CHAPTER 35.
I Knew This Would Happen
“Borrow the emperor’s power. You’re the imperial princess—you can.”
That’s what Ancelot had said. Use the emperor’s authority.
In the past, I would’ve hesitated and mumbled, “How could I possibly…”
Because I used to think of myself as a royal only in name—unloved even by my mother.
But not anymore.
The timid little Lulu who tiptoed around her mother’s mood is gone.
I am the Empire’s Third Princess, the only Swordmaster, and a descendant of Azester as named in the prophecy. I boldly went to see my mother and requested a private audience.
“What brings you here?”
Her expression said she hadn’t expected me to come to her first.
She maintained her usual dignified posture, but the [Worried State] still lingered on her status screen.
She looked more tired recently, probably from dealing with the aftermath of Duke Hamilton and Orent’s affairs.
Though Duke Hamilton took all the blame, she still had to banish Orent from the palace.
To her, Orent and I were both her children.
Maybe, just as she’d shown affection for me, she had also cherished Orent equally.
I couldn’t know for sure—her affection level was only visible toward me.
“I want to participate in the Hero’s Trial.”
“…What?”
Her expression hardened instantly.
“As I told you before, you don’t have to go just because of the prophecy.”
Though her emotions rarely changed, I could feel the concern behind her words.
“It’s not just because of the prophecy. You said it yourself, Mother—since I’ve awakened my sword aura as royalty, I should use that power for the Empire.”
“Strictly speaking, defeating the Light Dragon isn’t necessarily in the Empire’s best interest. How can the supposed will of the gods those temple rats spout be more important than our Empire’s safety?”
The fire in her eyes as she mentioned the temple was intense—almost frightening.
“She really does hate the temple…”
I’d known, but the reminder still sent a chill down my spine.
“But we can’t just ignore the prophecy completely, can we?”
“If the temple dares pressure the Empire, I’ll resist—even if it means bloodshed.”
“I don’t want you shedding blood on my behalf.”
“I’m not acting out of personal feelings…”
I cut her off, rudely, just as one of her brows began to rise. And I quickly added:
“I also want to take on the Hero’s Trial for my own sake.”
‘The heir to the light shall claim the Light Dragon’s heart.
The one who holds the dragon’s heart shall spread their holy name across the land.’
That’s what the prophecy from the god of light, Luth, said.
So many had challenged the Hero’s Trial, dreaming of glory, believing they would be the one to defeat Helheim, the Light Dragon.
Mother held my gaze for a long moment. Then she asked in a hard voice:
“Luibel Azester. Are you aiming for the imperial throne?”
A fatherless Third Princess who’d stayed in the background all this time, suddenly talking about “ambition” and the Hero’s Trial—it was a reasonable suspicion.
Instead of answering, I smiled.
“The imperial throne? Please. My dream is to live as a rich extra with a diamond spoon in my mouth.”
But there was no need to say that aloud.
Saying I was aiming for the throne was just as valid a reason for suddenly announcing I’d join the Hero’s Trial.
“…Very well.”
Mother sighed and nodded.
“The House of Azester will fully support your pursuit of the prophecy.”
“…!”
My face lit up.
“You didn’t just come here to declare your intentions. Tell me what you want.”
“I’d like a knight to accompany me. It’s too dangerous to go alone.”
I said sweetly, smiling wide.
“Do you have someone in mind?”
Of course I did.
“Please issue an imperial decree to Klaus Winster.”
He was so upright that if he received an imperial order, he’d swear an oath to me without complaint.
To progress the scenario, I had to get him on my side—by any means necessary.
But forcing someone into servitude against their will…
“That’s just like the system—forcing people out of ‘necessity.’”
If we were going to travel together anyway, I wanted Klaus to open his heart to me—not for me, but for his own sake.
But with his plummeted affection level and added [Suspicious State], that seemed hopeless.
So rather than force him through imperial decree…
I’ll just beat him into submission.
I chose the third option.
I would defeat Klaus Winster until his stamina dropped below 10, forcing him to yield.
If I forced him to swear an oath under imperial command, he’d be bound to me for life.
Klaus wasn’t the kind of man to break a vow, even one he hadn’t wanted to make.
But if I bested him in combat and completed the quest that way, he wouldn’t be tied to me once the final scenario ended.
Still, I needed a valid reason to beat the crap out of him.
Given the current situation, he’d never accept a duel.
“Hold a tournament, please.”
“A tournament, at this time?”
Tournaments were normally held in the fall, so the timing seemed odd.
But with Hezen dead and Orent exiled, the Empire had no current top knight.
With unrest stirring, a tournament would be a great way to redirect public attention.
“Not a bad idea.”
Catching onto my plan, Mother nodded and smiled faintly.
“So you’re hoping to recruit the tournament champion for your journey?”
“That’s one option, but more than that…”
I grinned and declared proudly:
“I want to face the finest knights of Azester myself.”
Empress Christine announced the holding of a tournament.
Though sudden, no one found it strange.
With the Empire’s top knight position now vacant, many skilled warriors flocked to claim the title.
Klaus joined as the representative of House Winster.
As he prepared for the final match, he calmly polished his sword.
He wore the Winster family’s uniform, a golden sash draped over his shoulder.
According to tournament rules, each knight wore a silk sash marked with their family crest.
Though it was his first tournament due to years abroad, Klaus—coveted even by the Pope—easily defeated the Empire’s most elite knights.
He reached the finals without trouble.
So far, everything had gone smoothly.
The problem? His opponent in the finals was…
“Luibel Azester. The Third Princess.”
Luibel.
He’d heard the rumors about her awakening as a Swordmaster with sword aura, but still worried when she joined the tournament.
Luibel seemed too delicate—like a fairy from a storybook.
He couldn’t picture those slender wrists wielding a sword against grown men.
But when he saw her mercilessly strike down a knight twice her size, he changed his mind.
Not someone to take lightly.
After finishing his preparations, Klaus glanced at the clock.
Break time was nearly over.
He felt oddly nervous before the final match.
Clenching and unclenching his sweaty palms, he glanced across the waiting area.
Luibel chatted casually with Prince Ancelot, looking completely at ease.
With his sharp hearing, Klaus picked up their conversation despite the whispers.
“Ancelot, you didn’t forget what I asked, right?”
“Nope, I remember. Don’t worry.”
A favor? What kind of favor?
“You’re the one who forgot this, Princess.”
Ancelot picked up a piece of silk she had dropped, stopping her from standing up.
It was a pale lavender sash with the Azester crest.
“Oh, thanks.”
“Anytime.”
She smiled sweetly as she thanked him. Ancelot answered briefly.
That insolent guy…
Ancelot leaned in and tied the sash like a ribbon over her shoulder.
Isn’t that too close?
Klaus felt an uninvited pang of irritation watching their closeness.
And he wasn’t the only one watching.
Whispers echoed from all directions.
“Oh my, the princess and Prince Ancelot…”
“They’re so close. Are the rumors true?”
“Look how sweet they are. It’s like honey’s dripping from them.”
The two were the hottest gossip in the capital.
Klaus felt strangely uncomfortable.
Soon, the announcer called for the final match to begin.
Klaus faced Luibel and locked eyes with her.
“Let’s have a fair fight, Sir.”
“An honor, Your Highness.”
He bowed with a curt reply.
“The final match will now begin—”
The announcer’s voice rang out.
But something felt off.
Luibel’s gaze seemed to slip past him—to somewhere beyond.
Where is she looking?
The moment he noticed the twitch at the corner of her eye—
“Luibel Azester!”
From the top of the arena.
A man in a dusty brown robe stood precariously, shouting.
The crowd turned, murmuring.
“You dare, you filthy lowborn…”
The wind blew the robe aside, revealing a bald man.
It was none other than Orent.
“I’ll kill you! I’ll kill you, Luibel Azester!”
Orent shrieked curses at her, frothing with rage.
Orent the dethroned prince?! Why is he here?
He was supposed to be living out his days in a monastery—what was he doing here?
The whispers in the crowd grew louder.
“Orent! What is the meaning of this?!”
The emperor’s voice thundered as palace knights rushed toward Orent.
As the chaos delayed the start of the match—
“That goddamn human garbage Orent. I knew this would happen.”
A delicate voice, laced with savage profanity, echoed in the chaos.
Klaus blinked, thinking he imagined it—and even in the middle of the turmoil, turned to Luibel in a daze.
She was glaring at Orent with an expression he’d never seen before—fierce and terrifying—as her hand gripped the sword at her waist.
