### Chapter 284 – Room 204, Mission’s Room – ‘Hotel Cinema’ (8)
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– Yu Songee
—
To be honest, the final showdown with Evelyn wasn’t all that thrilling.
I mean, I wasn’t about to punch like Jinchul oppa or throw people around like Kain oppa, right?
With her suddenly screaming at the awful illusions of monster toads that popped up all over the carriage, Evelyn leapt out the door like she was trying to escape hell itself.
Seeing her tumble over the cliff by the shoreline, the duke’s retainers and knights practically lost their minds trying to rush down. Yet, when they found her with her limbs bent at awkward angles and scars decorating her body, I couldn’t help but sigh. Maybe it would’ve been easier if she just kicked the bucket.
But hey, now the carriage just sitting here is a problem.
“Cedric!”
“What? Lady Evelyn is—”
“Let’s get moving. We’re almost to the capital anyway, right? If we get her to the hospital there, we might just save her life. Didn’t Evelyn give you her final orders?”
“Lady Evelyn’s orders?”
“She told me to go to the palace and say that Lady Crocibel has come down with a fever.”
It seemed my words convinced Cedric, as he started to hurry the surrounding people along. The carriage took off at 1.5 times its previous speed. Well, I think it did. It kind of ‘cut’ to us arriving at the palace instead.
Regardless of whose carriage it was, we made it to the palace, and that’s what counts!
*
As soon as we arrived, there was Joshua running over. While I was smiling back and accepting his welcome, I couldn’t help but glance over to see what Cedric was doing. What a sight!
What was he thinking just now? He must’ve been planning to share some ‘shocking truth’ with the prince about seeing the ‘wrong person’ instead of Crocibel.
Not a chance! Because I’m the real deal!
“Oh, Your Highness.”
“Yes?”
“I’d like to thank Cedric for that mishap we had on the way to the palace. Quite a troublesome accident, you see!”
“What? What on earth are you talking about?”
“Oh come now, don’t be alarmed. I’m right here in front of you, aren’t I?”
“Y-You’re embarrassing me…”
“I got some help from the duke’s household as I was passing nearby.”
The prince seemed suspicious of the fact that Evelyn’s family had lent me assistance, but he soon told Cedric he would remember this help and moved on. Cedric stood there, completely dazed, unable to move for a while.
*
The anticipated conversation with the emperor was painfully pointless.
Honestly, if the emperor of the empire has too much time on his hands, that’s a bit weird. He just went through the motions with Joshua, chatting about maintaining good relations, and within ten minutes, he was off to handle some business.
The real twist came from elsewhere.
“I’ve heard that Evelyn was severely injured and hospitalized in the capital. Did you hear about this, prince?”
“Ah, I received a report about it earlier—”
“Yet you seem so unfazed! How can you be so cold-hearted!”
What the heck is going on? Here he is, openly worrying about Evelyn right in front of me!
Caught off guard and not knowing how to react, a sharp dagger-like remark came flying toward me.
“Oh, by the way, Lady Crocibel. They say you shared the carriage with Evelyn?”
“Yes. It was an unfortunate accident—”
“Isn’t it fascinating that Evelyn suddenly yelled and jumped from the carriage? At that precise moment, you were riding together? The knights from inside have no idea what happened.”
“Y-Your Majesty! What on earth are you saying?”
With the tone of voice implying I hurt Evelyn, I nearly scowled, but if the prince hadn’t been there to back me up, I might have snapped back.
… But technically, I did hurt her, so I couldn’t be too mad. When I thought about it, there really wasn’t a reason to be angry.
This weird back-and-forth went on for a bit. The empress, who had welcomed me with awkward smiles when the emperor was present, could no longer hide her discomfort after he left.
Suddenly, it clicked in my mind: Evelyn is the empress’ relative, and she met the prince through the empress. So, basically, she was the empress’ pick.
What must I look like to the empress? A thief cat that slipped in while the relationship between her beloved future daughter-in-law and son was growing cold. Plus, I’m from a pretty mediocre family, who might just look suspicious for allegedly hurting Evelyn.
As all this sunk in, I started seeing the bigger picture. Thoughts I hadn’t entertained before returned, and possible scenarios began to swirl in my head. The final image of this story, that punctuation mark, was starting to take shape.
After finishing up with the imperial couple, the prince appeared to feel a bit guilty.
“Um… Songee. It seems my mother isn’t quite prepared emotionally yet.”
“That’s understandable.”
“Don’t worry! I’ll make sure to explain everything properly.”
“I’m not worried.”
Maybe my calm demeanor made him believe I was steadfast; the prince smiled brightly and saw me off.
I felt a pinch of guilt. If he knew the ‘plan’ I was cooking up, he probably wouldn’t be smiling so easily.
*
Later in the evening, I stepped out from the quarters the prince arranged for me and headed toward the empress’ palace. When I told the maids I wished to see Her Majesty, they replied with a shocked response.
“What? You, claiming to be the prince’s lover, think you can act as you like? Does she think you’re just a commoner from the marketplace? There are proper protocols you must follow—”
“Just tell her that I’m here. I can guarantee she’ll want to meet me, even if it means canceling her schedule.”
“What are you even talking about?”
“Hey, do you think you can predict Her Majesty’s wishes? You don’t even know why I’m here!”
By the looks of the maids’ sharp attitudes, it seemed that the empress must have been speaking ill of me already. But my words had enough weight that the maid left, albeit grumpily, to inform the empress.
As expected, I soon got the order to enter immediately. While the confused maids were scrambling about, I had a clear understanding of why. She must have been incredibly curious.
For the empress, there’s no way she could grasp why I’m alive while Evelyn is in a near-death state!
— Clop!
Walking through the tense halls of the palace, I began to ponder.
Will this ending I plan to create be okay? I know there is a ‘more stable and steady path’ available. I also know my chosen conclusion may seem utterly insane based on perspective.
But let’s go back to the core.
What is my goal, after all? Defeating Evelyn? Winning the prince’s hand in marriage against the empress’ opposition? Sorry Joshua, but those are all wrong.
My goal is simple: to secure three circles of approval from the ‘evaluators’ outside. One of them, an extraordinary entity, once said:
“A new era, the 21st century! It’s about time we see a female lead killing the male lead in a romance movie, right? This is total MZ! This is totally the multiverse, isn’t it?”
Now I understand your standards. You don’t want the familiar and comfortable plots, do you?
*
“Is this what you mean by not wanting the familiar and comfortable plots?”
“Eek! That’s a bit alarming…”
At Jinchul’s comment, Sanghyun instantly agreed.
“There’s not just one crazy evaluator. The lady at the souvenir shop seemed to prefer conventional plots too.”
Ahri simply replied, “Both of you, be quiet. From what I’ve seen, it appears that Songee knows this genre far better than you two.”
The two men immediately sealed their lips.
*
Maybe it’s because there were only trustworthy people in the empress’ circle besides me? The dialogue quickly turned sharper than before.
“So, are you excited at the thought of changing your fate?”
“…”
“I was already annoyed when you were blindly bouncing around, but I never thought you’d come looking for me at this hour. Lucky you. What did Joshua see in you—”
“This line is way too cliché.”
“What?”
“My perspective is different. Meeting me is a stroke of luck for the prince. It means he at least found love normally, right?”
“What kind of outrageous nonsense are you spouting?”
“What if it were someone else? Some might have already crushed the prince with a scale. Others might be planning to possess him, even if they’re a guy.”
“What on earth… What kind of ridiculous talk is this? The more I hear, the more your immaturity and lack of virtue shine through.”
“Who else would instruct their future daughter-in-law to commit murder?”
The empress stepped back in shock. Perhaps embarrassed by her own actions, she narrowed her eyes and took another step toward me.
“What do you mean? Do you really think you can stand by those words?”
“If you think about it, it’s pretty clear. When the prince’s carriage arrives at the Crocibel household, isn’t that a pretty big secret? No matter how elite the duke’s household is, could they just learn that? Okay, maybe the household is significant enough to have found out.”
“Shut your mouth right now!”
“Your Majesty, please allow me to speak a little longer. Up to this point, that’s acceptable, but then Evelyn realized she was the person you picked.”
“What kind of proof do you think that could even be?”
“In fact, the most critical evidence is quite simple. The ‘genre,’ if you will.”
“What?”
“Eek! The clash between the future daughter-in-law and the mother-in-law! Leaving out this crazy development would be a crime. No way this isn’t included in romance novels! That’s right, it exists in this world too.”
For the first time, the empress genuinely looked bewildered without even displaying her rage.
“I have no idea what you’re even talking about. Have you been drinking? Guards!”
“Final point. Your Majesty, when it comes to proof between us? Apologies, but I have no need for that. This place is the fourth floor anyway.”
Now, maybe thinking I’ve completely lost it, the empress gestured to call people as I bid her my final farewell.
“Since you’ve summoned ‘witnesses’ for me, that’s just great. Have a wonderful night, ‘Mother.’”
The next scene would be one that the rushing maids and knights would never forget.
The empress, suddenly shaken, horrified at the palace shaking and the flames rising from all around, ended up leaping off the fourth-floor terrace in bare feet. Soon, wails began to echo throughout the entire empress’ palace.
Now, having toppled my ex-girlfriend and her mother, there’s no one left in this world to stop me.
*
In a dark and gloomy setting, I gazed at the moving coffin dressed in black mourning attire. Sure, I created it, but I didn’t expect the story to end in such a mood.
Having unexpectedly heard the news of his ex-girlfriend and now mother’s sudden death, the prince truly reverted to a young boy, weeping and wailing. It seemed like the right moment to approach him and firmly grasp his hand.
“S-Songee! Huhh! Why did this happen suddenly!”
… Whoa! Just then, I almost choked and blurted out, “Sorry for killing your mom!”
Calm down, Yu Songee! Breathe, breathe!
“Your Highness, especially during times like this, you must steadfastly endure. People are bound to die eventually, you know.”
Your mom was gonna kick the bucket eventually anyway. I just helped speed things along a little.
“Your Highness Crocibel shall be here to support you.”
As his puffy-eyed gaze turned to me, my instincts kicked in. This is the moment for the conclusion of this movie! I ought to leave some impactful words!
With a heartfelt gaze toward the empress’ coffin, I left a ‘beautiful line’ to wrap up this movie.
“‘Mother.’ May your journey be comfortable. I promise to take good care of your son! Let’s go!”
And…
Boom! The ending credits rolled.
—
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