I Became the Heroine’s Stand-in - Chapter 43

At the announcer’s cue, each noble representative stepped forward.

It seemed they had coordinated their attire in advance, as they all wore identical uniforms.

Even in a crowd too large to count at a glance, one figure immediately stood out Ersivan.

Dressed in stark white, his ashen hair contrasting sharply against the uniform, he looked visibly uncomfortable.

No, on closer inspection, his brows were deeply furrowed.

Clearly, he hated what he was wearing.

The surrounding nobles, on the other hand, were gleefully discussing how well their sons and attendants suited the Imperial uniform.

‘Ah. So this is the Imperial attire.’

With that realization, Diana could understand his expression all too well—as if he were being forced to chew on something bitter.

Once all the representatives’ names had been called, the Emperor himself finally rose from his seat.

Diana, along with the rest of the attendees, stood and paid their respects to the Sun of the Empire.

“You have all worked hard these past three days. Tonight, set aside your worries and enjoy the festivities.”

With his usual easygoing smile, the Emperor raised his champagne glass.

The nobles followed suit, lifting their glasses high toward the ceiling in unison.

A series of toasts filled the hall.

By the time Diana had matched the pace of the others, drinking her third glass, a warm haze settled over her.

Her ears felt hot, and her cheeks tingled.

Meanwhile, the announcer handed a sheet of parchment to the Emperor.

“Oh? It seems the tally is complete. The moment you’ve all been waiting for is here.”

The instant his words fell, the hall erupted into cheers.

Seeing Diana tilt her head in mild confusion, Melinne leaned in and whispered:

“They’re announcing the rankings.”

Diana wasn’t the only one waiting in anticipation—Melinne sighed softly, eyes on the stage.

“I wonder where my brother will place this year.”

Lacking a fiancé or husband, Melinne’s banquet partner was her own older brother.

“He’ll do well. Especially with you here.”

“I hope so… What about you, Lili? Aren’t you worried?”

“Worried?”

“His Highness has never performed particularly well.”

Melinne had been feeling unwell on the first day and had missed the conversation between Prince Kain Daemonhart and their mutual friend.

Had she overheard it, she wouldn’t have spoken so carelessly about Ersivan.

But Diana knew there was no malice behind her words, so she simply conveyed her thoughts calmly.

“The fact that he participated is enough.”

“You’ve grown quite mature. Hearing you say that makes me feel ashamed.”

The response felt unmistakably like something Lillian would say, but there was a subtle maturity in her tone—a shift that hadn’t gone unnoticed.

Melinne, sensing the change, teased her.

“You’re acting different lately. Did the Valencia estate change you?”

Diana stiffened slightly at the remark.

Perhaps spending time around people who had never met the real Lillian had made her drop her guard.

Quickly recovering, she flashed the signature Lillian smile and pulled Melinne into an embrace.

“People just have different priorities. But in my eyes, Melinne, you are far more impressive!”

Her intonation mimicked Lillian’s distinctive way of speaking perfectly.

“You always know just what to say,” Melinne chuckled, hugging her back.

Then, the announcer’s booming voice cut through the noise.

“Thank you all for your patience. We will now commence the official ranking ceremony for the Imperial Monster Subjugation Tournament.”

The rankings were always announced in a set order, starting with third place.

They would list the top-ranked individuals first, before moving on to the lower rankings from the bottom up.

This meant that Prince Kain would be first place, while Ersivan’s name would be called last—

Making him a perennial laughingstock.

While his younger brother consistently excelled, Ersivan remained the neglected outcast, never escaping his status as an afterthought.

“In third place: Ruin Harden Cordelia!”

At the Emperor’s announcement, a man with deep brown hair, standing at the far right, stepped forward.

“With a record of thirty-three goblins, twenty golems, and ten dark elves—an impressive feat. Congratulations.”

The Emperor patted his shoulder, handing him a bouquet and a golden trophy.

At first glance, the trophy, adorned with a golden eagle, was undoubtedly valuable.

However, among wealthy nobles, it was the honor, not the material reward, that truly mattered.

The eldest son of the Marquess of Cordelia sent a playful wink to his fiancée and younger sister, Epel.

Diana glanced sideways, catching Epel’s reaction.

Her expression?

Pure contempt.

‘Oh? So even she is capable of making a face like that.’

For someone who always acted so composed, it was almost refreshing to see her looking so utterly unimpressed.

Beside her, Melinne, who had been clapping absentmindedly, suddenly furrowed her brows in concern.

“That’s strange… He dropped in ranking.”

“Dropped?”

“Since the Crown Prince began participating in the tournament, the rankings have always been stable. First place was always His Highness, second was Sir Cordelia, and third was Sir Fainhart. If there’s a change…”

With the precision of a historian, Melinne recited the past rankings, as if delivering an academic lecture.

Then, as if to answer her curiosity, the next name was called.

“Next—ah. Second place has been determined.”

“Prince Kain Daemonhart! My ever-proud son!”

The Emperor alone maintained his usual relaxed demeanor, his grin unfazed.

Prince Kain, who had been waiting at the center, finally stepped forward.

A tense silence settled as he received his bouquet and trophy, before offering a polite yet subdued smile.

Even as he tried to mask his disappointment, his subtle frown and the slight downturn of his lips betrayed him.

“Wait… Fainhart got second place?”

Still in the middle of clapping, Melinne’s voice dropped to a murmur of disbelief.

Diana, too, was shocked.

“Prince Kain Daemonhart… placed second?”

She found herself instinctively turning toward Epel, seeking a reaction.

But Epel simply sipped her drink in silence.

‘Everyone seems surprised.’

And there was still one name left to be called.

Diana had never cared for rankings—yet at some point, she found herself curious.

Who exactly had managed to surpass that wretched man and claim the glory of first place?

“It’s been years since we’ve seen a change in rankings. Isn’t this thrilling?”

The Emperor chuckled, treating the situation as nothing more than an amusing spectacle.

At last, the moment arrived—the announcement of first place.

Whether it was the representatives or their partners, everyone held their breath, unable to conceal their anticipation.

The Emperor, reading the ranking list, momentarily hesitated.

Then, he called out the name.

“…Ersivan Lianne Valencia.”

A contradictory silence spread throughout the hall—uneasy yet loud.

Whispers erupted.

Some even wondered aloud if the Emperor had misspoken, accidentally announcing the last-place candidate instead of the winner.

“First place this year.”

Instead of correcting himself, the Emperor reinforced his words, making it impossible for anyone to question him further.

A moment later, Ersivan stepped forward with confidence.

From the Valencia knights’ section, a thunderous cheer erupted.

“…Calling that a ‘monster’ seems almost unfair, but—surprisingly, you defeated a Black Dragon.”

“Merely luck in finding it.”

“No reports ever mentioned a Black Dragon appearing in these parts…”

Dragons were considered the pinnacle of magical beasts, often described as existing beyond the conventional hierarchy of monsters.

Even if the subjugation tournament’s purpose was to hunt monsters, the dragon’s classification was technically valid, allowing it to be counted in the tally.

Even if the Black Dragon kill had been invalidated, Ersivan would still hold first place, as he had slain nearly twice as many creatures as Prince Kain.

Despite the Emperor’s pointed remark, Ersivan accepted the trophy with an easy smile.

It was true—Black Dragons shouldn’t have appeared in this area.

But luck had been on his side.

The weak enchantment he had obtained through Cardel’s assistance had successfully lured the dragon from a nearby habitat.

A Black Dragon, to Ersivan, had been the perfect prey—a grand, undeniable victory.

The Imperial Sword, a prize exclusive to first place, was formally presented to him.

Ersivan turned it over in his hands, inspecting it from every angle, as if dissatisfied with the quality.

“Then, would you care to share a few words?”

Just as he had been considering tossing the sword to one of his family’s blacksmiths, an opportunity presented itself.

Ersivan’s gaze lifted.

Among the countless spectators, one person stood out first—Diana.

Her expression said it all.

“Why are you in first place? This doesn’t make sense.”

Ironically, she wore the same baffled look as everyone else.

If anything, her eyes seemed to question her own curiosity.

“Weren’t you uninterested in rankings?”

“Indeed… what moved me?”

Even Ersivan wanted to ask.

What had changed?

What was it about her words that had stirred something inside him?

The things she had told him on the first day, when she had clashed so fiercely with Prince Kain—

Every single one of those words lingered within him.

“…Evan, you speak as if it were only natural.”

She had never pitied him for his low rank.

Instead, she had pitied the way others dismissed him so easily.

Even if the world refused to acknowledge his strength, that didn’t make him weak.

If he had cared about how he was perceived, he wouldn’t have fought his brother so boldly in front of an audience.

Instead of seething in private, he had chosen to stand his ground.

Yes—perhaps that was why his perspective had begun to shift.

He had resented her at first—how she spoke so surely, as if she understood everything.

It had irritated him—yet somehow, he had been swayed.

Little by little, his worldview had shifted—until it had completely changed.

Ersivan Valencia had always cherished the world he had built for himself.

That was why he had never cared about the nature of rumors—

Why he had never sought greater power like other nobles.

He had done everything he needed to—

He had secured his domain, and he had been content to simply live in it and plan his revenge.

At least, he had thought so.

“It’s best if you never have anything to protect, brother.”

A long-forgotten remark from Prince Kain resurfaced in his mind.

It had been said mockingly, perhaps after their father had arranged his engagement to Epel.

“Having something to protect just means collecting more liabilities. More weaknesses to be exploited.”

To have something to protect meant that one’s decisions no longer belonged solely to themselves.

What one stood to gain—and what one risked losing—would both be shared with others.

So it was only natural that greater responsibilities would lead to greater limitations.

Just as it had today.

“…We…”

Ersivan’s gaze remained fixed on Diana.

He had been waiting for the moment their eyes would meet— And at last, her violet irises locked onto his own.

That was when he found the perfect moment to breathe in.

A low chuckle left his lips, and then— “…Valencia has never once taken battle lightly.”

His voice resonated through the silent hall.

“It was never a matter of incompetence—but rather, that my knights’ skills have been overshadowed by the shame of serving a lord deemed unworthy.”

His words carried a weight that left the hall utterly still.

Like an actor standing center stage in the final act, he commanded the scene with ease.

In that moment, it felt as if only the two of them existed—

Him, delivering his performance, and her, watching in silent disbelief.

“…And now, I have someone to protect.”

His voice softened.

“She need not carry my disgrace.”

And with that— For the first time, Ersivan challenged his younger brother.

‘I never expected this to happen.’

He had never planned for this outcome— Yet, he had no regrets.

For the first time, he refused to let someone take what was his.

Unbeknownst to him, He had already begun to grow.

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