I, the Female Lead, Ruined the Original

“I-I’m sorry…!” [Contractor.] The empress’s expression was so cold that the boy started apologizing even though he had done nothing wrong. I knew someone like me shouldn’t have obtained something grand…! But it wasn’t my will… “The one who knows everything… yes. It’s the sword of the founding ancestor.” “…” “The symbol of the revolution.” Saintess Arshilla’s voice reciting each word clearly sent chills down the boy’s spine. “Through that sword, a lowly person, whose destiny did not include the king’s achievements, founded a dynasty.” [Hmm…] “Destiny has chosen the first prince as the next emperor. That destiny must be realized for my sake as well. But…” The moment Arshilla moved her hand, Rakrensius found himself unable to breathe. An invisible force gripped his neck, lifting him up. The saintess’s pitch-black eyes looking down at him seemed like the deepest abyss in the world. At that time, Rakrensius didn’t know the empress was a saintess, but the overwhelming fear he felt from her was enough to make him sense an inhuman presence. “Of all things, how did you come to possess Asmion’s sword? What a coincidence.” “But, I-I have no intention of claiming the throne…!” “Well, I can’t trust you, who are nothing by nature.” Nothing? It was an incomprehensible word, but the boy could only tremble. “Will you become the subverter of this world or just go with the flow?” “I-I’m truly innocent…” What fire flickered in Arshilla’s jet-black eyes as she looked down at the boy’s eyes? “But ironically, since you are born of imperial blood… I will give you the only choice.” Suddenly, the force choking him disappeared. The boy, thrown down, lay flat, trying to escape the terror. “Only you and I should know that what has fallen into your hands is Orot’s reverse scale.” Yes, yes…. The boy, separated from his mother and fallen into a foreign imperial family, wasn’t begging for life because he didn’t want to die. He just wanted to escape the current fear. “For your lifetime, do not even dream of serving a cause.” The young boy, not even knowing what he was pleading for, nodded repeatedly, gasping. “Do your best to remain harmless. Ensure that you do not influence the path set by the imperial family in any way.” “I-I understand…” “Do not cherish anything. Only covet what is most trivial. Do not covet anything carelessly.” “T-Then, may I, leave the imperial palace…” “I will be watching you.” The saintess’s chilling words echoed, ignoring the boy’s vow. “Prove your harmlessness. You must prove it with your life.” “Yes, yes…”The moment the boy managed to respond, the suffocating fear that had gripped him dissipated. With a soft rustling sound, the silk fabric of the empress’s attire brushed against itself, and before he knew it, she had the gentle face of a foster mother. Arshilla, uncomfortably bending her waist due to her pregnant belly, wiped under the boy’s eyes and continued speaking. “Now, calm down. Do you plan to show your father, whom you haven’t seen in 13 years, a trembling fawn?” “N-No…” The boy barely replied, taking a deep breath to calm his pounding fear. Arshilla, who watched this with satisfaction, returned to where she originally stood and snapped her fingers. The frozen emperor started to move again. “So, this was used by the ancestor from the kingdom era…?” He still spoke as if he knew nothing. * * *How dizzying it must have been for the thirteen-year-old Rakrensius to suddenly find himself in the ‘normal’ space. At that time, only a very small part of Arshilla’s words were understandable to Rakrensius. Thus, it only remained as a fear of not displeasing the empress. The words not to value anything dearly… I shouldn’t have forgotten them. If only he had…. In his closed eyes, the beings who were harmed because of his negligence passed by. Even though he hadn’t attached himself to anything or anyone since then, in the end, he was irresistibly captivated by Selleana and repeatedly fell for her temptations. From that day at the Arnem Hotel right up to this moment. So, the lady lost her close friends who shared secrets with her because of me… Just like Momo Penders lost his memory, the stray cat lost its life, and the gardener lost his health… Those he held dear, those he carelessly cherished… were harmed because of him. But. Now that he was driven to this point… it was too unfair. He was no longer the powerless thirteen-year-old prince in the back room, and most of all, he could no longer imagine a life without Selleana, his light. …I won’t be swept away easily anymore. As long as Selleana wouldn’t be harmed… he didn’t care about anything else. * * *“Are you sure you can go alone?” “Yeah, it’s fine. It’s not like it’s something so important that I need to bring Lady Branto along, right?” “But…” Michi furrowed her eyebrows in concern behind her round glasses. “Rest up. Once the negotiations are over, things will get really busy.” “I-I guess you’re right.” “Of course. We also have to prepare for Rosi’s farewell party…. It’d be great if we could all go on a trip during the selection contest, right?” “Yes, that’d be great…!” “Keep the house safe, okay?” With that, Selleana was seen off by Michi at the entrance of the east building. It was difficult to negotiate with the empress right away, and Rosalli had decided not to immigrate, but… the truth of the matter didn’t concern the two of them. Selleana didn’t want to bring Michi anywhere near the empress right now. If I go… she’ll probably end up meeting that prince again. It didn’t feel good to doubt her friend, but it was better for Michi, who was still worried about Selleana, to feel at ease for now. Michi was probably anxious and unable to leave because of a threat from the prince. “Dame Andy.” “Yes.” “Please take care of things today as well.” “… I’ll be off then.” Since Andrea had first started tailing Michi, she had been assigned to that task and disappeared into hiding. On my side, there’s Sir Pulina and Sir Deren, so it should be fine. There was no reason for any incident to happen on the way to the imperial palace from Elard. But… it was the first time Selleana was going to the palace alone since Michi came to the duchy. Has it been seven years since I started living with Michi? How did I endure that time without Michi before? Selleana shook off her bittersweet thoughts. If today’s meeting with the empress yielded valid answers, everything could return to normal soon. It has to. While trying to remain optimistic, Selleana soon reached the main building’s entrance. Aiven was waiting to teleport her. “Milady, you look beautiful today as always. Lady Branto isn’t coming with you?” “Yes. Her Majesty requested to see me, so I didn’t want to burden her.” “I see….” The head butler, knowing the tension between Elard and the imperial family, quickly understood. He also knew Michi’s true identity was quite different from what others thought. Normally, Selleana wouldn’t leave Michi behind no matter who she met, but it seemed like a reasonable choice in his eyes. “Would you like to take any other maids?” “No. I might meet some friends after it’s over… Thank you, Aiven.” “You’re welcome.” The butler smiled, wrinkling his nose at the lady, who was like a grandniece to him. Even though he, who had the Nepelsian class system ingrained in his bones, didn’t see the lady’s decision to refuse the position of the crown princess as wise, he thought that the young generation might have their own values, especially if it’s this wise lady. “If I’m late, I’ll have Sir Andy report to my father.” “Please do. His Grace has been very worried lately.” “Don’t worry.” Selleana gave a bright smile to the elderly butler, then climbed into the carriage with his help. “Then, have a safe trip.” “Yeah. I’ll be back.” As soon as Selleana greeted him and closed the door. “…Uh?” There was a presence in the carriage that should have been empty, and as Selleana instinctively grabbed her locket necklace. Oh, come on. Seeing who it was, Selleana quickly relaxed and chuckled. “Milady, are you okay?” “Yes, let’s go.” At the coachman’s inquiry, Selleana knocked on the side window to signal the departure. Clatter, clatter… The wheels of the carriage began to roll on the garden’s cobblestones. “Oh, come on. You scared me.” With a playful smile, Selleana lightly tapped the man’s knee next to her. “What kind of surprise event is this?” A gentleman with round glasses and tied-up black hair. She didn’t need to make an effort to recognize him. His build was familiar, and there was only one person who could do such a thing.