“Her Royal Highness,”  

Upon the call, my mind returns to reality .  

In front of me was Count Stasen . This elder knight, who was a strong-bodied warrior, was a man of a few words .  

Still, there is a feeling of security that is somewhat strange but reliable . It’s really puzzling that this person was also a scholar with the t.i.tle “Vera . ”

Thin golden hair, which is believed to be of those from the north… Many people in the north have silver or light gold hair . The color of the eyes are mostly light blue, the count’s is also light blue .  

(The stranger thing [t/n: pun not intended] is that such a person is my escort leader)

“Your Royal Highness, it is time for your return to the royal capital . ”

On his knees, serving it with both hands .  

I received it .

“Thank you .  I will take care of it . ”

His eyes widened and he looked somewhat surprised, he stared but immediately went out .  Because it was sudden, everyone is busy preparing for our return .

After waking up, I usually only interacted with the maids, but after the incident I began to look closely at the escort knights .  It seems a person has been on the escort mission so as not to be very noticeable until now, but after the “falling incident” and the “attempted poisoning,” it seems he can no longer stay that way .  

(Don’t run away)

That person did not run back to the Imperial Palace, which seems to be safer than here .

The killing intent directed at me… I was clearly aware of it .

So far, I have not clearly recognized the murderous intent . Although I was told that I was being targeted, it didn’t feel real .

However, now it’s different .  

(My enemy)

An enemy who is aiming for my life .

The fact that you are aiming for my life, it may not yet be known for sure .  

But now, I am clearly aware that I am in danger everyday .

I used to go to work, then from work to my home; sometimes I went to hang out or complain to my friends . It was a routine far away from worrying about dangers to my life .  

(To retaliate)

I am not a saint .

I don’t have such a cute character that when I get tired I start to cry .  

When you hit my right cheek, I would hit back .  I know it’s quite stupid, but I’m the type to fight back .  

Being alive, that will be my best revenge .  

But that alone is not enough .

Because, Ellelucia is no longer here .  

(It does not matter if this is misplaced anger . It’s fine even if it’s an outburst of anger . )  

I will do it if I can do it .  

I remembered the terrorist attack that happened in the United States . The Great Powers fell into the mud . A vicious cycle in which retaliation calls for revenge… a toxic cycle .

But I can’t keep doing nothing anymore .

(But I am still weak … and these hands are still too small…)

That’s why, I cannot pa.s.s down judgement with my own hands . To do it again… I cannot kill people with these hands .  

I think it is impossible for anyone who has lived in the ordinary in 21st Century j.a.pan to carry it out, no matter how much you hate that person, no matter how much you want to kill .

What I can do… that is…

(To clarify the culprit)

He isn’t the soup cook who was regarded as the perpetrator .

There was another criminal who did it… it wasn’t that cook .  

The perpetrators, of course, would also be guilty .

But, the person who ordered to kill me .

That person is the real culprit .

(Put the person who ordered it into court)

That was what I thought of as revenge .

I can only do my best indirectly .  

That’s how I’ll move to my goal .

(For now, I’ll just gather information)

I can’t collect information directly by myself, and it’s a shame I have no memory of the falling incident .  

Alterie may have seen the culprit .

If I had remembered, I might have solved the problem at once along with this case .

I wish I could go around hearing from all kinds of people like in detective stories, but if I do so, I’ll stand out and I can’t explain it to others .

In fact, I suspected at first that the falling incident might have been Alterie’s suicide .

(Because…)

It’s because she felt somewhat empty inside her heart, which is probably why she was called Puppet Princess .

Even if you didn’t exactly jump off yourself, you might have been aware that it was a dangerous place but still went anyway… and then perhaps you may have tried to do it .  

The balcony above the lake is windy . It’s even more so at night . Alterie is so light that easy to lose balance there… a not-so unintentional accident .  

(But now I can say that was not the case)

As “Artelie” gradually comes back to me, it seemed to me that it wasn’t what happened .  

Still, it doesn’t mean I understand everything that is in Alterie’s heart .  I only have this vague feeling .

But if I give it some thought, I can understand even if it’s just a bit .  

The knowledge I have received from Alterie is what she studied and learned diligently .

(For what purpose…?)

I think it is a proof of her efforts to be worthy of being the crown princess .

If so, such a child would likely not go to a dangerous place by herself .

Because she was well aware of how important her position is to the kingdom .  

Now it’s clear that the fall was not an accident .  

(That’s why… I won’t run away)

I won’t run away and hide somewhere safe .

(It’s just that, because this place is not my territory, I’m just going back home)

Even though the enemy knows me, I do not know neither the shadow nor shape of the enemy .

So at least, I want a home advantage .

Even so, it’s an overwhelming disadvantage .

(But I decided not to run away)

It’s alright . I’m not going to jump into danger .

I will not waste the efforts that Alterie has been doing up until now .

I am the crown princess .

(I will just pay them back what I owe)

Self defense is essential .

Even if the defense is a little excessive, it will be within acceptable limits . Probably .  

The next day, after finis.h.i.+ng all the arrangements, I received that the usual morning greetings of the duke .

At the side, maids aside from Lilia were busy carrying the luggage to the carriage . All the escort knights were also ready, except for the two at the back .  

“There was a danger of poisoning . Normal escorts are not enough .  We are returning on such a short notice… contact the Imperial Palace and receive instructions from the Crown Prince . ”

Duke Elsevert fiercely objected when I told him that I was going back to the palace .

I still have a lot to explain with regards to my reason .  

Well, I understand how he feels . If I return as is without explaining, it would create a big fuss .  

“I’m going home . ”

Still, I clearly told him once more .

The duke was shocked as he stared at me .  

It’s probably because it’s the first time Alterie expressed her intentions like this .  

Perhaps, he hasn’t heard her speak up before .  

“I am going back to the Palace . ”

I repeated while looking straight into the duke’s blue eyes .  

His eyes looked blue even with the light .

(Oh…)

The color of my eyes, I knew I inherited it from this person .

“… Do you doubt Elsevert?”

The duke asked, as if squeezing out his voice .  

His eyes were turned away… For the first time, I thought that I was truly facing him .

I felt the weight with which he said those words .

He seemed exhausted .  

I believe he’s was a person who is very concerned about appearances .

His short beard is well kept and his platinum blond hair is s.h.i.+ny . There are no wrinkles in his thin and fas.h.i.+onable long coat .

Although he seemed younger than his age of forty-four, his eyes looked empty .  He’s like an old man in despair and resignation .

I answered, hoping that my words will reach him .

“No . ”

It was not clear if it was the duke, the ladies-in-waiting or the knight escort who inhaled sharply . Or maybe it was all of them .

But either way, I saw that they properly understood my answer .  

I dare not say why .

I do not want to do anything unnecessary while I still do not know where the true criminal’s eyes are hidden .

So far, my only advantage while I am far away from home is while Alterie is a 12-year-old girl, she has the experiences from my 33 years of living .

At best, you’re likely to think that I am still a twelve-year-old naive princess .

“Understood… at the very least, may you permit my son to escort you?”

The duke did not refer to anyone in particular . It’s just that he said it in a beseeching tone .  

I tilt my head . The duke’s son will be an escort?

“The sons of the duke, Lord Dior and Lord Rael, are both part of the Eastern Division . ”

Lilia explained .

The national army of Dardinia is roughly divided into six divisions . There’s the central division and the divisions in the east, west, north and south; then there’s the Imperial Guards . (t/n: Just guessed this since it literally translated to “Konoe Division”) On the other hand, each aristocrat had a private army . It was not strange that Duke’s sons were working in the Eastern Division, as Elsevert was chief for the east .

The Dardinian n.o.bility are just ordinary people except for the legitimate heirs .  The second son and so on only have the opportunity of becoming either a priest or a military man .

“I’ll allow it . ”

I nodded and stood up .

The duke bowed with a somewhat relieved expression .

To be honest, no matter how many times we meet, I never recognize him to be my father . Still, I somehow felt that I was connected to this person .

“Thank you for helping me . ”

“It’s no problem . I wish you good health as you go on your way, Your Royal Highness . ”

The duke says, and as he stands before me, he prays for my safety during the travel .

I nodded in response to that .  

It wasn’t as if everything was resolved in that instance .  

I can never forget how my heart aches when I think of my mother .  

However, I felt like I was getting there .  

And perhaps, the duke as well .  

When it was time to leave, the duke came to send us off .  

The duke’s figure remained on the drawbridge of the castle until my carriage was out of sight .