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“Ensure that refugees and those plotting rebellion can enter together.”
“……!”
A violent ripple went across Iana's eyes.
Just before Charles detached himself from Iana, whom he was holding, he surveyed the surroundings and delivered an important message.
“Highlight the Empress's incident to divert the Emperor's attention. And……”
“…….”
“From now on, stay with me in my room. That way, we can respond immediately to anything that happens.”
Charles's face was calm as he finished speaking, but his eyes were resolute.
“Yes, I will,”
Iana nodded and replied.
“Then I will go to the outer castle now.”
Charles caressed Iana's cheek and walked towards the gate.
Clear sunlight fell on his broad shoulders.
Iana watched Charles's receding figure and thought.
'Your Highness, what will become of us?'
✦ ✦ ✦
After that day, the rumor that poison had been found in the Empress's food, combined with the falsehood that Riel would become the Empress, spread like wildfire.
In society, on the streets, wherever people gathered, there was talk of only one person.
The Villainess of Rubena.
A woman who stole the husband of her mistress, who had grown up like a friend, and who, as the Emperor's mistress, was trying to poison the Empress.
With rumor added to rumor, Riel had become, in an instant, the greatest villainess of Rubena, committing all sorts of evil deeds.
Ten days later, Riel was sitting in her room, listening to the healer tell her the news of the world.
“The Villainess of Rubena……”
Riel murmured with a thoughtful expression.
“Well, rumors tend to spread sensationally, don't they?”
The healer, who had delivered the news, watched Riel's reaction.
Riel asked, as if throwing the words out.
“What about the Empress?”
“The rumors about the Empress……”
The healer couldn't continue, looking troubled. Riel gave a twisted smile and said, as if to herself.
“There must be a flood of sympathy. A benevolent and pitiful Empress being harassed by a wicked mistress. Isn't that right?”
“Well, the Empress is very trusted by the people of the Empire, so there's that too. She often holds charity events and visits orphanages in person, so……”
“Indeed, the Empress's Diane family has done many things that the people of the Empire would like.”
When Riel was young, the Diane family had sponsored the Estina family's orphanage and formed a relationship.
At that moment, a good idea flashed through Riel's mind.
“That's right. The orphanage.”
“Yes? What about the orphanage?”
The healer tilted his head.
“I heard that the Empress will visit the orphanage she sponsors in a few days.”
A smile spread across Riel's face as she finished speaking.
The healer thought for a moment and asked with a surprised expression.
“Surely, you're not saying you're going to that orphanage now, are you?”
“I will go. So tell the Duke to come there as well.”
Riel answered firmly.
“The Duke, too?”
“I'll be attending unexpectedly, without the Empress knowing.”
“The public opinion is so bad right now, what if something terrible happens if you go out?”
The healer tried to dissuade her with a worried expression, but Riel said confidently.
“Public opinion is very violent. If you fear it and avoid it, it will torment you more cruelly. So I'm going to compete head-on without avoiding it.”
“Still……”
“The orphanage is a very good place to reverse public opinion.”
Riel knew it well. The moment she broke the prejudice of being a villainess, public opinion would be reversed.
'Let's appear more frugal, benevolent, and beautiful than the Empress.'
“Then, I will tell the Duke that.”
The healer had no choice but to answer.
As the healer was about to bow and leave, Riel asked him, speaking to his back.
“By the way, why is Count Dietrian's investigation so slow?”
More than ten days had passed since the investigation began.
Several people from the Empress Palace had been called in as investigators, but there seemed to be no progress in the investigation.
The healer turned around and said, lowering his voice even more.
“Even though the Duke urged him, it seems that it is not easy to find a clue.”
Riel gave an irritated order.
“If there are no clues, tell him to make them.”
“…….”
“There's nothing to be gained for us by dragging it out.”
“I will pass that on.”
The healer bowed and left the room.
Riel got up from her seat, walked to the window, and opened it.
Flutter-.
A white butterfly landed on a flowerpot placed by the window.
Just like in Ervin.
Riel recalled Carrion, who had gone to Ervin with her, as she watched the scene.
'Count Dietrian was dragging his feet back then, too. He didn't want to give up his position as the head of the investigation team.'
She thought that he would probably be even more so now.
Because everyone had no choice but to be mindful of Carrion.
Herself, of course, as well as the Empress and Iana. And Duke Havel and Grand Duke Ervin.
Carrion would surely try to take advantage of this situation by dragging it out for a long time.
'How should I deal with Count Dietrian?'
As Riel pondered, she slowly reached out to catch the annoying butterfly.
The butterfly fluttered its wings slowly, unaware of anything.
The moment Riel was about to grab the butterfly, her mind changed.
She waved her hand and chased the butterfly away.
With a heart that showed mercy to a weak being that would not live long.
'Let's leave Count Dietrian alone for now.'
Riel thought, gazing wistfully at the receding butterfly.
'Because he's the first person I'm going to get rid of when I become Empress.'
✦ ✦ ✦
That night, Iana was also standing by the window in Charles's room, thinking.
'It's time for Riel and Duke Havel to move……'
Carrion was deliberately delaying the investigation.
The Riel that Iana knew was someone who had to control every situation herself.
If things didn't move the way she wanted, Riel would definitely step in herself.
Iana was aiming for that point.
'How will Riel move?'
Iana was deep in thought when she felt something prickly touching her head.
She was startled and turned around to see Charles had approached her and was brushing her hair.
“You, you startled me.”
“What were you thinking so deeply about?”
Charles's hand movements as he brushed her hair were quite skillful.
Since living in Charles's room, he had brushed her hair every night.
“It's time for Riel to move. I was thinking about what kind of scheme she would come up with.”
Iana was lost in thought again as he brushed her hair.
Charles chuckled at the sight.
“Iana, you're not even thinking about brushing your hair anymore.”
“Yes?”
“At first, you said you would do it yourself, that you could brush your own hair.”
Iana turned around and tried to make excuses when Charles chided her.
“It's not that, it's just that Your Highness does it for me every day……”
“Look forward. You're messing up the hair I worked so hard to brush.”
At his words, Iana pouted and looked forward.
Charles laughed softly and started brushing her hair again.
“Lady Riel is probably the same as you. No, everyone will be.”
“What?”
“People act according to what they are used to. Just like you don't brush your own hair because you're used to me brushing it for you.”
“Do you have to make your analogies so annoying?”
Iana turned her head slightly to argue, and Charles grabbed her small head with both hands.
“I told you to look forward.”
“…….”
Iana grumbled softly as she looked forward.
Charles spoke in a serious voice.
“Think about it. You know Lady Riel better than anyone else, don't you?”
'What did Riel do in this kind of crisis?'
Iana carefully retraced Riel's actions as Charles advised.
'Riel acted more boldly the more she considered it a crisis.'
She reversed the atmosphere with such bold and confident appearances.
At that moment, a word came to her mind.
“Head-on confrontation.”
Iana muttered to herself.
Charles, who had finished brushing her hair, turned her around and asked.
“Head-on confrontation?”
“Riel will soon appear in front of people……”
Iana recalled the words Riel had said in her last moments of her previous life.
“I'm just showing people what they want to see now. The image of a benevolent Empress embracing her enemies.”
“Not as the Villainess of Rubena, but as a benevolent Empress.”
Charles, who had been listening to her quietly, said as if throwing the words out.
“Then it will be in three days. The day Her Majesty the Empress goes to the orphanage.”
At Charles's words, Iana raised one corner of her mouth.
“Then I should go too.”
“…….”
“To properly reveal Riel's true nature.”
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