Chapter 10

"Aldina seems to act as if she can't rest until she makes you evil. If you are evil, then justice must be your sister, right? Well, it doesn't matter. If that country requests an alliance with us in the future, we'll consider it then. I wonder what the next diplomat will be like."

"Most likely, it will be your sister. Our parents have failed once, and since the Greedy family is the top diplomatic family in Aldina, they will send someone from there first."

"Hmm."

In the diplomatic relations with Fakur, there is no one from the Greedy family who hasn't been involved. It's impossible for someone from another family to be sent. However, unlike in the game, Pulm has never had any interaction with other countries. My parents, who sent me, a young child, to Fakur, never mentioned Pulm even in diplomatic settings where peaceful alliances were discussed. As a result, the child who was supposed to build connections with other noble families as she grew up has none at all. Do my parents understand what it means for her to suddenly enter the diplomatic arena? There's no first-come, first-served rule in friendly relations, nor is there a limit on the number of people. Pulm, who didn't even interact with my friends, will soon attend the Crown Prince's study session. The news of the change in fiancée will be announced, but how will the people from other countries react?

Next to the Crown Prince's study session, there was a gathering of the young ladies who were their fiancées. On the surface, it was a harmonious gathering, but these young ladies were fully aware of their future role in supporting the king and took pride and responsibility in being the next queen. The thought of Pulm joining them, saying something like, 'It doesn't matter about status, let's be friends,' sent a chill down my spine. She might actually say something like that. Considering Aldina's position, she shouldn't be able to say such things to these high-ranking ladies. Some of them were friendly with me because of the benefit of my interactions with Fakur. Would they be friendly with Pulm, who has no manners, no status, and no benefit to offer? The gathering is a place for future queens to build connections and evaluate each other. Who to become close to for the future, who to avoid for the sake of their own country. It's a place where they constantly evaluate each other, even while smiling and chatting. Of course, there are also genuinely friendly people, but even in those cases, the underlying premise is always for the sake of their own country. In a way, it's a more terrifying place than Fakur, a world of strategic interactions among women who will hold power as future queens.

It's unclear how much the correction for Pulm will work, but considering the atmosphere of the past gatherings I've attended, I don't think it will be as effective as in Aldina. I don't particularly like Pulm, but I really feel sorry for her being thrown into that meeting without any knowledge. After that meeting, she will face diplomacy with Fakur. Lord Leos will likely formally declare the suspension of the alliance with Aldina tomorrow. Fakur doesn't need to consider ties with other countries. They might wait a bit if a diplomat dies, but if someone is exiled like me, the alliance ends immediately. I remember the king once laughing about how Fakur's offer of charity is not needed if we expel someone they like. If the alliance with Fakur is severed, not only will the country be in danger, but even the previously safe roads will become dangerous. Without the money from other countries for using the roads, Aldina's income will drop sharply. This means that a new diplomat from Aldina will arrive soon, and it will most likely be Pulm.

Perhaps Lord Yuto might come as well, considering her inexperience and her status as a fiancée. Normally, it would be impossible for someone to come with her to a dangerous country like this, but the probability of that happening is higher. Fakur is a country that demands solo diplomacy, but they might forcefully come along anyway. Or, the correction might work, and someone other than Pulm might come.

"I'm looking forward to how they'll handle it. If you're used to Fakur by the time your sister arrives, maybe we'll meet face to face?"

"…Whatever, as the king wishes. I am now a person of Fakur."

"Hehe, that's right, that's right."

The king's mood seemed to improve, but I felt a bit gloomy thinking about the potential chaos if that happens. They will surely blame me for being in Fakur, even though they are the ones who expelled me. If Lord Yuto is there, it will be even more difficult to communicate and very troublesome. Seeing my troubled face, Lord Leos smiled even more. He often laughs happily, but today he seemed especially in a good mood.

"So, did you come to the country with your beloved butler?"

"Wh-what?"

The unexpected change in topic made me exclaim in surprise, and not only the king but also the other officials laughed. I had hoped that if I was allowed to bring someone, they would join me as a citizen of this country. However, I never said that the person I liked was a butler, or even mentioned their gender.

The king, who was laughing so hard that tears came to his eyes, spoke to me, who was speechless.

"When you first came to this country for diplomacy, you walked alone from a place far from the town, even the country. It was a topic of conversation that our country, which had entrusted diplomacy with a child who had no experience, didn't even send an escort. In other countries, families and attendants would wait at the border, and if the mission was successful, they would embrace and cry. After your character became known, even the monsters would greet you, but you always came alone. One day, suddenly, an attendant started to accompany you to the guardhouse, which is the farthest point allowed. Even other country's people, who could come close to the country but were too afraid to reach the guardhouse, started to come. When I asked if you would come with an attendant from now on, you simply nodded."

Feeling a warm feeling despite the confusion in my head, I remembered that I had only said that a new butler was accompanying me.

"You didn't realize it, but your expression was completely different. You, who usually look so composed, smiled when the butler was mentioned. Since then, it has been a known fact among the officials that you have feelings for that man. When the idea of trying to recruit you from Aldina came up, it was decided to offer you the chance to come to Fakur in exchange for allowing your romance with the butler. But we knew you wouldn't betray Aldina so easily, so we decided to just feel you out. We planned to take our time, but we didn't expect you to propose to be protected because you were about to be expelled."

Feeling embarrassed that my feelings were known among the officials, I was at a loss for words. The king, who was laughing with the other officials, handed me the key and map of my new home, which I took while trying to hide my embarrassment. I bowed to the king and turned to leave.

Just as I was about to leave, the king called me back, and I turned to face him again. His usual smug smile was replaced with a gentle one, which made me feel strange.

"Rium, I'm sure you still have some guilt towards the people of Aldina. But don't forget, no matter how much you tried for them, they never accepted you. The monsters of Fakur will cherish you. The more you work for Fakur, the more the people of this country will value you. So, just work for Fakur without worrying about Aldina at all. That's the responsibility of the choices you and the people of Aldina have made. The prince and your sister will protect Aldina, not you. The people of Aldina chose to be protected by them, not you. You don't need to keep your heart divided."

The king and the officials watching had such gentle smiles that I felt like crying. I thanked the king sincerely for his kind words and left the room. As I walked back to the guardhouse where Philo was waiting, I kept replaying the conversation with the king in my head.

"…So, they noticed after all."

The small whisper stabbed at my heart. I have no lingering feelings for Aldina, and I'm looking forward to my new life. However, there is a sense of guilt for coming to a country that could be a significant threat to Aldina. The people of Aldina saw me as something to be shunned because of the game correction, an irresistible force. Even if their feelings towards me were negative, my life has been supported by their efforts since I was born.

"Ha…"

I couldn't help but sigh. I am determined to become a resident of the monster country, but the guilt is hard to shake. However, I believe that as I get used to life in Fakur and come to care for this country, the guilt will fade. For now, I'll think that way and hurry to the guardhouse where Philo is waiting. The monsters I pass by welcome me with smiles, which makes me genuinely happy. The comfort I felt in this country was because they were watching over me. In this country, without the game correction, what you do is evaluated as it is, and my romance with Philo is accepted. The king, who was once terrifying as an opposing nation, now looks at me with kindness. I can serve with more joy and enthusiasm than when I was in that country.

"A place where I can stay…"

Whispering this, the reality of having a place to belong sank in. Anyone would cherish someone who treats them kindly over someone who is cold. The king is right. Even with the game correction, that country never accepted me no matter how much I tried. The loneliness of being unjustly rejected by my birth country is greater than my guilt towards them. But here, it's different. For the sake of Fakur, which welcomes me, and the monsters who greet me with smiles, I will work even harder than I did for Aldina. I clutched my chest, filled with new resolve. In any case, there is no option to return to Aldina. Even if they asked me to come back, even if Lord Leos said he would attack Aldina, I won't return. Despite my guilt towards Aldina, I have no lingering feelings for that country. Perhaps I am indeed suited to the role of the villainous lady as that country decided. I smiled deeper, receiving more welcoming words from the monsters I met on the way.