DSWM 03

Chapter 3

“Everyone, leave!”

At Yan’s command, the maids exchanged glances before filing out of the room.

Still in shock, I stared up at the tall man standing before me.

This is really Yan?

The same Yan who, in the novel, was the steadfast and gentle captain of Crown Prince Alfred’s Royal Guard?

Now he rudely grabbed my shoulders and shook me.

“You can’t even die, so why did you try to kill yourself? Did you think that would cancel the wedding?”

“…!”

A cold sweat ran down my back.

In the original story, Yan remained loyal to Crown Prince Alfred until the very end.

He was a tragic figure who fought to stop Michael’s schemes to seize the throne.

But—

The Yan in Sinclair’s memories was nothing like that.

He stabbed his older sister for amusement and threatened to throw her off the top of the castle.

To Yan, Sinclair was no different from a helpless yellow chick tossed off a rooftop for fun.

I was confused.

It was like discovering that a famous influencer who portrayed himself online as a kind, respectable young man was actually a pathetic bully who abused vulnerable women behind the scenes.

Which version was the real one?

Still…

Right now, I was Sinclair.

To survive, I had to deal with him according to her memories.

I slapped away the hand gripping my shoulder.

“Stop.”

“Stop? If you were scared, you should have said so. You’re going to break the promise you made before God like this?”

A promise before God?

That sounds… important.

I needed to find out more.

“I became afraid the more I thought about it.”

“You said you were afraid you wouldn’t be able to protect the Crown Prince. Were those just lies?”

Yan looked down at me as though trying to crush me with his chin.

I never knew someone’s height could feel so offensive.

“Crown Prince Alfred?”

“That’s right! You said there was nothing you wouldn’t do to protect Crown Prince Alfred!”

My eyes widened.

The protagonist of the novel—the one whose pure-hearted love had healed my heart after all those awful ex-boyfriends.

I made a promise to protect him?

“Of course the Crown Prince must be protected!”

The words came out before I could stop myself.

I sounded so sincere that Yan visibly relaxed.

“Then prove it by killing him soon. Don’t do anything stupid.”

I froze.

Kill someone… for Alfred?

In God’s name?

Was this some kind of hidden backstory?

I needed more information.

I decided to bait him.

“It won’t be easy.”

“That’s why you agreed to become that child’s stepmother.”

That child?

Stepmother?

“Theodore?”

I tested the name.

“Yes. Theodore.”

What…?

A chill ran through me.

Kill Theodore… for Alfred?

Michael and the Emperor sent me here… to murder Theodore?

So this political marriage had been arranged to eliminate the cursed child.

Unable to endure it any longer, Theodore eventually murdered his stepmother brutally at the age of ten.

I had finally found the key to escaping my death flag…

But my head throbbed.

Ugh…

What kind of ridiculous transmigration is this?

A stepmother who tries to kill her stepson on the Emperor’s orders… only to be torn apart instead?

Seriously?

No.

I absolutely refuse.

You hear me, you terrible author? Give me back every cookie I spent on this novel!

Give me back every Like, every comment, every heart I left on every chapter!

“Sinclair.”

Yan stared at me as though reaffirming our agreement.

“If you pull another stunt like this, I won’t let you off.”

Unbelievable.

This bastard is a psychopath.

Hey, you lunatic.

Sure, I’m a huge Alfred fan.

But you think I’d commit murder?

Absolutely not.

How could anyone ask a person to kill their own stepson?

Morally.

Ethically.

Humanly.

Besides…

If I did that, I’d be the one ripped apart and burned alive.

You can only talk so casually because you’ve never met Theodore as he truly is.

Theodore was evil incarnate.

Countless people disappeared under the terrifying power hidden in those eyes alone.

It was absurd.

And this leech expected me to kill him?

Forget Theodore.

I needed to deal with this parasite first.

“Get out.”

Yan glared at me.

“Our agreement is canceled. Leave.”

“Aren’t you afraid of divine punishment?”

God?

If a god punished someone for refusing to keep that kind of promise…

then that wasn’t a god worth worshipping.

Still gripping my shoulders, Yan shook me as though grinding coffee beans.

At this rate my brain is going to spin out like it’s in a centrifuge.

…I’m tired.

He’s going to keep harassing me to kill Theodore every chance he gets.

No.

First, I need to fix that habit of putting his hands on people.

I kicked him squarely between the legs.

Something soft connected solidly with my shin.

Oof!

Yan clutched his most precious possession with both hands before collapsing to his knees.

His pupils unfocused.

Drool trickled from his mouth.

Making strange choking noises like a lost roe deer crying in the middle of the night, he toppled over.

Hmph.

Three years ago, when my ex-boyfriend beat me after breaking up with me…

I should’ve done exactly this.

I pulled the bell cord.

The head maid and the other maids rushed inside—

Then froze in horror.

“Call the guards waiting outside.”

“Yes!”

The youngest maid sprinted out.

A few moments later, six armored knights hurried in.

The moment they saw Yan lying on the floor, their eyes went wide.

“Captain!”

Several rushed toward him.

“Stop.”

My cold, low voice froze them in place.

“Who’s in charge here?”

I slowly looked each knight over.

None of them answered.

Instead, they all glanced toward the knight standing in front.

Oh?

So that’s how it is.

Sometimes authority had to be demonstrated.

Just then—

“…Sinclair…”

Yan tried to force himself upright despite the pain.

I swung my high heel straight into his face.

“Urgh!”

He crashed back onto the floor.

The guards stared in stunned disbelief.

Honestly.

What a waste of the martial arts I’d trained so hard to learn…

Using them on trash that bullies the weak just to feel strong.

“So?”

“I asked who’s in charge.”

I spoke quietly.

“Have you still not managed to remember my name?”

One knight swaggered forward with obvious annoyance.

So he’d answer…

but not respectfully.

That’s a problem.

Subordinates only became arrogant when they had powerful backing.

Just like how the chairman’s son at my school had dared swing around a blowtorch and explosives because of who his father was.

These men looked down on Sinclair because Yan treated her like dirt.

When dealing with troublesome students…

You had to make an example of someone early.

That made the rest of the year much easier.

Back in the twenty-first century, human rights made harsh discipline impossible.

But this was a feudal society.

I straightened my posture.

Locked my hands behind my back.

Put strength into my diaphragm.

And, using the voice of a drill instructor straight from hell—

“Attention!”

The knight frowned and looked down at me.

“Attention.”

Without changing my tone or expression in the slightest, I repeated the command.

This time…

He actually smirked.

…You’re laughing?

As he turned back toward the other knights with a foolish grin—

I jabbed two fingers straight into the only exposed part of his armored body.

His eyes.

“Aaagh!”

That had to hurt.

Those maids did give me rather long fingernails earlier.

The knight clutched both eyes and bent over, letting out a scream like a pig being slaughtered.

“All of you are dismissed.”

“How dare you allow my younger brother into the future Grand Duchess’s dressing room while I was changing?”

“And on my sacred wedding day, no less.”

The knights froze like statues.

“Take those two and leave.”

I gestured toward Yan and the captain.

Only then did the other guards hurriedly carry them out.

Turning back toward the head maid, I spoke calmly.

“You’re dismissed as well.”

“And if today’s ceremony is anything less than perfect, I’ll report everything to the Grand Duke personally and have you severely punished.”

The faces of the head maid and the others turned deathly pale.

* * *

“Wow!”

When I entered the bridal waiting room after changing clothes, Theodore—who had been waiting with a flower basket—lit up with a dazzling smile.

He was prettier than any flower.

Michael, having already heard what had happened in the dressing room, looked ready to explode with anger.

Upset because I fired the maids and guards you planted around me?

Hmph.

Whatever information you wanted to gather… whatever ridiculous orders you planned to give…

Things won’t go your way anymore, Sir Michael Owen.

Ignoring him completely, I smiled warmly at Theodore.

How had Sinclair spent five years trying to kill such an innocent child?

For the first time, I pitied the Theodore who would one day become the devil of the novel.

When I held out my hand, Theodore immediately came over and took it.

Together, we began walking toward the exit.

Then—

“His Imperial Highness, Crown Prince Alfred von Zeyer, has arrived!”

the attendant announced.

Could it really be Alfred…

The one who saved my heart?

Escorted by knights and attendants, the Crown Prince entered the bridal waiting room.

That’s right!

Earlier they said the children were coming.

Maybe Alfred is one of today’s flower boys!

Filled with anticipation, I looked toward the young prince.

A seven-year-old boy with curly blond hair and sparkling emerald-green eyes walked toward me.

He was only about as tall as my waist.

His rosy cheeks matched his fair pink complexion perfectly, and his immaculate white uniform fit him flawlessly.

Beaming brightly, he said,

“Aunt Sinclair, congratulations on your wedding!”

So Sinclair is Alfred’s aunt…

“Theodore von Zeyer greets the Little Sun of the Beatria Empire, His Imperial Highness the Crown Prince.”

Theodore bowed politely, placing his right hand over his left chest.

Like a proper Crown Prince, Alfred merely gave a small nod before approaching me.

“Your Imperial Highness… Alfred?”

“Yes, Lady Sinclair von Zeyer, future Grand Duchess.”

“I heard you collapsed on your wedding day.”

“I was worried.”

The corners of Alfred’s eyes drooped sadly, and his lips puffed out with concern.

Oh my goodness…

That worried expression…

The very one he always showed the heroine…

I’m seeing it in person!

The emotional moment was instantly ruined.

“It is her first wedding, after all.”

Michael interrupted.

“She must have been nervous.”

There he goes again.

I shot Michael Owen a sideways glance.

Only then did I remember exactly who he was.

When the Crown Prince left the palace to wage war against the demons and the Empire was in crisis…

Michael attempted to murder the Emperor and seize the throne for himself.

He died a miserable death.

I see…

He wanted to become the Empire’s most powerful in-law.

His eldest daughter became the Emperor’s consort…

And he married me off to the Grand Duke, first in line to the throne.

Then he ordered his own daughter to murder Theodore, who stood second in succession.

What a despicable man.

Even if Sinclair was an illegitimate child born to a witch…

She was still his daughter.

Yet he treated her as nothing more than a disposable tool.

Monster.

“Aunt Sinclair?”

Realizing I had been glaring at Michael like a flatfish, I quickly turned back to Alfred.

A smile naturally spread across my face.

“Yes, Your Highness.”

Alfred held out his tiny hand.

To find comfort…

Even in this cursed world…

Without thinking, I released Theodore’s hand and gently took Alfred’s instead.

I pressed it softly against my cheek, savoring its warmth before bowing respectfully.

“It is an honor to meet the Little Sun of the Beatria Empire in person.”

“Welcome to the Imperial Family.”

Looking into Alfred’s emerald-green eyes, I fought back the emotions threatening to overwhelm me.

My lips trembled faintly.

But…

There was one thing I had completely overlooked.

In my eagerness to take Alfred’s hand…

I had carelessly let go of Theodore’s.

Feeling slighted, Theodore stood frozen.

His expression had become colder than the icy snows of the Demon Realm as he glared silently at Alfred.