The door clicked closed when the princess and her servants left. The two that remained in the room, Leodoule and Meril, stared at each other as they pondered altogether. Leodoule leaned back on his chair and Meril returned his gaze to the sheets of paper in his hand.

“What do you think?” Leodoule asked.

“What I think? Well first things first, I’m baffled by how she even came up with all these.”

“I know…” he sighed. “The detail she went through it is staggering.”

“This is more than staggering, Leodoule. I stand with my sentiment, this is too dangerous to be seen.”

Just imagining it falling to the wrong hands made Meril shudder. It concerned Leodoule as well. If someone read it, they would definitely be tempted to study it deeply. And if they plan to use the methods written in the treatise, that would cause drastic damage to their targets. And if that was aimed at Wisteria, one could imagine how much a person could accomplish if they’re confident and competent enough.

Despite being a countermeasure against being conquered, the contents of the papers would be enough for how a person can learn to damage a nation from within. Imagine how it would all end up if it falls to an enemy nation.

“This is a double-edged sword,” Meril warned as he placed the sheets of paper in front of Leodoule.

The king stared at the contents and read them again. “I never imagined she was even capable of a thing such as this.” he couldn’t help but feel anxious at the prospect that Estelia had a mind enough to think from a conqueror’s perspective. Also, he felt even more anxious at how much more she could do with that intellect of hers. “I could never expect…”

“She took me by surprise as well.”

“Good thing you’re here. If we are to carry this out, your help will be absolutely needed.”

“The plan she wanted the most, the one concerning the nobles. It will be easier said than done, the nobles will go against this.”

“But what she said makes sense too. If they have nothing to hide, then there is nothing to be afraid of.”

“...” Meril heaved a deep sigh. “Those that resist, they will be the ones we have to look closely…”

“Yes… But the nobles are not the only ones laid out here to watch out for.”

“Indeed. If we are to do this, I will need most of the operatives I have available here in the capital.”

“At least we have a guide written, a very detailed guide…”

“Leodoule,” Meril said in a low voice. “I know Estelia will be displeased about this but… these papers… they need to be destroyed. Some knowledge must not be known or written.”

“...” Leodoule furrowed his brows. “Meril, this is a good study material. With this, we will have an idea of how nations will conquer others. We can prepare and counter. Obviously, I can’t do the studying myself, but we can have trusted scholars work on it.”

“Sensible. But I couldn’t help but feel concerned about this. I admit, I also feel it would be alright for our nation to study it…” he sighed. “I don’t know, I am in a dilemma. Where did she even learn of such things?”

“I have no idea… That aside, do you think the Empire is behind the assassination?”

“I don’t feel that’s the case. But… there seems to be a link.”

“... It looks like we have to do what’s inside my daughter’s treatise. Even if nobles won’t like it, they have no choice if it’s my decree. I will need you to work alongside me for the time being.”

“What about the investigation?”

“Give it to someone else.”

“...Alright.”

“I’ll hold on to her papers for the meantime while I think of what to do with them after studying them myself. I should admit, she did impress me.”

“... Indeed, she… she is more than she seemed.” he nodded. Meril recalled his and the princess’s last meeting before this.

“My daughter turned out pretty smart, eh?” Leodoule smirked with pride. “What was it that you said about her a long time ago? She was no one very remarkable? Hehehe.”

Meril chuckled. “Did I? She is charming ever since I met her, but yes in skills, she was unremarkable.”

“You were wrong I guess.”

“Indeed… But I should say, this is more than her turning out pretty smart. Please guide your daughter before she makes up something that will be too much.”

“... Y-Yes. Now then, I suppose I should call for her, she still has something else to talk about.”

“If you don’t mind me prying, what will she be talking about?”

“As she said, something personal.”

“No intention of sharing your thoughts? Honestly, the crown has a lot of secrets, which I imagine my sister has become aware of.”

“Oh yes, yes, she is aware.”

“... I am aware she has been studying old documents and some others, all being sent to her personally. I never thought she would be one be interested in those things nowadays. Although the old relics had stopped coming, I imagine she had run out of materials to take. Does the secret has something to do with those old things?”

“None can easily get past through you, huh?”

“So I am correct?”

“Heh, who knows? Now then, I should have her called.”

“Ah, I’ll take care of it.”

Meril stood up and went to the princess’s study room.

***

“Now I’m very curious to read what you have written, princess.”

I turned my gaze towards Rogan standing beside me.

“Is that so?”

“I mean, you got both the king and the marquis pretty shook. What is it about exactly?”

“Just countermeasures. But if you want to know, I won’t stop you. Just… given how worried my father and uncle were, well, you have to be prepared for the consequences of knowing what is written.”

I was merely scaring him a little, just teasing. Definitely nothing very bad would happen to him if he knew.

“Is that what you have been busy with, your highness? That written work.” Vernon asked.

“Mm, yes. Well, one of them at least.”

“I see. Ah, given that you might be busy for a while, when are you going to continue your training?”

“Soon. I don’t know. I will be busy for a time, that is certain.” I turned to Mera. “I’m sorry Mera, looks like we have to pause our training.”

“Um, I don’t mind, milady.”

“By the way, have you been progressing well?”

Mera hesitated as if she didn’t know how to answer it, and shifted her gaze towards Vernon. I guess that’s understandable, Vernon was the teacher after all. Only he can tell how much progress a student was making.

“She’s doing well. As what is surmised, she has more affinity towards Physical Enhancement than of magic spells.”

“Oh, that’s great Mera. Congratulations!” I said with a wide and sweet smile.

“T-Thank you.” She lowered her head with a smile, a blush on her cheek.

She’s blushing with just that much of a compliment? Oh goodness, I really perhaps went over the line somewhere… let’s um… carefully traverse this moving forward. I have to, you know, minimize that feeling of love she has… I kinda feel bad for letting her feel some unrequited love.

Ah crap, since when have I started worrying about this kind of normal stuff? Been for a while, it would seem. This made me recall Lucious… Haaaah, things always do not go smoothly…

And this was one of the things that made me so pissed off about all this crap.

A short while later, came knockings on the door. I indicated for Vernon to open. Turned out it was my uncle… dammit…

Anyways, I let him enter of course.

“Hello Estelia, we have made the decision, come meet your father.”

They made their decision pretty quickly.

I nodded before standing up and walking beside my uncle to my father’s office. First things first, I was about to either go in front or behind him. But he just moved beside me. Dammit Mizia, your father’s annoying as fuck. Yes, I get annoyed when there’s someone concerning that just popped up that I can’t do anything about.

“Estelia, are you now fond of reading?” he suddenly asked.

“.... N-No…” what a weird question.

“Have you been studying hard?”

“I at least am taking it seriously…”

“Mm, that’s good. Did you reference your plans from somewhere?”

“... I don’t know how to answer that…”

“Is that so…?” he stared at me with a neutral expression. “I hope to talk with you more, your insights might be needed to carry out your plans in the actual field.”

“All details, precautions, and responses have been laid out, I don’t think I will be needed.”

“Even so, those written cannot always work in the real world. Given that you are the one who made it, your input will be essential when adapting to unexpected situations.”

“So it has been agreed, huh.”

“... Let us talk when I return next time, I’ll even bring Mizia.”

Crap… He’s up to something…

Shortly, we arrived at my father’s office.

“Leave your servants outside for the time being.”

I agreed to what my uncle said and entered inside without my servants. I sat down on the chair by my father’s desk.

“Uncle said it has been agreed, father.”

“Oh yes… But your plans here will be only in my hands and a few others.”

“That is fine by me.”

“We’ll also be studying it.”

“S-Studying it…? For what?”

“This will be a good study material for the future, a way to counter any threat to the nation.”

“Okay…? But if you think it’s that big of a deal, it should only be studied by a handful of people.”

“Yes. Then you will allow it to be read by scholars then?”

That’s… huh…

“Before that, I want you to give me the details of the scholars to be involved. Their background, personal details, personality, just important and deep details.”

“...”

“That’s fair. I can provide you with that.”

“Thank you, uncle. That said, I request that you hold off on studying the material for the time being, until I finish my other matter.”

I don’t want to divide my attention to something else yet.

“... And what is this matter, daughter?”

“I will only talk about it with you, father.”

“...Hmm, alright… Meril, leave us.”

Meril excused himself out of the room and closed the door.

“Father, I will need your permission and support to finish those in the city that are hunting me.”

“You mean those strange creatures?”

“Yes. First I will need the soldiers of the church.”

“That can be arranged…”

“And some knights.”

Father frowned. “... What exactly are you planning? Are you planning to breach every city door?”

“Nothing so crude. I have my plan, but nothing is certain yet. I only want to make sure I have the support I need when the time comes.”

“What are you planning exactly, my daughter…?”

“I expect there will fighting depending on where the enemies are hiding. Which is likely anywhere in the city.”

Father narrowed his eyes, there must be something he disliked. “Estelia, you’re planning to have a battle in the middle of the city? I can’t have that.”

“... Collateral damage will be at a minimum in a controlled environment. That is why I need numbers to also handle the civilians in the area.”

“Estelia, I won’t allow magical battle in the middle of the city.”

“If you fear that there will be sudden breaches on every door and an all-out uncontrolled battle, there will be no such thing, if it goes according to the plan. Chaos will be at the minimum I assure you.”

“Even so—”

“Father, are you just going to allow enemies of the state to roam freely on our streets? The ones you have ordered to hunt down those creatures not only failed the opportunity that I gave them but also never made any kind of progress on finding them. This has gone long enough.”

Father looked away as if pondering. A moment later, he looked at me again.

“The damages must be minimal.”

“Of course. If we’re even luckier, they might be situated outside the city.”

Which might complicate things.

“Then, I assume I will be leading this mission?”

“No, I will personally oversee this operation.”

“What?!” his eyes widened as if in disbelief at what he had just heard. “Estelia, you have no experience in leading a group of soldiers.”

“I will lead this operation, I will take command, full authority. I will not allow any more failure.”

“W-Why?”

“Father…”

My father shook his head, disgruntled. “This is too much, Estelia. Ordering a large group of soldiers is not easy, even more so to one who never experienced doing so.”

“I need to do this, father. Rogan and Vernon will be beside me, in case I need help.”

“... Of course…” he sighed. “Very well. When you need men, you will have it and I will have you in command.”

“Thank you, father. Then one last thing…”

“Alright…?”

“I want Allie, my treacherous former chef, to be under my jurisdiction. I can do as I please with her. Until I am done with her”

“Why would you want her?”

“She is a crucial part of the plan. I will need her help. If everything goes well with her, expect collateral damage to be at a minimum.”

“... Your plans… Sometimes I find it hard to understand. But fine, she is yours.”

I smiled softly. “Thank you, father. I am grateful. You’re the best.”