“No, I get it. There’s no guarantee that cutting off the foot would heal it, and he might have died anyway. On top of that, if the offering ceremony gets ruined, who knows what kind of hell this whole area will become. As for making it public… right. As you said, can a temple whose holy relic management is so shoddy that the Cortez family could easily steal it really handle this now?”
This is the problem. Not only is the Imperial Family corrupt, but the temple is, too. The very fact that the noble faction and commoner faction are fighting over whether to “only treat noble people who can pay the price” or to “treat everyone equally” is ridiculous. Because of the constant battles with demonic beasts, the most sincere, dutiful, and skilled people die first, leaving only the incompetent, self-serving, and politically savvy scumbags to take over key positions within the temple.
And if word gets out that I, a member of the imperial family, healed someone the temple couldn’t, two things could happen. I could be revered as a saint and become the temple’s mascot, or I could face persecution from the temple. And no matter what, I’d get the Crown Prince and Emperor’s scrutiny as a bonus.
“I just did it because I could. I don’t know who the mastermind is, but there’s a truly evil one out there, and I don’t want to indiscriminately blame someone who just got caught up in it.”
“…”
Flux bit his lip. His brown eyes wavered with a strange emotion.
“Your Highness has saved me, my family, and this city.”
“Well, it’s a bit premature to say I saved the city when the offering ceremony hasn’t even been completed safely, don’t you think?”
“Since this problem was caused by me, I want to help Your Highness until the very end. Please tell me if there’s anything you need.”
My eyes lit up. “Oh, I don’t refuse things like this. Perfect. The real holy relic will arrive soon. Could you help me swap it with the fake one that’s here now?”
“Yes. There are still a few people we’ve planted in this temple.”
“Then.” I slowly collected my thoughts and said, “Do you know who Priest Krone might be working with?”
Flux fell into thought for a moment. “…Are you suspecting High Priest Marjid and Empress Cleo as the masterminds behind him?”
“It’s a bit ambiguous. Just last year, the offering ceremony her son attended was a total fiasco. If a major problem breaks out after I visit, wouldn’t the repercussions affect them, too? And also, judging by what happened in the Imperial Palace, she doesn’t seem to have much knowledge of the dangers of demonic beasts or demonic energy. Of course, she’d use it if she needed to, but…”
As I spoke, my brows furrowed. It was good that I had gotten the better of the Empress in the Imperial Palace, but after hearing the results of the Castrain family’s investigation, I had a strange sense of unease. A feeling that the ‘enemy’ I knew wasn’t the whole picture. That’s why I found myself struggling, just to change something, even a little bit. So that the people I knew could reach their planned happy ending.
“You’re right. Separate from Empress Cleo’s political skill, orchestrating this requires expert knowledge and technology concerning demonic beasts. The House of Land is certainly a historical and prestigious noble family, but they aren’t deeply knowledgeable in these matters. It’s possible there is another, true mastermind. Whoever it may be.”
The man’s eyes blazed as he spoke of the enemy. “…I will never forgive them.”
He was known for being quite smart in the original story, so I didn’t think I had to worry too much. At the very least, he wouldn’t ally with the Empress. But it would be a problem if he only joined Vivi after the south had completely collapsed, as he did in the original.
“Have you considered allying with the Castrain Ducal family?”
“…”
Flux frowned as if he had a headache. I could feel Debbie, who was quietly standing by, watching me with eyes whose intentions were impossible to read.
“It’s difficult to look down on the Castrain Ducal family after I’ve been saved with Your Highness’s help, who they protect, but…”
“But?”
“Honestly, my family and the Castrain family don’t have a good relationship. To begin with, they have enough vassals to start a country on their own. The Cortez family has no intention of going under the Castrain family, nor do we consider ourselves their equals…”
“But the enemy of my enemy is my friend. At the very least, the Castrain family, who so meticulously fights demonic beasts, can’t be an ally of the enemy who tried to pull a fast one on the Young Count Cortez.”
“What is it that Your Highness truly wants?”
“Huh?”
“Even if I were to ally with the Castrain Ducal family and capture those ‘enemies,’ it wouldn’t directly concern Your Highness. I can follow your wishes, but… are you doing this for the Castrain family?”
“If the Castrain family falls, the Empire falls. There’s no harm in helping them, right? And the villain who messed with the offering ceremony is, so to speak, gambling with the safety of the entire Empire.”
Flux’s face showed his displeasure at my words. “…The Empire wouldn’t fall just because the Castrain family falls. It’s true that they act as a breakwater against demonic beasts, but still.”
“The Empire isn’t exactly on friendly terms with other nations. We still act proud and call ourselves an Empire, but we have no true vassal states and no real allies. While the Empire has been slowly rotting away in a long period of peace, other countries have been quietly building their power. The only reason a war hasn’t broken out is because of demonic beasts and the existence of the Castrain Ducal family.”
My long string of words left both Debbie and Flux looking a bit dazed.
“…Have you been thinking about these things all along?”
“Honestly? The thought that our Imperial Family is completely hopeless? I think that every day. If I were the Emperor, I would have given everything I had and begged them on my knees to think well of me. I can understand the attempt to somehow connect me, the only daughter, to the Castrain Ducal family, but since their motive was ‘these guys are so annoying, we need to bring them down somehow,’ I can’t understand it.”
“You are truly… different from the rumors…”
“No. The rumors are probably true.”
I smiled sweetly. “The rumor about the useless princess who had nothing and went crazy for her fiancé who she loved from afar? That’s right. I just survived death and started a new life.”
“I heard you were asleep for a long time. I am so sorry for that unfortunate accident…”
I cut Flux off. I didn’t want to hear the same insincere condolences over and over again now.
“Yeah. I saved Vivi with my life on the line. I didn’t intend to, but thanks to it, I have a capable talent like Debbie protecting me.”
Flux gave a strange look to Debbie, who had been with me that night. Debbie stared back at him, then tilted her head and said, “Uhm, Your Highness. It seems like the young master doesn’t trust my skills?”
“No, he’ll trust your skills. It’s the other things he won’t trust. Like your personality. Or your mental state… the way you can always smile even in a serious situation.”
Honestly, the day I was kidnapped, the way Debbie responded with a cheerful “Yessir!” as soon as I called her… it seemed pretty crazy. The first impression of her is probably why Flux was looking at her with such clear reluctance.
But Debbie smiled brightly and turned the arrow back on me. “Oh, come on! Don’t you think I’m better than Your Highness, who suddenly started beating the young count in the middle of the night as a form of treatment?”
“I was beating him to treat him, not watching him with a mindset like, ‘Heh heh, how cute. If he tries anything funny, I’ll slice him up right away!’… Hey, Flux. Why are you looking at me like that? You said you were grateful for being treated? You said you were healthy?”
“Ah, n-no, I have no complaints at all.”
“Anyway, my guard force and Priest Krone’s side all seem suspicious. I have a feeling someone might have messed with the offering ceremony besides just the holy relic swap.”
“…I understand what you’re suspecting. It’s definitely possible.”
Flux, who was deep in thought, his eyes gleaming slightly, said, “I have something to tell you. Lend me your ear for a moment.”
Oh. I couldn’t hide my excitement and cautiously leaned in, offering my ear.
The story that followed didn’t betray my expectations.
