Chapter 22: Entering the Capital (1)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 22: Entering the Capital (1)
*
‘It worked…!’
I cheered inwardly.
Duke Winston had made his decision. He would support the Crown Prince. This meant that, unlike the original story, the House of Winston and the Crown Prince would join forces to oust the Empress Dowager—Cedric’s greatest supporter.
And they likely wouldn't fall easily to the original protagonists. Cedric hadn't yet stripped the Ducal House of its assets or grown as powerful as he was in the original novel.
‘Still, I can’t let my guard down yet.’
My opponents were the protagonists of this world. They might find a way to overcome a trial of this magnitude. Just as Dantalion had never been able to defeat the protagonists in the original story.
Dantalion’s appearance in the original work had been nothing short of shocking. It happened just when many readers were breathing a sigh of relief, thinking the protagonists would finally be happy after the villains—the Winston family and Veronica—were executed.
Dantalion, having pacified the West, led his army and stormed the Capital.
It was a display of overwhelming force. He didn't return as a celebrated war hero like he was doing now; he returned with a terrifying momentum as if to start a civil war, and he seized the Imperial Palace.
Then, he dragged the Empress Dowager from her seat and ascended the throne. From that moment on, the suffocating reign of terror under the tyrant Dantalion began.
‘He must have been out of his mind with grief over Veronica’s death.’
How must he have felt when he belatedly heard that Veronica—whom he thought was living a good life after marrying Cedric—had been framed as a villainess and executed?
Now that I understood Dantalion’s heart, I understood why he had hated the protagonists so fanatically.
However, the current Dantalion wouldn't turn into a blood-crazed tyrant like in the original. Because Veronica was alive.
I wondered if Dantalion could safely ascend the throne now, given that the Empress Dowager—whom he could barely oust even when he was completely insane and reckless—was still standing strong.
‘Well, Duke Winston decided to help. It’ll work out somehow.’
No matter how powerful the Empress Dowager was, it would be difficult for her to face both the Crown Prince, who had the support of the West, and Duke Winston, the master of the North, at the same time.
Dantalion would likely ascend the throne soon, just like in the original. For now, that was enough.
I nodded to myself, a satisfied smile playing on my lips.
*
“Yaaaawn.”
The next morning, I let out a long yawn as I woke up, having stayed up late eavesdropping on the conversation between the direct members of the Ducal House.
Had the Duke and the others said they were taking the warp portal to the Capital early today? They mentioned they wanted to be there before Dantalion arrived. They might have already left.
I was enjoying a leisurely morning, murmuring to myself, when—
Bang!
“My Lady, are you awake?”
“…?”
The door swung open, and Sophia and the maids swarmed in. I looked at them with questioning eyes.
“Nanny, what’s going on?”
“You must get ready quickly, My Lady.”
“Huh? Why?”
“Because you’re going to the Capital, of course.”
“…?”
Me? Why? Wasn't I staying here?
As I stood there with a blank expression, Sophia continued in a gentle, soothing tone.
“The Crown Prince’s triumphal ceremony is being held in the Capital today. Since the Duke and everyone else are going, you must go as well, My Lady.”
“No, but…”
“As you know, the Capital is much warmer than the North. It will be much more comfortable for you there.”
“Uh… okay…”
Sophia, chatting happily, pulled me to my feet. The waiting maids then took me to the bathroom and washed me. I let them handle me, still feeling dazed.
“Is Mommy going too?”
“Of course.”
“…”
Thinking back, I must have fallen asleep because I was tired before they got to the part about me.
Still, I had assumed they would leave me behind, so this was unexpected.
‘Were they worried about what might happen while the direct line was away?’
On second thought, it made sense to take me along.
That jerk Cedric was probably still watching Veronica and me with bloodshot eyes, and there was no telling what he would do if the two of us were left here alone.
Besides, Veronica needed to go to the Capital for something to happen between her and the Crown Prince. I also needed to see with my own eyes if things were progressing well between them.
Having changed my mind, I allowed them to dress me with a refreshed spirit. I liked that the clothes were lighter than usual since we were going to the Capital.
“Oh, you’re so adorable, My Lady!”
“Truly. Of course, you’re cute enough even when bundled up in fur coats.”
“That’s right. There’s the cuteness of being buried in a coat, and then there’s this fresh cuteness. Each has its own charm.”
“Indeed, indeed.”
“…”
Sophia and the maids giggled amongst themselves. I simply put on a bright, doll-like smile.
[Ooh, Master. Are we going back to the Capital?]
‘Yeah, we are.’
[Then my body there…!]
‘Nope, rejected.’
[Argh, why?!]
Desmond wallowed in frustration, unable to let go of his attachment to his actual body. Seeing this, Bibi, who was hanging onto my shoulder, clicked her tongue.
[Hmph, you don’t know the greatness of this tiny, cute doll body! How pitiful!]
[Shut up, you pervert!]
[What did you say?]
Taking advantage of the moment when the maids weren't looking, Desmond and Bibi started bickering.
Even so, it was just a pair of stuffed dolls throwing fluffy cotton punches at each other.
Click.
“Dia, are you all ready?”
“Whoa.”
The door opened, and Veronica walked in.
I stared at her, mesmerized. Dressed in a gown as white as snow, Veronica was breathtakingly beautiful.
“Mommy! Pretty!”
“Yes, our Dia is pretty too.”
“Mommy is waaaaay prettier!”
“Hehe.”
Veronica came over and hugged me. She seemed to be in a good mood, and she smelled even more fragrant than usual.
I wondered who she had dressed up so beautifully for. I giggled inwardly as I snuggled into her arms.
“Are you ready?”
“Uncle!”
Vincent entered and asked in a gentle voice. Seeing the two direct descendants standing side by side, they seemed to glow even brighter.
As expected, being pretty and handsome is the best. It’s thrilling.
I took one of Veronica’s hands and one of Vincent’s hands and walked out of the room.
“You’ve come.”
The Duke was also waiting for us, dressed in more formal attire. All the direct members of the Ducal House were gathered in one place.
“Where’s Auntie Etti?”
I asked, curious about Henrietta’s absence. Vincent replied with a bright smile.
“Etti has some business to attend to, so she’ll be coming a bit later.”
“Ooh, I see.”
But I already knew. I had eavesdropped on their conversation the night before.
Henrietta’s maiden family was one of the influential families in the East. Furthermore, they had remained neutral until now. If she could persuade them to support the Crown Prince, the Empress Dowager would find herself facing the West, the North, and the East all at once.
Having been entrusted with such an important mission, Henrietta would arrive at the Capital a little late. And I had no doubt she would succeed.
“Then, let us go.”
“Yes.”
Inside the mansion was a warp portal connected to the townhouse in the Capital. Creating a portal that could transport this many people to the Capital at once would cost an astronomical amount of money, but for the Ducal House, it was likely nothing.
Vrooooom.
The magic circle engraved on the floor vibrated and emitted a bright light. Perhaps because I had experienced it once before, it didn't feel as wondrous as it had then.
“Wow.”
What I was impressed by was something else. It was the sight of the Ducal townhouse.
“Welcome.”
An elderly middle-aged man in a tuxedo bowed to us in greeting.
He seemed to be the butler in charge of the Capital townhouse. Behind him, numerous servants were lined up in rows.
“And the room?”
“…”
The Duke asked the butler abruptly. The butler’s gaze flickered toward me.
“…?”
Why is he looking at me?
Just as I thought that, the butler spoke.
“It is prepared.”
“We shall go there at once.”
“…?”
Everyone except me naturally followed the butler’s lead.
The Duke carried me and walked with purposeful strides. I was just bewildered.
“…!”
Then, we entered a certain room. At a glance, it was a room any child would love.
Countless cute dolls piled high, a bed with white and pink lace, charming furniture, and numerous blocks and toys.
It was truly a paradise for children. Even though these things were useless to me, an adult on the inside, my jaw dropped.
“Hmm, quite decent.”
After checking the room, the Duke nodded in satisfaction. His gaze turned toward me.
“How is it, Dia?”
“Uh… well…”
“If you don’t like it, shall I have it redecorated from scratch?”
“Whoa, it’s great. The room is pretty.”
Because the Duke looked like he would flip the room upside down the moment I showed even the slightest hint of dislike, I forced myself to act like I loved it.
Honestly, he’s too much. Really too much.
As I stood there still dazed, the Duke continued.
“In the North, you arrived so suddenly that we didn't have time to prepare properly.”
“…”
“Your room in the North will be changing soon as well.”
“…”
I wondered what kind of sight would be waiting for me when I returned.
I was a little excited, but also worried. Today, as always, the Duke was showing off his doting-fool tendencies without reservation.