Chapter 10

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Translator: Harry Potta

Chapter: 6-1

Chapter Title: Chapter 3

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The next day, the Inspection Office announced Sonya's crimes.

She had been found guilty of using foreign characters, and of trying to frame someone else for it.

But that wasn't all. It also came to light that she had embezzled retirement funds from term maids, misappropriated funds from the Chief Maid Department, and abused innocent maids.

The Servant Oversight Department stripped Sonya of her position, branded her a criminal, and sentenced her to exile. Heather, who had been complicit in her actions, was given three years in prison.

Supreme Maid Chief Odel selected a new head for the Crown Prince Palace's Chief Maid Department.

"This is 'Cindy,' who will take over as Chief Maid Supervisor of the Crown Prince Palace. She comes to pay her respects to Your Highness."

A soft-featured woman in her forties entered the office and bowed to the Crown Prince.

"Mm. I hope you'll look after the Crown Prince Palace well alongside Gerard from now on."

"I will do my utmost, Your Highness."

Cindy seemed to have already gauged the Crown Prince's temperament; she offered her greetings without further ado and withdrew promptly.

Leona was quietly pleased with Odel's choice.

Cindy might look gentle on the outside, but she was a woman of firm resolve.

She kept her mouth shut and acted with caution, never easily caught up in the palace intrigues. In her past life, she had risen to become the head of the Attire Department.

(Attire Department: The department responsible for producing and managing all clothing, bedding, and similar items used in the palace.)

Leona hoped she would hold strong against the Empress.

Once Cindy had left, Kamin quietly called out to Leona.

"Leona."

"Yes, Your Highness."

Kamin pointed to the tea Leona had brought.

Steam was rising gently from his cup.

"What's this tea?"

Leona replied with a faint smile.

"It's ginger tea. It warms the body and helps prevent colds."

"I don't have a cold."

"Preventing illness is key."

Kamin found the smell unbearable and pinched his nose, pushing the cup away.

"Enough. Bring me some mint tea."

"Ah... well..."

"What's wrong?"

Leona clasped her hands together and bowed deeply, looking deeply apologetic.

"The tea leaves have spoiled, so I can't make any."

"Spoiled?"

"Yes. Due to a storage error, the mint leaves went bad, so I discarded all of them from the palace."

"Discarded them?"

"Yes."

Kamin let out an incredulous chuckle.

"And what is this?"

Leona calmly answered about the snack the Crown Prince was pointing to.

"It's a tart."

"...Is there such a thing as a chili tart?"

"I heard chilies have many health benefits, so I made it specially."

Leona stepped closer, spearing a piece with a fork and offering it to the Crown Prince.

Kamin recoiled in horror.

"Your Highness, I put a lot of effort into this. Please, just try a bite."

"G-get that away from me!"

"Your Highness?"

Kamin shot to his feet, pointing accusingly.

"You know I hate spicy food!"

"Pardon? Did you? I had no idea."

Kamin pressed his temple, watching Leona's brazen response.

"Leona..."

"Yes, Your Highness."

"Don't think for a second that this will make me grant your request."

"This servant has no idea what Your Highness means."

Kamin was left utterly speechless by Leona's innocent act.

"Leona, are you really going?"

Miranda kept repeating the same question for the umpteenth time.

Seeing her worried face, Leona felt guilty but gave the same answer.

"Yeah. I am."

"That's a battlefield. It's incredibly, incredibly... dangerous..."

"It's fine. I'm not going out to fight in the war myself. I'll stay inside the camp. It's safe there, so don't worry."

Miranda started to protest but stopped at Leona's resolute gaze.

"What if His Highness ultimately forbids it?"

"Then... I'll just follow secretly."

Miranda shook her head at Leona's firm determination. She had a feeling even the Crown Prince wouldn't break that will.

At that very hour, as Leona and Miranda lay down to sleep, Kamin bolted upright in bed and called for an attendant.

"Did you need something, Your Highness?"

Kamin pointed to the bed, his tone furious.

"What's with this quilt?"

The close attendant servant bowed in alarm at the Crown Prince's anger.

"It's a duck down quilt."

"Duck down?"

"The night is chilly, so we changed it out fresh. Is... it not to your liking?"

Kamin suppressed his rising ire and asked quietly.

"Was this... Leona's doing?"

"Ah, yes. Leona personally replaced all the bedding."

The attendant brightened, thinking the Crown Prince would be pleased since it was Leona's work.

Kamin barely contained his erupting rage with a deep breath.

"Hoo... Fine. I understand. You're dismissed."

"Yes, Your Highness."

After the attendant left, Kamin hurled the quilt and pillows from the bed to the floor.

Upon closer inspection, not just the quilt but even the mattress cover had been swapped for a thick, insulating one.

Kamin slumped into a chair, rubbing his forehead.

She'd slyly changed the pillow for one with superior warmth, driving him mad, and now she'd gotten to the bedding too.

This pettiness knew no bounds.

Kamin reached for the liquor bottle on the table but paused.

"How the hell did she find out about this too..."

The evening's drink, specially prepared per Leona's instructions, was snake liquor—the one thing Kamin despised most.

Kamin collapsed face-first onto the table in defeat.

Leona's antics were outrageous, but nitpicking each trivial one would only diminish the Crown Prince's dignity.

"Hoo... Just endure it for a few days. Just a few days."

He'd be leaving the Imperial Palace in a week; he'd hold out until then, Kamin told himself.

Normally, the Crown Prince trained at dawn every morning in the training grounds with his guards.

But for the past few days, he had been training alone without them.

He had exempted them from dawn training so they could focus on expedition preparations.

Yet this dawn, New Moon Cavalry deputy commander Casey arrived at the training grounds and requested a spar with the Crown Prince.

Kamin gladly accepted.

Using the spar as an excuse, he thoroughly thrashed Casey, venting the stress built up all night.

But as soon as the spar ended and he stepped down from the platform, his mood plummeted again.

Leona offered him a steaming basin of scalding hot water while his body was still flushed from exertion.

After eyeing the dangerously hot basin for a long moment, Kamin curled his lips toward Leona.

"Leona."

"Yes, Your Highness."

Kamin forced his voice and expression to be as gentle as possible.

"You've worked hard attending me these days. You look pale lately—must be fatigue."

"Me?"

Leona touched her cheek questioningly.

"Yes, definitely. So I'm giving you leave. Step back from your duties and rest well for the time being."

"Your Highness."

Kamin raised a hand to cut her off.

"Rest deeply—very deeply—until my departure. That's an order."

"...Understood. Thank you, Your Highness."

Leona accepted so readily that Kamin grew suspicious.

He eyed her narrowly.

She stood with her head bowed, shoulders slumped.

She looked dejected, as if her stubbornness had finally broken and she'd given up. Kamin left the training grounds with a lighter heart.

As the Crown Prince moved, the entourage—excluding Leona—followed.

Miranda glanced worriedly at the crestfallen Leona before trailing after him.

Once everyone had gone, Casey rose groaning from his aches and stepped down from the platform.

Thrilled just to have crossed swords with the Crown Prince—even if he'd been pummeled—he hummed a tune as he exited the grounds, only to spot Leona standing alone.

Having observed her over time, Casey knew Leona was no ordinary person.

Not just him—none of the Crown Prince's guards underestimated her for being young or a woman.

The rumor that Leona was persistently asking to join the war had spread throughout the Crown Prince Palace.

Casey opposed women on the battlefield, but Leona's downcast figure tugged at his heartstrings.

"Lady Leona, are you all right?"

Intending to comfort her, he patted her shoulder but froze upon seeing her face as she looked up.

Contrary to his expectations, her expression was perfectly fine.

"Thank you for your concern. But I'm perfectly okay."

"Ah... so it seems."

Casey quickly withdrew his hand and backed away stealthily.

"Then I'll be going..."

"Wait a moment, please."

"Yes!"

Casey instinctively snapped to attention.

Leona approached the rigid Casey.

"Deputy Commander, could I ask a favor?"

"Of course. Anything you command."

"I'd like to learn how to maintain armor and weapons. Would you teach me?"

"Uh... that's... usually left to squires, so I'm not..."

Casey scratched his head, fumbling, then caught Leona's blank stare and changed tack immediately.

"I'll learn it by tomorrow and teach you."

"I want to know now... Are you busy?"

"No, what would I have to be busy with? I'll go learn it right away."

As Casey bolted out of the training grounds like an arrow, Leona called after him.

"I'll be in the rear garden—come there!"

After sending Casey off, Leona left the training grounds and headed to the palace's east gate.

Even at this early hour, the gate stood wide open, bustling with people and goods.

They were rushing Crown Prince-exclusive supplies into the palace ahead of the imminent expedition.

A portly middle-aged man was loudly directing the laborers hauling goods.

He darted nimbly about despite his bulk, checking items against ledgers, until he spotted Leona and came running with arms raised high.

"Oh, Lady Leona! Welcome."

"Mr. Org, you're working hard since dawn."

"Not at all. How could I slack on such an important task?"

Org Yan, head of Yan Trading Company—which held a monopoly on palace supplies—was one of the empire's top magnates.

Having been tasked with provisioning the Crown Prince and his guards, he was personally overseeing despite his heavy frame.

"What brings you so early today?"

"His Highness excused me from duties to focus more on expedition prep."

"As expected of His Highness's favor. Haha."

Org flashed a thumbs-up in flattery.

"It's humbling to be cherished despite my shortcomings."

Leona parried shamelessly without batting an eye, then abruptly extended her hand.

Org placed the ledger in her palm.

Leona opened it and began reviewing the inventory.

Org rubbed his hands beside her, reporting progress.

"As you advised, I consulted northwest caravans. We added some medical supplies and swapped certain siege materials. The changes are noted on the next page."

"You prepared plenty of mint tea and jujubes, right?"

"Would I forget?"

Leona scrutinized the ledger with a sharp gaze.

Org fidgeted like a dog desperate to relieve itself.

"How many wagons does this make?"

"Including guards' supplies, six in total."

"Too much weight is no good. His Highness wants speed, so increase wagons if needed but lighten each load."

"Understood."

"I won't forget your efforts and will report them to His Highness."

Leona returned the ledger, boosting his spirits.

Org bloomed like a sprout after rain.

"Thank you, Lady Leona!"

At that moment, Barts arrived at the east gate.

Org rubbed his hands at Barts too, acting ingratiatingly.

Barts responded awkwardly, then led Leona to a quieter spot.

"As you suggested, skipping the honor guard at the departure ceremony got His Highness's approval on the documents. But Gerard is far from pleased—thinks it's too curt."

"My advice to you stays secret from the Chief Servant Supervisor, got it?"

Barts nodded gravely.

"Lucky Gerard's swamped with ceremony prep... If he knew you were overseeing supplies instead of me... I'd be dead."

Barts broke into a fresh sweat at the thought.

Leona comforted him and asked about the item she'd requested.

"I prepared servant clothes in your size..."

Barts eyed her suspiciously.

"Why'd you ask for that? Don't tell me you're planning to disguise yourself as a servant and sneak along...?"

"Of course not. Just prepping my luggage in case His Highness permits it. Skirts hinder movement, so servant attire it is."

Barts wiped his brow, relieved.

"Phew... I worried you'd gone off the rails."

"I'm not that reckless. Don't worry."

"Hmm... Your recent actions still make me uneasy."

Leona smoothed over Barts's concerns with a smile and turned back toward the Crown Prince Palace.

As she started to leave, Org came running with an armful of something.

He offered Leona a large paper bag brimming with pomegranates.

"The fruit you mentioned. I bought up every last one in the markets."

"Ah! You remembered. Thank you."

"It's nothing."

Leona's rare delight made Org feel proud for once.

She lavished him with promises to inform His Highness of his diligence, then headed to the rear garden.

Nacha should be alone there by now. Imagining the horse's joy at the pomegranates, Leona quickened her pace.

Just as she reached the Crown Prince Palace, she ran into Jahankun.

He was on his way out and passed her without acknowledgment.

"Mr. Jahankun."

Jahankun halted and turned.

Leona smiled softly and offered him a pomegranate.

"Would you like one?"

Jahankun stared blankly before extending his arm.

Leona placed it in his palm.

"This is a bribe."

As Jahankun tilted his head, she added,

"I heard you're going with His Highness too. Please look after me on the battlefield."

Jahankun remained silent.

Undeterred, Leona made her plea once more before entering the palace.

Jahankun watched her small, straight back, then pocketed the pomegranate.

The Emperor resumed state affairs, urging the Crown Prince to focus fully on the war.

In response, the Crown Prince spent the day in the conference room of the Crown Prince Palace, preparing.

The Prime Minister, Military Affairs Department ministers, and officials came and went ceaselessly.

Reports flooded in with new intelligence, and war meetings continued nonstop.

"...It seems Katago Tribe chieftain Cher Taru Han's illness is severe. He declared that the 'Har' with the greatest war merits in this conflict... Ah, 'Har' refers to the chieftain's sons. Anyway, he's promised the next chieftaincy to that Har. Our intel shows 8th Har and 13th Har as top candidates, and these two are commanding the Katago forces invading our land."

"Two commanders?"

When the Military Affairs minister asked, the reporting official quickly clarified.

"Their factions are evenly matched, so the chieftain likely assigned joint command."

"Hah. Turning our territory into their succession battlefield."

The minister slammed his fist on the desk in frustration.

Kamin skimmed the report, then rose from his seat.

All eyes in the room turned to him.

"Next Katago target?"

An official answered promptly.

"Heiran."

Kamin eyed the map spread on the long table, muttering.

"Charging straight for the capital without pause. Sent a courier to Heiran's lord?"

"Yes. Ordered him to abandon the domain and evacuate immediately."

"Mm. River below will slow them. I'll arrive here first and meet them."

Kamin jabbed the map with his baton.

The tip pointed to the vast forest labeled Tegoya.

"I'll halt their advance here. The Katago won't cross this forest."

The Military Affairs minister and officials straightened, eyes gleaming at his declaration.

Kamin shifted the baton slightly down to a fortress on the plain abutting Tegoya Forest.

"This fortress's lord is Count Hunt Burnier, correct?"

"Yes."

"Send military orders to all western lords. Assemble their private troops at this fortress before I arrive."

"Understood."

The official left upon command, and another stepped forward to report the imperial army's expedition readiness.

The force accompanying the Crown Prince was the empire's 1st Cavalry, the New Moon Cavalry.

New Moon Cavalry commander Makia had been appointed vice-commander for this war.

This was entirely Kamin's decision.

Makia was the empire's greatest swordsman, a battle-hardened veteran of foreigner wars in his fifties.

Until recently, however, he had been on suspension pending disciplinary action.

His steadfast nature and blunt speech had irked the Emperor.

Kamin admired his talents, summoned him, lifted the discipline, and made him his vice-commander.

Kamin glanced sidelong at Makia seated beside him.

The tall middle-aged man sat rigid as stone, absorbing the reports.

Seeing his stern face, Kamin's lips tugged downward.

Stuck with this gruff old man until the war ended—his fate suddenly felt bleak.

Feeling stifled, Kamin absentmindedly reached for his teacup, realized it wasn't his favorite, and set it down.

Half-listening to reports, he moved to the window.

Gazing at the open sky eased his gloom.

Then a blue headband caught his eye passing below the second-floor conference window.

It was Leona.

Kamin pressed his face to the glass.

Leona was hugging a helmet, walking somewhere.

Bewildered, Kamin furrowed his brow.

As he debated calling her, a man ran up and fell in beside her—Deputy Commander Casey.

Casey trailed her at a hunchbacked trot, a comical sight.

"What on earth is she scheming..."

"Your Highness?"

Kamin snapped back at the official's call, distracted by the pair.

"Ahem."

Clearing his throat to refocus, he returned to his seat.

"Good report. It's nearly noon. Everyone, go eat lunch."

"Understood, Your Highness."

The ministers and officials rose, bowed, and filed out.

Kamin loosened his collar buttons with a sigh, then noticed the Prime Minister lingering.

"Prime Minister, something to say?"

The Prime Minister waited for the door to close, then approached.

"Your Highness, a question about what you mentioned before."

"Before?"

"The betrothal... to my daughter."

"Ah, that."

The Prime Minister swallowed dryly at Kamin's nonchalant tone.

"When do you plan to announce it?"

"Announce?"

"Before departure, perhaps?"

Kamin paused mid-page-turn, face hardening.

"Prime Minister, what situation are we in? Wartime. How could I bring up betrothals idly now?"

"...Then, at least meet my daughter before you go?"

"Sorry, no time. I want to focus solely on the war."

Flatly rejected, the Prime Minister paled. Kamin soothed him with appeasing words.

"Once I return victorious, we'll proceed. How's that?"

"...Understood, Your Highness."

"Mm, you're dismissed."

"Yes, Your Highness."

The Prime Minister withdrew with an unsettled expression.

Leona placed the Crown Prince's helmet in the armory rack and slipped out quietly.

"Lady Leona!"

Casey, waiting anxiously outside, hurried over and whispered.

"How was it? No one saw?"

Leona nudged him away with her elbow.

"The room was empty. Even if someone saw, no issue."

"No issue? There's a scratch on His Highness's helmet...!"

Casey raised his voice unwittingly, then clapped a hand over his mouth, scanning around.

Confirming no listeners, he sighed in relief.

Leona clicked her tongue at the sight.

"So timid for your size."

"It's your fault, Lady Leona. Why use His Highness's helmet for practice?"

"You clamored to see it, then dropped it, Deputy Commander."

Casey teared up as if about to cry at her point.

Leona quickly added,

"It's fine. Just a faint scratch, thin as a thread—no one will notice."

"But..."

Casey sniffled, choking up.

"But before departure, I scratched His Highness's armor too... If it mars his martial fortune and we lose this war... I... I..."

Casey burst into tears.

Leona recoiled, tempted to flee, but couldn't abandon the sobbing man covering his face. She stood by until he calmed.

As Casey regained composure, Leona spoke.

"Deputy Commander Casey."

"Yes..."

"Listen well. The likes of you can't affect His Highness's martial fortune."

"...Pardon?"

Leona explained clearly, enunciating each word to aid understanding.

"Even Commander Glenn can't match His Highness's toe. As if you could sway his victory? Enough nonsense."

"Ugh!"

Casey clutched his chest at the piercing words.

"Even if you threw and kicked His Highness's armor, he wouldn't care. Know why? You're less than the dirt under his nails."

"Gah!"

Casey threw up both hands in surrender.

"Please, stop. I beg you."

"No more digging holes to bury yourself, right?"

Casey nodded vigorously.

"Harsh, but reassuring. Yes. How could someone like me affect His Highness?"

Casey looked relieved, though his eyes still darted to the armory. Leona hesitated, then decided to fully ease his worry.

"Deputy Commander, truly no need to fret."

"I know, but..."

"I guarantee it. His Highness will win this war. Bet on it."

Casey stared at her confident face, dazed.

"...Strange. Hearing you fills me with certainty of victory."

Leona smiled and walked past him.

She knew this war's outcome.

That's why she could affirm it.

The Crown Prince would win.

So Leona wasn't worried about victory or defeat.

The problem was that this war would create the decisive pretext for the Crown Prince's downfall and abdication.

In her past life, the Crown Prince crushed the Katago Tribe, driving them beyond the border.

Ending the war, he secretly signed a pact with one commander, 13th Har.

They made two copies, each keeping one—but the Crown Prince's fell into the Empress's hands.

One day in her past life, the Empress showed Leona the pact.

It was the amity treaty between the Crown Prince and 13th Har.

If the Katago released imperial prisoners and ceased border incursions, the Crown Prince would foster close ties and promote trade once he ascended as Emperor.

The Empress ordered Leona to forge it.

Alter it to claim the Crown Prince was secretly colluding with the Katago, plotting rebellion with their support.

Leona hesitated then.

13th Har held the original; faking only the Crown Prince's risked exposure.

But the Empress was unconcerned.

She said 13th Har had no original—rest assured.

She explained: On the pact day, 13th Har was killed by 8th Har, who framed the Hamel Empire's Crown Prince.

8th Har destroyed 13th Har's copy and took chieftaincy—no one left to speak of the real pact.

That's when Leona realized.

The Empress had forces outside the palace working for her.

Leona felt awe toward the Empress anew. For her, she stole the Crown Prince's personal ink and seal to forge the pact.

The Empress publicized the forgery, attacking the Crown Prince.

Already under bloodline suspicion, he was branded a traitor and deposed.

It all stemmed from 13th Har's death and the pact.

From past experience, Leona knew clearly.

What to do to protect the Crown Prince.

'Protect the pact and prevent 13th Har's death.'

To do that, Leona had to join the war.