If mischievous Sasha were here, she might tease the princess for speaking such words, claiming that she’s still a child. However, Kallail was relieved that he wasn’t the cause of my upset feelings.

“Are you tired from fulfilling the duties of the heir these days?”

Following that, seeing him genuinely concerned about me first, I internally muttered that he indeed had the aura of a general. Then, I shrugged my shoulders.

“Similar.”

Compared to the hardships during the Sun Emperor era, it was nothing more than a speck of dust. Back then, even in my younger years when I was like a noble child without any lotion, I was superior in every aspect to my current state as a princess.

At that time, my physique was not weak, and with the experience of life I had gone through, I quickly absorbed and learned everything. There was even a time when Ulrika praised me, saying that I learned things as effortlessly as when she poured water into a glass and drank it down in one gulp.

“But it’s not so difficult to the point of dying. Moreover, wouldn’t it be bothersome if the ruler couldn’t carry themselves gracefully in front of their future subordinates?”

So, pretending not to see, I casually put my hands on my hips and applied force to my shoulders. Kallail stared at me with shining eyes as if in awe, but his face gradually turned worried.

“Have you ever felt like you have to move forward toward one path in an unavoidable situation, like a wall?”

“Not really.”

Although there were times during the Sun Emperor era when I felt overwhelmed due to too many tasks and wanted to escape, I never truly wanted to throw everything away and disappear.

Whether it was the challenging life of a destitute beggar or the life of a prosperous noble, trials always followed me, and I broke through them all, forging ahead.

“I see. It’s great that you, Your Highness, are always strong and confident.”

With a gentle smile, Kallail asked me to confide in him whenever I felt tormented or hesitant.

“Thank you for caring.”

While I, as an elderly being living within me for hundreds of years, often endure or overlook things, it might have been difficult to handle everything at the age of ten for an ordinary princess.

“By the way, Kallail, I thought about my future in various ways after what you said earlier.”

Turning the conversation slightly as I clenched my fist, Kallail innocently tilted his head, not understanding my intentions.

“If there were an older brother born before me, so I wouldn’t need to succeed the throne, what would happen to me? Probably, when the time comes, I would have to marry a foreign prince or the most influential family within the empire to form an alliance, right?”

Displeased but also disgusted, the memories of those who pressured me during the Sun Emperor era to bear an heir came to mind, making me suddenly uncomfortable.
‘Why does Princess Bariya not have a proper lover, not get married, and not even engage? There were rumors that she was preparing to become the head of the family. Is that true?’

Along with that, fragments of memories from the life as a noble lady emerged.

Since it was dozens of years before my current birth as a princess, in an era where it was unreasonable for women, like Baroness, to become the head of the family or for women to act as knights, even though there were various things women of noble status could do, positions with decisive power, such as the head of the family or a knight, were always held by men.

Therefore, during that time, my behavior, considering that cunning and dodgy fellow as a collaborator while wandering in search of answers to the questions of God, appeared abnormal to others in social circles. Whenever I attended gatherings, I never failed to receive such questions.

There was not a single guy with a pure brain who genuinely asked questions, so considering the era, I had a tough time, and I even thought it might have been better if I were born as a man.

“Your Highness, the final destination doesn’t necessarily have to be like that.”

However, why did Kallail hastily add something, maybe because my complexion had become too dark?

“There’s also a path for you to become a great general like Empress Hwangu.”

“Even so, as a noble, avoiding marriage is impossible. Even if I become an exceptional knight in the future, it’s the same.”

During the Sun Emperor era, I barely endured and eventually aged and served under Jeff. However, in this life, I have to see how things go, so I gave a neutral answer.

“However…”

As Kallail gradually lost strength in his voice, he looked disheartened.

“Becoming a noble or a princess means that. As you enjoy better things while ruling over others, the more wealth you enjoy, the more rules and responsibilities are imposed. Marriage is just one part of that procedure, as explained in the book.”

Since I couldn’t speak about my experiences in my past lives, I skillfully evaded the topic and, after glancing at Freyri and Sasha, casually remarked.

“Anyway, you worry a lot too.”