Chapter 19
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
Directly heading to the empire? What twisted logic is that for saying you’re going to throw yourself into death?
Your voice rang out, sharp and piercing.
Father regained his senses and immediately roared, as he had before.
It wasn’t out of a desire to kill me—it came from a place of deep concern for my well-being.
“Your Highness, no matter what, that’s simply not acceptable. Why don’t you lead us into battle with our knights and the warband? I’m prepared to lay down my life for it!”
“I haven’t had enough time to study your body yet. And if you rush to die like this…”
Guilford and Shien had already spoken as though they believed I had resolved to meet my end.
Father, who had been about to scold me, suddenly looked as if he had understood something. His expression grew heavy with worry.
“Hasn’t your recovery from the fainting spell last time been incomplete? Otherwise, I can’t see why you’d say such madness.”
“Your Majesty, I’m completely clear-headed and speaking from the heart. If I weren’t, how could I have successfully weeded out the spies?”
Father nodded.
“I know you’re clever. But still, this…”
“I understand.”
At last, one ally had joined me.
Luah spoke in a cold, emotionless tone.
“I can guess why my brother wants to go to the empire. But I won’t agree to it either.”
“The princess has some hidden meaning?”
“Yes. My brother is heading there to strengthen the alliance relations that have been shaken by this incident.”
My eyes widened in surprise.
Father was equally shocked.
Because it was Luah who agreed with me, he questioned her for more details.
“It’s to maintain the alliance, isn’t it. Going to the lair of those beasts who tried to swallow us up is for the sake of keeping the alliance?”
“Father, we must maintain the alliance. Do you truly intend to wage war with the empire?”
“Of course. Think about what the empire has done to us. My heart aches to charge out at once with the knights.”
“Then you should have executed all the prisoners before departing. Why didn’t you?”
“Because the preparations aren’t ready yet.”
“That’s exactly what I wanted to say. We’re not ready now.”
Father’s mouth fell open.
Luah had struck the heart of the matter—why Solea must never wage absolute war against the empire.
No matter how strong the Solea knights might be, they could never defeat the imperial knight army in numbers.
Economy, military, diplomacy, territory.
Solea could not overcome the empire in any of those areas.
“Thinking about the humiliation the etiquette teacher subjected me to, I want to smash that emperor’s head for planting such a person in me. But not now.”
Luah had said everything I wanted to.
Grateful, I gently stroked her head.
Then, adding one last word to what she had already completed:
“Luah’s words are correct. From now on, if not always, we must lower our profile for a time. Bending the knee is shameful, but it is a necessary step to gain the momentum to leap higher.”
Hearing that cold reality, deep wrinkles appeared on Father’s face.
It pained my chest, but there was no other choice.
“Luah’s words are right. For the time being, we must maintain good relations with the empire. Not depending on them, but using them.”
“I understand. No, I knew it and deliberately ignored it. But regarding that, why must you go to the empire? If you can’t make me understand, I won’t allow it.”
“It’s simple. The emperor’s love of talent is known to the entire world, isn’t it? In that light, if I assist the empire with the power I have newly acquired…”
“You’ll be loved to death.”
“Correct.”
The emperor cherished talent above all.
In my previous life, it was precisely because the emperor had recognized Luah’s abilities as a foreign princess that she could become empress.
“I will instill a new perception of Solea in the empire. We are not a vassal to be treated lightly, but a valuable ally with which we must walk together in good relationship.”
Everyone in the audience chamber nodded.
Though reluctant in their hearts, they had agreed to the plan I presented.
It meant they accepted my sacrifice for the nation.
“But I’m against it.”
Except one person.
“I don’t want to send my brother alone to such a place.”
Luah grumbled with a pouty expression.
To soothe her, I patted her back as she turned her head away.
“I must go. This is for you too, Luah.”
“No. But if I can go with you, I’ll be happy.”
“That’s out of the question!”
Father shouted.
“My son going alone is already tearing my heart apart, and now my daughter as well. No matter the reason, that’s impossible! I can never permit it!”
I, too, would have preferred to go alone if my heart so desired.
But Luah’s words—there must be some reason.
“Why must you come with me?”
“If I go with you, the empire will like me even more.”
Father shook his head firmly.
Although it was natural for the empire to welcome a prince and princess together as a gesture of friendship with Solea, it would be more like hostages enjoying the favor.
I suspected Luah was not simply being unreasonable, so I asked more carefully.
“You know that’s not enough, right?”
“Of course. The decisive reason is for myself.”
“For yourself?”
As if expressing the depth of her earnest desire, Luah nodded vigorously.
“I want to learn more. I want a higher level of education.”
Luah was only eleven this year.
She had not even begun proper education, and in truth, Solea was a small nation.
Unless she aimed to become a knight, there was no place in Solea for deep and varied knowledge.
In that sense, the empire’s academy gathered the world’s greatest talents and provided the highest-level education the world had ever seen.
A thought suddenly crossed my mind.
Perhaps the reason Luah had grown into a candidate to become empress was because she had entered the empire’s academy?
Even now, Luah was exceptionally intelligent.
If that brilliant child received proper education at the empire’s academy, she would surely soar.
Bringing Luah to the empire was a highly dangerous choice in many ways, but the potential good results upon return were far too great to ignore.
When I once asked my mentor to protect Luah, he had accepted without a moment’s hesitation.
If that were the case, I would always stay with Luah, and my retainers would guard her.
In a critical situation, my mentor would assist, ensuring Luah’s safety was not a problem.
Only one issue remained to be resolved.
“Luah, in the empire they will use every possible means to brainwash you and me as Solea royalty. How do you plan to deal with that?”
“I’ve already received one-on-one lessons from the etiquette teacher for two years, but as you know, the results are what they are. Is that not enough?”
“My wonderful sister. It seems I worried for nothing.”
“No. I did say that, but if it causes trouble for my brother, I’ll give it up.”
A clever and adorable sister.
Luah’s enthusiasm made me reluctant to take her, but for her sake, I decided to bring her along.
“Your Majesty, it would be best for Luah to come with us.”
“Although it stings, I cannot deny that receiving education in the empire will benefit the princess’s future. Safety must be ensured first. Is there a good way?”
“Yes. I will keep watch at all times, and I will bring trustworthy retainers. And…”
Although it was the second time I was using this, it was incredibly useful.
“My assistant has willingly offered to help.”
The room buzzed with excitement when I mentioned my assistant.
Those who had participated in the plan to eliminate the weeds already knew I had been assisted by a transcendent helper.
My trust in him was already absolute.
After speaking, I quickly glanced around the room.
Although my mentor was never physically present, he observed everything I did.
Even if not visible to the naked eye, he was undoubtedly listening from somewhere.
The fact that he had not come to interfere meant he had approved.
“You knew that.”
My mentor’s voice suddenly rang in my head, startling me.
“I knew you’d be listening to everything.”
“But you must work hard so that no situation arises where I need to intervene. If I get involved too much, it will lead to very unpleasant consequences.”
“I understand.”
“By the way, Father. He also helped me.”
“He helped the princess?”
At that moment, Luah stepped forward, having received my mentor’s help when I had wrongly accused Egrim.
“Yes. When Egrim refused to let go of my hand, he used magic to throw Egrim away.”
“Such a thing happened…”
Father had already been in the process of tearing Egrim’s body apart, believing that the prince’s claim of Luah’s misconduct was true.
To a father who cherished his daughter, nothing was more trustworthy than rescuing her from danger.
“Merlin, Merlin. It really is Merlin…”
While Father thought calmly, Shien, upon hearing about magic, became excited and muttered to himself.
“I didn’t believe that assistant you mentioned before, but since Luah received help, I have no choice but to believe now. Then I allow Luah to go with you.”
“Very soon, we will dispatch an envoy team to the empire to bring back the spies. I will go with them.”
“I understand. Still, it’s not easy on the heart. I hope Lungran will look upon you all with mercy.”
It would clearly be an arduous and dangerous road.
A high-stakes gamble, yet with considerable chances of success.
Luah, whether she knew it or not, was overjoyed and beamed with a bright smile at the prospect of going together with me.