Chapter 30
Chapter 30
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 30
Chapter Title: The Deception of the Empress
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“…….”
“…….”
“…….”
“…….”
Iris, Lize, Erika, and Claudia were still dumbfounded by the scene unfolding before their eyes.
Where on earth had the original lord gone, and why was his daughter Aurora—dressed in an elegant gown—sitting on the sofa, chatting with the newbie?
For them, who had never once had a good experience here, the mansion’s atmosphere feeling this peaceful and warm was utterly unfamiliar.
The table laden with delightful snacks, the maids behaving with perfect courtesy, the absence of that pig leering at them with disgusting eyes—all of it.
Aurora opened her mouth with a bright smile.
“First, my apologies for the atrocities committed by that pig bastard. And yet, my thanks for your efforts on behalf of our city, despite everything. Knight Commanders of the Silver Dawn Knights.”
Aurora rose from the sofa, lightly lifting the hem of her dress with both hands, bending her knees slightly, and bowing her head in greeting. The four stared straight ahead in a daze.
They knew full well that failing to respond to such a greeting was rude, but their minds couldn’t keep up with the situation, so their bodies remained frozen.
They wondered what exactly they were seeing. As if fully understanding their bewildered state, Aurora let out a soft “Fufu.”
“I fully understand how you Knight Commanders must feel. It must be so confusing. Even I was at first. If I felt that way, I can only imagine how you must. Please don’t think me rude for a moment.”
“Um, th-that, Lady Aurora. What on earth is going on…?”
“We should clarify titles as well. From now on, address me as Lord. Or Aurora Lord is fine too. Call me whatever feels comfortable.”
“……Pardon?”
Claudia echoed blankly, her expression plainly showing disbelief.
“Because that pig bastard is dead.”
Lize dropped the snack she’d been about to pop into her mouth. Iris gripped her teacup so hard she shattered it. Claudia’s mouth fell open. Erika choked and pounded her chest.
“That pig bas…… No, the lord is dead?”
“Feel free to curse him as much as you like, Lize Knight Commander. Whatever you call him, whatever title you use, I won’t mind. In fact, I encourage you to use even more insulting ones.”
Lize had started to call him “pig bastard” out of habit but caught herself, thinking it improper to refer to a father that way in front of his daughter—yet Aurora’s reaction was the opposite.
She was encouraging even more derogatory terms.
“He was merely the biological father who passed on imperial blood to me—nothing more. Not a family member with whom I shared human bonds. Look. Even now, what am I calling that pig bastard?”
“Ah, I see. Then, Lord.”
A pleased smile bloomed on Aurora’s face. It truly was a delightful sound, no matter how often she heard it. Yes, she should have been sitting in this seat all along.
Of course, she couldn’t have done it alone. The one who made this achievement possible was someone else. Her golden eyes flicked toward the man munching on snacks a short distance away.
Lize paused in thought upon seeing Aurora’s gaze linger on the newbie with a sticky, affectionate glint, but she snapped back to reality at the sound of her voice.
“Yes, speak. Lize Knight Commander.”
“……Ah, yes. I’d like a detailed explanation about that pig bastard’s death, if that’s alright?”
As Lize voiced the question they were all dying to ask, three pairs of eyes filled with curiosity fixed on Aurora.
No, the questioner too, so four pairs. Aurora calmly met their gazes and brought her teacup to her lips.
“Of course I’ll explain. Now, let me go through it step by step from the beginning.”
‘Wow, it’s a lie I came up with, but she makes it sound so real. Does Aurora have a talent for acting too?’
Just as we’d rehearsed beforehand, Aurora gave the knight commanders only the surface-level reason. Revealing the truth afterward was my job.
How I’d subjugated the headless armored knight and “happened” to find a book possessed by a demon.
How I’d brought the book to the lord to discuss disposal methods in secret, but he sent me away, blinded by greed, and tried to summon the demon himself.
Fortunately, the demon in the book was greatly weakened, so there was no significant damage.
But as a result, the lord became half-human, half-demon, and per imperial law, I stripped him of all rights, erased his records, and took his place.
Aurora explained so fluidly and confidently, even fleshing out any parts she felt were awkward, making the lie all the more convincing.
“That is the full account of the incident, Knight Commanders.”
Finishing her explanation, Aurora lifted her teacup as if parched. A gulp echoed. The drawing room was so silent that even the sound of swallowing tea reverberated clearly.
It took quite some time before conversation resumed. Iris, who’d been staring blankly at the ceiling while sorting her thoughts, cautiously spoke up.
“……To be honest, it sounds utterly absurd. Aside from the fact that he was the type to summon a demon out of sheer greed, the rest feels like a dream.”
“But it is an event that undeniably occurred.”
“Yes, Lord. I know. If someone had told me the same story you just did, I would’ve snapped at them to swing their sword one more time instead of spouting such ridiculous lies.”
“Ridiculous lies…… I see.”
Aurora chewed on the words with a smirk. Knowing full well that half her explanation was a lie, it must have felt ironic.
“By the way, newbie.”
“Yeah?”
Silver eyes turned to me. I’d just been about to tag-team with Aurora to reveal our real plan to the four.
“After hearing all that, one question comes to mind.”
“……?”
I blinked, wondering what Iris was getting at. There shouldn’t have been any flaws, even with Aurora’s additions. I mentally reviewed the explanation for slips.
And surprisingly, I quickly pinpointed the issue.
“There’s no way you trusted that lord more than us. If you’d really found such a book by chance, you would’ve come to us, not him, to discuss disposal.”
Only then did Aurora’s face show a flicker of realization.
Of course. Considering the lord’s reputation in this city was utter trash, going to him first for advice made no sense from the start. Iris had nailed it.
That excuse might fly with the emperor, who didn’t know the local situation or mine—“I’d only recently joined the Silver Dawn Knights and didn’t know he was such scum”—but the knight commanders? No chance.
“You’re right. Good catch. Just as Iris said—if I’d really found that book by chance, I would’ve consulted you all, not that pig bastard.”
I admitted it readily. I’d planned to reveal the real plan around now anyway. The timing was just advanced a bit.
“You admit it easily. So, where does the lie begin and the truth end?”
“About half truth, half lie. The lord turning half-demon is true. No damage to the surroundings is true. Aurora taking his place is true. The rest is all fabrication.”
“I get the gist. Then, why feed us the false plan first?”
“Because someone needs to buy it. There’s a big difference between hearing a lie knowingly and unknowingly, right? That’s why I wanted to ask what felt off to you all. Plus, your cooperation makes the plan more airtight.”
“……Someone who needs the plan? Who?”
“The one who’ll soon come to the basement to beat down that demon.”
At my vague words, Iris looked puzzled, then paled as realization dawned, staring at me.
“Newbie, you don’t mean……!”
“Exactly as you think, Iris.”
Lize, Erika, and Claudia beside her wore the same shocked expressions. Faces drained white, hands trembling, they gaped at me as if questioning what they’d just heard.
“His Imperial Majesty the Emperor. He’s the one who needs to swallow the plan we just described.”