The Queen's Guardian
A short silence fell over the library.
Neither the Crown Prince nor Perlin could speak. Instead, Berhardt opened his mouth.
“If you understand, then please leave.”
At Berhardt’s words, the Crown Prince stood first.
“Understood. Well then, take care, Luen.”
The Crown Prince gave a brief farewell. Perlin rose without a word.
“Tsk.”
As the two left, Berhardt clicked his tongue.
Luen’s gaze shifted to the side at the sound. Berhardt remained standing in the same spot.
“Are you all right?”
At his question, Luen looked at him over her glasses. Her gaze wavered for a moment.
In truth, she was not all right.
“Your Highness’s arrangement with me was meant to save Crown Prince Leon.”
Luen’s fingers, clutching the teacup, stiffened.
“……That is correct.”
“Yet Crown Prince Leon’s stance is the exact opposite.”
His voice held neither reproach nor anger now.
“I was prepared for this much.”
“Being prepared and facing reality are different things.”
Luen’s gaze wavered further.
The fact that Crown Prince Leon had tried to kill her struck her as a tremendous shock. It was all the more painful because she had never before been exposed to such malice.
Berhardt looked at Luen.
“I am sorry, Your Highness. For forcing you to endure this.”
The terrifying aura he had used to pressure the Crown Prince and Perlin was gone. Instead, a trace of guilt lingered in his eyes.
For some reason, meeting that gaze brought Luen a measure of comfort.
“Ugh……”
Tears welled slightly in her eyes.
Berhardt watched her for a moment, then reached to remove her glasses.
Luen blocked his hand briefly before lowering her own.
“It is all right.”
He took a handkerchief from his pocket and gently wiped away her tears.
“If it is too difficult, you may give up. I have other methods in plenty.”
His rough skin brushed against her in that clumsy gesture.
“It is not because Your Highness lacks ability. It is simply that Your Highness is still too young and kind.”
After drying her tears, Berhardt replaced her glasses.
“You have lived only within the pages of books, so you do not yet know how deep the malice of reality can run.”
Luen adjusted her glasses and looked at Berhardt once more.
“They will do anything for power. They will slander you, condemn you, and try to kill you. Can you endure that?”
Luen sniffled and reached out to grasp the hem of Berhardt’s coat. He did not pull away.
“There is a limit to protection. Unexpected variables always appear.”
Berhardt was frightening, yet he was also the only person she could truly rely on.
So Luen spoke without thinking.
“General Berhardt……”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
Luen looked up at him, still holding his coat.
Berhardt’s eyes met hers.
“Then protect me, General……”
“……Pardon?”
Surprise flickered across Berhardt’s face—an expression she had never seen before. Luen found it oddly amusing.
She continued to gaze up at him.
“Would it not be enough if General Berhardt became my guard and protected me?”
“……”
“Is it impossible……?”
It probably was. He was an extremely busy man. She was about to ask for more reliable guards instead when—
“Understood.”
Berhardt accepted her request.
“I will protect Princess Luen.”
Luen blinked, startled. She had spoken out of fear, yet he had agreed.
“We are in the same boat. Your Highness’s danger is my danger as well.”
“……”
“Therefore, I will protect Your Highness until you safely reach the throne.”
He had clearly made his decision.
Luen stared blankly for a moment before regaining her composure.
“Are you certain this is all right?”
“You spend all your time in the library anyway. I can simply conduct my work here as well.”
“I-Is that so?”
Berhardt spoke as though it were nothing, but she knew it would be a considerable inconvenience for him. Still, she could not bring herself to refuse.
If he stayed by her side, this fear might fade, even if only a little.
“……Then I will be in your care, General.”
Luen slowly released his coat.
Berhardt inclined his head once.
“Yes, Your Highness.”
At his answer, Luen managed a small smile.
I was in the library.
I had not moved my entire desk from the office, only a bundle of documents requiring urgent approval. I borrowed a small desk instead.
It was an inconvenient arrangement. My approvals could not possibly be handled entirely within the library. Yet the decision had already been made the previous night.
I would seat the Princess on the throne. That was the goal I had set.
To achieve it, variables had to be minimized as much as possible.
As I had said yesterday, guards had their limits. Having me personally at her side was troublesome, but it would be the most certain method.
Because I could simply crush nearly every variable that arose.
Creak—
The library door opened.
Princess Luen entered. Her gaze lingered on my seat for a long moment.
“General.”
“You have arrived, Princess Luen.”
I rose and greeted her, then sat back down and returned to the documents I had been reviewing.
“When did you arrive?”
“Roughly an hour ago.”
“……Are you uncomfortable?”
“It is fine.”
I answered briefly.
The Princess stood in place for a moment before moving to her own seat.
I continued working through the papers.
“……”
After finishing one document, the Princess spoke again.
“……General.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
“Do you have a moment?”
I set down my pen and approached her desk.
The Princess slid a single sheet of paper toward me.
“This is the roster for the new Imperial Arts and Research Society I intend to establish. I created it under the pretext of compiling the Empire’s historical records to reaffirm imperial legitimacy.”
I scanned the list.
The names were neatly ordered. The chairwoman was the Princess herself. The vice-chair position went to an imperial scholar. On the second line appeared a familiar name.
One of Perlin’s close associates.
The Princess pointed to the name with her finger.
“He was close to Perlin.”
“You have already recruited him?”
“Yes. For now, only this one.”
I examined the list once more.
Several of Perlin’s associates occupied committee positions. The intent was clear: place them near the Princess under the guise of committee members and gradually win them over.
The effort she had poured into drafting this list was evident.
“Did you sleep last night?”
“A little.”
“You have organized it well.”
A brief smile touched the Princess’s lips.
“This committee will not end with a single position.”
She pointed to a line near the bottom of the page. It read simply: “Operational Guidelines for the Arts and Research Society.”
“Compiling imperial records is merely a means to draw short-term power away from Perlin. The true objective is to nurture scholars. I will distribute grants to scholars in the Empire’s name. After some time, I will grant qualified scholars the right to be appointed as imperial administrators.”
I mulled over her words.
“A long-term plan.”
“Yes.”
I looked over the documents again.
The committee members would hold the authority to screen scholars. Those who passed would receive support.
Committee members would gain prestige while scholars received funding. Yet above every name stood the Imperial Arts and Research Society, and above that stood the Princess herself.
When scholars eventually entered imperial administration, their loyalty would naturally turn toward the Empire—more precisely, toward the Princess.
That was how she intended to shape it.
Of course, the system could not be established overnight.
Launching the society required official imperial approval. So did authorizing the grant program, operating funds under the imperial name, and appointing scholars to administrative posts. Opposition would arise at every stage.
It was a path that would bring outside talent into an administration long dominated by noble houses. Resistance would come from Perlin’s faction, the Crown Prince’s faction, and the established families alike.
Their positions would shrink.
Yet the justification was sound. Compiling imperial historical records, nurturing scholars, and appointing capable individuals—these were causes I could push through.
“Well done.”
At my words, the Princess’s expression brightened.
“Thank you, General Berhardt.”
“You may call me Arsens.”
I spoke without much thought.
The Princess’s eyes widened.
“Truly?”
“Yes.”
“Then……”
She hesitated for a moment.
“Thank you, Arsens.”
It was a bright smile unlike yesterday’s. The gloom had vanished from her face.
But I had not forgotten yesterday’s events.
Crown Prince Leon.
Perlin Claire.
A mere warning would not suffice. They were surely already plotting something else.
So now it was my turn to act.
Because I had to protect the Princess.