"He confessed everything?"
I sat in my study, my hand frozen mid-turn over a stack of documents as Drake gave me his report on last night's interrogation.
The consort who'd snuck into my chambers, his name was David, the second son of Viscount Margotta from the Eastern stronghold. According to his confession, it was his father who urged him to burn what this world calls "Divine Herb" — essentially cannabis — to cloud Davina's mind, making it easier for him to push through certain policies.
This had apparently been going on for three years. When noble families began offering up their sons to Davina's bed in exchange for favors, Viscount Margotta sent his own, with a more insidious plan in mind.
Not only that, David had even bribed palace servant to help him smuggle the drug inside.
No wonder I'd been feeling dizzy and craving strange things since I became Davina.
I looked down at the viscount's latest request: an additional ten thousand gold coins to "aid the people" during the plague. Never mind that the royal family had already sent the exact same amount… just ten days ago.
Bottomless greed.
"Summon Duke Castanier. Immediately."
I slammed my hand down on the desk, the fury that had been simmering since last night finally boiling over.
"Yes, Your Highness."
Drake bowed, not at all surprised by my sudden shift in demeanor, and turned to carry out my orders.
Though Davina and Dylan had a strained relationship, he was always the type to draw a clear line between state affairs and personal emotions. Maybe I could trust him to handle this one.
Not long after, a knock came at the door.
"Come in." I said coolly.
Dylan entered, those ever-aloof ash-gray eyes studying my furious expression.
I didn't bother putting on a show. Pretending to be meek only gave vultures more reason to tear you apart. If I didn't assert myself now, it wouldn't be long before someone slit my throat in the dark.
I shoved a stack of documents toward him, evidence of corruption, tax fraud, and embezzlement tied to Viscount Margotta, along with David's full confession and a list of those involved in the palace.
"Confiscate all assets of Viscount Margotta. Strip him of his title. Exile him from the Empire."
Dylan's pupils widened slightly, caught off guard by the cold steel in my voice. But once he read the documents, his face turned to ice.
"Well, well. Our dear princess has finally woken up, huh?"
I narrowed my eyes. He said that like he already knew what had been happening around Davina.
"You knew?"
Dylan shrugged, folding the documents up as if it didn't matter. "So what if I did? Could I have dragged you out of it?"
His apathy stabbed straight through me. Of course. The deeper I sank, the clearer his path to the throne. Even if he knew, he would've let me rot.
Just look at the affection points above his head.
I laughed bitterly and didn't bother arguing with him.
"David Margotta is guilty of high treason and unlawful intrusion. Display his head to the public."
The words dropped from my lips without hesitation, cold and final.
Mercy on the battlefield is a dagger to your own throat.
This time, I would show the entire empire that Davina Emerson was far from rotting away.
Dylan smirked, clearly intrigued by this new version of me. I didn't care anymore if people saw through me, saw that I wasn't the original. As long as I lived long enough to get out of here, I'd pay any price.
"As you command, Your Highness."
He bowed. Just as he was about to leave, I called him back.
"One more thing. Dismiss the rest of the consorts in my palace. Keep Xavier."
I didn't need men hanging around, waiting to devour me the moment I slipped up. I should've done this sooner, but I'd hesitated, unsure if the system's missions were tied to them.
Now, after a few days of observation, I was confident. The system revolved around the male leads. The others could go.
"Xavier, huh…" Dylan muttered to himself. He's too good at hiding things. Unless he reveals them himself, I can't read him.
"As for Drake and Cassian, I'll make arrangements. They stay."
They were key players in this world. I needed them, just not in their previous roles as bed slaves.
Dylan studied me for a long moment. I didn't flinch, meeting his penetrating gaze head-on. Go ahead. Look. See that I'm not that Davina anymore — the one who gritted her teeth and waited to die.
"You've… changed, haven't you?"
He finally closed his eyes and let out a soft laugh.
"For better or worse?" I raised a brow.
"Who knows?" Dylan shrugged again, turning on his heel with the files in hand. "But it might be fun to find out."
With that cryptic line, he left, his affection points blinking above his head:
[-35%]
…Maybe that's an improvement?
I collapsed into my chair and massaged my temples. I'd only been here four days, but it already felt like a month. Who knew what kind of hell awaited me next?
Just as I was thinking that, another knock came at the door.
"Enter."
Drake stepped in, pausing when he saw how tired I looked.
I quickly straightened my posture, slipping back into Davina's cold, composed mask.
"What is it?"
"His Highness, the Prince, would like to see you."
So… my little brother has arrived?
I suppose last night's chaos made enough waves to reach his ears.
Not even a moment's rest, huh?
"Fine. I'll go."
I tried to stand, but blood hadn't caught up with my head. Dizziness hit, and I collapsed back into my chair.
"Your Highness—" Drake moved toward me, concern in his voice.
"I'm fine." I raised a hand to stop him.
After a moment, I rose again, slower this time.
I hated this body. I hated this world.
I placed my hands over my stomach and walked forward, spine straight, ignoring the way Drake's outstretched hand hovered in the air behind me before falling away.
Don't look at me with pity when your affection points is still in the negatives.
Let's see what kind of person my little brother is. In the game's story, he was only mentioned a few times.
Killian Emerson, crown prince and Davina's younger brother. His interactions with the main heroine, Aurora, were minimal, but not unfriendly. Maybe the developers were saving him for a new route, though his young age was a challenge to that.
His relationship with Davina? Even murkier. All I knew was that she managed state affairs on his behalf until he came of age. They barely saw each other, Davina has been too busy. Though not because of work, obviously.
Still… maybe it wouldn't be so bad. Davina was the boy's only blood relative left in this viper's nest of a world.
In my past life, I had a younger brother, five years my junior. The last time I saw him was his wedding, seven years ago. That was the last time I saw my family.
If there's someone here I share blood with… maybe that's something. Maybe I can give him what Davina never had the chance to.
That's what I thought. But I'd forgotten, this world is a twisted, merciless nightmare.
My hands curled into fists against my stomach as I tried to brace myself.
Because when I stepped into the room… I saw Aurora standing beside my brother like a trusted servant.
And Killian — Killian was smiling and laughing with her like she was his real sister. His red hair and hazel eyes, so unmistakably Davina's… suddenly felt like a cruel joke.
Because the joy in those eyes evaporated the moment he looked at me, replaced with cold, wary distance.
Above his head, his affection points blinked ominously in red:
[-29%]
But even before I could process that, the system blocked my view with another message:
[WARNING: Unexpected Mission Triggered!
Aurora has conquered "The Broken Heart of the Crown Prince". Killian Emerson now sees you as a threat to the throne. Proceed with caution.
Mission: Regain your brother's trust.
Reward: +30% Affection with Killian.
Penalty: Stripped of title. Banished from the palace.
Time Remaining: 19 days, 23:59:59]
I clenched my jaw so hard I felt like my teeth might shatter. When the system window faded, I was met with a smirk hidden in the violet-glass eyes of the woman behind Killian.
Aurora… what the hell did you do to him?
***