The Grand Duchess of the North Was Secretly a Villainess

After the crown prince entered the bathroom, I sat cross-legged and lost in thought.

'It's more of a mental breakdown than when I killed someone after possesses Eloise's body.'

It seemed like I had to think about that step by step.

'According to the original story, he will eventually sit on the throne, because he's the male lead.'

The problem was the possibility that my actions would affect the original. I locked the gate because I wanted to avoid death, but I didn't expect things to go this way.

"I'd rather..."

'How about improving my relationship with the male lead?'

In the original story, the reason why Eloise became a secret villain has not yet appeared, but there was plenty of room for improvement in relationship.

'If he called me by my first name instead of my last name I think we know each other...'

The people of the Imperial family are trained in strict etiquette. If he hadn't known Eloise, he would have called her last name, Wayana, instead of her first name.

'The Crown Prince is still young, so if we get close now, the death penalty probably won't happen?'

First of all, I had no intention of becoming a secret villain.

What would he know if he was that age?  Of course, since he's the main character is definitely a bit more special, the mental age should be calculated a little higher.  I don't think it will be difficult to get to know him.'

I muttered, staring at the door where the crown prince disappeared.

"If I keep him hidden in the north and raise him..."

It didn't sound like a bad way.

'No, it's not bad, it's best.'

It would have been nice if I hadn't been entangled with the male lead in the first place, but it was already entangled.

'Besides, I brought him into the castle with my own hands. Since this has happened, there is nothing I can do about it. You can't go back to the past and fix it. It's better to quickly accept the reality and move on than worrying about unnecessarily.'

Anyway, if this crisis is overcome safely, the Crown Prince was destined to become an Emperor.

'Let's think rationally.'

As I took a deep breath and remembered the original story, I felt like my mentality was being settled.

"I mean, my image right now is not good."

The North withdrew from the search for the Crown Prince. There must have been people who would talk nonsense about me being a wicked woman in order to bring me down.

'The seemingly cold-hearted Grand Duchess of the North saved the Crown Prince and helped him ascend the throne...'

That actually doesn't sound like such bad story at all?

It's not that I'm greedy for a plausible title, but I liked this one better than the secret villain.

'More than anything else, if I help him, he will repay the favor later. Anyway, I also need the power of the male lead.'

The proper solution for subjugating monsters was not resolved, but it was clear that the power of the Emperor and Saintess was needed.

So, to put it simply, there was only one conclusion.

"You don't have to think complicated."

I can't kill the Crown Prince with my own hands, so I have no choice but to make him an Emperor. I felt like I had to talk to my aides first.
 

*****

The bathroom door opened carefully.

"Your Royal Highness."

Because there was no sign, I didn't even know the door was open if I wasn't looking in that direction.

'I was surprised.'

A quiet movement that I don't even notice. When I thought it would have been possible for him to kill me, I felt a chill for a moment.

'Because he's the Crown Prince, he must have learned how to kill an enemy, didn't he? Even if you lose your memory, your instincts will remain.'

"Eloise."

The Crown Prince, who had washed up, called out my name and smiled a little. His face was red, either because he had washed in hot water or because of the heat he had suffered from an injury.

'Really..... He is so pretty. If you grow up, your beauty will be no joke.'

The gleaming platinum blonde hair and the clear walls sparkled more, as the lump of dust was washed away.

There was a strong feeling that it was beautiful because he was still wearing new clothes, It was obvious that he would grow up to be a cool handsome man in five years. 

"Are you okay? I'll prepare your medicine after dinner."

"Yes, It's okay. Thank you."

"Please sit here."

The crown prince sat obediently on the sofa.

"Do you remember anything? What about your Royal Highness?"

"I don't know. I've been thinking about it, but it's all blurry,"

The crown prince whispered in a quiet voice. He looked pitiful.

'We'll see if it's real or not.'

I bent one knee in front of him.

Looked up at the Crown Prince and said in a clear voice.

"Your Royal Highness name is Caienian Helisis."

"Caienian.... Then, you can call me Caien."

Caien's eyelids were halfway down as he looked down at me. His eyes were accustomed to looking down at someone.

'Right, he is the male lead. Even if you completely lose your memory, your nature wouldn't go anywhere.'

I stared at Caien and made a wish inside.

'After you become Emperor safely, forget about me and live happily with the female lead. You must also find a way to eliminate the monsters in the sense of repaying my kindness.'

I answered with a stern voice, thinking about the future in a few years.

"Don't forget. You are the Crown Prince, the little sun of the Empire."
 

*****

Caien fell asleep in my bed after eating warm food. It was the food that Anna made while he was in the bathroom. I've given him medicine to reduce his fever, so he'll fall asleep deeply.

'You must have been tired because you were still young and wandering outside. You seem to have relaxed.'

I stared at Caien and turned my head.

"What do you think?"

"Are you sure he's asleep?"

Jayden asked in a quiet voice. I had waited until Caien fell asleep and called Jayden. Since my brother was not around, it was right to consult with my aide.

'He's a person who'll never betray me.'

I folded my arms and nodded.

"From the sound of his breath it was certain. He must have not slept properly for days, and he must be tired."

"I knew you were hiding something, but..."

"It doesn't matter for a few days, but I can't keep it hidden here."

"We have that potion. So, it can cover the sign of the Imperial family, your Highnes."

A potion made from northern herbs could change the color of a person's hair or eyes. To prevent it from being used for the wrong reasons, only a few people knew about the potion existence and recipe. And there was someone in the North who knew how to make it.

'That's me. Eloise.'

"I don't know if it will work for the Royal Blood...."

The recipe for the potion was a secret recipe handed down by the Duke from generation to generation. Fortunately, Eloise had learned how to make it and recorded it before the previous Duke went missing.

'There's a story behind this, too.'

The reason the Duke of Wayana developed such a potion was simple. It was for someone to die on behalf of the Duke.

'It's to prepare in case the enemy invades and puts the Duke in danger.'

Black hair and red eyes were the characteristics of Wayana family. And if you take the potion, you can have black hair and red eyes temporarily. The person who takes the medicine pretends to be a Duke, deceives the enemy and dies instead.

'Because the Duke has to survive and plan for the future. It's a cruel but efficient way.'

Since the northern border was side by side with the monsters, the loyalty here was stronger than in other regions. Because of that, there are many people who consider it an honor to die for protecting the Duke.

"I'll give it a try."

Caien's appearance was so noticeable that he had to change his hair color and eyes first. It was fortunate that not many people knew his face due to the nature of the Crown Prince.

'Will he agree to it? I might have to cover his face if I have to.'

They probably wouldn't think of himself as the Crown Prince even by changing his hair color and eyes, but I thought it would be best to keep a list of people who know his face just in case.

"Your Highness. May I ask what you are planning to do?"

Jayden asked with a very nervous face.

"For now...."

My words stopped.  It was because Caien, who was sleeping, opened his eyes.
 

*****

Jayden was quick-witted. His lord, Eloise was the same, but there was a big difference between the two.

'I'm quick to see people, but her Highness was not very good at that.'

Of course, Eloise also used to recognize those who were loyal to her and those who were not. However, she was blunt about other human relationships.

"Your Highness, what's wrong?"

Jayden stood in a stiff position and looked sideways at the Crown Prince. It was the first time seeing the Royal family so close, because it was difficult to look at them openly.

'As expected from the Royal family Blood.  Seeing that he was already awake, despite the strong dose of medicine.'

Jayden glanced at him, the Crown Prince was smiling while saying something to Eloise.

' ......Something's off.'

Jayden raised one eyebrow. He doesn't know much about the Crown Prince's personality, but the prince he knew wasn't the kind of person who would smile like that.

'Isn't he famous for his merciless personality even at a young age?'

He was told by Eloise that the Crown Prince seemed to have lost his memory for a moment, but that was even stranger.  A person who has memory loss usually acts according to his nature. There's no way it would turn 180 degrees like that.

'Is it because of the fever, as her Highness said?'

He was looking at him, and his eyes met the Crown Prince.

" .....!"

It was in the blink of an eye. It was also such a short time that if Jayden was the type to use his head like other aides, he wouldn't have noticed.

He clearly read the cold eyes that were directed at him for less than a second.

'Wh, what was that?'

The crown prince's eyes were looking at Eloise, as if he had never turned to Jayden.

Jayden rubbed his eyes roughly with his sleeves, and then opened his eyes wide.

'What is it?'

The Crown Prince was still smiling at Eloise. 

It's also very pretty too.