The rosy clouds flocked towards the western sky.

Diana spent time reorganizing her future plans, even skipping lunch.

She decided to abandon foolish sympathy as Raoul had said and think rationally.

If Raoul sided with Emperor Albert and annihilated the rebels, could Diana live a safe and happy life as Raoul said?

No. Regardless of Raoul’s efforts, Diana was born to be the daughter of a traitor.

Her father is called the Emperor’s Sword, but more precisely, he is a pawn of Princess Mirabel.

Her ultimate goal is to usurp the throne, and whether the rebels or Emperor Albert prevails, one of them will inevitably face off against the true mastermind, Duke Carlyle.

Therefore, unless the Duke gives up being a traitor, Raoul will become an enemy of the family no matter which side he takes.

Then there is only one path Raoul can choose to be with Diana.

‘Leave this land with me.’

But even this was not easy. The sea routes were completely blocked by monsters.

In her previous life, the port on the east side of Arnel should have been packed with not only merchant ships but also wealthy nobles preparing for tours to the Eastern Continent.

However, now that safe sea routes had not been pioneered, it was hard to find even a single merchant ship, let alone passenger ships.

In the past, after evacuating Angela and Viche, Diana would have pretended to have gone missing after being attacked by the rebels, boarded a passenger ship, and left for the Eastern Continent.

But now, her only reliable option was Aser.

Diana was thinking of a possible deal with Aser to get on board the sailing ship he was developing.

‘If only I could retrieve Aser’s family heirloom… I might be able to secure passage to the Eastern Continent without marrying him. It wouldn’t be difficult for that man to manage that much.’

And Diana had roughly guessed Aser’s true identity.

The eyes that reddened every time he tried to seduce Diana, that was a typical characteristic of the kumiho clan she had read about in books.

Diana planned to bargain with Aser by retrieving the kumiho’s life essence, likely a fox bead, in exchange for his help.

Of course, since she didn’t know the location of the bead yet, this was just a plan for now.

Diana was troubled over whether to include Raoul, who could be considered a variant of the original story, in this uncertain plan or send him back to the original story.

‘If I am Raoul’s guide… The right thing would be to send him back to the original story.’

Of course, before all these plans, there was a new role bestowed upon Diana.

‘I should meet Dilaia first.’

Perhaps the goddess Iona would open a path for Diana.

That evening, Diana attended dinner to meet Dilaia.

The door of the dining room, occupied by just the two of them, closed, and the sound of servants carrying food faded away from the door.

The carefully arranged table was filled with abundant dishes to satisfy their hunger. However, neither of them thought to pick up a fork or knife.

Dilaia looked at Diana, who had grown haggard in half a day, and, as usual, invited her to eat.

“Please eat. You must be hungry.”

“Right now, rather than eating, I’d like to hear more details about the oracle.”

Diana spoke firmly without even looking at the food.

Dilaia, thinking Diana would be hungry, picked up a spoon first, scooped up some stew, and said,

“I heard you skipped lunch as well. To become a hero and carry out the goddess’s will, taking care of your body comes first. I will start talking if you take even one spoonful.”

Diana frowned a little irritably and forcibly shoved the stew into her empty stomach.

As the salty stew went down her throat, which hadn’t swallowed even a sip of water all day, her shrunken stomach convulsed.

Ugh!

Dilaia handed her water and patted her back.

“You mustn’t skip meals. From now on, cherish your body that bears the fate of all.”

“Hearing those words makes me feel worse… You said guide and hero, right? Please explain that in detail first.”

Dilaia slowly opened her mouth while stroking Diana’s waist.

“A guide literally means that the hero’s choices can be changed by you.”

“Are you saying that depending on the choices I make, Raoul can become a villain or a good person?”

“That’s right. If you want to wield him as a sword, you can put the world under your feet. If you want to use him as a shield, you two can be happy no matter how the world turns out.”

“…I don’t want Raoul to live just for me. I’ve never wished for such happiness.”

“It’s not a sin to want your lover to be faithful. Saving the world is not the only ‘good’ either.”

“Why aren’t you persuading me to save the world?”

“I haven’t seen Lady Diana’s future after saving the world. To be precise, I haven’t seen everyone’s future yet.”

“…You said I am both a guide and a hero, right?”

“That’s correct. I received an oracle to send Lady Diana to the goddess’s sea. Along with other heroes.”

Diana glared at the steaming stew and let out a deep sigh.

‘In the original story, the three of them succeeded in the rebellion. Why am I suddenly necessary now?’

Just when she thought she had escaped the Western Continent, the goddess Iona tying her feet to the original story with heavy responsibilities felt resentful.

As Diana pondered her future, not knowing what to do, Dilaia continued the story in a calm tone.

“Are you feeling burdened by my words?”

“I’d rather you tell me the direction to go. How should I live now? If Raoul joining the rebels is the way for the world to go on the right path… Are you saying I should take Raoul and join the rebels? You said all the people on the ship must exist to find the sacred relics…”

“Just do as your heart tells you.”

“…Such words are irresponsible. You should be urging me to follow the goddess’s words. Still, I might try to run away.”

“Do you want me to lock you up in prison and hand you over to the rebels?”

“Even if not by such a bizarre method… Maybe we can negotiate. On the condition that I cooperate in finding the sacred relics, they could pardon our family’s sins.”

“…It might be possible. But I must tell you this one thing. The reason the rebels are risking their lives for the sacred relics is to suppress the resentment over the countless lives that will be sacrificed in the process of usurping the throne. The reason no one dares to point a sword at the current emperor despite his tyranny is because they are descendants of the hero who first discovered the goddess’s stone. The blind belief that defying the child of god will bring punishment. What they want to gain is also such blind faith.”

“Is that why they put so much effort into cultivating pagans?”

“You could say that. Spreading the contents of the prophecy book widely implants the idea that rebellion is the will of god in the minds of the common people as well.”

“But does that make it impossible for me to negotiate…?”

“…It does. Think carefully. Lady Diana, you are the only daughter of Duke Carlyle, known as the Emperor’s Sword. And the reason the rebels are seeking the sacred relics is to secure the legitimacy of the newly established imperial lineage. A human, not a different race, becoming the hero? Would they accept that? They might erase your existence from history. There are people within the rebels who only move according to the tides, so there is no action more foolish than risking your life on empty promises.”

Diana added in a tone of incomprehension.

“But Prince Trian is also human… He’s even a descendant of the imperial family.”

“He will likely meet a similar end.”

As far as Diana knew, this novel was neither a happy ending nor a sad ending.

The reason Diana thought she could make Raoul the male lead was also because the story concluded with Ayla and Trian parting ways in an open ending.

‘That’s right… Trian also couldn’t overcome the public opinion of the meritorious subjects that the last seed of the empire must be executed and left the empire as if fleeing in the night. In the end, only Ayla was left alone.’

Diana became disheartened, wondering if she could accomplish what even the male lead couldn’t.

‘If I join the rebels, I might be discarded after being used.’

Diana had no intention of becoming a martyr to save the world.

“Is that why you hid my existence from Ayla?”

“That’s right. I dare not give you a definite answer as to what will happen to Lady Diana after taking possession of the sacred relics. That’s why the choice is up to you. Whether to save the world, leave, or stay, it’s all for you to decide. I will find ways to support and help you according to that choice.”

“Even if I say I will run away from fate?”

“…Yes.”

Diana bit her lip and grabbed her heated forehead.

In the end, even meeting Dilaia provided no answers.

When Diana left the dining room in a gloomy mood, the two had not reached any significant conclusion.

Back in her room, Diana couldn’t sleep and paced the terrace.

The cold night air turned her cheeks red and froze her fingertips, but there was no way to calm her heart.

Right now, at this moment, she wanted to take Raoul’s hand and run far, far away.

What do you want me to do… Even if I help the rebels and liberate the slaves, my future is uncertain…

Then, the snow piled up on the terrace shook greatly, and a large shadow was cast.

Diana slowly raised her gaze to the familiar warmth turning her shoulders.