Chapter 159: Dragon's Eye, Human Heart (23)
Chapter 159: Dragon's Eye, Human Heart (23)
Lately, Cien’s mood had been anything but pleasant.
Born as the Fifth Princess of the Empire, she had lived a life of enviable power. Dozens of attendants catered to her every whim, and her wealth was inexhaustible.
In such an environment, there were few things that could truly sour her disposition. Yet recently, Cien’s spirits had plummeted to a level bordering on clinical depression.
It all began after her conflict with a certain man. From that moment on, her mood had been on a steady decline.
It was as if every subsequent event was a reminder that looking down on that man had been a catastrophic blunder.
She had gained nothing, yet she had lost much.
First and foremost, the honor of her escort knights had been dragged through the mud.
Four Imperial Guards had been annihilated by a single third-year Academy student. To make matters worse, they had been defeated so overwhelmingly that there wasn't even room for excuses.
No matter how talented an Academy student might be, they weren't supposed to be a match for the Imperial Guard Knights. And yet, despite launching a pincer attack, the fight had been decided in a mere exchange or two.
It was a disgrace so profound they could hardly show their faces in public.
Furthermore, the honor of a subordinate is directly linked to the prestige of the master they serve.
These were talents she had handpicked with great care, yet public opinion of Cien had soured instantly following that single defeat.
People didn't just question her eye for talent; rumors were circulating that she lacked the character to attract truly capable people in the first place.
Cien had worked tirelessly to cultivate a positive public image. It wouldn't have been strange for her to lose her mind with rage right then and there.
Her eyes hadn't been wrong.
And she certainly didn't lack charisma.
Whatever her true inner thoughts might be, outwardly, Cien was the very image of an ideal princess. If she chose to entice someone, there were plenty who would gladly bow their heads to her.
The only reason her trusted knights had been defeated was simply that their opponent was an outlier—a being who defied all standards.
Ian Percus, a man who had suddenly surged into prominence.
She had thought she could make him hers for a bargain price. Cien was well-versed in human psychology and sensitive to the currents of desire.
If there was one thing she was confident in, it was her ability to read people.
But that confidence had been utterly shattered.
Those indifferent eyes, which seemed devoid of greed for wealth, power, or even fame.
Could such a being even be called human?
Perhaps it was more accurate to call him a monster wearing a human shell.
No, he wasn't a monster; he was a devil.
No, no. He was a jerk. A piece of trash, an insubordinate subject who didn't know how to respect the Imperial Family, and a pathetic man who lacked even the basic courtesy to be considerate toward a woman.
How dare a mere lower noble, a mere lower noble...
Cien gnawed on her lip, cursing Ian inwardly. In her frustration, she found herself stomping her feet.
"Ian Percus...!"
Just thinking about that day made her blood boil.
She could accept the defeat. Honestly, it was the height of humiliation, but if she had simply lost her cool for a moment after having water thrown on her, it might have been understandable.
But what she found most unbearable was the emotion that had been seared into her heart that day.
Fear?
Fear was not an emotion befitting a member of the Imperial Family, who looked down upon the entire continent. Yet, on that day, Cien had undeniably felt terror.
She hadn't even dared to meet Ian's eyes.
That fact was etched into her mind like an indelible scar. She felt as though she would go mad if she didn't repay that humiliation in kind.
No one was allowed to look down on her.
Cien had waited for a while, giving him space. She had intended to overlook his excessive insolence if he came to her, begged for forgiveness, and kissed her feet.
But too much time had passed.
Irreversible choices carry a price, and Cien had ultimately chosen the most cruel method available to her.
She already knew exactly when a human feels the most intense pain and loneliness. Cien immediately began targeting those around Ian.
This was the consequence of daring to insult the Imperial Family.
As a child, Cien had vowed never to be ignored again. Her world had changed since that day, and she intended to keep it that way.
Though her life had been short—barely twenty years—this was the first true enemy she had ever faced.
She would crush him thoroughly to set an example.
She planned to attack his family and his associates, dragging his reputation into the abyss until he understood what it felt like to have the entire world turned against him.
Of course, a sliver of hesitation remained. It wasn't as if Cien took pure joy in unilaterally destroying someone.
But if the opponent refused to bend, the only option left was to break them.
Once that conclusion was reached, all that remained was action.
Cien mobilized the Academy Branch of the Imperial Intelligence Bureau, which was operating under the guise of the Newspaper Club.
Rumors were spread instantly, an atmosphere of hostility toward Ian and his circle was fostered, and with the Five Great Noble Families moving, a crisis was set to befall the Percus territory as well.
It was perfect.
She expected Ian to come crawling to her, weeping and begging for mercy, any moment now.
That is, until the Academy's Newspaper Club suddenly and inexplicably changed its tune.
[The Truth of That Day That 98% of Students Didn't Know! Does Ian Percus Actually Have No Weaknesses? The Yurdina Family is Shocked, and the Imperial Family is Stunned! "If You Mess with Little Ian Percus, You're Absolutely F*cked."]
"...What is this trashy headline?"
That was Cien's blunt reaction upon seeing the front-page headline that day.
Even the cheap rags sold in the back alleys wouldn't use such a title. Cien fell into deep thought for a moment.
Should I suggest to Father that we improve the quality of the Imperial Intelligence Bureau?
But what was even more shocking was the reaction of those around her.
The woman who had been peeking at the newspaper in Cien's hands let out a bitter smile. She was an elegant maid with refined features and graceful black hair.
She was the Head Maid, the one who had looked after Cien since she was a child.
Alongside Irene, she was one of Cien's closest confidantes. She was currently attending to Cien in place of Irene, who had been mired in despondency since her recent defeat.
The Head Maid was also quite formidable in terms of martial prowess.
Of course, she was no match for Irene. Still, she was capable enough to buy Cien time to escape in an emergency.
She had also once been a member of the Imperial Intelligence Bureau. Because of this, Cien inwardly believed the Head Maid's judgment was reliable.
Until she heard what the woman said next.
"It seems they put quite a bit of effort into that headline."
"...This?"
Cien looked at the Head Maid with eyes full of disbelief.
Because the princess was so beautiful, even her expressions of doubt looked adorable. Moreover, the Head Maid had served her since childhood.
The Head Maid chuckled, finding the princess's reaction cute. Cien looked slightly embarrassed by the warm affection radiating from her.
As sensitive as she was to hostility, the princess was equally weak to genuine goodwill.
She couldn't help but be soft toward someone like the Head Maid, who consistently showed her kindness.
"Of course. It reflects the current trends quite well. You need provocative titles like this to get more people to look. And regardless of the quality of the content, the information begins to exert influence the moment it's read."
"...The Newspaper Club has sided with that lower noble?"
Cien let out a hollow laugh, unable to believe it.
However, the more she listened to the Head Maid's explanation, the more undeniable the fact became.
He had won over the Newspaper Club. This meant that the lower noble had effectively seized control of the Academy Branch of the Imperial Intelligence Bureau.
But how?
Unable to fathom the reason, Cien had tried to contact the Newspaper Club. But the response she received was always cold.
They claimed they 'always respect the right of the subject to respond,' or some such nonsense.
It was laughable. These were the masters of mass agitation and information manipulation.
Weren't they the ones who had subtly distorted the testimonies and memories of the dozens of people who had witnessed Ian slaughtering Cien's escort knights?
For people whose entire profession was turning lies into truth to talk about the 'right to respond' was absurd.
What was even more unbelievable was that the Head Maid's prediction came true.
As the Newspaper Club began its full-scale manipulation of public opinion, the perception of Ian took a sharp turn for the worse.
The problem was that this 'worse' perception had shifted to him being a 'madman who will cut off your limbs without a care for expulsion or anything else if you provoke him.'
The students who had previously intended to use the princess's backing to attack his 'expulsion' weakness were now forced to hesitate.
No matter who they were, no one wanted to deal with a mad dog that would bite anyone. This was a conclusion anyone capable of rational thought would reach.
Gaining the princess's favor was important, but wasn't one's own life more precious?
In an instant, the harassment directed at Ian and his associates vanished.
Around that time, Cien was pacing in front of a certain door with a sorrowful expression.
Finally, as if having made up her mind, she cautiously knocked on the door.
There was no answer from within.
Cien let out a deep sigh and had to add one more thing.
"It's me, Cien."
At that, she felt a slight flinch from inside.
After a long while, the firmly closed door creaked open just a crack.
A woman with mysterious blue hair appeared. She had been a female knight who boasted the beauty of a delicate flower, but now she looked somewhat drained of life.
It was inevitable, considering she had been holed up in her room all day. Having avoided physical activity for so long, even her once-firm muscles seemed to be softening.
Cien's eyes darkened as she watched the decline of her favored knight.
"...Your Highness."
Irene hung her head low, as if she couldn't bear the shame. Cien's face filled with worry.
"Irene, please come out now... okay? What happened that day wasn't your fault."
Cien's tone was desperate. She was someone who cherished her own people deeply. Seeing Irene turned into a shut-in recluse was painful for her.
After all, hadn't Irene only been trying to protect her?
But despite her master's plea, Irene only offered a bitter smile.
"I am sorry. Please, just a little more time..."
"You—you said that two days ago, too! Please? Just go out for a walk, meet some people... Should—should I give you a vacation? I'll give you as much as you want, so please, just go outside! A—a bonus! Yes, I'll give you a bonus too! Zeros, whose arm was cut off last time, is currently back in his hometown receiving treatment..."
Thud.
Without fail, the door closed again today.
A tiny voice, barely audible, drifted from behind it.
"...I am sorry."
To think that the daughter of the noble Lupemion family, the loyal knight Irene, had been broken by a single defeat.
Then again, the moment she stepped outside, she would hear the sounds of people mocking her and the other escort knights everywhere. It would be the same within the Lupemion family and the Imperial Guard Knights.
Cien knew all too well what it felt like to have the whole world laughing and mocking you, so she couldn't bring herself to say anything more.
She simply turned away, her shoulders slumped.
As she trudged down the stairs and reached the lobby, she found two elegant envelopes waiting for her.
The seals bore a crest resembling a dragon. It was the Imperial insignia.
Cien looked at the two envelopes with curious eyes and opened them one by one.
[Cien, I heard you've been having a hard time lately. Should your big brother lend you some escort knights?]
[Little sister, I don't care what you do, but please do not disgrace the honor of the Imperial Family. Hundreds of years of history rest upon our shoulders. You'll never ascend to the throne anyway, but keep this in mind: always be careful and watch your conduct.]
Cien's grip tightened on the short notes.
Her shoulders trembled as she crumpled the letters into balls. She didn't even need to check the senders.
It was obvious they were from the First Prince, Vilteon, and the Second Princess, Iris. Cien's repulsive older siblings, who were so obsessed with power they would kill their own kin.
Just thinking about them sitting in the Imperial Palace with smirks on their faces made Cien feel like she was going to lose her mind.
No, she had already lost it.
Cien let out ragged breaths, placing a hand on her forehead.
She brushed her bangs back, but then, unable to contain herself, she began to frantically mess up her hair.
Her hands moved faster and faster. Before long, her beautiful dark blue hair was a tangled mess.
Even so, Cien couldn't suppress her fury and let out a scream of pure desperation.
"I—an... Percusssssssss!"
She couldn't take it anymore. She couldn't live like this.
Cien's light gray eyes, filled with rage, turned cold and sharp. Yet, a faint heat flickered within them, proving that she was currently far from sane.
He had seized control of the Newspaper Club, turned her cherished knight into a shut-in, and caused her reputation and the Imperial Family's standing to plummet to the point of being mocked.
Never since her childhood had things gone so poorly. A manic hostility took root in Cien's eyes.
Yes, this was all Ian Percus's fault.
So, she just had to get rid of him. She felt she wouldn't be satisfied until she went to him right this second and forced an apology out of him.
And so, Cien shouted in a voice thick with a rage that was unlike her.
"...Head Maid! Bring Irene here!"
The Head Maid's eyes widened at the furious command.
It had been a long time since she had seen Cien this agitated. But thinking back, it was understandable.
She had been under extreme mental strain for over a week now.
The reputation she had worked so hard to build was crumbling one by one, and her favored knights had either been broken or had long since left for the countryside.
In the midst of all this, the opponent she had vowed to crush had instead taken over the organization under Cien's command. Because of that, he had suffered virtually no damage.
To top it all off, she had just been mocked by her siblings, with whom she had a terrible relationship. It would have been stranger if she hadn't snapped.
Nevertheless, the Head Maid tried to dissuade Cien out of loyalty.
"Your Highness, even so, Sir Irene needs some time to compose herself..."
"Enough! Tell her to come down this instant! I've heard that excuse dozens of times already! I'm going first, so tell Sir Irene to follow me on her own!"
The Head Maid tilted her head in confusion at Cien's words.
"You're going first? Where to?"
As if waiting for that question, Cien flashed a cold smile.
"...If one piece has escaped my board, I just need to bring in a new one, don't I?"
It was shortly before she would once again pile up more things to regret.