The next day. In the morning, I received a message from Her Highness the Princess.
Later in the afternoon, she planned to visit our family.
In normal circumstances, I would’ve thought, “Ah, our servants are going to have their hands full again.”
But because of the recent conversation I’d had with the Emperor…
The moment I heard that, a strange kind of tension hit me.
“Does she have feelings for the princess as a person?”
My answer to the Emperor had been, “She’s a good person.”
And there was no lie to it. The princess really is an excellent person—both as the Empire’s princess and as just an individual.
Honestly, who could dislike her after meeting her? First off, she’s of royal lineage, and yet she’s never rude. On top of that, she tries her hardest to set an example as a member of the royal family, all while having a quiet clumsiness that makes her unexpectedly adorable.
“Good person. Good person…”
“What are you muttering about?”
You scared me half to d*ath! Turning around, I realized she was standing there. I thought she’d arrive later in the afternoon, but she showed up right after lunch.
“Princess, you’ve come?”
“Why are you so surprised? Didn’t your servants tell you I entered earlier?”
“They did, I was just… lost in thought for a moment.”
I quickly snapped out of it, standing there for a second before offering her a seat.
Of course, I pointed out the place of honor—but the princess chose another spot instead.
“I hear there was a small party for Kael.”
Right across from me, where she’d be looking directly at me.
“Yes, Your Highness.”
“I’m sorry I couldn’t make it. I’ve been busy since returning from the capital.”
“It’s perfectly fine, Your Highness. It doesn’t bother me at all.”
Truthfully, she had nothing on her plate—she’s just being careful. She doesn’t want other nobles to get the wrong idea and start questioning the line of succession.
It’s a smart move, and I agree with it. The princess and I have both done a lot—starting in Nobogorod and moving through the Eastern region, even winning the support of the Southern Kingdoms for the Empire.
While I may have suggested the strategies, the princess clearly deserved credit for her part in those successes. And people might see those achievements as proof of her capability.
“Let me be blunt—I think you’re overthinking things. Our princess has no such ambitions.”
Princess Isabel, the second princess. Sure, she’s part of the Anti-Empire faction, but she doesn’t like conflict. She loves the Empire deeply and would never do anything to harm it. Most importantly, she understands herself well and doesn’t underestimate others.
She is, in every way and for any reason, not someone who would make a move like that. That’s just not who she is.
Honestly, that’s what I’ve seen, and what I told the Emperor. Princess Isabel, the second princess, is simply… good.
“Honestly, I should’ve just stayed put today. But after running around so much, and hearing about Kael, I just couldn’t stay away.”
“I understand.”
“Did I maybe make the wrong call by coming?”
I immediately shook my head at her worried look.
“Not at all. In fact, I believe you don’t need to worry about this anymore.”
“Really? Everyone around me says I need to be more careful.”
“I’ve just come from meetings with His Majesty the Emperor and Her Highness the Crown Princess, and neither of them seemed the least bit concerned.”
Honestly, the princess will never surpass the Crown Princess—there’s just no way. The way people look at her is different. It’s like she’s already prepared to take the throne.
The princess isn’t lacking in any way, but the Crown Princess is in a league of her own.
From the first time we met, the Crown Princess was clearly ahead. She had an extraordinary level of authority from the beginning, but it all made sense.
The Emperor understands the differences between the two, and he knows their personalities—he’s not worried.
“Even if the princess is hiding something…”
Well, if she had been, it would’ve surfaced in front of me by now—or she would have been more subtle, staying under the radar.
But no, the princess has always acted purely for the sake of the Empire and the royal family. So the worries around her are completely unfounded. Why? Because I’d personally stake my reputation on her sincerity.
“Kael saying that reassures me. Was that a prophecy by any chance?”
“…what?”
A prophecy? What the heck is she talking about now?
“Come now, don’t deny it. Don’t you remember what you said to me recently?”
“I…?”
“Something about an event or trigger coming in the east.”
Wait a second! I never said anything like that!
“I just… suggested that some kind of trigger might happen. Honestly, I didn’t have a clue what that trigger would actually be!”
So no, it wasn’t a prophecy—it was just me thinking out loud. And now she’s calling it a prophecy?
“I thought it was just you rambling at the time.”
Exactly, Princess! It was just plain old raving. No modesty, no concept, no mistake—it was just random thoughts spilling out. Completely unconsidered nonsense!
“Except now it seems that trigger has occurred—an unprecedented flood in the east. So bad that the kingdoms are almost completely underwater.”
“Ah… yes, I heard about that.”
“And I heard what happened afterward too—that Kael stopped the empire from offering humanitarian aid.”
I didn’t stop it—I just expressed my opinion more passionately than usual! And judging by the reactions, both the Emperor and the Crown Princess must have thought similarly.
“No mercy should be extended until the eastern kingdoms beg on their knees. No aid should be given. It’s harsh, but I think it’s fully justified.”
“…”
“Should the taxpayers’ money be wasted? Let them bow down first if they want aid. We’ve already done enough by not destroying an entire kingdom in the previous war. That was act of kindness enough.”
Indeed, our Princess does have a fiery side hiding beneath her gentle persona. And that fire is reserved only for those who stand outside the Empire’s borders.
“They still haven’t bowed down to us, I heard.”
“Yes, and it looks like their leaders might survive too.”
“Sometimes ruling means letting people d*e—even now, the citizens of those kingdoms are suffering. But once trust and pride are shattered, rebuilding them would be difficult.”
“If they cared about this so much, they wouldn’t have challenged the Empire in the first place. Their foolishness cost them.”
The princess looked at me then and asked, “How long will it take?”
She was probably asking how long until Burkhai surrenders.
I had been thinking about that with Charlotte and Dedolant recently.
“Not quickly. Probably over a month.”
“A month? That’s a long time for their citizens to suffer and d*e.”
“Should I tell you the glass-half-full version? Believe it or not, this time frame is actually on the shorter side.”
“World leaders and their egos… it’s such a complicated issue.”
Leaders don’t give up their pride easily—it’s what makes them leaders.
Not that I’d call them power-crazed lunatics—though some might. But it goes beyond simply holding power; it’s tied to their very survival.
So their hesitation and internal torment are… understandable.
“Sometimes it feels like the world is filled with inexplicable things.”
“Exactly. It’s often irrational and emotional. Wise actions are overshadowed by foolishness.”
“Why is the world this way?”
“Because most decisions in life are driven by desire.”
The desire to be recognized, to be loved, to be stronger, to be better than everyone else…
From everyday human interactions to the grand clashes of nations—desires are the driving force behind it all.
And I’ve leveraged that. Up north, in the east, even in the south.
Sure, they call me a genius strategist, but I don’t see it that way… Honestly? Nah, I’m just someone who knows how to push the right buttons and has gotten lucky. But… yeah, maybe I am the real deal.
“After the east surrenders completely, the Crown Princess is set to go there.”
“My sister?”
“Yes. Her presence will sway the hearts of those kingdoms toward the Empire. We’ll keep their royal family but diminish their influence.”
“Will Burkhai accept that?”
“They’ll have no choice if they want to survive.”
In any negotiation, it’s the side with the most to lose that bends the knee.
“Next up will be the south. To fully bring the Church and neighboring kingdoms under our control, we’ll need someone from the royal family to lead the charge. I think you’d be the perfect candidate…”
“No. It’s not me. I believe our brother, the First Prince, would be better.”
“Is something bothering you, Your Highness?”
I’ve already told her not to worry about her achievements. The nobles might gossip, but the Emperor and Crown Princess won’t be swayed.
And yet, this reaction. It’s clear she’s concerned about something.
“No. It’s not that, Kael. It’s just… in the south, I wouldn’t be able to work with you anymore. My gut tells me we’d be incredibly busy for at least a few months if I go there. I’d rather stay by your side.”
“Working with me might make you even busier.”
Trust me, in the past year, I’ve run myself nearly ragged—traveling to the north, east, and south constantly. And soon, I’ll be heading west.
It’s exhausting, I admit.
“Hmm… well, I suppose two people being busy is better than one being alone.”
And with that, she smiled so warmly that it made me smile too without realizing it.
*
“Tell me, Kael.”
“Nope.”
“Are you secretly a seer who controls the weather?”
“Absolutely not.”
“Maybe you read the heavens and summoned the storm?”
“Never.”
A month later, Burkhai finally knelt before the Empire. They tried to hold out, but another torrential downpour pushed them over the edge. Even their rulers couldn’t fight nature after a double whammy of catastrophic floods.
