“I apologize for any offense, but it is protocol for even the Emperor of the Empire to remain below the dais.”

Ludvian, who descended from the dais with a laugh, quietly gazed at the princess. He had come thinking she would be an insignificant human and a young woman easily dealt with.

However, after just a few exchanges, he realized she was not to be underestimated. Even so, she would still be in the palm of his hand. She finished quietly conversing with the king and queen and sat upright in her designated seat, holding her head high. Ludvian snickered as he went to his own seat and picked up a teacup.

“Is there any way you can prove that the future you’ve seen is true, Lord Beloas?”

“Seeing the future is not something that happens by my will. It only occurs through divine intervention.”

Ludvian invoked the gods to prevent further questioning about his inability to provide proof, beyond that simple statement. This level of response was within the expected range anyway. Ariel raised the corners of her mouth gently and asked again.

“Then how can those seeds prevent the coming calamity? I cannot fathom it at all. Could you explain in more detail?”

“The flowers that bloom from these seeds have a special power. If two flowers are used together, even the strongest being cannot withstand it for more than two years before dying. However, it takes a long time, so preparations must begin now.”

Ariel feigned a shocked expression as if hearing this information for the first time, though she already knew it. A sigh tinged with lamentation escaped her lips.

“That sounds like you’re saying we need to kill someone specific with these flowers. Surely you’re not telling me to grow flowers that kill people? I’m sorry, but I absolutely cannot do such a thing.”

Ludvian was taken aback by Ariel’s unexpected response. She wouldn’t kill someone even though the human realm was in danger? As a demon, he simply could not understand this. He could harm demons or humans without batting an eye to achieve his goals.

“Lord Beloas, we cannot ask our daughter to do such a thing.”

When even the king, with a bewildered expression, chimed in to support Ariel’s words, Ludvian quickly spoke up.

“The target is not human, but a duke of the demon realm. The flowers are only effective against demons.”

Ha. He was the only duke in the demon realm. To say without changing expression that they needed to kill him. The extent of his shamelessness was truly curious. But his answer only made Ariel’s grounds for refusal even more certain. Quietly swallowing a laugh, Ariel spoke again.

“If that’s the case, it seems even less like something I should be involved in. The prince known as the strongest in the demon realm lost to Duke Elbartan, so how could a mere demon duke bring about a great calamity? Moreover, I hear demons are constrained in their power in the human realm.”

Isn’t that right, Duke of the Demon Realm?

Seeing Ludvian’s expression immediately sour was somewhat satisfying. His red eyes darkened further, as if his pride had been severely wounded. Of course, Ariel knew that he was currently stronger than the demon prince whose powers were sealed.

“The demon duke is more powerful than the demon prince…”

“Surely you’re not trying to say the demon duke is stronger? If so, why did he never appear during the five years of war with humans? It doesn’t make sense. I think Lord Beloas knows this very well too. Isn’t that right?”

Ariel cut off his words immediately, not giving him a chance to speak.

“…”

Ludvian’s eyes slowly narrowed. He, the great demon duke, was being led around by this small human, unable to persuade her. When he had visited the palace, he had thought it would surely be an easy and simple matter.

“No matter how I think about it, it seems unreasonable to grow dangerous flowers for two years based solely on your word, Lord Beloas. Even if demons start another war, with Duke Elbartan still alive, there shouldn’t be any major problems.”

“…”

Ludvian, it won’t be so easy this time. So please leave now.

“Do you have anything more to say?”

Ludvian’s face had hardened, his smile gone, and his red eyes were cold. Ariel bowed to him as respectfully as possible, and he left the audience chamber with a displeased expression, saying he would return again.

Seeing him leave with an unpleasant look, unable to achieve his goal, was thoroughly refreshing. He was probably repeating these words in his mind right now.

How dare.

A mere human.

Go ahead and try me, you mere human. Ludvian.

The table in the garden was prepared with herbal tea, chocolate cake, sweet cookies, and even precious salt-baked bread.

“Why did you act like that earlier?”

In response to her mother’s worried question, she quietly opened her mouth.

“I had a nightmare while napping. A dream where everyone died except me…”

“This child, still so young.”

Her father chuckled and patted Ariel’s head.

“Ariel, hurry and eat the chocolate cake you like. Ah…”

Seeing Ariel’s mood darken, her mother quickly changed the subject and cut a piece of chocolate cake to put in her mouth.

How precious this utterly ordinary and expected teatime was. As the fact that she had returned to the past sank in, her eyes reddened again, but she held back.

Now she just had to prevent such things from happening. That was all she needed to do.

“Anna, come here. Let’s eat together.”

As Anna approached, Ariel hugged her tightly before letting go.

“You’re really strange today.”

Anna said, her cheeks flushed with embarrassment.

“Anna, is my love burdensome to you?”

Everyone was taken aback by Ariel’s blunt display of affection, then burst into laughter. Ariel only let her parents and Anna go after eating dinner together.

“Haa…”

Hot breath escaped between Ariel’s lips as she strolled through the garden. The darkened sky was beautiful, and the stars densely dotting it were even more so. The vitality exuded by the trees was lovely, and she missed her greenhouse.

She had come back alive.

As that fact sank in once again, the things she needed to do from now on came to mind.

She had managed well today, but he would never give up. Based on what she had experienced over the past 4 years, that was certain. Though she didn’t know how he would try to persuade her, if the situation arose again where she had to grow the demon flowers?

If that happened, the top priority would be saving Kaius.

One year from now, she needed to change Kaius’ mind when he came to break off the forced engagement ordered by Emperor Hart, and marry him earlier than in the past. Once he started taking Zaparos, he only had about a year left. It wasn’t very long. So she couldn’t save him if they married late like before.

In the past, the reason Kaius requested to break the engagement was because of Ludvian. He said she already had another man, and Ariel had gladly accepted the breakup. At that time, she was still under the illusion that she loved Ludvian.

This time too, her relationship with Ludvian might reach his ears, but she could explain that it wasn’t true. Above all, if she could heal him when he was injured by demon beasts. If she could show Kaius how much he needed her, she could change his mind.

By going to his side like that, she could escape Ludvian’s gaze for a while, and that would be when Ariel could start moving in earnest.

The first thing to do was to find the demon plant encyclopedia and awaken the dragon egg.

It was an ordinary but precious and beautiful day for Ariel.

A week had passed since Ariel’s return and Ludvian’s visit. During that time, he came every day to persuade her, but Ariel refused, saying it was hard to accept. Thinking he wouldn’t give up, she even considered plans to leave Letiana for a while.

Then one day, as she was having morning coffee with Anna, bad news arrived. One of her father’s guard knights had died. The next day, one of her mother’s guard knights died. The day after that, another of her father’s knights. And the next day, another of her mother’s knights. These bizarre incidents continued for a week.

Around that time, an absurd rumor began to circulate in the palace.

“They say a curse has fallen because Princess Ariel didn’t listen to the prophet’s words.”

The events unfolding in the palace were so outrageous that it made her laugh bitterly. He was vicious and cruel.

This was clearly a warning. For rejecting his words.

As Ariel was leaving after being summoned by her parents and told it might be best to listen to the prophet, a maid came running with a flushed face.

“A guest is waiting for you in the north palace reception room.”

“Who is it?”

“The red-haired prophet, my lady.”

Ariel laughed wryly, knowing she could no longer avoid this. Targeting her parents’ guard knights was a kind of hint that he could harm her parents at any time. Her hands clenched involuntarily, trembling.

Ludvian. Ludvian!

His actions, which crossed the line, filled Ariel with anger. If he had stayed put, he could have lived comfortably as the Duke of the Demon Realm. If he was going to act like this, she was willing to step onto the stage he would create. So now she had to prepare to play along with Ludvian while bringing him to ruin.

She would make him bitterly regret this moment. She would use all the information at her disposal to inflict pain worse than death. Ariel took several deep breaths to calm her anger and compose herself.

A sneering smile crossed Ariel’s lips as she began walking leisurely to the reception room. Once she passed through this hallway and faced him, their fierce battle would begin.

And.

Of course, the victor of that battle would be Ariel.