I, the Female Lead, Ruined the Original

* * *

It was in the palace garden, where dusk had fallen.

“It’s an honor to face someone who will soon become a swordmaster…!”

“Return now! Blinded by personal grievances and raising your sword against the imperial family, you’ve disqualified yourself as a knight and as a citizen of the empire…!”

“No, I’m just here to take my sister back safely. Right?”

“Sir Peredo!”

“Don’t you have a younger sister too, sir?”

Faced with Tiel Orelli’s unwavering stance, Peredo reluctantly drew his sword. What would be a greatsword for others was just right for Peredo’s frame. A faint golden aura flowed from his two-handed sword. It was Peredo’s sword aura.

“You know the outcome has already been decided, right?” Peredo sneered, pointing his sword at Tiel Orelli.

The outcome was already clear between Tiel Orelli, who had just manifested sword aura, and Peredo, who had already reached the level of a swordmaster.

Tiel Orelli gritted his teeth and readjusted his grip on his sword.

“So, just let me pass for a moment. I’ll sneak in, grab my sister, and leave, okay?”

“…”

But there was another problem. Behind Tiel Orelli, a group of unarmed nobles had formed a human barricade blocking the entrance to the main palace. Even if Tiel Orelli stepped aside, they were ready to physically block the way. Harming civilians would go against the knights’ code of conduct.

“Unarmed… nobles… forming a human barricade… blocking the main palace…”

On the roof of the main palace, someone was meticulously recording the situation. Using a spell to conceal himself, the green-haired mage Eddie was scribbling in a notebook.

“Damn it… I never dreamed of working outdoors during the previous tower master’s time.”

“But you never dreamed of leaving work on time either. If we handle this well, we’ll get a reward vacation.”

“…Right. And it would be nice if he could go for a three-month honeymoon with Lady Elard.”

Grumbling at Saendi’s response behind him, Eddie continued writing in his notebook. He documented everything, from the standoff in front of him to the Elard knights who had infiltrated but couldn’t enter the main palace and the nobles protecting the Rose Palace garden.

While Eddie focused on writing, Saendi scanned the front and back of the building.

“The Rose Palace is also surrounded by ordinary nobles. They probably brought these people knowing we can’t attack unarmed civilians… That, the empress’s faction? They seem to be from that side.”

“If I write it down like this, it will all be conveyed to the tower master… Did he develop some magic that recognized the notebook? I don’t feel any magic in it… I’ll have to ask him later.”

Eddie continued writing while puzzling over the notebook’s magical properties. Unaware of Di’s abilities, they believed the notebook was a simple magical tool for transmitting text. The magical tool Rakrensius made for Selleana early this morning looked similar to this.

“Instead of chatting, focus on writing properly.”

“You too, stop talking and focus on casting the perception distortion spell.”

“Don’t worry. And what’s the big deal? If we get caught, we can just run to the tower master.”

Saendi, Eddie’s partner, continued casting the perception distortion spell for both of them.

“Seriously, using a scroll to infiltrate the imperial palace and having another scroll for emergency escape. The life of a mage is something else.”

“What choice do we have? The tower master hasn’t taught us teleportation magic yet.”

“True… but I was surprised to see him create over a dozen scrolls so quickly.”

“I felt the same when he first came to the magic tower… The difference in talent is just incredible.”

Eddie and Saendi shuddered, recalling the events of the day.

After Selleana was imprisoned, Rakrensius informed Duke Elard and briefly visited the Magic Tower. He came to pick up the automatic transcription notebook he had ordered earlier and to give additional instructions, like preparing for a confrontation with the saintess. He distributed two scrolls to each mage: one for stealthily entering the imperial palace and another for teleporting to Rakrensius’s location, just like the one given to Tashur III.

There were at least five groups in the imperial palace besides themselves. Considering the magic required for each scroll, the talent of Rakrensius, who had created at least twenty scrolls in no time, was evident.

“Anyway, yeah.”

“Whatever the case, the lady must have been wrongfully imprisoned, so the tower master is right to rescue her somehow…”

“Yeah… If not for the lady, there wouldn’t be anyone to care for our tower master…”

“Hey, look over there. More suspicious people. Write it down properly.”

“Got it.”

* * *

Rakrensius was, of course, constantly by Selleana’s side. Although Arshilla did not allow him to use the portal she opened, Di’s power could only neutralize the saintess’s magic, not aid in this situation. However, Selleana quickly opened her locket to reveal her location, allowing him to follow her. The location was a secluded part of the Rose Palace.

[The mages say there are guards around the Rose Palace as well.]

Thus, Rakrensius saw and heard everything Arshilla showed and explained to Selleana. His anger simmered coldly.

[Asmion… He never spoke to me until the end, and to think he had such thoughts.]

Di, hearing the secret of its first contractor, was also quite enraged.

And lastly, the scene where the saintess showed Selleana…

So, that was definitely the dream Selleana had that day. A life where they never met, where Selleana didn’t remember her past life.

In the vision, she wore Selleana’s exterior but wasn’t his angel. She smiled constantly but never laughed heartily enough to show her throat. She never showed the intense gaze that made her irises appear crimson when she demanded something confidently.

Beautiful. Kind. Graceful. Affectionate… Of course, it was happiness. But it wasn’t the happiness of the Selleana he loved.

Rakrensius smiled bitterly.

That was the peaceful life he once wished Selleana would lead.

The past days had been full of surprises. Learning that his lonely fate tied to Di was somewhat similar to Selleana’s, finding that he could share the burden with Selleana, and now, understanding why he had to make such a vow.

If he hadn’t succumbed to her temptation even once, he would have continued to despair over this fate. Unable to blame others, he would have only pitied himself for being the sole bearer of a miserable destiny.

So, there was no other way. Selleana, his angel.. had to take responsibility for him, just as he is now.

“Is happiness where you don’t know your true self really happiness? I’d rather know everything and be unhappy.”

Because she gave him hope and dreams.

Thus, Rakrensius wielded Di, just as the saintess had long feared.

“Of course… I will never be unhappy.”

“You filth, how did you get here…!”

“Thanks to someone’s advice, no one can match me in sneaking around the imperial palace.”

Seeing the shocked saintess was a peculiar feeling. The one who had oppressed him his entire life, now looking at him with shock and fear.

Just in case, he swung his sword a few more times.

The mirrors reflecting the Duke of Elard shattered one by one.

[As expected… The saintess controlled those she had implanted with her divine power in this manner.]

The scales easily neutralized Orot’s power, and those who had spoken nonsense to Duke Elard would now be apologizing for their missteps.

Arshilla’s face turned pale. “C-Crown Prince!”

At her urgent call, Pavellian appeared from the dark, smoky area. His expression was as relaxed as when he faced Selleana earlier.

“W-Where did you come from?”

[So, she’s using the paladin…]

Pavellian, standing beside Arshilla, extended his arm protectively in front of her. In his hand was his holy relic – the first emperor’s shield. As he channeled his power into the shield, a pale light emanated from it, just like at the opening ceremony of the hunting tournament. Instead of extending forward, the light spread out in a radial pattern, enveloping them. It shielded Arshilla, Pavellian, and the mirrors she used to control those imbued with her divine power.

[So, that’s the core of saintess’s power. Just how many of those are there…] The tongueless sword clicked its tongue.

Rakrensius, watching Pavellian’s actions, raised Di again. The tip of the sword aimed at the mysterious light barrier generated by Pavellian’s relic. Though untrained in swordsmanship, it didn’t matter since he wasn’t cutting through flesh. The sweeping arc of the sword collided with the mystical light barrier.