I, the Female Lead, Ruined the Original

Tashur III couldn’t hide his confusion as he replied, “But you said the empress used divine power on you…”

“The empress, who arrested me for breaking the house arrest order she issued while I was outside… She wouldn’t have used divine power on me just because she found me petty, right?”

“…”

“By the way, it was Your Majesty’s son who healed my wrists, which were sore from being chained up.”

“My son, you say?”

“I mean my man.”

As Selleana raised her wrist and smiled, Tashur III swallowed hard.

“To be honest with you, Lady… I don’t exactly know what the empress’s intentions are right now.”

“Didn’t Your Majesty authorize the house arrest order with your seal? Wasn’t that your will?”

“That was part of the political marriage arrangement. To not question what she does as empress. In return, she promised to tell me where Rakrensius’s mother is, the woman I’ve loved all my life.”

Oh my god. Selleana almost glanced at the spot where Rakrensius was likely listening. “But she…”

“Yes… She sent Rakrensius to the imperial palace alone and died shortly after.”

“…”

“I tried to bring her body back for Rakrensius, but it was impossible. Being such a powerful mage, it’s presumed she used her last magic to seal herself.”

[It’s probably the first time he’s heard about it.]

Selleana swallowed her sympathy for Rakrensius, who was likely listening.

“Did she find our memories together so awful? I sometimes wonder…” The emperor waved his hand as if to forget his unnecessary words. “Anyway, now it’s all a trivial past. The only plan of the empress I know of is to safely put Pavellian on the throne as the next emperor.”

Both Selleana and Rakrensius were aware of that.

“In that case, has Your Majesty ever considered another son as a potential successor?”

“No.”

“Certainly not the fifth prince, right?”

“That’s obvious.” The emperor gave a bitter smile, filled with self-pity at the thought of burdening his lover’s son.

Suppressing her disdain, Selleana continued, “The empress believes that only if I become the crown princess can the crown prince safely rise to the throne… Do you think so too, Your Majesty?”

“Well… The council is just dragging my sons into their power struggles, but no one is in a position to surpass Pavellian, right?”

“That’s true…”

“The second and third princes already have their own pursuits outside the imperial palace.”

“Even though you think that way, you support the empress’s decision because it was the original agreement.”

“Yes, that was the agreement.”

“In return, Your Majesty found your lover but couldn’t even see her body. In the end, all that’s left is… the son you never properly cared for, the one whose wings you clipped so he couldn’t even spread them properly.”

“Milady! What are you saying to His Majesty…!” The chamberlain rebuked Selleana’s sharp sarcasm, but without the emperor’s support, it stopped there.

“Then what about the fourth prince?”

“Are you talking about Eonel…”

“Even though Your Majesty intends to pass the throne to the crown prince, the empress is wary of the fifth prince. That unfair treatment has affected even me, an Elard, so isn’t it time to make a choice?”

The empress or Elard.

The fourth prince or the fifth prince…

Selleana’s amber eyes demanded a decision from the emperor. Except for the last birthday celebration, she had never properly faced the emperor. But she read the weariness of a father who neglected his son in him. Maybe he was openly showing it because she was Rakrensius’s lover. That’s why she took a gamble.

Recalling her conversation with Di before her belongings were confiscated, Selleana clenched her hands, which rested on her knees.

“Frankly, if I only cared about my safety, I’d just flee with him. At worst, we could hide in Arancha.”

The mention of Arancha made the emperor’s eyes freeze. It was where his unforgettable lover was buried.

“But I have things I care about in Nepelsian too. I’m giving Your Majesty one last chance.”

“…”

“I thought it might help Your Majesty make a decision, so I am offering Your Majesty to speak directly.”

“Directly…?”

“Since the saintess has touched Elard, he has decided to reveal everything for my sake.” Selleana smiled brightly. “Thanks to me, Your Majesty now has the opportunity to have an open conversation with your son.”

Tashur III frowned, unable to understand her words.

The air in the seemingly empty space shimmered and formed the image of a man. The tallest among the emperor’s sons, the only one with differently colored hair. Even the chamberlain shuddered at the bizarre phenomenon beside him.

“It’s been a while, Your Majesty Father.”

“Rakren…sius…”

“…I heard what Your Majesty said to the lady.”

Eyes of the same color as his father’s shone with a lifeless light. His expression, devoid of emotions, was cold.

“Your Majesty made a deal with the saintess to reconnect with my mother.”

Such informal words were quite rude for referring to his stepmother, the empress. But there was no help for it. He had just discovered why he had been burdened with such a grim fate.

His father’s obsession with his mother. The reason he had to live lonely in the imperial palace. The emperor’s intentions regarding the current situation. Everything… The name of that emotion was resentment.

Suppressing it, Rakrensius’s throat moved slowly. “When I brought Di… my holy relic.” He showed the sword hanging at his waist. “The saintess used her divine power to deliver a message that only I could hear.”

“A message…”

“This sword is the holy relic of King Asmion, the founder of Nepelsian.”

The emperor’s eyes froze. Due to Arshilla’s manipulation at the time, he had completely forgotten about it.

Breaking numerous taboos he had kept for the past ten years wasn’t a small matter, but Rakrensius no longer cared about anything.

“She told me that since I possessed this holy relic, I could harm the imperial family. So, for the sake of the imperial family’s future, I should live as if I were dead, desiring nothing. Otherwise…” Rakrensius reattached the sword to his waist. “She would kill me.”

Though Arshilla hadn’t used that word, Rakrensius was certain. He remembered the formless power that gripped his neck.

“But, lady… Lea’s desire for me has led to this persecution, and I can’t help but feel wronged.” He approached Selleana, placing his hands on her shoulders. “Didn’t Your Majesty one say you’d help the lady for my sake?”

“…”

“So, consider it as helping me and turn a blind eye until the end.”

No matter what happens… Rakrensius’s eyes shone resolutely as he swallowed his words.

Tashur III, meeting his gaze, couldn’t respond. He had been surprised by his son’s adult appearance at his birthday celebration, by his boldness at the hunting tournament, and now by his determination to overcome any challenge for his lover. Unlike his own cowardice, burying her in his heart because he couldn’t give up his future becoming the crown prince.

After all, what did he know about his son? He had completely given up on ‘being a father’ under the pretext of protecting him from the empress.

“So, Your Majesty Father.”

At that moment, the words ‘Your Majesty Father’ sounded so intimate.

“Would you embrace me, just once?”

Seeing Rakrensius approaching with open arms, Tashur III stood up and embraced his back. Perhaps it was out of emotion.

“Yes… achieve what you desire…”

I’m sorry, I’m sorry… The emperor’s unformed sincerity crumbled in his mouth before they could take shape.

“Then, I’ll go meet the saintess.”

Rakrensius stood up without hesitation, bowed to his father, and left. Whatever his father’s answer was useless. He turned and walked slowly toward the door. No one could stop him, and his face was perfectly expressionless.

[…Indeed, not as much as the crown prince, but he’s also stepped into the Orot’s power.]

[Yes. Just be careful of the crown prince. His holy relic is essentially a shield…]

[Se-Selleana, your lover has truly fallen into darkness.]

Using magic to disappear from space, Rakrensius hid his presence again.

* * *

“His Majesty has summoned Lady Elard?”

“Yes.”

It was in the empress’s chambers at Rose Palace. Arshilla, who had been anxious after finding nothing special in Selleana’s belongings, frowned at the new report.

“For what purpose?”

“It was difficult to confirm as everyone except the chamberlain was dismissed.”

“Oh dear, oh dear…”

Arshilla’s face twisted subtly. She couldn’t just keep Lady Elard tied up indefinitely. But she couldn’t release her without any clues either. And if she tried to force her fate again, who knows what would happen to Eonel’s condition.

In a rare moment of helplessness for a saintess, her frustration grew.

“A-An attack…!”

“Magic, it’s magic…!”

The unexpected commotion outside made Arshilla’s displeasure reach its peak.