I, the Female Lead, Ruined the Original

He never doubted his mother’s love. From the beginning of his memories, he had grown up surrounded by his mother’s affection. His mother, who had shown him the world as they roamed from one kingdom to another, from one city to another village, through forests and seas… Like a mother bird teaching her young to fly, as if making sure he could survive on his own even in her absence. Indeed, his mother, weakened by illness, had grown frail, and by the time of their separation, he had inwardly come to accept their parting.

Thrown into the palace, the boy met his companion in the treasury. The sword, which had been asleep since its previous contractor’s death, claimed it had awoken in response to the boy’s lineage. Even Di didn’t know the exact principle behind it. It was vaguely assumed to be due to his mother’s lineage.

And Rakrensius, who first awakened the royal founding sword in nearly 900 years, came under the surveillance of the imperial family.

As Rakrensius sighed, the silent sword spoke as if to comfort him.

[If you’re uncomfortable keeping secrets from the daughter of Elard, perhaps it’s okay to tell her some of my secondary secrets.]

“Such as?”

[My writing activities.]

Rakrensius chuckled at the unexpected revelation.

[Perhaps I could give her one of the manuscripts I’ve written.]

“The story about a wizard who becomes a split personality after taking a magic potion?”

[No, the tragic love story between a man and woman from enemy families would be better. I haven’t decided on a new title for it yet…]

“Should I also mention that all these stories are actually borrowed from another world?”

[…]

Seemingly reluctant to shatter a fan’s fantasy, the sword did not reply properly.

* * *

“Swords, huh.”

“But it seemed unrelated to his abilities. There were no traces of use on the sword, and the tower master apparently can’t handle swords.”

“It’s intriguing. I heard that holy relics are usually loyal to their inherent functions.”

“Yep, it’s not even surprising anymore that Pavellian creates a barrier around the campsite with his relic during every hunting competition. Pretending to be amazed by it is so annoying.”

The next day, at the hangout of the Transmigrators’ Club, Doloret’s office. After Selleana’s return to the duchy, her friends were meeting again in the manager’s room at the Benichi salon.

“Should we list the imperial treasures from the kingdom era? Since the royal treasury’s collection isn’t public, I’m not sure.”

“That’s 90% confidence from the guild leader, right?”

“Um, well,” Doloret responded tartly to Michi’s teasing question.

Thanks to Prince Erenst’s return, Michi was thrilled to be able to meet with her friends freely.

“We just need to find out which relics were possessed by past kings and emperors and their heirs. That should do it.”

“Indeed, it wouldn’t be a concern for the tower master unless it was something owned by a king or emperor.”

“

, this empire’s history is unnecessarily long.”

“Is it possible? We’d have to sift through the imperial archives.”

“That’s nothing.”

For Doloret’s guild, there were no sacred grounds. Doloret’s lips curled into a smirk, anticipating the forthcoming harvest.

“Look at that. There’s no cunning female protagonist like her. So evil.”

“How did that brown-haired nice guy not run away from her? Unlike the original Doloret, who was naive, our Doloret deals with conspiracies and plots daily.”

At Agnesia’s whisper, Rosalli added more fuel to the fire.

“Was it really love at first sight? You barely met him after finding your family, busy with a childcare story.”

“Well, maybe he had no choice but to cling to the last lady left after flirting with so many others. What a fool.”

“Isn’t he a gold digger? Suddenly appearing like that is suspicious…”

“… I’ve checked around Count Hargen’s situation, and there were no financial issues.”

Doloret’s fingers rhythmically tapped on the desk. Despite gathering all the information, the situation remained puzzling. Her expression was seriously troubled.

To lighten the mood, Rosalli mockingly teased, “Financial issues, huh? Well, they could arise in the future. Gambling debts, bad investments…”

“Are you the only one free from meeting the original male lead, Rosi Glen?”

“Give it a bit, and I won’t be Glen anymore, right?” Rosalli’s face broke into a sly smile.

Recently, she was the only one in the Transmigrators’ Club who was not troubled by the problem of the original male leads. But her concerns lay elsewhere.

“

, I never thought I’d still be here by the hunting competition…”

“Why? The real lady isn’t coming until after the competition, right?”

“I planned to start moving my assets to Laten from the summer. Pretend to take an extended summer vacation, buy a house in advance, and only return when the real lady arrives.”

“Only to be disowned immediately upon your return?”

“Yep, ‘Oh, the real daughter is here? Then, I guess I have to leave. Goodbye, everyone!’”

Rosalli’s exaggerated act made everyone burst into laughter.

“

, if only the selection could proceed without Lea, I’d pull out my application in a heartbeat. It looks like I’ll have to confront the real lady head-on.”

Rosalli’s initiative had prompted the young ladies to submit their applications for the selection, making it impossible to withdraw casually. As a result, Rosalli was stuck, unable to flee according to her decade-long plan.

“Thank you… Rosi, you know you’re the only one, right?”

As Selleana leaned in to hug Rosalli’s waist, the other friends chimed in.

“Hey, did you forget how I gathered Mellisa’s kids and used the East Wind tactic to set the stage?”

“

, how the emperor looked at me like a money-grubbing pig when he tried to collect the debts…”

“Thanks, okay? I’ll repay you fully once this is all over.”

“What about me?”

“Later, I’ll build you a huge wine cellar in our mansion’s basement.”

Selleana jested, listing the rewards for her friends, and laughter filled the headquarters.

“

, we really need to start preparing for the Harvest Festival…”

The Harvest Festival, lasting a month from the end of September, was a celebration that marked the end of the social season in the capital, featuring hunting competitions and several events hosted by the imperial family.

“How’s Pavellian? Is he still acting like an obsessed man? He said if you can’t bring anyone by the hunting competition, he’d make you his partner, right?”

“Don’t even mention it. Didn’t he send a bunch of gifts the day I returned home?”

“Returning home to find shoes, jewelry, silk gloves… He really has no sense.”

Lea, who wasn’t even interested in such things, was exasperated while Michi cringed at the side. Michi appreciated Rakrensius, who had thoughtfully prepared self-defense scrolls as a ‘running away from home’ gift.

“The commercial district was buzzing because I swept through it to buy gifts for the tower master. And he thought those were for him?”

“That crazy delusional.”

“He should’ve just kept his obsession to himself.”

“His obsession seems quite narcissistic.”

“I’m not sure about the future of Nepelsian…”

Today, the friends passionately bad-mouthed their future ruler.

“So, what will we do about the hunting competition?”

“Well, it won’t be easy, but I’ll try to persuade the tower master a bit more… And if that doesn’t work, I’ll have to talk to Pavellian.” Selleana shuddered at the thought of partnering with Pavellian again.

Selleana’s eyes brightened as she thought about the lady she could never have understood in her lifetime.

* * *

“Priestess.”

“Yes.”

It was at the grand temple of Orot on the outskirts of the imperial city. As Agnesia exited the prayer room, a trainee approached her.

“Is it again?”

“N-No, not today.”

“Good…”

That b*stard. Agnesia swallowed the curse.

Her original male lead, Margrave Gotenfrid, had been persistently trying to contact her since their first and last encounter at the emperor’s birthday celebration more than a month and a half ago. Ignoring his letters through Selleana only made him more desperate to send another. It was especially troubling since the trainee had to fend him off daily, though it seemed he hadn’t come today.

“The High Priest is looking for you.”

“The High Priest? Did he say why?”

“The saintess came to visit, and it looked like she wanted to meet you together with the high priest…”

“Me?”