Chapter 51: Schemes and sabotage

The annex where Irene was staying.

Sera, facing her, couldn’t help but frown.

‘Seriously? She’s the one who called me to talk, so why the hell is her expression souring before a single word is spoken?’

Even though they had just sat down and not exchanged a single word.

Irene’s expression had already hardened into a cold mask.

Meanwhile, Irene.

‘Logan…!’

Suddenly, an ominous premonition washed over her.

‘Maybe I should have just gotten rid of them all…’

She regretted not freezing the detestable Crown Princess who had stolen her man right then and there.

After she left.

Wouldn’t the two of them be casually embracing, sharing their love as if nothing had happened?

‘No… No matter what, given their difference in status, that could never happen so easily… Aren’t there escort knights and handmaidens near that b*tch?’

It was a relationship between royalty and a commoner.

If only for the sake of appearances.

A hug might be one thing, but there was no way they would go further and make love.

‘Yes, what I’ll permit… ends there, Logan…’

Since she too had briefly been in the arms of another man, she could generously overlook that much.

‘You, too, will soon realize who truly loves you…’

When she realized his preciousness.

When she awakened to true love.

She blossomed.

• Irene, you’re truly amazing!

• You’re not someone who should rot in a rural village like this!

• You’ll become a great mage, enough to be recorded in history!

Just as he had said, she had become a peerless mage.

If she only put her mind to it.

She could easily freeze or burn down this entire insignificant palace.

However.

She held back.

‘I will respect you as much as possible, Logan…’

In the dream, no, in the future that should have been.

In those scenes, despite being married to him, she saw herself shamelessly seeking out other men.

And in reality.

She had treated him with great neglect during the Demon Lord subjugation.

Despite all that, he had never shown a hint of displeasure, yet she had treated him even more harshly.

So, the resentment that had built up over time must have exploded.

It was clear he was with another woman, not her.

In the future, he had always put up with it.

So she was a little puzzled as to why he had left her side and gone to another woman…

No, actually, she had a slight inkling, but she desperately denied that one possibility.

‘Yes, let’s think positively.’

‘The fact that the present reality is different from the future I saw in the dream…’

‘Is actually a good thing… No, it’s truly a relief…’

Thanks to that, hadn’t she come to desperately realize Logan’s importance?

And unlike in the future, the mishap of sleeping with another man hadn’t occurred.

Yes, she was pure.

‘This time, I’ll give it to you…’

‘My first time.’

‘So, Logan…’

‘You must never cross the line either.’

But contrary to his will, that detestable Crown Princess, with her sordid body, might try to seduce him at any moment.

She always acted kind and spoke respectfully to everyone, but inside, she was a lewd and dirty b*tch, more so than anyone.

The naive Logan was being completely deceived by Anastasia.

‘Logan… I will definitely rip that woman’s mask off for you…’

If Anastasia truly loved Logan.

The right thing to do would be to immediately cast aside her title as Crown Princess and go live with him in a quiet place.

‘It must be because she’s of low birth…’

Irene understood well why Anastasia couldn’t give up that position.

Because there was a time when she, too, had thought she didn’t want to start and end as a commoner.

‘When you realize what kind of person that woman is, Logan, you will come back to me…’

The moment she falls.

The moment her hideous true nature is revealed.

Logan will realize he was deceived and will surely return.

Having concluded her thoughts, Irene slowly looked at Sera, who was sitting across from her.

“Ahem..! Are you ready to speak now?”

“…Yes.”

Irene inwardly sneered at Sera, who flinched at her gaze and cleared her throat.

Until just a short while ago.

This b*tch, who had looked down on her completely and spoken carelessly, was now carefully watching her every move.

It must be because of the power she had displayed at the Prince’s palace.

Because this b*tch had tried to carelessly manipulate her as a pawn, the desire to teach her a lesson also welled up…

But she held back.

‘Well… Thanks to you, there are some things I’ve come to realize…’

When she had first uttered the word ‘betrayal’.

Sera had told her not to speak nonsense and beaten her, so she had decided to let it go magnanimously.

Because thinking about it now, she hadn’t been wrong.

It was true that she had betrayed his heart.

But, it was fine.

She just had to turn things back now.

Irene called to Sera in a cold voice.

“Sera.”

“Ah, yes. Please speak.”

“I don’t care what you do with the Empire or the Imperial family.”

“I’m not quite sure what you mean. I am merely following the will of the Goddess…”

“Cut the bullshit.”

“Wh-What did you say!? You really…!”

Sera, provoked by Irene’s over-the-line remark, was about to shout.

However.

Ssssss…

“Be quiet. Don’t interrupt me.”

She had no choice but to shut her mouth because of the ominous energy emanating from Irene’s body.

‘Wh… What is this..!?’

Sera was confused.

The energy rising from her body was indeed very ominous and unsettling.

But it was of a completely different nature from the demonic energy possessed by evil beings like the Demon Lord or demons.

And above all.

‘She’s a crazy btch who might do anything, so I can’t provoke her carelessly…!’

If this b*tch decided to, she too could end up like Marian.

No, like Princess Orlea of the neighboring country, an ice sculpture. She had to be careful.

Therefore.

“Ahem… Yes, I understand. Please, continue…”

Sera had no choice but to clear her throat again and listen quietly to Irene’s words.

“Yes, first of all. I’m sorry for just freezing that woman, the princess from the neighboring kingdom. It was a good opportunity to corner Anastasia…”

“Ah, no. It’s a matter that can’t be easily mentioned anyway due to the Prince’s public image. In fact, you did well.”

“Really..? Then that’s a relief. And as I said before, I don’t care that you didn’t treat Narcissus. You can do as you please. However, I’d like you to hurry things up as much as possible. You know what I mean, right?”

“Ah… Yes… I know… You mean you want me to bring about the Crown Princess’s downfall quickly, right?”

“…Yes.”

“Yes, in that case, from now on…”

As Sera conversed with Irene, she thought.

‘I don’t know what on earth happened to make her change so suddenly, but…’

It seemed.

Things had gotten more troublesome.

Considerably so.

---

After the day of the shocking incidents that occurred one after another at the Princess’s and Prince’s palaces.

The fact that countless unsolved problems and insurmountable hardships awaited them.

Logan and Anastasia knew this better than anyone.

However.

Because the two had confirmed their feelings for each other.

They firmly resolved that no matter what obstacles lay ahead.

They would rely on each other and combine their strengths to overcome them.

And so, with renewed determination, they tackled the affairs of the state.

With the help of officials including Esman and the support of neutral nobles led by Lionel.

Finally-

The first day of the large-scale implementation of the Empire’s reconstruction project had arrived.

Currently, Logan and Anastasia were in an agricultural region a short distance away from the capital, Arcadia.

This place hadn’t been directly attacked by the Demon Lord’s army, but it had been devastated by bandits who ran rampant, taking advantage of the chaos of the war.

“I’d only heard about it, but to think it’s this bad… We must hurry.”

“Yes, Anya. Just rebuilding this area alone will certainly raise the quality of life for the people significantly.”

A vast agricultural zone and the source of the great canal that crossed the empire.

Not only was it close to the capital, but it was also a strategic point where various infrastructures were concentrated.

That’s why, despite having several reconstruction projects running simultaneously.

The two of them had decided to come to this place in person to manage the site more diligently.

However.

Despite finally taking the first step of the reconstruction project they had planned so hard for.

Their faces were not so bright.

Because the workforce was too small.

About half of what they had expected.

Anastasia asked Logan with a serious expression.

“The number of applicants is much smaller than I thought… Should we raise the wages?”

“Doing so would cause too many setbacks for the project itself. Haven’t you already set it higher than what was initially proposed?”

“But with this workforce, it will actually take more time and be inefficient…”

“That’s a valid point, but that’s likely their aim.”

“Haa… Really… I just can’t understand why they have to interfere to this extent…”

Anastasia sighed deeply and lamented.

She couldn’t understand why everyone was so blinded by the power right in front of them and acting so foolishly.

Doesn’t the empire have to be revived and flourish for them to enjoy that power to their heart’s content?

“Using wealth to incite people like that is truly bad in the long run, for the future.”

They had begun to release the wealth they had embezzled over the years.

Even more than they had initially released, the scope expanded from the poor to the commoners.

There’s no need to do hard work.

The Imperial family will take care of it.

They even spread absurd propaganda, saying people should just receive these supplies, live comfortably, and recover from the wounds of war.

“Anya, just hold on a little longer. We just need to endure for a bit. There’s no way it can last long.”

No matter how much wealth they had embezzled.

There would surely be a limit to how long they could continue inciting people by releasing that amount of resources.

And.

Not everyone was deceived by such foolish words.

“Cheer up, Anya. Aren’t there this many people who came all the way here to work, believing in and supporting you?”

“Logan…”

“Of course, there are those who came because they desperately need more money, but there are also many who came to help you. So be strong.”

“…Yes, thank you as always, Logan.”

Anastasia smiled gently and leaned her body slightly against his shoulder.

At this, Logan blushed slightly and said.

“Um… Anya? Aren’t we outside? Many eyes are watching…”

“So what~ Even Renate doesn’t say anything anymore~”

“No, I think that’s because she’s already given up…”

Logan replied, glancing at Renate, who was letting out a deep sigh from a distance.

And so.

Just as the two were about to reaffirm their affection for a moment before returning to their duties.

“Your Highness!! Urgent news!!!”

An official came galloping up on a horse in a hurry.

And.

Upon hearing the report, Anastasia’s complexion couldn’t help but turn pale.

“Wh-What did you say!? An attack!?”

Because the news was that other reconstruction sites, not the one they were currently at, were being attacked simultaneously.