“Are you trying to negotiate with me right now?”

“It’s just a deal.”

Franz stuck out his pink tongue.

The little gentleman was gone, and the damned brat had reappeared.

This is why I don’t like kids.

“How can you guarantee your safety?”

“His Majesty has assigned a knight to me.”

“The secret was just a guard knight?”

“Would you say that after seeing Shade?”

Franz was still confident.

Shade? Is that a person’s name?

“You rascal. Are you playing word games again?”

I reached out towards Franz’s chubby cheek.

Someone blocked my hand with a scabbard.

Startled, I turned around.

A strange man was standing silently.

‘There was no sound at all. When did he appear?’

If this man had been an assassin?

Neither Franz nor I could have guaranteed our lives.

“Who are you?”

I asked warily.

The slender man had dark blue hair that was roughly cut.

Through his unkempt bangs, narrow gray eyes shone coldly like inanimate objects.

Was he even twenty years old?

Unlike his youthful appearance like a pretty boy, the atmosphere surrounding him was eerie like an unfathomable darkness.

It felt like the temperature around him had dropped a few degrees just by his presence.

“Say hello, Elizabeth. This is Shade, my secret guard knight.”

Franz proudly introduced him.

“His Majesty assigned a new guard knight without consulting me?”

“I’m sorry, but that’s how it turned out.”

“Sir Shade. When did you receive your appointment?”

Shade did not answer.

He just stared at me with transparent gray eyes that seemed to pass through everything.

A chill ran down my spine.

“Shade doesn’t speak.”

Franz stepped in instead.

“You mean he has language problems?”

“I don’t know either. His Majesty told me not to speak to him or expect answers.”

“Why?”

“Because Shade’s only duty is to protect me from unseen places.”

“Is that possible without a single word?”

“He’s said to be an excellent talent in that area.”

“…”

“Shade has been guarding me since Simon died. Sometimes I even forget Shade’s existence. You didn’t know Shade was here either, right Elizabeth?”

I hadn’t noticed at all.

That’s why I was even more wary.

‘What if he betrays us? There’s no Shade character in the original work… He seems more like an assassin than a knight.’

Even though Franz and I were talking about him, Shade didn’t move an inch.

There was no change in his expression.

It was like talking in front of a wall or a doll.

I knew he was a first-class warrior who had trained his body to the extreme.

I had felt something similar from Nikolai and Claudia.

‘Knowing the original work is an incredibly powerful thing. You know when and which characters appear, where and what events occur, and how to use that information advantageously.’

I had calculated everything since possessing Elizabeth.

Thanks to that, I was able to avoid dangers in advance.

I drew in characters who would become enemies as my allies.

There were also disadvantages to the original work.

It was difficult to cope when events that weren’t in the original work occurred, like Simon’s death or Shade’s appearance.

“No matter how excellent a knight Sir Shade is, he can’t take you out of the palace, Franz.”

I firmly stated.

Franz didn’t give up easily.

“We can disguise ourselves! I’ve never been outside the palace, but I’m confident I can act natural!”

“Think of your position. You shouldn’t act rashly in these chaotic times.”

“I’ve never forgotten for a moment. That’s why I’ve always held back. What I want to do has always been secondary.”

Franz’s voice lowered.

This time, I couldn’t help but flinch.

“I’m not talented, but I devoted myself to sword training. I completely hid that I like art. I couldn’t even let anyone know that my health was suffering. Because I’m a powerless crown prince.”

“That’s not what I meant.”

“You don’t need to make excuses, Elizabeth. It’s my fate to live lying flat until I gain power. But sometimes I wonder. How long do I have to live like this?”

“Franz…”

“When will I gain power? Will such a day ever come? There are only enemies all around.”

As he said this, Franz smiled.

The empty smile, as if he had realized everything, didn’t suit a 10-year-old boy.

Neither did the life Franz had been enduring.

I wanted to be a strength for Franz.

I wanted to help him establish himself as a confident crown prince that no one could shake.

But.

‘I’ve been demanding the same thing from Franz. Under the pretext of doing it for him. At some point, Franz disappeared and only the name Crown Prince remained. What I want to protect is just this child.’

What would truly be for Franz’s benefit?

Would it be right to take risks to guarantee Franz’s freedom and enjoyment?

I couldn’t figure out how to answer the child who suddenly seemed so much older today.

“Please let the Crown Prince come along too, Sister Elizabeth.”

Susan, who was standing a step behind, pleaded.

Franz’s cheeks turned red just from having an older pretty girl take his side.

“It’s a shame that you’ve been confined until now. You must have felt so stifled.”

“…”

“I may not be much help, but I’ll protect the Crown Prince too. Okay?”

Susan clasped her hands together.

Her large doe-like eyes pricked at my conscience.

Franz was also looking at me with pitiful kitten-like eyes.

I held my throbbing head in my hands.

“What do you think, Sir Shade?”

He might not be able to speak, but surely he could express his opinion.

With that thought, I turned around.

But Shade had already disappeared.

“How did no one notice a person who was here vanish?”

“Don’t wonder about it, Elizabeth. It’ll take some time to get used to.”

It was a situation that made me sigh involuntarily.

Franz and Susan exchanged secretive glances.

“Shade seems to be preparing for outside guard duty, doesn’t he?”

“He wouldn’t just disappear otherwise, right?”

“Elizabeth doesn’t seem likely to give permission easily.”

“Sister Elizabeth is a very understanding person. If we sincerely ask, she won’t be able to refuse us to the end.”

“You are more clever than Lord Nettleton’s praise, my lady.”

“I’m embarrassed, Your Highness.”

Hello?

I’m still here, you know?

I grumbled, watching Franz and Susan who were deeply absorbed in their own world.

“Are you two really meeting for the first time? Anyone would think you’re a pair of young lovers.”

“Wh-what are you saying? Don’t say things that are disrespectful to Lady Nettleton!”

“There’s a bit of a height and age difference, but time will solve that. Don’t you two look good together?”

I teased subtly.

Franz pretended not to hear, embarrassed.

Seeing that not only his ears but even his nape had turned red, he seemed genuinely happy.

Susan suddenly cut in.

Susan’s face was also a rosy pink.

“I’m just serving His Highness the Crown Prince as a subject.”

“Is that all?”

I asked back.

Susan answered with a bright smile.

“His Highness is too lovable. I want to have a son as lovable as His Highness.”

The suffocating silence that followed.

All I could do was pretend not to notice Franz’s face contorting with bewilderment.

Nikolai was still maintaining his silence.

Rumors spread as if it were natural.

“They say His Majesty has grown tired of Elizabeth?”

“He’s known to be a playboy, so it can’t be helped.”

“I heard she was a woman with a very complicated past? Apparently quite a few men have ruined their lives because of Elizabeth.”

“She acted all pitiful by herself. The villainess is getting her just deserts. She was too much of a busybody.”

Even fellow commoners were busy cursing me.

People who had envied my beauty, wealth, power, and even my love life turned their backs on me in an instant.

‘Is this what selective outrage is like? They can’t stand a fellow commoner getting special treatment, even if they can’t help being discriminated against by nobles?’

The shrewd Marquis Brenden tapped into the commoners’ psychology.

He spread malicious rumors about me by bribing people.

I had done similar things with Owen and Douglas.

It was because the impact was that great.

Villainess, tyrant, ill-fated.

The dark shadow of the original work covered the empire.

If a new path couldn’t be found, a third party other than Claudia might start a revolution.

‘I need to create a faction that will take my side. For that, Boritz’s help is essential.’

I cast a glance at Boritz.

Boritz was covering his face with a large hood today as well.

I couldn’t see his expression, but I could feel that he was enjoying Susan’s visit.

A purple flower pot was placed between the two people with their heads close together.

“I was sad that its condition suddenly worsened… I’ll have to reduce the amount of sunlight and nutrients to slow its growth. Thank you for the advice, Lady Susan.”

Boritz said with respect.

Susan blushed and smiled broadly.

“Healthy people’s illnesses often worsen more rapidly, you know.”

“As expected, Lady Susan’s wisdom is unparalleled.”

“I’m the one receiving great help from you, Mr. Boritz.”

“P-please lower your words. Lady Susan is a noble young lady, and I’m just a mere farmer…”

Boritz stammered.

Susan turned to Franz, as if his reaction was familiar.

“How does it look to you, young master? Do you think the flower will survive?”

Susan lowered her eyes, as if the title ‘young master’ felt awkward.

Franz, who was still half-dazed from the shock, suddenly came to his senses.

“It will survive. Teratoris, the god of agriculture, will look down upon the efforts of Boritz and you.”

Is he happy just because Susan spoke to him?

Franz’s lime-green eyes wavered.

When Susan turned her back, they lost their light again.

Franz following Susan’s back with clouded eyes.

‘I never thought our Franz would become a pitiful character. Fighting, this guy.’

My nose stung, but I couldn’t forget today’s purpose.

I asked Boritz.

“Mr. Boritz. Are you still doing crop research these days?”

“…Pardon?”

Startled, Boritz dropped his seedling trowel.

Such a reaction just from being spoken to.

Unlike with Susan, it seemed I was still uncomfortable for him.

“I want to grow children that can help poor people. Medicinal herbs are too expensive, you know. It’s beyond my skills, though.”

Boritz replied in a small voice.

“Mr. Boritz. Is there any need to lower yourself that much?”

“I’m just a farmer who touches soil. I’ve never properly studied like Lady Susan.”

“Not all farmers worry about the poor, you know?”

“It’s just because I know how painful poverty is…”

Boritz lowered his head and hunched his shoulders.

He looked like he was about to dig into the ground and hide.

‘He’s too timid for someone who will be called a hero who saved the people. Boritz develops famine relief crops after the revolution. But we don’t have time to wait.’

I needed to awaken Boritz as quickly as possible.

If I were to even add a spoon to the table Boritz had set.

If I were to raise my reputation as Boritz’s patron, drastic measures were needed.

Even if I had to properly unleash my villainess qualities.