Chapter Six

Sure, he probably wouldn’t want to be any closer to a lunatic. I get it.

“Your Majesty, this was actually—” I made a point of looking pleased to give the final blow. “Your birthday present. Happy birthday, Your Majesty,” I said shamelessly as if we were old friends.

It was said that he didn’t like being celebrated on his birthday. He only told the heroine this in the original novel, so it’s not likely that anyone here knows about that. There was no particular reason, just that he felt birthday wishes from others didn’t sound genuine.

He said no one would actually want to celebrate his birth. Typically, one would’ve added that he still wanted to hear it from the one he loved. But not the tyrant. He asked her not to wish him a happy birthday either! The heroine! He must’ve really hated his birthday. To his credit, he had never killed someone for that reason. That’s why I can use that against him.

Just as I expected… His face hardened momentarily. The worst first impression, right? Feeling fairly certain, I smiled brightly at his beautiful face. Not the small polite smiles that other people gave him, but a huge smile that bordered on foolishness. If I kept smiling widely like this, it’d make me look stupid.

He only keeps competent and powerful people close, so he won’t like this, either. The talk he hated coming from the type of person he despised would be unbearable. But that was not enough of an incentive to kill. How annoying, right?

I pushed down the laughter bubbling up and relished in his silence. Indeed, he seemed to be so annoyed that, for a second, he couldn’t contain his facial expression.

His face turned as unfeeling as stone, completely devoid of emotion. The moment passed as quickly as it came. A perfect smile that looked like it belonged in a portrait took its place. It was quite creepy when you were looking at him directly. At least I’m not dead, I thought, my smile still in place. After a while, the tyrant opened his mouth.

“Duke Arman.”

His eyes no longer looked bored, addressing the duke who had been trying to keep out of the tyrant’s sight from afar.

“Y-yes, Your Majesty!” He all but ran forward, glowering at me. I didn’t pay him any mind, of course.

“Lady Arman seems unwell.” That was a nice way of putting it. I watched the scene unfold. Savoring the emperor’s gorgeous face and beautiful voice, as it would probably be my last.

“I… I will take her home immediately.”

To Scarlett, he was worse than the tyrant at home. To see him quivering and bowing here…

It was kind of amusing. The tyrant didn’t even bother to spare him a glance, just nodding carelessly. I understand…

Even you wouldn’t have seen such a nutjob before. I did try to move around as elegantly as I could, you know. Maybe I had managed to pique his interest a little. But I was sure he wouldn’t want to be anywhere near me. I might even get notified of the engagement being over as soon as I get home. I collected my expression into an especially shy one. When our eyes met again, I winked at him in a flash and turned around.

“Wha—”

“Uh.”

I could see his aides’ faces, which were looking at us with interest, turn into ones of absolute horror. And the emperor’s gorgeous face… It was twisted into something intelligible as if he’d been punched.

The beautiful tyrant’s gaze silently lingered on me for a while. There’s more coming, your Majesty.

Greeting him wordlessly, I wrapped up the whole incident. If you don’t dump me, there’s plenty in store. I leisurely walked out of the hall before the duke could drag me out.

***

“Such a disgrace! You little bitch, as soon as I get home, I’ll…” the duke’s bellows shook the carriage, his hands trembling with deranged fury.

Thoughts in a daze, I tuned him out. I’m a bit worried. To think that I’ll have to keep doing this… Could an ordinary person like me keep pretending to be so mad? I’m going to need to practice.

I couldn’t let it look fake. It was a good thing there were many targets around to practice with. I glanced at the duke, who was still shouting his head off. There’s one.

I felt more reassured. At least I made it through today. I think I did, at least. For most noble houses, it would have been more than enough of a reason to break off the engagement. They’d have thought of all sorts of excuses to end it! This was if they were in their right mind.

“Heh,” I murmured.

“You…!”

The seething duke finally shut up at the sight of me, smiling slyly at the thought of the impending end. I knew this was the quiet before the storm, but I didn’t care.

Staring, stunned, Isar opened his mouth. “The smell is suffocating.”

“Isn’t it pretty? I look nice in red.”

Really, Scarlett was pretty.

“Are you drunk?”

I just smiled at the speechless faces staring at me. The duke shut his eyes tight, hands reaching up like he was having a headache. Not being able to hit me must’ve been frustrating.

That jerk is awkward and uncomfortable around the duchess, no matter how he tries to disregard her and convinces himself that he’s not inferior. At that moment, the duchess, who had been sitting with an expression of suppressed mortification, finally opened her mouth.

“Scarlett Arman.” She cast a frosty glance at the duke, then spoke coldly to me, “You really have no shame, do you?”

“Well, they do say you reap what you sow.”

My reply to her was smooth, satisfied that I’d managed to imprint the perfect first impression. To be honest, I knew that the day’s events must’ve shocked her. It must’ve been hell for someone who had just barely fended off all the rumors about her own dignity.

Scarlett, if you wanted revenge on this woman for always cursing your mother, this would be a great way. I thought of Scarlett in the novel, who had always lashed out at the duchess.

“Know that I will send for a doctor when we get home.” The duchess’s words were tinged with ice.

“What for?”

“I will inquire for one to clear your mind.”

Oh. I almost started cheering. I must have looked really insane! Was I a gifted actor? Not only might the engagement be over, but this single act might’ve even led to getting me disowned! An absolute win.

Suddenly I was more enthusiastic than ever. I quickly hid my delight under the saddest face I could manage. To ensure that she wouldn’t change her mind, I delivered the finishing stroke.

“Did you just… denounce my affections toward him?” You were right. I was nuts!

“Affections?” Repeating my words slowly, even the duchess looked astonished at that. “What you… just did?”

“Yes…”

Her frosty gaze faltered for a second in shock.

“Affections” meant that this wasn’t just a one-time thing.

It meant that I would do it whenever I met the emperor. I knew she understood. Looking pleasantly at her, I smiled with shy delight. “The beautiful emperor. I’ve heard he likes wine, blood, and the color red.” I lowered my eyes, raptured, murmuring, “He’s my fiancé after all. I wanted to give him something special.”

“S-special…”

The duchess did not finish her sentence. That was so unlike her. Hand reaching for her head, she turned slowly away from me. Isar, who had been looking out the window, spoke to me, his hand blocking half his face.

“So that’s what it was.” His voice was trembling slightly.

Were you scared of me too?