The Crazy Villainess in This Area Is Me

“On the same side?”

“Isn’t it obvious? You surely don’t wish for a divorce from Marquis Hamilton.”

“Divorce?! There’s no need for such a thing, Your Royal Highness.”

“You really know nothing. If you truly didn’t want a divorce, you should have never harmed her child, Marchioness Hamilton.”

Frinel’s usually mild eyes narrowed. The chill in his gaze was colder than ice, causing Magorit to flinch and clamp her mouth shut.

“Anyway, I’m offering help. I’ll help you, and you’ll help me.”

“…How will you help me?”

“I’ll try to get you back as the hostess. As you know, I’m Lady Lobelia’s benefactor, so she won’t refuse my request.”

“Is that really possible…?”

Hope flickered in her eyes. Certainly, in Magorit’s current situation, she would grasp at any lifeline, however rotten.

Frinel smirked and continued. “Yes. I heard you’ve been stripped of all authority.”

“…That’s right. The seal and keys to the warehouse have been passed down to the Marchioness Hamilton from generation to generation…”

“I’ll help you recover those too.”

Her mouth fell open in surprise. She had suspected something between them but never imagined Frinel felt the same.

Did that woman have some charm to attract men? Despite feeling a surge of jealousy, it was undeniably good news for her. And after all, Lobelia didn’t love Endimion. If she developed feelings for him, she might choose love over revenge.

“So, what can I do to help you…?”

Her voice quivered as she spoke to Frinel. He must have a clear purpose for promising to restore everything she had lost.

He leisurely curled his lips and began. “As you know, the power of Duke Gracie, who supports me, is growing.”

“…Yes, that’s true.”

“What do you think will happen to the empire in the future?”

Puzzled by his strange question, Magorit tilted her head. It was true that in recent months, Duke Gracie’s influence had grown significantly. But still, Duke Bonitare’s family, the empress’s maternal family, firmly held their ground. Even if Duke Gracie regained his former power, the empress’s influence was still strong enough to rival the emperor. Unless someone powerful from their side betrays them.

“You will betray them.”

“…Yes?” Lost in thought, Frinel’s abrupt statement caught her off guard.

“You’ll be the first to betray.” He smiled languidly, driving the final nail in. “Betray the Empress Patricia.”

At Frinel’s suggestion, which seemed to have penetrated her heart, Magorit’s eyes were shaking as violently as her heart.

⚜ ⚜ ⚜

“What did you just say…?”

The sudden summons had hurriedly gathered them at the palace. But the words from Duke Gracie, who had seated everyone, were shocking. The nobles stared at him in surprise. Amidst the panic, Duke Gracie calmly sipped his tea.

“Duke!”

“For the empire to grow stronger, we must establish a worthy successor.” Then he slowly spoke. Duke Gracie’s sharp gaze slowly swept over the Shinsu faction. “Isn’t it time to establish the crown prince?”

His appearance, reminiscent of the past, made them nervously agree.

“No way. Are you talking about the first prince…?”

“Of course.”

He put down his teacup with a clink and spoke coldly. “He has already grown up as a successor.”

“But…”

“It has always been customary in our empire to pass succession to the eldest. Is there any reason to suddenly appoint the younger prince as crown prince now?” Duke Gracie interrupted a noble and continued. “There’s nothing wrong with the first prince.”

Unless there was a major flaw, the Tiazen Empire’s imperial family always appointed the eldest son or daughter as the successor. So, there was no issue with supporting him.

“…But, Your Grace. That would mean confronting Duke Bonitare’s family.”

“Are you talking about a toothless bear or perhaps a cub?” Duke Gracie joked and then chuckled.

“Your Gracie…!”

“You all know, don’t you? Why the crown prince’s position has been vacant so far.”

If not for Duke Bonitare’s family, the empress’s maternal family, Frinel would have been a crown prince long ago. Their strong opposition forced the emperor to leave the position vacant.

“That’s because of the Duke Bonitare’s family…”

“Why should His Majesty consider Duke Bonitare’s family? If he wanted to make the second prince as a crown prince, he just needed to appoint him right away.”

The emperor surely had not completely discarded the idea of making Frinel the crown prince. He would have already used the Bonitare and imperial factions’ power if he wanted to appoint the second prince.

“That’s true, but…”

“Surely the emperor has other plans.”

“Your Grace…”

Duke Gracie relied on a shred of conscience that might exist. The guilt, regret, and sorrow for not being there during the most desperate times for his son. Such feelings usually grow stronger with age.

He sighed deeply, looking around at the nobles. They were just exchanging glances, clearly uncomfortable. While the Gracie family was powerful enough to maintain its influence, the situation was different for lower-ranking nobles. If they lost this power struggle, it would be catastrophic. The nobles hesitant began to speak.

“Your Grace, we are….”

“Previously, I…”

Duke Gracie spoke first as if knowing what excuses they were about to make. “You’re aware of what I did to save you.”

“…We know.”

The nobles hung their heads, speechless.

“Although unlucky, I lost my son because of it.”

Their eyes darted around.

Despite his strong power and stern personality, Duke Gracie had given his son freedom for happiness. Yet, he ended up arranging a political marriage to protect the Shinsu faction. The nobles vividly remembered that incident.

“I won’t back down anymore.”

Duke Gracie’s blue eyes, vivid with intensity, scanned them all.

“The first prince should become the crown prince.”

Overwhelmed, they couldn’t object. Such a determined look on him was rare. It was unstoppable. They would have to do whatever it took. The nobles finally resigned themselves and fell silent. One cautiously asked.

“Then, what do you plan to do…? To appoint him as crown prince, you’ll need to…”

“What if I say the empress doesn’t deserve her title?”

“What do you mean by that…?”

Duke Gracie smiled, his face devoid of mirth.

“You must have some idea.” He then had a servant hand him a stack of documents. “The relationship between Her Majesty and the first prince.”

“Though they don’t show it outwardly, haven’t they always been at odds?”

“Isn’t it obvious? The stepmother who gave birth to a son wants to raise her own son as the successor.” His voice involuntarily turned bitter. “But, the empress has crossed a line.”

“What do you mean? Crossed a line?”

Duke Greisy looked at the documents. He had already finished talking with Frinel. Inside these documents,

“When the first prince was a child…”

Lay details and witness accounts of what happened between Patricia and Frinel.

“The first prince suffered mental and physical abuse from Her Majesty.”

The nobles gasped at the shocking revelation.

“A-abuse!”

“The empress, committing such acts…!”

“I plan to take these documents to the emperor.”

It was a secret Frinel had long kept hidden. It was both the empress’ and his disgrace.

Frinel had struggled to face this wound. Just recalling the past brought nightmares and cold sweats. Like reviving embers, the pain of the past continually held him back. But his resolve to become the emperor and his love for Lobelia extinguished even the fear of those embers.

“And,”

Frinel and Duke Gracie. The interests of these two people aligned perfectly.

“I will propose the dethronement of the empress and the appointment of the first prince as crown prince.”

Duke Gracie stood up, ready to act.