I, the Female Lead, Ruined the Original

* * *

At that time, in Duke Elard’s office, Duke Elard’s brow furrowed as he watched the escort carriage roll through a gap in the curtains.

“So, you’re saying that Lea deliberately got herself arrested to directly confirm the empress’s intentions… Is that correct?”

“Though it’s embarrassing to admit it myself… Yes, that’s correct.”

Duke Elard sighed at Rakrensius’s plain admission as they watched from behind the curtain together.

Rakrensius had suddenly appeared at the mansion using magic just before Selleana’s carriage arrived at the main gate. He had gathered the Elard family and the duke’s aide, Count Norman, to the office to explain the current situation.

“First of all… I want to make it clear that this matter is not just about the lady or myself.”

Rakrensius’ words sounded like a vow to himself.

“The condition to bring someone to cancel her participation in the selection process… that part is true. But it seems my involvement has particularly angered the saintess.”

“Well, considering the person empress most wary of is Your Highness…”

“But wasn’t the house arrest order given to us under the pretext of a diplomatic issue with Laten?”

At Theonis’s question, Rakrensius, who had already heard the contents of the house arrest order from Di, nodded briefly.

“But there was no significant friction with the Prince of Laten at the Enet Palace.”

“Indeed. If anything, he seemed to be trying hard to impress us, probably because of Lady Michi.”

At their parents’ remarks, Theonis’ expression turned displeased. For him, the situation where a foreign prince was trying to deceive Elard by using the imperial family was utterly unacceptable.

“And Your Highness believes that things went wrong when Lea met the empress yesterday, and as a punishment, a house arrest order was issued to Elard… Is that correct?”

“It was based on a joint decision between the lady and me, to be precise… because the lady defied the saintess’s warning and went to meet her friends.”

“What?”

Everyone except Andrea, who was standing behind the duke, and Rakrensius, looked puzzled.

For just meeting friends?

To answer that question, Rakrensius asked Andrea.

“Dame Andy, is Lady Branto’s currently at 81 Kenton Street?”

“…Yes. I confirmed it on my way to the mansion.”

At Andrea’s answer, the Elard family was again filled with bewilderment.

“I heard from Aiven that Lady Branto has been going out frequently lately, but even at times like this…”

“Does that mean Lady Michi didn’t come back last night?”

At the duchess’s question, Andrea nodded.

“And the address in question belongs to Sir Arthur Marderung, the heir to the Marderung family.”

“Mar…derung?”

“

.”

At the mention of that name from Rakrensius, Theonis and Peredo’s brows furrowed, recalling the unpleasant picnic incident.

“Both the Young Lord and Sir Peredo know well how hard Lady Branto had tried to avoid them.”

“…”

“…”

“But recently, Lady Branto has been secretly summoned by Prince of Laten, unbeknownst to the lady.”

“Could it be blackmail…?”

“Most likely. But do you think Lady Branto, whom the Young Lord has spoken with, would easily succumb to threats?”

At Rakrensius’s words, the faces of the Elard family darkened. As Selleana’s maid and closest confidante, Lady Branto was the one who enjoyed the most backing from the Elard family.

“Moreover, all of the lady’s friends have recently severed ties with her for reasons that are unlike them.”

“Does that mean the empress has intervened in Lea’s friends’ change of heart? Given that she’s the saintess… And yet, Lea still went to meet her friends, so a confinement order was issued…”

“That’s how the lady and I have reached our conclusion.”

When Rakrensius confirmed the duchess’s words, a sigh spread through the room.

Knowing how much their lark cherished her friends, the Elard family knew Selleana wouldn’t make such an assumption lightly.

“Then, what is your plan, Your Highness?”

The duke asked sharply, his eyes gleaming. Rakrensius gave a bitter smile at his fierce expression.

The lady truly seemed unaware of how much she was loved. Living in such a peaceful world, for her to face this because of him…

Regret over what had already happened was of no use. Besides, he had decided to bear this guilt willingly…

Rakrensius brushed aside his thoughts and continued speaking. “When the lady undergoes the saintess’s interrogation, I’ll see if there’s any room for persuasion and use that to negotiate with the imperial family.”

“Negotiate…?”

“Based on the conversation the lady had with the saintess yesterday and my personal experiences… it seems the saintess is worried that the crown prince might not ascend to the throne because of the union between the lady and me.”

“That Crown Prince is a constant obstacle…” Duke Elard grumbled, clearly displeased. The fact that the crown prince, just a potential son-in-law, couldn’t stand on his own, and causing their lark to suffer, had lowered his score once again.

Seeing his father’s displeasure, Theonis asked calmly. “Then, what is it that Your Highness wants from us?”

“The reason the saintess started her interference is because the lady has become someone precious to me… I ask you to share that burden.”

“The empress’s interference…”

“Even though she’s the saintess, it would be burdensome for her to touch the Elard family. Hence, unlike the lady’s friends, she couldn’t touch the lady directly and resorted to such complicated methods.”

“I see…”

The duke’s golden eyes swept over the gathered family members. Bearing the pride of the Elard name, none of them showed any hesitation despite the mention of the empress’s interference.

Indeed, no one even flinched at Rakrensius, referring to the empress as the saintess.

With that, Rakrensius managed to shake off his last bit of guilt.

“I’m not asking for help for nothing.”

He pulled out something he had prepared from his coat and handed it to the duke. It was an envelope sealed with the Elard seal.

“This is a confidential document that the lady prepared in case of an emergency. It’s a list of weaknesses of the empress’s faction.”

“Weaknesses of the Empress’s faction…?”

“How did Lea…?”

“Did she really leave something like that?”

“As you can see, it hasn’t been opened, so I don’t know the exact contents. Moreover, it was written using a cipher that the lady and her friends use.”

There was another layer of shock.

They devised and used ciphers among themselves…?

In fact, Selleana had only asked Rakrensius to inform the duke about the situation. But if this letter was in the hands of Elard, who held power comparable to the imperial family, it would be quite reassuring.

“…Alright. Then what kind of burden do you want us to bear?”

“My secret… I think knowing even a part of it would be enough. Not revealing my secret and keeping others away from me… That’s what the empress desires.”

When thinking about his secrets, Rakrensius always remembered that attendant from his childhood. Swallowing his bitterness, he looked at Theonis. Fortunately, there was no sign of reproach in Theonis’s eyes. The Elard family knew all too well how ardently Selleana had pursued him.

“The lady asked me to remind you… when you met in the library before, do you remember the book she was reading?”

“…

.”

“Why, what happened?”

“That… Lea was looking into the Cosmos Battle… no, the Sword of King Asmion.”

Theonis, not entirely confident in his conclusion, spoke, and everyone realized the secret Rakrensius was trying to reveal.

“Though I was surprised when Your Highness hinted about the restriction order through Andrea yesterday… but that relic is truly extraordinary in both identity and power.”

“If the relic Your Highness possesses is from the founding ancestor, then yes… It’s indeed something the imperial family would be wary of.” Count Norman, who had also researched the treasure Rakrensius had obtained with the duke, nodded in agreement.

“And that relic is currently in the lady’s possession. Since I’m being targeted because of my relic, as long as the lady has it, she won’t be harmed by the saintess.”

“Are you saying that is a solution?” A hint of urgency flashed across Theonis’s usually composed face.

Rakrensius’s heart grew heavy, recalling how Selleana would occasionally complain about how stubborn her eldest brother was. For someone who had once come to him asking to sever ties with Selleana, this situation must be quite distressing…

“Lea’s connection with Your Highness caused this mess. The reason for the empress’s wariness is due to that relic. Isn’t it more dangerous for Lea to have that relic?”

“No.”

“Pardon?” Theonis’s eyebrows twitched at Rakrensius’s calm refutation.