Chapter 155 Sangvis Ferri (4)
The second area of the Imperial Palace where the imperial family stays.
It was none other than Professor Angela who greeted Heinrich and me when we set foot there.
“Welcome, Ernas, Heinrich.”
“Thank you for your hard work, Professor.”
When the battle with the Iron Blood Knights broke out, I asked Angela to protect the princess.
There was a possibility that Archbishop Catoleas might be targeting the princess, so he sent Angela, who is currently the fastest in the academy.
Even after that, Angela continued to stay in District 2, protecting the princess instead of the Iron Blood Knights.
“How is Her Highness the Princess?”
“At first he seemed shocked, but now he’s settled down.”
Angela shrugged and said.
“I practiced swordsmanship at the training ground an hour ago. I even watched for a while.”
“I see. How do you think Her Highness’s skills are?”
“I am only twelve years old. It’s hard to say.”
“… … .”
Hearing Angela’s words, Heinrich put on a puzzled expression.
By the standards of this world, when you are 12 years old, it is a time when you can easily determine how much talent you have.
Nevertheless, the fact that Angela said that… It means that the princess’s talent is not worth seeing.
‘Even if it’s Angela, it’s hard to say openly.’
We went inside, guided by Angela.
There were many ladies-in-waiting inside, and all of them wore swords at their waists.
All of them are ‘guard maids’ to protect the princess.
“It is forbidden for men to approach Her Highness. It is to prevent an emergency.”
“It’s anachronistic.”
“But you guys are special. Because he’s a candidate for Archduke of Lichtenau.”
Being a candidate for Grand Duke of Liechtenau means that he is a candidate for the fiance of the princess.
So, unlike other men, you get special treatment.
“Your Highness, this is Angela. I brought Aernas and Heinrich.”
“Please come in.”
Upon entering, unlike other places in the imperial palace, a cutely decorated space unfolded.
And on the elegant chair in the middle… A beautiful girl was sitting.
“Welcome, everyone.”
With long golden hair, she greeted us with a soft smile.
“My name is Reynade. nice to meet you.”
Rainade.
The only daughter of the emperor, the next heir to the throne.
With her in front of us, Heinrich and I knelt down on one knee and bowed.
“This is Ernas Landstein.”
“This is Heinrich Agrippa.”
“Whoops, you don’t have to be rigid.”
Reynade laughed and said.
“Thank you for coming here. I’ve been wanting to see you all along.”
“… … .”
“Two people who surprised the world with their excellent swordsmanship even though they were still students at the academy… I really respect you. Oh, stop getting up and come this way.”
We got up and sat on the chairs as Reynade recommended.
Immediately, the ladies-in-waiting prepared tea, and the fragrant scent of flowers spread around.
“excuse me… Professor Angela?”
“Yes, Her Highness the Princess.”
Reynade looked at Angela and smiled.
“I want you to leave your seat with the maids… Would it be okay?”
“yes?”
At Reynade’s request, not only Angela but also the ladies-in-waiting showed a surprised expression.
“Her Highness, the princess, that is… … .”
“Please. I just want to talk to you two.”
Angela smiled wryly at the sight of a 12-year-old girl asking with her hands together.
“I can’t help it. All right.”
“Professor Angela… … .”
“Everyone, this is an order from Her Highness the Princess. Let me leave.”
The ladies-in-waiting made embarrassing faces, but they couldn’t help it when even Angela said that.
As long as the Iron Blood Knights are not functioning properly, Angela is currently in charge of escorting the princess.
“Whoa, now I can barely talk quietly.”
Reynade brought the teacup to her mouth and smiled.
“If adults are watching, you can’t have a proper conversation. Isn’t that right, Heinrich-sama?”
“yes… It is.”
Heinrich answered with a confused expression.
Next to him, I silently brought the cup to my mouth.
The scent of flowers felt in the scented tea was intense.
“Does Aernas-sama think so too?”
“… … .”
After taking a sip, I set the cup down on the table.
Then, staring at Reynade, she opened her mouth.
“then… Her Highness the Princess.”
“yes?”
“Wouldn’t it be okay to stop saying meaningless greetings?”
“… … .”
“I’d like to have a serious conversation soon, how are you?”
That moment.
Reynade’s expression changed.
From the innocent expression of a 12-year-old girl… With an emotionless, calm expression.
“As expected, you are not an ordinary person, Aernas-sama.”
“… … ?!”
Heinrich looked at me and Reinade’s face in confusion at the sudden change.
“Aernas, what the hell… … .”
“This is Her Highness’ real face, Heinrich.”
I explained to Heinrich, who did not understand the situation.
“Acting like an innocent girl in front of others was a mask to hide her true nature.”
“I wasn’t wearing a mask made of human skin like anyone else, so would there be any problems?”
Reynade replied in a calm voice.
“I wonder how the hell did you see through my nature. It is said that it was Aernas-sama who discovered the identity of Captain Safias, so do you have an artifact with that kind of power?”
“I will leave it to your imagination, Her Highness the Princess.”
Seeing us having a conversation like that, Heinrich blinked.
“Is this the original personality of Her Highness, the princess?”
“Yes, sorry to startle you, Heinrich-sama.”
“Oh, no… … .”
Heinrich was in a state of considerable shock.
I’ve met all kinds of dual characters, but I would never have imagined that a 12-year-old girl would do this.
“Unlike Aernas-nim, Heinrich-nim is a pure person. Rather, I like it more.”
“yes?!”
Hearing that he liked it, Heinrich blushed.
“Are you saying I am unlikable? You are doing too much.”
From noble mtl dot com.
“It’s a kind of homophobia, I guess.”
“Do you feel sympathy for me?”
“At least the words seem to work well.”
It will.
Even in the novel, there was a scene where the main character, Arkandel, looked at Reynade and thought, ‘It seems like Aernas has been made into a woman.’
“I will check one thing, Her Highness the Princess.”
“Yes, tell me.”
“Did Her Highness conceive of the idea of reviving the Grand Duke of Lichtenau?”
“… … .”
Reynade was silent for a moment.
“I am starting to feel bad. How did you see through?”
“Eh, Aernas, what the hell are you talking about? The resurrection of the Archduke of Lichtenau is in the Imperial Family and the Imperial Household… … .”
“It means that Her Highness the Princess was behind it.”
Of course, neither the imperial family nor the palace did not notice that things were proceeding according to the princess’ wishes.
“As you may have already noticed, Her Highness lacks swordsmanship.”
“… … !”
You can tell just by looking at Professor Angela’s evasion.
Even considering her age, Reynade lacks swordsmanship.
He is not qualified to become the emperor of this empire that worships swordsmanship.
“That’s why Her Highness the Princess tried to revive the Grand Duke of Lichtenau in the past. If you can have young graduates around you who have proven themselves excellent at the academy, you will be able to offset your shortcomings.”
“That, did Her Highness think of that? You’re only twelve years old… … .”
“Heinrich.”
I spoke in a calm voice to the flustered Heinrich.
“I also thought of various strategies and put them into practice since I was that age. That shouldn’t be too surprising.”
“… … !”
Yes.
Aernas had already fooled many people since he was that age, hiding his true nature.
No wonder Reynade came up with the idea of resurrecting Prince Lichtenauer at the age of twelve.
In the novel, Reynade was a character who was evaluated as the female version of Aernas.
“Since you understand that much, I think it would be okay to go straight to the point.”
Reynade said in a cold voice.
“Aernas-sama, Heinrich-sama, there is only one thing I want.”
“… … .”
“Making this empire run stably even after His Majesty passed away… I am thinking only of that.”
Saying that, Reinade placed her hand on her chest.
“However, I am helpless. It’s not just about swordsmanship. There is not much the body of a 12-year-old can do.”
It is possible to move people by secretly leaking stories like the resurrection of the Grand Duke of Lichtenau.
However, it is not easy to govern the country in earnest and move the prosecutors.
“That’s why I need your help.”
“Her Highness the Princess… … .”
“Be the Archduke of Liechtenauer and help me. We promise you the maximum reward.”
Reynade’s voice was serious.
“After the imperial power has been solidified, it doesn’t matter if you break off your engagement with me. It’s okay to make a separate lover after a formal wedding. I will not object at all.”
“Wow, Her Highness the Princess, what are you saying… … .”
“As such, I desperately need your help.”
Saying that, Reinade bowed her head in front of us.
She had a low profile, not like a princess.
“Please, everyone.”
“Her Highness, please raise your head!”
Heinrich shouted urgently.
“Even if Her Highness says so, we will do our best for this country!”
“Thank you for saying that, Heinrich-sama.”
After nodding at Heinrich’s sincere remark, Reinade looked at me.
“Aernas-sama… What do you think?”
“I understood Her Highness’ thoughts well.”
It must have been shocking to Heinrich, but I was still cold-hearted.
Because I already knew everything through the novel.
It was a kind of verification.
“I am also a person who wants this empire to be a peaceful and stable country. If Her Highness’s thoughts are like that, I think we can work together.”
“Thank you, Sir Aernas.”
Reynade really has no other mind.
He was purely thinking about the future of the empire.
Since he had no self-interest whatsoever, it could be said that he had the best qualities to perform the duties of an emperor.
However, the fact that he came to the throne at a very young age. And the lack of swordsmanship… These two problems are fatal, so they have to rely on us.
‘In the novel, while interacting with Arkandel as a human being, he gradually develops a liking for him and truly trusts him… It has nothing to do with me now.’
In the novel, Reynade is one of the sub-heroes.
However, I had no intention of proceeding with such a relationship with Reynade.
It’s not like we’re going to develop a harem story like a novel, it’s just that it’s troublesome when those feelings arise.
He’s a lot younger than me though.
“Aernas-sama, Heinrich-sama, if you ever need my help in the future, please feel free to tell me. There’s not much I can do, but I’ll do my best to help.”
“No, Her Highness the Princess. We must help Her Highness, the princess… … .”
“Then can I ask you a favor right now?”
Interrupting Heinrich’s words, I spoke to Reinade.
“Actually, the reason I came here today was because I wanted to ask Her Highness this favor.”
“There was an ulterior motive. Okay, let’s talk.”
“You know Yusbast, right?”
“Sure. It belongs to my dorm.”
Yusvast is the current emperor’s cousin.
A middle-aged man who has reached the rank of Senior Graduate, he lives quietly in a territory at the southern tip of the Empire.
“I would like you to send him a letter.”
“A letter?”
“Yes, please send him a letter saying that you would like to entrust him with the position of Grand Duke of Lichtenau.”
“… … !”
Reinade, who hadn’t been shaken no matter what I said, opened her eyes wide.
“Aernas-sama, what is that… … .”
“Aernas! What are you saying all of a sudden!”
Heinrich also pushed me.
The Agrippa family had a lot of interactions with Jusvast from before, so Heinrich must be familiar with Jussbust.
“Yusvast is a person living quietly in the southern periphery! why him… … !”
“It’s because he’s aiming for the position of the next emperor.”
“… … !”
When the emperor dies and Reynade takes the throne, great chaos will come.
At that time, you just have to bring down Reynade and ascend to the throne yourself.
The person who had such a dream was Yusbastra.
“not only… It is connected to the Black Heaven Demonic Cult.”
“What, what?!”
If you pull out Yusbust, who is waiting for an opportunity while holding his breath at the southern edge, you can also pull out the Dark Celestial Demons.
From there… The attack on the headquarters of the Black Heaven Demonic Cult begins.
“Aernas… … .”
Reynade was staring blankly at me.
Looking at her eyes wide open, I thought that it was a 12-year-old girl.
“Don’t worry, Her Highness the Princess.”
To her, I spoke in a calm voice.
“By the time Her Highness ascends the throne, all those who could threaten the imperial authority will be cleaned out.”