Chapter 13
Chapter 13
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 13
Chapter Title: The Emperor's Command
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"Thank you for trusting me, Your Majesty."
Ryan bowed his head in greeting.
Why would he offer that place to me? Had he decided to change his ways?
No, people don't change that easily.
Granting him the palace meant the work there was finished.
...Had he found another place for murder? Or was he ordering me to repeat the massacre there?
As Ryan sank into thought, Emperor Kies's voice flowed into his ears.
"What about the lady of the Etwar Marquis House? I hear she's been meek lately, staying cooped up at home."
Ryan flinched at the mention of Marso's name.
In the past, he wouldn't have even mentioned Marso, the one person he couldn't bend to the imperial will—a real headache.
The moment her behavior shifted slightly, he brought her up. It had to be because of the mines.
"She wouldn't have crossed my mind before, but things are different now. That house controls two mines—no, magic crystal mines at that. Marry into it, and the imperial family could monopolize magic crystals entirely."
"Aren't the mines we already have enough?"
"We need more magic crystals."
Emperor Kies's eyes gleamed with greed. He showed no sign of backing down easily.
Ryan realized at once.
[So that's what this is about.]
The sudden summons, the talk of massacring mages—it was all to explain why he needed to push this engagement forward.
Magic tools made from magic crystals, especially chains and shackles, were highly effective for controlling and killing mages.
Of course, this was hushed up as a state secret by the emperor, who wanted to monopolize those tools.
Emperor Kies was also the one who'd cleverly used the press to tarnish the reputation of magic tools.
The rumors about mages were the same.
"Think it over carefully, Ryan. Consider what you must do for the imperial family."
"...Yes. I'll think of a better way."
"A better way? I'm not sure such a thing exists... but fine, I'll hear your answer later."
Emperor Kies furrowed his brow at Ryan's words but grudgingly allowed it. Ryan knew well that his patience was shorter than a rat's tail.
After finishing his talk with Emperor Kies, Ryan pondered deeply.
If he couldn't find something to satisfy him, there was no escaping this engagement.
That meant marriage to Marso Etwar—the very woman he despised.
[No.]
He had to avoid it, if only for Resuan's sake. She was already in poor shape lately, which worried him.
The next talk would be after Emperor Kies returned from the massacre.
He had two weeks. Two options: explain Resuan's merits to the emperor, or point out Marso Etwar's fatal flaws.
[There are rumors she's been trying to take lovers lately.]
He needed to investigate those rumors more closely. The easiest way would be to use the spy planted in the Etwar Marquis House.
Suddenly, Marso's words flashed through Ryan's mind.
"I hope Your Highness suffers as much as I've suffered from now on."
People don't change easily.
"Marso Etwar really is holed up in her room, just as she said. She only makes magic tools through merchants, and even that's just to stay inside. Your Highness, I think she might really have changed."
Ryan pressed his lips together.
Marso Etwar's words to him couldn't have been sincere.
The woman who had so obsessively loved and desired him was showing a different face now—to let his guard down, no doubt.
He could plot to crush Marso Etwar precisely because she was a villain.
She deserved such treatment.
Unlike the kind and lovable Resuan.
After Darsi left, I spent my ordinary days waiting for his return.
Staying home wasn't so bad.
I'd already raided the capital's most famous dessert shop and even hired their patissiers for a full day to make every dessert I liked.
Sitting in the glass garden, I savored the table laden with sweets piled so high the legs might buckle.
This was apple pie topped generously with tangy-sweet stewed apples, that was tiramisu with moist ladyfingers and mascarpone cheese. These were macarons layered with ruffles.
I felt lonely at times eating alone, but the thought of the stress from dealing with people made those feelings vanish.
Human relationships are the hardest thing in the world.
"I need a break."
This place was paradise, just for me.
As I went to slice into a cake topped with luscious strawberries, Leti came running.
"Miss, Resuan is here!"
Such appetite-ruining news on a good day.
I shook my head with a sour expression.
"Tell her to leave."
"...She's already inside."
What? Before I could respond to Leti, the garden door burst open. Resuan stood there.
Her neatly groomed hair, her pretty eyes sparkling to stir anyone's pity—she strode toward me purposefully.
...She looked so much like someone coming to get dumped that I was speechless. Up close, those teary eyes seemed ready to burst into sobs any second.
Spotting me, Resuan rushed over.
"Marso! I came because I want to talk."
...Ha. A hollow laugh escaped me. Even I, who'd tolerated Resuan's actions so far, found this uncomfortable.
This was my space. Not a place for her to barge in freely.
As anger surged, my mind strangely calmed.
Leti, standing behind Resuan, bowed her head with a cowed expression. When she looked up, her lips moved silently. She was comforting me.
[...It'll help you, Miss.]
Of course, it didn't comfort me at all.
[Father let her in.]
Not everyone can just show up unannounced and meet me. For her to be allowed into the mansion and guided to the garden meant the current master of the house had approved it.
From Marquis Etwar, who provided only material things and no real interaction.
Resuan thrust a gift box at me. As I stared at her silently from my seat, she hurriedly spoke.
"Marso. I've thought a lot, and I realized how hard it must have been for you. The more I thought, the more I saw my mistakes."
The gift, wrapped in bright yellow with a soft silk ribbon, showed she'd put thought into it.
But that wasn't reason enough for me to accept it.
I could hear the perfect day I'd had cracking bit by bit.
Dabbing my mouth with a handkerchief, I issued the order to leave.
"Out, Resuan."
With a refreshing smile.
For a moment, the faint smile on Resuan's lips faded. But she didn't budge. Her voice was resolute, almost annoyingly firm—like the heroine's determination.
[...Marso, I don't want you to hate me.]
Her words left me speechless.
She wasn't used to being hated.
Ah, I get it. Someone used to being loved would feel that way even more.
But what about me?
I'm just an ordinary person, unfamiliar with both being loved and hated.
But since possessing this body, I'd desperately endured people's hatred. I'd silently taken the ugly, dark emotions Resuan could never understand in her lifetime.
A small bloodstain on a pure white dress. Not overwhelmingly prominent, but nagging at you until you can't ignore it, forcing you to do something.
Was I that to Resuan?
Leti mouthed at me again. Her attitude, urging me to resolve things nicely, drew a hollow laugh.
No, Leti—which side are you on?
She usually obeyed me well, but taking Resuan's side at a crucial moment was a real problem.
[She came here prepared for this much.]
I placed the gift back in Resuan's hands and smiled brightly.
"Resuan, the world won't crumble if one person like me doesn't like you."
Goodbye to playing nice.
"There are plenty of people in this world who'll love you."
Resuan shook her head frantically at my words.
"What are you saying? Plenty of people to love me? There must be people who love Marso too. You're such a wonderful person. You just haven't met them yet."
Should I say her head is full of flower fields?
No, is that the heroine's quality?
Finding the positive in everything, anywhere?
"Why don't you want me to hate you?"
I asked the main point flatly.
[...Because thinking you hate me makes me feel bad—]
"So, you want to make up with me just because it bothers you? Ignoring my feelings entirely."
"No! I thought of you that much too. I missed you."
It sounded like dialogue between heroine and hero, but this was the villainess and heroine struggling.
If I hadn't reached out first all this time, she wouldn't have contacted me.
Even months ago, when she'd vanished without a trace, her late apology hadn't included missing me.
So she'd treated me like a fish on the hook until then.
There's one reason Resuan missed me now.
Because I was trying to leave her side.
[...After hearing what you said, I realized how careless I'd been—I'm ashamed. Let's get along well again. I was so happy a year ago when you suggested we be friends. We've gotten along great until now.]
She grabbed my hand tightly. I raised an eyebrow, replaying her words.
Hm, she thought we'd gotten along well.
First, I needed to shatter her illusion that everything had been going smoothly.
"Resuan."
I opened my mouth firmly.