"Uh, um… Sir Isaac… No, I mean! Baron Logan!"
"Hmm?"
"I have something to tell you."
What Jonathan said after that was shocking—but not entirely unexpected.
"So, it was the Blood Demon."
"I-I'm sorry. When she said 'sister', I… it felt like I was under some kind of spell."
Jonathan mumbled awkwardly.
By now, Sharen had walked up next to him, clenching her fist as she warned him.
"You little—! So that's why you asked me that question earlier?! You wanna die?!"
"I'm sorryyy!"
"A knight of Helmut, siding with the enemy?! Want a taste of my greatsword?!"
"I sincerely apologize!!"
"Isaac! Hold on! I'm gonna beat this brat to a pulp—just—!"
As Sharen rolled up her sleeves and walked toward Jonathan, Isaac grabbed her by the head from above.
Sharen, surprised by the hand on her head, huffed and grumbled.
"Isaac?! Brats like him need to be beaten black and blue!"
'"Beaten black and blue," huh?'
That was probably her way of saying "a proper thrashing."
"That's enough. Jonathan must've been torn up about this. It's not every day your long-lost family shows up."
"Sir Isaac—!"
Jonathan tried to leap into his arms in gratitude—but…
"Crimson Flame Wave!"
"GUAAAHK."
Sharen's 'Crimson Flame Wave' hit him dead-on, sending him tumbling across the training grounds.
"Back off! Hugs are for people who've actually done something right!"
Then she jumped into Isaac's arms herself.
As she nestled into his embrace, Isaac stroked her head naturally—but his mind was filled with different thoughts.
Now that he knew the Blood Demon was on the move, he could assume that most of the influential dukes backing Princess Adeline were under her sway.
'Catching the Blood Demon would be best…'
But realistically, that was nearly impossible.
Even when he was with the Grandmaster, they'd failed to capture her.
'Tough situation.'
Still, he couldn't give up.
Especially since the Blood Demon was directly connected to Liana's transformation into a subjugation vassal.
If he could resolve that now, it would definitely make things easier when the time came to face the transcendent beings.
***
To deliver news about Captain Veros of the Royal Guard, Isaac headed to meet Princess Adeline along with Clarice.
It had been a while since they'd seen her, and she looked much more gaunt than expected.
She seemed fatigued, possibly from stress—but there was no sign of surrender or despair in her eyes.
Rather, she exuded a strong resolve to endure and overcome the crisis.
"…Veros's daughter."
Jonathan's report had reached her.
Princess Adeline sighed, saying she understood.
"Yes, I know of Veros's sickly daughter. I even visited her once when she was bedridden."
Yet, she went on to speak on Veros's behalf, as though excusing his betrayal.
"I heard he lost his wife to the same illness."
"Ah…"
Clarice, listening beside Isaac, let out a short sigh.
Knowing the pain of losing a spouse, it was easier to understand how Veros had been swayed.
"It's a tragedy—but betrayal is still betrayal."
Isaac's calm and cold voice cut through the moment.
Clarice looked flustered, but Adeline gave a bitter smile.
"Yes, you're right."
Isaac had developed a certain rapport with Veros and found his story tragic.
There was a time when Isaac was more emotionally driven, and such stories would shake him.
'But clear lines must be drawn.'
Having seen a world where the transcendent races had won, Isaac had learned to make such cold judgments without hesitation.
"What do you plan to do now, Princess Adeline? Frankly, the tide has already turned in their favor."
"You're right. Their tactics may be aggressive, but they were… effective."
Some used threats.
Others used persuasion.
Someone used love.
Each noble was seduced or manipulated in a way tailored to them. Not only that, but efforts were made to stir animosity toward Princess Adeline even among external nobles.
It wasn't just at Karen's wedding — there were outbreaks of disease in other villages, requests for food aid, the need to subjugate wild beasts, and more.
All of these came at a time when Adeline was already fully engaged in the North. They were perfectly timed to trip her up, making it difficult for her to provide immediate support.
Even if people understood logically that she couldn't support them under current conditions, the harsh reality right in front of them would still make it feel like the princess had abandoned them.
"I know acting in times like these isn't easy… but we can't just sit back and do nothing."
To Isaac's proposal, Princess Adeline nodded and smiled.
"I understand. If we do nothing, we'll only end up defeated. If they've chosen to fight like this, then I'll fight back in the same way."
'The same way?'
Isaac tilted his head slightly but couldn't deny that she seemed reliable.
It meant she wasn't just being passively pushed around—she was actively thinking of ways to resist.
"Of course, it could be dangerous. But… you'll help me, right?"
"…Dangerous?"
Isaac asked, and Adeline gave a calm nod.
"Just one week. I plan to ride the royal carriage—a pegasus—and personally inspect the nearby regions for one week."
"..."
"I've already mapped out the route. We'll visit the towns and cities that requested aid. What do you think?"
Her attitude suggested she already knew what Isaac would say.
And yet, Isaac gave her the answer she expected.
"It's far too dangerous."
"Isn't it?"
"Yes. Especially right now, when the Blood Demon is clearly targeting and making moves."
"Don't you think it's the opposite?"
"..."
Isaac was sharp, but he wasn't particularly skilled in politics.
Princess Adeline, on the other hand, had lived her entire life calculating these kinds of situations.
In this match of political chess, she was clearly a step ahead.
"She told knight Jonathan, didn't she? That this isn't about starting a revolution, but about protecting their place."
"That's right."
"They've worked so hard to strip away my influence—why would they bother killing me now?"
"…!"
"From the Blood Demon's perspective, I'm someone who needs to stay alive. If I'm eliminated now, all their work to weaken me becomes meaningless."
On the contrary, if something happened to Princess Adeline during her inspection tour—if, in the extreme case, she were assassinated…
"Then Clarice would take my place, carrying the name of her martyred sister."
"Sister!"
Clarice shouted, flustered, but Adeline was already resolute in her decision.
She believed her chances of dying were low. And even if she did die, it would be as a princess who died caring for her people—which would strengthen their cause.
"…You're incredible."
It was impressive that she had drawn up a plan involving her personal intervention, but even more astonishing was that she had prepared a way to turn her own death into a strategic advantage.
Still, it wasn't a flawless strategy.
"But Princess… winning back the hearts of the people during this tour will depend entirely on your own ability."
"I'm confident in that."
Adeline's bold words were no bluff. It was clear she had already thought through exactly what she would say and how she would act in front of them.
"Would you be willing to tell me… how you plan to do that?"
If Princess Adeline made even a single misstep in her words, the inspection tour could backfire completely.
That's why Isaac, just as he once cautiously coached Princess Clarice on romance, asked the question carefully.
"We'll see when we get there."
Adeline replied with a soft smile.
"I'll go, look into their eyes, empathize with them, and say whatever words come to my mind in that moment. If I prepare a speech now… that's not empathy—it's just acting."
It felt like he'd been struck by something heavy.
But he didn't dislike it.
This was exactly who Princess Adeline was. This was the kind of monarch leading their nation.
'Now I think I understand why the nobles are so enamored with her.'
The ability to win over people couldn't be calculated with mere logic. It was a presence, a force.
The fact that talented people gathered around Princess Adeline felt almost inevitable.
She added,
"Of course, there's something we need to be careful about. If I were the Blood Demon, I wouldn't target me. I'd attack the surroundings instead."
"You mean they'll try to sabotage the tour itself."
"Exactly. Which is why I need someone to accompany me and protect the journey. Baron Logan, that would be you."
It wasn't a hard decision.
So Isaac gave a slight bow and then added—
"…Your Highness, I actually have one more good move."
"A good move?"
Someone who could not only help protect the Princess during the inspection tour, but also further solidify her shaken political standing.
***
"Ugh, I'm exhausted. I'm gonna sleep the second we arrive."
"Tch. If someone wants to receive a sword, they should be the ones coming. Sending an old man back and forth like this…"
On the road to the capital of the kingdom—Evergard.
A carriage bearing the emblems of both the North and Caldias rolled down the main road.
At the reins of the white horse was a yawning Silverna, while the grumbling blacksmith Antonio rode inside the carriage.
Having received a letter from Reian, the two were now heading toward the capital to support Isaac.
Finally, the towering gates of Evergard came into view. Silverna stretched her aching body with a big yawn.
"…Huh?"
Even from a distance, she could see his handsome face.
A man with black hair tied back in a ponytail.
The moment she saw him again after so long, a bright smile lit up Silverna's lips.
"Ugh, come on. Why are you waiting around like that?"
She grumbled, but the corners of her lips wouldn't drop.
"Jeez. I mean, I missed you too, but standing around like that makes it obvious, you know? It's embarrassing if others see."
"..."
Antonio stuck his head out of the carriage and clicked his tongue at Silverna's gushing.
But Silverna's shoulders were puffed up proudly and didn't relax one bit.
'I should play it cool at least. Ahem, do I smell okay? I'm pretty sure the moment I see him, he's gonna run into my arms.'
She was more or less ready to embrace Isaac the moment he approached.
As they arrived, Silverna waved casually, trying hard to act nonchalant.
"Why'd you even come out to greet me?"
"Silverna, you're late. The princess already left."
"…Huh?"
"Mr. Antonio, Jonathan's inside. He'll guide you. As for you—come with me. If we leave now, we can catch up."
A sudden proposal.
Silverna blinked in confusion at Isaac. But Isaac was already mounting his steed, motioning for her to follow.
"Where are we going?!"
"Inspection tour!"
"What?!"
"I need you! The most esteemed lady of the most influential noble house in the kingdom right now!"
The Helmut family had half-collapsed.
The North was in chaos day after day.
Amid all this, certain individuals had earned unmatched admiration and respect from both commoners and nobles alike.
They were none other than the protectors of the North—
The Caldias family.
And as she rode her horse and listened to Isaac's quick explanation, Silverna—
"Where's my spear—ah, there it is."
Grabbing the spear strapped to her horse, she charged after Isaac.
"I'll kill you!"
Her face was bright red from embarrassment, but that was just a bonus.
*
*
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[TL Note]
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