Chapter 1

Perhaps I should have asked for more delicate conditions. Or was the sponsorship amount insufficient? I thought I had shown enough thoughtfulness.

“Alan, keep beating this arrogant guy until I tell you to stop.”

“W-What, Your Highness? But what…!”

“You just shut up. I don’t care if you die, so start now.”

“At least give me a chance to explain!”

The moment I regained consciousness, I was ordered to beat up a person I’d never seen before.

Was it by the creator’s grace or the remnants of the original body owner’s memories flooding back? Regardless, I didn’t have enough time to gather my thoughts.

‘Refusal is not an option here.’

What good would it do to oppose someone who could command me to beat someone to death? And yet, I couldn’t follow the order blindly either.

The weapon in my hand was a Morningstar, heavy and expertly balanced.

The handle seemed to be made of ironwood, with a terrifying star-shaped head attached. Swinging this thing at a person would definitely cause trouble.

Was my hesitation bothering her? The one who issued the command slowly approached.

The first things I noticed were her luxurious silver hair and violet eyes.

Her sharp gaze gave her a somewhat fierce appearance, but overall, she had a round and cute face.

However, her actions were far from adorable. While her words expressed displeasure, her expression was filled with mischievous delight.

Her face was calculating, as if planning how to deal with someone daring enough to defy her commands. This wasn’t speculation—she was literally licking her lower lip.

Sighing inwardly, I thought of her name.

‘Siena.’

Siena Carlisle, the second Imperial Princess and one of the characters in the novel—a notorious villain in an otherwise peaceful world.

She wasn’t the kind of antagonist who reforms after facing the protagonist. Instead, she was a genuine villain propped up by the emperor’s irrational favor, weakening the entire nation.

She infiltrated the Academy with opium, incited stock market chaos to destabilize the country, and when things got dire, orchestrated a war. While the main antagonist was the Dark Sect, Siena’s role was so significant that she overshadowed them.

“Alan? No answer?”

“No, Your Highness.”

The character I had merged into was Alan Medoff, Siena’s trusted bodyguard.

He was as morally bankrupt as his master, crushing people indiscriminately with a snicker.

Though skilled, he wasn’t on par with the most powerful characters in this world.

‘He was also responsible for punishing palace attendants.’

Siena often disciplined staff at Temseugung, her primary residence. It was never without reason—minor thefts, connections with factions competing for the position of Heiress Apparent. Even the smallest infractions were met with harsh punishments, sometimes even mind-reading magic.

This attendant pleading with me had likely been framed for something trivial. Even if he truly was guilty, being beaten to death in the palace was excessive.

“Sir! Please, say something on my behalf! Your Highness must be misunderstanding something…! I did receive a bribe from Baron Balderin, who follows the First Princess, but it was just 800 talers…!”

The sight of this man pleading with someone who had no authority to save him was pitiful.

Unfortunately, I wasn’t in any position to help.

“What’s wrong? Doesn’t his desperate pleading tug at your heartstrings, Alan?”

“Your Highness.”

“Don’t worry. Actually, I admire sincerity. If you wish to speak frankly as my loyal knight, you have my permission. If you want to stop me from punishing an innocent person, let me hear it.”

Despite her words, the reason I hesitated was because I, too, was on her radar.

Siena’s interest seemed more focused on me than the pleading attendant. She must have been surprised that her usually obedient pawn was suddenly showing resistance. Perhaps she was already calculating my fate.

“Answer me, Alan.”

Siena’s voice dropped low.

The nearby royal guards tensed as they focused their attention on me.

How I handled this situation would determine my future. While I might be a close confidant and safe from death, unpleasant repercussions were likely.

‘I can’t start my new life with this kind of trouble.’

Surviving had to be my priority. As much as I felt sympathy for the attendant pleading for his life, there was nothing I could do.

But how could I satisfy her sadism while also avoiding excessive violence?

After a brief calculation, I spoke.

“Forgive me, Your Highness. I was reflecting on something.”

“Reflecting? I didn’t know you were so sentimental, Alan.”

“I meant efficiency, Your Highness.”

“…What?”

“I’ve punished many people under your orders. Sometimes chasing them out of the palace after disciplining them, other times sending them out as corpses…but the problems keep recurring.”

“So?”

“That’s why forgiveness needs to be shown now.”

Siena’s expression filled with confusion. Before she could speak, I added details to my explanation.

“Keep using this individual as a servant.”

“And why should I do that?”

“To make an example of him.”

As I said this, I took steady steps toward the attendant, naturally lowering the Morningstar.

His small frame, his face contorted in a bizarre mix of fear and desperation, trembling hands clutching his clothes as he desperately tried to smile and plead with me, all made me uncomfortable.

Ignoring him completely, I kicked him in the outside of the knee.

“Oof…!”

Even with controlled force, his leg buckled inward.

As the attendant groaned and teetered, I didn’t let him fall. Siena wouldn’t be satisfied with merely a broken leg.

“The cost of retention must be paid.”

I grabbed the attendant’s collar and swung my fist.

“Wait…!”

Two punches, then three. The sickening feeling of breaking someone’s teeth chilled me, but I maintained my composure, imagining Siena watching from behind.

“Is this sufficient?”

The result of my violence was devastating.

From what I could see, at minimum he had torn ligaments and several broken teeth. He’d likely need crutches for months, possibly more.

“Interesting. So what’s next?”

Siena eyed the groaning attendant and asked.

“Why don’t we place this fellow beside you whenever you meet with the First Princess’s faction? It would display your mercy, correcting his sins and keeping him by your side.”

“What if he continues to collude?”

“That too can be turned to advantage. Surely your wisdom would understand the meaning.”

Now it was all up to Siena’s decision.

She alternated her gaze between me and the severely injured attendant, briefly glancing at the nervous guards and maidservants around.

Hopefully, this would be enough to satisfy her. After all, dragging this injured servant around the palace or using him to create tension with other princesses fit her style perfectly.

Fortunately, my efforts weren’t wasted. Siena smiled lightly and nodded, her relaxed expression suggesting she was content.

“Not bad. Should I follow Alan’s advice?”

“I merely follow your orders, Your Highness. If you wish, I’ll proceed as always.”

I smiled faintly, nudging the attendant’s head on the floor with my foot. This was to avoid Siena’s fickle nature. Though unsubstantiated, I felt a sigh at this moment might raise her suspicions.

“Alright. He’ll remain employed.”

“A wise choice, Your Highness.”

The situation was finally resolved.

Siena turned away with a brightened expression, and I followed her, leaving the mauled attendant behind. Though I felt a chill realizing I’d narrowly avoided disaster, I still had duties as a bodyguard to uphold.

“By the way, Alan, I didn’t know you had such cunning.”

“I expected someone else would counsel you, but no one did.”

“That’s right. Everyone just follows orders without question.”

“It seems they fail to recognize your preference for communication, Your Highness.”

The other attendants reacted with distaste to our conversation. They might not realize it, but if I hadn’t acted, a dead body would have left the palace today.

‘Why did I reincarnate into this character?’

Alan Medoff was Siena’s right-hand man, infamous for his evil deeds.

And unfortunately, his fate was predetermined.

The story wasn’t complete, but Alan would likely meet an early demise in the beginning chapters, failing to the protagonist after causing issues with a narcotics operation targeting academy students.

My task was simple: avoiding that fate.

It wasn’t about reforming Siena. Her recent actions proved she was beyond redemption.

‘Even the original work didn’t bother with reforming her.’

Working under her wouldn’t be easy. Alan had committed numerous atrocities, and he had many enemies already.

But strangely, the situation didn’t feel unbearably absurd.

Though I caused this situation myself, I could tolerate it. Compared to living with useless trash pretending to be family, this was marginally better. At least with Siena, there were clear boundaries.

Yes, I could stick it out for a while.

“I look forward to seeing more from you, Alan.”

“It’s my honor, Your Highness.”

While respectfully responding, I observed the back of Siena’s head.

Despite her monstrous nature, it was surprisingly small and delicate.

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