After that, I headed towards Jeff’s office without much thought, when I suddenly noticed that the dark red spots that had enveloped Ronowe’s body had disappeared.

‘What? It returned to normal so quickly?’

I wondered what exactly had happened. I crossed my arms and kept glancing at Ronowe’s back.

‘At this rate, isn’t the root of the malicious thoughts hiding within her?’

It was fascinating how she suddenly changed when interested in the energy of the rattle, muttering something about Scholar Fagle, and now she’s quickly calmed down and laughing with a cackle.

‘But I can’t be certain, as she doesn’t seem to be possessed.’

It feels like there’s something about Ronowe herself, but I have no way of knowing.

Previously, when she first showed signs of malicious thoughts, I had Lilith verify the book she was reading, and found out it was a book without any trace of malevolence.

Clang-!

I was lost in various thoughts, quietly following behind the children, when suddenly the office door flung open, startling me.

At first, I thought Jeff might jump out with a “Roar!” to surprise us, but the person I encountered was an unexpected individual.

“Your Highness, I’ve never seen such a sight before.”

I hesitated to answer Carlyle’s question, which came from beside me without warning.

My eyes met those of the blonde, no, the maid who had been exposed as a spy and was being escorted out by knights. A strong sense of hostility shot towards me like an arrow.

“Why would a maid be coming out of His Majesty’s office in such a state?”

“Indeed, Carlyle. The atmosphere doesn’t look too good either.”

I quickly followed the flow of the conversation, trying not to let Carlyle notice as I swallowed hard.

Unless that maid had gone mad, she wouldn’t dare to attack in this situation, but now that she had been clearly revealed as an enemy, I couldn’t maintain a pleasant expression.

“Grr!”

Poppy, who was beside me, also looked displeased, probably because she had once bitten the hem of that maid’s dress.

I was about to part my lips to change the subject, fearing that Fleur might explain the situation to the children if I stalled any longer.

“Peek-a-boo~”

And at that moment, Jeff made a sound imitating a jumping rabbit and blocked our view, hiding the spy from sight.

He approached the group naturally without arousing anyone’s suspicion, preventing attention from flowing to the blonde maid.

“I heard my daughter’s voice and came out to see!”

I was impressed by his quick thinking, proving he wasn’t just any emperor, but when I saw that he still had ribbons dangling all over his hair, my sense of admiration evaporated like steam.

‘Good grief, does he plan to wear those ribbons forever?’

Why do I feel a headache coming on? I pressed my forehead with one hand and sighed.

“I’m so happy to meet such lovely friends! Shall we all go into the room and have some fun to commemorate this?”

“No, actually, we…”

I tried to clearly state our purpose despite the situation, but Berith’s voice was louder.

“Really? I’ve never played with Your Majesty before, I’m so excited!”

Damn it, damn it! I made a sour face, thinking that things were getting complicated.

“I’m afraid we’ll have to ask another time.”

“It seems that way.”

Jeff, you bastard, why are you making things more tiresome!

I understood why he was suggesting we play happily in the office, but separately from that, fatigue washed over me and I stood still in place. My feet wouldn’t move because I was so unwilling.

“Your Highness, please come in.”

“Alright, I’ll be right there, wait for me.”

Meanwhile, as I watched the spy maid disappearing in the distance one last time, Carlyle called from behind, and I reluctantly turned around. Although I wasn’t so exhausted that I might collapse, for some reason my body felt as heavy as lead.

“Who wants to have cute and adorable hair like mine~”

“Me!”

And Jeff played so well with the children that I didn’t even need to act as a nanny.

As a result, the simple-minded children completely forgot about the rattle, and Ronowe sincerely complimented Berith’s strange hairstyle that Jeff had styled, saying it suited him well.

“Oh, why is Your Highness just standing there?”

I hesitated, unable to blurt out that I didn’t want to join in after seeing the games they were playing.

“Ah! Perhaps you don’t know what to do? Then Ronowe will help you!”

“Eh~?”

Then Ronowe, who had made her own judgment and decision, grabbed my hand and led me forward.

‘Where does this tiny body get such strength from?’

Thinking that she must be hiding some kind of power, I trotted along, matching Ronowe’s stride to avoid falling.

“Your Majesty, please make Your Highness’s hair pretty too!”

“Wait a moment!”

And in the end, I had to endure for hours between Jeff and the children, and when I was finally free, I was too exhausted even for a meal and collapsed immediately, only waking up when it was pitch dark.

Flap-.

“I wonder if the spy caught today is in prison by now?”

I woke up in the middle and came out to the balcony for some fresh air.

The sky, a mix of navy, purple, and black, was studded with stars as densely as if various jewels had been embedded in it.

“I hear they tried to frame me.”

We’ll have to investigate to know who’s behind it, but it’s bound to be someone from the defeated country.

I clenched my hand resting on the railing as I recalled the information I had belatedly heard from Hayley and Miranda.

‘Since Jeff and Hecate only have me as their child, were they planning to cut off the lineage and cause chaos?’

It occurred to me, not for the first time, that Sasha had good instincts.

“Of course, if I disappear, the vested interests will seize the opportunity and covet the crown.”

Moreover, it was only natural that those who held grudges against Hecate and Jeff would target me.

“Once a power struggle begins, imperial authority weakens in an instant.”

Even in my previous life as an emperor, there were occasional rebellions, so I know what results human malice seeking to overthrow something can bring.

Power, greed, and revenge.

As these three things came to mind, I suddenly felt my head becoming complicated, so I quickly returned to the bedroom.

It was also getting cold from being outside for too long in my nightwear.

And then, a few days later. I received new information.

The Vladimir family took the lead in rooting out those involved in the spy incident, and after long interrogation, the maid who was a spy admitted to trying to harm me with malicious energy.

Furthermore, the maid said she had gained strength by consuming an illegally produced alchemical potion, but remained tight-lipped about the source of the potion.

This incident became an opportunity to reveal that the unsettling rumors about a group of traitors within the empire were true, and by the time everything was finally settled, seven years had already passed.

And as soon as I turned 10, I became the heir to the throne, and soon after, for the first time since awakening in the body of an imperial princess, I was to reveal myself to the people.

“Have you heard that Her Highness the Princess is to be officially declared as the next emperor today?”

“Of course. Everyone’s in an uproar, coming up from the provinces just to see Her Highness’s face.”

Although I had grown, I was still young, so the people’s reactions to the declaration ceremony, as reported by the knights who had gone out on patrol, were mostly positive.

Waaaaaah-!

‘It seems they’ve all gathered to see my face.’

On the day of the declaration ceremony. When the trumpet sound announcing the start of the event rang out from all directions, the entire empire was in an uproar as if a festival had begun, just like when Hecate had returned after completing her subjugation.

‘Well, this is the first time I’m showing myself to the imperial citizens.’

It was a new experience to appear again on the royal balcony where I had hurriedly ascended to the throne in my previous life because of Ulrika, this time designated as the next emperor.

Above all, having grown taller, I finally got to wear something that could be called proper ceremonial attire instead of childish baby clothes, and wearing a crown made of real gold made me feel like the seven years of endurance had paid off.

‘But isn’t it too early to be designated as the next emperor at 10 years old without any heir training?’

This life is a lost cause.

I thought as I stepped onto the footstool, smiling and waving my hand this way and that towards the crowd.

‘At this rate, I feel like I’ll be swamped with work in this life too.’

I want to tell just anyone to be the princess and run away.

Suddenly, why am I reminded of my previous life where I died after only working? I inwardly made a crying face.

“As expected, our daughter will be a wise ruler!”

“Indeed, our little emperor!”

After maintaining a smile and waving until my wrist ached for several minutes, I returned to my room to find Jeff and Hecate clinging to both my sides, their eyes twinkling brightly.

“Ah~ Just thinking about starting heir training soon makes my head hurt.”

I preemptively spoke, not knowing what kind of rapid-fire words these crazy doting parents would spout.

“Above all, what concerns me most is that from today, I have to visit the territories of the nobles who have sworn loyalty to the imperial family.”

Having overheard something while preparing for the declaration ceremony, I quickly threw out a topic to prevent unnecessary talk.

“Mom and Dad will go with you, so don’t worry.”

The naive Jeff and Hecate, thinking I was just whining and throwing a tantrum, were busy trying to soothe me.

“I think it’s fortunate that we don’t have to visit the borderlands. By the way, which family should we visit first today?”

“The order of visits traditionally starts with those closest to the imperial family.”

I didn’t miss the opportunity and continued to steer the conversation, and Jeff, stroking his chin and taking his time, winked one eye and answered.

“Our daughter will visit the Vladimir family first, as they’re closest to the capital!”

Then there are only two candidates: the Vladimir family and the Fleur family.

I imagined how much the children I had only occasionally seen over the past few years due to the turmoil caused by the spy incident might have changed, or if they remained the same.

Creak-

After that, while busily fulfilling the heir’s schedule, the day of the territory pilgrimage arrived in the blink of an eye, and the carriage was slowing down as it arrived at the Vladimir estate.

“Welcome, Your Highness.”

At the entrance of a spacious, neat, and somehow refined ancient mansion, Sasha, whose hair had grown as long as the weight of time, greeted us with a gentle smile.

“It is an honor to welcome Your Highness to our territory.”

“Yes, it’s been a while.”

I didn’t refuse Sasha’s offer to escort me. As it was all part of the imperial etiquette, I accepted it naturally.

“The Vladimir family, the shield of the south, greets the little hawk.”

Eventually, as I entered the building with Poppy and my maid, Duke Vladimir, whose facial wrinkles had deepened a bit more, placed one hand on his chest and bowed.

“Our family pledges to continue to serve Your Highness faithfully.”

“Thank you.”

Otherwise, we’d have an internal war with blood spilling everywhere, so of course we should cooperate with each other. I nodded, swallowing the latter part of my thoughts.

Slam-!

“Aaaaah!!”

“Duchess, please calm down!”

Oh, I was startled. I was about to look at Duke Vladimir who was trying to say something when I thought my heart had dropped.

“This is unacceptable!”

A middle-aged woman in a nightgown with disheveled hair screamed and jumped up and down.

“Why is that still inside the mansion! Freya is dead!”

By the way, the Vladimir family’s maid just called the deranged woman ‘Duchess’.

‘That person is the Duchess? Come to think of it, the Duchess’s appearance…’

This can’t be. I stepped back, shocked by the appearance closer to a madwoman, so far from the sickly image I had imagined.

“My daughter is dead!”

‘She looks a lot like the maid who was revealed to be a spy 7 years ago!’

But what’s more surprising is that the blonde maid who tried to harm me and the Duchess look similar.