Chapter 4
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Chapter 4 : I Must Become a Troublemaker (4)
The method to subdue a troublemaker. What could it be?
It’s simpler than one might think. That’s just the inherent nature of troublemakers. They are weak before the strong, and strong before the weak. They are unbridled individuals, and while they might run wild in front of stronger ones and receive their just comeuppance, this basic characteristic generally holds true. Furthermore, this fundamental trait becomes more pronounced the higher a troublemaker’s status.
This perfectly fit Theore, the Imperial Prince most beloved by the Emperor of the Ellias Empire. The next most powerful person, beloved by the supreme authority. There was no one who could stop such a person from causing a ruckus.
But how could there be a simple way to subdue such an individual?
Again, a troublemaker’s basic nature is strong against the weak, and weak against the strong.
“Just subdue them with greater power.”
She completely gave up on her brother’s perfect reformation. It was good that the troublemaker became a decent person, but Theore was of the imperial family and was destined to become the Crown Prince and one day wear the Emperor’s crown. A tyrant was preferable; a pushover emperor would absolutely be of no help to this empire.
“A troublemaker is better than a pushover…”
Legina murmured to herself, slowly turning to look at her bedroom door. Just then, Una, her personal maid, opened the door and entered to assist with her morning routine.
“Your Highness Legina, you’re up early?”
“Did you sleep well, Una?”
“Yes, you seem to be in a good mood today.”
“I suppose so. I feel particularly refreshed today.”
“That’s a relief.”
Smiling, Una put down the basin of washing water she was carrying and approached Legina, gathering her hair to prepare for her morning wash. Even without brushing, her hair felt soft and smooth, with no tangles, like touching silk.
“You seemed depressed for a while, so the Head Maid worried a lot.”
“Selma worries too much, to her detriment.”
“That’s because she cherishes Your Highness so much.”
Legina washed her face with water warmed to the appropriate temperature, then wiped it with the clean towel Una handed her, smiling sweetly at her reflection in the mirror. It was pleasant to watch Una’s cheeks flush at Legina’s hint, ‘Aren’t you just as much of a worrier yourself?’
I will absolutely not let you die this time.
Before the regression, when the rebellion occurred, Una died for Legina. To be precise, she sacrificed her own life to buy time for Legina and her people to escape. A debt paid with one’s life is heavy. Many others also died for Legina after Una, and each time, the debts accumulated with their lives piled up on her shoulders, increasing their weight.
But now it was different. Everyone was alive. Legina vowed to protect them in this life as she looked at Una’s face in the mirror, watching her brush her hair.
“You really do look well today.”
“I’ve resolved a problem.”
“A problem for Your Highness… Is it perhaps about His Highness Theore?”
“Something… similar.”
Legina nodded, watching Una’s face stiffen slightly when Theore’s name was mentioned. It was still winter, not yet spring, so Theore would be ten years old. This was the time when even those who didn’t know the future were certain that Theore would grow up to be a troublemaker. If it was a concern for Legina, who cherished her brother, it must surely be about Theore. Una seemed to have concluded as much.
Legina nodded without further comment at her reaction and continued speaking. “Una, do you know how to subdue a troublemaker?”
“Pardon? Well, I don’t know.”
Una tilted her head and replied to Legina’s sudden question. The princess, who had been worrying about her brother showing signs of becoming a troublemaker, had said she’d resolved something, but now she was asking a question whose meaning Una couldn’t grasp. Una honestly answered Legina’s question, then waited for the princess’s reply, who seemed truly in a good mood today.
“It’s simple. Just become a bigger troublemaker.”
“…What?”
Legina burst into laughter, watching Una freeze in the exact posture she’d been in while brushing her hair. This was the conclusion she had reached. Theore is a troublemaker, making him difficult to subdue? Then she just needs to become an even bigger troublemaker than Theore and rein him in. It was similar to how a child stops crying when someone cries louder and throws a bigger tantrum in front of them.
Legina looked at Una’s faintly colored brown eyes, which were wildly shaking, then took the comb from her hand and began to comb her own hair, making a vow.
To hell with reformation!
If the country was going to be ruined either way, it was better to ruin it with her own hands than someone else’s. Of course, she didn’t genuinely intend to ruin the country. She had traveled back in time and knew the future that others didn’t. Shouldn’t she use that knowledge?
“So, what kind of troublemaker would be good?”
“Y-Your Highness?”
Legina pretended not to notice Una’s pale face and began to ponder again. To become an even bigger troublemaker than Theore, she couldn’t use the same methods as her brother. Right? If a latecomer wants to catch up to a frontrunner, they have to do something even more extreme. To do that, she had to become a shockingly distinct kind of troublemaker.
But I can’t abandon my dignity.
Lying on the floor like Theore, thrashing and screaming? Absolutely not. She was born into the imperial family and raised as one. She had her imperial pride; she couldn’t do such things. Of course, Theore was an exceptional case, but Legina absolutely did not want to do that.
I don’t have enough physical strength to break things.
Her talent for swordsmanship, which she had discovered while fleeing the traitors before the regression, would still be there. But she lacked physical strength. Legina massaged her soft, muscle-less forearms and sighed. Once a direction was decided, it seemed she’d have to resume her sword training.
So what would be good?
Time was short, but her thoughts lingered. Legina frowned beautifully and put down the comb.
“Good morning, Your Highness Legina.”
“Ah, Selma.”
“You seem to be in a good mood today… Una? What’s wrong with you?”
Selma, the Head Maid, who had entered the princess’s room to give her morning greetings, found Legina greeting her with a welcoming face, and Una looking at Legina with a bewildered expression. Una, who was somewhat clumsy and prone to mistakes but possessed excellent loyalty to the princess she served, had such a face… Something was definitely wrong.
Legina, unaware that Selma had sensed some kind of danger, looked at Selma, her governess and Head Maid, and finally found her answer.
“…A troublemaker madly in love.”
“What?”
“Thank you, Selma. My mind is clear again thanks to you.”
“Your Highness?”
It wasn’t that Selma was madly in love. Legina had simply recalled that her escort knight had been smitten with Selma and had been expressing his feelings for years. This naturally brought to mind historical anecdotes of rulers who, driven mad by love, ruined their countries.
They say learning anything will eventually be useful!
Her history teacher surely taught her the anecdotes of rulers madly in love as a cautionary tale, meaning she should absolutely never do such a thing. But using learned knowledge to fit one’s own situation was precisely the attitude of a proper student.
Excited, Legina shot up from her seat. The anecdotes of rulers who, driven mad by love, ruined their countries flashed vividly one by one in her mind. What if she took a few of those distinctly “troublemaker” anecdotes and imitated them?
If a princess, madly in love or otherwise, ran rampant, it wouldn’t matter how she suppressed a troublemaker prince. The Emperor was an obstacle, but the Emperor wasn’t with Theore all day long! She could run wild in places where the Emperor wouldn’t see. Or she could even run wild in front of the Emperor and become an officially disowned troublemaker child.
If I do that, the imperial throne will naturally move away from me, and Theore’s troublemaking will be buried under my own.
This way, even if she failed to prevent the Emperor’s poisoning, she would have enough excuses to stop the nobles from thrusting the regent’s crown upon her, which was even better.
If I can’t find conclusive evidence of the rebellion, I can pretend to be crazy and simply rush in and behead the traitor and his sorceress.
Literally a mad troublemaker, so a sword dance would be perfectly possible.
“The more I think about it, this method is perfect.”
“What?”
“Your Highness?”
“I must become a troublemaker madly in love.”
Selma and Una froze at her mumbled words. The First Princess of the Ellias Empire, known for her gentle and mild temperament, had just declared something, and even though they clearly heard the words with their own ears, their minds refused to process it. The princess they served rarely raised her voice, always wore a gentle smile, and respected everyone. An angelic princess and a troublemaker prince. It wasn’t for nothing that people said they wished they could combine the two and split them in half to get something better.
But now, that princess was going to become a troublemaker.
Legina turned to Selma and Una, who were still unable to comprehend what they had just heard, and spoke again with her usual gentle smile.
“I will become a troublemaker.”
Beyond the window, the morning sunlight, stretching long tails, illuminated Legina, who was smiling brightly, and Selma and Una, whose faces were utterly pale.
Here’s the translation for “I Must Become a Troublemaker (4)”:
Chapter 1: I Must Become a Troublemaker (4)
After declaring she would become a troublemaker, Legina began observing Theore’s daily life. She had decided to become an even more formidable troublemaker than Theore and take a different approach than her brother, but first, she needed to understand exactly how Theore caused trouble. And Theore perfectly met her expectations.
“Hey! Can’t you hear me? Bring that one back! I didn’t like it before, but what am I supposed to do if I like it now?!”
He threw tantrums.
“It’s mine! Didn’t you hear me say it’s all mine?!”
He was greedy.
“Hey, you son of a btch! Did you just glare at me? Huh? You glared at me, you bstard!”
He used language utterly devoid of refinement.
“Don’t you know me? I’m an Imperial Prince! The one and only Imperial Prince in this empire! Huh? Do you all want to die? Should I separate your head from your body right now for insulting the Imperial Family?!”
He freely wielded abuse of power and threats.
Though he was still young and hadn’t yet started drunkenly ranting, Legina had seen enough of that before her regression, so there was no need to collect separate data.
“…Come to think of it, wasn’t it around fourteen when he got drunk and burned down an entire castle used as a summer villa? Should I be the one to burn it down this time?”
Her brother had undergone his “reformation” at fifteen. He had an accident in a carriage on his way back after graduating early from the academy, and after recovering, he showed a completely new personality, a day Legina could never forget. If she had known that day was the beginning of the pushover who would ruin the empire, she wouldn’t have clutched her barely-alive brother’s hand and shed tears.
So this time, I must prevent that carriage accident. The sorceress clearly did something, so I need to check beforehand.
Anyway, after observing Theore for the past few days, Legina was able to define “troublemaker” in a few ways.
First, a troublemaker was fundamentally self-serving.
The duty of the Imperial Family?
The benefit of the nation?
Such things did not exist in a troublemaker’s mind. A troublemaker only thought of themselves! A troublemaker was someone who could easily cast aside their dignity for what they wanted.
Second, a troublemaker didn’t think about consequences.
Theore acted like someone who never considered the future. He behaved as if his immediate desires were paramount, truly living only for today, every single moment. Among his antics were things that would surely lead to the Emperor summoning him and scolding him tomorrow, but Theore ignored them. No, he caused trouble as if he couldn’t even think of such consequences at the moment, and cleaning up the mess was always someone else’s responsibility, specifically Legina’s.
Third, a troublemaker was very greedy.
In this world, Theore possessed more than anyone else except the Emperor. As much as the Emperor cherished him, and as much as Legina loved him, Theore received and had many things. Yet her brother never knew satisfaction. He always coveted what others had. It didn’t matter if it was something precious or trivial. Of course, the target of Theore’s most frequent plunder was his older sister, Legina.
Fourth, a troublemaker was loud.
Theore always raised his voice in anger, so much so that it made one wonder why he screamed so much. Why did he yell like that when, by status, he didn’t need to bow his head to anyone but the Emperor…? To be honest, Legina couldn’t understand it. A timid dog barks the loudest. Did Theore truly not know that?
After organizing, pondering, and recording all these points, the only word that could ultimately describe a troublemaker was “troublemaker.” Regardless of what she had just organized or defined, from Legina’s perspective, a troublemaker was an enigma, something that didn’t exist within the realm of understanding.
Legina put down her pen and notebook, sighing softly. “To surpass him, I need to understand him precisely, but where do I even begin?”
It was a bit disheartening to say this, but… Theore was truly a born troublemaker. An overwhelmingly troublemaking individual whom she couldn’t possibly imitate. Legina took a sip of the warm tea Selma had poured for her and deeply understood the feelings of a latecomer trailing an overwhelming frontrunner. It was already hard enough to catch up, but she had to demonstrate an even superior brand of troublemaking!
“Selma, can I do well?”
“…”
“Huh? Selma?”
“…Your Highness… always… does everything well…”
Una, who had been watching from a step away, shivered, observing Selma’s strained reply and Legina, who, as if invigorated, was steeling her resolve, thinking, ‘I can do it.’ She was confused, unable to understand what on earth had happened to the princess she served. To declare she would become a troublemaker, and then to console herself by saying she would become a troublemaker madly in love! What kind of absurd situation was this?!
“Y-Your Highness…”
“Una? What’s wrong?”
“Why… why are you doing this?”
Seeing Una, who looked like she was about to burst into tears, Legina put down her teacup and smiled faintly, pulling up the corner of her lips. Seeing Una, who, both before and after the regression, bravely acted for Legina’s sake, even if it meant being rude to royalty, Legina felt truly satisfied without even eating.
However, Selma, realizing the meaning behind Una’s current outburst, turned utterly pale and quickly spoke, hiding Una behind her. “Forgive us, Your Highness. This child only spoke out of concern for Your Highness…! Una! Why aren’t you apologizing to Her Highness at once!”
“But Madam Signy, since Her Highness keeps saying strange things…”
“Una Imar!”
“I-I apologize, Your Highness…”
Selma was utterly dismayed and chided Una, as her words could easily be interpreted as suggesting Legina’s mind was unsound. In the Ellias Empire, anyone who insulted royalty had their head cut off. If Una’s words were to leave this room, something truly terrible could happen to her. She knew Legina, who cared for Una as much as she did herself, wouldn’t harm her, but within the Imperial Palace, one always had to be careful with their words and wary of listening ears.
“No, it’s alright. I understand completely.”
Unlike the two who couldn’t understand Legina’s words and actions at all, Legina understood everything her cherished Head Maid and maid said and did. If the princess, who had always quietly obeyed the Emperor and was benevolent to her brother, suddenly declared that she would become a troublemaker, anyone would react that way.
“I know what Una meant, so don’t worry. On the contrary, thank you for worrying about me.”
“Your Highness…”
As Selma sighed in relief and Una gathered her hands, tears welling up as if touched by her words, Legina was about to open her mouth to speak again when an unexpected visitor opened her door and appeared.
It was Theore, entering without informing a servant, making a boisterous noise, and utterly devoid of manners.
“Hey! You got something new a while ago, didn’t you? Hand it over!”
Legina let out a small gasp of admiration at the sight of him. He was the perfect picture of a troublemaker, confidently demanding something without even knowing what it was.
“Theore, you have no manners coming into your sister’s room.”
“What nonsense are you spouting? Shut up, and hand it over!”
“Calling your sister ‘shut up’… I’ve always wondered, where did you learn such vulgar words?”
“Be quiet! Hand it over, now!”
Theore shrieked. His sister was someone who would always do what he wanted, no matter what he did. A ridiculous figure who would naggingly try to advise him with good words, then eventually shed tears and genuinely beg him not to do it again next time. Of course, Theore had never once nodded his head while listening to her pleas. What did it matter to him? Legina was a convenient person who always cleaned up his messes, even if she cried floods of tears every time.
But for the past few days, his sister had been strange. The person who used to rush to check on his well-being faster than anyone else when loud noises came from his room now didn’t come, no matter what ruckus he caused. Not only did she not come, but she also ignored him even when he walked right past her. And occasionally, when their eyes met, she would simply stare at him, observing him. Theore was displeased. How dare a crybaby observe someone?
So, Theore decided to properly remind his sister of his place today. Legina was a princess, and countless gifts arrived in her room every day. So if he acted spoiled enough, she would bring him the best item among them and offer it to him. Theore was confident of this.
“You’ve come at a good time. There’s something I need to tell you.”
“If it’s nagging, drop it.”
“Hehehe, how is it that every word my brother utters is overflowing with vulgarity? Is that what they call a troublemaker’s dignity?”
“…What?”
She recalled the last detail to add to the notebook she had just been organizing.
Fifth, a troublemaker did what they wanted.
A troublemaker was someone who simply did whatever came to mind.
Legina recalled her “definition of a troublemaker” in her mind, then rose from her seat and smiled brightly at her younger brother, who didn’t understand her words.
And a few hours later, Legina found herself sitting in the Emperor’s study with Theore. Unlike Theore, whose face was crumpled as if his spanked bottom hurt, Legina’s face was calm. Rather, it was the Emperor, sitting in the place of honor between the two, who wore a grave expression. After a long moment of choosing his words while sitting before his daughter, he finally spoke.
“…You threw a chair at Theore, didn’t you?”
“Yes.”
“Why did you do that?”
“Because a chair happened to be next to me.”
Legina’s smile as she answered was exceptionally beautiful.