Chapter 326: The Imperial Princess

“Karbaldr. Do you still think that Her Imperial Princess is on our side?”

This is an extension of the conversation we had in Chapter 176.

The reason this topic is coming up from Reysir’s mouth now is probably because in the previous chapter, Fjodra scolded us for hiding our abilities.

“It’s only been two weeks since the semester started, so I think it’s too early to draw any conclusions… Have you already reached a conclusion? On the side that she isn’t?”

“I haven’t reached a clear conclusion either. But honestly, I find it hard to think positively.”

“Didn’t Her Imperial Princess express her desire to help the Hale family and even give combat equipment as a gift?”

“Didn’t Her Imperial Princess herself say that giving the combat equipment was also a measure for her own safety? Aside from that, what help did she actually give? Didn’t she just keep saying she wanted to help but couldn’t because of her position?”

“”

It was hard to deny.

“She did say through Lord Dyuf that we could get a lot of compensation, but it just feels like she’s putting on a show. Whether or not Her Imperial Princess steps in, it was going to happen anyway because of what happened today.”

“Yeah, that’s true…”

“Even if I give in a hundred times and assume Her Imperial Princess really wanted to help Helly, I don’t know if it’s because she genuinely felt sorry for her or because she wants Helly to focus on training and become an excellent fighter as soon as possible.”

In the setting of , Fjodra is the only member of the Imperial Family who truly has compassion and a conscience.

Moreover, in the original work, even though she was hated by Reysir, she stood by his side to the end and tried to help him in any way she could.

As a result, she fell out of favor with the Emperor and even died.

‘Knowing that fact, I hope the two of them build a good relationship…

The problem is that I can’t blindly take Fjodra’s side.

As Reysir said earlier, Fjodra only expressed her intention to help, but kept repeating that she couldn’t because of her position.

I think her attitude is due to the original author’s intention to push the fake lover operation.

But I can’t tell Reysir that.’

‘Compared to the pre-remake original, Fjodra’s willingness to actively help feels weaker.’

With Fjodra’s attitude like that, even if I try to prove she’s a good person, there’s no evidence to present.

“And you know… remember how after we took down the boss monster earlier, I didn’t put my eyepatch back on right away and just left it off for a while?”

“Did you look at Her Imperial Princess’s status window then?”

“Yeah.”

It’s not surprising at all.

In Chapter 313, when Fjodra and Reysir were talking, I was sure that’s what he did based on where his gaze was.

And I had already guessed from the expression he made back then.

“Karbaldr, did you know? The Imperial Family’s [Space Leap] skill, when cooperating with someone who has the same ability, not only allows you to move without sight restrictions but also drastically increases the distance.”

So he did read that information.

As a book possessor, I naturally knew what he was talking about, but since my possession body shouldn’t know that, I shook my head.

Then Reysir let out a deep sigh and added an explanation.

“According to what’s written in the skill description window, it doesn’t seem like you can just move anywhere you want. It looks like you can only move to the location of the other person. Even though my skill was enhanced by your [Encouragement] buff, I couldn’t confirm the exact maximum distance… but strategically, it’s still a very useful ability, isn’t it?”

Even today alone shows that.

When Lausa returned from reconnaissance and Fjodra was cross-checking, if she had used this ability, she could have saved both Aether and time.

‘If she had done that, the boss fight would have started before I even joined, so I’m extremely glad she didn’t today.’

Just because the result was good doesn’t mean it’s okay to overlook.

She not only demanded that we not hide our abilities, but also strongly reprimanded me and Reysir.

Yet it turns out she was hiding her own abilities.

“If you had at least told me, a person from the Ducal House, about that ability, I could have understood—maybe because it’s too early to trust all of us, so you couldn’t reveal the Imperial Family’s unique skill. But instead, you blamed me for not revealing the [Encouragement] skill in advance, even though inheriting the Aether Attribute through generations is the same for you, a person from the Ducal House.”

Reysir’s expression and voice were clearly angry.

I understand.

If others found out that Fjodra hadn’t fully revealed her abilities, they would react the same way as Reysir.

Because of her status as an Imperial Princess, they might not openly protest, but that would only double their resentment.

“Her Imperial Princess’s attitude of demanding and forcing with authority is definitely a problem, in that it creates discord.”

“That’s not the issue, is it?”

“Are you trying to say that the contradictory attitude of hiding her own abilities while wanting to know everything about others is the problem?”

“What’s with that? Is it my imagination that you’re saying that’s not a problem?”

Starting from thinking I’m a tsundere, Reysir has made a lot of misunderstandings so far.

But this time, it’s not a misunderstanding.

“You’re the same—hiding your own abilities while forcing others to reveal theirs.”

“……!”

“You have the skill [Truth-Reading Eye], so you can secretly find out the information you want. Her Imperial Princess doesn’t have such a skill, so she just wanted to hear it from the other person’s mouth. It’s just a difference in methods.”

Currently, Reysir is at least using [Truth-Reading Eye] selectively, but that wasn’t the case in the pre-remake version.

After he learned to control the skill and took off his eyepatch, he freely opened others’ status windows.

Even if that other person was a ‘comrade’.

‘To reduce casualties, you have to accurately understand and compare both enemy and ally abilities.’

Even so, someone kept dying.

But he couldn’t stand the anxiety of not doing it.

Reysir might not be as desperate as he was back then, but Fjodra probably asks for information sharing with a similar mindset.

“So, while I’m not exactly pleased with her attitude of seeming to disrespect us, I don’t want to criticize the contradictory double standard.”

As I spoke, I felt uneasy.

Reysir was angry at Fjodra’s contradictory attitude, and what I said basically amounted to ‘you’re no different from her.’

Normally, that would be more than enough to offend someone, right?

But the protagonist of another novel’s reaction once again exceeded my expectations.

“So, what you’re saying is… that criticizing Her Imperial Princess for that would be the same as criticizing myself, so you can’t bring yourself to do that? Even though, just from your perspective, it’s impossible not to be angry…?”

The protagonist of another novel suddenly looked at me with a moved and teary gaze.

I couldn’t hide my embarrassment and reflexively slammed the table, stood up from my seat, and raised my voice…

“A-ah, no!! I, I didn’t mean it that way…!”

“Karbaldr. First, think carefully about what you just said, and then tell me again if it really wasn’t that way.”

“Why would I have to do that? I said it wasn’t because it really wasn’t… but………”

Sigh.

‘Is it not?’

Well, as for my true feelings… yeah, I’ll admit it.

Because I understood the pre-remake Reysir’s feelings, I could also understand Fjodra’s actions.

‘But outwardly… no… um… hmm…!’

I wish I hadn’t said that I wasn’t exactly happy or that I didn’t want to criticize.

I was afraid of getting a reaction like ‘Are you criticizing me now to take someone else’s side?’

I didn’t want to fight with Reysir.

By adding a buffer comment, I ended up shooting myself in the foot.

“LFOF….”

Yor slapped his forehead and shook his head.

Even the wise baby dragon can’t find a way out of this situation.

“If you’re done thinking, how about we talk now?”

“……”

The protagonist of another novel stared at my face with a deep smile.

I quietly sat back down and hastily gathered my side hair to cover my face.

“Surely you didn’t bring up Her Imperial Princess just to gossip about her behind her back. What do you really want to say?”

“Oh, you’re changing the subject.”

“……Hmph.”

“Alright, alright.”

His tone was quite annoying, as if he was coaxing me.

But since the protagonist of another novel went straight to the point, I decided to let it go.

“Even though I got a promise from the Imperial Family to return the fief, the resentment built up over the years hasn’t been resolved… I don’t know how to treat Her Imperial Princess.”

Saying something like this means he knows it’s not good to be hostile to Fjodra.

But the problem is that it’s hard to control his emotions.

Especially since Fjodra keeps doing and saying things that provoke his resentment.

“I guess I shouldn’t have said she might be a good person.”

“Uh…? What do you mean by that?”

“Because I had expectations and tried to understand her, I ended up watching Her Imperial Princess’s words and actions carefully. As a result, I think it only increased my resentment.”

I let go of the hair I was holding and took a sip of omija tea, lost in thought.

If things continue like this, the two of them will eventually clash.

Then I’ll not only have to train in a cold atmosphere, but also enter the Demonic Realm with mutual distrust.

There’s no way there won’t be casualties.

“Don’t treat her as a person-to-person, but strictly as an official. Isn’t the Awakened Special Class not a social gathering in the first place? Besides, she seems too caught up in her own responsibilities to have time to consider our situation. I think trying to understand her and reach out to her right now would be futile.”

“Oh…”

“Or you could follow your childhood friend’s example and pretend. Hale has watched you for a long time and deeply sympathizes with your grievances, so even if he’s not as much as you, he must have a lot of complaints against the Imperial Family. Yet he’s doing a good job of maintaining a calm attitude in front of Her Imperial Princess, isn’t he?”

Actually, I think what Reysir really needs is not my advice but an apology from the Imperial Family.

It wasn’t Fjodra who took away Reysir’s fief and framed his parents; she even argued against it.

But if she, as an Imperial Princess, apologized for the Imperial Family’s wrongdoing, his heart might become a little more at ease.

And Fjodra might be able to put aside her guilt and somewhat drop her authoritative attitude.

“That’s all I have to say.”

“Thanks, that was a big help. As expected, Karbaldr, you’re thoughtful and really kind, you know? Usually you’re so cold, but when we have a serious conversation, you have a surprisingly mature vibe…”

“Get out.”

“Uh…?”

“Just leave now.”

Lest the readers misunderstand, let me clarify: I’m not trying to kick him out because I’m embarrassed by the protagonist of another novel’s compliments.

It’s because the one-on-one talk with him is dragging on too long.

I’m doing this to move on to the next scene for story progression.

“There’s more I want to talk about…”

“Does it have to be right now?”

“Well… not really. It’s break anyway, so we have plenty of time.”

Reysir seemed to think for a moment, then put his eyepatch back on the table and obediently stood up.

After changing his shoes, just before leaving the room.

He grabbed the door handle, looked back at me, and said,

“Karbaldr, goodnight. Sweet dreams.”

“………Hmph. Do whatever you want.”

“Puhahaha!”