I, the Female Lead, Ruined the Original – Chapter 130

Author: alyalia

As Selleana and her friends embraced each other, sharing their emotions, Duke Elard, who had received a brief report from Theonis, approached Selleana.

“Lea.”

“Father…”

“What’s with your look?”

“Ugh, do you think I wanted to be like this?”

At her father’s immediate nagging, Selleana pouted. Her friends, who had let her go, giggled nearby.

“And what about your shoes?”

“They were taken during the search earlier, so tower master lent me his shoes for now.”

Selleana lifted her foot slightly to show the oversized loafers she was wearing. Not only that but her clothes had been confiscated, leaving her in just her underdress, with Rakrensius’s robe draped over her shoulders.

“Sigh…” Duke Elard sighed deeply. “I will have to have many conversations with His Majesty…” His golden eyes glinted coldly.

* * *

The imperial trial for the empress was prepared swiftly. It was a major crime, manipulating the emperor and crown prince’s minds and even attempting to take their lives. Although immediate punishment would have been insufficient, the preparation period was extended due to additional misdeeds by the empress being uncovered, such as the corruption in the families that had suddenly gained power under her faction.

The Elard family, which had been unjustly placed under house arrest due to the empress’s personal grudges, submitted evidence wholeheartedly. Selleana had initially compiled the empress faction’s corruption list, summarizing the investigation by Doloret’s guild. Doloret, upon returning to guild duties the next day, supplemented the data with apologies and sent it to Elard.

Even without the empress, the trial could proceed with significant damage to her faction. While it was possible that some of them were also under the empress’s mind control, which would be considered in the judicial trial, the consensus was that the empress would be deposed and at least sentenced to confinement. Although some temple priests protested that persecuting a saintess was wrong, the situation calmed down once the healing priests confirmed that Eonel’s condition was irrecoverable.

With the trial’s outcome seemingly predetermined, the day before the verdict, someone sought out Arshilla, who was confined in the main palace’s tower.

“You wretched…!”

The moment the visitor appeared, the saintess gritted her teeth upon seeing Rakrensius despite barely retaining her human shell’s faint energy. Her sky-colored hair had turned white below her shoulders, and her hollow eyes and sinister black pupils added to her eerie appearance.

Rakrensius, gazing down at her, slowly spoke. “To be honest, I was prepared to die.”

“What nonsense…!”

“I didn’t mean I wanted to die. But if you had weighed my life against the lady’s, I would have gladly cooperated. However…”

Rakrensius chuckled briefly.

“The moment I realized you had already controlled my life and my mother’s, I couldn’t stand it any longer.” His hand gripped the hilt of the holy sword at his waist tightly.

Arshilla, having all her divine power neutralized by Di, was left with only her human shell, which she despised so much.

“To you, I may be nothing more than a worthless creature. But from now on, I will live as I please and seek revenge against Orot every day, every moment.”

“You vile…!”

“My suppressed desire, thanks to you, will now be pursued freely by me.”

At his calm yet resolute declaration, Arshilla’s eyes glinted viciously.

“Whether I was a leaker, or my fate wasn’t set… I have the right to do so.”

“There’s nothing you shouldn’t do when it comes to me, Master of Tower.”

Though in a different context, his angel’s words were always right.

“Thank you for this realization.” Rakrensius bowed politely.

As Arshilla mustered her last strength to lunge at him, her target disappeared, causing her to collapse.

Rakrensius reappeared at the main gate of Duke Elard’s mansion. He walked towards the mansion’s entrance along the path where carriages rolled by.

The autumn sun was warm.

[Was it necessary to say that in person?]

“It was a kind of resolution.”

At the end of this path was the only love that made him never want to give up anything. Anticipating their meeting, he took steps filled with excitement…

“Master of Tower!”

Somehow knowing he had arrived, Selleana hopped down the mansion’s front steps and ran towards him. Her jet-black hair created a clear halo under the most dazzling sunlight.

Finally reaching him, Selleana leaped into his arms. Reflexively, Rakrensius hugged his slender lover tightly.

“Isn’t this dangerous…?”

“I knew Master of Tower would catch me.”

“Still…”

“No worries, I’m not hurt!”

Selleana kissed his cheek and wrapped her arms around his neck. The smile on his face was pleasing to see.

“By the way, is it okay to be running around like this?”

“As soon as you said you’d be coming, I felt perfectly fine. I wasn’t really sick to begin with.” Selleana smiled bashfully. “I missed you. That time, Brother Theo suddenly dragged me away.”

“…Me too.” As Rakrensius tucked her wind-blown hair behind her ear, he murmured softly. “I missed you too.”

At his honest confession, Selleana’s smile shone brighter than the midday sun. Pulling his neck closer, Rakrensius willingly lowered his head and kissed her.

No matter where they were. No matter the situation. Because he wanted to. And because his angel wished for it.

* * *

A few days later, an imperial decree from Tashur III arrived, summoning them to the palace. The decree came precisely the day after the imperial trial. The informal trial was attended only by members of the imperial family, including the emperor, crown prince, and Rakrensius, along with the chairman of the council and administrative officials, the defendant Arshilla, and the witness Duke Elard and his son, representing Selleana.

The outcome was as expected. The empress was dethroned, and all the unjust gains returned to the order through her were reclaimed. Publicly, the charges announced were brainwashing the empress faction and using them to plot rebellion, including an attempted murder of the imperial family. Even without her divine power, the former empress, still a saintess, was sentenced to confinement in a remote monastery. The diagnosis that she had little time left to live was a bonus.

“Greetings to Your Majesty the Emperor. May the sun of Nepelsian and the grace of Orot be with you.”

“Welcome.”

Entering the emperor’s office, Rakrensius greeted Selleana, who was also summoned by Tashur III. As the servants served simple refreshments, the three of them chatted amicably. The atmosphere was completely different from when Selleana had come as a criminal a few days ago.

Tashur III brought up the main topic when their teacups were half empty. First of all… about restoring your title, Fifth Prince.”

“You don’t need to restore my succession rights.”

“Are you sure?” At Rakrensius’ firm reply, Tashur III looked disappointed.

“Yes. I truly don’t want it, and neither does the la…. Lea.”

Rakrensius glanced at Selleana beside him. Confirming his words, Selleana placed her hand on his knee and smiled brightly.

“Of course, Your Majesty might feel reassured to have a handsome, smart, upright, and gentlemanly son like Collin fourth in line for succession in case of emergencies….”

“Ahem, La-Lady.”

“Collin and I are tired of being entangled with the imperial family.”

“If that’s how you both feel….”

Tashur III’s face darkened at Selleana’s firm stance. He had no words to defend himself, especially regarding Rakrensius.

“I am truly sorry. Though it wasn’t intentional, my unnecessary greed caused you to lose your mother and suffer in Nepelsian….”

“It’s okay.”

Rakrensius smiled bitterly. In truth, he had harbored resentment for a long time. His unknown father suddenly sent troops to bring him to the palace. Despite trying to stay unnoticed, he was persecuted by the empress. He grew up lonely, unable to share his heart with anyone, with his life’s goal solely being to remain unnoticed. But now, it was all fine. In the end, he met his angel, learned the secret of his fate, and finally cast off all oppression.

“I couldn’t give you any attention under the guise of protecting you. Now, I want to fulfill my role as a father.”

“As a father… you say.”

Those words felt most disconnected from Rakrensius. The concept of a father held no meaning for him, having never known his father’s presence, even during the time he lived alone with his mother. As he couldn’t respond, the silence stretched, and Selleana spoke up instead.

“I have a good idea.”

“Tell me.”

“Marry me to him, and pray for our lifelong happiness from afar. Isn’t that enough?”

“From afar, you say…”

“Ah, and if it’s possible, throw in a few well-producing territories while you’re at it.”