When hatred gnawed at her insides to the point of unbearability, she burned the names of her enemies in this way. She knew it was just a personal indulgence, an eccentricity that wouldn’t actually cause anything to happen.

It couldn’t be helped. Oddly enough, this was the only thing that allowed her to breathe a little easier.

But now she had found another way. Thanks to Damion de Orphe, that naive young master.

The man smiled like a child at the talk of dating. That pure and happy smile momentarily enveloped Ansi in a strange feeling. It was an emotion resembling guilt.

In that moment, she recalled her father’s blood-stained dog tags, her brother’s coffin filled only with clothes as there was no body, and their gravestones covered in countless scribbles.

Who was pitying whom, and who was feeling guilty towards whom?

In place of the guilt that had faded, a terrible disillusionment welled up.

They were destined for each other. A fate paired by her father who met an unjust death, for the sake of revenge.

Ansi opened the window for ventilation, then returned to her desk and took out paper and pen.

And without hesitation, she began to write a letter.

The recipient was Elize de Baillis.

A friend from when she was Ansi de Rubellsa.

“Please show your identification.”

The gatekeeper guarding the building in front of the Imperial Central Library located in the capital Pelitz spoke to Ansi.

Ansi took out her ID from her bag and handed it over. Seeing the name written on it, the gatekeeper scrutinized Ansi’s face again with a dubious expression.

“What is your place of birth?”

“Northern Oslia.”

The gatekeeper returned the ID and opened the door.

His reaction was not entirely incomprehensible.

The ID she presented was not that of Lane Arrel, but of Ansi de Rubellsa.

It had been a long time since she had used this ID. Since she had used the name of Rubellsa, who had been untraceable for a year, it was rather appropriate to double-check.

Now that she had decided to return as Ansi de Rubellsa, she would have to get used to such reactions from now on.

Over the past week, things had progressed smoothly.

Upon receiving the telegram from the Baillis family inviting her to a party, she also conveyed that fact to Damion.

She immediately told the Jiden family that she would quit her job. The head maid, who initially said she could only leave after three months, changed her mind the next day and said she could go home right away. It seemed they had quickly found replacement staff.

And so, a few days ago, she came up to the capital with her mother, and today she visited this library alone.

Entering the lobby, Ansi looked up at the high ceiling. She let out a quiet exclamation as she gazed at the intricately carved ceiling painting.

It had been a long time since she’d been here.

Only nobles are allowed entry here. She only learned this fact last year. Only after being refused entry when she visited with Lane Arrel’s ID.

One only realizes what they had enjoyed after losing it.

Swallowing the bitterness she had already experienced before, Ansi took a step forward.

As she entered the Third Reading Room, the scent of paper wafted strongly. Passing through that familiar and nostalgic fragrance, Ansi strode purposefully towards the back.

At the back of the reading room, there was a door leading elsewhere. Through the corridor, one reached the periodicals room where newspapers and magazines were collected.

Inside were decades’ worth of newspapers from several publishing companies. This was the reason Ansi had come to this library. As the largest library in the empire, it was a place where one could view various newspapers with their own distinct colors.

Ansi pulled out newspapers from five years ago and spread them out.

In them, she meticulously searched for the name Orphe.

What policies they supported in Orphe, which events hosted by whom they attended, who they sponsored and in which province they spent their summers…

Hatred is such an unfamiliar thing that for the past year, her mind had been so filled with just the thought of wanting to kill Kardian that she couldn’t think of any other way.

But now it’s different. She had a goal to bring down all of Orphe, and she had a bridge to enter the enemy’s lair.

So she needed to know the enemy better. She needed to find out what kind of people the enemy was, at least all the information that was visible on the surface.

Ansi remained glued to her seat, devouring the newspapers, except for the time it took to bring and return them. Her piercing eyes scanned the papers like a madwoman.

Five years, four years, three years… Time drew closer to the present. The most frequently appearing name was that of Duke Orphe, but occasionally Kardian Orphe also appeared.

New Emperor Designates Orphe Young Master as Adviser

In an article from two years ago, it was reported that the newly enthroned young emperor had designated Kardian as his adviser.

Since then until now, he had been enjoying the emperor’s trust.

From that point on, Ansi scrutinized all articles related to the current emperor, even if they didn’t mention Kardian or Orphe by name. All of it was relevant to what she was about to do from now on.

Drastic Cut in Poor Relief Budget, A Choice for the Empire

Establishment of Belgader Bank for Nobility

The emperor favored the nobility over the commoners, and those who had much over those who had nothing.

New Year’s Shipboard Party, Gains Attention by Inviting Even the Gentry Class

Emperor Ludkaos, Hunting Event with Close Associates Including Duke Orphe’s Family

More Splendid in Times of Crisis, Largest Ever Empire Founding Festival Amid Drought

Also, the emperor liked to party. Some said he was someone who knew how to enjoy culture, while others called him dissolute.

Ansi silently read through these perspectives.

Before she knew it, the articles had reached up to a year ago.

Then, a certain article caught her eye. While outwardly it had little to do with Kardian, for Ansi it was more closely related to him than any other article.

Count Rubellsa, Making Young Men Victims of His Greed

A sensational headline. Beneath it, the name of the young Orphe master appeared in about one line. It mentioned that he had conveyed news of the truce to Count Rubellsa.

Ansi clenched her fist. Blue veins stood out on her transparent skin. The edge of the newspaper crumpled.

Ansi hurriedly closed the newspaper and opened another paper.

She already knew about the events around this time. She had read countless newspapers hoping that public opinion might change, that someone might take Rubellsa’s side.

Of course, there were articles questioning Count Rubellsa’s choice. But there were no follow-up stories. At best, it ended with conspiracy theories. The entire empire had already branded Count Rubellsa as the one who opposed the truce and forced the battle.

Ignoring the rising sense of despair, Ansi quickly scanned other articles.

Emperor’s Statue in Goel Square Brutally Destroyed

Revolutionary Army Attempts to Assassinate Emperor

As time passed, the resistance of commoners lacking status and wealth grew.

The revolutionary army swelled its ranks, and the frequency of protests also increased.

However, the imperial order was solid, and naturally, it was insufficient to overturn it.

Perpetrator Who Threw Eggs at Emperor’s Carriage, Execution Confirmed in 3 Days

The emperor reacted sensitively to those who challenged his authority and touched his position.

‘No matter who it is, if they’re associated with the revolutionary army, an immediate execution order is issued.’

Public Execution of 5 Rebels Including Marquis Callon to be Held in Melan Square

There were cases where even well-known high-ranking nobles who joined the revolutionary army ended up destroying their family. Ansi took a deep breath and exhaled while reading such articles.

The end was always execution.

A twisted light appeared on Ansi’s face as she confirmed this repeated fact.

Those who threw themselves against the enormous wall were all shattered. It was a pitiful and sad ending.

However, it was also the closest path for her now.

Marriage to Damion de Orphe.

Ansi decided to become a member of Orphe through it.

Only by obtaining the Orphe name could she truly bring them down.

‘First, I’ll sponsor the revolutionary army under the Orphe name.’

Probably after getting married, she would be able to use the Orphe seal. Even if they didn’t give it to her right away, the time would come if she waited long enough to break down the barriers.

She would hide her claws and enter Orphe. She would act for Orphe, cater to Orphe’s preferences, and make both insiders and outsiders recognize her as an Orphe person.

And just before the fact that Orphe was sponsoring the revolutionary army surfaced.

And around the time Ansi was considered a perfect Orphe person, no longer Rubellsa.

She planned to take the most definitive act of treason.

‘Attempt to assassinate the emperor.’

It wouldn’t be difficult. Not to kill the emperor, but to make such an attempt.

If she, who had become an Orphe person, committed treason by trying to kill the emperor. Moreover, if she had been sponsoring the revolutionary army in Orphe’s name.

The outcome was obvious.

The surviving emperor would punish Orphe for committing treason.

That was the method Ansi had decided to bring down Orphe.

Ansi, who had been spreading out newspapers for a long time, closed them and raised her head. The sky visible outside had already turned pitch black.

Soon, she stepped outside and closed her jacket. The capital’s wind was colder than the south.

Trisy Jiden’s face was beaming all day long.

She had rarely attended balls of such good families until now.

But to be invited to a ball in the capital, and at the Marquis Baillis’s house at that!

She had succeeded in joining the conversations of the young ladies filling the hall. Now all that remained was to meet Lord Damion.

“Miss Trisy, do you have a gentleman in mind?”

“I… Lord Damion. I’m sure we’ll be able to dance together today.”