I Don’t Want to Be a Lady

“What do you mean? Truce?”

It was like adding insult to injury. Not enough with the return of Duke Kaien and betrayal of his hound, but a truce?

The war isn’t over yet. This war shouldn’t have ended, especially if Duke Kaien was still alive.

“Rumors are spreading in the capital. It is rumored that the envoy has already arrived in the capital.”

“No way!”

The new things that were recently brought and placed, fell all over the floor again. After quickly clearing his desk, Krow calmed his anger and collected his thoughts.

“It’s a rumor! His Majesty didn’t say anything like that a while ago.”

It was a rumor. There’s no reason for a truce with the Kelteman Empire, right? Even if Grand Duke Federut protected the border, it wasn’t enough to scare the Kelteman Empire to propose a truce. Moreover, they sent an envoy to the imperial palace without a letter saying the truce would be accepted? It didn’t match.

At that moment, a person’s face appeared in Duke Krow’s mind.

This was probably done to shake him up. But why him? Duke Krow couldn’t figure out his intentions.

Duke Kaien wasn’t a person who would deceive others with absurd rumors. He never twisted his words or made up stories. He was always truthful and straightforward.

It was absurd. Because his upright loyalty, which Krow had always coveted, ended up holding him back.

Even the hound Krow attached to him betrayed him. Who tamed his hound? It was he who made his hound lay down on his stomach when they played fetch game.

Duke Krow let out a meaningless laugh. At that time, someone was knocking on his study door.

“I don’t know who it is, but send them back. I don’t want to see anyone right now.”

Perhaps another nobleman came to ask for their investment back. He didn’t want to deal with them anymore.

The servant waiting outside the door was worried because he couldn’t carry out his master’s orders. This was because the guest was someone he couldn’t just send back. “Master, I’m sorry, but I think you should meet this person. He’s from the imperial guard.”

“Imperial guard?”

What’s going on here?

“Take them here.”

It was impossible to kick out the imperial guard. Krow opened the door to his study and saw the knight entering. He got up and asked. “Lord, what brought you all the way here?”

The knight who came to see Krow was Copper, the commander of the imperial guard. He currently serves as temporary imperial guard commander in Lord Silver’s absence.

“I want you to send your people out.”

In a serious manner, Krow told his butler to go out. “Powel, get out of here.”

After the butler went out, Copper approached Krow and opened his mouth with a sad look. “His Majesty had been attacked?”

“What? What do you mean by attacked? I saw His Majesty a little while ago.”

The emperor was attacked within this Harpion Empire? It couldn’t have happened.

“When he heard the rumors of truce spreading in the capital, he identified the source of the rumors and was on his way there when he was attacked.”

“Why on earth did he come in person? Isn’t this something that can be left to you?”

To Duke Krow’s lament, Copper narrowed his eyebrows and replied. “That’s… After hearing the rumor that Duke Kaien was seen today, he decided to go out and find him himself. But—”

Krow cut him off in the middle and asked urgently, “Really, Duke Kaien has returned?”

“I don’t know. However, as soon as he got there, an arrow flew from somewhere, and we tried to protect His Majesty, but it was already…”

Krow asked in disbelief. “No way, His Majesty…”

Doesn’t the tangled thread unravel itself without having to struggle? If the emperor died like that, he wouldn’t have anything to worry about anymore. Even if Duke Kaien was alive, there would be no problem. After the emperor died, the crown prince should have succeeded him.

Krow had to hold back the raised corners of his mouth. He covered his mouth and closed his eyes tightly to hide his true feelings, pretending to be sad. However, an answer came from Copper’s mouth that defied his expectations.

“His Majesty is safe. The arrow only pierced his shoulder, and there was no danger to his life.”

“…I see. Thank god.”

Although it was unfortunate, it was truly good news. He didn’t know who attacked, but since they used bows, it was likely the Kelteman Empire. No, it had to be Kelteman. He was going to make it like that.

“There was a message that His Majesty would like to ask Duke for your cooperation because he’s unable to engage in external activities due to his current situation.”

“Who else knows?”

“There were quite a few witnesses because it was a crowded area.”

Krow nodded. “There’s nothing I can do about it. Let’s put the rumors to rest for now. Public sentiment will be lowered if rumors spread in the Harpion Empire that His Majesty was attacked.”

In fact, rather than quelling the rumor, Krow intended to spread it. With that, he would have a justification. His justification was that he had no choice but to place his private soldiers in the imperial palace to block the subversive forces that were trying to assassinate the emperor.

“Yes. We’re releasing the knights from the imperial guard to try catching the culprit, but it won’t be easy.”

“You should release all possible knights to find the culprit. Give me a message as soon as you catch that person.”

After Copper walked away, Duke Krow was lost in thought. After looking out the window silently for a while, he called in the knights as if he had finished thinking. “Request troops from the families listed on this paper. We’re going to attack.”

The knights glared sharply. The oldest of them asked. “When is it?”

“Tonight. We’re attacking the imperial palace tonight.”

* * *

“Duke Krow began to move.”

At Navier’s words, Arianne laughed as if she knew this would happen. “Really? It’s as I expected.”

Lord Silver heard the conversation between the two. He leaned against the back of the chair, making a sigh. “Surely you planned this all?”

Arianne looked down and thought about it for a while, then decided to speak humbly. “There was a bit of luck involved. But isn’t luck also skill?”

Silver looked at her with admiration as she spoke and smiled arrogantly.

He thought so. By the way,

“I can’t believe you’re taking advantage of His Majesty. You’re truly disloyal.”

Arianne responded to Silver’s rebuke with a coy expression. “His Majesty has approved it. Not a single part of His Majesty’s body was injured.”

Alice was truly a master archer. She aimed right at the emperor’s shoulder, and her arrow pierced his clothes without touching his skin.

The emperor, who came wearing a robe with puffy sleeves as Arianne requested, screamed as if he had been shot in the shoulder and gave a passionate performance, fooling everyone, even the imperial guard.

However, Silver couldn’t tolerate that. How dare they shoot an arrow at the emperor! Even if a person is a master of archers, they can make mistakes. If Alice’s arrow had gone just a little off, it could have resulted in a national injury.

“Just because the result is good doesn’t mean the process is right.”

It was a few hours ago. As soon as Arianne revealed her plan to Silver, he couldn’t control his anger. As the commander of the imperial guard, this was something he could never tolerate.

“This is absolutely unacceptable! How can you aim an arrow at His Majesty’s body!”

Despite Silver’s angry threat, Arianne didn’t even flinch an eyelash. Instead, she added her words. 

“But this plan would break off our bitter relationship with him? Unless Count has a better proposal, please follow my plan.”

“…”

Of course, Silver couldn’t think of a better way. In fact, her plan was very audacious and questionable, but it was extremely clever and cunning. It was indeed such an appetizing bait that Duke Krow had no choice but to move.

“I will proceed, assuming there are no further disagreements. Alice, go to the place I told you about and get ready. Count, please enter the imperial palace secretly. And…”

Arianne could only take a breather after she had explained in detail to Lord Silver and Alice what they were to do.

“

I’m tired. It would have been a little easier if there had been Bein.”

They weren’t tacticians like Bein, who could figure out a way to do things on his own, so she had to plan and direct everything on her own. She was exhausted, but she had no time to rest.

“That… Baroness, what should I do?”

Madrenne, who had been waiting quietly, asked with her eyes shining.

Who knows, maybe she could use this opportunity to impress the emperor properly?

“Get me some cold water.”

“…”

Madrenne gritted her teeth. A surge of anger rose to her throat, but she had to swallow it down. A servant shouldn’t express their emotion. As an experienced maid, she had her own pride. She was confident that she could pass this situation without showing her anger…

“Don’t stare at me like you’re going to eat me. Just bring me some cold water.”

Fortunately, Madrenne was able to receive an important role from Arianne. At the moment when the emperor was attacked, Madrenne, who happened to appear as a witness, let out a heavy scream from her stomach.

“Kyaaaaa! His Majesty the Emperor has been attacked!”

It was truly amazing acting.

“His Majesty the Emperor?”

“His Majesty was attacked?”

News of the emperor being attacked spread quickly. So quick to the point that Duke Krow didn’t even need to do anything.