In That Case, Off to the Imperial Palace! (2)
To Rian Ludwig. This is a notice from the Imperial Academy.
We have highly evaluated the academic research value of the work by the author 'Nakadashi' affiliated with your publishing house, and have sent several letters proposing membership in the Academy, but to date, we have received no reply.
'Haa...'
Even reading it again, a sigh escaped me naturally.
My stomach churned—
churned—
But I couldn't just stop reading it.
I flipped to the next page—
It was written in the same roundabout official style, but...
To sum it up simply in four lines:
"...."
Is this for real?
The very fact that the palace had sent me a letter was terrifying enough, but...
-In case of non-compliance, this institution will proceed with forced execution as per regulations.
Especially that 'forced execution' at the end—the intimidation was no joke.
'At least tell me what you're gonna forcibly execute!!'
I felt so wronged.
If I'd known it was really from the palace, would I have been crazy enough to ignore it!?
And on top of that...
'Why are you doing this to me?!'
If they were punishing 'Nakadashi' for ignoring the palace's letter and calling them arrogant, I'd get it.
But the letter was clearly targeting 'Rian Ludwig'.
Well, since I'm 'Nakadashi', the end result is the same, but...
The palace wouldn't know that!
'Does the palace see the youngest son of a count family as lower than some mystery smut writer?'
It made me a bit sad.
To the point where I, who'd had zero interest in power until now, started feeling a twinge of ambition.
Thud!
I leaned back in my chair and stared up at the ceiling.
"...I should've just lived quietly!! I already got burned once with Kidian!!"
Scratch what I said earlier.
Humans don't repeat mistakes?
No, human greed is endless, and we're doomed to repeat the same mistakes!!
After learning Kidian was from the Necroport family, I should've scrapped the manuscript—but no!
This is why dopamine is so scary.
Why do gambling addicts cut off their own fingers to quit?
Because the dopamine hit from winning big is that intense.
Slightly different, but writers go just as nuts for it.
Once you taste that attention, your brain melts, and you end up writing more smut.
"S-So? What are you gonna do now, Rian-nim?"
"Haa..."
Topaz's question, full of worry.
What else could I do?
"It's an order from the palace—if they say come, the count's youngest son has to go... No choice but to head to the palace."
It was the worst-case scenario, but if I looked for silver linings...
'If you don't obey, we'll just kill you~'—it wasn't that bad yet.
Like I still had one coin left?
If the palace really thought 'Nakadashi' had crossed a line, they wouldn't warn me so politely—they'd have my head already.
'14 days...'
Tap tap tap—
I drummed my fingers on the desk, thinking.
This was different from the Amethyst situation.
Back then, I went on the preemptive strike right after the threat letter—first punch wins.
But this opponent was the palace.
No amount of my little tricks would touch them!
'Travel time to the palace plus buffer for any accidents...'
Realistically, about a week.
Step—
Then Topaz stepped closer, her voice low.
"Rian-nim. Just say you're 'Nakadashi.' It was all my doing on my own. You didn't know anyth—"
"Topaz."
I cut her off.
"Never say that crap again."
Sacrifice Topaz to save myself? I'd rather die.
"...."
"...."
"...I'm sorry."
"No, I'm sorry too. I snapped a bit. Whew...."
I let out a long breath and forced a smile.
"Topaz, could you bring me some black tea?"
"...Yes, Rian-nim."
Step step—
Once I confirmed Topaz leaving the study, I pulled out Amethyst's photo and the Pussy Contract from my pocket.
'I'm going anyway—might as well add one Pussy Contract to the collection.'
After admiring the photo for a bit, I opened the safe.
Creeeak!
The treasures inside came into view.
[Topaz's Dog Collar]
[Raping Kidian's Childhood Friend]
[Lapis Sister's Areola Rubbing]
[Amethyst's Pussy Contract](New)
In any other situation, I'd savor my collection for a good while, but...
Unfortunately, time was short.
Slide—
Carefully, I placed Amethyst's photo and Pussy Contract into the safe and shut the door.
Click!
'Alright, then...'
Now I had to plan how to survive the palace within the week.
****
One week later.
Clop clop!
Clop clop!
A massive carriage pulled by four muscular black horses raced down the road.
The family crest of skulls and black roses was emblazoned on the side, but...
No need to check it.
Only one family in the empire dared use a Headless Knight as a coachman.
The Necroports.
Slide—
Inside the carriage, Kidian checked the mirror again.
Today's Kidian was completely different from usual.
Instead of her usual robe, she wore a dress befitting the Necroport heir.
Her face-obscuring bangs were neatly trimmed, and she'd even done light makeup!
...Obviously not by herself.
"Huaa..."
Kidian sighed.
Even recalling it was tough.
Rattle rattle!
The moment she dragged what she thought was the cutest, kindest maid in the mansion to her room...
-Eek! ...I'm sorry! I'm sorry! ...I don't know what I did wrong!! ...P-Please don't eat me!... I have three little siblings...!!
The maid threw herself on the floor, sobbing.
-Wh-What are you...! ...I-I'm not gonna eat you!!
-R-Really...? The seniors... who vanished from the mansion without a trace... they said it was 'cause they got eaten...?
It was absurd.
How bad was the Necroport family's reputation for her to believe such nonsense...?
-Th-They just... retired! A-And!! There's so much delicious stuff in the world! Why eat people!?
-Eek?! ...S-So you have tried eating someone?
-N-No, I haven't! I-It was just a figure of speech!
Only after calming the trembling maid did Kidian finally get to say what she wanted.
-So... you want me to... doll up... Lady Kidian... is that it?
-....
Kidian nodded, eyes down.
-Oh my! You should've said so sooner!
In an instant, the maid's eyes sparkled, her attitude flipping.
Snip! Snip! Snip!
She started grooming Kidian, combing every strand meticulously.
-All done! Lady, look over here!
-...Is this... me?
-Oh my god! You're so pretty, Lady!! You should dress up like this all the time!
The maid gushed at the finished look...
-G-Guh... E-Enough! Y-You're done, so get out!
-K-Ki-Kidian... L-Lady?!
Flustered by the pure praise, Kidian tossed her a handful of gold coins and shooed her out.
'Did I take too much advantage?' she wondered briefly, but...
Employer-employee relationship and all— this much was fine, right!?
Bump!
The carriage jolted, drawing Kidian's eyes back to the mirror.
Rustle rustle—
Honestly, her first time being dolled up didn't feel bad.
She didn't buy everything the maid said, but...
Even to her, it looked a smidge better than usual.
"...D-Do... you think... Rian-nim... would like it...?"
Thump!
Thump!
After that shocking scene at Yuribellin Church, she'd been too focused on near-death experiences to properly protect Rian...
But now, seeing her face again and getting compliments?
"...Heh, hehehet!♥"
Imagining Rian calling her pretty, Kidian grinned dopily.
Shake shake—
'Eut?! N-No!... R-Right!... T-Today... I came prepared!!'
Kidian clenched her fists.
Today, she wasn't here as 'Kidian,' the 'Nakadashi fan'.
She was here officially as 'Kidian Necroport,' Necroport heir, to protest to 'Rian Ludwig'!
Contrary to the rumors, the Necroport family wasn't evil.
Aside from taking souls as loan collateral...
They paid taxes and saved like any normal family.
But...
'I-I have feelings of pure love too!! If you keep trampling my purity like this...!!'
Then she'd have no choice but to play the 'Necroport' people expected!
Clop!
Clop!
The carriage slowed, stopping a short distance from Rian's mansion.
Slide—
The Headless Knight opened the door, and Kidian commanded,
"Wait here a moment..."
She gave her bangs a final check in the mirror.
She'd confirmed it dozens of times on the way, but just in case?
Smooth smooth—
'Yeah!... Th-This should... do...!'
Nodding, Kidian took a deep breath, stepped out, and declared,
"A-Alright, l-let's go in!!"
