“Lady Luciana, about the duel that happened at the banquet today, why did you do that?”
Even though it’s phrased as a question, there was a certain confidence in his eyes, as if he already knew what she would say.
‘Is he chastising me?’
Luciana felt a surge of irritation.
The very servant who should have been on her side was not.
“Your intentions are impure,” she bluntly pointed out, to which he awkwardly scratched the back of his head, “I’m sorry. But for educational purposes, correction will be the main focus. Please understand.”
Correction? As if she had done something wrong.
“You may think it insufficient, but I believed it to be the best response I could give.”
“…The duel?”
“Yes. How dare they tarnish the honor of the North.”
She would have overlooked it if it were just a personal insult.
But.
‘Indeed, a Northerner. Barbarically unmatched.’
‘To talk nonsense about what you don’t know.’
The foundation of the North is its martial prowess, proven by its history of driving out wild animals, monsters, and demons from its barren lands.
How could she stand by as they demean and belittle that as barbarism?
“If they dared insult the martial prowess of the North, it’s only right to pay them back in kind.”
That’s why she chose the duel, the most honorable way to compete in martial ability.
Yet, even after hearing her answer, Hans shook his head lightly.
“It’s correct by the standards of the North, but this is the Central region. And you, Lady, are a knight as well as a duchess’s daughter.”
Luciana closed her mouth, feeling caught.
Politics.
Just as a knight proves their honor with their sword, nobles must safeguard their standing with their words.
“And showing oneself to be easily provoked is not advisable. It only gives your opponent a handle to grasp.”
The anger and mockery of nobility should not be taken lightly, for their raw expression makes an easy target.
She understood this argument.
Surely, the gossips would have their field day.
‘The eldest daughter of the Speda ducal family is not serious,’ they would say.
“What does it matter?”
But Luciana stood proud.
The opinions of others?
Irrelevant.
Their endless babble could not break her resolve, as clear as the fact that they could not best her sword.
Mosquitoes and other flying insects are merely annoying, not frightening.
“It’s not that you’re wrong. Mostly, you would be right. And it’s a specialty of yours. But, I fail to see why I should endure an insult to the North and not challenge them to a duel.”
***
The ease of the strong.
This was starkly evident in Luciana.
It could have been mistaken for arrogance, but coming from Luciana, it was the epitome of a dignified noble lady.
What would be the right word to describe it?
Eyes filled with self-assurance.
The confidence emanating from her upright posture.
It suited her well.
‘Ah, this isn’t the time for admiration.’
Is now really the time to be admiring Luciana?
Chasing after duels.
I already knew all too well.
Expulsion,
A recommendation for self-reflection,
A ‘mysterious’ murder on the way back to her family.
Before her pride turns into arrogance, I had to change Luciana’s mind.
‘For Luciana, oratory is a solution to problems, inferior only to dueling.’
Continuing this conversation would be futile; she would just listen from one ear and let it out the other.
What she needs now is the unique advantage of oratory that distinguishes it from dueling.
And first, I had to explain why it was necessary for her to learn oratory.
“Your words are true, Lady. There’s no need to pay mind to those beneath you.”
“You understand quickly, as expected.”
“But what if it involves those above you?”
Luciana’s eyebrows drew together.
‘…Those above?’
“Yes. Those you cannot challenge to a duel. For example, the Duke Speda, who you cannot confront with force, or…”
Slowly.
I stirred up the secrets buried in her memory.
“Or someone in a position of power, like the Crown Prince.”
Her hand clenched into a small fist.
Though she tried to hide it by moving her right hand behind her, a slight tremor in her arm was visible.
Pretending not to notice, I sighed deeply and continued.
“It’s a dilemma for me too. My fiancée, Lady Elizabeth, is from a higher-ranked earl’s family, so it’s difficult to resolve disagreements through duels or sparring, given the unpredictability of human relationships.”
‘I would accept it, though.’
Hmm.
I hadn’t thought about that.
Given her personality, that would be expected.
“But Lady Elizabeth wouldn’t. That’s why we learn oratory.”
To add a bit of exaggeration to logic, making the opponent nod in agreement.
Oratory works regardless of the opponent’s force or power.
Of course, a slight misstep could worsen emotions and even lead to retaliation.
“Think about it. It’s a political marriage. Differences of opinion are inevitable.”
‘…Is that so?’
“We can’t just tolerate everything. We must express our opinions somehow, right?”
This was based on my knowledge of Luciana’s actions in the original story.
Despite the Crown Prince ignoring his fiancée and fooling around, she could not speak up and only harbored resentment.
At most, she would pass a casual rebuke about being cold to his fiancée.
‘It shouldn’t end there.’
If necessary, she shouldn’t hesitate to use threats.
Even if the Crown Prince lacks judgment and obsesses over any woman he fancies, appearing constantly in his thoughts like a fool.
Even if he’s a greedy wretch who can’t bear to let go of anything he holds.
He is of the most noble royal bloodline.
He, educated in the ways of emperors, must have known that his choices were not the best for the nation.
His strongest supporter, the Speda family of the imperial faction.
If the lady of that house, Luciana Speda, were to earnestly express her disapproval, it would be impossible not to feel pressured.
Luciana Speda.
She had more tools and weapons at her disposal than she thought.
But first, she needed to reform her too-generous nature towards the Crown Prince.
“Well, there’s an Eastern proverb that says ‘seeing once is better than hearing a hundred times’. Why don’t you see for yourself?”
“Directly?”
“Don’t we have an excellent teaching aid here?”
Like Luciana, someone with strong power.
A noble of high pride, used to living in a world where duels are commonplace.
“Huh? Are you talking about me…?”
Yes.
You, who understood and pointed at yourself with your index finger.
“Lord Báthory. Would you join me in a simple role-play?”
“So, this is why you brought me here. I feel like I’m being manipulated to your liking again.”
Despite her reluctance, Báthory nodded.
“I’ll play along. Let’s see what you’ve got.”
“Yes. I will be playing a weaker fiancé to Lord Báthory.”
Was it my imagination, or did Báthory’s gaze soften?
“A fiancé, huh? Among vampires, there have often been contracts made and deep relationships formed with their chosen kin. Haha.”
“…This is only temporary. Demon. You promised to find a way to break it.”
Báthory’s patronizing gaze.
And Luciana’s gaze, shooting back with hostility.
Sparks flew between the two women for a moment.
“Now, now. Don’t be too harsh on someone who came to help. Let’s get started.”
“Hmm. I’m ready.”
Let’s see.
Let’s start with the setting.
The closest situation to the relationship between the Crown Prince and Luciana.
“…Lady Báthory.”
A voice coldly settling.
A look that seems to gaze down upon an inferior.
A casual attitude with a chin propped up.
“Hans…?”
“Pretending to be close, don’t call me by my name. Address me with the respect due to Your Majesty.”
-Crack
A strange noise came from her mouth.
“Your Majesty? You?”
‘Remember, it’s a role-play, role-play!’
After blinking for a while and giving a hint, Báthory finally composed himself.
“…What business does Your Majesty have with me?”
Fortunately, no magic was cast rashly.
“I wished to discuss our engagement once more.”
Báthory averted her gaze.
The target was the sky.
“Do you believe in love?”
“I’m sorry, but I do not quite understand the intention behind your question.”
“I did not fully understand its meaning while I was with you.”
Words the Crown Prince said to Luciana in the game.
I recited them exactly to Báthory.
“But I have recently realized. Not just an alliance arranged by our families, but that there is such a thing as true love.”
The emotion that Crown Prince Garon must have harbored as he thought of the original protagonist.
That innocence, barely perceptible in a detached voice.
Acting, yet the hypocrisy of it all.
‘He’s truly malicious.’
To show no interest in the person in front of him, yet reveal feelings for someone not even present.
‘How can I not feel jealous and upset?’
This must have been the decisive moment when Luciana, who endured endlessly in the game, challenged the original protagonist to a duel.
“Let’s end this empty engagement.”
“I will bear the dishonor. You should go find your own love.”
Báthory, fully immersed, lowered her head for a moment and then shivered.
And then.
“Then, the solution would be to eliminate that person.”
In the Evildon Empire, power is synonymous with authority.
Báthory, with her red eyes narrowed and sharp fangs revealed, resembled a wild beast.
“If the one monopolizing His Majesty’s favor disappears, the remaining favor would naturally become mine. Just wait and see.”
“Sigh.”
She responded exactly as expected.
“Let’s end the role-play here. I’ve seen enough of Báthory’s level.”
“Is that so? How was it?”
“Um, to give you a blunt assessment, you’d probably lose your head immediately if you acted like that in the Manhett Empire.”
Still, she served well as a negative example for instructional purposes.
I spoke calmly.
To Báthory in front of me.
To Luciana of the future.
“Who would so openly persecute the emperor’s woman? It’s a perfect way to be attacked by public opinion.”
“…Then just smash all those who do.”
“What if the king comes forward to protect that woman?”
Duels and annihilation.
Though their methods were different, both women agreed on extreme solutions.
I clicked my tongue and shook my head.
“I can imagine how Lady Báthory managed her domain.”
Though which demon wouldn’t?
It likely wasn’t free from a reign of terror.
“I intended to teach Lady Luciana, but it feels like I’ve just gained another student.”
“…Hmph. I have no desire to receive lectures from you.”
“Well, that’s your prerogative. But what did Lady Luciana think?”
She looked at me with serious eyes.
Still seeming unsure, Luciana tilted her head slightly.
“Was there a problem with Báthory’s approach just now?”
“I’ll ask you the same question I asked Lady Báthory. What would you do if the Crown Prince stood in your way?”
Luciana couldn’t find an appropriate response.
Báthory was exactly as bad as expected.
So bad, in fact, that it was debatable whether the term ‘terrible’ was enough to describe her, being more brainwashed by the logic of power than behaving like a noble.
‘But that’s what makes her excellent teaching material.’
The sayings about learning from others’ mistakes and negative examples aren’t unfounded.
A duel with the Crown Prince?
It would negatively impact the imperial faction’s family policy, something Luciana surely understood.
But what about the Crown Prince’s woman?
In the game, Luciana trusted the Crown Prince, believed in the duty of noble blood, and followed the honor of the family too closely.
That’s why, even when the situation reached an extreme, she chose to eliminate the woman, accepting ‘a bit of dishonor.’
Just as Báthory thought.
She believed that the Crown Prince would follow his duties once the woman was gone.
‘It was a very foolish decision.’
“Let me give you a hint: you, Lady, are among the four noblest ranks in the empire.”
The woman of the Crown Prince, and the Crown Prince himself.
Even if the opponent is a member of the royal family.
It doesn’t mean Luciana couldn’t have voiced her opinion at all.
If the Luciana in the game had utilized even half of her position’s potential, her fate wouldn’t have been so tragic.
I took out an item and presented it to her.
Luciana’s eyes widened at the familiar sight.
“This is….”
“The fan you entrusted to me at lunch. A necessary accessory for a noble lady when going out.”
Depending on the decorations used, it could metaphorically display one’s status and also serve as a useful tool to hide one’s expressions when unfolded.
“The repair is complete. There’s still plenty of time left in the banquet, so remember my advice well.”
“…Weren’t you coming with me?”
“I am a servant and the second son of a baron. An unauthorized status.”
Luciana silently accepted the fan, her lips pressed together, as I muttered bitterly.
As much as I wanted to accompany her to the banquet and assist her closely.
I couldn’t.
‘There are things I must do.’
After leaving Luciana, who held the fan and was lost in thought, I turned to Báthory with a question.
“Lady Báthory. You can use magic here as part of our agreement, correct?”
“No problem. The restriction is only in the North; here, it’s possible.”
That’s some welcome news.
“Could you spare me some time?”
“A request from a vassal. Of course, I shall oblige.”
The Imperial Palace.
A space granted only to a few chosen ones, including the original protagonist.
‘Coming here and just enjoying the banquet would be foolish.’
I could leave Luciana’s side to someone eager and desperate to support her. I’ve already given strict warnings and instructions, so they should manage well.
It was time to return to being a strategist, after a long while.
Cliche Novel 