I Became the Evil Empire’s Princess Chapter 22

Translator: Nox
Chapter: 22

“...My Lady?”
Dante’s eyes widened as he saw me stepping out of the carriage.
With one hand covering his mouth, he looked as though he was too shocked to speak.

“Hello, Sir Dante.”
I approached him with Sion.

The armor gifted by the Emperor was so oversized that it slipped off with every step I took. I had to wear thick padded clothes underneath, but it was still too loose, making me look like an underdressed child.

Claude couldn’t stand it and added a fluffy fur vest over the armor. The hood attached to the vest even had round ears to enhance the cuteness.

But no matter how you looked at it, I simply resembled a baby bear.

“You look absolutely adorable. I almost didn’t recognize you.”

“...Are you being serious, Sir Dante?”

“Pardon?”

Seeing his tilted head, I sighed.

Right, how could a loyal knight possibly criticize a gift from the Emperor?

“Thanks for the compliment. I’d love for His Majesty to see this look too.”

“But His Majesty...”

“I came all dressed up in his gift. Surely he wouldn’t refuse to see me, right?”

Dante flinched at the sharp look in my eyes.

In the end, he promised to convey my message to the Emperor and personally led me to the drawing room.

“Please wait here for a moment.”

Once he left, I flopped onto the sofa and looked at Sion.

“Sion, what do you think will happen?”

“Well... I’d say there’s a ninety percent chance he’ll refuse.”

I clenched my teeth.

Emperor, this is all your fault.

“If he refuses, we’ll go with Plan B.”

Before long, Dante returned with a stiff expression.

“My Lady, His Majesty is extremely busy today and cannot meet with you.”

“Is he truly busy, or just doesn’t want to see me?”

Dante hesitated at my blunt question.

I sighed.

“Sir Dante, I really didn’t want to do this, but I have no choice.”

I pulled out a pink ribbon Sion had given me from my pocket and grabbed Dante’s wrist, starting to tie him up tightly.

Looking utterly confused, Dante asked, “My Lady, what are you doing?”

Drawing a wooden dagger, I boldly declared, “Sir Dante, you are now my prisoner. I’m taking you hostage to force His Majesty into treatment.”

“Pardon?”

Dante stared at me in confusion.

“If Sion uses his powers, he can detoxify His Majesty. But the Emperor will make all kinds of excuses to refuse treatment. So we’re going to force it on him.”

Dante blinked blankly, clearly trying to comprehend my words.

“If you want to save His Majesty, cooperate with me.”

He glanced skeptically at Sion. “Do you trust that mage so completely?”

“Yes. If Sion intended to harm His Majesty, he’d already be in a grave. He wouldn’t go through all this hassle.”

Dante frowned as I tried to reassure him, patting his hand.

“Trust me instead of Sion. I truly want His Majesty to get better. Who else would make me princess if he dies?”

“...That’s hard to argue with.”

But Dante still hesitated. I had to pressure him a bit.

“You were even willing to die for the Emperor. Why not leave it to me before you go?”

“How did you know about that?”

“I just know everything.”

With a sigh, Dante smiled in defeat. He really did look better when he smiled.

I led him toward the Emperor’s bedroom.

The knights we passed looked at Dante, tied with a ribbon, and seemed to think, ‘Poor guy, playing along with a kid.’

“Sir Dante, how did you get caught by a bear?”

“He’s my prisoner.”

When I waved my dagger around, the knights burst into laughter.

One even patted my head. “Such a cute little bear.”

“Get lost. Bears can rip people apart.”

“Oh no, how scary.”

I’m not joking, you fool.

I munched on the jelly they offered as I walked forward.

“Hm?”

A knight following us tensed at the sight of Sion, but relaxed when he saw the bunny ears on Sion’s hat.

‘At times like this, it’s convenient to be a kid.’

Even if something seems off, adults let it slide when it’s a child. Thanks to that, we arrived at the Emperor’s quarters without interference.

The guard stepped aside when Dante gave him a look.

I slipped inside the door Dante opened.

— Dante, what have you brought?

But the Emperor immediately noticed me.

“Sion, shut the door!”

I dashed toward the bed. Something from the floor grabbed at my ankle, but I shook it off with strength.

There was a slam of the door and a thud of something heavy falling.

Without looking back, I flung open the bed curtains. There lay a man.

“...Huh?”

It wasn’t the Emperor.

He looked like him, but his body was nothing but skin and bones. His gray lips looked like they might stop breathing any second.

Flustered, I’d intended to restrain the Emperor.

— What is the meaning of this?

Then I heard the Emperor’s voice behind me.

Startled, I turned and he tried to grab me.

On reflex, I dodged — and a white spider thread flew through the air, slicing through the Emperor.

“Kyah!”

Sion grabbed me as I stumbled back.

“That was a clone. This is the real body.”

Sion pointed to the skeletal man on the bed.

“...The real one?”

That stick figure was the actual Emperor?

“It seems his real body is too far gone to move. That’s why he uses a clone.”

— Insolent girl. I never gave you permission to look at me!

The Emperor’s enraged voice rumbled, and the ground beneath us trembled.

Panicked, I smacked the bedpost. With a loud thump, the curtains fluttered.

“If you stay still, will you die? What energy do you even have in that condition? Who’s trying to eat you?!”

— ...

“I came to treat you! Once the treatment is done, I’ll leave!”

Seeing his barely alive body overlap with the image of my sleeping grandfather, I grew furious.

At least you can be treated. So live. Live however you must!

Don’t leave me again like this!

“My Lady?”

Sion’s voice snapped me back. I wiped my wet eyes and spoke coldly.

“Sion, the patient has given consent. Begin treatment.”

I’d planned to tie him up if he resisted again, but he stayed limp.

“First, I’ll assess his condition. My Lady, please release Sir Dante.”

Sir Dante?

Puzzled, I looked back to see Dante lying on the floor. He’d been completely wrapped in an explosion of ribbon and looked at me pitifully.

“Sir Dante, you’ll catch a cold sleeping there.”

I quickly untied him.

Freed from the ribbon cocoon, Dante muttered bitterly, “This is a bit different from what I was told.”

“I said it would be a forced treatment.”

I patted his back.

A moment later, the curtains rustled and Sion called out.

“My Lady, I’ve identified the poison.”

“Already?”

“I had a strong suspicion, so confirmation was quick.”

The competent poison expert sounded confident.

I asked hopefully, “Then you can make an antidote right away?”

“As long as I have the ingredients.”

Seeing me brighten up, Sion added,

“We need the source of the poison: Luna Draug’s heart.”