anything to block the protagonist's marriage. Assassination, war, kidnapping, betrayal...
The author wanted a ruthless emperor turning meek lamb only before the protagonist. Textbook duality.
This was serious mental illness. Episode where the emperor loses it on false news of the protagonist kidnapped: He threatens to wipe out the offending nation down to infants.
Such an emperor. Hearing wedding news? He'll snap for sure.
"Trust and prepare."
"Thank you."
Two nations will fall because of the protagonist.