“Why! Are you overreacting like this! That’s the look on your face, no matter how I see it! Ugh, ugh!”
Her fist, as soft as a cotton ball, pounded the pillow again and again.
“Even if the story of Empress Leia came to mind, what on earth is this…?”
She wanted to survive, but that didn’t mean she wanted to create even more embarrassing moments while doing so. After flailing her legs in agony for a while, she threw the pillow aside and made up her mind.
Forget it.
Let’s just forget it.
Nothing happened!
“That’s right! Pets are allowed to be a little overly sensitive! Because they’re cute!”
Mia quickly bounced back from her despair and rationalized it to herself.
“So next up is definitely… the rebellion being suppressed and Adil’s notoriety growing further, right?” Mia murmured as she lay hugging the pillow.
‘That means things will turn out a bit differently from the original story.’
Originally, the Celestial Count’s entire household, including relatives and servants, was supposed to be wiped out. The Empress Dowager Crisor intended to use this to fuel an even more vicious propaganda campaign.
But Mia had survived, and apart from the criminals, the other servants were unharmed. Suddenly, Mia’s thoughts drifted to the businesses operated by the Celestial Count’s family.
‘The mining, alcohol, and agriculture sectors were the biggest. At least it’s fortunate they were confiscated by the state.’
Since it was a traitor’s property, it was only natural for the state to claim it. This essentially meant that Mia’s hard work had ultimately benefited Adil.
She didn’t feel entirely regretful—it was a small price to pay for her life. Besides, money could always be earned again.
‘If it comes to it, I could just start another trading company…’
Then she remembered the overwhelming amount of work she had dealt with as the owner of the Miromis Trading Company. Mia quickly abandoned that plan.
“Let’s not work… People say a dog’s life is the best life…”
At any rate, although some things had changed, the adversarial relationship between Adil and Crisor remained the same. This meant Adil’s notoriety would continue to grow.
‘And in the end, it’s the female protagonist Serenity’s role to clear up the misunderstandings.’
Being loved by everyone was, after all, the hallmark of a heroine. Serenity was, unsurprisingly, adored by everyone except a few villains, and she was so genuinely kind that it was only fitting she was loved. She was probably helping children at an orphanage even now.
‘But there’s still some time before Ren makes an appearance.’
As Mia thought of this, she flinched.
‘But if Ren falls in love with Adil, it’s going to be awkward for me to stay as a pet, isn’t it?’
Of course, Serenity was kind and might not say anything. But male protagonists always tend to be utterly devoted to the female lead. Mia couldn’t predict how Adil would react.
“I’d at least prefer if they released me into the wild…”
If they didn’t and instead decided to euthanize her, that would be a big problem for Mia. After some deliberation, she jumped up from her seat.
“Alright. Let’s go!”
For now, she needed to familiarize herself with the palace’s geography. Many events would occur in the future, so she had to be able to navigate quickly when needed. Anyway, Adil was busy and wouldn’t return until night.
Besides, knowing Adil, if he really wanted Mia to stay put, he would’ve tied her up.
‘In other words, Adil is expecting me to act to some extent.’
Whether he was an enemy or an ally, he was trying to assess her. Mia didn’t feel upset—it was only natural for an emperor.
She cautiously opened the door. Since it was the Emperor’s Palace, the corridor was empty. She rummaged around for simple clothes, changed quickly, and left the emperor’s bedroom.
Step, step.
Mia walked down the corridor, her pink hair swaying. She naturally thought of Adil. Based on what he had said, Adil seemed to want to use her as bait to capture the runaway Celestial Count.
Mia was skeptical.
‘Would that indecisive, self-centered man really come looking for me?’
After all, he had been so obsessed with his career that he neglected his own daughter. Such a man wouldn’t suddenly show up just because she was captured. Even if he did, Mia doubted it would end well for her.
‘Either way, I’ve done my part, Mia Celestial.’
She had supported her father enough. It wasn’t her fault if he threw away the easy life she had laid out for him.
‘From now on, he’s a complete stranger.’
This meant Mia had to do her best to survive on her own.
“Which means I need to gain Adil’s trust…”
Just then, the corridor ended, revealing the expansive view of Leventor.
“Where should I explore first?”
Mia shaded her eyes with her hand and looked around. Beyond the red palace, something sparkled in the distance—a round, transparent glass dome.
‘The Royal Medical Center was supposed to have a glass garden to grow medicinal herbs, right?’
Mia was somewhat familiar with the Medical Center—at least in theory.
It was the main setting for the heroine, Serenity Duraine. Serenity, who mainly performed medical volunteer work outside the palace, had wanted to continue helping people after entering the palace. Naturally, she frequently visited the Medical Center.
At first, the Royal Medical Center’s physicians were wary of her.
All of them were funded by the Klaus Ducal House, which meant they were typically aligned with the Empress Dowager.
But the heroine Serenity, with her magnanimous heart and stunning beauty, eventually won them over.
‘That’s why she survived being poisoned and always had someone to treat her wounds…’
Mia’s heart raced at the thought of seeing the setting of the novel she had enjoyed reading.
‘If I’m lucky, I might even make friends and gather information!’
Mia carefully avoided detection and made her way to the physicians’ area. Just as she arrived, she heard sounds coming from inside.
“Excuse me!”
Mia cheerfully opened the door. The medical center’s interior was filthy. Unfinished tasks were scattered everywhere, and a faint herbal scent lingered in the air.
Mia noticed a man in a white coat, which led her to assume he was a doctor.
“Ah! I’m not anyone suspicious! I just happened to be nearby and thought I might get some ointment for a wound…”
As she made up an excuse and approached him, the man stepped back, looking flustered.
Did I interrupt something? Mia’s gaze naturally shifted to his hands, where she saw a medicine box and some herbs.
“Oh! You must be in the middle of something. I’m sorry. If you’re busy, I’ll just take some medicine and—”
Before she could finish, the man quickly returned the items in his hand to their original places.
Purple thistle root.
Mia instinctively read the label on the box.
“Wow, what a fascinating color for a thistle! The root is purple, right?”
“…!”
The man’s nondescript face suddenly hardened, becoming terrifying. He slowly moved his hand to his chest and appeared to grasp something. An alarm bell went off in Mia’s mind.
An empty medical center.
A doctor with an unmemorable face, like someone who wouldn’t stand out even in a police sketch.
She began to back away cautiously.
“So, um, are you not part of the medical staff?”
No response. The man’s sharp eyes fixated on Mia as he took a step closer.
“Stealing medicine? And you call yourself a doctor!?”
A thunderous voice echoed from the hallway outside.
“…Tch.”
The man clicked his tongue in annoyance, then disappeared swiftly into a glass garden.
What was that unsettling feeling just now?
Still dazed, Mia picked up the discarded white coat from the floor. Just then, the door burst open.
“Ah!”
“Huh?”
The first person she saw was a green-haired woman with glasses. Behind her, several people in white coats crowded together. Holding the coat in her hands, Mia froze.
What if they think I’m an intruder?
To her surprise, the woman scolded her in an unexpected way.
“You’re the new recruit we’ve been expecting, aren’t you? What are you doing here!?”
“Uh…”
Mia waved her hands in panic.
“Wait, I’m not—”
“We’re in a rush! What are you doing loitering around? Grab a medicine box and follow me! The rest of you, hurry up and grab what we missed!”
“What?”
“Oh, come on. Do you want us all to lose our jobs?”
“Wait a second! I’m not part of—”
“New recruits don’t talk back to their seniors!”
Her commanding voice was overpowering, exuding authority. To make matters worse, someone casually handed Mia a medicine box.
“I’m telling you, I’m not—”
“Quiet, rookie!”
No matter how much Mia protested, no one listened. The doctors, pale-faced, began walking in a line as if marching to their doom.
In the end, Mia reluctantly followed at the back of the group, slipping on the coat.
Seriously? The imperial palace is this sloppy?
As she grumbled, Mia completely forgot about the suspicious man she had just encountered.
Well, this works out. I’ll follow these doctors and gather information while they go around treating people.
But contrary to her expectations, the doctors headed deeper into the palace. With every step, Mia’s unease grew. She knew exactly who resided in the palace’s deepest parts.
It was already too late to turn back. All she could do was try to stay inconspicuous.
Eventually, Mia and the doctors arrived at an ancient, grandiose palace. Its atmosphere was different from the Emperor’s quarters or the central palace. Even in broad daylight, it felt dark, and the servants’ faces were eerily wax-like.
“They’re expecting you.”
A head maid, who resembled the leader of the wax figures, greeted them quietly.
“Yes!”
The woman leading the group answered promptly. Mia now knew for sure who the owner of this palace was.
That woman. The villain of this novel.
—
The doctors were led into a large room. Sit
ting in a sunny spot was a woman with jet-black curls and piercing green eyes. Wrinkles around her mouth and a captivating beauty mark on her nose stood out.
“You’re late.”
Her deep, sharp voice cut through the air.
