Ch.77The Princess of Roses

The collaboration with Leopold was wrapped up fairly well.

In exchange for showing a moderately friendly appearance, he would block half of the nobles’ approaches to me. He would help me become the heir to the Prince-Elector position, and in return, I should officially support him afterward.

After appearing friendly a few times at banquets, everyone would know whose side I was on even without an official statement… But making an official declaration carries a different weight.

This should be enough to consider it insurance for the future.

After that, it was just casual small talk.

He congratulated me on reaching Master level. He wanted to recruit those who had distinguished themselves recently as his knights and asked if I had anyone to recommend. That sort of thing.

I deflected the recommendation question, saying I’d think about it later. I did consider recommending Demian or Millia, but I should hear their opinions first. Considering their personalities, they probably wouldn’t want to get involved in politics.

According to the original story, Leopold would recruit Demian in this way, so recommending him here would be appropriate. While his achievements can’t compare to mine, the fact that he defeated a pureblood warrior at his age shows he has more than enough qualities to be a knight.

But unless Leopold is a definite lifeline, he’s not exactly a safe investment either.

I wouldn’t have much to worry about since my status and strength make me difficult to touch, but if Demian and Millia fall out of Isabella’s favor at this point… they might one day be found floating in a river.

I’m scheduled to meet Ernst soon, and when I mentioned I had no intention of being swayed by him, Leopold advised me that the Queen Isabella’s activities were suspicious in many ways and to be careful.

He suggested that when meeting Ernst, I shouldn’t show outright hostility but should remain ambiguous, warning that an early hostile reaction might provoke an unpredictable response.

In the end, our various discussions concluded after about an hour and a half.

“Well then, I’ll consider this all agreed upon. I thank the princess for her cooperation.”

Leopold smiled and extended his right hand.

As expected of someone suited to administrative work, it was a snow-white hand without a single callus.

Come to think of it, I don’t have calluses either.

Perhaps because my body itself is sturdy, no matter how much I swing a sword, they don’t form.

“Yes. Let’s work well together. Take care.”

I’m not just saying that. If you suddenly die like in one of the original story branches, it would be extremely troublesome for me.

I smiled appropriately, took his hand, and shook it lightly.

Leopold’s smile deepened.

Still, I didn’t sense any malicious intent, so it wasn’t particularly unpleasant.

He seemed genuinely happy about our agreement.

Rather, the handshake itself meant that, as I wanted, he would treat me not as a woman but as a political partner or warrior.

Shaking hands is originally a custom between noble men, not a way to greet a lady.

You’re quite perceptive, Leopold.

—-

When I returned to the reception room, Nigel was quietly drinking tea.

I thought he might be exercising here too, but I guess he considered that would be impolite.

“Ah, Lady Haschal. Did the meeting conclude well?”

“Yes, it wasn’t a bad meeting at all. Unfortunately, I can’t share the details.”

Leopold had asked to keep the number of people who knew to a minimum.

Anyway, Lord Ludwig would hear about it from Leopold himself, so it didn’t matter.

“Then, shall we proceed to the next palace?”

“Yes. I should go meet him now.”

Hearing my answer, Nigel glanced at the wall clock.

“With about an hour left until lunch, time might be a bit tight.”

“It will probably end before then.”

I had no intention of talking with Ernst for long.

But waiting until after lunch to meet him would be troublesome too.

That would mean I’d have to dine at the Imperial Palace, and the pressure would make it hard to swallow any food.

—-

After leaving Leopold’s palace, I headed straight for the palace where Ernst was staying.

This palace was quite impressive as well.

While Leopold’s palace had a simple appearance that blended with the natural environment, this place was extraordinarily splendid.

The garden was decorated with rare flowers and marble statues, with a silver fountain placed in the center.

The palace itself was made of the same marble as the main palace, with gold filigree gleaming on every balcony railing.

Taking just one of those railings would probably solve money problems for quite a while.

I approached the main gate while casually admiring the landscape created with money poured out like water.

Two knights stood rigidly guarding the entrance.

Judging by their attire, they didn’t seem to be Royal Guards, perhaps just security knights.

I handed my invitation to one of them and was guided into the palace by a servant.

The interior of the palace was also dazzlingly decorated with all kinds of ornaments.

It seems Isabella or Ernst has quite luxurious tastes. Probably Isabella.

After following the servant for about five minutes…

“Wait there, who are you? I’ve never seen your face at the Imperial Court.”

While we were passing through a corridor, a woman who spotted us approached with determined strides.

Bright blonde hair rolled vertically and hanging down.

A faint smile played on her lips, and her slightly upturned eyes were full of mischief and interest.

A drop of sweat flowing down her sharp jawline traced her flushed neck.

She was dressed in something similar to riding clothes, as if she had just been exercising, with exposed skin slightly damp.

A sweet bodily scent and heated warmth reached me.

She wore a longsword at her waist, and its rugged appearance without any decoration suggested it was strictly a practical weapon rather than an ornament.

The leather wrapping the hilt was quite worn, indicating it had been used for a considerable time.

“James, would you introduce this young lady to me?”

Authoritative purple eyes looked straight at me.

Isabella’s daughter, Leonore Wittelsbach.

The Second Imperial Princess and… the commander of the Rose Cross Knights, a knightly order composed solely of female knights.

—-

The Rose Cross Knights.

A group of forty knights that was essentially Leonore’s personal guard.

Apart from the characteristic that all members were female knights, there wasn’t anything particularly outstanding about them, but the sight of so many female knights gathered together was a rare spectacle in itself.

The reason for the creation of this unusual knightly order involved Ferdinand II’s anguish and affection.

From childhood, Leonore had persistently told her parents that she wanted to be a knight, not a lady, and the emperor couldn’t break his daughter’s stubbornness.

If her skills had been lacking, he could have used that as a reason to oppose her.

However, Leonore possessed decent qualities as a swordswoman, and eventually proved it before the emperor’s eyes.

While she hadn’t reached the realm of Masters… her skills were more than sufficient to become a knight.

The anecdote of how the emperor lost a handful of hair because of his daughter, who threatened to run away and live as a free knight if he continued to oppose her, remains famous to this day.

One morning, upon waking, the emperor saw a pile of his hair on the pillow and finally made a decision.

If she wanted to be a knight so badly, he would just permit it.

The problem came afterward.

He couldn’t assign a noble princess to an existing knightly order.

If he placed a beautiful woman in a knightly order full of men, and some unfortunate incident occurred… it would become a serious problem.

Serious enough that an entire knightly order might disappear to the executioner’s block.

After much deliberation, Ferdinand II created a new knightly order composed only of female knights and appointed Leonore as its commander.

That was the birth of the Rose Cross Knights, commonly known as the Rose Knights.

—-

The combat power of the order itself was just average.

They couldn’t be called elite, but it would be difficult to dismiss them as a ragtag group either.

Their commander, Leonore, while not at Master level, was a knight with considerable skill.

Perhaps similar to Demian’s current level?

I faced Leonore with such thoughts.

“This is Princess Haschal Aishan-Gioro of the Ka’har, who is visiting at the invitation of the Prince. Lady Haschal, this is Imperial Princess Leonore Wittelsbach, commander of the Rose Cross Knights.”

The servant introduced us to each other with a respectful attitude.

“Aishan-Gioro? The Were Eater Princess? Hmm… quite different from what I’ve heard…”

Leonore tilted her head.

A drop of sweat falling from her chin dampened the upper part of her chest.

…That’s somewhat erotic.

“Anyway, nice to meet you. I’m Leonore Wittelsbach. You can call me Leonore, Princess Leonore, Lady Leonore… whatever you prefer. I specially permit it.”

“I’m Haschal Aishan-Gioro. Should I say I’m pleased to meet you too? Princess Leonore.”

Hearing my response, Leonore grinned as if amused.

I smiled back.

It might seem a bit impertinent to others, but I knew that this bold attitude was precisely to her taste.

Although having chosen Leopold’s side, I might eventually become her enemy… there was no need to be hostile here.

Unlike her mother, she’s not a villain, nor is she a woman interested in power struggles.

“Your personality is as rumored.”

“If it displeases you, I can be more courteous, Princess.”

“No, I rather like it. A knight should have some boldness to them.”

See? Just as I thought.