“Sis!”
For nearly half a year, the Crown Princess had been stationed in the east, dispensing benevolence to the three kingdoms.
Finally, upon her return, Isabel greeted her sister with unmatched enthusiasm.
“Hmph. What an honor, having a noble princess of the empire come out to greet me.”
“Wa, wait! Why are you suddenly acting like this? Did I do something wrong?”
“Not at all. I’m merely stating the facts.”
The Crown Princess glanced eastward and realized the common folk’s regard for the Second Princess was even higher than expected.
It seemed the people appreciated both her direct participation in battles across the eastern front and her visits to console defeated soldiers.
Especially memorable was how she had personally served food to the legion soldiers—a gesture still praised to this day.
“That story is embarrassing. Honestly, it wasn’t even my idea; I just followed Kael’s orders, that’s all.”
“Doing as someone orders isn’t always easy. If you had shown reluctance or made any mistakes along the way, even the most brilliant strategist wouldn’t have been able to salvage the situation.”
A brilliant strategist does not stay by the side of a fool.
The Crown Princess knew this. And so, she was genuinely delighted by her little sister.
“Kael, the strategist extraordinaire, recognized Isabel. Such is the meaning, is it not?”
“Ah, by the way, I heard on the way back. They say Kael was appointed as Chief of the Imperial Staff.”
“Kael? Yeah. His Majesty the Emperor personally put him in that position.”
“Indeed, he did.”
The Crown Princess stared at her sister intently.
Then Isabel replied, “What’s up?”
“Not really. You seem so calm about it.”
“That the Emperor made Kael Chief of the Imperial Staff? Yeah, Kael’s been so busy lately. It’s important for him to rest in the rear and avoid overworking himself. I don’t worry about it, and neither does Kael, it seems.”
“…I see.”
So, the news hasn’t reached Belle yet, it seems.
The Crown Princess recalled a secret report she’d received recently.
”The Consroker Marquisate and their faction are being particularly active this time, Your Highness Crown Princess.”
The Consroker Marquisate—a faction traditionally part of the anti-Empire camp. Oddly, they weren’t a military family.
Rather, they had begun as administrative bureaucrats akin to the pro-Empire faction.
The reasons they became a key force in the anti-Empire side were twofold.
First, they were part of the highest noble family in the empire, a marquisate.
Second, their bureaucratic experience made them highly effective as staff officers or strategists.
“Many of those in the Consroker faction have held staff positions in various legions, haven’t they?”
They lacked frontline leadership talent but excelled in auxiliary roles and administrative duties.
This was the background that allowed the Consroker Marquisate to wield their current influence.
But now, they were shaken by the emergence of a new genius strategist—one who just happened to be tied to the Bertier Dukedom, not just any noble family but a duke.
Naturally, the Consroker faction felt tension.
Could the Dukedom be making a play for staff positions across the legions, now with the Emperor’s blessing?
Was this the start of a crackdown on those who don’t show absolute loyalty?
“Such concerns could severely pressure their ambitions.”
Upon the announcement of the reorganization of the First Army, many staff officers allied with the Consroker faction stepped forward and volunteered.
They were likely trying to reclaim the strategist roles that Kael had overshadowed.
This might be their last chance; they’d likely seize it aggressively.
And yet, their worry and jealousy weren’t unfounded—it wasn’t mere foolishness.
Ignoring the credentials they’d built up over years of serving as advisors would be a mistake.
There was perhaps even a chance this pressure could result in a healthy competitive dynamic.
“His Majesty considered their motives and has temporarily pulled Kael back from the frontlines.”
The Crown Princess nodded thoughtfully. It made sense.
As Isabel pointed out, Kael had been working tirelessly. Though many rewards were given, Kael was not one to dwell on them.
A short break could alleviate potential burnout and help him maintain his focus.
“But, Belle, just because someone is Chief of the Imperial Staff doesn’t mean they’ll be relaxing.”
“Why?”
“Actually, a few kingdoms from the east and the southern kingdoms have voluntarily offered allied forces. These need to be managed, and it’s likely that His Majesty wants the Chief of the Imperial Staff, who has some breathing room, to handle this task.”
Of course, Kael was the perfect choice for dealing with these foreign reinforcements.
Through Charlotte, it was revealed that the Demon Race had a positive view of Kael.
The three eastern kingdoms, beaten back by Kael, still regarded him with a mix of fear and admiration.
The southern kingdoms revered the strategist who dismantled Benito.
It was no simple task handling foreign reinforcements.
But having someone with the kind of reputation that could establish authority from the very beginning would make it easier.
“Naturally, it would only make sense to use someone with such capabilities for the greater good.”
“Ugh… I told him he’d have some time to rest.”
“Then perhaps you should go spend some quality time with the Chief of the Imperial Staff, enjoying some leisure.”
“Maybe he just needs to learn a bit more before heading west?”
“…?”
Was that really how you interpret that? The Crown Princess looked at Isabel with a mix of amusement and confusion.
She could see her sister liked Kael—she didn’t exactly hide it—but why this sudden nonchalant response always came up was baffling.
It was probably time to stir in a little bit of manufactured worry. Perhaps exaggerating the situation wouldn’t hurt, given her position as Crown Princess.
“Recently, there’s been talk about something. Have you heard, Belle?”
“What sort of talk?”
“About that girl from the Nobogorod Demon Council, Charlotte Estania, who arrived in the empire before. They’re saying it might be smart to arrange a political marriage between her and our Chief of the Imperial Staff.”
“…What?”
Ah, there’s a bite.
The Crown Princess, who occasionally indulged in fishing—whether actual fishing or tricking her siblings—felt a smile creeping onto her face at Isabel’s reaction.
“Recently, Nobogorod gave us an incredible gift: a perfect pretext against Dedolant and Artria in the west. And there’s more—pulling them fully into our circle would be beneficial for the empire going forward. So naturally, they want to solidify this alliance.”
“So they’re planning to marry Kael to Charlotte?”
“It’s not confirmed, but there’s talk about it circulating.”
“…”
The silence was encouraging.
But then Isabel spoke up before the Crown Princess could continue.
“It’s not a bad idea, though.”
“Wha—what?! Hold on, Belle. What exactly did you just say?”
“I said it wouldn’t be bad.”
What was this girl saying?! Shocked, the Crown Princess tried to make sense of it.
Didn’t this kid have feelings for Kael? What made her say something like that now?
“Actually, about Miss Charlotte: She’s a fervent supporter of Kael. I’ve heard she’s even studying his strategies in great detail. Honestly, I was impressed by her dedication.”
“Eh, uh…”
“That woman likely harbors true feelings for Kael. I don’t know how he feels, but honestly, he doesn’t seem like the type to harshly turn someone away who likes him.”
Had she miscalculated? The Crown Princess had never expected her strategy to backfire like this.
How could her predictions go so wrong?
“…But sis, I think a political marriage for this purpose is still inappropriate.”
“Aha! Oh, of course! You’re absolutely right, aren’t you?”
“Yeah. No matter how you look at it, using our Chief of the Imperial Staff as a tool to secure an alliance with another nation is ridiculous. Honestly, if I had to choose between Nobogorod and Kael, I’d pick Kael any day.”
“Same here.”
For the first time, the Crown Princess failed to fully understand her younger sister’s inner workings.
Was this the rational judgment of an imperial princess?
Or was it a highly calculated and patient act of protest?
“In any case, the first marriage of our Chief of the Imperial Staff should be to someone from within the empire. That’s the right call. Otherwise, everyone who’s been loyal to the empire will start feeling used and disposable.”
“Agreed. Agreed. This older sister will outright reject any such arrangements, make no mistake about that.”
And with that, the conversation ended, leaving the Crown Princess to internally sigh: Would it k*ll them to make some progress already?
*
On my first day as Chief of the Imperial Staff, I ended up spending time with the Princess.
The Emperor was busy receiving reports from the other ministers, and the Crown Princess, upon her return, immediately set off for the west once again.
The First Prince was still overseeing public sentiment in the southern kingdoms.
It was strange—almost as if the two of us had been deliberately left alone.
“Recently, Ross Tannika sent a communication vessel through the South Sea, reaching the Holy Nation. That contact has now reached our empire.”
“Ross Tannika and the empire hadn’t had much interaction until now. Seems that’s changing.”
“After their defeat in Dugal, they’ve absorbed some remnants of their army, though their land forces are still weaker compared to Dedolant. If the empire doesn’t act promptly…”
“They’ll likely consume Ross Tannika, following Dugal.”
It was time to extend the same nightmare that had plagued our empire to our enemies—forcing them to fight on two fronts, unable to focus on either.
Or, considering Benito, maybe it was closer to three fronts.
As we were engrossed in discussing the current state of affairs, the Princess posed a question.
“Kael, I have a question.”
Her tone suggested it was nothing major.
“Yes, Your Highness. Please ask.”
“Is there someone you like?”
Turns out, it was anything but minor.
