“Overpraise?”
“Yes.” The prince leaned forward.
“Since hard tactics don’t work, let’s use soft ones. Since he doesn’t respond to threats, give him everything he wants! No, give him everything he ‘should’ want but hasn’t realized yet.”
“How exactly?”
“First, a public apology.”
Lyle said. “Not in private—in the palace square, in front of all the nobles and the people. You have to kneel down…”
“Don’t glare at me—hear me out. You have to kneel down and sincerely apologize for your rudeness. Keep your posture low, low as the dust.”
Prim’s expression changed. “This is too…”
“Too humiliating? But that’s how you’ll restore his face.” Lyle interrupted her.
“A princess kneeling in public to apologize—when word spreads, everyone will say Her Highness the Princess is profoundly righteous and brave enough to admit her mistakes.
And it’ll also serve as an explanation to the kingdom’s people who lost their lives in the disaster due to your negligence.”
“And if he still refuses, it’ll make him seem narrow-minded, not considering the bigger picture, treating the lives of the kingdom’s people like grass.”
“Then what?”
“Then, give him power.” Lyle’s eyes gleamed. “Not something empty like the ‘Goddess’s Sword Knight Order.’ Father hinted that you’re a contender for the throne, right? Use that as a reason to request Father to enfeoff him as ‘Duke Protector of the Realm’—a title second only to the royal family, but with real authority to mobilize one-third of the kingdom’s forces.”
Prim gasped. “That’s too much power!”
“Is it?” Lyle laughed.
“But think about it—the greater the power, the greater the responsibility.
Once he accepts this position, it’ll bind him to the kingdom’s fate.
Then, the kingdom’s affairs become his affairs—he won’t be able to run even if he wants to. Little sister, he doesn’t not want it; you just haven’t offered enough!”
“Moreover, his brother is the powerful Marquis Julius. As long as he stands on your side and becomes your husband, it’ll be equivalent to Marquis Julius standing on your side too!”
Lyle explained methodically.
“That’s one of Father’s biggest considerations.”
“But what if he still doesn’t accept?”
“He will.” Lyle said confidently. “Because we’ll make him ‘have to’ accept.”
He stood up and walked to the window, gazing at the night rain gradually subsiding outside.
“Tomorrow, a story will spread through the royal capital: a hero of humble origins but unparalleled martial prowess, who indignantly rejected the marriage proposal because he couldn’t stand the princess’s arrogance. But Her Highness the Princess was moved by the hero’s integrity, had a sudden realization, knelt in public to apologize, and pleaded with the hero to come forward for the kingdom’s future.”
Lyle turned around, his smile blurring in the torchlight.
“Public opinion will be on your side. The people will be touched by your ‘sincerity,’ the nobles will be convinced by your ‘magnanimity.’ And he—if he continues to refuse, he’ll become a selfish villain who disregards the kingdom’s safety. If he accepts, he’ll become the sharpest sword in your hand.”
Prim stared blankly at her brother, and after a long moment, slowly let out a breath.
“I understand. What you said makes sense—I was too impulsive before.” She said in a low voice, her eyes reigniting with light.
“But Brother Lyle,” she suddenly asked, “why are you helping me so much?”
Lyle came back and gently patted her head.
“Because you’re my most beloved little sister. And besides…”
He paused, his smile still gentle.
“A ‘Duke Protector of the Realm’ who holds heavy military power but doesn’t understand politics is always easier to control than a shrewd and capable Marquis Noct, isn’t he?”
***
Ingrid woke up in the darkness.
Before her eyes was a familiar ceiling.
A golden dome, pure white, smooth walls emitting a milky glow—this was the church in the royal capital?
“You’re awake—the surgery was a success!”
With a somewhat energetic female voice, a cute and charming nun’s face came into view. She had golden long hair, azure eyes, and a face with some adorable baby fat.
“Aiko?”
Ingrid struggled to make a sound, calling the female priest’s name.
Aiko forced a smile, nodded, and said, “Ingrid, your injuries were severe, and you suffered serious ‘Divine Pollution,’ which made your wounds unable to be healed by divine arts, so we had no choice but to…”
Along with Aiko’s words, Ingrid finally noticed the issue—her vision was only half, the right side completely black.
Even if she covered her right eye, there was no change.
Her left lower leg had completely lost sensation.
“I see…”
Aiko lowered her eyelids, tears welling in her eyes. “I’m sorry, Ingrid—I did my best, but I could only save your life. The pollution’s erosion was too severe—I had no choice but to…”
“It’s fine, Aiko. It’s just losing one eye and my left leg. Later, have the bishop transplant a ‘prosthetic’—the church’s prosthetic technology is already quite mature. It won’t affect my strength.”
Ingrid gently stroked her good friend’s cheek, saying so.
—How could it not affect me!
Aiko roared inwardly, but she couldn’t say that out loud.
No matter how mature prosthetic technology was, it was still a prosthetic, not her own body! There would definitely be discomfort in using it!
But this was already the best outcome. The sudden outbreak of the ‘Divine Pollution’ event—no one had anticipated it.
Ingrid had been so close to the god; surviving was already a miracle.
How could Aiko ask for more?
She stepped forward and tightly hugged her best friend.
“Thanks to the God of Chronos—if not for that wandering knight, I might have lost my best friend in this life.”
Aiko and Ingrid had grown up together—they were the best of friends, perhaps already more than just friends.
If she lost Ingrid, Aiko didn’t know if she’d have the courage to go on living, so she was extremely grateful to the knight who saved Ingrid. However—
Ingrid roughly pushed Aiko away, leaving the female priest bewildered.
“Ingrid?”
“You’re telling me to thank that wandering knight?!”
Ingrid’s face twisted instantly, filled with deep hatred.
“Aiko, you and everyone in the church have been deceived by this beast in human clothing! He clearly had the ability to prevent everything from happening, yet he watched as everyone in the arena died horribly, only showing up at the last moment!”
Looking at Aiko’s azure eyes like water, Ingrid’s golden pupils seemed to burn.
“He’s a despicable villain who would watch others die for the sake of fame and status!”
“Huh?”
Aiko was a bit dazed—was that how it was?
Her mind was simple; she didn’t have Ingrid’s complicated thoughts.
Could it be that Ingrid’s mind really wasn’t normal?
She recalled what the female warrior named Aruma, who brought Ingrid, had said—
‘Eh, Ingrid lost her parents and was half-crushed by rocks—probably her brain’s a bit off. Remember to give her some good psychological counseling.’
It seemed to be true!!
“Ingrid, my Ingrid, the knight isn’t like that! Look what the Royal Capital Daily says, and what’s written on that newspaper…”
Aiko smiled as she handed over the freshly printed Royal Capital Daily from this morning, trying to soothe Ingrid.
How could she be so rude to her lifesaver?
The bishop is wise and insightful—he said this knight is a good person. It must be Ingrid misunderstanding!
However, after taking the daily and just glancing at it, Ingrid trembled with rage.
“Hmph, what hero of the royal capital?! He’s a fraud, a big fraud!”
She angrily tore the newspaper to shreds, startling her best friend.
“I will definitely unmask your hypocritical true face!”