I, the Female Lead, Ruined the Original

“What in the world is this…!”

Arshilla stood up abruptly and approached the window. In the Rose Palace garden, the members of the empress’s faction she had gathered were standing in groups, all looking in the same direction. The white light was flashing from one of the towers in the main palace, where the emperor’s office was located.

Arshilla’s eyes narrowed as she confirmed the location.

“I-I will go find out what’s going on…!” Seeing the empress’s usually calm demeanor change, the guard who was reporting the situation from the main palace hurriedly tried to leave.

“No.” Arshilla made a short gesture, and the guard’s legs froze. “I will go.”

“B-But—”

“I need to see with my own eyes if His Majesty is safe and if that insolent criminal has done something.”

With that, Arshilla walked briskly out of the office. The guard’s eyes widened as the door opened without being touched, and he quickly followed the empress.

“You all, prepare ‘that room’.”

With another short gesture, the priestesses from the temple retreated as if they had been waiting for her command.

As Arshilla walked swiftly down the hallway, swinging her arms a few more times, the paladins assigned to escort her appeared in a formation from the other end of the hallway. Although no direct orders were given, they joined her in the middle of the hallway and followed her down the stairs.

“If it’s magic…”

A grinding sound came from between the saintess’s clenched teeth.

* * *

The sudden sound that rang out from within the imperial palace startled the forces in a standoff outside the imperial palace walls. These forces were the imperial guards and the private soldiers of the Elard faction. The situation was peculiar. Among the imperial guards were those who had ties to the noble houses, and leading the Elard soldiers was Peredo Elard, the vice-captain of the imperial guard.

Moreover, none of the imperial guards truly understood the current situation. Why had the imperial family issued a house arrest order for Elard? What had Lady Elard done to be arrested for defaming the imperial family? Was it simply because she refused to participate in the crown princess selection and favored another man over the crown prince?

Doubts were not part of their duty, which emphasized obedience. However, they were part of Nepelsian nobility, and Lady Elard’s scandal was the most talked-about topic of the season. Hence, they couldn’t shake off their doubts.

As the standoff continued, a phenomenon occurred inside the imperial palace. A white light flashed, and an alarm sounded from the tower in the main palace where the imperial family awaiting judgment were confined.

“That light… It looks like the one we saw at Rondel’s garden party…!”

“Wasn’t it Viscount Miniel?”

“Then, is Lady Elard in there…?”

“Could it be a rescue signal…?”

Peredo, who hadn’t attended the party, dismounted his horse amidst the murmurs inside and outside the imperial palace walls.

“Vice-Captain!”

“Sir!”

“Stop!”

He disarmed his comrades, who blocked his way with the hilt and edge of his sword, and walked leisurely to the main gate. The heavy wooden door behind the usual iron gate was closed, blocking the view inside. Beyond it, Peredo sensed a familiar presence.

“Captain, let me in.”

“…”

“I know you’re there, even if you pretend not to be.”

“

, this guy… No matter how much you love your sister, what about someone like us who had no youngest sibling?” The captain of the imperial guard, supervising the situation from inside, sighed.

“Did I forget that Captain is the youngest?”

“Good grief.”

“Something is off here. You don’t think the house arrest order is justified either, do you?”

“It’s not our place to question orders from His Majesty, who we have sworn our swords to…”

“I’m sorry, but today, I must wield my sword for my sister.”

At that moment, a commotion erupted inside the main gate.

“S-Sir, soldiers from Elard are approaching the back gate…!”

“What!”

It seemed that Theonis had successfully infiltrated the imperial palace by sneaking in with a few elite troops. Whether he had used the distraction caused by Peredo or had acted out of urgency after seeing the alarm, Peredo wasn’t sure.

With a smirk, Peredo jumped over the imperial palace wall while the commotion continued inside the gate.

“S-Sir Peredo!”

“Do you want to write a report again?”

“You insolent Vice-Captain…!”

“If you’re jealous, ask your mother to give you a younger sibling!”

“My mother is turning seventy next year!”

The complaints of his comrade followed behind the knight racing for his sister.

* * *

Selleana was peering through the curtains, looking out at the imperial palace grounds.

“They’re bustling in the Rose Palace. Oh my, look, my brothers, they still have some loyalty? I thought they’d leave me alone, siding with the imperial family and Elard.”

“If the duke and your brothers knew how much Lady underestimated their family love, they’d be disappointed.”

“Come on, call me ‘Lea’ like before.”

“Lady…”

Selleana pulled Rakrensius’s arm, who was standing behind her, to hug her shoulder.

“Still, it’s fortunate that His Majesty cooperated. If he had sent me back to the underground prison, I wouldn’t have been able to come up with this plan.”

“Perhaps… His Majesty also hoped that Lady would do something.”

Just as he hoped Duke Elard would realize something.

After facing the Emperor, Tashur III ordered Selleana to be confined in the tower of the main palace, where the imperial family was imprisoned. Though he was initially shocked, Tiel Orelli, an imperial guard, complied with the emperor’s order over the empress’s command. Thus, Selleana was placed in a room far more comfortable than the one she had initially been confined in. Moreover, it was equipped with windows.

According to the plan she had discussed with Di, Selleana tore the scroll to draw attention across the entire imperial palace.

[

.]

At that moment, Di made a surprised sound.

[The powerful energy of Orot… Yes, it seems the saintess is coming.]

“

. She must be in quite a hurry. The effect is undeniable.”

“…Lady…” Rakrensius muttered, pressing his nose against Selleana’s neck. His broad back trembled slightly. “I can’t help but worry about you…”

“Don’t worry. Just follow what we learned.”

What we learned…

During the hunting competition’s treasure hunt, the fourth prince said.

So, they were trying to force the empress to reveal her hand.

“Seeing Sir Peredo coming, it seems like it’s only a matter of time before the main gate of the imperial palace is breached.”

Selleana chuckled as she saw Peredo running toward the main palace, chased by guards.

“She probably panicked because her power didn’t work on me. If she has a trump card, we’ll find out now. Then, Mr. Sword can trace how she controlled my friends, and,

!”

Rakrensius tightened his grip around Selleana’s shoulders, letting out a sigh.

“How can the person with the most important role keep sighing like this? Master of Tower needs to follow well for Mr. Sword to exert its power.”

“But this situation, where we can only rely on improvisation, is so worrisome…”

“Don’t worry. If it comes to it, we can do it like King Asmion…”

[What?]

“

?”

Selleana’s joke startled both of her companions.

“Didn’t King Asmion also change his fate by beheading the last king of the old kingdom?”

[That’s just speculation…

, you’re quite extreme.]

“I’ll take it as a compliment.” Selleana grinned. “Half of it is a joke, but if that person is really controlling so many people’s minds… wouldn’t it be possible to deal with the source of that power somehow?”

“So, the other half is serious…”

[It’s frustrating that there are no proper records about the past saintessess. They must have left nothing in case they became my enemies…]

“That’s only as a last resort. Of course, if it’s a principle that only the caster can undo, that would be a bit troublesome.”

“Lady…”

“

, Master of Tower, if you’re so worried, give me Mr. Sword. Maybe I practiced real combat swordsmanship during treasure hunts for times like this.” Ignoring the concerns of her two companions, Selleana continued to chat.

[The situation is completely different from Asmion’s time. The life you want to live is not that of a traitor who assassinates the empress, but a life with Rakrensius.]

Di added slowly.

[I can definitely handle the Orot’s power, so stop thinking about drastic measures.]

“Okay.”

[Rakrensius too. Don’t worry too much.]

The man’s low sigh, which fell one more, tickled the fine hairs on the back of Selleana’s neck.

“Don’t worry. That person can never kill me. You know that, right?”

If Selleana is Pavellian’s partner according to the saintess’s ‘natural order,’ she would ensure her safety at all costs.

“So, I’m not in trouble. Master of Tower will be watching over me too, right?”

“I won’t take my eyes off you for a moment.”

“If it looks dangerous, just appear right away.”

[She’s here.]

At Di’s warning, Rakrensius straightened up and hid. In the meantime, something settled around Selleana’s neck. It was the locket necklace that had been confiscated when she was imprisoned.

Soon, the door swung open.