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Chapter : 06
Life Is Originally Exhausting (2)
Since Georgiana had been adopted into the family registry, my father would soon take her to the imperial palace to present her before His Majesty the Emperor. And at that very meeting, Crown Prince Adolf and Georgiana would fall in love at first sight.
‘Since I couldn’t stop Georgiana’s adoption, my broken engagement is now basically a certainty.’
…Wait. Hold on. Now that I think about it, Georgiana coming into the family isn’t entirely a bad thing, is it? Without her, I would’ve been forced to marry Crown Prince Adolf without any escape!
‘In the original story, Viviana loved Adolf deeply, but in my case, we’re like oil and water.’
The Crown Prince keeps accusing me of having a “fraudulent engagement,” but honestly, I’m the one who feels deceived.
‘I can’t believe the male lead was such a sly, despicable guy.’
When I read the novel, Crown Prince Adolf seemed like a perfect man. He was the one who protected Georgiana from criticism about her supposed illegitimate birth, standing up for her more than anyone else. He even told her she didn’t need to use her holy power when she was exhausted after using it. I used to think, “Ah, this is the ideal male lead who only cares about the heroine.”
But now that I’m actually experiencing it, he’s just an idiot who can’t separate public and private matters.
Worse, Adolf is only kind to Georgiana. To everyone else, he is selfish and manipulative.
‘He’s basically cheating even though he already has a fiancée. I guess reading the novel really messed with my sense of reality.’
Anyway, he’s no longer my concern. Let him fall in love however he wants.
‘All I want is to leave the capital. I don’t even want to see those two dating idiots, and I definitely don’t want to be mocked for it.’
As I frowned in frustration—
“Lady, the center of Goldwardy is you. Wherever you go, that is Goldwardy, isn’t it?”
Benjamin, who had been looking up at me like a loyal puppy, blinked as he spoke.
“…Where I go is Goldwardy?”
That single sentence completely overturned my thoughts.
I suddenly stood up and grabbed Benjamin’s cheeks, kissing his left cheek.
“Benjamin, you’re a genius!”
“Please kiss my right cheek as well.”
Without hesitation, he turned his other cheek toward me.
Normally I would’ve refused, but after solving such a huge problem, I happily kissed his right cheek too—and immediately ran to my father’s office.
“Father!”
“Vivi?”
My father was pacing in circles inside the office like a restless bee.
After a moment, he took a deep breath and spoke as if he had made up his mind.
“Vivi, I was just about to tell you something important. I have decided that I should finally tell you the truth—”
“Let’s move.”
“…Yes, I’ve decided to tell you the tru—wait, what?”
“I said let’s move! Let’s relocate the Goldwardy trading company!”
If the capital is going to burn, then all we have to do is leave it.
‘Why should I leave alone? I am Goldwardy itself!’
Let’s relocate as a group!
Later
The decision was quick, and the relocation was even faster.
Originally, I intended to move the entire Goldwardy trading company with us, but that plan was rejected because my father opposed it.
“Why? Why do we have to leave? The capital is perfectly fine…”
Yes, it will be perfectly fine—right up until it burns down.
‘Honestly, even if I told him, there’s no way he would believe me.’
Even I would think it was insane if I didn’t know the original story.
So I decided to only bring those who were willing to follow me.
My younger brother Benjamin, the subordinates from the former assassin guild (now restructured into the intelligence division), and the newly created trade team.
Once I narrowed it down to just my people, everything went smoothly.
I explained the plan to my visibly exhausted father.
“His Highness the Crown Prince will publicly announce the annulment of our engagement in front of all the nobles.”
“Th-That’s impossible. Unless he intends to sever ties with Goldwardy…”
“And then he will make Georgiana his new fiancée. Since she is also a Goldwardy, he’ll assume Father won’t object.”
“What are you talking about? Even if I carry guilt about Georgiana, I would never allow my daughter’s fiancé to be taken!”
No matter how much he raised his voice, my mind had already left that path.
“I don’t need him. That trashy man can have Georgiana.”
“Vivi…”
“Anyway, after the engagement is broken, you will announce that you are expelling me from Goldwardy as an act of apology to the Imperial Family.”
“W-What are you saying?”
A furious Crown Prince Adolf would likely interfere with my business at every turn. I needed to continue my work, and his interference would be a problem.
‘The most important thing is to avoid both Adolf and Georgiana’s attention.’
If my father simply says I was disowned due to the broken engagement, that alone should redirect attention.
“It’s not even real expulsion. It’s just for show.”
“But Vivi, then you won’t be able to return to society…”
“Stop arguing and do as I say! You’re the one who brought Georgiana here in the first place!”
“Vivi…”
After scolding my tearful father, I finalized the escape plan.
Our destination would be near the Northern Kingdom, since most of our trade was conducted there.
‘It’s a little concerning that it’s close to Drayen territory, but oh well.’
Even if we set up a company near Drayen lands, it wouldn’t matter. Karl Drayen never leaves the capital.
‘As someone closest to a pure-blood dragon, the Emperor keeps him there as a symbol.’
Because of that, when Karl Drayen eventually goes berserk, the capital will turn to ashes… but that’s the Emperor’s problem.
“Check which nearby territory offers the best benefits. We’re moving to the most advantageous one.”
“Yes, my lady.”
Even after deciding to move, there were still many things to prepare.
While I was managing everything, a letter arrived from Nanaari Drayen. It came before I had announced my departure from the capital.
I had written to her saying I was busy, that Georgiana’s arrival had made the household chaotic, and so on.
Her reply was strangely unusual.
To Lady Viviana of House Goldwardy
You always write that you are “forced to” or “pushed into” doing things.
Is there nothing you want to do yourself? I am curious about your heart.
‘Something I want to do…’
That hit me as hard as Benjamin’s words saying, “You are Goldwardy itself.”
‘Something I want to do…’
Yes. If I was already escaping the original story, maybe I could also do what I truly wanted.
My heart pounded.
Once my thoughts settled, my decision was quick.
To Lady Nanaari Drayen
Viviana carefully wrote a reply to her only pen friend.
On the white paper, my long-cherished dream slowly filled the page.
Elsewhere
The shedding process was agonizing.
Everyone called it a glorious step required to become a true dragon.
But he could not feel even a trace of joy.
‘It feels like my whole body is burning.’
He had never wanted to become a dragon.
‘I just want to live normally.’
Unable to endure the pain, he tried to cry out—but only black smoke came from his mouth.
And red flames that no human should ever produce.
He had long lost his sense of taste. Even tears evaporated instantly in the overwhelming fire consuming his body.
Was this suffering truly supposed to be an honor?
‘I am just…’
With bloodshot eyes, he looked down at a piece of paper lying on the stone floor.
It had been placed there carefully, without even being opened, as if he feared it would burn.
On the envelope, a neatly written name was visible:
Viviana Goldwardy
A faint memory surfaced—of someone placing marshmallows into his mouth, saying he was “an accomplice.”
Then it disappeared.
He closed his eyes tightly.
