The Do-Over Damsel Conquers the Dragon Emperor Vol.3, page 1
Table of Contents
Copyright
Character Page
Prologue
Chapter 1: On the Frontlines of Raising the Black Dragon King
Chapter 2: The Logistics of the Siblings
Chapter 3: Codename “Baker”
Chapter 4: Breaking Out in Pursuit of the Dragon Emperor
Chapter 5: A Baker’s Guide to Win Back Radia
Chapter 6: The Happy Family Plan of the Dragon Emperor and His Wife
Epilogue
Afterword
Other Series
The Do-Over Damsel Conquers the Dragon Emperor Vol.3
Sarasa Nagase
Translation by piyo
Illustration by Mitsuya Fuji
Title Design by Arbash Mughal
Editing by Elijah Baldwin
Proofreading by A.M. Perrone and Charis Messier
This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events and incidents are either the products of the author’s imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, or persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental.
YARINAOSHI REIJO WA RYUTEIHEIKA O KORYAKU CHU Vol.3
©Sarasa Nagase 2021
First published in Japan in 2021 by KADOKAWA CORPORATION, Tokyo.
English translation rights arranged with KADOKAWA CORPORATION, Tokyo.
English translation ©2023 Cross Infinite World
All rights reserved. In accordance with U.S. Copyright Act of 1976, no part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other noncommercial uses permitted by copyright law. For permission requests, email the publisher, addressed “Attention: Permissions Coordinator,” at the email below.
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First Digital Edition: September 2023
ISBN: 979-8-88560-040-8
First Print Edition: October 2023
ISBN: 979-8-88560-041-5
Prologue
“HAPPY eleventh birthday, Jill,” said a certain boy.
He placed a black silk ribbon on his work desk. Jill, who’d thought she was called in to discuss work matters, looked at her fiancé in shock. He used his index finger to readjust the glasses on his nasal bridge and looked away.
“You’re at least permitted to tie your hair up at the military academy,” he said.
“R-Right! I like it. Thank you so much, Prince Gerald!” Jill replied, tripping over her words.
She gingerly scooped up the silky ribbon and nearly dropped it. She was worried that she’d gripped it too tightly, but breathed a sigh of relief when she saw that it didn’t have any wrinkles. She studied the ribbon more closely this time.
He carefully chose a gift I could use even at the academy… she thought, delighted.
Soon, Jill would be attending the military academy Gerald had founded. When he decided to end her princess consort training, she assumed he’d grown tired of her awful embroidery and poorly composed poems. She never expected Gerald to take a different approach.
“You’re more suited to be a soldier,” Gerald had said. “We’ll be going to war with the Rave Empire soon. I plan to assemble a mobile squad under my direct control. Will you take up the task of being the commander of this squad?”
In terms of aptness, Gerald had made the right call. The Cervels were a family of warriors—men and women of all ages learned how to excel in combat. This was partly because they were located on the kingdom’s border and had to be wary of the opposing empire. One could only become a full-fledged Cervel when they could decimate a dragon with their magic powers.
Jill happily accepted Gerald’s confidential request. She was especially overjoyed to hear the prince mutter that others wouldn’t make a fuss about his fiancée should she bring back good results during the war.
“With everything that is ahead, we unfortunately can’t host a birthday party for you. I’m sure the ribbon won’t even serve as a consolation during these times,” Gerald said.
“Please don’t let it bother you,” Jill said with a light shake of her head. “Though this is still highly classified information, the second princess of the Rave Empire is looking to marry into our kingdom. Whether we choose to accept or not, we’d be able to provoke the enemy if I stand before them as your fiancée.”
Under normal circumstances, Jill and Gerald would officially publicize their engagement on her eleventh birthday. However, the second princess of the Rave Empire had suddenly requested to be betrothed to Gerald and even stated that she would personally visit Kratos Kingdom. This forced Gerald to reconsider announcing Jill as his fiancée.
The crown prince couldn’t simply jump at the offer from their supposed enemy empire, whom they’d been at war with for many years. Currently, the Riot of the False Emperor was taking place within the territory of Rave. The uncle of the current emperor, Grand Duke Radia, also known as George Teos Rave, had accused young Hadis Teos Rave of possessing a false Heavenly Sword. George had thus declared that he was the new, true emperor.
The self-proclaimed new emperor George had requested Gerald to marry Rave’s second princess, Natalie Teos Rave. Even Jill, who wasn’t so keen on political matters, knew that the true goal of this marriage was to attain the support of Kratos. If Gerald didn’t tread carefully, he might cause their kingdom to be embroiled in the Rave Empire’s internal strife.
“What shall we do about the situation in the Rave Empire?” Jill asked.
“Grand Duke Radia has occupied the imperial capital and convinced the residing lords to side with him, but Hadis Teos Rave, who’s at the center of this mess, has gone missing. The situation is at a standstill. It’ll take some time before the victor is decided. I suppose I must buy some time regarding Princess Natalie’s offer until this all dies down.”
“You greeted the missing emperor last year at my birthday party, didn’t you, Prince Gerald? What was he like? Is he not a normal emperor, but actually the reincarnation of the Dragon God? Is he truly the Dragon Emperor?” Jill asked.
“Hadis Teos Rave is the Dragon Emperor,” Gerald stated flatly. “Anyone can tell from a glance. He exudes an intense aura and spirit. If others can’t tell that he’s the real deal, they’re either blind or have a different reason that prevents them from admitting that he’s the Dragon Emperor.”
Jill blinked while Gerald scoffed at the circumstances. Hadis Teos Rave was rumored to be the cursed emperor. Recently, he’d ruthlessly purged an entire family following the incident at the floating city of Beilburg, making not only the empire, but the Kratos Kingdom quiver with fear. There was a great deal of backlash within the empire, and Kratos had to remain as vigilant as ever. Even so, Gerald was adamant that Hadis was the true Dragon Emperor.
“Then Grand Duke Radia, or George, is the false emperor,” Jill said.
“That’s right,” Gerald nodded. “He’ll probably be defeated by summer. I don’t know how; he might get slain, or the emperor’s curse may activate again. Regardless, it doesn’t concern us. It’s best if we can idly wait and stand by regarding their marriage proposal. I know that I’ll cause you trouble. Even Faris scolded me and said that I shouldn’t make my fiancée anxious right off the bat.”
“N-Not to worry. I, um, I also feel bad that my bride training hasn’t gone well…” Jill trailed off.
“Since the Rave Empire is currently in a state of disarray, it’ll be next year at the earliest until we can publicize our engagement. But I’ve already decided that you shall become my wife.”
Jill’s cheeks flushed as she nodded. A single light knock on the door disrupted the moment.
“Pardon me, Prince Gerald. Princess Natalie has been kidnapped,” a young man said, entering the room before he was given permission to do so.
Gerald narrowed his eyes, but didn’t reproach the visitor, attesting to their trusting relationship. The young man was a capable individual and was one of the candidates to become Jill’s vice commander.
“What do you mean, Lawrence?” asked Gerald.
“When the carriage with Princess Natalie crossed House Cervel’s boundaries, it was attacked. The instigators timed their attack so that it would occur just when the Cervels turned the carriage over to a new set of guards.”
“Any suspects?” Gerald asked.
“I pray that it’s not anyone from Kratos. The main issue is the direction the culprits ran off to with the princess. If their aim was to trouble you, the next king, the location is rather easy to identify, but I fear they’re transporting the princess to the King of South Kratos’s residence.”
Gerald slammed his fist onto his desk. With a deep inhale, he buried his anger and irritation. Only his dark eyes glimmered with abhorrence towards his father.
“Form a rescue party and search for Princess Natalie immediately. Do not, under any circumstances, allow the Rave Empire to have any sort
“Prince Gerald, um, if you may allow, I’ll head back to my family’s land and search for the princess!” Jill requested.
A princess from another country had been kidnapped in Kratos. Political matters aside, it would only make the situation worse if Natalie didn’t return safely.
I hate to imagine it, but if her corpse is found within Kratos, it might lead to a full-blown war! Jill thought.
However, Gerald’s response was as stern as ever. “No! You stay put! There’s no telling what the King of South Kratos would do if he got his hands on you!”
Jill was stunned to silence by Gerald’s threatening attitude. He turned to Lawrence and gave out orders. “We might be too late. Don’t let the situation with your sister distract you, Lawrence. You can’t afford to screw up.”
“Doesn’t that go for you as well?” asked Lawrence.
“You think I’d make such a foolish mistake? If anger was all it took to kill that man, I would’ve done so ages ago. I’ll check on Faris.”
With a grimace, Jill could only gaze upon her fiancé’s profile as he left the room. Lawrence gently clasped her shoulder.
“You can leave this matter to him,” he said.
“But I can’t just sit here and do nothing while Prince Gerald is in trouble,” Jill replied.
Gerald didn’t refer to his biological father as the king. In public, he called his father “Your Majesty” but privately insulted him as the “King of South Kratos.” The prince’s father had practically dumped all his duties onto Gerald and built a private residence in the south of Kratos, where he indulged himself in debauchery. It was only natural that Gerald was repulsed by his father; a rocky relationship was a huge understatement. A familial issue that he can only relate to with Princess Faris…
It had only been half a year, but Jill was Gerald’s fiancée. She wanted to lend her power as much as she could.
“His Highness doesn’t want to put you in danger. Even more so since he’s up against the King of South Kratos,” Lawrence said.
“But I can fight for Prince Gerald,” Jill argued.
“You sound reliable. Then why don’t you try to protect his pride as a man who wants to shield his fiancée from any danger? Even His Highness would want to act cool in front of the woman he likes.”
After a brief moment of silence, smoke came from Jill’s flustered face. I-I see. I get it now. Romance is complex.
In truth, when her engagement was approved, she was ecstatic to find her prince charming and to be treated like a princess for the first time in her life. Her respect for Gerald grew by the day, and she realized that this was her blossoming first love. But she wasn’t very well-versed in romance and was always troubled, unable to find the right words.
Thus, by the time she was sixteen and nicknamed the god of war’s daughter, with her marriage around the corner, she wasn’t resistant to the idea that Gerald had tricked her. Because she knew that she was ignorant about love and romance, she was able to easily admit that she had gotten the wrong idea. She assumed she was used to mask the forbidden love between Gerald and his sister.
“My brother needed you and loved you as well.” Faris’s words plagued Jill.
Prince Gerald executed me, Jill thought. Why am I foolishly holding onto any doubts now?
Half-asleep, Jill rubbed her eyes as she got up from her bed. Her bedroom was large and equipped with a luxurious canopy. The morning sun’s rays were trickling into her quarters, and she knew she wasn’t in her room at the Cervel residence or the one she was given in the royal palace.
The bedroom and ceiling of the neighboring empire still felt foreign to her. Silence filled her lonesome room, but it was a beautiful day. Yet, a sigh was about to spill from her mouth, and she hastily slapped both her cheeks with her hands.
For the second time, she was able to experience her eleven-year-old self, and her cheeks were squishy to the touch. After patting her cheeks to confirm that fact, she took a deep breath.
“Don’t worry! Just shake it off!” she told herself. “I’m not Prince Gerald’s fiancée anymore; I’m the Dragon Consort. I’m the wife of Hadis Teos Rave!”
Jill was in the imperial palace located in the imperial capital of Rahelm. The riot had come to an end, and she was in one of the Rave Emperor’s bedrooms. Neither the murder-suicide of Beilburg, where a heartless purge had followed, nor the Riot of the False Emperor, where Grand Duke Radia had an unusual death further increasing the terror of the emperor, had occurred. The damsel had fled from an engagement with Gerald and had received a do-over with her life.
Jill went to wash her face and clean herself up. Then she looked at herself in the mirror and confirmed that she no longer had the black ribbon. She was no longer tied to the crown prince of Kratos.
Instead, she had a splendid game fowl and a cute stuffed bear in a cage under her bed. Both were gifts from Hadis.
“Sauté, aren’t you a bird? Why aren’t you up in the morning?” Jill asked.
“Chirp…”
“I’ll leave His Majesty Bear in your care.”
A stuffed bear wearing a magnificent cape and crown was in the same cage as the bird. Jill hesitantly reached for the door to exit the bedroom.
That dream caught me by surprise… Am I anxious? Am I worried that my relationship with His Majesty will hit a bump in the road?
Gerald was a capable crown prince. Aside from his clear infatuation with his younger sister, he was perfect. He was thoughtful and a famous child prodigy—he excelled in both the sword and the pen. Even when facing adversity, he handled his father, the King of South Kratos, quite well. He was greatly trusted and respected by his subordinates and was popular amongst his citizens. Jill had her misgivings, but she could rely on him to finish the tasks at hand. In comparison…
“Oh, good morning, Jill. Breakfast is ready,” a young man greeted her.
The moment Jill left her room, a wonderful aroma filled her nose. It came from the large drawing room that contained a kitchen. A table was laid out near the terrace with a beautiful omelet, fried bacon, and vegetable consommé from last night’s leftovers. A basket of rye bread and bagels stood in the center. They were all made by the apron-clad Dragon Emperor. He was transferring tomato sauce from his pan, using the tomatoes he’d harvested from a small garden in his backyard that morning.
“What’s wrong? Why are you staring? Oh, I’ve got your favorite strawberry milk,” Hadis said.
Jill knew that the palace was short-staffed due to the riot, and Hadis preferred to make his own food to avoid getting poisoned, but she still couldn’t believe her eyes.
“Your Majesty, isn’t it time for your morning meeting?” she asked.
Hadis stared back blankly. Though he was dressed in an apron, he was the emperor of the Rave Empire and was the reincarnation of the Dragon God Rave. He was the Dragon Emperor. About half of his magic powers had been sealed away, but he was much stronger than the average soldier, and he’d been trained well. Because he grew up on the frontiers, he was immature at times, but he was unexpectedly knowledgeable and intelligent.
He was by no means inferior to Gerald—in fact, he may have surpassed the crown prince in various ways. And yet…
“If I attend, people will just call in sick or ignore me,” Hadis said, shrugging. “It’s a waste of time. If Risteard makes a fuss, I’ll start showing up.”
“So, you are supposed to be at a meeting! You shouldn’t be slacking off! You’re an emperor, Your Majesty!” Jill chided.
“I mean, it’s too late to say that now. Besides, my wife’s breakfast is more important to me!” Hadis insisted.
Jill slumped her shoulders. She loved eating, so she had no complaints on that front, but she was filled with anxiety. What kind of emperor makes breakfast in the imperial capital using the tomatoes he harvested from his personal garden?
“I thought you’d do away with that apron of yours when you returned to the imperial capital,” muttered Jill.
“Huh? Don’t I look good in it?” Hadis asked.
“You do, and that’s the problem! Are you really sure about this, Your Majesty? I haven’t seen you attend a meeting or act like an emperor at all since we’ve returned!”
