The Regressed Tyrant Princess Rewrites Her Dark History - Chapter 1.22

Carla had become an enemy.

Perhaps, at some point, she had genuinely cared for Ariadne. If that were true, there was no denying that the idea of turning against her left some lingering unease.

But Carla was a ruthless queen.

In the previous timeline, she had poisoned the former queen and most likely orchestrated the “accidental” death of the former king as well. More than anything, she was Siegbert’s mother.

So, despite the inner conflict, there was no hesitation.

Carla, too, would feel no hesitation. She would strike soon—the only question was how.

(Her specialty is indirect attacks—assassination or political maneuvering.)

If the jewel-like eyes truly signified the rightful royal lineage, then she would never allow Arnold to have them. If she couldn’t obtain them herself, killing Ariadne would be the next logical move.

However, Raphael had only just recognized Ariadne as his daughter. If she were assassinated now, it would raise immediate suspicions of an internal rift within the Second Prince’s faction.

Carla would likely avoid an assassination at this moment.

Of course, it was possible to disguise her death as an accident. But past assassination attempts had already failed multiple times—all because of Ariadne’s intervention. Given Carla’s cautious nature, she was unlikely to try again so soon.

Assassination was still a threat, but the greater danger lay elsewhere.

That said, Ariadne had few weaknesses—not because she was particularly strong, but because she had little to lose.

Thus, the number of attacks Carla could use against her was limited.

More importantly, Ariadne knew Carla’s tactics well.

After Ariadne lost her mother, it was Carla who had guided her, teaching her how to navigate high society and political intrigue. The Carla she knew was adaptable enough to join forces with an enemy if necessary.

That meant—

Ariadne rang the bell.

Soon, Sybilla entered.

“You called for me, Princess Ariadne?”

“Yes. From now on, I will be opposing Prince Siegbert. Which means, Sybilla… as his spy, I must have you killed.”

The sudden declaration made Sybilla flinch.

But after a brief moment, she clenched her fists and smiled—one of resignation.

“My life has always been yours to take. Just… please, spare my younger sister.”

“…Ah, sorry. That was just a figure of speech. You don’t need to take it so seriously—I almost choked on guilt just now.”

Sybilla blinked, momentarily dumbfounded.

“A figure of speech?”

“As you know, I am now engaged to Prince Arnold. Which means I cannot allow a spy from Prince Siegbert’s faction to roam free.”

In reality, Sybilla was a double agent, so eliminating her wasn’t necessary. However, if she wasn’t “removed,” her role as a double agent might be exposed. That would disrupt Ariadne’s plans.

“So, after sending one last message to Prince Siegbert, I need you to disappear for a while.”

“You want to make it seem as though I was eliminated?”

“Exactly. And before you vanish, there are two pieces of information I need you to leak. First, that I attempted to dispose of you. This will erase any suspicions that you were a double agent.”

That was why Ariadne had deliberately sent Sybilla away when Carla’s envoy appeared.

Ever since deciding to align with the First Prince’s faction, she had been distancing herself from Sybilla.

By reinforcing the narrative that Sybilla had initially been an ally but later deemed a threat, the intelligence Sybilla had previously fed to the Second Prince’s faction would remain credible. That way, they wouldn’t realize that the Earl of Astor’s downfall had been a trap.

“The second piece of information—leak that I am attempting to gain Princess Olivia’s cooperation. Keep the details vague, just let it slip that I am working on something.”

“Understood.”

(That sets the stage for Siegbert. Now, onto the next step…)

She instructed Sybilla to carry out the plan and then summoned Heino.

After a brief wait, Heino entered.

“You called for me, Princess Ariadne?”

“Yes. There’s a mine near the town in Queen Carla’s territory that produces scrap mana stones, correct? I want you to purchase land in that town under the name of a trading company.”

“…A trading company?”

“Of course, we’ll be creating one for this purpose. Around this time, I believe there was a struggling business that had failed in the scrap mana stone trade. Buy it out. I’ve prepared an estimate of the necessary budget—it should be manageable with the revenue from the princess’s palace.”

She handed him the compiled documents.

Heino immediately scanned through them.

“It’s a tight budget, but it’s feasible if we utilize the income from the direct domain. I will proceed at once.”

Ariadne chuckled in amusement.

“I thought you’d at least have a question or two.”

“Naturally, I do. However, rather than delegating all of Restour’s affairs to me, you have kept them under your own control while allowing me to manage them. Was that not precisely for situations like this?”

“Correct. Even if you objected, I wouldn’t have listened.”

She had been prepared to explain if asked, but since he was willing to carry out the task without question, she saved herself the trouble.

She proceeded to outline the necessary conditions for the land purchases.

About a week after Ariadne had begun her covert maneuvers, Olivia, Arnold’s younger sister, visited the princess’s palace.

Ariadne welcomed her into the garden, where a tea table had been prepared.

“Welcome, Princess Olivia.”

“Thank you for the invitation.”

Olivia performed a graceful curtsy.

But her true thoughts remained unknown.

In the near future, Olivia would rise as the Holy Princess, becoming a formidable challenge for the Second Prince’s faction.

As Raphael’s illegitimate child and the fiancée of Arnold, Ariadne wasn’t sure what Olivia thought of her.

(But she is incredibly capable.)

In the previous timeline, Olivia had a major weakness.

Yet despite it, she had still managed to make things difficult for Ariadne and the Second Prince’s faction.

If that weakness could be removed, she would be a powerful ally.

And Ariadne knew how to eliminate that weakness.

“Please, have a seat. I have been wanting to speak with you.”

Ariadne greeted her warmly, taking a bite of the tea cakes first as a show of trust.

After watching her, Olivia also took a bite of her own.

“…So, Princess Ariadne, what is it that you wished to discuss?”

“Before we begin, let me say one thing. I intend to make Prince Arnold the next king.”

“—!?”

Olivia choked on her tea.

“P-Princess Ariadne, do you even understand what you are saying!?”

Her wide-eyed gaze darted to the maids and attendants standing behind Ariadne.

“You need not worry. No one here will leak information to the Second Prince’s faction.”

She deliberately refrained from saying they are trustworthy—after all, the attendants present were either spies for former Queen Amelia or maids who bore a grudge against a marquis from the Second Prince’s camp.

“I see… But what about my lady-in-waiting?”

Just as Sybilla had once been, it was not uncommon for even personal attendants to be spies. If Olivia’s lady-in-waiting leaked the information, what then?

“Her name is Lynette Hoffman. I’ve heard she is exceptionally loyal. As are the rest of your attendants. You certainly have a strong following, Princess Olivia.”

There were no spies among Olivia’s attendants.

Ariadne knew this better than anyone—because in the previous timeline, she had tried and failed to infiltrate Olivia’s inner circle.

Even so—

“That being said, the fewer people who know a secret, the better.”

At Ariadne’s gesture, Ashley and the others withdrew.

Olivia, following suit, dismissed her attendants as well.

“…So, why did you suddenly make such a bold statement?”

“Because there is no longer any need to hide it.”

“The jewel-like eyes, then…”

Olivia sighed, looking weary.

“So, you already knew.”

“Yes. My brother told me. I was shocked when I first heard, but… many things made sense after learning the truth.”

“I must be quite the inconvenient existence for Prince Siegbert.”

If Arnold had a child with Ariadne, there was a strong possibility that the proof of true royal lineage—the jewel-like eyes—would be passed down to his bloodline.

However, Siegbert and Ariadne were half-siblings. Integrating her jewel-like eyes into his own bloodline would require a complicated series of steps.

Under those circumstances, it was far simpler to eliminate her entirely.

(Perhaps, if I had fallen in love with Prince Siegbert, things would have turned out differently.)

In a world where political marriages were common, having children with one’s sibling for the sake of securing the royal lineage was not unthinkable.

With that in mind, Siegbert’s past remark—”Siblings can’t marry?”—was likely not mere jest, but rather a bitter remark over her refusal to submit to him.

“I understand why you’ve chosen to support my brother. So, what is the reason you called me here?”

“Because of that choice, I have earned Queen Carla’s wrath. To counter the attacks she will inevitably launch, I require your assistance.”

“…My assistance?”

Her expression reflected her doubt.

At this stage, she had yet to awaken to her full potential.

In the previous timeline, Olivia had been forced into a dire situation, and it was out of necessity that she became the Holy Princess—a force that plagued the Second Prince’s faction.

“For now, there are simply a few things I’d like you to investigate. Naturally, I will compensate you. The information I offer in return will be something that could change your fate.”

“…You sound like a witch whispering temptations.”

A hint of wariness flickered in Olivia’s eyes.

“That is an understandable reaction. However, I believe you are capable of discerning truth from deception and making the right decision.”

“…You speak as if you know me well.”

Her gaze sharpened, probing for answers.

But Ariadne didn’t take the bait.

Instead, she casually changed the subject.

“You are engaged to the son of Earl Astor, are you not?”

“—!?”

Olivia’s expression shifted dramatically.

“How do you know that? That information is known only to a handful of people!”

Her eyes flickered with urgency—she was already trying to deduce where the leak had come from.

“Your suspicions are likely misplaced. What I am telling you is simple: you should cancel your engagement to the Earl’s son.”

“Are you implying that the House of Astor…?”

She assumed the leak had come from Earl Astor’s side.

And while that wasn’t entirely incorrect, it was not the real reason for Ariadne’s warning.

“Earl Astor is involved in human trafficking.”

“—What!?”

Olivia slammed her hand against the table.

Half-rising from her seat, she quickly realized her outburst and muttered an apology, sitting back down.

Her reaction showed just how grave she considered the matter.

“If that is true, the engagement will be nullified immediately. More than that, the matter must be investigated and punished accordingly. But do you have proof?”

“Unfortunately, it is the truth. And if you intend to handle this discreetly, I advise against it. Prince Siegbert already has the evidence.”

“…What? Is that true?”

“Yes. I told him myself.”

She slammed the table again and stood up, this time without attempting to hide her anger.

“And yet you claim to support Prince Arnold!? Do you have any idea how much the House of Astor has contributed to the First Prince’s faction!?”

Her sharp glare made it clear that her next words would determine whether or not she would forgive this.

But she was still rational enough to listen.

She was pretending to let her emotions flare, all while carefully gauging Ariadne’s response.

As expected of the woman who had once been her greatest adversary.

Ariadne smiled.

“Are you aware of how the House of Astor has been able to make such contributions?”

“Because they are highly capable, of course.”

“No. Because they are traitors. Earl Astor has been colluding with the Second Prince’s faction in secret—selling information and reaping the benefits, all while pretending to be loyal to the First Prince.”

Olivia’s eyes widened.

She sat back down, pressing a hand to her temple as if nursing a headache.

“…Assuming that is true, then logically, Prince Siegbert would have no reason to eliminate the Astor family.”

“You are mistaken. The one working with Earl Astor is Marquis Wilfried. Prince Siegbert is unaware of this connection.”

Political factions were not built on unwavering trust.

Even within the same faction, people sought opportunities to outmaneuver one another.

No one would recklessly reveal all their cards.

And that was precisely why this plan would work.

“So, you intend to make Prince Siegbert unknowingly eliminate Marquis Wilfried’s pawn?”

“Isn’t it brilliant?”

It would eliminate a spy from within, lower Siegbert’s guard, and plant seeds of discord within his faction.

A perfect triple-strike.

“If your claim is true, then it is a masterful strategy. But can you prove it?”

“I have already set the stage. Now that the Founding Ceremony is over, Prince Siegbert will likely act by tomorrow. Until then, delay the finalization of your engagement.”

When Ariadne had informed Siegbert of Astor’s crimes, she had deliberately misled him—making it seem as though the First Prince’s faction was also onto Astor.

Thus, Siegbert would feel pressured to act before the situation was handled behind closed doors.

“…Very well. I will wait to make my decision until I see the results.”

The moment she spoke, one of Olivia’s attendants hurried over and whispered in her ear.

After receiving the message, Olivia dismissed the attendant and turned to Ariadne with a mixture of shock and unease.

“…Just now, Earl Astor was officially accused by Prince Siegbert.”

Ariadne’s smile deepened.

“It seems he moved faster than I anticipated. Now… do you believe me?”

Olivia hesitated, then gave a small nod.

“…I do. So, what is it that you wish for me to investigate?”

“It’s about Queen Carla’s next move—”

Ariadne then laid out the crucial task she needed Olivia to undertake.