The Grand Duchess of the North Was Secretly a Villainess

Chapter 4

In the original story, there was a way to wipe out the monsters that were infested with the boundary at once. It wasn't completely solved, but when the male lead ascended to the throne, he was able to figure out how to do it.

So, for now, I was thinking of holding on until the male lead became the Emperor.

'After the monsters disappear, the work will be greatly reduced, right? After that, just enjoy the lazy life.'

I'll have to wait five years for that to happen, but as they say the more you suffer, the sweeter the reward is.

'There was hardly any description of the North in the story. So, I have no choice but to look at Eloise's diary from time to time.'

It was fortunate that Eloise kept a diary every day.

'It's stupid to stick to a novel.'

To be honest, subjugating monsters was troublesome.

'I'm used to it now, but when I got into Eloise body, I was completely out of my mind.'

I possessed it in one day, but I had to take care of even the monsters. But I couldn't just be lazy while playing around. Even when playing farm games, I'm a Korean making money first like a dog than healing.

'More than anything else, the moment the North collapses, the empire is doomed. The destruction of the empire means death.'

I was able to live a free life in another world, but I didn't want to die. So, I have no choice but to fulfill my duty as a Grand Duchess

'Certainly, the number of monster has increased a lot lately.'

Considering the information written in Eloise's diary, the recent movements of the monsters were suspicious. There were too many of them trying to cross the border.

"It seems something happened inside the border. Did the owner of the forest change?"

“If you give us a command, we will set up a reconnaissance team right away.”

"No, just watch it for a while. I can't put the knight at risk for nothing."

I shook my head.

Thanks to the increased number of monsters, there was an excuse for ignoring the letters from the Imperial Palace.

'The letters keep coming.'

The letters were burned, but of course the capital continued to send letters. Not surprisingly, the Crown Prince had disappeared and asked for cooperation to find him. I can't keep ignoring it, so I took a look at a simple reply.

《《 The North is struggling to stop the increased monsters. It is a situation in which the Grand Duchess cannot directly participate in finding the crown prince 》》

What could be more important than finding the heir to an empty throne? However, the North was an exception.

'The moment the North fall, the empire will be destroyed.'

Besides, I knew the content of the story. No one will be able to find the Crown Prince until he shows up at the palace at his will.

He did not simply disappear. He was looking for an opportunity while hiding himself.

'The male lead was 15 years old right now.'

It was a clever move, even considering the precociousness of the imperial bloodlines. If he hadn't hid himself, even the Crown Prince would have been killed.

I don't know where he hid, but considering the character of the Crown Prince, it was clear that he would not move sloppily.

'Soon the Duke of Illysian will become Emperor.'

The Duke of Illysian was the younger brother of the Emperor and the duke with the greatest influence except for Eloise. Above all, he was a legitimate candidate for succession, born with imperial blood.

Since the throne was vacant, the Duke of Illysian would become emperor. It was exactly the same situation as the original story. However, I was concerned about the fact that the identity of the person who assassinated the emperor in the story was not revealed.

'Is there a high probability that the assassin is that man? Because these things are usually done by those who are born with imperial blood.'

As I recalled the Illysian deeds in the novel, I soon shook my head to shake off the thoughts.

'You don't have to think complicatedly.'

No matter who the emperor assassin was, there was only one thing I had to do. Not getting involved with the male lead at all costs until he regains the throne. And as long as I didn't leave the North, I wouldn't run into him.

*****

After leaving the horse to Johaim, I entered the castle first.

"I'm tired."

I was tired after swinging a sword all day to kill the monsters. Using a sword as a hobby and using it to kill something were different.

'I'm glad I'm used to holding a sword.'

Since the body moves on its own, it wasn't too difficult to cut down the monsters if you left it to your instincts.

'In one year, I got used to this life a lot.'

However, fatigue could not be avoided. After all, Eloise's body is human.

"Your Highness."

As I took off the blood-stained glove and held it out, Anna, the maid who followed me, accepted it.

"Do you want to take a bath?"

"Yeah, I'll wash up and rest. I'm a little tired today."

Life changed completely, and I was in a position to kill the monsters, but I wasn't mentally distressed.

'It's because I don't have a sense of reality.'

The monsters moving in front of my eyes looked terrifying, but their visuals felt familiar. Should I say that it is a feature that can be easily seen in movies or games.

'Or maybe it's because I'm used to it. The feeling of cutting is also somewhat familiar now. It's not much different from cutting meat when you cook, right?'

As I walked towards the bathroom, I blew away useless thoughts. First, I was going to wash my body in hot water and drink warm wine. After that, I was planning to find out why the monsters suddenly went wild.

*****

"Is the water temperature okay?"

"Good."

I answered Anna's question with a nod. The fatigue accumulated over the pass few days poured out like water.

The hot water pouring over my shoulders. Sitting at an angle, a distant mirror caught my eye.

'You look amazing every time I see it.'

Perhaps because of the wet black hair, her face looks even more exotic.

Her white skin was as pale as porcelain, and red eyes were visible under the drowsy half-closed eyelids. It was a deep red, closer to blood than a transparent ruby. Lips that don't have a smile on them and the dots underneath it give the impression of a cold person.

'If it wasn't for the Grand Duke, perhaps a request for courtship would have come.'

Eloise would remain an ordinary princess if the Duke had not suddenly disappeared. She is a woman from a great family with a beautiful appearance. I'm sure a lot of people want her.

'But as the status goes up, there are bound to be fewer courtiers.'

Who dares to marry the Grand Duchess?

Buy if it's the royal family, I don't know.

'I have nothing to do with the Emperor or the Crown Prince, so I'll exclude this.'

Besides, Eloise wasn't just a Duchess. She was an Archduke who slaughtered even the smallest of monsters. There was no great aristocrat who married such an opponent.

'If I were a man, it would have been a different story.'

As I stretched my arms out of the bathtub, Jane, a maid waiting nearby, handed the glass. Drinking warm wine, I enjoyed this moment.

Who needs a man? I was rich, powerful, and beautiful. Why bother clinging to a man.

What's a better life than this?

Enjoying the leisurely pace, I tried to let my ominous intuition slip into the water.

*****

"It's strange."

I came out of the study room and muttered. It was late at dawn, so the hallway leading to the bedroom was very quiet.

I carefully looked through Eloise's past diary, but I couldn't figure out why the monsters suddenly ran wild at this time.

'Did the owner of the forest really change?'

But at this time?

The cycle was too short to say that the owner of the forest had changed.

'If humans intervened, it would be understandable..... but there aren't many people who can do that.'

There were a few names that ran through my head, but I couldn't guess who.

"......"

The moment I entered the room, brushing my loose hair, I slightly hardened my face. Looks like someone wants to kill me in my bedroom.

'It's not surprising anymore.'

The assassin.

'Again? I'm sick of it.'

Eloise had many enemies as she was at the peak of power. A lot of enemies means a lot of danger.

"Haa..."

Instead of turning on the light, I sighed and walked towards the bed. It was a natural movement, like flowing water, like a person who had never noticed the existence of an assassin's.

"I'm tired."

I deliberately mumbled it, tilted my head as if to see, and began to untie the handcuffs, so that the assassin can attack me from behind. He moves slowly enough, but my nerves were sharper than ever.

'Why aren't you coming? Is it an inconvenient position for a surprise attack?'

I was too tired to wait for the surprise attack.

'I want to go to bed early, even for a second.'

It seemed that it would be better to move directly to a place where the assassin would be more comfortable with a surprise attack.

'I didn't know anyone would try to kill me. It's amazing to me that I'm getting used to it.'

After removing all the handcuffs, I turned around and walked towards the door. Before I walk, I don't forget to glance at the door. The assassin would think I was moving to turn on the light.

'He will aim for that moment and attack me from behind. It's obvious.'

As if I was exhausted, I purposely relaxed my body and began to take steps, and I felt a presence following me. I stopped by the door and counted those steps quietly.

'One more step.'

And the moment the assassin stepped his right foot on the thick carpet.

"Keukh!"

I quickly turned around and pierced his stomach with my elbow.

Bang!

Then, while he in pain, I grabbed the back of his neck and slammed his head against the door.

"I don't know why they're so stupid."

I couldn't believe it, so I burst into laughter. The scoff seemed eerie, and the assassin caught by me shuddered.

"Are you not good at learning?"

"Ugh."

The assassin's arms were free, but he had both arms attached to the door like a frog. It was because I was putting a knife on his back.

"At this point, I think it's time to give up on assassination."

As much as I got used to life in the North, it had been a long time since I had gotten used to the assassination attempt.

'There was a guy who tried to kill me the first day I was possessed Eloise.'

I almost died that day, too. It was a day when I was stuck in my study room all day to think about the future.

Perhaps he had been waiting since the day before, the assassin rushed in from behind when I was lying on the desk. If it wasn't for Eloise's instinct, I might have died of the first day.

'That was the first time I killed a person.'

I'd be lying if I said I wasn't surprised. No matter how many movies I've seen, it was the first time I'd ever experienced the sensation of cutting skin and having blood on my face.

'The problem is, I don't really care about feeling guilty right now.'

This is a world where people's lives are treated like flies.

If you don't kill, you die.

'I don't know if I'm influenced by Eloise.'

I couldn't say that I didn't feel guilty at all. However, after suffering several assassinations over the course of a year, even the guilt has faded.

"You're too stupid to take requests."

I whispered as I pushed the knife deep into his back.

"Who sent you?"

"Do you think I'm going to answer you like that?"

I've also heard this word dozens of times in a year.

"Really?"

What I've realized so far is that, there's nothing I can gain by threatening these guys.