My Fiancee Was the Villainess of This World

31 – (Interlude) The Two Suns

The most chaotic time in an empire is usually when the throne is succeeded.

This period used to be called an eclipse in the empire, and the name was given because the most brilliant sun was setting down and a new sun was rising.

At this time, the imperial castle becomes very noisy to an unprecedented degree.

As the saying goes, new wine must be put into a new bottle, and when the emperor changes, changes occur in all areas from one to ten.

However, there is a place that is as messy as the imperial castle, and that is the aristocratic society that is the main axis of the empire.

For example, if a person known for being innocent and thrifty ascends to the throne, there is no choice but to have a huge impact on the luxury that nobles are most sensitive to.

While the emperor lives with integrity, which servant enjoys extravagance carelessly?

In addition, depending on the emperor’s values and inclinations, the head of a family that is still active may change.

Usually, the older you are, the more experience you have, so it is right for the existing head of the family to lead the family.

But it was because in some cases it would be more beneficial to keep pace with the new emperor for decades.

The period of such an eclipse becomes noisy enough to be called a cataclysm, but the nobles were busy moving as if they were welcoming an eclipse.

“Come on, everyone, take it easy.”

After the meeting with Maximilian, the conservatives were invited to a dinner by Duke Trista.

The ostensible reason was to have a meal to socialize after gathering together for such a long time.

Of course, there were no simple nobles here who would accept that.

“Yes, Your Excellency.”

Normally, a nobleman’s banquet continues in a quiet atmosphere by sitting at a long table, but now everyone was eating while standing, as if they had been invited to a banquet.

Of course, the meaning of lightly filling the stomach was strong.

They didn’t come together to entertain their tongues with trivial conversations.

“Huh, wasn’t it a wonderful sight?”

When the host of the dinner, Duke Trista, said that, all conservative nobles nodded their heads, saying that it was so.

“Yes indeed. In fact, it is to the point of doubting whether all six years were not acting.”

A conservative aristocrat said that, but Duke Trista denied it in his heart.

‘Heh heh, it’s because I’m so careless.’

If that was acting, it would be more polite to be fooled.

To that extent, Maximilian was a complete madman for six years.

Still, seeing his appearance to the point where he wondered if those six years hadn’t been an act, Duke Tristar nodded his head with a proud expression.

“Count of Abarca. Didn’t I see Your Highness for the first time today? How did it feel?”

“Sorry. In my eyes, he just looked like an idiot who couldn’t keep his mind from being possessed by women’s colors. It was only now that I realized that Miss Priscilla’s was acting.”

As soon as Count Abarca said that, the old conservative nobles looked at him with warm eyes.

“What you need is not a military manual, but a book about love games in the street. Huh….”

When Duke Tristar spoke on behalf of him, the nobles of the conservative faction each nodded their heads with expressions of pity.

Even Count Abarca, who seemed impassive as iron, did not fail to notice this air of open pity.

“… Did something go wrong?”

“Hey, hey. Are you really sane? Did it just look like smoke? Huh….”

Among the nobles of the conservative faction, relatively similar in age to Duke Trista, when he said that, everyone nodded with their arms crossed as if in sympathy.

Surely, the bewitching appearance that Priscilla showed at that time was something unthinkable even for a young girl who had not yet undergone a coming-of-age ceremony.

However, after that, didn’t she just get swallowed up by the situation and act like a folding screen?

It was a world apart from Maximilian, who acted as if there were hundreds of squirrels in his boat.

But among the nobles gathered here, no one blamed Priscilla for that.

Rather, they valued Priscilla more highly than before.

‘The future of the imperial family is bright. What a gracious thing.’

Duke Trista smiled softly as he recalled the image of Priscilla he had seen at the banquet hall.

As if she was happy just looking at her, Priscilla’s gaze toward Maximilian overflowed with her love.

And from Maximilian’s gaze towards Priscilla, I could feel her warm affection.

If you love each other so much, there will be no end to the royal family’s hospitality.

Priscilla, in particular, was a woman with talents worthy of being an empress, so it was expected that the future crown prince would raise her brilliantly, even if she was a child who could not inherit the inheritance of the first generation.

The most important thing for her empress is to raise a good child who will inherit her throne.

In that sense, I couldn’t help but feel that Priscilla, who respects and loves her man who will become her husband, is truly beautiful and proud.

As if Count Abarka, who was the only one who didn’t know that, decided that he needed to do something about this atmosphere, he chose to change the topic a little more blatantly.

“Come to think of it… I heard that His Highness Maximilian had an interesting conversation with His Highness Dior.”

“Huh? What is it?”

From the mouth of Count Abarca, a story about the ‘king of the common people and the emperor of the empire’ that Maximilian and Dior shared came out.

“hahahahaha!”

The story of Dior was practically a taboo topic for conservatives.

So Count Abarca just brought up a provocative topic to change the topic.

But when Count Abarca finished his story, Duke Trista forgot his body and started laughing loudly.

And as if inspired by that laughter, some older nobles started laughing along.

Those who were ignorant like Count Abarca or lacking in experience had no choice but to laugh awkwardly as if they were buried in that smile.

“It is Hongbok. It’s really Hongbok, heh heh heh…. It is truly a poisoned chalice.”

Dior regularly volunteers at an orphanage while hiding his identity as a commoner.

It was to gain the title of the royal family, which even commoners love, if later, feigning coincidence and revealing his identity.

Of course, there was a small amount of sympathy or sympathy mixed in, but it wasn’t a very meaningful feeling in this situation.

“A poisoned Holy Grail cannot be vomited out. Heh heh heh.”

It is already vaguely known to the aristocratic society about Dior’s activities.

So it’s only a matter of time before even the common people notice Dior’s true identity.

If Dior ascends to the throne at this rate, he must become the emperor who has been shown to be innocent and genuinely care for the people.

I can’t do anything that harms commoners even in the slightest.

Because human beings are ruthless, they quickly forget what they have done to them, and only remember the fact that they have harmed them for a long time.

“If His Majesty Dior succeeds to the throne, I think you will be grazing and eating at that time.”

The king of the common people, who is innocent and sincerely cares for the people, is not allowed any luxury.

The chief lives with integrity, but his servant cannot be extravagant.

Nobles, too, must tighten their belts and live frugally.

On the surface, this may seem like a joke, but it can only be said to be the worst handshake ever.

As the nobility enjoys luxury, the economy is circulated, and the number of ordinary people who can afford to eat is increasing.

If luxury disappears, the barn of the aristocrats will collapse, and conversely, the common people will suffer and starve to death.

“Hasn’t His Highness Maximilian also sold all his luxuries? It is interpreted as meaning to live with integrity….”

Does this idiot only have military and war in his head?

Oh, war. Only war!

Duke Trista sighed as he recalled Count Abarca from before, who promised to sleep with the miracle of that day engraved in his eyes once again, even if he had to postpone retirement when Maximilian was born.

I told him to save himself, and then he crawled out to the battlefield, saying his blood kept boiling, and never thought he’d end up with a bone disease and retire with this burden on him.

If you’re going to retire, you should at least have made your bastard a human!

“Count of Abarca. Where can I get some money?”

“Your Excellency the Duke?”

“Your Highness, buy as many art pieces as you can. I’ll tell you as much as I can, even with extra money. In the future, when Your Highness succeeds to the throne, I will give you a gift quietly. Just do that.”

His lifespan was not enough to capture the miracles Maximilian would portray, much less time to turn the offspring of his friend who left without keeping his promise into a human.

“Why did Your Highness bother to say such a thing to His Highness Dior? Isn’t it about giving shade to the enemy?”

Don’t waste your time on things that will hold you back later, and if you’re aiming for the throne, go in the right direction.

Although it was harsh, Maximilian’s words contained such a deep meaning.

That act of giving shade to the enemy, in other words—

‘His Highness means that he will embrace even His Highness Dior.’

When Dior ascends the throne, he will almost certainly try to kill Maximilian.

However, Maximilian declared that he would embrace Dior despite knowing that.

“Your Highness may suffer from the outward appearance, but you have inherited the kindness of the late empress. Even if it’s an afterthought, he’s going to embrace that even in his arms. The sun shines its warmth on everyone.”

Even if Dior is a new aristocrat, Maximilian will not be thrown out.

However, Maximilian will show affection more openly to those in his arms.

That was the conclusion of the majority of the conservatives who cared about the relationship between Priscilla and Maximilian.

“Haa…. So, it means that even the upstart aristocrats like those youngsters will be blessed by the sun. It’s called politics, but it’s a bit complicated.”

‘Granz, you son of a b*tch!’

The Duke of Trista planned to have his grandson give birth to a baby girl after this meeting.

Of course, since the prestige of the ducal family is considerable, the imperial family will try to avoid marrying dukes as much as possible.

However, she is not the eldest daughter, the second daughter, or the third daughter.

If a child is so far removed from power, how could he not glare at the Crown Princess?

If she is assigned as the maid of honor of the crown prince born between Maximilian and Priscilla, and works as an exclusive maid, a situation similar to how the two became close will be created.

If you have even the slightest link with the Sun Clan, there is no more time left.

You can get a good night’s sleep.

I thought so, but it felt like my lifespan was reduced by a year because of Count Abarka.

If there was an ax nearby, it would have split the head of anyone, whether it be the son of Granz, who was a close friend!

As Duke Trista sighed, the other nobles began to explain to Count Abarka without noticing.

“Did Your Highness mention the ‘Hill of Tracca’ for nothing? The sun shines its warm sunlight on everyone, but isn’t there a case where you can’t fully receive that grace? For example, don’t the days get shorter as you go up to the northern regions?”

I’ll try to live even if I’m out of sight.

However, according to the will of Dior, whom you trust and follow so much, you will have to live truly innocently and frugally.

hahahaha!

Maximilian gave a fairly explicit hint to make this interpretation possible.

However, there were 10% of the nobles who couldn’t accept it.

If Maximilian had seen this meeting, he would have clicked his tongue, saying, ‘Mr.

Count Abarca, who had left a good impression on Maximilian in his own way, was on the verge of sighing at his situation, which had been degraded to the level of an opening and closing officer.

‘I hope there will be a war.’

If that happens, I’ll be able to regain my reputation….

Count Abarca licked his lips with regret.

Then, the sunflower seeds stuck between his teeth burst out with a savory note, and I let the corners of my mouth loose without realizing it.

It was truly an opening and closing level look.

***

An orphanage named Silent Moonlight in the Islands.

“Brother Urga! Play with me!”

“You’re going to play with me?!”

“It’s me!”

“hahahaha, shouldn’t we all play together?”

Dior was volunteering at an orphanage in his spare time.

Here, he shakes off the burden of being a member of the imperial family and becomes a commoner called Urga.

At first, it started because the duty of the imperial family was too heavy, but now it has various meanings.

Nevertheless, it was clear that I really enjoyed coming here.

But now, even drawing an arc around the mouth felt like a daunting task.

‘… sh*t!’

Just as there are groups like Count Abarka among the conservatives, there are those who are prudent and quick-witted among the upstart nobles.

After only a couple of hours of talks, 20% of the new nobles turned their backs on Dior.

Aristocrats who claimed to be neutral are still claiming to be neutral, but most of them seemed to focus on Maximilian inheriting the throne.

It was a sign that he was worried about how he could still stand up for neutrality and only attract Maximilian’s eyes.

Dior managed to let out a sigh that was about to burst out, and tried to find some composure surrounded by the children who had gathered around him.

“Oh~ Urga!”

At that moment, a frowning man appeared at the orphanage.

A man with M-shaped hair loss on his bangs, and a flat body that looks like he’ll roll over on an incline.

It was Viscount Cromwell.

“What is it, Mr. Michael?”

Cromwell smiled kindly and handed food to the children in the orphanage.

Then, the children attached to Dior disappeared like the ebb, leaving only Dior and Cromwell in their place.

“I’ve done a lot of dirty and despicable things to get to this position, but I’m also a guy with a conscience, so I came here to see him in person.”

“… Are you thinking of leaving too?”

“I’ve always been this kind of guy, Your Highness. Don’t expect too much from me. The blood of ‘Traca’ runs through me.”

“… Traka?”

When Dior made an expression asking what he was talking about, Cromwell shook his head with a wry smile.

‘This is why I am leaving you, Your Highness Dior.’

The crown prince, who had a hiatus of six years, showed such a brilliant appearance in just one or two months.

If one year, another year… If that time passes, what will be the results?

‘It’s scary. It’s all the more so because it hasn’t even dawned yet.’

To express Maximilian as the sun, it could be said to be the dawn when the sun has not even risen yet.

In the future, when he grows up and reaches noon, I will know the reason for the ecstatic gaze that Duke Trista made.

“Then go, Urga!”

Viscount Cromwell left after briefly conveying his business.

Dior watched him leave, then smiled hastily, realizing that something was coming.

That was the moment.

Just when he thought he saw something blurry, something hit his head.

It was a ball the children used to play with.

“Oh, sorry!”

Dior caressed his hair and smiled, but uncontrollable emotions burst out.

‘aaa!!!’

He seemed slow even with a flash-fast sword attack, and he couldn’t even avoid the children’s balls.

To be precise, he couldn’t escape because he couldn’t be seen.

That came as the biggest shock to Dior.

‘Why, why, why! Why!!! Why me!!!’

Dior placed the palm of his hand over his left eye and gritted his teeth.

“Ooh, Urga?”

“Does it hurt a lot?”

“Mi, sorry hyung!”

─ Mi-I’m sorry… I’m sorry Dior. No, isn’t this mother? No, I didn’t! It’s true, trust me!!!

─ Oh, Mama?

─ It was just because the flowers were pretty, huh? My sister likes flowers!!! No, no, no!!!

─ Mama! Calm down, Mama!

─ Dior. Do you believe in this mother?

─ Ah, it hurts, Mama…. Please let go of this hand….

─ Do you believe?

─ Yes, yes….

─ Dior, you will become emperor. That’s why I prove this mother’s innocence. This mother isn’t real. Does Dior believe in this mother too?

‘Why did my eyes suddenly open, brother….’

I just wished that the sun was covered with clouded eyes.

Whether it contains the sun or sunspots in its eyes, the fact that it is a family of the sun does not change.

And the sun—

‘Do you know that two suns cannot exist under the same sky, brother?’

It was a law that could not exist under the same sky.