The little ones might just be excited because something new has happened.

‘Well, well.’

I felt as if colorful musical notes and flower petals were fluttering around the children.

“Hmm, they won’t be able to go far running like that.”

I watched the backs of Ronowe and Berith running ahead with pattering sounds.

“The library is farther than you think.”

“It’s alright.”

What’s that supposed to mean? I looked at Carlyle walking beside me with a puzzled expression.

‘Ah.’

And I understood right away.

“I… can’t walk anymore.”

The Fleur siblings, whom I thought had stamina of steel, had fallen behind in an instant.

‘So that’s what he meant by not being able to run all the way.’

Kids will be kids. I decided to walk slowly.

‘Hmm?’

But I kept feeling gazes on the back of my head, so I stopped and glanced back.

‘……’

Then I saw the two dedicated maids fidgeting anxiously.

‘Oh, brother.’

Feeling quite sorry for them, I gestured for them to come closer.

“Your Highness, please allow us to carry you. In my arms…”

They seem to have misunderstood it as a request to come and hold me.

“I’m fine. I’ll go on my own.”

I’m tired of being treated like a child.

“Take care of those kids instead.”

I sighed and pointed at Ronowe and Berith who were sitting on the ground.

“Yes, Your Highness.”

The two dedicated maids soon each picked up one of the siblings.

“We’ll wait here.”

When we soon arrived at the study, the dedicated maids said they would wait near the entrance.

I nodded and accepted Carlyle’s escort.

“It’s bigger than our home library!”

“Wow~ There are so many books!”

Ronowe and Berith were in high spirits, as if they had never been tired.

“Sister, hurry up!”

“Let’s go together~.”

The Fleur siblings, with their big eyes sparkling and making excited noises, were completely absorbed in exploring the study.

‘There won’t be any answers I want in the library anyway.’

I watched Ronowe and Berith bouncing around.

‘I looked here first in my previous life.’

I sighed.

‘I should play along for a while and then go back.’

After that, since we weren’t the only ones in the spacious study, I cautioned the children not to make a commotion.

“Demon, demon!”

“Where? I want to see too!”

It was while I was quietly following behind the Fleur siblings with Carlyle.

“Fighting with angels. Bad demon!”

“Can’t you see the angel beating the demon?”

Suddenly, Ronowe and Berith stopped in front of a framed picture of angels and demons and started arguing.

“The angel is punishing the demon because it torments people.”

“No, there are also kind demons that don’t torment people!”

“No! Demons always do bad things!”

My head was going blank. I could feel the glances from people around us.

“How do you know? Angels can do bad things too!”

“Then how do you know?”

As they pushed each other’s hands and engaged in a battle of nerves, I got a headache.

‘Oh my, what a headache…’

I smacked my forehead. I couldn’t understand why these random kids were suddenly arguing.

“What you see isn’t always good! So there must be bad angels too! It says so in the book !”

“No!”

“You fool! Are you smarter than the scholar ‘Rolf de Janiata’?”

It was at this moment that Ronowe burst out angrily.

‘How does she know about that book?’

I was startled.

‘It’s not a book for children to read.’

My head was filled with question marks.

It was unbelievable how she spoke so articulately at that moment, as if she weren’t a child. Ronowe seemed like a different person.

As if someone was just wearing the mask of a little girl.

“Don’t call me a fool…”

Before I could calm my surprised heart, Berith sniffled.

‘Don’t fight… it’s troublesome.’

I was trying to endure the throbbing when I felt someone peeking at us.

I immediately made eye contact with the person and made a gesture of cutting off their neck with a cold expression. It was a silent warning that I wouldn’t let it slide if they kept staring.

“Ahem, ahem.”

Perhaps not completely stupid, the person who was peeking cleared their throat and quickly moved away.

“Stop fighting. You should be quiet in the library. Now, make up with each other.”

“I’m sorry for getting angry.”

“I’m sorry for calling you a fool.”

When I turned my attention back to the children, Carlyle was already reconciling the siblings.

‘Phew, saved.’

I walked around the study again with the children.

‘My body isn’t what it used to be.’

I felt a bit depressed, finding it pathetic that even climbing onto a chair was a struggle, making me pant.

‘Don’t those two ever get tired?’

I wondered what the little ones were up to, and saw Ronowe and Berith dragging Carlyle around, peeking here and there.

‘They move around endlessly with such energy.’

In any case, with Carlyle by their side, I figured the Fleur siblings would be fine.

“What does it say there?”

But when I actually tried to look at a book, I couldn’t concentrate and kept watching the children.

“It says .”

“Ways to get a confession?”

“Read it!”

Surely he wouldn’t read such content out loud. I was certain he would refuse, given how embarrassing the content was likely to be.

“…If you …, then next try … After that, …”

However, Carlyle defied expectations.

“If … happens, then … And then…”

He was reading all the content clearly, but halfway through he closed the book.

“That’s the gist of it.”

“It’s difficult!”

“Right.”

“Explain it more simply!”

The Fleur siblings said they didn’t understand what it meant.

“The main characters Linda and Logan kissed on the bridge.”

“Elder brother, have you ever kissed?”

“Do you get married if you kiss?”

The bold little ones bombarded Carlyle with questions.

“Uh…”

Carlyle blushed suddenly, seemingly embarrassed, and trailed off.

“…Actually, I don’t really know either.”

“What’s that!”

“Phony~”

“I thought you’d know since you’re so smart.”

Even a future general is still a child after all.

I quickly turned my head as the children approached.

“Phony~ Phony~”

By the way, I like the word the Fleur children are muttering.

‘Phony, it has a nice ring to it.’

From now on, your nicknames will be Phony. I decided to call Ronowe and Berith that, excluding Carlyle.

‘Speaking of marriage… it brings back bad memories.’

Suddenly, I was reminded of my previous life.

‘O Sun of the Empire!’

‘Go away.’

When I was the emperor in my previous life, the ministers were busy interfering with my marriage. Those I can barely remember pretended to love me, blinded by power.

There were plenty who tried to push their sons on me to make connections.

‘Your Majesty!’

‘Go home!’

If there was one thing they all had in common, it was that they never once asked for my opinion.

That’s because for royalty, marriage is…

‘A duty, not a choice.’

I snorted at the resurfacing bitterness.

‘But it’s my heart.’

Even when I was a commoner, I was forced into marriage.

‘How much I suffered as the wife of a drunkard!’

I vividly remember the struggle of trying to fix the mindset of a guy who kept singing for more alcohol.

‘This life as a princess, it’s obvious I’ll end up fighting over marriage again.’

I sighed softly since the kids were nearby.

‘I need to find the answer quickly before that happens…’

Suddenly, fatigue washes over me.

‘Mmm…’

Unable to resist the drowsiness, I lay my face down on the table.

“……”

And in my sleep, I felt a soft cloth coming down over my body, accompanied by the sound of someone laughing.

Normally, being sensitive to even the smallest sounds, I would have opened my eyes wide to see who was laughing right in front of me.

But the momentary fatigue was overwhelming, and I fell fast asleep.

And I had a dream.

As if I had an out-of-body experience, I saw the landscape of the country from when I was emperor in my previous life.

Pop!

But just as I was about to sink into nostalgia, my vision distorted and the scene of the office unfolded.

* * *

“What did the Ariel Temple say? Will they show us the records?”

“Well…”

The official who came to report didn’t bring the desired results.

“They say that since the temple is now under Randel’s jurisdiction, not Lionel’s, they have no reason to cooperate.”

The aide, Elaila, who finished speaking, bowed her head slightly.

“They cited their declaration of independence from our kingdom 20 years ago as justification.”

The temple was uncooperative for various reasons.

“They won’t even just show it? Why are they so stubborn?”

Feeling like a huge rock had fallen on my head after even a polite request was rejected.

“Did you make it clear that I was the one requesting?”

I asked, grinding my teeth.

“Yes.”

“Then did you try talking to their king?”

“We sent a cooperation request, but…”

The aide trailed off, hesitating before speaking.

“They say the temple is an independent institution. Therefore, we received a reply that they cannot comply with our demands.”

The aide continued.

“Above all, since the country where the central temple is located is intertwined with a commercial hub… if we force the issue, the western sea route could be blocked.”

The aide, who added that they actually received such a reply, stepped back a few steps after finishing the report.

“Why is this so complicated? Just when I thought it was about to be resolved.”

I frowned, nervously eating a few biscuits, and right on cue, a servant standing nearby refilled my teacup.

“Your Majesty, is there a reason you need to obtain these records so urgently?”

“Think about the oracle that came down from the grand temple.”

The answer lies in what was taken.

I mentioned those words while resting my face on one hand.

“Don’t you see? The only thing we’ve lost recently is the Ariel Temple.”

“There was one instance of looting in the eastern region.”

The aide made an indirect rebuttal, but I ignored it.

“The oracle came down right after we lost that temple in the last war.”

“But…”

Crash!

Why is nothing going as I want? Unable to contain my anger, I smashed a plate with my fork.

“I apologize!”

The startled official immediately bowed deeply and apologized repeatedly.

“It still makes me angry thinking about it… Can’t we just take it by force?”

I leaned back in my chair and blurted out.

“What? Absolutely not!”

Elaila vehemently opposed.

She had desperately tried to dissuade me a few years ago, last time, and recently whenever there was any sign of me wanting to declare war.

“I don’t want to go this far either, but there’s no other way to get it, is there?”

I grumbled.

“Try picking a fight over them coming to our seas, taking all our fish, and massacring our fishermen.”

“Didn’t you already order envoys to be sent for that incident?”

Ah, did I? Looking at the official’s troubled face, I replied.

“Now that I think about it, it doesn’t seem like something we should let slide.”

“Your Majesty…”

“That temple originally belonged to our kingdom, so we should take it back.”

If words don’t work, they need to be taught a lesson. I shrugged.

“Are you saying you’d even go to war if necessary?”

That’s right! I snapped my fingers and smirked.

“Good idea! I’ll take your advice.”

I spoke solemnly and seriously.

“It’s war.”

The conclusion was only one from the beginning anyway.

“When did I ever advise war?”

Elaila was at a loss.

“Call General Roy!”

Ah, whatever. Feeling my mind clearing up, I ordered the general to be summoned for a military council.

“Your Majesty! Please reconsider once more…”

Yes, no. I let this dissuasion fall on deaf ears too.

Waaaa−!!

And so a new war began, and I was able to set foot in the temple I had so desperately wanted.

“How am I supposed to find anything here? Didn’t I specifically order not to touch the temple archives!”

Although some of my orders weren’t properly followed, and the temple wasn’t intact.

“We’ll have to search while restoring the temple.”

As I was dusting off my hands, I sensed a presence and drew my sword.

“You…”

A child? I put my sword back in its sheath at the appearance of a young boy.

“Your Majesty~!”

“Your Majesty! We were worried something had happened when you didn’t come.”

And in the moment I turned my head at the knights’ calls, the boy disappeared.

‘That young one sure is quick’

I inwardly marveled, glancing at where the boy had been.

“Did you find the records you requested?”

“You’re the ones who should be looking for the records.”

“Pardon?”

This is ridiculous. I raised my hand and gestured around.

“How am I supposed to find anything here by myself?”

“Yes, understood.”

I rummaged through the papers scattered on the floor of the temple archives with the knights.

The search continued late into the night, but unfortunately, we couldn’t find the information we wanted.

“Not here either?”

Late at night. I returned to the tent and marked an X on the map.

“They say others wage war to live, but I seem to be waging war to die.”

Including the country we invaded today, not a single country has the information I want.

“Where is the answer to the god’s question?”

I clenched my fist and trembled.

“That bastard clearly said he left records somewhere in the human world… This oracle felt so promising.”

It’s frustratingly maddening. Since he said records, I was determined to search every temple in the world to find the answer.

“I need some fresh air.”

I feel drained every time the results are like this. I decided to take a walk nearby, trudging along.

“Stop right there!”

“You’ll be in for it come dawn. How dare you come all the way here to steal?”

Just as I left the tent, there was a commotion outside.

“We’ll see you at the execution ground, you thief!”

I wondered what all the noise was about, and saw the boy I had seen earlier struggling in the hands of a guard.

“Your Majesty! I apologize. We were in the process of arresting this boy for stealing potatoes.”

“We won’t die from losing a potato or two. Just give him some and send him on his way.”

I was going to give the boy a couple of potatoes and send him off, figuring how much could a kid have taken.

“W-well…”

“It wasn’t just one or two potatoes.”

But the scale of potatoes the boy had tried to steal… was too much.

“He tried to steal all that? By himself?”

I asked in astonishment, looking at the size of the potato sacks.

“Yes, what should we do?”

“Hmm…”

I thought he was just a scruffy little boy, but he’s not ordinary.

“What’s your name?”

“Jeff.”

‘His hands are delicate, despite being dirty.’

I scrutinized the child carefully and decided to ask more precisely.

“You don’t seem to be a commoner, what’s your family name?”

The boy hesitated for a while, then pressed his lips tightly, and the guard nudged him.

“Answer quickly.”

Despite being urged, the child hesitated for a long time, and eventually, raising his head to look me straight in the eye, he said.