# 5
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Now to admit, I was what you might call a “keyboard warrior.”
What is a keyboard warrior? He's a guy who, with just a computer and a keyboard, can defeat the armies on the other side of the screen.
From a very early age, my life has been a series of fringe types.
When web novels were popular, I didn't fall in love with the main character or the second main character; Instead, I fell in love with the main character's boyfriend, who barely had any dialogue, and even started a fan café for him.
When I was a fan of idol groups, I would pick the least popular member as my favorite, the one who would always get left out in a five-member group.
And when romance novels were popular, while everyone adored the dark-haired, red-eyed Northern Duke, I was the one betting all my money on the green-haired, barely-there bodyguard.
Thanks to this, every time I clashed with major fans on social media platforms like TwXter, I had to endure being beaten like corn in a threshing machine.
“Do people still support such a duo?”
“A×B are the official couple, and you’re talking about C×A?”
“Wow… I've never seen someone with such taste. Do you also eat cereal with chocolate milk?”
“Tasteless. Not worth sharing.”
“Annoying the main heroes...”
Didn't anyone say that? There is no winning against the mob.
The ones with the numbers were always worse.
After enduring such hardships for 10 years, she has become an expert in keyboard battles, with the mental strength that can withstand even the most vicious online bullying.
It was no different when I read this novel. No matter how much male hero fans attacked me in the comments or on social media, I stood up to them, proudly displaying Diana's fie and leading the charge in battles of wills against these idiots.
I'm embarrassed to admit it myf, but I've even been called the Joan of Arc by Diana fans.
“That is, until the author ended the story so badly that it completely drained my fighting spirit.”
Anyway, why bring this up now?
Because unlike me, the male hero in this novel, Ian Cloud, had a fragile ego.
To put it mildly, he was strict; Honestly, stubborn and stupid.
He was ridiculously stubborn, yet he failed to overcome his childhood trauma, resulting in nearly 30 years of emotional repression – need I say more?
So it wasn't particularly difficult for me to win a battle of wills against this emotionless robot.
I wrote down all the bad rumors that Vivi told me on a piece of paper and then read them carefully.
Right now, all the rumors were directed at me, but if things continued like this, some of them could easily be turned against Diana.
“This won't work.”
After all, everything I was doing was for Diana's bright future.
"Diana, just wait. I'll make this man look good for you!"
❖ ❖ ❖
That night, Ian returns to the palace late, just as he said he would.
That was a time when even most of the servants were asleep.
I was leaning against the window, and as soon as Ian entered the main building, he immediately headed to his office.
From what I know, Ian almost never went to bed immediately after coming home.
He usually stayed awake in his third-floor office, working on papers until just before dawn, then slept briefly in his bedroom before dawn.
'How can anyone survive on less than four hours of sleep a day?'
Did he think he was Napoleon or something?
The author tried to portray Ian's lifestyle as ideal, but to me, he was just a workaholic with a broken circadian rhythm.
'Keep doing that, and you'll die young.'
The average human lifespan is influenced by sleep, after all.
I clicked my tongue inward and stood in front of the office door.
As expected, the door was tightly closed, and a faint light was seeping in from inside.
Knock, knock.
I knocked quietly and waited only a moment before I heard a voice from inside telling me to enter.
Ian, who was reviewing the documents, frowned when he saw me open the door and walk in.
“Why did you come here, ma'am?”
Even if I had entered, his tone would have made it clear how upset he was.
I ignored him and crossed the room.
“I have something to discuss.”
“We agreed not to look for each other except at breakfast time unless it was important.”
“Is it so urgent that you can't wait until tomorrow morning?”
Ian took off his glasses and rubbed the corners of his eyes in annoyance.
'How unbearable...'
I wasn't happy to see you either, you idiot.
I felt a fist pressing against me, and I forced a smile to my trembling lips.
“Yes, it is important.”
"…Is this correct?"
Ian gestured with his chin as if to say, “Here, talk.”
I was waiting for this, and immediately placed the paper I had brought with me on his desk.
“It is said that these are the nicknames that others call me.”
Ian, who had been staring at me intently, picked up the paper. It was full of vulgar epithets and gossip that she had heard from the maid only hours before.
After scanning the paper for a few seconds, Ian placed it down.
“And what exactly do you expect me to do about this?”
There was not even a hint of guilt in his impudent expression.
'Of course, I was expecting this.'
If he had reacted at this point, he wouldn't have been the annoying Ian Cloud I know.
“Does it not bother you at all that your wife is spoken of in this way, Your Highness?”
“Should I care about your reputation too?”
Look at this man.
I wasn't about to back down.
“So, is it okay for you to talk about your wife like that in public?”
“She asked if I had an obligation to take care of this as well.”
“All these rumors are swirling around me because of my association with you, Your Highness.”
Try to refute that, you idiot.
Ian, who had been quick to challenge every word I said, suddenly fell silent.
Of course, every title in that paper came after Eloise's marriage to Ian.
No matter how cruel he was, he still seemed to have some semblance of conscience.
'Then, admit it.'
After her marriage, Eloise greatly reduced her attendance at social events. Although this was something they had agreed upon, it was of no use for her to tell the world that she had become merely a duchess in name.
However, as a Duchess, it was impossible to completely avoid social circles forever.
There were occasions where the two had to attend official functions together, and each time, Ian made it painfully clear to everyone that we were “in a loveless marriage.”
It didn't take long for rumors to spread throughout the capital.
Eloise was a duchess in name only, and was ignored by her husband.
“I'll ask you again. Are you really saying there's no reason to care?”
She looked at Ian intently, enunciating each word carefully.
Ian glanced between the paper on the desk and my face before slowly running his hand through his hair.
“…So what?”
"Why don't you get straight to the point? What exactly do you want to say?"
So, this is how it will play out.
His wife has become the talk of the town because of him, and he doesn't even offer an apology or a word of comfort?
She took a deep breath and looked him straight in the eyes.
“No matter how mutually beneficial this marriage is, I can’t live like this anymore.”
Ian frowned again.
“To say something like that...”
“You seem to have something else on your mind.”
He paused for a moment, then looked at me with a look of disbelief in his expression.
“If you're about to say something vulgar like asking me to change my mind right now, you can stop.”
"I?"
I shuddered and shrugged in disgust.
Has he lost his mind?
I would rather spend my life pining for Diana in vain than seeking his affection.
What I need is my beloved heroine, not you.
“Don't even try to joke about something like that.”
Ian looked me up and down with a disbelieving expression in response to my strong reaction.
"So what's the matter? What is this important matter that brings you here at this hour?"
Finally, it's time to say what I came to say.
“…Your Highness, have you heard the saying, ‘You can’t change someone?’”
"… Sorry?"
As expected, he reacted with complete confusion.
I ignored the look in his eyes and continued to stare at him.
I couldn't see my eyes, but I could bet they were shining like a mad woman who had found her calling.
“I can't believe it.”
“What are you talking about?”
I smiled at him.
“What do you think? I'm telling you, I'll change you from now on.”
I will become your conscience and give you the proper education you need.