A Third-Rate Villain Tries Her Best Today 199

Side Story 2: The Story of Jean Emilia

Chapter 4

The Imperial Palace was in an uproar at the Emperor’s words.

‘Karina’s dolls,’ those with no status, were going to lead the invasion of Crimea?

But before the voices of opposition could grow louder, Crimea fell. It happened so quickly, so easily, that it was almost embarrassing that they had struggled with Crimea for so long.

The Emperor chose Emilia’s plan over Jean’s. He wanted to capture the divine beast alive, and Jean’s formula could have been dangerous to it.

And so, Emilia and Jean went to war for the first time, led an army for the first time, killed people for the first time, and captured the divine beast, as the Emperor had ordered.

Everything went smoothly, as if it had been destined.

‘Uh… Emilia’s gone.’

The short war ended with Crimea’s surrender, and Jean and Emilia were dealing with the aftermath.

Jean, realizing that Emilia was gone, started searching the ruined island of Crimea.

“…Emilia.”

Luckily, he found her before sunset. She was at the ruined temple, praying in front of the broken statue of the goddess.

It was the first time Jean had seen her pray. She had always avoided temples, even in the capital, saying they were suffocating.

Jean stared at her for a long time, then slowly approached her.

“Emilia, are you okay?”

“Jean.”

Emilia’s face was pale. It had been like that ever since the invasion of Crimea had begun. She kept denying it, but Jean was certain that she was feeling guilty about killing people.

She had always had OCD(Obsessive–compulsive disorder), so she must have been struggling with the act of taking lives.

“Are you going to keep staring at me like that? I’m fine. It was an order from His Majesty the Emperor, and he trusted us with it.”

Emilia, sensing his thoughts, chided him, forcing a smile.

“Are you really okay? You don’t look okay.”

“I said I’m fine! The empire needs our abilities. What could be more gratifying than that?”

She genuinely believed that. Of course, killing was hard. And destroying buildings and turning them into ruins was unbearable.

But her greatest happiness was being acknowledged by the empire, by the Emperor.

---

Emilia and Jean were summoned by the Emperor again a week after they returned to Lohn.

“Emilia, Jean, you have exceeded my expectations. It seems Countess Karina’s words weren’t just empty boasts.”

The Emperor, standing up from his throne, slowly approached the twins, who were kneeling before him. He gestured, and a servant, who had been waiting, approached him with a case containing medals.

“Emilia, Jean, rise.”

Emilia and Jean stood up at the Emperor’s command.

“This medal is the first I’ve bestowed since becoming Emperor. Because it’s the first medal I’ve created. The name of the medal is… Skia.”

“Thank you, Your Majesty. It is an unparalleled honor.”

The Emperor personally bestowed the medals on the twins.

“You are no longer Countess Karina Yermel’s servants… And you are no longer just Emilia and Jean.”

“Y-yes…?”

Emilia and Jean looked at each other, bewildered. The Emperor chuckled.

“The destruction of the Holy Nation of Crimea is a greater achievement than the conquest of any other land. So I shall bestow upon you new names, new lands, and new titles.”

The Emperor paused for a moment, then recited the real names he had created for Karina’s beautiful dolls,

“Emilia Lopetrefer Kel, and Jean Lopetrefer Kel… Those are your new names.”

---

Year 19 of the Imperial Calendar.

Emperor Delons’s unprecedented bestowal of dukedoms only caused a stir in the capital for a week.

Because the nobles of the capital had already witnessed the abilities of the Lopetrefer siblings during the invasion of Crimea. No one doubted their talent, which far surpassed that of the current Imperial mages.

They also had the full support of Countess Karina, and there was another reason why the capital nobles readily accepted them.

Their appearance.

They had such elegant and beautiful features, worthy of being called “Karina’s dolls,” that they were even more aristocratic than the other nobles.

The Lopetrefer siblings, as if they had been born with dukedoms, naturally integrated into the lives of the nobles. This was also thanks to Karina’s teachings, but few people knew that.

“We’re finally real citizens of Lohn, Jean!”

Their own names, their own mansion, their own territory. And Emilia, who had only been able to observe the social circles from afar, was enjoying her days, officially accepted into high society.

But Jean was different. Of course, he was happy that his abilities had been recognized by the Emperor, but he didn’t like the fact that he had to obey the Emperor unconditionally after receiving his new name.

The Imperial Palace Magic Department, which he had dreamed of, wasn’t as fantastic as he had imagined. He had to research whatever the Emperor wanted, and if the Emperor lost interest, the research materials would be discarded.

“…How long do we have to obey the Emperor?”

Emilia was startled by his disgruntled tone.

“What are you talking about? We’re all born with a duty to be loyal to His Majesty the Emperor. And you’re happy to be in the Imperial Palace Magic Department, aren’t you?”

“…Not really. I want to research what I want to research.”

“So you built a laboratory in the basement of the mansion. Do you think you would have been able to do that if you hadn’t received a name from His Majesty?”

“That’s true, but…”

Jean, unable to refute her point, trailed off.

“Master has worked so hard for us for years. We have to live our lives as Lopetrefers, for her sake!”

Emilia pleaded with him desperately. She was happy now. It was a happiness she had earned by killing people, so she had to be happy.

“…Okay, I’m fine as long as I can research.”

Jean finally backed down at her pleading eyes. There was nothing he could do about it, even if he complained.

“You’re the only one who received the dukedom, Emilia, so please take good care of the family.”

He was fine as long as Emilia was happy. He could compromise a little.

---

Year 22 of the Imperial Calendar.

The Lopetrefer grand duke family, led by Emilia, was rapidly growing. There were only two members, but their research achievements were rapidly contributing to the prosperity of the empire.

Their innovative ideas and the magic formula theories they developed were unparalleled in all of Atlantis.

And Emilia had also made a name for herself in the social circles, becoming known as the “Flower of Society,” so no one dared to look down on the Lopetrefer family.

The empire, having put a temporary halt to its conquests after the fall of Crimea, began to subjugate the monsters that were plaguing the empire.

The Lopetrefer siblings were, of course, the leading contributors to the monster subjugation efforts. Emilia also actively participated, as it didn’t involve killing humans.

The subjugation project, which the Emperor had pushed for, had unexpectedly yielded good results, and the three families that had contributed the most were Fritz, Acrea, and Lopetrefer.

To commend their achievements, the Emperor held a dinner party, inviting only the heads of the three families.

And then, the Emperor, looking at Emilia, suddenly said something that sparked a chain of events,

“Duke Emilia, isn’t it time for you to find a spouse?”

What followed was predictable.

The Emperor introduced Emilia to a man he had chosen for her and pressured her to marry him.

The man the Emperor had chosen was the third son of Marquis Cesar, a loyal subject of the Emperor, but he was also known as a notorious playboy in the social circles.

“Are you really going to marry that guy?!”

Jean was furious when he heard the news.

Even Jean, who wasn’t interested in the social circles, knew about the third son of the Cesar family. He was that bad.

Why had the Emperor introduced such a man to Emilia? He didn’t understand. He had thought the Emperor favored the Lopetrefer family.

But Emilia, the one who was actually getting married, seemed calm. She replied nonchalantly,

“What? It’s the same for everyone else. Nobles marry whoever they’re told to. Why would I be any different? Didn’t you see the Fritz family’s youngest daughter get engaged a few months ago? She married a prince from another country she had never even met before.”

“But it’s not Gran Cesar! Aren’t you even angry at the Emperor?”

“Not at all! Why should I be angry at His Majesty? You’ve always been saying strange things, Jean.”

Jean sighed, running his hand through his hair.

“I should have been the one who received the dukedom.”

“Jean!”

Emilia shouted.

“Don’t cross the line. I’m happy to be the Duke. I’m happy. Why do you think I’m going to be unhappy?”

“You’re happy about this? You’re happy?”

“Yes, I’m happy.”

Emilia was firm. She placed her hand on her chest and said clearly,

“I’m much happier now than when I thought moldy bread was all there was to life.”

“….”

“…Jean, we’re not just Emilia and Jean anymore.”

Emilia tried to soothe him, her voice calmer now. But Jean, unconvinced, replied, his face on the verge of tears,

“Then what are we? …What are we?”

“…Before we were Jean and Emilia, we’re Lopetrefers. We’re the Duke Lopetrefer!”

“That’s just a shackle the Emperor put on us to keep us bound to him! Look! Neither of us can escape his orders!”

“You’re one to talk, spending all your time doing strange research in the basement.”

“….”

Jean’s movements stopped abruptly. Now it was Emilia’s turn to look like she was about to cry. She swallowed a sigh.

“Did you think I didn’t know? …About the strange experiments you’re doing with monsters in the basement laboratory. If that gets out… neither of us will survive.”

“…Emilia.”

Emilia shook her head at Jean’s desperate plea.

“This marriage is for you too, Jean. Live for yourself. That’s all you have to do.”