I, the Female Lead, Ruined the Original Chapter 75

Di intently observed his young contractor. Although Rakrensius couldn’t see the gaze of a sword without eyes, he could tell by the gem on the hilt that something was stirring.

 

“Do you still think I shouldn’t know?”

 

[Well… in this situation, I’m starting to think it might be better for you to know to some extent.]

 

Rakrensius’s eyebrows twitched slightly in surprise.

 

“What are you exactly… What does it mean for you to be Orot’s reverse scale, and why are you doing this to me?”

 

[It seems premature for you to know still.]

 

When Di and Rakrensius first met, during the time the boy was confined in the cold palace and couldn’t fully accept his sentence, his friend consoled him because ‘he’s young’. Compared to a sword that existed for nearly a thousand years, he would always be young until his death, so Rakrensius took it as a polite refusal. However, his friend’s judgment differed from his expectations, and as an omniscient sword, Di started the conversation without hesitation.

 

[Do you know what Orot governs?]

 

“Time and causality?”

 

[To be precise, fate.]

 

Fate… Rakrensius mulled over his friend’s assertion.

 

[And I was conceived from the will of those who wish to deviate from the course of fate.]

 

“To defy the course of fate… So, what is fate being referred to?”

 

[For example, your father was destined to be the emperor. And you… were destined to be born as the illegitimate son of an emperor and a wizard.]

 

“…So, you’re saying that my life is flowing as predetermined, without any of my own wills?” The words of someone who had resented and eventually resigned themselves to a life filled with hardships rang out sharply.

 

[Fate only means that there is something central to a person’s life that is predetermined. I don’t know exactly what your fate is.]

 

“You know everything.”

 

[If it’s something recorded in writing.]

 

This meant that fate, governed by the gods, was not something that could be known.

 

“Then, are you saying that you are an existence that allows one to defy that fate?”

 

[My first contractor, born in a humble place, rose to the highest position with me. I don’t know what his original fate was, but it certainly wasn’t that.]

 

“How can you be so sure?”

 

[Back then, the saintess of Orot condemned Asmion. They said he defied the natural order.]

 

“Weren’t they on good terms from the beginning? I thought the Orot religion was declared the state religion early from the beginning of the royal family.”

 

[Asmion made some sort of settlement with them before he died. He said that to effectively unify the people under the new ruler, religion was necessary…]

 

“Even if there were other motives, there’s no record of it, so you don’t know either.”

 

[Correct. Asmion only said it was for the future generations, but he never told me what kind of negotiation he had with them.]

 

Rakrensius rubbed his chin. The early saintess of Orot, who denounced Di’s first contractor. The saintess who was wary of him, Di’s second contractor. There must be some clue in this parallel.

 

“So, the reason she keeps me in check… is because of the fear I might defy fate because of you? And that this might threaten the throne?”

 

[That’s how I understand it.]

 

“But I have no intention of taking an interest in the throne.”

 

[Proving a lack of interest is harder than proving interest.]

 

“…”

 

Rakrensius propped his chin. Essentially, what he was ordered to do was prove through his life that he was no threat to the imperial family. A declaration that he would be watched for his life.

 

Ten years ago, in the imperial treasury, he ‘heard’ Di’s voice, and the moment he responded, no other treasure reacted to him. Although neither Di nor Rakrensius had any intention, this was the result. A boy who was not a legitimate heir dared to possess the founder’s holy sword and could only keep his meager life by vowing to remain harmless.

 

“Then what exactly can you do? I don’t even know the method…”

 

[How it is possible, I don’t know either.]

 

Di not knowing meant it was not recorded anywhere.

 

[I merely fought a few battles with Asmion. Though I did behead the last king of the old kingdom.]

 

“So they fear I might commit treason?”

 

[If that were the case, they wouldn’t have assigned you a swordsmanship teacher.]

 

“Maybe they just wanted to confirm I had no talent for the sword.” A cold laugh brushed the tip of Rakrensius’s nose.

 

A holy relic that defies the natural order of fate…

 

Rakrensius looked back at his choices over the past ten years since entering the imperial palace. Learning nothing from the imperial tutors, deliberately acting foolish to spread rumors of being a dumb prince, renouncing the throne, leaving the imperial palace, and joining the Magic Tower. He hadn’t defied anything yet, so he was no threat. Unless it was within permissible limits.

 

But if Selleana was truly threatened by the saintess’s will, did that mean there was no place for Selleana in his fate? Does that mean love or marriage has no place in my fate? Or perhaps being a son-in-law of a noble family was not in the cards either.

 

Rakrensius frowned slightly, a pained smile forming. He had pledged his heart to Selleana, but if fate dictated they should not be close, it felt unbearably unfair.

 

Or perhaps it’s seen as an insult to the imperial family to covet someone earmarked as the crown princess, and thus, I’m being punished… Rakrensius’s long fingers tapped the armrest as he sank into thought.

 

[The saintess hears Orot’s voice directly… She must have learned something that led her to place those restrictions on you.]

 

Hearing his friend speak the conclusion he had reached himself, Rakrensius’s eyes darkened.

 

* * *

Rakrensius saving Selleana at the hunting competition couldn’t be kept entirely secret. Although the young ladies from the empress’s faction who had tried to harm Selleana were dealt with, Rakrensius, being in a state of chaos, had not been able to erase all traces perfectly. For instance, Viscount Miniel, who had been watching the situation by the lake, or the guests staying in Elard’s tent. Particularly, the servants were a problem. Rumors traveled quickly on the tongues of servants without feet.

 

“Should we manipulate public opinion a bit? It would be bad if unnecessary rumors spread and affected your image.”

 

One day, when Selleana, who had recovered her color, visited the hideout for the first time in a while, Doloret asked casually as he delivered the recent news. Manipulating public opinion meant spreading cleverly fabricated rumors. Saying someone else had saved Selleana, that there was another young lady pursuing Rakrensius, or that the culprit who pushed Selleana into the water was the important issue. Doloret’s guild, which also operated newspapers to manipulate public opinion, could easily handle it.

 

“…No, actually, it’s better this way.” Selleana’s lips, fully restored in color, curved into a smile. “Let’s spread the rumors more. But can we inflate them to enhance the Tower Master’s image?”

 

“If his image improves, won’t the imperial family be even more wary?”

 

“If he’s seen as loyal to the imperial family, it should be fine, right? For example… The loyalty of the fifth prince who saved the future crown princess.”

 

If what Rakrensius feared was the empress’s misunderstanding, it wouldn’t be a bad idea to support him in that regard.

 

“You’re okay with people talking about you as the future crown princess?”

 

“Well, if it ensures the safety of the one I love.” Selleana blinks quickly, speaking theatrically.

 

“Things seem to be going well, huh?”

 

“Oh, don’t even get me started.”

 

Knowing everything, Doloret asked teasingly, and Michi laughed with his eyes narrowed.

 

“After seeing Lea nearly drown in front of his eyes, he took care of her so devotedly.”

 

“Michi Branto. I heard you conveniently left when the tower master asked for privacy.”

 

“Did I go out for no reason? I went to get pudding for our lady. I thought she might wake up if she smelled it…” Pretending to dab at his eyes with a handkerchief, Michi’s act made Selleana laugh.

 

“But I was with you until then, right?”

 

“I know. I was worried something might happen if you went out alone. Things are still a bit unstable.”

 

Although the hunting competition was over, there was still no news of Prince Erenst returning.

 

“It’s okay, it’s okay. The magic tools the tower master gave me are really handy.”

 

“Even so, it worries us when the Hunting Queen goes around carelessly. Right?”

 

“Ha… The fate of a maid becoming the Hunting Queen.” Michi rolled her eyes as if it was all too much.