“Archduke Leonora Stryker enters the hall!”

  As soon as the royal footman announced my name, the whole room buzzed. As for what they are talking about, I’m pretty sure it is something I couldn’t care about.

  “Madame, you’ve arrived.” Adam immediately went to me when he saw me.

  “How are things at your end?”

  He smiled, albeit looking nervous.

  “It is as planned.”

  When I told Adam that I am going to dethrone the king, we immediately created a plan. If he said it is as planned, the officials are already taken care of. To think that they fell for it. I simply told Adam to gather them all in the same room as per the king’s order and have a drink and an appetizer while they wait for him. Of course, the drinks are tampered but not with drugs that can kill them. It was only an alternative in case none of them will eat Kinilaw, a dish that I personally made. It tastes the best when made from healthy fine fish but if not, it’s not going to be my problem. I made another one for us to eat and both Adam and Lyra loved it. What makes it dangerous is I made it using a pufferfish.

  “Have they all had a taste?”

  He nodded. “Miss Lyra also stayed a bit longer to confirm it.”

  “Good. Then all that’s left is the king.”

  “What about the soldiers?” He asked.

  “I told you I’ll take care of it.” I did. In fact, all of them are probably having a blast in the tavern I rented. I told them yesterday that they don’t have to go to the ball and they all said yes without even asking a question. Wow, as expected of the narrative designers! The characters are well-written! Tch.

  “So there are no soldiers around the palace tonight?” I said it’s already done! This guy love asking questions.

  “Yes. Even if there is, it’d be a piece of cake to deal with them.”

  “I see. I’ll leave everything to you now, Madame.” And with that, Adam left my side. I smiled at every noble I saw but never really talked to anyone until the arrival of the king and his wives was announced.

  “Oh, the first prince is as handsome as ever! I wonder if I ever get a chance to dance with him tonight!” That guy is handsome?

  “Dream on, Lady Cray. We all know his highness has no business interacting with someone from a title borrower as yours.”

  “Oh, don’t be too hard on the lady. Surely, hoping is not a crime.”

  “Hah! And what of her following delusions should the prince glance at her by mistake? I have no doubt she’ll be hearing of the bells ringing!”

  “Now that we are on the topic, isn’t it about time for the prince to get married?”

  “It’s a bit alarming that there were no news about his marriage. He is not getting younger.”

  “There’s a gossip running around. Have you heard of it?”

  “I might have an idea. Is it about the Archduke who crawled to his bed last time. How indecent!”

  EXCUSE ME? TO THAT SMUG-LOOKING FACE THAT GAVE ME A SHOCK THE MOMENT I SAW HIM?

  “Shhh! Don’t make a loud noise. She might hear it! Anyway, it was also rumored that he slept with hundreds of his soldiers that’s why she was able to have the title of field marshal! Outrageous! Should I also sleep with them? Maybe they’ll be kind enough to give me a star!”

  Ohhh, this gossip is making me intrigued. She sure got the power if she ever did.

  “No, enough of that! Why did our topic shift to her when we were supposed to admire the beauty of the royalties? Oh, how lovely they are! Look at the 7th prince! I heard he can speak now! He grows up very quickly!”

  Wow thanks, party popper. Whomever you are.

  Anyway, when will the king start talking? Is he savoring the gossip about him and his family?

  I subtly looked his way and mentally facepalmed.

  He is. He clearly love receiving all of the attention. Look at him smiling so widely. Gosh.

  His eyes met my gaze and boy, I feel so creeped out when he smiled at me while scanning my appearance. This disgusting old man! I mean, I’m pretty old compare to him but he’s still disgusting.

  He raised his right hand and all of the noise immediately stopped. Even the musicians stopped.

  “Ah, my splendid subjects- of course you came to celebrate the seventh prince’s birthday tonight. How could you not? As expected, you’ve shown your devotion... and dressed yourselves quite well, though naturally…”He trailed his words and smirked at me.

  “...none outshine me” The crowd went silent and a second later, they all kneeled and started reciting an oath. I remained standing while raising my brows at him.

  The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings.

  The nobles stopped talking and turned their attention to me, their eyes following the first prince’s outburst.

  “Have you forgotten your place, Leonora? To stand tall before royalty- is that your idea of mockery?!”

  Ah, perfect. He’d already set the scene for me. I was just thinking how to make my move.

  “Ah no, William. I am under no obligation to bow after any of you. Starting now, of course.”

  I moved toward them, my heels echoing sharply in the quiet room. I came to a stop just before the stairs, where they stood above waiting, frozen and shocked.

  “I am about to kill the king, any last words to say to him?”

  They all looked at me as if I have two heads growing. The king was about to burst into laughter when I grabbed the sword that Adam hid in the newel post earlier.

  “I’m not joking. Darn. Why is everyone trying to make me a clown these days?”

  I closed the distance between us in a single stride and slashed at the king's leg. The hall went quiet, as if everyone was holding their breath.

  “I wasn’t kidding.” I swung again, cutting his other leg, and he collapsed to his knees.

  The royalties shouted in horror, followed by the outcry of everyone who attended the ball except Adam and Lyra, of course. They all tried to leave the place but Adam was quick on locking the doors from outside so they have no choice but to stay inside the hall with me.

  “WHERE ARE THE GUARDS?!” The first prince shouted.

  “Oh, they might not come. I gave an order to them. I am the field marshal, right?”

  His eyes widened and grabbed the sword beside him to try to attack me but I swung my sword at him first.

  “ARRRGHHH!!! WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU, LEONORA?!” He shouted while gripping his right arm.

  “Don’t call me by my name. You can’t carelessly utter my name just because you are a prince.” I turned my gaze to the king and smiled, making him tremble in fear. These characters are funny.

  “That will be the last time you will say my name. After all, you can’t call the name of a ruler without a thought, can you?” I continued, trying to make myself clear to William.

  The room fell silent again, and I couldn’t help but glance around. The expressions on their faces were so clueless I could practically see question marks hovering above their heads.

  “W-What do you mean by that?” William asked, his voice shaking, which only made me roll my eyes.

  “For Pete’s sake, why is everyone so slow? Do I really have to spell this out for you?” Honestly, this is getting embarrassing.

  I stabbed the king, and he howled in pain. The nobles burst in another wave of shocked cries. Great. Jussst great.

  I turned back to the king, now sobbing and desperately clutching at his wounds. Then, out of nowhere, I remembered something Adam had said while we were planning this.

  “Madame, let’s say you already have the king’s head… what will you tell the crowd at the moment?”

  He is so invested in this, isn’t he?

  “I don’t know. I’ll think of it later.”

  “I think it’d be best to think about it now. You’d only be conflicted if you are already in the scene.”

  Well… Adam was right. I should’ve thought of what I will say at this moment. The longer the silence, the more awkward it’ll be for me.

  Hah~Here goes nothing…

  “Any last words to say to your subjects, Your Highness?”

  He froze so I sighed. “What about you, William? Any last words to say to your father?” He remained silent.

  “Okay. Nothing? Don’t say I didn’t give you a chance.”

  I looked at his wives and even them has nothing to say to him. Even the Queen Mother. I see. They weren’t programmed to react to this situation well. How dull.

  I cut the king’s head swiftly that no blood gushed out until I was able to get a meter away from him.

  His head rolled over the stairs so I went down to follow it. How bizarre. I am only doing this to play with the developers but why haven’t I received any reactions from them?

  When I was on my last step, I was taken aback when I saw a familiar figure standing in front of me. I glanced around and noticed that all of them are still fixated on the king’s head that already stopped rolling and not towards Trevor who appeared out of nowhere in front of me. Can they not see him?

  I looked at Adam and even him is also looking at the king’s head. So they can’t see him? Is the time frozen just for us both?

  I walked past Trevor and tried to go to the king but his words stopped me from taking another step.

  “Do not kill anyone again, Leonora. You will regret it in the future.”

  Then he vanished without even trying to kill me. What does he mean by that?

  “HAIL THE NEW KING OF ASWAIN! HAIL LEONORA THE USURPER! IN YOU WE PLEDGE OUR LOYALTY!” They all kneeled and kept shouting. They flipped the switch so fast!

  Adam nodded his head at me and bowed. Looks like I can exit now.

  I turned my head to the remaining royalties and they are also kneeling, even the expression of William softened. Wasn’t he raging a while ago?

  I dropped the sword beside the king’s head and walked out of the hall. What a roller-coaster ride of emotions. To them, of course.

  When I arrived at the room, Lyra was already standing there, holding a basin full of water. I washed my hand with it and told her to leave the room quietly after.

  What Trevor said left me confused. Was that the new approach that developers thought of? Mental warfare? Because if that is, it is a bit effective.

  Ah… I’m glad today is over. All that planning in short time made me cut some sleep. Ugh.

  A knock on my door made me groan. I’m tired as it is, everyone, if none of you can tell.

  The knocking didn’t stop so I sat up and called out.

  “Adam?”

  It isn’t. Adam would’ve answered quickly. I observed the doors quietly. I can feel the presence of multiple people standing behind it.

  Ah, this is pretty much the same as Trevor’s case, huh?

  When I didn’t respond to their knocks and only waited for them to make the first move, they busted my door open. A coin to me for getting it right!

  “Back so soon?”

  I looked at the expressions the officials have. It’s empty. I checked the king’s, and it’s also empty. Where is his shitty grin that he always wears every time he sees me in the short span of time I stayed in this palace?

  They all charged at me. No attack patterns. No strategies. No special moves or magic. No nothing.

  I thought they’ll come back stronger, with their codes rewritten. Why are they disappearing the moment I am able to land a hit on them?

  Is this the best you could do devs? This is disappointing.