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Chapter 12
Rocinante was deceived somehow, but Diego is the real problem.
Sigh.
Diego let out a loud, exaggerated sigh, clearly meant for me to hear, as he openly displayed his displeasure.
“This was a complete waste of time. To think you would take such a brazen fraud as your ward—I feel utterly betrayed by your judgment.”
“That is unfortunate to hear.”
Diego rose from his seat, passed by Wilhelm, and came to stand directly in front of me. His condescending gaze looked down on me as if I were an insect.
“I’ll be reporting everything I saw today to the Imperial Department of Magic. Expect a warning notice soon.”
Speaking about me to Wilhelm rather than addressing me directly—it was his way of saying I wasn’t even worth talking to. I didn’t care about being ignored, but if a malicious warning letter reached the duke’s house, I might not be able to stay here anymore.
That can’t happen. My revenge hasn’t even begun yet!
Did he really think I’d let a petty bastard like him trip me up so I’d live out this life as pathetically as the last one? Never. But at this moment, I had no solution.
I was stuck, not knowing what to do, when Zerodines spoke up as if bestowing a favor:
— Levietta. Relax your left hand.
My left hand—the one that bore the seal from when I bound Zerodines.
What’s he planning?
If anyone had a way out of this, it would be the archmage. With Diego as our common enemy, I decided to trust him.
I let my left hand go limp and hang down. Then something shocking happened.
My hand’s moving on its own?!
As if remotely controlled, it lifted and aimed at a flowerpot taller than me. Mana gathered in front of my open palm. The condensed energy erupted into blazing crimson flames that annihilated the target.
BOOOOM!
A massive column of fire punched through the ceiling before fading away. Even seeing it with my own eyes, I could hardly believe such monstrous firepower existed.
If someone took that hit head-on, not even bones would remain. Even if it was Zerodines casting through me, this was my power?
For a moment I froze in shock. Then sparks flew toward me and snapped me back to reality. I turned just in time to see the tree in the large pot reduced to ashes.
Oh no, what have I done?!
Please don’t tell me that was his treasured plant—like some old man’s only companion. Please.
Pale-faced, I bowed and apologized to Wilhelm.
“I… I’m sorry, my lord.”
“Raise your head, Levietta.”
I looked up at the gentle tone. His face was still as stern as always, but somehow he seemed kind.
His gaze fell on the destroyed flowerpot, and to my surprise, his eyes looked… satisfied.
“The Grimlores do not bow easily. It’s fine to fall behind, and it’s fine to stumble. But do not become servile.”
“Yes. Then, I—”
“As long as I live, no one will drive you out of this house.”
Of course, that meant he could still expel me whenever he changed his mind. Judging from the mood, that wasn’t likely right now.
Still, it was too soon to relax. Seeing the triumphant smile on Zerodines’s face gave me a very bad feeling.
— No, Levietta. You will go to the imperial palace. Escorted by Diego, no less.
Of course. The scheming bastard had planned this.
In my past life, Diego had craved power so much he treated Zerodines like his dearest friend. If Zerodines had been a woman, Diego probably would have married him. That’s how close they were.
And now, in front of Diego, I had just unleashed a towering column of fire. The conclusion was obvious.
“Levietta Grimlore.”
I tried to step back, but Diego was faster. Closing the distance, he loomed right before me.
His arrogant face filled my vision, and under his brown hair, his red eyes gleamed with obsessive possessiveness.
“I shall make you my crown princess.”
I’d heard of confess → proposal, but no confession → immediate declaration of engagement? That was a first.
It didn’t sound romantic at all. What he really meant was: Be my steppingstone to greater power.
Because of the emperor’s isolationist policies, healing magic hadn’t developed. Assassination attempts had grown rampant as a result, and except for the emperor—who secretly kept a personal healer—everyone in the imperial palace was constantly under threat.
Thus, “substitute fiancées” were common. The crown princess-to-be would taste food first for poison, try on objects first for contact toxins, and serve as a shield at public events. No prince would refuse such protection.
And if she was from a noble family, she could also increase his influence in high society. But Diego aimed even higher.
Considering most princes married around the age of ten, Diego still being single at thirteen meant only one thing: he wanted a crown princess with great power.
That’s why, in my past life, he stole my power and married Eve Maria.
And even then, it had been a one-sided devotion from her. She sacrificed everything—sealing the archmage, offering Diego my power—yet he never loved her.
It wasn’t enough for him. After taking the archmage’s power, he sought healing abilities too, and so he abandoned Eve Maria to wed the saintess of the Holy Nation.
A villain’s predictable fate.
Later, Rosinante—the male lead who had long secretly loved the saintess—intervened to stop their marriage. His actions finally ended the drawn-out war between the two nations, and his love with the saintess was fulfilled.
Still feels bizarre that the immature Rosinante here is supposed to be the same man as the future hero.
Lost in thought as I looked at Rosinante, Diego mistook my expression for shyness and burst into hearty laughter.
“Can’t even look me in the eye? So overwhelmed, are you?”
He was too wrapped up in his own grandiose gestures to care how I felt.
“Take lessons in proper conduct, bow your head obediently, flutter your lashes sweetly now and then—you’ll earn my affection. Don’t be afraid.”
What is this, the Joseon dynasty?
Why had Eve Maria fallen for this narcissistic piece of work? Well, birds of a feather flock together.
But I had no interest in collecting garbage, so I turned him down.
“I’m sorry, Your Highness. That would be… difficult.”
“I said I’d grant you the honor. It may seem too much for you, but there’s no need to decline.”
As if the empress would ever accept a common-born like me. And why should I endure humiliation just to be Diego’s princess?
I’d chosen vengeance because I didn’t want to suffer anymore. If my method of vengeance was to keep swallowing insults, what would be the point? I had other, better candidates for a husband—or should I say, for a bounty.
“No, Your Highness. To put it bluntly, I don’t want that.”
Diego’s face froze as if I’d slapped him. Clearly, he had never imagined I’d refuse.
“Other than being lucky enough to be born with talent, you meet none of the standards. And you dare to say no to me…?”
His shock quickly twisted into rage.
“I showed you kindness, and this is how you repay me?!”
Predictably, Diego lunged at me. I didn’t move, trusting Wilhelm would intervene.
But unexpectedly, it was Rosinante who became my knight.
“Stay away from the lady!”
Thud! Rosinante charged forward and rammed into Diego’s side.
Caught off guard, Diego stumbled. But only for a moment.
“You dare touch me?”
Smack! Diego’s fist struck Rosinante, sending him sprawling to the floor.
The male lead—future hope of the empire—collapsed in front of me!
“Your Highness!”
Terrified, I rushed to shield Rosinante. That, of course, only enraged Diego further.
“Ha! Birds of a feather indeed. You’ll pay dearly for this foolishness!”
A dangerous red light flickered in Diego’s eyes as he revealed his magak—his awakened imperial power.
This is bad!
Every member of the Dractarion imperial family was born with a unique ability. Rosinante hadn’t awakened his, which was why people treated him as defective. But Diego had.
And Diego’s awakened power was…
