Ch.110Chapter 110. A Rapidly Changing Situation

# The Crown Princess

As soon as she returned, Crown Princess Rinasien found herself incredibly busy without a moment to breathe.

This was because she had to handle state affairs directly after revoking Airan’s authority as regent.

Since the Emperor had lost his mind and could barely regain consciousness once a week, all administrative duties fell solely to the Crown Princess as the heir.

“Your Highness, the Balcaron and Dreyven families have adjacent territories, but due to unclear boundaries, a dispute has arisen. There’s a risk of military conflict, so you must urgently establish clear boundary criteria.”

Unfortunately, both the Balcaron and Dreyven families were nobles who supported the Crown Princess.

“Measure the size of both families’ territories and divide them fairly.”

“Pardon? The Dreyven family’s territory is overwhelmingly smaller. The boundary is unclear because a waterway meanders through the area, which farmers from both estates use. You need to examine the situation carefully before making a judgment.”

“Perfect. Divide the territories along the waterway.”

“P-pardon? The dispute arose precisely because both sides want to include the waterway in their territory…”

Rinasien wanted to slap the minister’s round-eyed cheeks every time he spoke.

She opened her fan and exhaled an irritated breath.

“This will require detailed review. Gather all relevant materials. Next!”

The round-eyed minister withdrew, and the next person approached with documents.

“Your Highness, food shortages due to drought are worsening in some imperial regions bordering the Holy Nation. Please decide whether to provide food aid from the central government or grant tax exemptions.”

“Which option is better?”

“…Pardon?”

“That damned ‘pardon’! When submitting reports, shouldn’t you also prepare relevant data and proposals to help with the decision?”

This was absolutely correct.

The departments related to each agenda should have brought materials to assist the decision-maker.

But Rinasien didn’t realize this was a test from the ministers.

During Airan’s regency, the central ministers and regional nobles couldn’t help but admire how efficiently she handled matters.

‘Use the waterway as the boundary, with the Empire managing the waterway itself. Collect taxes for waterway usage based on the poverty levels of residents in each domain. Request data from both families. The Empire will dispatch investigators and supervisors.’

‘What does “some regions adjacent to the Holy Nation” even mean? Report exactly which areas are affected. For now, exempt merchants from transit taxes so they can travel to those regions for commerce, and exempt local leaders from taxes so they can use that money to purchase food. Most of the imperial granary supplies are being used as military provisions for the demon front. Direct support is not possible.’

These were matters Airan had already decided on.

The reason they were being brought up again was that the documents hadn’t received the official seal due to Rinasien’s sudden revocation of authority.

When Airan made clear decisions and explained why certain things couldn’t be done, even those who had supported the Crown Princess as the sole heir candidate couldn’t help but be drawn to her instead.

Those same people were now disappointed by the Crown Princess who couldn’t even properly handle these test-like tasks.

‘If only Morgan were by my side!’

Rinasien was equally frustrated.

When the shield knight had been beside her helping with administrative duties, things hadn’t seemed this complicated and difficult.

As she felt the magnitude of his absence, sparks flashed in her eyes.

‘He might be flirting with that island girl from Ganal.’

Despite claiming to be affectionate, Rinasien was consumed by self-doubt and couldn’t trust her lover.

She was lacking both as a ruler and as a lover.

“Crown Princess, it’s time,” a servant approached and whispered.

“Has His Majesty regained consciousness?”

“He remains the same, Your Highness.”

Despite the negative response, the Crown Princess dismissed the surrounding ministers and rose from her seat.

“It’s time to attend to His Imperial Majesty. We’ll continue with these matters afterward.”

After the Crown Princess left with her servant and the scribe who always accompanied her, all the ministers and nobles in the council chamber could only sigh in unison.

—

Rinasien walked down the long corridor, desperately hoping the Emperor would be lucid by the time she reached his chambers.

The Emperor, once strong and dignified, was now a living corpse, drooling and babbling incoherently.

Part of her wished he would just die quickly and pass the throne to her.

“Father.”

“Hmmm…”

“It is I, Rinasien. Do you recognize me?”

“Hmmmm…”

But despite her earnest hope, the Emperor remained the same.

More drool was running down his sunken, emaciated cheeks.

Though disgusted, Rinasien didn’t show it and took out a silk handkerchief to wipe it away.

“You must recover soon. My lifelong wish is to hear you call my name just once more, Father.”

She was putting on a pathetic act.

The servant might be one thing, but the scribe beside her was recording her every move in detail.

Since this would be recorded in history, she had no choice but to perform, however reluctantly.

But her innate shallowness remained.

“Your Majesty, I believe there’s a subversive element in the Hero’s party. I need to verify information about this person. Please grant me access to the imperial archives.”

If she was going to act, she should have done it with proper build-up.

The impatient Crown Princess jumped straight to the point before trying anything else.

“Hmm…”

“Your Majesty, the subversive element is none other than the porter. I must investigate whether he’s colluding with demons or simply seeking to cause discord.”

“Por…ter…?”

“…!!”

Surprisingly, the Emperor reacted to the word “porter.”

“Yes, that’s right. The porter. The Hero party’s porter. Please grant me access to the imperial archives…”

“No.”

“What?”

“You are not qualified.”

Like the minister earlier, the Crown Princess’s eyes widened as she dared to grab and shake the Emperor’s body.

“What do you mean… Your Majesty…!”

“Not you.”

“Father!”

“Hmm…”

But the Emperor’s momentary clarity and sharp gaze quickly clouded over again.

Rinasien let out a disbelieving laugh.

“I’m not qualified…?”

Her expression twisted viciously, and she wanted nothing more than to strangle the Emperor right then.

But with watchful eyes present, she could only grip the Emperor’s blanket as if it were his collar.

“If not me, then who is qualified?! I am Rinasien Karlun! Your only heir!”

She wanted to snatch the imperial seal from the Emperor’s finger, but there was no way to remove it unless his life ended.

Watching the Emperor start drooling again, Rinasien felt her strength drain away.

“This damned old man…”

The Crown Princess handed the soiled handkerchief to the servant and left the chamber.

Walking with perfect posture, she commanded the scribe recording by the door:

“That record never happened.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

The scribe tore out the page he had been writing on and used it to wipe his sweat.

Snorting at the sight, Rinasien walked out.

“Phew…”

Taking advantage of the moment, the scribe quickly hid the torn page not in his pocket but inside his garment.

Because history should be recorded as it happened, as it was seen.

—

“The Crown Princess is busy with state affairs and has declined your request for an audience.”

“I see…”

The servant delivered another blow to the dejected Naidrian.

“She also asked why the Hero’s party is still in the capital and ordered you to return to the front lines immediately.”

“Ugh, understood.”

“That will be all.”

Naidrian had returned to the capital with the Council of Elders, rejecting Arsil’s suggestion to return together.

Having been berated by the Council members the entire journey, the stubborn archer had kept silent about discovering Lin’s embezzlement.

Though he had sent a letter, he considered this an opportunity to report directly to Rinasien and had requested an audience, only to be coldly rejected.

His expectation of being praised for his achievements and having his efforts recognized in front of the Council members was shattered.

With his ears drooping in disappointment, Naidrian was heading to the teleportation circle when he encountered an unexpected figure.

“Duke?”

“Naidrian. What is the Hero party’s archer doing here?”

“I just came with the Council members…”

Airan raised an eyebrow.

It was her characteristic expression when hearing something ridiculous.

“Return quickly. The situation at the demon front is concerning.”

“The front?”

“Yes, the front. I received word from Biscon. Demons have infiltrated between the front line and Lowellina.”

“What?!”

“Fortunately, the Hero’s party has eliminated all the demons in that area and is at the forward base. So you should hurry back. It could be a local skirmish or the beginning of a large-scale war—the situation is volatile.”

“Will you be coming too, Duke?”

“I have preparations to make. You go first.”

Airan’s tone was rigid, having returned to her role as a soldier rather than regent.

“Then I’ll help with the preparations and we can go together…”

“Go when I tell you to go!”

“Yes, ma’am!”

The elf, who had been chattering obliviously, flinched at the Duke’s shout and quickly stepped onto the magic circle.

After the archer disappeared in a flash of light, the mage in charge of teleportation said awkwardly:

“Um… I thought you were going together, so I set the coordinates to Lowellina.”

“He’s an elf. He’ll walk there on his own.”

Dismissing the mistake with a pat on the shoulder, Airan quickly tried to leave the palace.

But just as she was about to exit the teleportation room, she was caught by someone calling her name.

“Ah! Duke! It’s been a while.”

“Well, if it isn’t the money-grubbing postman?”

Though she responded glibly, Airan was irritated by the delay.

“Is the Hero party’s archer—the elf named Naidrian—here? I heard he came this way.”

“The archer just teleported to the demon front. It’s quite a battlefield there.”

“Is that so? What a shame, I had a letter to deliver. I thought I could kill two birds with one stone, but how unfortunate.”

The World Postman, who was acquainted with Airan, continued chatting as he led her to his carriage parked outside the palace.

Airan went along with him to maintain a natural appearance of leaving.

After arriving at the golden carriage while making small talk, the postman lightly snapped his fingers.

“Now, no one can hear our conversation.”

“It’s always fascinating. A mere human using top-tier skills so casually.”

“I may be different from others.”

The Golden Carriage World Postman showed a creepy grin.

“Would you like to use our postal service today?”

“Yes.”

“Ultra-fast delivery, I presume?”

“Of course.”

“As expected! You’re someone who understands!”

Airan took out a letter she had been hiding behind her fan and handed it to the postman.

“Deliver this to Ganal Protek in the Zramun Archipelago.”

“I’m sorry, but there’s no person named Ganal Protek in this world.”

When Airan glared at him, the World Postman shrugged.

“Duke Airan Dekarlun. For mail requiring this level of security, you must provide the recipient’s exact name.”

As the postman’s eyes sparkled, a sudden sandstorm surrounded them.

As passersby covered their eyes and lowered their heads, Airan bit her lip and slowly spoke the recipient’s true name.

“Deliver this to Ganal Karlun in the Zramun Archipelago.”

“Any additional message?”

“Whether you like it or not, you must prepare.”

“That sounds rather ominous.”

The postman cheerfully accepted the letter and snapped his fingers again.

“But it seems interesting, so I’ll deliver it right away!”

When the fierce sandstorm subsided, both the golden carriage and the World Postman were nowhere to be seen.