CHAPTER 02
“That author, seriously…?”
Beneath the letter was a clunky device resembling an old-fashioned smartwatch.
Curious about the watch that looked completely out of place in this era, I turned it over in my hands before fastening it around my wrist.
The moment I did, the screen flashed to life.
It had no functions other than displaying information about the revolutionary army and Ethius’s condition, but I had been genuinely astonished when I first discovered it.
Being suddenly transmigrated into another world had felt like being struck by lightning.
Still, this was a chance to personally help my favorite character—the one I’d always wanted to save.
So I decided to do it.
Since then, I’d been using my fortune to support the revolutionary army as though I were playing a tycoon simulation game.
Well, it was still only the beginning.
At this point, the watch displayed:
Revolutionary Army Status
Military Strength: Insufficient [More]
Equipment & Supplies: Critically Low [More]
Living Conditions: 39%
Funds: 50,010 den
Revolution Progress: 51%
The revolution’s progress had risen from 40% to 51%.
The living conditions had also improved dramatically from the 17% I’d first seen.
Being able to view the status screen alone allowed me to see exactly what they lacked.
Thankfully.
This should put out the most urgent fires for now.
Ethius von Clyde
HP: ♥♥♥♥♡♡♡♡♡♡
The watch also displayed Ethius’s HP.
I assumed that if all the hearts disappeared…
He would die.
Of course, I couldn’t simply pour all of my money into supporting him without restraint.
The reason was this body’s identity.
Katrin Elemore.
Everyone in the Empire knew that House Elemore stood at the center of the current Emperor’s faction.
Naturally, the Emperor and the nobles who supported him viewed Ethius as a thorn in their side.
And in the novel, I was one of the villains whom Ethius despised.
If anyone discovered I was secretly funding him, the Emperor might have me killed before the revolution even began.
Besides…
There was already a certain villain waiting eagerly for an opportunity to expose my weaknesses in order to seize my inheritance.
So that’s what the letter meant when it warned me not to let anyone find out if I wanted to return home safely.
Until the revolution succeeded, I would continue living as the infamous villainess, Katrin Elemore, while secretly supporting him from the shadows.
Once the Ethie I’d worked so hard to help was ready to successfully launch his revolution…
The second thing I’d do was…
“…Leave the Empire before the revolution.”
For my own safety, I would seek asylum in the neighboring Principality of Montella.
A beautiful, peaceful land blessed with breathtaking natural scenery.
The Empire hadn’t realized it yet, but because I’d read the novel, I knew just how incredibly profitable that country would become.
Thanks to that knowledge, I’d already invested more than half of my fortune there.
Unlike in the original story, Ethie would live a happy life.
I’d hear news of him from afar while spending my overflowing wealth in peaceful Montella, waiting quietly for three years.
That was my goal.
Just as I was lost in thought while looking at the watch…
“It seems Your Ladyship treasures that heirloom of the late Duke above all else.”
As though our earlier conversation had never happened, Heros smiled gently while looking at my watch.
Perhaps it was one of the transmigration perks, but everyone else simply saw it as an ordinary jeweled bracelet.
So I’d casually told people it was one of Father’s keepsakes.
“Shall I invest the proceeds from the estate auction in Montella as you instructed before?”
“Yes. Buy another silver mine behind the one we invested in previously. The price should match almost perfectly.”
“Understood, My Lady.”
Not long afterward, our carriage stopped before the magnificent Elemore estate.
Taking Heros’s hand as he escorted me down, I stepped gracefully from the carriage.
Ah…
Completing today’s mission of supporting my favorite character left me feeling wonderfully lighthearted.
Fifty thousand den should be enough for them to move somewhere warmer, right?
What if my precious Ethie caught a chill holding meetings in a freezing ruin?
***
As soon as I entered the mansion, the maids working inside hurried over, dropped to their knees, and lowered their heads.
Silence filled the hall.
With my chin slightly raised, I walked proudly between them.
One maid’s hands trembled as she clutched her mop.
…
Shortly after I transmigrated…
I once politely told a frightened maid,
“Please don’t be so afraid.”
Instead of reassuring her, however, her face turned deathly pale.
Concerned, I reached out to touch her forehead…
And she fainted on the spot.
“M-Please spare me…”
she had cried.
Well…
After inheriting Katrin’s memories, I couldn’t exactly blame her.
Katrin had possessed an unbelievably nasty personality.
The only time she ever addressed servants politely was when she was about to ruin someone’s life.
Once I leave this place and seek asylum…
Every servant working for House Elemore was someone burdened by debt to the family.
Unable to bear the crushing interest rates imposed by House Elemore, they’d chosen to work here rather than be sold into slavery.
The family even maintained a register of hostages to ensure none of them dared entertain rebellious thoughts.
The butler walking behind me—Heros—was no exception.
…They’ll all be happy.
Just endure a little longer, until the revolution succeeds.
Stretching lazily, I sat down in Father’s office chair.
The future both they and I wanted wasn’t far away.
By my calculations, I’d receive permission to emigrate to the principality before the revolution began.
Just as I started imagining Ethius—far more handsome in real life than I’d ever pictured while reading the novel—wearing the imperial crown and almost broke into a foolish grin…
Heros spoke.
“My Lady… regarding the orphanage you applied to establish a few days ago.”
“A document has just arrived from the temple…”
His expression wasn’t encouraging.
“…It was rejected. My deepest apologies.”
“What?”
My eyebrows shot up.
Heros immediately flinched and bowed his head.
“I’m terribly sorry. I’ll go and submit another request—”
If I had been the original Katrin, I probably would have thrown something from the desk at him.
“Prepare some stationery.”
Although my voice carried irritation, it remained calm.
Even so, I saw Heros’s hands tremble.
A handsome young man with gentle brown eyes and brown hair.
His father’s debts, incurred while serving as the family’s butler, had passed on to him, leaving him bound here like a slave.
I had no intention of taking my frustration out on someone so pitiful.
“If you go back yourself, you’ll only waste my time.”
“…Pardon? O-Of course! Right away!”
He quickly fetched the finest stationery and presented it to me.
Though…
Why were his ears red again?
Anyway, I began writing a letter addressed to the High Priest.
Its contents were brief.
To the Esteemed High Priest,
If you do not approve my request to establish the orphanage as soon as possible, I will reveal that the second son of Baron Erlingt and his wife is your illegitimate child.
I look forward to your favorable reply.
—Katrin Elemore
Using knowledge from Star of the Revolution to blackmail someone in a high position was surprisingly easy.
Especially when I occupied the body of the already-infamous villainess, Katrin Elemore.
A fake holy man like you thinks you can challenge me?
After folding the letter twice and sealing it, I handed it to Heros.
“Deliver this to the High Priest. Tell him it’s a letter of confession from Katrin Elemore.”
“He’ll be so eager to read it himself that you shouldn’t have any trouble getting it into his hands.”
Like House Elemore, the High Priest belonged to the Emperor’s faction.
Since he was constantly competing for the Emperor’s favor, he’d naturally be eager to obtain evidence of my weaknesses.
Too bad he’d instead discover that I possessed his greatest secret.
I wondered how pale his face would become.
“Yes, My Lady. I’ll see to it immediately.”
Accepting the letter, Heros looked at me hesitantly.
“My Lady… if I may ask…”
