I Plotted The World Destruction With The Male Lead - Chapter 22

As they passed through the gateway with the teleportation magic circle and returned to the capital’s territory, the ambush they had anticipated did not occur.

However, the mages had just finished collecting evidence from the first attack.

“Carlyle must know that His Grace retains memories from before the regression. He would have hidden his mage corps and any other forces under his control.”

This time, he had boldly launched an attack, but for now, he had chosen to conceal it. Since Van had memories of the past, he would inevitably track them down.

If it were revealed that Carlyle currently commanded such forces, he would be in trouble. The emperor’s trust in him would shatter completely.

Even after obtaining Eleanor—a guide with an exceptionally high compatibility rate—Carlyle had not immediately revealed his true intentions. That likely meant he was facing issues within his faction at this point in time or that his power had not yet grown strong enough to launch a successful rebellion.

Eleanor, as the adopted daughter of Duke Armor, had little involvement in politics. However, she could at least observe and hear about who visited the duke’s estate.

Duke Armor, like Grand Duke Jabez, was one of the leading noble figures of the empire’s western aristocracy. Though they were of royal blood and could stand on equal footing with Van, neither had been granted a duchy or grand duchy of their own.

Emperor Dael’s unwavering trust in Carlyle stemmed from the fact that, even though Carlyle governed his own territory, the emperor could send inspectors at any time.

For duchies with autonomous rule, it was difficult to dispatch imperial overseers without cause. However, territories without such privileges could be monitored freely.

In Grand Duke Jabez’s domain, imperial officials were already stationed, providing the emperor with monthly reports on its affairs. With his eyes and ears spread across the land, the emperor believed it impossible for Carlyle to amass a private army.

Yet, Carlyle had managed to do just that.

Van explained everything he knew to Eleanor, and in turn, she provided him with a list of individuals who had visited Duke Armor’s estate.

Most were Western nobles, but it wasn’t uncommon for messengers from other regions to arrive as well.

Eleanor’s recollection felt as though it had been replayed in her mind, likely influenced by her knowledge from the novel. As a result, she could remember events from years ago with remarkable clarity.

Listening to her account, Van couldn’t stop grinning.

Eleanor, still flustered from their time together before entering the capital, found his smile embarrassing.

“Why do you keep smiling like that?” she asked, half-scolding in her embarrassment.

Van merely smirked.

“Because I’m happy. The thought of entering the palace, announcing that you’re my guide, and sharing a bedroom with you makes me want to dance.”

It was natural for a guide and a member of the imperial family to share a bedroom. Since Eleanor and Van had even formed an imprinting bond, the imperial court would certainly encourage them to live together.

Moreover, despite Eleanor’s high compatibility with Van, she was only ranked as a C-class guide. Many would assume that frequent intimacy would be beneficial to Van.

“Keeping Carlyle in check is important, but I’d also like you to consider our marriage. I don’t want to wait until after we’ve defeated him.”

“B-But my status is an issue…”

“I have something in mind for that. You won’t like it, but…”

As Van embraced Eleanor and began explaining, she had already guessed his plan. Carlyle had never truly intended to marry Eleanor, yet he had still sought to eliminate her family.

Of course, Van wasn’t suggesting anything that extreme. Instead, he proposed that Eleanor officially become the adopted daughter of a noble family.

She slowly nodded.

Her parents would be furious, but only because they feared losing the benefits Eleanor could bring them.

If she explained the situation properly, they would likely accept it—though they would surely demand a significant amount of money in return.

“My family lives in the Eastern Duchy, so it won’t be possible to completely hide my commoner origins.”

“I don’t intend to hide it. Being a commoner isn’t a crime.”

Simply being a guide was enough to grant her the title of a baronetess. However, a baronet’s rank was too low for a duke’s bride.

Van knew that arranging a noble title for her was purely his own selfish desire, so even as he explained, he carefully watched Eleanor’s reaction.

Carlyle, who had so casually manipulated Duke Armor into orchestrating the murder of her family, kept being compared to Van in Eleanor’s mind.

“I was never particularly close with my parents anyway,” she said. “I feel responsible for my younger siblings, but as long as my parents are alive somewhere, I don’t feel the need to hear from them.”

She reassured Van that he didn’t need to feel so guilty.

Even so, Van gently took her hand in his and looked into her eyes.

“It’s still my fault,” he murmured. “So I’ll keep feeling guilty. And if you ever have complaints or if there’s anything you want from me… please tell me.”

He whispered that he would try to change for her.

Eleanor stared at him, wondering if he truly meant it.

Their backgrounds were vastly different. Given his superior status, it would have been easy for him to simply demand her obedience.

But Van never did that.

She couldn’t read his exact thoughts, but outwardly, he never seemed to view their differences as a matter of superiority or inferiority. He simply accepted them as they were.

At least, that was how it sounded to Eleanor.

And because of that, her feelings for Van grew just a little more.

*

The carriage of House Grandmire smoothly entered the imperial palace. The soldiers at the gates, familiar with its presence, opened the iron doors without hesitation, allowing the carriage to roll through the grand boulevard and across the palace gardens.

As it came to a stop in front of the main palace, imperial attendants stepped forward to open the doors.

Eleanor felt uneasy. She hadn’t had time to properly prepare herself before arriving at the palace.

Since House Grandmire had an estate in the capital, they could have stopped there to rest from the journey. However, they had already lost time due to her imprinting with Van, making that impossible.

There was also the growing concern that, in the meantime, Carlyle might be whispering nonsense into the emperor’s ear.

As if they had been waiting, the chief attendant greeted Van and Eleanor with a formal bow. While such respect toward Van was expected, the excessive politeness extended to Eleanor felt unusual.

It seemed unlikely that this was simply because she had arrived alongside Van.

…Did Carlyle reveal that I’m a guide?

Since Van had brought her directly to the capital, it was obvious he intended to introduce her to the emperor. Hiding the fact that she was a guide was impossible.

So what had Carlyle done?

No way…

Van stepped forward, standing beside Eleanor as he led her inside. Though attendants followed them, he needed no guidance—he knew this place well.

After all, he had spent his childhood here.

Even after he became a duke and established his own independence, he always stayed at the imperial palace whenever he visited the capital. The Grandmire estate in the city had been a gift from the emperor, but it was never his true residence.

The palace servants treated Van not just as the emperor’s nephew but almost as a son.

The emperor’s infertility was a closely guarded secret, but it was widely suspected. Because of that, many believed Van would be named the next crown prince.

At last, the great doors of the audience chamber swung open, and the guards standing before them stepped aside.

Eleanor barely registered the steward’s voice announcing their arrival—it felt distant, as if echoing from far away.

Before her regression, she had no experience with social gatherings.

She had been confined to Duke Armor’s estate or spent time at Grand Duke Jabez’s manor. She had only attended a ballroom gathering and a Vanquet once each.

Back then, she had been warned to be extremely careful never to reveal that she was a guide, and she had been so tense she could hardly function.

Even now, her nerves were no different.

To Eleanor, the emperor was an overwhelming presence—an untouchable figure, high as the sky, inspiring both awe and fear.

A gentle pull on her hand steadied her as she entered alongside Van.

A long crimson carpet stretched across the hall, leading up to the emperor’s jade throne, where the imperial couple sat.

For some reason, Emperor Dael wore a troubled expression. Empress Luria, meanwhile, looked irritated, deep in thought.

Seeing their reactions, Eleanor felt certain her suspicions were correct.

It was improper etiquette to look directly at the imperial family without permission. Keeping her head slightly lowered, she let her gaze wander across the room.

The audience chamber was not crowded.

But Eleanor still recognized Carlyle—standing confidently—and the familiar faces beside him.