“Borrowing the power of the Emperor. It’s possible for the Imperial Princess.”

Anselot said, urging to utilize the authority of the Emperor.

In the past, I would have trailed off my words, saying “How could I…”.

Because I thought of myself as an Imperial family member in name only, not even receiving my mother’s love.

But not anymore.

The young Lulu who used to be scared, fearing to go against her mother’s mood, was no longer here.

I am the 3rd Imperial Princess of the Empire, the only Sword Master. And as the bloodline of Azester mentioned in the prophecy, I boldly sought a private audience with my mother.

“What is it?”

Mother asked with a surprised look on her face, as if she didn’t expect me to come to her first.

She had her usual solemn demeanor, but the words [Anxious State] still didn’t disappear from her status window.

She seemed more tired recently after dealing with the matters of Duke Hamilton and elder brother Orent.

Although Duke Hamilton took all the blame, in the end, elder brother Orent had to be expelled from the Imperial Palace.

To mother, both elder brother Orent and I are her children.

In fact, just as she cherished me, she might have given the same affection to elder brother Orent.

The favorability in the status window only shows the value towards me, so anything beyond that is just speculation, but…

“I want to embark on the Hero’s Proof.”

“What…?”

Mother’s expression stiffened.

“As I said before, there’s no need for you to leave forcibly because of the prophecy.”

From her attitude, which doesn’t show much change in emotion, I could feel her concern for me.

“It’s not just because of the prophecy. You said it yourself, mother. As an Imperial family member who has even awakened swordsmanship, I should rightfully use that power for the Empire.”

“Strictly speaking, eliminating the Ancestral Dragon is not the way for the Empire. How could the will of the gods that the temple mutts bark about be as important as the Empire’s well-being?”

Mother’s eyes flashed as she mentioned the temple, almost frighteningly so.

‘Mother really hates the temple.’

I already knew well, but it was a moment of realizing it once more.

“But we can’t ignore the prophecy completely.”

“If those temple bastards dare to pressure the Empire, I intend to confront them no matter the bloodshed.”

“I’d rather you not endure bloodshed because of me, mother.”

“I am definitely not doing this out of personal feelings…”

As mother’s words rose with one eyebrow crooked, I impertinently cut her off and quickly added,

“And I have the ambition to accomplish the Hero’s Proof.”

‘The descendant who inherited the power of light shall claim the heart of the Ancestral Dragon.

Oh, the one who takes the heart of the Ancestral Dragon, that sacred name shall be spread across the land.’

The latter part of the prophecy directly given by Luce, the God of Light.

Many challenged themselves to the Hero’s Proof upon the prophecy that the one who defeats the Ancestral Dragon Helheim will spread that sacred name across the land.

After staring at me for a long time, mother asked in a stiff voice,

“Luibel Azester. Were you also aiming for the next Imperial throne?”

It was a reasonable suspicion for the 3rd Imperial Princess, who had been crouching in the Imperial Palace without any presence, to suddenly speak of ‘ambition’ and leave for the Hero’s Proof.

Instead of answering, I smiled at the corner of my mouth.

‘The next Imperial throne, my ass. My dream is to be born as a wealthy extra with a silver spoon in my mouth.’

But there was no need to answer like that.

There was no reason as plausible as aiming for the next Imperial throne to suddenly plead to leave for the Hero’s Proof.

“…Very well.”

Mother answered with a slow sigh.

“The Azester Imperial family shall provide unwavering support for the fulfillment of the prophecy.”

“…!”

My face brightened at those words.

“You didn’t come here just to inform me of your intention. Speak of what you desire.”

“I’d like you to assign me a knight. It’s too dangerous to leave alone.”

I promptly said with a big smile.

“Is there a specific knight you want?”

Of course, there was a specific knight I wanted.

‘Please ask the Emperor to give an Imperial order to Klaus Winster.’

Klaus is an upright knight, so if there’s an Imperial order, he will swear his knightly oath to me without refusing.

To proceed with the scenario, it was right to use any means necessary.

But forcibly making someone who dislikes me become my knight…

‘It’s just like the system. Compelling people based on necessity.’

I wanted Klaus to open his heart to me, if possible. If we were to embark on a journey together for the Hero’s Proof anyway, for his sake, not mine.

However, seeing Klaus’s negative favorability and the added wary state, it seemed far-fetched for him to open his heart to me.

So rather than forcing a knightly oath with an Imperial order…

‘Beat him to submission.’

The method I chose was the third option.

Beating Klaus Winster to submission until his health drops below 10.

If I force a knightly oath with an Imperial order, Klaus will be bound to me for life.

Klaus Winster is not a man who would break an oath he swore to. Even if it’s not an oath he willingly made himself.

But if I simply make him submit and complete the quest, he will be able to live his life without being tied to me after the final scenario ends.

However, I needed a justifiable excuse to thoroughly beat up Klaus.

In the current situation, it was obvious he wouldn’t accept it even if I challenged him to a duel.

“Please hold a martial arts tournament.”

“A martial arts tournament at this time…”

Originally, the martial arts tournament was an event held in autumn, so the timing was off.

However, with Hezen’s death and Orent’s exile, the position of the Empire’s top knight was vacant.

As the Empire has been in turmoil recently, it would be a good opportunity to divert people’s attention.

“It’s not a bad idea at all.”

Mother, who caught on to my intention, nodded and smiled faintly.

“So you want to take the knight who wins the tournament on your journey?”

“That’s a good idea too, but rather than that…”

I declared my participation in the tournament with a grin.

“I want to personally face the Azester’s excellent knights.”

Empress Christine announced the opening of the martial arts tournament.

Although it was a sudden tournament, people didn’t find it particularly strange.

As the position of the Empire’s top knight was vacant, numerous skilled individuals of the Empire participated, aiming for that position.

Klaus also stepped forward as the representative of the Winster family.

Klaus Winster was polishing his sword before the final match.

A golden silk cloth was tied to his shoulder, neatly dressed in the Winster family’s knight uniform.

It was a rule for the knights participating in the tournament to wear a silk cloth with their family crest embroidered on their shoulders.

Although it was his first time participating in the tournament due to studying abroad since childhood, as a talented individual coveted even by the Pope, he could easily face the Empire’s top knights.

Klaus advanced to the finals without difficulty.

So far, there were no problems.

But the opponent in the finals was the issue. Of all people, that opponent was…

‘Her Imperial Highness Luibel Azester, the 3rd Imperial Princess.’

It was Luibel!

‘I heard Princess Luibel awakened her swordsmanship and became a Sword Master…’

When he first learned of her participation in the tournament, he knew of the rumors about her, but he was still worried.

Princess Luibel was slender like a fairy in a fairy tale.

It was hard to imagine her holding a sword with those thin wrists and facing off against men.

However, it didn’t take long for him to change his mind after seeing Luibel strike down a knight twice her size with a sword.

Thinking, she’s not an easy opponent.

Klaus, who had finished all his equipment maintenance, glanced at the clock.

There wasn’t much break time left.

Klaus felt strangely nervous before the finals.

He clenched and unclenched his sweaty palms and looked at the waiting area on the opposite side.

Luibel was whispering with Prince Anselot, not looking nervous at all.

Due to his exceptionally good hearing, their whispered conversation reached his ears.

“Anselot, you haven’t forgotten what I asked, right?”

“Yes, I haven’t forgotten, so don’t worry.”

A request?

What request did she make?

“Your Highness, you forgot this.”

As Luibel tried to get up from her seat, Anselot made her sit back down and picked up the piece of cloth that had fallen to the floor.

The light purple silk cloth had the Azester crest embroidered on it.

“Ah, thank you.”

“Don’t mention it.”

Anselot replied briefly to Luibel, who thanked him with a pretty eye smile.

‘That rude bastard…’

Anselot leaned towards her and tied a ribbon with the light purple silk cloth on her shoulder.

‘Isn’t that too close?’

Seeing the two’s friendly demeanor, Klaus felt abruptly sullen.

And Klaus wasn’t the only one observing their relationship, as whispers could be heard from here and there.

“Oh my, Princess Luibel and Prince Anselot…”

“They have such a good relationship. Could the rumor be true?”

“Look at that affectionate appearance. It’s like honey will drip.”

The two were also the most talked-about people in the capital recently.

Klaus felt his mood inexplicably uncomfortable.

Before long, the host announced their entrance.

Klaus stood facing Luibel and they gazed at each other.

“I look forward to a fair match, Sir.”

“It’s an honor, Your Highness.”

To Luibel’s greeting, Klaus briefly replied and bowed his head.

“Then, we will now begin the final match…”

The host announced the start of the finals.

But it was strange.

Luibel’s gaze was oddly avoiding him and looking at somewhere beyond.

‘Where is she looking?’

And the moment he felt Luibel’s eyes twitch slightly.

“Luibel Azester!”

At the top of the arena.

A man wearing a dull brown robe precariously climbed up there and shouted.

People murmured and turned to look where the man was.

“How dare you, how dare a lowly being like you…”

At this moment, the robe was flipped over by the blowing wind, revealing the man’s face.

The bald man with no hair left was none other than Orent.

“I will kill you! I will kill you, Luibel Azester!”

Orent screamed curses at Luibel.

‘Former Prince Orent? Why is he…’

He heard Orent was supposed to be transferred to a monastery to live out the rest of his life, so why is he here?

As if it wasn’t just Klaus’s question, murmurs could be heard from here and there in the spectator seats.

“Orent, what is the meaning of this!”

As the Emperor shouted in an angry voice, the Emperor’s knights rushed towards Orent.

In the midst of the delay in starting the match due to Orent’s sudden intrusion.

“That bastard Orent, I knew this would happen.”

A strand of voice, delicate like a fairy’s, was heard carrying a rough swear word.

Klaus blankly stared at Luibel for a moment, thinking he might have heard wrong, even though it wasn’t the time for that.

She glared at Orent with a terrifying expression he had never seen before, gripping the sword at her waist.