How to Live as the Mad Duke’s Fake Daughter

Everyone who was buzzing held their breaths and listened to Pedro.

– I just broke the alliance, Duke. We both knew it was going to be like this, didn’t we? Although unilateral destruction can only be regarded as provocation.

My heart was pounding at the ominous feeling. I stepped away from the crowd and watched Alan.

“…Show me the future.”

I shut my eyes tightly. It was a sloppy foretelling ability, but I could see the next 10 seconds of the future.

‘It will be fine. Even if the Emperor’s clone attacks, Alan can stop it…’

As I repeated it, I opened my eyes wide.

My wish went off the rails. It wasn’t okay at all.

I ran past the distracted knights and went straight to Alan.

“Dad!”

The moment I called him, countless white lights flashed from the snow beyond the drawbridge.

My body demonized by itself before I was even aware of it.

I hugged Alan with a black, elongated body. Countless magical spears rained down my back.

Bang, bang, bang, bang!

The sound of gunfire ripped the eardrums.

The white magic that shot over as if it would turn me into a beehive disappeared like dust under the power of demons.

It was good so far, but the problem was that the drawbridge was shattered by the magic spears.

The path to step on gradually disappeared, and my whole body staggered.

It seemed like I was going to fall into the river at any moment, but I bent my vicious claws and hugged Alan desperately.

The instinct to protect him dominated the empty me.

The bombing by the imperial family ended only after a long time. Alan and I stood on the fragments of the broken bridge, barely supporting each other.

Perhaps because I was exhausted in an instant, my body naturally returned to its human form. The ragged wedding dress fluttered like a mermaid’s tail.

“That’s very affectionate of you. Even if you hadn’t worked so hard, the duke wouldn’t have died.”

Igdrasil laughed out loud from behind.

Ugh, haa.

I gasped and looked back at her.

I couldn’t let go of the tension for fear that the magic spears would fly away again.

Then Alan grabbed my shoulder so hard that it hurt.

“It’s war.”

The deadly declaration reached my ears and resounded even to the knights who approached us.

“Close the gate and inform the citizens of the ducal territory.”

Swoosh!

The knights who turned into wolves tore Igdrasil’s body with their claws.

The clone of the World Tree disappeared as petals, along with a loud laughter.

Alan took me back to the castle. His body temperature was burning with anger.

The rebellion began.

***

“The Imperial Army has blocked the supply route!”

“A detachment of the Imperial Army has been found on the eastern drawbridge!”

The duchy was in chaos.

From platoon to battalion, everyone was busy, and Pedro and Hugo left to lead their respective men.

After giving some instructions, Alan put on a cloak and climbed up the wall.

Benny and I changed into light leather-lined combat suits and hurriedly followed after him.

When I came out of the watchtower, I saw Pedro who was maintaining the knights under his command in the distance.

When in such a serious situation, he waved his hand as soon as he saw me.

Unfortunately for the older brother who cherishes his younger sister, there was no time to greet him face to face.

I approached Alan and the chiefs of army, hurriedly asking,

“Is the Crown Prince alive?”

At that moment, a messenger connected to the Imperial Palace came running and delivered a letter to Alan.

Alan read the letter and spoke briefly.

“He’s alive.”

I stroked my chest. It was strangely reassuring.

At that time, Benny, who had been looking far away as if it didn’t matter who died or not, came forward and said,

“I will go to the Imperial Palace with the Princess.”

“…Things went wrong. It’s dangerous now.”

Alan raised his eyebrows. But Benny did not back down.

“It doesn’t matter, I will protect her. And…”

He clung to me. I could feel the body of an adult, well-muscled, over his clenched arms.

“I promised to obey only the orders of the Princess.”

From the very beginning when we were planning the rebellion, Benny had declared that he would only listen to me.

It was a remark that had ignored the hierarchical order, but everyone agreed because his power was so desperately needed.

Everyone in the room looked at me. They seemed to be waiting for my choice.

I quickly grabbed Benny’s hand before Alan could do or say anything.

“I will go to the Imperial Palace. That was the original plan.”

Alan still looked unhappy.

I looked up at him eagerly. If the plans had to be changed, I would be in a position where I couldn’t do anything, and I hated the thought of that.

Finally, Alan lowered his gaze.

“…Go to the Imperial Palace and join Crown Prince Garou.”

As soon as he finished speaking, Benny carried me. It looked like he was planning to go down the outer wall like this.

Just before leaving, Alan stopped gazing at me and threatened Benny.

“Protect her.”

***

“The road is blocked. It will take at least two days.”

I told Benny the news I had from the messenger and was in agony.

According to the original plan, we should have taken the duchy’s direct road to the Imperial Palace as soon as the wedding was over, pretending to go on a honeymoon.

But now that we had been stabbed in the back, we had no choice but to go around.

It was a relief Benny could run faster than a carriage when he transformed into a demon. If we were not demons, there would be no other options. 

“…Can we do it?”

I muttered without realizing it. Even as I was carrying out the plan, I wasn’t confident in myself.

Unlike the anxious me, Benny was calm.

“You mean assassinating the emperor?”

Benny said briefly, as if it was a child’s homework.

“We can.”

It was a reliable affirmation. I took courage at his words and made my way through the bushes.

The thin crescent moon shone on a small empty space. I put the luggage bag down on a suitable stump.

‘Our mission is to assassinate the emperor…’

Igdrasil would have to dissipate her power if there were battles throughout the empire, and Benny, Garou, and I would use the gap to strike her body.

It seemed like a good plan at first glance, but frankly, it was quite unrealistic when you think of the huge tree that supported the empire.

‘…There is no other way but to do that.’

The dice were cast, and a fight broke out. Now I had no choice but to move forward.

I sat on the stump and patted the seat next to me. Benny was standing like a bird. Then he quietly approached me and sat down next to me.

“Are you scared?”

“…A little.”

“Then just give me the word. To kill the emperor by myself.”

The scary thing about Benny was that when he said those kinds of things, not even a single ounce of conceit lingered.

‘If it’s Benny, it might be possible to do it alone…’

Benny was no longer the frail boy I first met.

Of course, back then he was strong enough to kill all the gladiators alone, but now he was on a whole different level.

His black magic was extraordinarily omnipotent.

But that did not give me any reason to leave all the duties on him.

“…I’ve already refused it.”

I shrugged and pulled out the blanket.

“Anyway, let’s camp here today.”

“…You must be tired.”

Benny unwrapped the camp tent and made a place for me to sleep.

After that, he crossed legs nearby and didn’t even move.

I tilted my head as I lay down.

“Benny, aren’t you sleeping?”

“Do you want me to go to sleep?”

“…Are you going to sleep if I say so?”

“Because demons do not die even if they stand still.”

Even Garou followed the basic human needs, but Benny blinked as if he had no desire to sleep.

I sighed lightly and looked up at him as I lay down.

“You should go to bed too. Die or not… It doesn’t matter, take a break.”

“All right. Good night.”

He sat down and closed his eyes. I raised up my upper body in a panic.

“…Wait, wait. Are you going to sleep like that?”

“Is there any problem?”

Benny was quiteincapable of understanding my reaction.

“But rather… Why do you have to sleep sitting down?”

“This posture makes it easier to protect the Princess if we’re being attacked.”

I was going to say more and then I stopped.

‘Don’t I already know that?’ Basic human knowledge did not work for Benny.

“…Come here.”

I stretched my arms outside the blanket and hugged Benny. Then he moved.

He did not resist and lay down with me. He blinked like a child.

The bright starlight reflected in his eyes was beautiful. To the extent that the reality we were facing felt like a dream for a moment.

“Benny.”

I swept Benny’s cheek and whispered.

“We are married. Right?”

“…Yes.”

Benny grabbed the hand that touched his cheek. The cool temperature was pleasant.

“Because you are my husband…”

I pushed my face close to his, so close that I could feel him breathe.

“You’re not leaving me, are you?”

Despite the stupid question, Benny didn’t laugh.

“Yes.”

Benny patted me on the back. I didn’t know why that small act was so comforting.

I buried my head in his arms.

“You are always considerate of me.”

“…Does it look like that?”

“Yes. Very kind.”

As I lay still, trying to fall asleep… My eyelashes lowered as I whispered.

“If I met you before my father… I will only know you.”

Perhaps due to drowsiness, my inner feelings flowed out honestly without going through any filter.

Benny, who was lying stiffly like a wooden doll, turned his head slightly.

“Princess seems to love the duke more than me.”