Everyone, You’re All Being Fooled Right Now
Everything was drenched in a chilling crimson light.
Even the fountain, once radiant with gold and marble.
Even the beautiful garden, once filled with the scent of flowers.
None of it registered anymore.
All because of one man.
A man whose presence was overwhelming even from afar.
Just moments ago, a life had vanished so easily.
Yet none of the witnesses made so much as a sound.
They merely stared at him, dazed, as if hypnotized.
The man, who stood under all those watchful eyes, wore a dispassionate expression.
He pulled the sword from the enemy’s chest and shook off the blood—
As if swatting away a pesky insect.
Hiiik! The surrounding maids gasped and froze.
At that moment, the icy blue eyes that had been staring down at the fallen enemy slowly moved.
‘Ah.’
Our eyes met.
His were sorrowful—and beautiful.
In that instant, his gaze trembled slightly.
He looked at me briefly, then sheathed his sword and began walking toward me.
Wait, what? He’s coming this way?
By the time I snapped out of it—
“Your Majesty the Empress.”
—he was already standing right in front of me.
“My apologies for the late greeting.”
With a charmingly deep voice, he bowed.
“I am Leonard Hilbert, Captain of the Imperial Guard.”
“…!”
The moment I heard that name, my eyes wavered.
Leonard?
That Leonard Hilbert?
At once, his name flashed vividly in my mind.
‘How could I have forgotten?’
This novel had multiple male leads aside from the official one, Jerome.
And among them, Leonard was just as prominent as the Emperor himself—perhaps even more so.
He subdued the entire empire with his sword alone. He’s loyal, courteous to a fault…
The friend who recommended this novel to me had gushed over him every time he appeared.
But it wasn’t just his good looks or his extraordinary skills that made readers swoon.
‘He…’
That is, Leonard Hilbert’s true identity was—
“Your Majesty?”
His voice pulled me from my thoughts.
Leonard was watching me with a slightly puzzled expression.
I must’ve had a serious look on my face without realizing it.
“Do you have something to say to me?”
“Ah, no. It’s nothing. More importantly…”
I quickly averted my gaze and changed the subject.
“What exactly just happened?”
Two men had fallen from the sky.
I had unintentionally watched their intense fight from the front row.
Well, calling it a fight might be generous—it was rather one-sided.
“I spotted suspicious figures trying to infiltrate the Crown Princess’s palace and was subduing them.”
“Infiltrators in the Crown Princess’s quarters?”
That was where the female lead, Fay, resided.
Was this in the original story?
I tried to recall, but nothing came to mind.
“This isn’t a trivial matter. Was anyone hurt?”
“Fortunately, there were no major injuries.”
At his response, I glanced toward the fountain.
The shattered remains of it.
The body of the subdued intruder sprawled over it.
Leonard followed my gaze and let out a soft sigh.
“Ah, that…”
He spoke in a slightly awkward tone.
“I would’ve preferred to apprehend them quietly, but their resistance was rather… vigorous. I had no choice but to use a bit of force.”
Apprehended?
That was a bit too brutal to be called that, don’t you think?
It seemed more like a permanent kind of apprehension.
“My apologies for showing Your Majesty such an unpleasant sight.”
His voice was calm and composed.
At any other time, I might have simply thought of him as a dutiful knight.
But I knew better.
I knew his true nature.
Just then—
“Captain!”
A desperate shout echoed.
At the garden’s entrance stood dust-covered knights, hands on their swords.
Even at a glance, it was clear something urgent had happened.
Leonard addressed me politely.
“Your Majesty, if you’ll allow me, I’d like to excuse myself.”
“Of course. Urgent matters should come first.”
“Thank you.”
After a short bow of gratitude, he swiftly led the knights away.
I watched him go.
‘To think I’d meet that man here.’
The unexpected encounter left me flustered.
While I was still trying to piece things together, the maids approached.
“Your Majesty?”
“Is something troubling you?”
“Ah, no. It’s nothing.”
I shook my head.
“Let’s head back.”
But despite my words, my eyes remained fixed on his retreating figure.
“…Leonard.”
I whispered his name softly and made a silent vow.
Absolutely.
I must never run into that man again.
＊＊＊
The next day.
“I heard good news on the way here!”
Marie, who had gone to bring tea, returned with excitement.
One maid tilted her head.
“Good news?”
“They say all the intruders have been caught.”
“Oh my, that’s wonderful news.”
“How did they even get in?”
“I heard they disguised themselves as merchants delivering food supplies to the kitchen.”
“Goodness!”
Gasps spread among the maids.
“The palace security should’ve been tight. How’d they manage that?”
Countess Chloe asked calmly.
“With the upcoming banquet, there were just too many people coming and going. They must’ve slipped in through the chaos.”
“Still, who were they?”
“Well, that part’s unclear…”
“Why? What do you mean?”
Another maid pressed.
“When they tried interrogating the captives—believe it or not, none of them had tongues.”
“What!”
“How horrifying!”
“So they won’t be able to find out who sent them or what their goal was…”
Marie scratched her head anxiously.
“It’s still scary to think about. What if they’d gone to the Empress’s palace instead of the Crown Princess’s?”
“Oh, absolutely. We were so lucky.”
It was probably the usual story—the jealous ones targeting the female lead.
‘I used to pity the heroine for always ending up in danger.’
But not anymore.
Forget pity.
I recalled Fay’s two-faced nature.
What was her deal?
I couldn’t figure it out.
The maids’ mixed opinions about Fay, so different from the original, continued to bother me.
“But still…”
Marie’s voice dropped.
“Wasn’t Sir Leonard amazing?”
“Oh, definitely. I thought my heart was going to stop.”
“He’s even more dashing than the rumors say. How does he subdue enemies like that in an instant?”
The maids gushed with sparkling eyes.
“No wonder he’s so popular. Even among the noble ladies and married women, you know?”
I’d heard his mail and gifts piled sky-high.
That some even tried to climb the palace walls just to meet him.
The maids listed off his fanbase.
“But he never seems to pay attention to anyone.”
“Well, he’s a pure-hearted man who only cares about swordsmanship.”
“That’s what makes him so charming! The idol of all knights!”
Sure, the way he struck down his enemy in an instant was undeniably impressive.
But—
‘A pure-hearted man who only knows swordsmanship?’
Knowing the truth from the novel, I almost scoffed.
If only they knew what he was really like.
I couldn’t wait to see their faces then.
‘Everyone, you’re all being fooled right now!’
My inner voice rang loud.
I’d been too focused on Jerome and Fay, the original leads, and forgotten all about him.
From Helena’s standpoint, Jerome was the one to avoid.
But in the grand scope of the novel, it was another story.
Leonard might be even more dangerous than Jerome.
Unaware of that fact, the maids chatted excitedly.
“To think we finally saw the famous Sir Leonard in person… I’ve only heard of him until now.”
“Same here. He hardly ever appears even at official events.”
“Seeing him once in real life is a dream for many, I bet.”
Is he the unicorn of the imperial palace or something?
That rare?
Maybe if I’d run into him more often, I would’ve realized his presence sooner.
‘Well, luckily, he has nothing to do with me. That’s a relief, I guess?’
I sipped the tea Marie brought and kept a calm expression.
He might be dangerous, but as long as I don’t see him again, I’ll be fine.
I reaffirmed my resolve.
I would never, ever cross paths with him again.
Thankfully, there were no distinct ties between Helena and Leonard at this point.
Just dealing with Jerome and Fay was already a headache—adding Leonard to the mix?
Ugh, even imagining it was exhausting.
Of course, Helena and Leonard did cross paths later in the original.
Way in the final act, the two of them had an incredible collaboration.
But that was far off in the future.
‘So I don’t need to worry just yet.’
Hopefully, I’d never get involved with him—ever.
Maybe I should plan my escape from this palace sooner than later.
Just then—
“Your Majesty.”
Countess Chloe called to me.
I tilted my head.
“Yes?”
“You have a visitor.”
“A visitor?”
I hadn’t been informed of anyone coming. Who could it be?
As I took another sip of tea—
“Sir Leonard has requested an audience with Your Majesty.”
Cough, cough!
Who did you say came?
I choked in shock.
Leonard? Why is he asking for me?
While I was still hesitating to respond,
Countess Chloe offered a gentle smile and a terrifying suggestion.
“Shall I let him in?”
