HRFGV 09

Chapter 9

Her name might be for the same reason. Perhaps they simply named her Riata because they didn’t want to forget Marigold Riata.

‘Well, whatever the truth is, it’s not really important.’

This was all speculation anyway. As rumors suggested, she might not share a single drop of blood with the emperor. And there was no real way to confirm it.

Despite being a loyal subject of the empire, Percy’s respect for the emperor was practically nonexistent. He evaluated the emperor’s actions with indifference.

‘Boring.’

There was nothing interesting or unique about him.

His opinion of Crown Prince Julius wasn’t any better.

‘A fool who can’t do anything properly.’

Percy knew the empress wasn’t in her right mind. And from a young age, Julius had always clung to her skirts.

‘Looks like that hasn’t changed even now that he’s grown.’

Percy’s dry gaze turned toward Julius, who was currently hurling insults at Sienna.

“If you didn’t have a face resembling the Empress, do you think you’d even be allowed to set foot in the imperial palace?”

Watching him lash out at someone weaker than himself…

‘The crown prince is worse than the emperor. Small-minded and unstable.’

Even as she endured the insults, Sienna didn’t respond at all. It was as if she believed everything would end if she just endured in silence.

Though Percy judged the imperial family harshly, his evaluation of Sienna was unexpectedly decent.

‘Even in this situation, she handles herself fairly well.’

He also knew she was engaged to Daniel Bohanan.

‘A suitable family, and a man she can control.’

Daniel had a simple personality, though he didn’t realize it himself. He even liked Sienna—though he seemed to deny it.

‘…Disgusting.’

Whether that disgust came from thinking of Daniel or from witnessing the one-sided unfairness before him, he wasn’t sure.

Percy approached one of the guards protecting the crown prince.

“What are you doing here?”

“C-Commander!”

Naturally, he stood beside his subordinate and observed the confrontation between Julius and Sienna. Julius’s one-sided criticism continued.

‘How will she get out of this situation?’

Just as Percy watched Sienna with an indifferent gaze, a faint sound escaped her lips.

“Ah…”

Her head drooped. Her red hair cascaded down.

Seeing this, Percy frowned.

‘Is she about to cry?’

So this was how she planned to get through it.

Just as his interest faded and he began to turn away—

A shocking remark came from her delicate lips.

“This is so damn pathetic, I can’t take it anymore.”

“…!”

Percy’s eyes widened.

Sienna placed both hands on her waist, straightened her back, and boldly faced Julius.

She looked like a goddess of war standing tall.

‘Who is this woman?’

She was completely different from the Sienna who had been trembling just moments ago.

Percy doubted his own eyes and placed a hand on his chest.

Thump. Thump.

His heart pounded loudly, as if it were beating for the first time in his life.

* * *

Ah… I messed up.

If I had to make an excuse, it was because I was half out of my mind from stress.

Think about it—being transmigrated into a game was already insane enough. Then I got beaten by a trash father, mocked and despised by maids and even my fiancé.

It would be stranger if I were still sane.

And honestly, I thought the system would stop me from saying such outrageous things.

But guess what?

Instead of stopping me, it let my hysterical voice pour out every bit of nonsense without filtering.

“So what about you, dear brother? If you weren’t the crown prince, do you think you’d even be allowed to stay in this palace? What’s wrong with my face? Do you think I chose to be born like this? You must be so proud of looking exactly like that filthy father of yours.”

Once I started, I couldn’t stop.

Julius looked utterly stunned, like he’d been hit on the head with a hammer.

“…What?”

“What do you mean ‘what’? Is this your first time hearing someone talk back? If you’re not going to listen, why come here and run your mouth? If you want to talk to yourself, go stare at a wall in your room.”

Sienna had always quietly endured, so Julius seemed completely flustered by her sudden outburst. After a long pause, he finally said:

“Hey… are you crazy?”

That was it.

To me, who was already boiling with rage, it barely even tickled.

I smirked.

“The crazy one is you—giving a turquoise necklace to your sister when you knew she’d get beaten to death for it.”

When I was trembling before, he had mocked me with a grin. Now that I was angry, his face stiffened in rage. It was ridiculous.

Honestly, nothing felt real anymore. One thought filled my mind:

‘This is seriously hardcore… the life of a villainess in a romance game.’

No matter how much of a villain role it was, wasn’t this too hopeless? How was anyone supposed to live properly like this?

‘Do villainesses not have human rights?’

If there really was a god, I wanted to ask that.

Pointing at my eyes, I said:

“I’ve completely lost it, you know? Kill me or spare me, do whatever you want—but just move. I need to crawl into bed and sleep!”

“Hah.”

Even now, Julius couldn’t grasp the situation.

“Looks like you need a beating to come to your senses.”

“Seriously…”

You want to hit me?

“I told you not to touch me!”

Why was everyone here incapable of listening?!

I kicked Julius’s shin with all my strength.

Thud!

“Ugh!!”

He collapsed to the ground. I stared down at him coldly as he rolled around, too shocked to even scream.

‘These high heels the maids forced me to wear… they’re actually useful.’

I had no slippers in my room, so I had to come out wearing yesterday’s heels. I had cursed them earlier—but now, kicking him felt incredibly satisfying.

‘High heels really are weapons.’

I whistled lightly. Julius, foaming at the mouth, glared up at me with bloodshot eyes.

“Y-you… how dare you hit m-me… the crown—!”

“So what? Got any witnesses?”

There were no brakes left for me anymore.

It was like a volcano that had been simmering all day had finally erupted.

I sneered.

“Or are you going to cry and tell people your lowly sister beat you?”

“…!”

This time, his face turned pale for a different reason.

Laughing, I pressed my shoe onto his head.

“This is fun. Seeing your noble face smashed into the ground. Is that why you used to sneer at me too?”

“Get your foot off me, you crazy bitch!”

Why would I?

‘This feels way too good.’

I should’ve acted like this from the start.

To the maids gossiping behind my back. To the emperor forcing me into ridiculous roleplay.

‘Maybe I’m actually talented at being a villainess!’

Otherwise, why would this sadistic situation feel so satisfying?

Smirking, I said:

“Kiss my shoe. Then I’ll move.”

It was meant to provoke him. There was no way he could kiss my shoe while I was stepping on his head.

Realizing that, Julius shouted:

“I won’t let this go! Is there no one around?! Someone come here!”

“So noisy. If anyone was around, they would’ve stepped in already—”

I turned my head mid-mutter.

‘No way.’

There was someone.

‘That handsome guy from before!’

Beyond the corridor, in the garden bushes, stood a man with golden hair and red eyes, watching us silently.

‘How long has he been watching?!’

How did I not notice a face like that?

I slowly removed my foot from Julius’s head.

‘If I do this… maybe he won’t realize what happened?’

Yeah, right.

I covered my face.

‘Should I pretend I was helping Julius?’

If I said I didn’t realize he was my brother, who could prove otherwise?

As I hesitated, the silence stretched—and it felt increasingly disadvantageous.

Julius, thinking the same, suddenly shouted:

“Duke Stewart! My sister has clearly gone mad! Take her away at once!”

At his shout, the man—who had been frozen—finally moved.

He walked toward us with slow, deliberate steps.

Then—

“Gah!”

Instead of helping Julius up, he stepped over him and came toward me.

‘Huh? Why is he coming this way?’

I blinked in confusion.

Just like earlier that morning, he extended his hand with perfect elegance.

‘Unbelievable… he’s so handsome.’

Even in this situation, I could only see his face.

Without realizing it, I placed my hand in his.

His hand was so large it felt like it could hold both of mine.

He bowed and kissed the back of my hand.

Then he said:

“Please marry me, Princess Sienna.”