55. Then what’s the cost? (It’s the first of the month, please vote for me ~)

Ivan Lila’s perspective.

The Rossia Empire was not as powerful as imagined, but rather a corrupt empire controlled by incompetent and greedy nobles, plundering the people’s wealth. Maybe the only thing worth bragging about was the empire’s location and environment, with a vast, sparsely populated northern frozen land and perpetual heavy snow, making it uninviting to neighboring empires, who didn’t want to bother with an expensive and troublesome invasion.

As for myself, Ivan Lila, I was born as the only candidate for the throne in such an environment. As the king’s father passed away, my mother, of course, couldn’t remarry and have more siblings competing for the throne, so everything seemed to be without any suspense.

But… such a good thing only lasted for half of Lila’s childhood.

Along with my father’s death, it brought about the nobles’ greed and shamelessness, and the surrounding crises also erupted as Lila’s mother desperately maintained the crumbling royal power, ultimately leading to her “exhaustion of spirit and unexpected death”.

As long as Ivan Lila, the last heir to the empire, also “unexpectedly died”, the position of “king” would become a coveted thing! Each noble thought so, and Lila became a sheep surrounded by wolves.

It was an utterly ordinary day.

“Lady Letty, I will personally prepare lunch for you, so please don’t wander off!”

“Y-yes, I understand, Rasputin…”

It was also an incredibly dangerous day, for even Rasputin, the only person Letty could trust at that moment, could have a lapse in judgment.

Not long after Rasputin left, a voice from outside the door called out.

“Lady Letty, lunch is ready!”

So soon!?

After her mother’s death, Letty had spent every day hiding in her room, too afraid even to go out and play with Reeve. Instinctively, she opened the door, but what she saw was not Rasputin or any other maids pushing a cart, but rather…

A noblewoman from the Rosian Empire dressed as a maid! She recognized her!

Why is she here!? No, why is she dressed as a maid to “deliver” food to me!? This question was so simple that even the young Letty could understand it in an instant.

So, what to do was self-evident.

“Um… um…”

She agreed on the surface, then took advantage of the woman’s momentary distraction…

“Blet! Don’t think I don’t know who you are!”

She charged at the woman’s stomach with all her might, then dashed toward the door! She had to find Rasputin quickly, for she was the only one she could trust around her!

The woman immediately chased after her! She knocked over the dishes in the cart and, sure enough, pulled out a gleaming knife! If Letty had hesitated for even a moment, she would have already lost her life!

“Damn Blet! You little brat! More disgusting than your noisy mother! Killing you would be less of a hassle! Run, let’s see where you can escape! Outside, it’s all our people; you think you can get out of the palace!?”

“…Ha… ha…”

Letty knew: the servants in the palace had long since been replaced with new faces by those nobles after her mother’s death. Even if she was bullied, starved, or attacked, they would never show up! Even Rasputin, the only one who could help her, seemed to be in serious trouble lately, unable to even keep his position…

She couldn’t leave, and naturally, she couldn’t seek help from friends. The nobles’ intentions were simple…

“You little brat, it would have been better if you had died with your mother! If anything happens to you, the Rosian Empire will belong to our family! Now, while you wait to die, I can at least give you a quick end, Ivan Letty!”

The other party must have been counting on Rasputin’s caution: that the food might be poisoned, and this was the perfect opportunity for her to cook for Letty herself!? Rasputin wouldn’t show up now! There was no one around! Even when Letty ran to the palace hall, no one heard her cries for help!

Then… at the moment she prepared to run up the stairs, panic and fear caused Letty to trip, and she fell hard before a throne she had never sat on!

“Ugh…”

“Little brat, still trying to run!?”

The woman was almost upon her.

It hurt so much, she was so tired. After her mother was gone, she probably wouldn’t live much longer either; perhaps it would be better to just…

Her consciousness began to fade, but in the next moment, through her tear-blurred vision, Letty felt her body become inexplicably light and saw… a tall, blonde woman squatting in front of her.

She didn’t save her; instead, she laughed mockingly.

“I took a peek while you were asleep, and this is the situation. Hey, little brat, you really are useless; as the heir of the Rosian Empire, you’re far too weak, aren’t you? What’s your name?”

“Lei… Letty…”

“Letty… Ah, I see.”

The blonde woman nodded, “Let’s not talk about your father, but your mother is truly useless.”

Do not insult my mother!

Although Letty wanted to shout this out, the “invitation” that the woman made next left Letty stunned, even too lazy to think: why hasn’t the woman who was chasing her made a move yet?

“Ivan Letty, you are the next emperor of Rossia, do you want to live?”

“……”

“Hmph, let me put it another way, do you want revenge?”

“Yes!”

This was something Letty didn’t need to hesitate about! The “accidental death” of her mother, and those servants who mysteriously disappeared one by one, Letty was not ignorant, just… powerless!

“That’s right, this is what the emperor of Rossia should be like.”

Her cheeks were held by the blonde woman’s hands, forcing Letty to look directly into her golden eyes that seemed to have lightning dancing within them.

“Weakness and naivety are useless, no one will help you get revenge. To deal with these greedy and rotten human nobles, you can only rely on your own strength, absolute power, the kind of power that makes them tremble in fear. Don’t you want to experience it, this tyrant-like power?”

“I want…”

“Hahaha~ Hala~ You guessed right! I can give you this kind of power, but in exchange, you have to entertain me a bit, don’t let me get bored~ As test subjects, these nobles of Rossia are quite good.”

Yes, they… are just a bunch of greedy creatures, and will also be the stepping stones for her to become the emperor of the Rossia Empire.

The next moment, as if waking from a dream!

The golden alien sword, said to be an antique of the Rossia Empire and used as decoration on the throne, suddenly loosened and fell with a clatter in front of Letty.

And behind her came the mocking voice of the woman who was chasing her.

Everyone, it’s June… well, it seems none of us are children anymore, so no more happiness.

Anyway, it’s June, remember to vote for this book! This month, I’ve added two new SF color illustrations that can be used as mouse pads. I’ve uploaded the pictures to the first volume, and they will be refreshed and updated later. Also, this month, I’m starting to make Nilu’s body pillows! Let’s go!

The monthly ticket lottery event for this month will be updated in the later chapters, remember to vote for this book~ As always, without votes, I’m going to die. No loss, no deception!

PS: Last month’s winners will also be updated later, those who see it, please join the group and give me your address.