episode_0030

As an IF side story, the viewpoint is Episode 1!

Clop clop Rattle rattle

A carriage was passing along an unpaved road near the Polsky border.

The carriage’s speed wasn’t slow, but it wasn’t fast either.

From the coachman’s perspective, who had to pick up other passengers besides the current one, it was a needlessly fast speed.

However, for the passenger looking out the window and sighing repeatedly, this speed was exasperating.

Especially for a reincarnator who had experienced modern conveniences like the KTX or highways in a past life, the speed of the carriage was a turtle itself.

The passenger, Princess Anastasia Romanova, stopped looking out the window and collapsed onto the seat as if exhausted.

The dingy cloth seats and the constantly rattling carriage were annoying, but what could she do?

This was the only carriage that met her standards as much as possible.

Anastasia stopped grumbling and began to ponder what had happened so far.

Just as in the original work, Mikhail raised a rebellion in the Countship of Lukov.

According to principle, she should lead the army and fight against the rebels, but…..

Why would I? I’d rather just neatly drink poison and kill myself.

It had been a week since I left the royal palace, saying I was going to the villa. During that time, I secretly arranged for a carriage and headed towards the Polsky border.

The person going with me….. there wasn’t one.

I had suggested it to Tatyana, but she refused.

Well, she’s not a lover or anything, just one of her mistresses, so it would be strange for her to defect with me.

Still, I advised her to be careful since a rebellion would occur. This was equivalent to showing the maximum possible favor.

I waved my hand to try and shake off the lingering thoughts about Tatyana.

Manly man trait. Doesn’t dwell on past relationships.

Although I am currently trapped in a woman’s body, that doesn’t mean my mind can become a woman’s!

Shaking off my lingering attachment, I sat up again.

The view outside the window was no longer a dense forest but showed private houses.

We had definitely arrived at a village near the border.

The carriage rattled and stopped. I paid the coachman, gathered my luggage, and got out.

The border was in a noisy state because of the rebellion.

It was bustling with people trying to cross over because they were worried about their families, and people trying to escape this country.

Someone else might have expressed dissatisfaction, but for me, it was a golden opportunity.

In such a noisy state, a thorough investigation would be difficult.

If there was something bothering me, it was that there seemed to be quite a few soldiers…. but it must be because it’s so noisy due to the rebellion… yeah yeah.

I stood in front of a mirror and tidied my appearance.

A girl with somewhat stiff golden hair and blue eyes stood wearing a blue dress.

Wearing a dress was humiliating, but there was nothing I could do.

Because if I clumsily cross-dressed as usual, I might be labeled as a dangerous element and my entry could be denied.

Besides, in this appearance, it would be difficult to recall the usual me.

In my nervousness, I idly fiddled with my bracelet.

Although a long time had passed, the gem embedded in the bracelet had not lost its luster.

‘Please help me, Mother.’

After offering a simple prayer, I immediately entered the emigration queue.

After a long wait, I stood before the inspector.

The inspector, seeming tired, roughly flipped through the documents.

There wouldn’t be any problems with the documents, as I had spent a long time preparing them meticulously. Seriously, how much time and money did I spend preparing that?

Except for the somewhat persistent gaze of the soldier looking at me, the inspector stamped the documents with a bang as if there were no problems and handed them to me.

I offered thanks and picked up my bag. And just as I was about to go to the immigration counter…..

“Please stop for a moment.”

The soldier stopped me.

Why? Why? Why? Why? Why?

Thump thump thump thump thump-!!!

My heart pounded violently, and I started sweating. What is it? What in the world was the problem?

The wig is fine.

The effect of the herb that changes eye color couldn’t possibly have worn off already. The pharmacist said it would easily last about a day, so it’s wearing off right after less than 3 hours?

The documents are also fine. If there were a problem, the inspector, not that soldier, would have detained me.

Just hit him and run away? That’s not it. This isn’t even the immigration area, it’s the emigration area. If I mess up, instead of entering the country, I’ll be locked in prison and have my head cut off.

I obediently followed the soldier into a room.

Contrary to my expectation, it was an office, not a prison.

An office where sunlight came in and papers were scattered.

In my nervousness, I fiddled with my skirt and sat on the windowsill. The soldier was still watching me.

Creak-

How long did I wait like that? Around the time the sun, which had been hanging above my head, started to dip behind the hill, the door opened without warning.

“Hello, Ashya.”

With a completely unexpected person. Mikhail, why is he appearing here?

—

“Hello, Ashya.”

At that, Anastasia’s face contorted.

“You… you… why… no, how…?”

The sight of her stammering in confusion was enough to tease her for a week.

Mikhail strode forward and stood in front of her.

“Why are you running away? Even with such a ridiculous disguise.”

At his touch, the wig was instantly separated. As the cheap golden wig fell, her pink hair appeared.

Could she seriously have thought such a disguise would work? That she could evade the inspector’s eyes with such a cheap wig?

Of course, changing her eye color was a good idea. Most people would consider her golden eyes a key feature.

But she couldn’t escape my eyes. Indeed, the moment Mikhail entered the room, he recognized her at a glance.

“Mikhail.. Th- That’s not it….”

Anastasia rolled her eyes around, trying to think of a way to escape from here.

Mikhail chuckled at her appearance. This appearance is kind of cute, but to have a conversation, easing her tension was the priority.

“I didn’t come to catch you, so relax.”

“Then what for…?”

“I came to make a suggestion.”

Mikhail sat on the sofa. *Plop* – The sofa rose like a wave then immediately settled down.

Anastasia wet her drying mouth with saliva and sat on the opposite sofa.

‘A suggestion? What kind of suggestion? It’s a relief I’m not being captured right away, but….. Where would I be needed?’

Do I have fame? Do I have status?

Countless times I’d been gossiped about behind my back as the most wicked bitch in the world, but.

Even when my foolish self thought about it, I couldn’t see a single useful aspect of myself.

“Join this faction.”

To put his words differently, it was a command to betray her father.

“C-Can’t you… just let me go…?”

Anastasia fiddled with her hands and asked. Cold sweat trickled down her neck along the groove.

“That wouldn’t be a very good idea, would it?”

Mikhail said that and handed over the tea the knight had brought.

Unlike the relaxed Mikhail, Anastasia was trembling pitiably and shaking with fear.

Bastard. What haven’t I done for you? I saved a guy who was getting beaten up, and now he’s telling me to stab my father in the back?

Cursing Mikhail wildly inwardly, Anastasia pleaded with Mikhail.

“Please just let me go like this…. Anyway, if I keep staying, I’ll just be a nuisance…. I’ll live like a dead mouse in Polsky…. Please….”

Anastasia bowed her head and pleaded.

“Why would I?”

But Mikhail’s reply was cold. Anastasia’s breath hitched.

“Even if you live like a dead mouse, is there any guarantee that there won’t be factions urging me to reclaim the throne?”

“Th- That….”

“Besides, Polsky will be quite noisy with this incident. Did you really think they would just stay still? Really?”

“……”

Anastasia closed her mouth and bowed her head. She couldn’t refute it at all.

From Mikhail’s perspective, there was no reason or justification to let go of Anastasia, a dangerous factor.

“If you want to live, join, Ashya. This is my maximum favor.”

“Alright…..”

In the end, Anastasia had no choice but to comply. Because if she didn’t accept, the only thing waiting for her would be the guillotine.

Mikhail, with a satisfied expression, handed the tea to Anastasia.

Anastasia received his tea with a face that was almost about to cry.

The tea was resentfully sweet.