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Chapter : 04
“Pardon…?”
Dieter blinked in disbelief.
Marianne spread her hand and showed him her palm.
Her palm was reddened as if burned—scorched from calming Cedric down.
“You committed the crime of attempting to assassinate a member of the imperial family. Even if it was only an attempt, that’s still a grave offense.”
“A–Assassination of the imperial family?! I didn’t do anything—!”
“If you hadn’t burst in without knocking, Count, Amelie’s forehead would be unharmed.”
Marianne cut off Dieter’s excuse coldly, then flicked her fingers as she continued.
“Then Cedric wouldn’t have become unstable, and my palm would be perfectly fine. In the end, the one who caused all this was Count Kromba—so naturally, the charge of attempted regicide applies to you.”
She smiled sweetly.
But to anyone watching, it was clear that it wasn’t a smile of good humor—it was a crooked smile born of anger.
“But, Your Highness, I merely hurried here because I wished to see you! I never imagined that foolish girl would make such a fuss over a little blood on her forehead—!”
Dieter rambled on, then slowly trailed off.
The more he spoke, the colder Marianne’s expression became.
Pressing her palm with a fresh damp cloth Amelie had quietly brought after seating Cedric comfortably in a chair, Marianne glanced at Thomas and Miel.
As expected, Miel had one hand on the hilt of his sword after hearing Dieter’s rude remarks.
He hadn’t drawn it only because Dieter was a count—but the unprocessed anger was plain on his face. In contrast, Thomas looked utterly indifferent, barely suppressing a yawn.
It was very clear who should be kept and who should be discarded. Marianne’s lips curved slightly.
“Count.”
“Yes—yes, Your Highness.”
“Would you like to add the charge of insulting a high-ranking noble as well?”
“……”
Marianne stared straight at Dieter. Under her piercing gaze, his lips flapped like a carp’s before he finally bowed his head deeply.
He was probably denying it and cursing her inwardly.
But Marianne was an imperial princess, and he was merely a count. Moreover, she was a daughter favored by the Emperor.
They likely haven’t heard yet that the Emperor’s illness has shifted much of the real power to Louis.
Which meant that, in this absolute monarchy, Marianne was at the very top of the hierarchy.
At first, possessing the body of a throwaway villainess had felt absurd. Still, if she had to possess someone, being a princess wasn’t the worst outcome.
“Both crimes carry the penalty of immediate execution, do they not, Sir Miel?”
“…Yes.”
Miel hesitated, clearly not expecting to be addressed, but soon nodded and strode over to Dieter, drawing his sword.
“Th–This is ridiculous—! Eek!”
Dieter flailed his hands and stumbled backward.
Miel had aimed the keenly honed blade near Dieter’s neck. Pale as a sheet, Dieter looked back and forth between Marianne and Miel.
Looks like he’s properly scared.
Thanks to Miel’s more-than-expected cooperation, Marianne found it easy to say what she’d thought of the moment she first saw Dieter.
Her expression softened slightly as she called out.
“Count Kromba.”
“Yes! Yes, Your Highness! I was wrong!”
“Good. If you were wrong, then you must pay for it, yes?”
“Y–Yes, of course.”
Dieter lifted his head and answered quickly.
Unable to bear the sight of his toad-like face growing hopeful, Marianne shifted her gaze.
“As I said earlier, these are crimes worthy of immediate execution. However, His Majesty has always favored you.”
“Indeed! The grace His Majesty has shown me is far beyond anything I could ever repay in my lifetime!”
If he fell into water, only his mouth would float.
Marianne resisted the urge to frown and exercised restraint.
“Therefore, in consideration of His Majesty, I will impose a fine instead of execution.”
“…A fine?”
Dieter’s eyes rolled nervously. He clearly didn’t like the sound of that.
As expected. True to his role as a villain, Dieter was extremely greedy. But no matter how much he loved money, it couldn’t be more precious than his life.
Marianne curved her lips and made a slashing motion across her throat.
“What, is it too much?”
“N–Not at all! Of course I’ll pay!”
“Good. You always carry a checkbook, don’t you? Let’s see… how about half of your annual maintenance expenses?”
“Th–That’s…”
“Compared to your life, Count Kromba, that’s quite cheap. Or would you prefer the full amount instead of half?”
“N–No!”
Dieter shook his head with a pitiful expression, but Marianne paid it no mind. The money should have gone to the ducal estate in the first place, and considering the damage he’d caused over the years, this was nothing.
If that bastard Louis had given me enough money, I wouldn’t have had to stare at this ugly face for so long.
She briefly wished that Louis would smash his toe painfully against a desk, having given her only a small pouch of gold instead of a proper checkbook.
Meanwhile, Dieter fumbled with a trembling hand, scribbled on the check, and tore it out.
“Amelie.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
“Take it for me.”
“Understood.”
Amelie approached Dieter and accepted the check. Judging by her brief pause, it seemed he’d written a reasonably honest amount.
“You may leave now. I’m tired and wish to rest.”
Marianne waved her hand dismissively. Miel retrieved his sword with clear reluctance.
Dieter touched his own neck reflexively, cleared his throat, and bowed awkwardly.
“…Ahem. Then I shall take my leave. Your Highness.”
“Go. And take Sir Thomas with you. I have no need for a knight who yawns while his master is being insulted.”
“What? No, Your Highness, what do you mean—!”
Marianne turned away. Thomas called after her, but whether Miel handled it or not, the door soon opened and closed, and all fell quiet.
Marianne gazed silently at Cedric, who remained unconscious, his face pale.
He looked so small and thin now that it was hard to imagine he would one day grow into a tall, handsome man.
I know he grows up well… but still, children should eat well, play well, and sleep well.
“Sir Miel. Carry Cedric to the bed.”
“Yes.”
“Amelie, show me the room I’ll be using. And use the check for Cedric—buy whatever the estate or servants need.”
At her words, both Miel and Amelie froze in surprise.
They clearly hadn’t expected such generosity from the infamous mad princess.
“…Thank you, Your Highness.”
“We are truly grateful.”
After a brief, delicate silence, both bowed deeply. The formality of their gratitude made Marianne feel slightly embarrassed.
“It’s nothing.”
She smiled awkwardly, though her heart felt heavy.
Amelie and Miel must have endured humiliation and swallowed their pride countless times to protect Cedric.
Yet that vile man likely offered little help to the estate.
If he hadn’t outright cursed them for being insolent simply because he was a count, that alone would have been fortunate.
The more she thought about it, the more irritated she felt.
I should’ve squeezed him for more.
“This way, please. I’ll show you to your room.”
Marianne followed Amelie, carrying a faint sense of regret.
Her room was unexpectedly close to Cedric’s.
As soon as the door opened, Marianne was taken aback by the antique furnishings, which had a similar atmosphere to Cedric’s room.
“This room… was it used by the former Duchess?”
“Yes. The guest rooms were too humble for Your Highness, so we prepared this one instead. Your luggage has been placed in the dressing room.”
Still, giving me the mistress’s room is a bit much…
She briefly considered asking to switch rooms, but recalling the small number of servants in the estate, she gave up.
They probably struggled with four people just to clean this place. Asking more would be cruel.
“Your Highness, shall we serve dinner again?”
“Hm? No, that’s fine.”
“Then I’ll prepare your bath. If you need anything, please pull the bell cord here.”
“Alright.”
Marianne nodded.
She looked around the room. Behind the tea table stood a bookshelf filled to the brim—part study, part tea room.
It was smaller than Cedric’s room, but more than spacious enough for one person.
On a whim, she passed through the arched doorway into the bedroom.
“Wow…”
Soft sunlight spilled across a massive bed large enough for five people to lie on.
Unusually, behind the headboard stood a glass wall with doors leading out to a terrace.
“This is nice.”
As if drawn by a spell, Marianne walked over and lay down on the edge of the bed.
The moment the soft sheets touched her back, she belatedly realized just how exhausted she was.
She’d woken at dawn and spent nearly the entire day in a carriage.
She hadn’t been able to sleep because of the hard bench, had to keep her back straight, and just when she thought she could rest upon arriving, she’d had to deal with Dieter.
If I fall asleep now, the bathwater will cool…
Her vision blurred, and soon her eyes closed.
“Your Highness, the ba— …oh.”
Amelie returned to guide her to the bath, only to find Marianne already asleep, breathing softly. She lowered her voice instinctively.
Even with her silver hair disheveled and dressed in attire that didn’t match the bed, she somehow looked perfectly at ease.
Smiling unconsciously at the unexpectedly gentle princess—so unlike the rumors—Amelie draped a blanket over her and quietly turned away.
She intended to fetch firewood for the fireplace, so that Marianne would be warm when she awoke.
