"So, Dian. What will you do?" the 2nd Princess asked again.
"Will you come with me to the Imperial Castle?"
"No. I won't go."
Dian refused.
"Why not?"
"I don't have any reason to go to the Imperial Castle, do I?"
"Reasons aren't found, Dian, they're created. Come with me to the Imperial Castle. Let's kill the 3rd Prince and restore order to the chaos."
The 2nd Princess spoke firmly.
"If we eliminate the 3rd Prince, you and I will become saviors of the Imperial Castle. We'll ride that momentum straight to the top."
"Riding the momentum straight to the top. In other words, you're suggesting we start a rebellion?"
The aide flinched, and the 2nd Princess shook her head.
"If we succeed, it's a revolution."
"Hmm, I see."
Dian nodded slowly.
"If we succeed, it would be a revolution. So let me ask you this. What's the point of your revolution?"
"What do you mean?"
"Will you become Emperor? But you're not of the direct bloodline. There will be countless people challenging your legitimacy."
"Those who oppose will not be forgiven," the aide interjected.
Dian chuckled.
"If you kill everyone who opposes you, how will you maintain the Empire? Will you behead all the conservative nobles and high officials in the Noble Council and run this massive country with whoever's left?"
"That's..."
"The Special Task Force and the Legion alone won't be enough. That's why you can't become Emperor, Princess. Even if you did, you'd have to deal with tremendous backlash."
"Then what should I do?" the 2nd Princess asked.
Dian scratched his head.
"If you're really set on becoming Emperor, you'll need a figurehead. Isn't that why you tried to win over the 4th Princess?"
The 2nd Princess was inwardly impressed by Dian's sharp insight.
*He pretends to be indifferent and detached, but he already sees through everything.*
*He wasn't just idling away during those ten years in seclusion.*
*As expected, Dian. You're my ideal husband material.*
*Only you can handle a woman like me.*
# # # # #
I basically repeated what Nemara had told me in the Black Forest, like a parrot.
Only someone of Nemara's caliber could read the political currents; someone like me would just get confused even if told directly.
But the 2nd Princess, not knowing this, nodded repeatedly at my words.
"Everything you said is correct, Dian. Yes. That's the direction I've been planning. Based on the advice you gave me before."
When did I ever give the 2nd Princess advice? I don't remember.
Anyway, the problem now is that the 2nd Princess keeps trying to take me to the Imperial Castle.
She's probably trying to use me to defeat the 3rd Prince's faction.
And then she'll eliminate the other princes too and take everything for herself.
Just thinking about getting involved makes my head throb.
I'm backing out.
The Princess can return to the Imperial Castle or not, that's her business. I need to go home now.
"I should be heading back now."
"Where are you going?"
"Home. I have work tomorrow."
"Then when do you plan to go to the Imperial Castle?"
"Huh? Not today, at the very least."
"I see..."
# # # # #
Dian said he was going home and wouldn't go to the Imperial Castle today.
The aide whispered quietly into the 2nd Princess's ear.
"Your Highness. It seems this man doesn't want to help us. Perhaps he's intimidated by the Secret Prince's involvement?"
"I doubt it. Judging from Dian's past experience, he's not one to get scared and back down so easily."
"Then how do we explain what he just said..."
After pondering for a moment, the 2nd Princess spoke.
"I understand what he means."
"What is it, Your Highness?"
"Dian is waiting for the enemy to lower their guard."
"Lower their guard? Ah!"
The aide realized.
"I see. Right now, their vigilance and fighting spirit are at their peak. Going back to the Imperial Castle now would be like walking into a fire pit."
"Exactly. So Dian wants to wait until the 3rd Prince's faction has settled down somewhat before launching a surprise attack."
"I see... I kept pressuring him without understanding his intentions."
While the aide was reflecting, the 2nd Princess had a new thought.
*Good. Dian's plan is quite logical.*
*But there's one problem.*
*It's unclear where Dian will stay until he makes his move.*
*The 3rd Prince and his monster subordinates are probably searching everywhere for me right now.*
*If I move carelessly, I'll end up in the same situation as earlier in the city.*
"I'm heading home now. Are you all going to keep standing here?" Dian asked.
The Princess smiled.
*I see, Dian. You're offering to protect us at your residence.*
"Very well. We'll all go to Dian's house. Pardon the intrusion."
"What? You're coming to my house?"
"You know as well as I do that it's the best option right now."
"Hmm, I suppose..."
# # # # #
The 2nd Princess suddenly says she's coming to my house. What's going on?
After a brief consideration, I decided.
I'll let the 2nd Princess and her entourage stay at my house for a while.
Going outside the Academy now could be dangerous.
The 2nd Princess is the chairperson of our Academy.
If she dies, the Emperor's faction, which has been waiting for an opportunity, might shut down our Academy.
Plus, too many people would suffer from the 2nd Princess's death.
The professors and students at our Academy would be affected, and the Nemara Tribe, who betrayed the Emperor, would also be in trouble.
That absolutely cannot happen.
"Alright. Let's go to my house."
I led the Princess's group to my home.
The Dark Elves parted ways at the dormitory, saying they were going to meet Kirrin.
When we arrived home, Olicia came out to greet us.
"Didn't you say you were going to a company dinner?"
"Something came up. Prepare rooms for these people."
Olicia squinted at the Princess and the aide standing behind me.
"Are they your friends?"
"Yes. Give the lady a room upstairs, and the man can sleep on the sofa."
"Why do I have to sleep on the sofa?" the aide asked.
"Because we don't have enough rooms. Unless you want to share a bed with me?"
"Eek!?"
The aide vehemently declined and ended up with blankets on the sofa.
"Let's take turns bathing. Olicia, please show the lady the way."
"Yes, understood!"
# # # # #
The 2nd Princess followed the young girl named Olicia to the bathroom.
Like the rest of the house, the bathroom was very neat and clean.
*This young girl seems to be quite good at housekeeping.*
"Your name is Olicia, right? Are you Dian's maid?"
"In a way."
"What do you mean?"
"To be precise, I'm not a maid but family living together."
"Family? Are you perhaps Dian's daughter?"
Olicia laughed at the 2nd Princess's guess.
"No, nothing like that. Dian is unmarried."
"Then what do you mean by family?"
While preparing the bath, Olicia briefly explained how Dian had taken her in.
"I see... A slave girl..."
I never expected Dian to have such a side to him.
The more I learn about him, the more attracted I become.
"Now take off your clothes. Oh my goodness!"
Olicia screamed in surprise when she saw the burn scars covering the Princess's body.
"Startled you, did I?"
"I'm sorry..."
"It's fine. Everyone reacts similarly. By the way."
The 2nd Princess said as she settled into the bath.
"Would you tell me more about Dian?"
"About Dian? There's not much to tell."
"Anything will do. I want to know more about him."
"Hmm... Do you like Dian?"
"Yes."
Olicia's eyes widened at the 2nd Princess's simple affirmation.
"What?!"
"I don't mean common feelings between a man and woman. I admire and look up to strength."
"Is Dian that kind of person?"
"It's hard to think of anyone else but Dian."
"Is that so? How interesting."
Olicia murmured.
"Everyone who knows Dian likes him."
"I'm sure they do. That's the kind of person Dian is."
While bathing, Olicia told the 2nd Princess various stories.
Most were about their time in Brunswell over the past ten years.
Brunswell was a port in a distant neutral country, backward but unlike Kalvasar, very peaceful.
Just listening to Olicia's stories made the 2nd Princess feel as if her stress was melting away.
*I see, Dian.*
*I understand a little better now why you left the Imperial Castle to live in seclusion in such a place.*
# # # # #
After the bath, Kaiden came to the house.
He said he came immediately after hearing from the Dark Elves that the 2nd Princess had arrived.
"Greetings, Your Highness."
"Have you been well?"
Kaiden bowed his head.
"Good timing. Let's check on the situation at the Imperial Castle."
"Understood."
As Kaiden immediately projected an illusion in the air, the 2nd Princess and her aide gasped softly.
The view was from above, looking down at the Imperial Castle.
The first thing visible was a half-collapsed tower billowing black smoke.
"Is that the tower where the 3rd Prince was?"
"Yes. Let's look closer."
As Kaiden lowered the altitude, the situation inside the Imperial Castle became clearer.
Exhausted mages who had been fighting the fire were sitting around, while the Imperial Guard and castle servants were helping them move.
"What is that?"
Something strange was attached to the castle walls in the illusion.
It looked like a giant lizard, but the problem was that it was human.
A human torso with an extremely thick and long tail attached to the rear.
"Where on earth did they bring such crazy monsters from?"
Not just that one—strange creatures were busily moving all over the place.
"They've brought quite a lot."
"Look, someone's coming in through the drawbridge."
At the Princess's words, Kaiden shifted the viewpoint to the drawbridge.
Unlike the others, those entering the drawbridge looked somewhat human.
Though compared to normal people, they were still mutants.
They were moving in formation, surrounding someone in the middle, like escorting a criminal.
As the illusion zoomed in on the person stumbling in the center, the 2nd Princess screamed.
"Mother!!"