Chapter 169: Aftermath (1)

Under the cover of darkness, I returned to the mansion with my face hidden beneath a hood. After dismissing the knights, I retreated to my room with Nana.

“…Your Highness, are you really going to do this?”

“Yes, it’s bound to come out eventually. It’s better to tell Father before my brothers find out.”

Steeling myself for what I was about to do, I took out the crystal ball used for emergency communication among the royal family.

Outwardly, it looked like an ordinary crystal ball, save for its golden color. As I infused it with mana, the room filled with a golden light.

After a moment, the golden light faded, revealing Father’s face reflected on the wall. He seemed to have just coughed, his eyes half-closed. I noticed more white in his hair than the last time I’d seen him, a reminder of time’s passage.

[Hmm…?]

Father looked surprised for a moment when he saw me, but quickly composed himself, putting on a kind expression.

[I expected to see Euclid, but instead I find a beautiful young lady. May I ask your name, my dear?]

“…It’s Euclid von Derpardt, Father.”

[Hmm…?]

I intended to tell Father everything that had happened, holding nothing back. But whether he’d believe me was another matter entirely.

If I were in his position, I wasn’t sure I’d believe such a tale. Surprisingly, though, Father nodded as he listened to Nana and me, seemingly accepting our story.

“You… you believe us?”

[Yes, I’ve long suspected your mother was up to something. More importantly, there’s no reason for Lady Nana to join you in such a deception.]

If someone had fabricated this, it would likely be to frame me and my faction. But that made little sense now.

My faction had already disbanded, leaving no one behind. I was far from the throne compared to my brothers, so what would anyone gain by framing me now?

Moreover, while words could be fabricated, the evidence of defeating a demon couldn’t be faked.

“…I didn’t expect you to believe us so easily.”

I’d prepared to reveal secrets only Father and I knew, just in case he didn’t believe me. But things were progressing more smoothly than anticipated.

Caught off guard by his easy acceptance, I was at a loss for words. Father spoke first, as if to preempt me.

[It must have been very difficult for you all this time.]

“Pardon?”

[Everything you’ve been through. I should have noticed and stopped it somehow. I’ve only left you with painful memories. I’m truly sorry.]

As Father bowed his head, I frantically waved my hands, overwhelmed by his response.

“No, no! If anything, I should have been honest with you sooner. I was too afraid of the consequences. I’m the one who should apologize!”

[Thank you for saying that. Now, I assume you’ve contacted me today because you can no longer transform, and you need help dealing with the aftermath?]

“…Yes.”

[I see. First, let me say that I have no intention of scolding you or punishing the nobles who were in your faction.]

If this had already become public knowledge, he might have had to make a show of punishment. Fortunately, only a select few knew about this situation.

Father preferred to quietly resolve issues that could be kept under wraps, rather than make a spectacle and spill blood.

While a few members of my faction knew my secret, they wouldn’t dare speak of it if they valued their lives.

[For now, we’ll cover up this whole affair. As for you, I intend to declare you dead.]

It was a logical choice, as I could no longer pretend to be a prince without the ability to transform into a man.

I’d contacted Father prepared to give up my entire life as I knew it, so I was ready for this much. But what he said next was somewhat unexpected.

[And you will live on as my illegitimate child, a daughter I’ve kept hidden until now.]

“D-daughter, you say?”

It was such an unexpectedly generous arrangement that for a moment, I thought I must have misheard.

But his next words confirmed that I’d heard correctly.

[Of course, there’s a condition. You must marry Ian Barthow, the count who defeated that greater demon.]

At first, I didn’t understand the implications of his words. But when I saw through the kind expression on Father’s face to the greed hidden beneath, I realized his intent.

[I don’t doubt Count Barthow’s loyalty. However, we can’t just leave someone like that be.]

Father was coveting Ian’s strength – the power to defeat a greater demon single-handedly.

[I’m not asking you to seduce and control him. But surely you can guide him to be favorable towards the royal family…]

“No, I can’t…!! Not Ian… I can’t do that to Ian…!!”

[…What did you say?]

When did I start to have feelings for Ian? It’s hard to pinpoint when such vague emotions began, but I think it was probably when he proposed to me back then.

He showed me, someone who had given up – or rather, been forced to give up – on life as a woman, a glimpse of that joy, even if just for a moment.

At some point, I’d fallen in love with the man who had let me forget my painful reality, if only briefly.

‘I can’t do it…’

Once again, he’d risked his life to save me. I could never betray him and bind him like a leashed dog, as I had once been.

“Father… This plan…!!”

With a trembling voice, I glared at Father as I pulled a dagger from the drawer – one I’d bought for self-defense but never used.

I unsheathed the dagger and raised it high, pointing it towards my chest as I spoke my final words.

“Please, with my life…!!”

——

“Stop–!!”

Moving faster than she could shout, Lady Nana swiftly incapacitated Euclid with minimal movement, knocking her unconscious.

Even in that critical moment, she showed consideration for Euclid. The princess fell unconscious as if drifting off to sleep, but her hand still clutched the dagger tightly.

How resolute must that frail, timid child have been to maintain her grip on the dagger even after losing consciousness…

As a parent, I didn’t know whether to rejoice in my child’s growth or lament that it manifested in such a way. It was a complicated feeling.

“Lady Nana.”

[…Yes, Your Majesty.]

“In your opinion, what kind of man is Count Ian Barthow? Tell me honestly what you’ve seen and felt.”

[If you’re asking for my honest opinion, I apologize for my rudeness in advance, but I must say: he is a madman.]

“…A madman?”

I expected some harsh words when she apologized in advance, but to call him a madman was beyond my expectations.

Warriors often have crude ways of speaking, so I thought she might be exaggerating. But Lady Nana’s expression was deadly serious.

“Elaborate. What kind of man is he, specifically?”

[…Before I continue, Your Majesty, are you familiar with the technique called ‘Baldo’?]

“Baldo?”

My knowledge of swords was about the same as any other nobleman’s, so I wasn’t very familiar with it, but I knew roughly what Baldo was.

It was an assassination technique from the East, where one draws the sword from its scabbard in an instant to strike down an enemy. A sword instructor had demonstrated it to me once.

“If my knowledge is correct, I believe I know what it is. But why bring that up now?”

[He’s obsessed with this technique, believing it to be the strongest. Anyone who insults Baldo in his presence, regardless of who they are, meets a harsh fate.]

“Hmm? That’s a bit unusual, but what’s the problem? It’s not uncommon for a warrior to dedicate themselves to a single technique.”

[…His dedication goes far beyond what any ordinary person would consider reasonable.]

The story Lady Nana then told me was so shocking that I wondered if it was a joke – or rather, I wished it were a joke.

His bizarre fighting style of using only Baldo was one thing, but the eccentric things he’d done to promote Baldo were all beyond my comprehension.

“The more I hear about him, the harder it is to imagine what kind of person he is. So, how skilled is he?”

[If I may humbly offer my assessment, I believe he’s on par with the Sword Saint, or perhaps has the potential to surpass him.]

“…I see.”

It was easy to guess at his strength from the fact that he’d single-handedly defeated a demon with its own domain.

That’s why I wanted to arrange a marriage with Euclid and bring him into the royal circle. I never imagined he’d be close to the level of a Sword Saint.

The mere thought of someone like that falling into the hands of another country or those with ill intentions made me shudder.

“Let me ask you directly. In your opinion, how can we bring him to our side? Can he be swayed by women, money, or titles?”

[He’s the type of man who would be happier if you introduced Baldo as a mandatory course at the Academy rather than raising his rank or granting him a fief.]

“I didn’t ask for jokes.”

[…I wish this were a joke, Your Majesty.]

“Sigh…”

Surely there must be others who could make better use of such talent. Why did heaven bestow such ability on someone like him?

At this point, I was seriously considering introducing Baldo classes at the Academy.

Noticing my contemplation, Lady Nana cautiously spoke up.

[Your Majesty, if I may be so bold, I believe your main concern is preventing him from associating with other countries or those with ill intentions?]

“That’s right. Do you have any good ideas?”

[I’m not sure if it’s a good idea, but… I think I have the best solution available to us right now.]

“…Go on.”