Episode 66

Episode 66: “Do I Need to Walk Into Hell on My Own Two Feet?”

“Sigh…”

I let out a deep sigh.

Why are there so many damn events?

Back when I was reading the original novel, I never realized it was this bad.

Probably because only the major events were mentioned.

But reality was different.

Large and small banquets were a given.

And between those were several tea parties scattered throughout.

And weren’t there also hunting festivals in the spring and fall?

The more I thought about it, the more it felt like a truly hellish schedule.

Ughhhh! I hate this!

A scream of inner agony echoed in my mind.

I never signed up for this grueling schedule!

Why did I hate it so much?

The answer was simple.

Because I had to host them.

Yes. I wasn’t just someone enjoying the events—I had to organize them.

The more events there were, the more work I had to do.

So of course I hated it.

Hohoho… Ah, excuse me. Why are tears welling up in my eyes?

Oh God, why must You test me so…?

Of course, small gatherings like tea parties could be delegated to maids or professionals.

But some of the large-scale events couldn’t be left to others—and one such event looming close was the Empire Founding Festival.

This festival, held to commemorate the Empire’s founding, was one of the top three major events on the imperial calendar.

Naturally, countless nobles were invited, and it had to be held extravagantly every year with a new concept to showcase the majesty of the imperial family.

Fine. I could accept that much.

The real problem was that the Founding Festival had two main events.

It wasn’t just that it doubled my workload.

The truly annoying part was this:

“Why are the two events held back-to-back and split between the Empress and the Imperial Consort?!”

The two hallmark events of the Founding Festival were:

A masquerade ball and a special banquet held inside the Imperial Palace.

Jerome had assigned one to me, the Empress, and the other to the Consort.

Assigning the two events—held on the same day—to the Empress and Consort respectively was clearly designed to stir up competition.

Of course, from Jerome’s perspective, this may have been inevitable.

The Consort, being of common birth, was often ostracized by the nobles.

Maybe Jerome wanted to give her a chance to stand out.

When I first heard about this plan, I promptly chose to opt out.

I even considered telling him to just let the Consort handle both events.

Naturally so.

Compete against the Consort?

Against the female lead, no less?

Oh, absolutely not.

Why would I willingly walk into hell?

In the original story, Helena—obsessed with Jerome—was jealous of Consort Fay and tried to sabotage her.

But I’m not the same.

Unlike the original Helena, I wasn’t obsessed with Jerome, and I had no interest in competing with the Consort.

But Jerome rejected me flatly.

“The support from the nobles rooting for you isn’t something to ignore. So even if you hate it, you’ll need to take on one of the events.”

Apparently, the nobles had high expectations for me.

But why were they so fond of me?

In the original story, by now Helena should’ve been the talk of the town for all the havoc she’d caused.

Probably because I hadn’t done anything “villainous.”

Solving the drought might’ve helped, too.

Anyway, that’s how I ended up reluctantly taking charge of one of the Founding Festival’s events.

And now, as part of my strategy, I was lazily rolling around on the bed.

Why is that my strategy?

Once again: I didn’t want to compete with the female lead.

My goal was simple—avoid the execution ending.

Which meant I shouldn’t sabotage the Consort. I should help her shine, if anything.

So I decided to do absolutely nothing.

Just quietly laze around.

That laziness came with a bonus benefit—

Getting on Jerome’s bad side!

What would he think seeing me loaf around during one of the Empire’s most important events?

He’d probably find me pathetic, right?

Maybe even want to divorce me.

That was exactly what I was hoping for.

Just divorce me already!

What else could I do when the Emperor refused to divorce me?

I had to make him want to.

Of course, just enough to avoid the guillotine ending.

This level of lethargy and apathy should be just right.

“Countess Chloe, what time is it now?”

“It’s almost dinner time.”

“I see. So the day’s already over.”

Another day of survival by slacking off!

Great job, me!

I let out a small sigh of relief.

But…

I glanced at Countess Chloe.

Something was off.

Normally, she’d be fired up, insisting I couldn’t lose to the Consort.

But today, she was strangely quiet.

Why?

I had a bad feeling.

“The Founding Festival is in a week, right?”

This time, Mary answered.

“That’s correct.”

I glanced at her.

Another unexpected reaction.

Normally she’d be sparkling with excitement and busily preparing things.

This calmness made me anxious.

Very anxious.

Maybe they were finally giving up?

Maybe they were starting to realize I wasn’t obsessed with Jerome, and that I had no intention of competing with the Consort.

Looked like they were beginning to accept it.

“Your Majesty.”

Countess Chloe’s cautious voice reached my ears.

Wait a moment.

I just convinced myself they were losing interest in me.

Don’t tell me they’re about to pressure me into planning the event again?

Thankfully, they didn’t.

“It’s about your dress for the Founding Festival…”

The dress?

I relaxed my tense brow.

“Don’t I already have enough dresses? I don’t think we need to make a new one…”

As far as I remembered, the wardrobe had hundreds of gowns.

“About those dresses… His Majesty the Emperor had them all collected.”

“Jerome… I mean, His Majesty took my dresses?”

“Yes. During the investigation into the attempted poisoning, he seized all the formalwear.”

The poisoning incident—that was when the Consort was poisoned.

“Then can’t we just retrieve them?”

“Well…”

Countess Chloe looked grim.

“Apparently, the investigation was… a bit aggressive. The recovered dresses were in no condition to be worn.”

“…Really?”

My brow furrowed slightly.

Okay, fine—if they suspect me of being behind the poisoning, that’s one thing.

In the original, Helena was the prime suspect, and even now, I’m in the most suspicious position.

But still—taking it out on my dresses?

“….”

Yeah. That does sound like something Jerome would do.

Of course the male lead needs to make life hard for the villainess.

Even if I shouted my innocence, he wouldn’t believe me.

Still, one thing didn’t add up.

If he hated me that much, why wouldn’t he just divorce me?

What was he thinking?

Whatever it was, one thing was certain:

“We need to get a new dress.”

Even as Empress, I couldn’t show up to a banquet looking sloppy.

Actually, maybe I should use this opportunity to flaunt a bit of luxury—just enough to nudge that divorce along.

“There’s not much time. Can you summon the royal designer?”

“I’m sorry, Your Majesty. All the royal designers are already working on Her Highness the Consort’s attire.”

“All of them? Every single one?”

“Yes, that’s correct.”

“Then we’ll have to look outside the palace.”

“Actually, the famous salon designers are also fully booked with other noblewomen.”

“……!”

As soon as I heard that, I realized.

I’d been played.

The palace designers were monopolized by the Consort.

The other top designers were fully booked.

And all of my dresses were ruined beyond repair.

Too many coincidences to be coincidence.

“Was this Jerome’s doing? Or the Consort’s?”

Whoever it was, I couldn’t shake the feeling I’d been set up.

I had already declared I was stepping back for the main characters’ sake, and yet they pulled this on me?

How unfair.

“Then we have no choice. I’ll have to visit the Consort and talk to her directly.”

I planned to ask for a few royal designers to be reassigned to me.

Just as I was about to stand up—

“Thankfully, that won’t be necessary, Your Majesty.”

Countess Chloe smiled gently.

“Won’t be necessary? But didn’t you just say no designers were available?”

“We were just as flustered when we found out. Even mobilizing the entire ‘Hwang-Sa-mo’ gave us no solutions… but fortunately, we found a way.”

“……?”

Hwang-Samo?

Did I just hear something weird?

“Ah! Looks like they’ve arrived.”

The sound of hooves echoed from outside.

And then, a woman with beautiful sky-blue hair strode in.