Ch.523523. Why Here? (1)

The third princess of the kingdom, Amelie.

She was born with a fate that forced her to live constantly in the shadow of inferiority and comparison.

After all, even before she was born, the genius of the first princess Adelheid was already shining brilliantly.

And Amelie came to know this fact from a very young age. The palace servants who always tried to compare her talents with the first princess. She knew perfectly well how they evaluated her behind her back.

─How is the third princess’s talent?

─Of course, she’s excellent. At such a young age, she already understands basic magical theory.

─Compared to the first princess?

─Isn’t it too much to compare her with someone who’s beyond comparison? Both are important to the kingdom, so don’t consider her talents insufficient.

Even the servant who she thought was trying to protect her…

─At that level… surely the third princess will faithfully assist the first princess when she ascends to the throne.

In the end, they were just saying she would become a sword easily wielded by the first princess.

As a child, she couldn’t help but realize:

‘I’ll be treated as my sister’s shadow for my entire life.’

She would never be evaluated purely for herself. There would always be comparisons to her sister Adelheid following behind her.

‘…I’m a princess too.’

She was born with the precious blood of the kingdom.

Not someone’s shadow, but a being whose existence alone should give her value and meaning. A being who should shine as her own entity.

Why did it turn out this way? Amelie could never understand.

“Amelie, I heard your enthusiasm for your studies has decreased lately.”

“Sister, that is…”

“I’m sorry I have to scold you, as I came at my mother’s request. But to become a proud and reliable princess of the kingdom, wouldn’t it be better to have a bit more responsibility?”

“…A reliable princess?”

The listless Adelheid, who seemed to have no enthusiasm for life, had said this.

Study to become a reliable princess.

Become a more useful component that could handle her work.

“Yes, someday everyone will recognize your efforts. And you’ll be able to handle affairs as a proper head of state.”

Because Amelie didn’t know that Adelheid had foreseen her own death.

And because Adelheid at that time was consumed by the thought that everything was meaningless, lacking any sensitivity.

Adelheid’s words, concerned about the third princess who would inherit the kingdom after her death, were nothing but deceit and insult to Amelie.

The relationship between Amelie and Adelheid could only deteriorate as days passed.

“…Unlike sister Adelheid, I believe we should make peace with the Empire.”

To escape from her sister’s shadow. To remain as a princess with different ideologies, not just a princess in her shadow. She began walking a path opposite to Adelheid’s.

“I have clearly seen Your Highness Princess Amelie’s resolve.”

“From now on, we shall serve Princess Amelie.”

Around her, servants who began to acknowledge Princess Amelie herself started to gather.

Those surrounding her now supported her based on her own will, not in comparison to Adelheid.

‘This was my chance.’

The foundation she had built spoke for itself.

She thought the Empire’s delegation was the best opportunity heaven had given her.

‘I expected no response to my message, but—’

The situation had become complicated.

‘If that man had become a Master, things would be different.’

Learning later than others that the baron had reached the level of Master was bad enough.

The fact that Adelheid mentioned it directly before the queen was a painful blow.

Adelheid, who had received the news a day earlier, revealed that there were perfect testimonies from surrounding knights. That was the problem.

‘For such significant news not to be caught by the eyes and ears we planted…’

The agents she had planted in Baron Karpel’s territory to convey her intentions. Despite having a whole day, the fact that they didn’t hear the news meant that someone had cut off their communications.

‘…Were they rooted out by the baron’s house? Or was it the Lephelia duchy?’

Amelie’s thoughts increasingly leaned toward the Lephelia duchy.

They were known to be as difficult as her sister, and they were quite good at causing such troubles for her.

‘I can’t let this happen.’

Ainel Sianella didn’t particularly follow Adelheid unless it was the queen’s direct order, and the same went for other Masters.

In this situation, with two Masters who were heroes of the kingdom supporting Adelheid.

If it became difficult for her to go to the Empire herself, she thought it would be good to at least torment her estranged sister.

“Sister, you’re here?”

“Amelie.”

Amelie smiled brightly at Adelheid.

“…I didn’t expect you to call for me first. What are you thinking?”

“What do you mean? Now that two Masters have directly supported you, I think it’s right for me to respond to the judgment and trust of these heroes.”

“That means.”

“But this matter is exceptionally important, enough for me to express an opinion contrary to yours for the first time. That’s why mother didn’t ignore my intentions.”

When Amelie saw Adelheid’s subtle hostility toward her, she felt her chest being liberated from its oppression.

‘Finally.’

Beyond completely escaping from her shadow.

It seemed like Adelheid had acknowledged her as the leader of another difficult faction, a political opponent.

‘Remember. This was a losing battle from the start.’

She knew it too.

The overwhelming difference in power between Adelheid and herself.

But her actions to shake Adelheid had succeeded.

‘The Empire’s saint has also expressed her desire for sister.’

In this flow, she just needed to reap the benefits.

‘When sister leaves her position in the kingdom, I’ll strengthen my faction.’

Amelie slowly voiced what she had discussed with her servants.

“Let’s find a compromise. To neutralize your actions and show our willingness to discuss harmony and alliance, let’s include some of my supporters in the delegation.”

“I see you already have a plan.”

“Two ministers skilled in military and demon affairs. Wouldn’t it be better to send ministers who were relatively moderate compared to those who led the friction with the Empire?”

“…Amelie.”

“Sister.”

Amelie spoke with bright eyes, without a hint of deception.

“The kingdom is sending a delegation for war against demons, not war against the Empire. It means there’s no need for you to show a sharp attitude when we have a common enemy.”

“……”

“Everything is for a peaceful kingdom. Rejection and confrontation cannot be the only way to live in this world.”

While saying this, Amelie was thinking something completely different.

‘The way to make my faction stronger is…’

To gradually erode and erase the power of her political opponents.

Her inferiority complex and emotions, slowly twisted by subtle comparisons within the palace, eventually.

Changed from wanting to escape her sister’s shadow and gain everyone’s recognition, to wanting to trample on Adelheid and prove her own greater worth.

“This conversation seems like it will take longer.”

“Of course. I’ve cleared all my schedules as well.”

Amelie found this process truly enjoyable.

* * *

It was a fulfilling day.

Today I followed Tasha to directly inspect the slums and check if things were running properly. Certainly, Tasha was excellently fulfilling her role as the focal point for those people.

「The first apostle, Tasha, has spread verses of faith that have begun to seep into the hearts of a few people.」

「Divine Power is starting to accumulate.」

Since I became her patron. While she wasn’t unable to evangelize before, thanks to Tasha who now more diligently went around spreading good deeds, I finally received the good news that Divine Power was properly accumulating.

‘I also went to the mercenary guild.’

I put some money in there, and went to check if my money was being used well, and had a good conversation with the branch manager.

Somehow, after the news spread that I had become a Master, the branch manager was trembling in fear. When I patted his shoulder saying it was okay, he immediately stopped shaking.

Thanks to that, I thought we would communicate well in the future, and today, I ended up sitting on the bed having a cozy chat with Sione.

“So, you’re saying… you want to put that inside me?”

“…That sounds strange. It’s Divine Power, Divine Power.”

I wonder how crazy she’s become just because I suggested putting some Divine Power in her.

The way she’s teasing me like this.

“Last time I absorbed some Divine Power and broke through a wall. So I thought if I regularly infuse you with Divine Power, you might feel the starlight better.”

“So you’re saying you’ll put something warm in me… to show me stars?”

“This wife of mine, really.”

“Heh, I dodged that one.”

It’s quite troublesome when she makes these unfiltered comments since we got married.

But in the end, Sione listened to me.

“Let’s try it. What do I need to do?”

“Well… first I’ll place my hands on your back and try to send it to you.”

“You said you’re not yet familiar with Divine Power. If it’s like circulating Mana, it would be better without clothes than with them…”

Sione lifted her top, revealing her white back.

“There, I’m ready.”

For someone who said she’s ready, she had quite a playful expression, even provocative.

Finally giving up, I slowly drew up Divine Power and directed it toward her back.

Thud!

At that moment, the window suddenly burst open in an unexpected situation.

Both Sione and I couldn’t sense any presence from this monster. Also, due to our momentary confusion and delayed response to the appearance of someone capable of infiltrating through our iron-tight security.

The face of the intruder who instantly entered the room and looked at us quickly turned red.

“Ah.”

Long ears.

And an exceptionally handsome face with a beautiful voice.

Plus, a face I’d seen before.

“…Um, I couldn’t see inside because of the perception-reducing magic. But I felt a familiar warm Divine Power, so I thought it would be okay to visit… but… it seems I’ve come at a very important time…? Using Divine Power for such…”

The culprit, who made me feel more dumbfounded than hostile toward an intruder.

As if it were natural, he placed his leg back on the windowsill and rambled incoherently.

“Sh-should I leave again? How long should I wait before coming back?”

Wait, why is someone who should be in the Great Forest coming all the way here?