“I only wanted you to enjoy a prosperous and comfortable life as a member of the royalty, but now that you’ve awakened your swordsmanship, living as before will be difficult.”

Mother advised me in her usual solemn voice.

“There will inevitably come a day when you must use this power for the empire, and the process might be quite rough and dangerous.”

“…….”

“So, always be careful. Treat your own well-being as the most important.”

Though the advice sounded rather harsh, I was moved.

“Yes! Thank you, Mother!”

I smiled broadly at Mother, and for the first time since I was very young, I called her ‘Mother’ in response.

I worried for a moment if I had made a mistake when I saw Mother momentarily freeze, but then,

Seeing the favorability rise significantly, I finally relaxed.

‘Ah… what a relief.’

Leaving the conversation with Mother and stepping outside, I couldn’t help but giggle to myself.

‘Orent’s words were wrong. Mother doesn’t dislike me. She likes me.’

It was hard to believe that just an hour ago, I had been fighting for my life against Hezen and the monster.

My mind was still a whirl with the unresolved situation, but the unexpected affection from Mother kept me elated.

‘But why had Mother never expressed these feelings before?’

As I pondered about Mother, I stopped in my tracks when I saw two figures standing in the opposite corridor.

It was Gloria and Orent.

The two, born to the foremost ducal families of the empire, had always been the objects of my envy.

As I already knew and had expected…

Ajester Empire’s 1st Princess

Favorability: 0

Ajester Empire’s 2nd Prince

§Alert Status§

Favorability: 273

‘They really don’t like me.’

My previously buoyant mood dampened slightly.

Becoming a player and the protagonist of this world in Hezen’s stead didn’t magically make everyone love me.

‘Gloria was always indifferent to me, but Orent’s favorability is in the negatives.’

I realized that seeing others’ favorability as numbers was not always a pleasant thing.

Gloria coldly glanced at me and passed by without a word, heading towards Mother’s office, probably waiting for my audience with Mother to end.

“Luibel Ajester. Daring to wield a sword, are you?”

Orent approached me with a sneer.

“Do you think you’ve become someone significant because you’ve awakened your swordsmanship and had an audience with Mother?”

I glanced briefly at the favorability indicator above Orent’s head.

When Hezen was the player, I could only see women’s favorability, but now I could see everyone’s, regardless of gender.

And recently, the words ‘Alert Status’ had appeared above Orent’s name.

‘Orent is wary of me?’

There was no sign of such wariness on Orent’s face as he looked down at me.

I remembered a time from our childhood.

‘The Emperor, in his youth, took up a sword and traversed the battlefields. How magnificent he was…!’

‘Mother fought on battlefields with a sword?’

‘Yes, if you go to the Royal History Museum, you can see those magnificent depictions in paintings.’

‘Then I, too, will become a swordsman like Mother!’

Inspired by a tale from a nanny, wanting to impress Mother, I secretly started learning swordsmanship.

But before a year passed, I was caught by Orent.

‘Learning swordsmanship? You?’
Orent had always had a knack for saying hurtful things ever since we were children.

“If that’s the case, I’ll give you a special sparring session.”

He claimed to offer sparring, only to break my sword.

Back then, I was just 8 years old, and Orent was 14, six years my senior.

Naturally, I was no match for him.

“You, learning to wield a sword? I fear you might tarnish Mother’s reputation.”

Holding the broken sword, Orent scoffed at me as I tearfully clutched the pieces.

“Luibel, you are a disgrace to the Ajester name. Don’t even think about learning to wield a sword. Just live quietly, out of sight.”

I was too young back then, and Orent, being so much taller and the son of a duke, seemed incredibly imposing.

I didn’t realize then.

That I could ever be a target of Orent’s vigilance.

“Orent brother.”

As I called him that, Orent openly grimaced.

He detested even the fact that we were siblings from the same mother.

But I didn’t shrink back anymore and, smiling brightly, asked,

“Are you wary of me?”

“What? Why would I ever be wary of someone like you!”

Orent’s face turned red with anger. It was then that,

The system window informed me of Orent’s state.

‘Oh, this is handy.’

I thought about how Hezen must have had it easy, using this system to his advantage.

Feeling a bit smug about having one-upped Orent, I read the system’s suggestion.

I’m dying to know what conversation you had with the Emperor .

Shall we tease Prince a bit?]