In the sewers where filth gathers, the sound of water flowed ceaselessly.

-Swoooosh.

Chartia and I walked in silence, repeatedly walking alongside the sewer that emitted a terrible stench.

-Thud.

It was full of corpses.

-Thud.

The corpses in prisoner's clothes, floating on the water as if they had done my work for me, were drifting on the filth.

-Thud.

Who would do such a thing?

-Thud.

Probably no one in this room didn't know the truth. Because I, the transmigrator who had seen the novel, and Chartia, who had lived in the imperial castle all her life, were just walking in silence.

-Thud.

Chartia, who had been walking in silence for quite a long time, let out a deep sigh and a low apology.

"I'm sorry.."

Smiling awkwardly at Chartia's apology, I shrugged my shoulders and asked. Because I didn't know if she was apologizing for lying or for getting annoyed.

"What are you apologizing for?"

Personally, I hope it's the former.

Because then I wouldn't have to say anything mean.

"I'm sorry for showing you such an ugly side."

"...It's okay."

"No, I'm the one in charge. I shouldn't have shown you this side of me...."

"There must be something going on. You must have a reason you can't tell me, right?"

"..."

"It's okay. People can waver."

"No, I have to be different from other people."

"Truly..."

Walking on the path lined with corpses, I glanced at the clenching Chartia and said bluntly.

"You live a hard life."

Saying that it must be hard because she's a stubborn person.

"What...?"

Chartia, who had heard the sarcasm, clenched her fists and looked at me. With a look that said, I apologized, but do you have to take it like that?

"What's wrong with me."

"..."

"It's not hard at all."

"...That's not true, is it."

"No, not at all. You keep telling me it's hard, it's hard, do you think that's going to give me strength?"

"..."

"It's not hard at all."

Letting out a faint sigh at Chartia's words, I continued to speak in a calm voice. With the feeling that getting angry was not good for either of us.

"Princess."

"..."

"It's tiring for a person to be stuck in one mold."

"..."

"Aren't there too many talented people in this world? Just looking at the Histania family or the Desmunt family, there are plenty of great people."

Chartia, whose pride was hurt by the praise of the outstanding prodigies, bit her lip.

"...So I'm trying to be like them, aren't I?"

I shook my head at Chartia's words and replied.

"No. You're outstanding, princess."

"...Just pick one, praise me or insult me."

"It's a compliment. The princess I've seen is smarter than anyone and speaks well without being biased to one side. It's just that the situation doesn't allow you to show your talent. You're already doing well enough... no, you're doing more than well."

Chartia's heavy footsteps continued in silence.

"Then."

"..."

"Then what should I do."

With the question of whether you, who speak like that, know the way.

"You speak as if you know well, do you know the way?"

"..."

"I know too. How foolish and shameless it is to call you to a place like this and get angry."

"..."

"But, what can I do. There's nothing I can do."

"..."

"I can't just stand by, and if I stop, the two princes won't leave me alone, so what can I do?"

".."

"I want to rest too. I want to stop too. But... but... what can I do, I have to do it to survive."

Chartia's eyes were trembling with fear. Like a mermaid who was being crushed by the approaching pressure and couldn't properly express her will, she was telling me.

"You don't know."

"..."

"What I'm feeling."

Of course.

It was natural that I didn't know Chartia's feelings, and I didn't particularly want to know.

This is.

"It's a lie, isn't it?"

Because it's a lie.

"...What did you say?"

Chartia, who had heard an unexpected answer, trembled her eyes and bit her lip hard. She was angry at the situation where she had spoken with all her heart, but it was being dismissed as a lie.

"Are you saying I'm lying now?"

She couldn't be proud of having lived a harder life than anyone else. There were countless people in the empire who had lived harder lives than her, a princess, and even Ricardo, who was standing in front of her, might have had a harder time than her.

Still.

-Grip.

She couldn't forgive her hard times being dismissed as a lie.

"What are you... you...!"

Before Chartia's words could finish, I took a calm breath and whispered into her ear.

"The words... that you don't want to become king."

"..."

"It's a lie, isn't it?"

"..."

"Your connection with the chancellor."

"..."

"The words that you don't know the weakness of 'Eric the Slaughterer'."

"...You."

"How far did you think I would be deceived?"

Chartia's eyes were trembling. With the fear of how you know her story, which only a few people know.

"How..."

"How is not important. What's important is that you lied to me, princess."

"..."

"I have more information than you think, princess. From information about the political situation of the empire to what businesses will be strong in the future, I may not know the exact details of which nobles are in the crown prince's faction, but I know as much as you do."

"..."

"Do you think, how can a mere butler know?"

I smiled like a villain and said to her.

"A mere butler knows."

"..."

"I'm not threatening you. I'm not questioning you for lying either."

"..."

"I just said it because I wish you would be honest, princess."

Chartia, who let out a deep sigh, said to me with a dark expression.

"How much do you know."

About her connection with the chancellor.

"Hmm..."

Shrugging my shoulders, I began to tell Chartia only the information I knew. Clearly choosing only the parts that wouldn't hurt her.

"The fact that you and the chancellor were close in your childhood, and that the education the chancellor gave you was related to 'politics'."

"..."

"And that the chancellor inserted his own 'ideology' into that 'politics'."

"Stop."

"The fact that the chancellor committed a strange incident to use you as a 'chess piece' and earned the nickname 'Benevolent Slaughterer'."

"Stop it."

"And finally, the fact that the chancellor, who was trying to kill the princes, was arrested because of your report...."

"I said stop!!"

"That's what I know."

Chartia looked at me with trembling eyes and asked.

"How long have you known."

With eyes full of fear and suspicion.

I thought it was okay to trust him.

I thought it would be okay to trust this man, but at his cold appearance, which was different from the one I had seen in the viewing, Chartia's eyes shone coldly as she glared at me.

I answered Chartia's question without hiding anything. Because I had finally said some harsh words at her frustrating appearance, I told her honestly with a heart of apology.

"From the beginning."

"..."

"I knew before I met you at the academy."

"..."

At Ricardo's words, Chartia's expression began to contort.

"You knew...?"

"Yes."

"From the beginning...?"

"..."

"You were nice to me even though you knew...?"

If he had known, he shouldn't have been so nice to her.

She was a person who had a past of calling a traitor 'grandfather'. It was a story that was exonerated because she had unintentionally reported the chancellor, but if he knew even a little about politics, he shouldn't have reacted like this.

Especially if he knew what she had learned.

She had learned a discipline that would change the foundations of the imperial family in politics.

'Other members of the royal family should not be left alive.'

'When you become king, you must listen to the chancellor.'

'When you become emperor, you must wage war.'

She had heard those words.

"Even knowing that...."

"Yes."

"You said you would support me in becoming king?"

At Ricardo's unchanging nod, Chartia's eyes trembled.

Then.

The Ricardo in the viewing.

-I'm glad you're safe.

Even knowing everything.

-I'm fine.

Even knowing that he was being deceived.

-You will be a good monarch.

He had said those words to her, and had foolishly believed in her, risking his life.

With Chartia's darkening complexion, a chilling wind began to blow.

"Princess."

"..."

"The chancellor is not a good person."

"..."

"Of course, I'm not a good person either. I'm a lustful bastard who is trying to protect the polygamy that is firmly maintained through you, princess."

"..."

"But I am..."

"..."

"a loyal vassal."

"..."

"Whether you believe me or not is your freedom, princess."

Chartia, who was looking at the approaching wind with a dark expression, said to Ricardo.

"What do you think of me?"

"Are you hitting on me right now?"

"...No."

"If you're thinking of hitting on me, I can let you, but my dream is a harem, so..."

"I'm not hitting on you."

"I see."

Smiling slightly at Chartia's serious question, I let out a sigh and said.

"I, you see."

"Yeah."

"I think you will be king someday, princess."

"Why... do you say that."

"Because if the other princes become king, the empire will be ruined like a dog."

"...Really. You don't know how to be serious."

"I am being serious."

I let out a small laugh and said to Chartia.

"If I see you as a person, I think I can say something else."

"...What is it?"

"A beautiful person."

"You... really."

"You are a person who is beautiful in body, mind, and face."

"Ha..."

I received Chartia's sigh with a confident smile and continued.

"Princess, do you know why I serve my lady?"

"...Why?"

"I serve her because she is beautiful."

"..."

"I serve her because she is more beautiful and cute than anyone else in the world. Of course, the affection we have shared for 13 years is the main reason."

"..."

"What are you, princess?"

"..."

"Why do you want to become king?"

"..."

"It's cool and good that you work hard and try to become a wise ruler. Because you're the only one among the other members of the royal family who works hard."

"..."

"But."

I looked at Chartia, whose eyes were trembling, and asked.

"Isn't it boring?"

"..."

"No one is forcing you, but isn't it boring if the reason you're working so hard is to not die?"

"..."

"Let's try to screw someone over."

"..."

"Or just lower my taxes."

The reason for wanting to become emperor is a simple reason that anyone can have. Because in order to protect her family, as Chartia wanted, she had to stand at the end of power.

In order to live like a person in this harsh imperial palace, born as a child of a different mother, and in order to protect her people, it was not something that could be done by just standing by.

Although it was said with difficulty, it was simple.

"Princess."

Be greedy.

"Let's be honest."

It meant to live according to one's own desires, not relying on the expectations of others.

Chartia's eyes began to shine brightly.

"Honestly..."

As the fog that had been trapping her until now lifted, it felt as if something in her heart was clearing up, as if she were looking at something properly.

"Yeah."

-Click.

Chartia smiled brightly and began to have desires.

"I'm going to live as I please too."

This man really.

"I'm going to have it too."

It seemed like he had something that made people change.

Chartia's eyes widened as she looked at the man approaching in the darkness.

"Princess."

It's a name I haven't called in a long time.

"It's been a while, grandfather."

The one who gave me the reason to want to become king.

The old man with a gentle face, wearing a prison uniform, smiled as he approached Chartia.

"It's been a long time, Your Highness."

It was a welcoming smile.

The old man's expression was warm, as if he were seeing his granddaughter after several decades.

"It's been 15 years."

"Yes, Your Highness."

"..."

"You've become a fine lady."

"..."

Chartia extended her hand towards me, who was standing still, and signaled me not to move. While showing her will that this was her job to do.

'It'll be fine.'

Even if she hadn't stopped me, I wasn't going to step in. It wasn't that I wanted the same flow as the original, but I at least hoped she would have the courage to face her relationship.

I decided to watch their reunion silently and wait. It would be enough to step in when the time came.

"..."

Chartia, who let out a sigh at Ricardo's nod, chewed on the words the chancellor had uttered.

'A fine lady... huh.'

Because she thought it was a word that didn't suit her. Because she would look like a child to him even when she became an old woman, Chartia ignored the numerous questions rising in her heart and said to the chancellor.

"Grandpa, you've really become a grandpa now."

"Haha... no matter how strong a warrior is, they can't beat time. When I was young, women would flock to me, but life in prison was so hard that I guess I got hit by time head-on."

"...I heard the rumors."

"..."

"That you had a hard time in prison."

"...It was peaceful. I even repented while thinking about what I had done."

"..."

"I am just grateful that you are thinking of an old man who will rot in prison for the rest of his life, Your Highness."

The chancellor did not turn his gaze away from Chartia. Because he wanted to capture the image of the grown-up Chartia with his own two eyes.

"In my memory, Your Highness was a child..."

"..."

"Now you've become an adult."

"..."

Chartia squeezed her eyes shut and calmed her frustrated heart.

-Grandpa...!

Because what she had to do from now on was a harsh thing.

"Why..."

"..."

"Why did you do it?"

As Chartia's question, filled with resentment, spread, the chancellor shrugged his shoulders with an expression of not knowing what she was talking about.

"What I told Your Highness, have you forgotten?"

"..."

"Humans are creatures of greed."

"..."

"They are creatures that cannot hide their greed and desire. I, too, am a person who could not overcome my desire."

"It was enough, wasn't it? As chancellor... isn't that enough?"

Chartia, who was looking at the chancellor with trembling eyes, said with resentment.

Was he not satisfied with the position of chancellor?

Chancellor

A minister who assists the emperor by his side, and the highest-ranking minister.

An important position.

Because the existence of a chancellor was the person who had the greatest trust of the emperor.

The existence of a chancellor was a genius who had not only outstanding strategic skills but also the ability and skill to soothe a complicated heart.

If the emperor had done something wrong.

It was that he had kept a blood relative by his side.

The chancellor was the emperor's brother.

Not a legitimate heir, but a distant collateral.

The previous emperor, who liked women, had many children, so the existence of a brother with a large age gap was not a strange thing.

And since the chancellor, as an illegitimate son, was pushed back in the line of succession to the throne and was able to avoid being checked, the emperor had not checked Eric, who was a collateral. In the first place, he was an abandoned child raised by a prostitute, so he didn't even know of his existence.

Although it was revealed that he was a royal family member late after the previous emperor's death, he was already a person who had been assisting by the current emperor's side, so he was also a person with the ability to overcome the check that his bloodline gave him.

Such a man was standing in front of her now.

"The chancellor..."

He could not abandon his greed for power.

"has no choice but to remain a minister."

The chancellor, who had been staring at Chartia silently, asked Chartia in a heavy voice.

"Your Highness should be doing your job."

"..."

"Didn't you come to kill me?"

"..."

At the chancellor's question, which was asked without hiding anything, Chartia silently nodded her head and said.

"It's an order."

"..."

"It's an imperial order to execute the escapees immediately."

"I see. It is the right response."

"..."

A cool feeling comes over her.

"You have no intention of being caught easily, do you?"

"Because I don't want to go back in there and rot."

"You can save your life if you're caught meekly."

"It is a worthless life. Whether I rot to death in prison for the rest of my life or die resisting Your Highness, the same result awaits."

"..."

Chartia, who calmly took a deep breath, asked the chancellor.

"May I ask one thing?"

"...If it is something I can answer, I will gladly answer."

"When did you start trying to use me, grandpa?"

".."

"I trusted and followed you with all my heart."

"..."

"The reason I, who used to pick flowers to get along with my brothers, wanted to become king was because of that."

"..."

"What on earth did you do to me?"

The chancellor let out a sneer and shook his head.

"What does that matter?"

"..."

"It's all over now."

"Tell me."

"..."

"Because I need to know."

The past was quickly passing through Chartia's mind.

-King...?

-Yes, you will become king. The 3rd Princess will become king, punish the bad people, and create a world full of good people.

-I... can't do that. Because only my big brother can be king.

-You can.

-...

-Because Your Highness will surely become a wise ruler.

The image of the chancellor who had trusted her and taught her step by step. The her who had tried to learn everything, deceived by his sweet words.

And.

-Grandpa...?

-...!!!

-What did you put in brother's tea?

-Your Highness...

-Why didn't you put it in mine...?

She remembered the moment that had led him to his ruin and waited for the words to come out of the chancellor's mouth.

"..."

The chancellor, who had kept his lips tightly shut, smiled faintly and said.

"From the beginning."

The moment he had been tormenting her.

"From the moment I went to see Your Highness."

"..."

"I watched Your Highness and waited for a moment when you were weak."

"..."

"Because I thought I could create an empire to my liking if I used Your Highness. No. I was sure I could create it that way."

"...Why."

"Because... the empire is too peaceful."

Chartia nodded her head and clenched her fists tightly.

"Yes..."

-Swish.

Chartia's hair began to flutter. The wind, created in response to the magic she had created, began to dance, imbued with killing intent.

The chancellor, who was holding a blood-stained dagger, looked at Chartia, who was emitting a cool magic, and asked.

"Can you handle it?"

"..."

"I know that Your Highness has grown over the past time. However..."

"..."

"I am the person who taught Your Highness everything."

"..."

"From the way of life to how to protect your body."

"..."

"Who do you think taught you the magic you are using?"

"..."

"Me."

"..."

"You learned everything from me."

"..."

"Do you think you can handle me?"

The chancellor sneered at me, who was standing behind Chartia. While spitting out the insight to use a person instead of making it difficult.

"Use the knight."

"..."

"Your Highness, preserve your body and use your pawn, Your Highness."

Chartia answered the chancellor's question with a hardened expression.

"It's not a pawn."

"..."

"It's a precious person.."

"A precious person... so such a person has appeared for Your Highness."

"..."

"He seems like a good person. Because I have a good eye for people."

Chartia swallowed her resentment and raised her fist.

"I'll start, grandpa."

The chancellor smiled faintly and began to run, kicking the ground.

In the sewer with no side paths, the only direction that could harm Chartia was a straight line.

-Swish.

The chancellor's dagger, imbued with killing intent along with a cold wind, began to move quickly towards Chartia's weak point.

It was a fast attack for an old man's body. It was a speed that ordinary swordsmen could not follow with their eyes, like seeing an archbishop's attack.

"Aqua Blast."

The moment the chancellor's dagger was about to reach Chartia, along with Chartia's low voice, numerous spheres began to wriggle around the chancellor, holding the sewage.

"With such magic..."

"Explode."

"...!!"

-Boom boom boom boom!!!

The moment the spheres, holding the sewage, exploded in front of the chancellor's eyes, sharp thorns like spears stretched out and began to block the chancellor's path.

The chancellor's eyes trembled.

Because in the time he had staggered, numerous spheres had begun to float in the air.

"It wasn't just your body that grew, Your Highness."

Chartia's magic, which had developed in his absence, had surpassed the category of a student. To the point where her talent was dazzling.

'She won't be able to create many spells in a short time. It must be... a spell made of illusion.'

He knows.

Because he was the one who taught Chartia illusion magic.

-If you don't want to be ignored, you have to decorate your appearance.

-...Decorate?

-Yes, so flashy and cool that the enemy will be deceived...

But the magic Chartia had devised now was long past the level he had taught. Even more so than his younger self.

"...It's hard to find which one is the trap."

The chancellor, who had coveted the empire, licked his lips at the continuous disappointment. If he had made Chartia his, the empire would now be a superpower that did not fear war.

In the past, her character was lacking.

Personality.

Intelligence.

Talent.

Although she was an outstanding person in many ways, he thought her weak personality could not be fixed. Because her weak personality could not be fixed no matter how much he pointed it out.

"...You've developed wonderfully."

If I had known it would be like this...

I would have waited without being impatient.

"Explode."

Chartia's magic, which did not wait for the chancellor, began to dance once again, spewing out countless thorns.

"..."

If you dodge one, another one comes at you, aiming for an opening.

If you cut the magic, it's an illusion.

If you ignore it thinking it's an illusion, it's real magic.

The endlessly toying magic was repeating its deception as if to tease the chancellor.

"...Amazing."

It shines.

The light he had tried to covet was approaching, shining more than ever.

If I had known it would shine like this...

"I should have watched a little longer."

He would have waited until she could bloom.

He had tried to take the empire through Chartia.

Through her, he had tried to eradicate the barbarian nations that were secretly carrying out massacres and make peace with other countries. Because his strong king had become weak with age.

"...Just a little more."

He thought that if he had dug into her gentle heart, he could surely have taken everything from her. And that plan had succeeded.

He had cherished her like his own daughter.

Although she was not a child he had given birth to, because that smile was so innocent.

-...It would be better to stop here.

So he had given up.

He thought that entering the darkness that could be forced before his greed for power grew bigger would bring a bright future to the empire.

Because he thought that was the way to protect the child he had cherished like his daughter.

'I'm being considerate.'

The princess's heart is still weak.

"...It's not hard."

Her heart, which was not hard, had not yet obtained the qualities of a king. Because it was clearly visible that she was hesitating because of affection even though her enemy was in front of her.

The chancellor, who held the dagger in a reverse grip, smiled and said.

"This duel is my victory."

Because he was going to use his own death to strengthen the weak princess's heart.

"..."

Himself, who was far from outstanding.

"It was an honor to see Your Highness."

He would create the king of the empire.

The moment the rapidly rushing dagger was about to reach the tip of Chartia's eye.

"That's enough."

The chancellor looked at the man who had blocked his sword with his fingers.

"Look, Chancellor."

"..."

"Is this the scene you truly wish for?"

Before the chancellor's eyes was the crying Chartia. The crying expression of Chartia, who had her hands outstretched with eyes like a deer's and was filling her surroundings with magic.

"..."

The princess's knight said to him.

"You had no intention of killing her in the first place, did you?"

"..."

"Why are you cowardly entrusting a harsh decision to someone else?"

The chancellor dropped his head heavily.

"...A loyal subject."

Because a loyal subject must be tight-lipped.