Murderous Emperor’s Inconvenient Behavior

Richard grimaced, as though disturbed, despite his comments.

“Isn’t that a good thing?”

“Yes, but why do I feel so uncomfortable?”

Richard murmured, his gaze down, as if he didn’t understand why he felt this way.

On the trip back to the mansion, the carriage was silent.

As soon as they stepped into the carriage, there was a ruckus. Lady Stanton had been chastised sharply by Richard for exchanging Claire and Alicia.

Lady Stanton had a lot to say, but she kept it to herself.

“Why are you so late!”

Alicia, who had been pacing around the room, ran to them as they entered her bedroom.

“How was the ball? I’m sure many young nobles attended, right? How about my peers? Were they all dressed in splendid gowns?”

Alicia barraged us with questions like a machine cannon.

“Alicia, is that all you’re curious about?”

Claire was gently separated from Alicia, who had clung to her.

“Big brother… Oh no!” 

Alicia was taken aback when she finally spotted Richard. The fact that Richard was with Claire meant that their plot had been revealed.

“Big brother, this is… as you can see…”

“Don’t make excuses, I know everything.”

“I’m really sorry, big brother.”

“You hated going to the Empire that much?”

“I would die if I went to the Empire.”

“You thought so?”

Richard shook his head, as if he thought it was ridiculous.

“That’s mean; you don’t even think about me.”

Richard’s icy reply brought Alicia to tears.

“Enough, I’ve already had one fight with mom; don’t start now.”

“Big brother…”

“Aside from that, are you more interested in the ball than Claire?”

Alicia stopped sobbing and glanced at him, surprised.

Claire, too, gave him a weird look.

“It was a formal event to announce who would go to the Empire, not a joyful ball.”

“I just…”

“You should have been worried about Claire, who had to endure it.”

“Of course, I was concerned, but I expected Claire to handle it…”

“It’s not enough to be at ease in your own mind.”

Richard abruptly cut her off.

Alicia looked forlorn at Richard, like a kitten trapped in the rain. Her large eyes were welling up with tears.

Richard hastily turned his head and disregarded Alicia. Then Alicia turned to Lady Stanton for assistance.

“You have to consider Alicia’s feelings, Richard; she must have been curious because it was her first ball.”

Lady Stanton stepped in out of worry.

“Is the ball really that important now? Doesn’t anyone consider Claire’s feelings? Even you, as her mother, should have supported Claire.”

“It’s upsetting to hear you portray me as a bad person, and Claire agreed to this.”

“With the threat of cutting off financial support to the convent?”

“…”

Lady Stanton pressed her lips together. She then cast a bitter glance towards Claire.

“Don’t blame Claire; she simply responded when I asked.”

“Big brother, did Claire make a mistake?”

Alicia, who had been observing Richard and Lady Stanton’s quarrel, opened her mouth carefully.

“Well, she didn’t make a mistake, she received quite a few compliments.”

Lady Stanton spoke in Richard’s place.

“Really? I knew it! I knew Claire would do well. How did she do it?”

“There was nothing special.”

“Tell me in great detail.”

“When I arrived at the ballroom with the veil on, everyone looked at me strangely.”

“See, I told you it was strange; now what? Everyone must have assumed it was me.”

Alicia was concerned, with her cheeks covered.

“However, they were taken aback when I removed the veil.”

“Really?”

“I, too, received numerous dance requests.”

“Really? And how did that happen?”

Alicia’s eyes were brilliant. She seemed overjoyed, as if she was the one who had gotten the dance requests.

“Of course, the emperor declined them all.”

“The Emperor? Why?”

“I was dancing with the Emperor.”

“Oh, no, that’s terrible.”

Alicia, who had become pale, sagged in her chair.

Lady Stanton sat next to her and caressed Alicia’s hand urgently.

“Are you okay, Alicia? Claire, how can you say such harsh things!”

She then chastised Claire.

It was puzzling that Alicia was so upset when Claire was the one who had danced with the dreadful emperor. And why was she being chastised for simply answering Alicia’s question regarding the ball? It made absolutely no sense.

“Are you okay, Claire, even though you danced with the murderer, the emperor?”

“Really, it wasn’t that big of a deal.”

Claire shook her head.

“How did he look? Was he hideous?”

“His face was…”

She almost said that he was pretty gorgeous.

“Ah, you couldn’t have seen it because he wears a mask, right?”

“Haha… yes.” 

“In any case, I’m relieved I didn’t have to be there; just imagining it is terrifying.”

“But you started talking about the ball the moment you saw Claire?”

Alicia pouted in response to Richard’s rebuke. Lady Stanton held her hand as she was going to cry again.

“Anyway, everything worked out fine, right? I’m not sure what you’re complaining about.”

“Huff, yes, I think it’s a relief; I was so relieved to see Claire standing with the emperor in the garden.”

“Have you met the Emperor? Is this not your first time at the ball?”

Mrs. Stanton turned to face Claire, surprised.

“Yes.”

“What on earth were you thinking? What if you were caught? Why were you visiting the garden in the first place?”

“I felt suffocated and wanted some fresh air.”

“What about you mother, what were you doing at that time?”

“I… the Countess wouldn’t let go of me.”

“I specifically asked you not to leave Claire’s side.”

“I assumed she was following me! How was I expected to know she’d go out on her own? Why did you just walk away without saying anything?”

Mrs. Stanton’s rage was directed towards Claire when she was surrounded.

“Stop doing it. You didn’t give a damn about her. If it had been Alicia, I’m not sure you would have left her alone like that.”

Mrs. Stanton, stung by the truth, bit her lips instead of retorting.

“Brother, you’re strange.”

While examining the situation, Alicia murmured.

Claire agreed with her and was glad for his support, but his support was so strong that she didn’t know where to turn.

“So, what are your plans now?”

Mrs. Stanton was questioned by Richard.

“You mean, what am I going to do?”

“If you’ve set up someone as Alicia’s double, you must have thought about what will happen next.”

“In place of Alicia, Claire can go to the empire. Not only the Emperor, but also His Majesty the King, were unaware of their swap.”

“How about Alicia?”

“How about her?”

“Aren’t they both switched right now?”

“So?”

Mrs. Stanton fully misunderstood the question’s purpose, prompting Richard to sigh deeply.

“I mean, what happens to Alicia if Claire goes to the Empire pretending to be her? Will she continue to work as a maid?”

“Ah, yes, that’s correct! What about me, Mother? Do I have to keep dressing like a maid?”

Alicia gazed down at herself, a sad expression on her face.

“I’m tired of wearing the maid’s uniform. I’d like to wear a nice dress as well.”

She whimpered, pointing at Claire.

“Don’t you worry, Alicia.”

Mrs. Stanton embraced and soothed Alicia before speaking to Richard.

“She’ll be going on a short trip abroad.”

“Abroad?”

“Because of her weak body, poor Alicia hasn’t even traveled. This is an excellent time to introduce her to the outside world.”

“I, too, want to travel abroad, Brother.”

Alicia’s eyes shone as if she had never wept.

Richard was lost in contemplation as he glanced at his mother and sister.

“Alright.”

“Many thanks!”

Alicia was overjoyed and hugged Mrs. Stanton.

“But.”

Richard, who had been observing the two for a time, warned quietly.

“You won’t be able to use the name Alicia Stanton anymore.”

“…Why?”

“Didn’t you just say you’re switching places with Claire?”

“Yes, but…”

Alicia, who was nervous, moved her gaze uncomfortably.

“Alicia Stanton will now be Claire. As a result, you are not permitted to use that name. Understand?”

“…Yes.”

Alicia responded hesitantly to the cold voice.

“And you won’t be treated as a noble lady.”

“That’s far too harsh!”

“Why?”

“I am still the lady of the Stanton Duchy, even though my name has changed!”

“Giving up your name is the same as giving up your social status.”

“Richard, that’s going too far.”

Mrs. Stanton, who was upset, took a step forward.

“Mother, I’d rather ask you. How do you intend to introduce Alicia to other countries?”

“…”

Mrs. Stanton seemed at a loss for words, as if she hadn’t considered it.

“Are you going to address her as Lady of the Stanton Duchy? Then it will be exposed that the empire’s visage is a forgery.”

“…I’ll pretend she’s a maid I brought with me.”

Mrs. Stanton’s face scrunched uncomfortably as she spoke.

“It’s best to go by the name ‘Claire.'”

“…”

“That way, if Claire disappears, no one will notice.”

“…Let’s do that.”

Alicia kept her mouth shut during the two’s chat. Her eyes, once again welling up with tears, indicated her displeasure with the situation.

She couldn’t argue with Richard, and she was seething on the inside.

She had previously stated her refusal to travel to the empire and consented to give up her -Alicia’s- name.

“Alright. How about it, Claire?”

“Yes, yes!”

Claire was taken aback when her name was abruptly called.

“Can I continue to ask you to be Alicia’s stand-in?”

“I will do my very best.”

“Just do as you did today.”

Richard gave a warm smile.

“I will never forgive you if you act as Alicia.”

Mrs. Stanton grimaced as she spit.

“Yes, mother.”

Claire graciously answered.

“Again??? Again!”

Mrs. Stanton clicked her tongue and turned her head away from the sound of the word “mother.”

“Don’t be such a jerk. You should become accustomed to it.”

“However, Richard…”

“We owe Claire something. If she says she can’t do it right now, we’re in big danger.”

“…”

“Please, treat both of them well.”

“…Let’s do that.”

“Why is Alicia not responding?”

With a severe expression, Richard demanded an explanation.

But Alicia didn’t open her mouth readily, her face contemptuous.

Because she was dissatisfied with the scenario.

Of course, she was grateful that Claire was acting as her, but she didn’t want to give up her status as a noble lady.

She couldn’t say anything, though, because Richard seemed particularly terrifying today.

Richard inquired again, this time with a scowl, as she hesitated and avoided his look.

“Didn’t you hear me telling you to treat Claire well?”

“…All right, brother.”

“Claire, please let me know if there is anything else I can do for you. I’ll give it to you.”

Richard looked at Claire, pleased with his sister’s reaction.

Claire’s eyes glowed. She had been expecting him to say this.

“I would like you to continue sponsoring the monastery.”

“Good. Is there anything else?”

“Can I bring a maid with me when I go to the empire?”

“A maid… That is not inconceivable. I’ll leave it up to you to find a decent girl.”

“Can I choose?”

Richard’s brow furrowed in response to Claire’s inquiry. He then motioned for her to speak.

“I want to bring Hanna.”

“Hanna?”

“She’s a maid I worked with and also my best friend.”

“Okay, is there anything else?”

“Nothing else.”

“It seems like you’re missing something.”

“Pardon?”

“You’re missing out on what you really want.”

Claire tilted her head, unsure what he meant, believing she had stated everything she wanted.

Richard chuckled, wondering whether he thought her expression was charming.