On Ash Wednesday, the Crusaders departed on their pilgrimage as promised. Nikephoros also agreed to accompany them part of the way.

"There have been opinions that recent rivalries seem a bit formulaic."

"I suppose there has been that feeling since John Sina retired. Should we create a rivalry centered around me this time?"

Meanwhile, I had completely returned to my daily routine, tending to the businesses I had established and enjoying my legitimately single life.

Geranus tilted his head with an uncertain expression at my suggestion.

"Centered around you, Princess?"

"Yes, something like 'Resistance fighters against the evil boss!'"

That's right. The badass bald brother who comes running with a clang whenever the boss does something foolish. He was personally one of my favorite wrestlers, and since starting the wrestling business, he was a character I absolutely wanted to bring in.

Geranus muttered, "Resistance fighters..." then suddenly asked with a sound of realization, "Huh?"

"So the Princess will play the villain, and the wrestlers will fight to protect their rights...?"

"Yes, exactly. We'll pick a new bald guy and make him the face."

"And in the process, you'll be beaten by the wrestlers."

"Yes, I'm willing to take a hit or two."

I answered confidently. I'd acted out getting hit before, after all.

But for some reason, Geranus's face turned pale. He shook his head as if possessed, then opened his mouth with an intensely serious expression.

"No, that doesn't seem right."

"Why not?"

"Well, obviously..."

Geranus's voice cut off abruptly, as if even mentioning it was too presumptuous.

After hesitating for a long while, he turned his head, and Ioannes, who had been waiting to report, picked up as if continuing the thought:

"Lady Maria would be shocked. If she saw the Princess being beaten by the company icon."

"...Ah."

Realization suddenly struck me.

Of course, Maria was still a little kid who believed John Sina was someone who wouldn't die even if stabbed with a sword.

If I played the evil boss, she would undoubtedly give me a look of contempt, thinking, 'I never knew my sister was that kind of person.'

'Come to think of it, Nikephoros also warned me to act like a proper princess... I guess having a princess play Vince's role is too early for the Romans.'

I stepped back and suggested:

"Then let's have Geranus take on the evil boss role. Call a script meeting. I'll attend too."

"...Me?"

This time Geranus asked with a blank expression.

Who else would do it? I nodded as if it were obvious.

"I'll prepare for it."

He finally bowed his head in resignation and withdrew.

After Geranus left, Ioannes, the horse racing manager, approached with his usual confident expression.

"Princess!"

Just then, a figure abruptly inserted himself between Ioannes and Geranus.

It was Sokrates. He immediately bowed to Ioannes in apology, then placed a thick stack of documents on my desk.

"W-what is this?"

There was an inexplicable forcefulness to Sokrates's actions that made me feel somewhat overwhelmed.

I flinched as I asked, and he replied without hesitation:

"These are the list of artists who want to participate in the 'Comic World' event you planned, along with samples of their work."

"...All these papers?"

It looks like hundreds, no, thousands of people?

Curious, I flipped over one sheet and clearly saw what appeared to be a moe-style drawing of a gender-swapped Nero.

"Yes, the slogan you put forth—'No censorship, no limits'—has captured the artists' interest. There's also a rumor spreading that users of the Emperor Card Game are spending ridiculous amounts of money on feminized Nero."

"Oh my."

Indeed. Perhaps otaku are profitable after all.

Honestly, I wasn't sure if it would catch on, but it seems potential nerds are abundant even in this era.

"I'm surprised artists can draw this style so well."

"Creating art that suits a client's taste is the most basic skill for any artist."

Sokrates answered confidently, then added:

"Anyway, the reason I've taken the liberty of approaching you is because there's something I absolutely must report."

He flipped through the stack of papers and handed me about forty sheets. A drawing of a dignified young girl with black curly hair immediately caught my attention.

"What's this now?"

I asked, feeling somewhat dazed.

"These are works from those who wish to participate in the competition with pieces featuring you as the subject, Princess."

"...What?"

Me? So this is... supposed to be me?

Disbelieving, I looked at the papers again, and a young girl who strangely resembled me calmly met my gaze.

It's awkwardly well-drawn, making it difficult to know how to react.

"May I permit their participation?"

Sokrates asked, as if this were the main point.

I continued flipping through the papers. The next was a picture of "me" riding a horse, and the next showed "me" playing in a flower garden.

"Hmm..."

Well, the drawings were cuter than I had worried they might be. Though I still felt a bit strange about it.

I flipped through a few more pages, then nodded, indicating that it seemed fine.

"Yes, well... these look okay."

They were actually much cuter than the icons of me that appeared from time to time. Having such images spread might give the people a friendly impression of me.

"Then I'll proceed accordingly, Princess."

"Yes, yes."

With my permission, Sokrates smiled brightly and took back the stack of papers. I also smiled as I placed my drawings on top of his stack.

As I was about to turn my attention to Ioannes who was standing nearby...

"...Wait a minute?"

I noticed something concerning among those drawings. More precisely, concerning text.

As if drawn to it, I pulled it out, revealing what appeared to be a project proposal. I carefully read the title written at the top.

"A book about kidnapping and XX-ing the Princess playing in a flower garden?"

Suddenly, Sokrates's steps came to an abrupt halt. My mind also froze completely white.

After a heavy silence, my consciousness slowly began to return, along with the recognition of a reality I desperately didn't want to acknowledge.

I quietly put down the paper and rubbed my face. Then I gestured to Sokrates, or rather to Haakon behind him, and spoke:

"...Arrest all these bastards."

※※

"I guess 'no censorship, no limits' was too early for the Romans."

I muttered with a sigh.

"Of course. Human imagination is inherently so profound that no words can perfectly express it."

The Emperor answered as if it were obvious.

His eyes lingered on my face for a moment, then he continued with a playful smile:

"Don't worry too much. Becoming the subject of such absurd rumors is natural for imperial family members. In my younger days, I also suffered from rumors about an affair with my mother."

The "mother" mentioned here wasn't Anna Dalassene, but Maria of Alania, Emperor Alexios's godmother and the former empress.

When Alexios ascended to the throne, rumors spread that he would divorce his wife Irene Doukaina and remarry the former empress Maria to consolidate his power.

"That seems a bit different from this situation..."

"Oh? Is that so?"

"Yes... well, they're similar in that they're both ridiculous stories."

It would be too much to explain the concept of R18 doujinshi to a man of this era.

Since it wasn't a pleasant topic, I didn't want to discuss it further. I sighed and changed the subject.

"What are your plans for the Roman troops stationed at Philomelion?"

Besides the People's Crusade, about 3,000 soldiers remained there under Tatikios's command.

"They will join the Crusaders and head toward Antioch together. Rome must show at least minimal commitment."

"Won't you lead the expedition yourself, Father?"

"I'll decide after observing the situation."

In original history, the relationship between the Emperor and the Crusaders deteriorated drastically because the Emperor abandoned them when they were in trouble during the siege of Antioch. (The Emperor made a secret agreement with the Sultan and withdrew his troops.)

Since "depending on the situation" seemed rather ambiguous, I shook my head and said firmly:

"You absolutely must go. With an army of 80,000 gathered, Rome should also show sincerity through the Emperor's personal leadership."

"'Absolutely'? Anna, do you want your father to suffer on the difficult battlefield?"

"What? Who forced his daughter who didn't want to marry onto the battlefield?"

I glared at the Emperor with slightly irritated eyes.

The Emperor cleared his throat awkwardly and averted his gaze as he continued:

"In any case, I was planning to go if possible. Having the Emperor personally recapture the Patriarchal See would also be quite meaningful."

"How many troops do you plan to lead?"

"I could easily mobilize thirty to forty thousand. The Cumans aren't showing any particular movements either."

Thirty to forty thousand... It certainly felt like the Eastern Roman Empire had much more leeway than in the history I remembered.

Feeling oddly proud, I nodded.

"I'll provide generous financial support for the military. Give that Great Sultan of the Seljuks a good beating."

"Yes, I'll count on you when that day comes."

The Emperor nodded and brought up another topic.

"By the way, looking at the documents, it seems all your businesses have entered a period of stagnation. Are you aware of this, Anna?"

As expected of the Emperor, a direct observation.

"Of course I know. These days I'm focusing on discovering new growth engines."

Comic World was one of those initiatives. Even in the 21st century, countless people were drawn to horse racing after being introduced through horse girls.

"Indeed, complacency leads to obsolescence. If you need anything, don't hesitate to ask. I'll support you."

"Yes, yes."

The Emperor nodded contentedly, then handed me a letter that had been placed on one corner of the desk.

"What's this?"

"A secret letter from the Doge of Venice."

...Huh? From him?

I opened the letter with curious eyes. The high-quality paper, emitting a subtle fragrance, contained a lengthy message written in neat handwriting.

I read aloud what seemed to be the important parts:

"Our Venice will fully support Your Imperial Majesty's advance into southern Italy, and will dispatch about 2,000 naval forces... Huh?"

It was quite unexpected content. I looked up at the Emperor, who shrugged.

"Of course, this would be after the Crusade is settled. We can't rashly touch Sicily while Bohemond forms the core of the Crusaders."

"No, that's not what I meant... hmm."

Southern Italy was rightfully Roman territory that should be reclaimed. If the opportunity arose, I too wanted to recover it.

"Wouldn't Egypt be a better target if you're planning to attack somewhere else?"

But attacking southern Italy, the Norman stronghold, while Robert Guiscard's legacy remained intact seemed rather reckless.

If an expedition was necessary, targeting Egypt under the weakened Fatimid dynasty would seem wiser.

"So you have similar thoughts, Anna."

The Emperor nodded and extended his hand, apparently wanting the Venetian letter back.

I handed over the letter obediently, and he continued in a calm voice:

"Of course, I also know that attacking southern Italy is premature at this point."

"Then why did you show me this letter?"

"What do you think is Venice's real reason for sending this letter?"

The Emperor answered my question with another question. I stared at him for a moment, then replied as if it were obvious:

"Because Rome is better than those Norman barbarians."

Venice, like Rome, had poor relations with the Normans.

"That's right. That's certainly one reason."

The Emperor nodded and continued:

"But the bigger reason is that they've realized they no longer hold the hegemony of the Mediterranean as they once did."

He looked at the Mediterranean map spread beside him and continued his explanation:

"Amalfi is under Norman protection, and Pisa is under Tuscan patronage. Genoa is protected by the German Kaiser."

Amalfi, Pisa, Genoa, and Venice.

These were the four great maritime republics of the Italian peninsula.

Now I understood what the Emperor was trying to say.

"So Venice wants to show off the power of their biggest customer—us—to their competitors. And incidentally, they want to strike a blow against Amalfi, which is under Norman protection."

"Exactly. And thanks to someone, Amalfi, which was on the verge of collapse, has been revived."

I wonder who that could be? So curious.

I just shrugged, and the Emperor smiled lightly as he continued:

"The dynamics between the maritime republics will become more complex in the future. Naturally, our empire won't be free from their influence either."

"That's true."

From the moment Sicily was lost, controlling the entire Mediterranean with imperial power became nearly impossible.

Finding a merchant republic willing to align with the empire was essential, whether it was Venice or not.

"So you want me to handle underground negotiations with the other republics?"

I could roughly guess the Emperor's intentions. He must know about my deep connections with merchants other than the Venetians.

"No."

But the Emperor firmly shook his head.

"Huh?"

As I asked with a puzzled expression, he looked straight into my eyes and made an unexpected proposal:

"Anna, I want to entrust you with rebuilding the imperial navy."