Peter wanted to kill Rowell, or rather, Annette. However, at the same time, he desired her as well. The irony of having the same reasons to want to kill and desire her was unavoidable.
It was because she was the perfect 'Rowell.'
All verifications were completed.
As soon as Peter left, Rowell struggled to rise and called a maid. She couldn't continue wearing the slip with one shoulder down forever; it was only natural. With her arms through the dress provided by the maids, Rowell became lost in thought.
"Now, what Peter desires the most is probably for me to live as Rowell."
A life spent quietly sitting in the assigned palace, breathing like a doll. That's what Peter desires the most. This way, nobles won't be able to force imitations of Rowell onto him anymore, and Peter can continue living without Rowell, just as he has for nearly a decade. In that sense, his statement that he can live without Rowell wasn't a sarcastic remark. He had lived for nearly ten years without Rowell.
During that time, just as she became accustomed to Opherta, Peter must have become accustomed to a life without Rowell. Even if his mind adapted to living without Rowell, his body might have been somewhat affected by the absence of Rowell, driving him to madness.
Now that a girl resembling 'Rowell' has appeared, it's inevitable that it would be annoying.
Even though he knows she's not Rowell, he might keep seeing her as Rowell. He will try to push her away as much as possible and keep her at a distance. So, what Rowell needs to do now is straightforward.
"Do the opposite."
Catch Peter's attention.
However, calling Peter in a disruptive way like she did before won't work anymore. Rowell has already provoked Peter twice, and she confirmed today that it could be genuinely dangerous.
But that doesn't mean there's no solution.
"If I can't move, then I'll make the surroundings move."
She gestured to one of the busy maids while tidying up her clothes.
"Prepare pen and paper."
She needs to write a letter.
* * *
Martinek Co-authoring Room. A man seated at a dark mahogany desk took off his glasses and set them down.
In the stillness where even the slightest sound of glasses touching could be loud, the man spoke.
"It seems Annette has something in mind, Ruben."
He wore leather gloves, and on the black handle, a small piece of paper was held.
Due to the encrypted nature of the letter in Opherta's style, its contents were unreadable for ordinary people. However, at least to Ruben, the servant whose name was written on the sender's address of the letter as 'Annette,' it was very clear.
"He says he has essential information. I was thinking of going to see her if there was no contact, but it seems she's not injured."
As if relieved, the man smiled gently.
In a darkly decorated room, the moonlight spilled over the man with silver hair sitting in the dimly lit room. Not too thick, but straight lines. However, his physique was not thin, showing a rigid impression.
It was Renee Martinek, the leader of Opherta and Ruben's master.
"It seems urgent, so let's handle it quickly. Organize the information Annette requested and upload it within two hours."
"Information... Whose information are you talking about?"
"Several. Examine them yourself and come prepared."
"Yes, master."
Renee threw the letter, and Ruben bowed to pick it up politely. Despite the potentially humiliating situation, the two had an attitude that seemed natural. After Ruben closed the door and left, Renee, who had rested his chin on his hand, was lost in thought. Tap, tap. The fingertips that were tapping the desk rhythmically suddenly stopped.
"...It's been a while."
Renee's face, which had a gentlemanly smile, no longer had a hint of laughter. The golden eyes of the man who was not laughing somehow reminded one of a vertically split snake's.
"You should know that there's no place for you to go other than here."
Where would someone marked by Opherta go? Wherever he went, all he would find is a coffin.
In his heart, he wanted to bring him back immediately, but since he promised to help Annette, he had to assist her.
Renee's fingertips wrote Annette's initials on the letter envelope. A faint smile appeared on his lips.
“I will support you in killing the emperor, Annette.”
So that you can come back to me as soon as possible.
* * *
The next day, in the library of the palace.
"His Majesty won't kill Annette Martinek, Simeron."
Noah Ernst, a young man with brown hair standing next to Simeron, replied indifferently while gathering documents. His name was Noah Ernst, one of the close associates of the current emperor and a former classmate with Simeron at a private academy. So whenever Simeron needed a place to discuss things, he often sought Noah's company, and today was no different.
"Annette Martinek is the most suitable puppet for His Majesty, both for him personally and politically. As long as no one suitable comes forward to replace her, she will keep her neck intact."
"A substitute for a substitute, that's amusing."
"But it's the truth, isn't it? Where else can we find a breakwater like Martinek? Even if the nobles are dissatisfied, they wouldn't dare to provoke Opherta."
The reason why the current emperor, Peter, is at odds with the nobles. Ironically, it is because he has no consort.
To be more precise, because he has never welcomed a consort, Ferdinand has inevitably gone mad.
And that is precisely why the emperors who have gone mad throughout history have always caused significant problems in one way or another.
"Didn't Kurtne II start a war? Herbertus Faje depleted the national treasury, even bringing in foreign concubines to incite unrest. There was even an emperor obsessed with superstitions, right?"
As Noah spoke, a coin was placed on top of the gathered documents, one by one.
Simeron watched them silently, picked up one gold coin, and asked.
"Do you think others believe that His Majesty will follow the same path?"
"Rather than saying they believe it, it's more accurate to say that all the evidence points in that direction. It's almost a miracle that His Majesty has endured without a consort for this long."
This statement applied not only to madness but also to the compulsion of the nobles.
Madness was not just an illness that consumed the emperor. It was a result of the power of the dragon flowing through the van Derrein imperial family. As madness consumed the emperor, the emperor's magic power also became exponentially stronger. Of course, there was a downside, as the lifespan rapidly diminished.
Kurtne II, who triggered an unprecedented continental war, possessed magical power that could instantly raze at least a village to the ground. Everyone couldn't help but fear that level of power.
Especially, considering that it was a uniquely powerful magical force and the current emperor, Peter, who had earned the title of a tyrant despite maintaining his sanity.
If the one who rose to power after overthrowing his father and all his close associates were to lose his sanity, what would happen? Nobles did not want to see the answer to that question with their own eyes.
"So everyone wants to tighten the noose around His Majesty's neck."
If they could fill the noose for their benefit or loosen it at will, it would be even better. If he was going to go mad anyway, wouldn't it be more convenient for him to go mad with a penchant for women? That was what the nobles desired.
In reality, there were not a few who were aiming for that.
Noah, casually sweeping the gold coins placed on the documents, shrugged.
"I hope Annette Martinek stays in the palace for a long time, Simeron. If Opherta endures, other nobles will naturally fall in line, won't they?"
"I agree with that, but I think Annette Martinek won't stay in the palace for long."
"Why?"
Simeron tossed a gold coin lightly and watched as Noah caught it. After observing his friend for a moment, Simeron turned away.
"You know, too, what His Majesty's purpose is."
"Oh, right."
Clack.
The hand holding the coin abruptly stopped. Noah's gaze also followed Simeron's.
"That's true. If His Majesty achieves his purpose..."
The substitute will be discarded.
* * *
The fate of substitutes is generally similar. They are either discarded or destroyed.
So, Noah thought, Annette Martinek should probably hope to be completely discarded.
Even though the entire palace was focused on the new bride, his interest stopped at that level. What mattered to him wasn't substitutes or anything like that.
'Even if it breaks, it's something he volunteered for, so there's no need to feel unjust.'
From Noah's perspective, who had plenty of other things to deal with, there was no reason or need to pay attention to Annette.
...or at least, that's what he thought until yesterday.
"You are Mr. Noah Ernst, aren't you?"
At least, until a woman with black eyes and black hair appeared in front of him, that is.
It was a fleeting moment, but Noah's mind was filled with numerous thoughts. Should he pretend to know her? Or should he pretend not to? He had many thoughts, but time was limited. Noah grabbed the first answer that came to mind.
"... I'm sorry, but this is not a place where anyone can enter. If it's a passage used by maids, it's over there."
"I am Annette Martinek. You know that, right?"
Damn it. Noah cursed silently in his mind. But outwardly, he was polite.
"Nice to meet you, Lady Annette. Excuse me, but I have a schedule, so may I ask what brings you here?"
"The meeting just ended, and for the next two hours, it's tea time where you'll be guarding no matter what you're doing."
Damn. Everything she said was correct. Noah was now at the point where he needed to wipe his energetic palms on his clothes.
If she knew so much about him, it couldn't be said that they just happened to run into each other.
'Why the hell?'
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