“I will become the king of this kingdom! I’ll create a kingdom where everyone is happy without having to be wary of the empire!”

12 years ago.

Young Ian Del Chersi boldly declared her ambition.

“My beloved daughter.”

King Mollin Del Chersi smiled.

His lips curved up sorrowfully.

His eyes were filled with sadness.

King Mollin, wearing a complex expression, said, “You cannot become king.”

As that firm voice became etched in her mind, Ian opened her eyes.

“…”

She looked around with empty eyes.

A familiar interior.

It was her room.

‘Another dream…’

The dream that appeared whenever she was about to forget, was like a persistent ghost.

As if to make her realize reality.

It felt like a warning not to dream futile dreams.

“Sigh.”

She got up from bed after letting out a light sigh.

The time was five in the morning.

As always, it was the time when Ian Del Chersi’s day began.

“Phew!”

Her mind cleared instantly as cold water touched her face.

After finishing a simple face wash.

She changed into light clothing and opened the door.

As usual, the maid waiting in front of the door bowed her head.

“I shall attend to you.”

The place she moved to following the maid is the inner courtyard right in front.

There, the royal knight Glong was waiting.

Seeing him, Ian smiled brightly.

“Today it’s Sir Glong. I look forward to working with you.”

“It’s an honor to be with you, Princess.”

“Let’s begin right away.”

“Yes!”

The dawn sword training naturally begins.

Though the sun hadn’t risen yet, both were full of enthusiasm.

“You must always keep your eyes open. Don’t miss even the slightest movement of your opponent!”

“Don’t focus solely on swinging the sword! Move your feet! Remember that everything always begins with the feet!”

Sweat poured like rain during the intense training that continued for nearly an hour.

“Thank you for your hard work.”

“Thank you.”

Knight Glong bowed his head while putting away the training sword.

Ian nodded with a smile as she always did.

After training comes bath time.

Five maids attended to her bath.

The Kingdom of Chersi traditionally placed great importance on bathing.

To them, bathing wasn’t simply an act of washing the body.

It was closer to a kind of ritual.

This was because they believed it expelled evil from the body and purified the mind.

Therefore, even in rural territories, public bathing facilities were never absent.

Nobles and royalty showed off their wealth by how large a bathroom they had in their mansion.

These people took bathing seriously enough to spend two to three hours, sometimes even five hours bathing daily.

“Thank you.”

Finally, Ian’s bath ended.

With the maids’ help, her bath time didn’t exceed 30 minutes.

This was extremely short considering even ordinary commoners bathed for over an hour daily.

“This is today’s dress.”

After bathing comes time for grooming.

That too within 30 minutes.

This is extremely short considering even daughters of noble families spend over two to three hours on grooming.

In fact, even this was originally less than 10 minutes but was inevitably extended due to consideration for others’ expectations.

“Let’s move right away.”

“Yes.”

After grooming, she immediately participates in the morning mass that starts at 8 o’clock.

After mass comes morning work reports.

After that, lunch and a short afternoon nap.

Then afternoon work again.

When evening comes, dinner followed by evening mass.

After all these schedules end, it becomes night, when she does personal study.

Then at twelve midnight.

Only then does she lie in bed and close her eyes.

Like this, her days were filled without gaps every day.

12 years ago.

Since the day when she, at 12 years old, was told she couldn’t become king.

Until now, she had maintained this schedule without missing a single day.

With only one determination – to seize the position of king through her own power.

“Ian. It’s been a while.”

“Oh my, Kian. What brings you here?”

Kian Del Chersi.

Ian’s younger brother. In other words, the prince.

He appeared with many Deusis faith priests and holy knights and sat next to Ian.

Though a solemn mass was in progress, no one dared to challenge his movement.

“Have you thought about what I said before?”

“What do you mean?”

When Ian asked with a nonchalant expression, Kian’s face distorted.

“Don’t play dumb. I asked you to support me for the royal succession.”

“Ah~ Right. You did.”

“So. What do you think?”

Kian turned his head to look at the waiting priests and holy knights.

“As you know, I have implicit support from Gatren. If I become king, we can have Gatren’s power behind us.”

Kian moved his hips closer to Ian and whispered.

“Of course, I also know that guy Logan has connections with Drason.”

“And?”

“Our Chersi Kingdom should join hands with Gatren rather than Drason! That’s why I should become king.”

After that, Kian gave a long speech about why Gatren is greater than Drason.

“Ah, has it already gotten this late.”

As mass was about to end, Kian let out a sigh.

“I don’t know what Father is thinking by keeping the succession seat empty, but this isn’t a good situation. It only breeds conflict.”

“That’s true.”

Ian nodded.

Keeping the successor’s position empty is dangerous.

It was the only statement she agreed with in their nearly hour-long conversation.

“So please support me, sister. And put in a good word with Father too. Father dotes on you completely.”

“I’ll think about it.”

“No, don’t think about it, just listen to me…!”

“Sorry. It’s time for work reports now. Let’s continue this conversation next time.”

Ian stood up and left the chapel.

She didn’t need to see what expression Kian was making behind her to know.

‘Stupid fool.’

Having Gatren’s backing?

There’s a limit to delusions.

Kian would just be a puppet tangled in Gatren’s vines, being manipulated.

He might think he’ll grow the kingdom with Gatren’s power, but well.

To Ian, it looked no different from handing over the entire kingdom to Gatren.

“Ian. I have something to say.”

During her walk, someone else came looking for Ian.

For just a moment.

Ian’s expression distorted, but quickly returned to a smile.

“Logan. What is it?”

“About what I said before. What do you think?”

Logan Del Chersi.

The king’s third child.

Like his brother, he had also asked Ian to support him as successor.

Ian swallowed a bitter smile.

‘What day is this…’

They are brothers after all.

It’s strange how they both come bothering her on the same day.

Of course, contrary to these thoughts, her expression remained smiling.

The second prince Logan frowned as he looked at his sister.

“Unlike our stupid brother, you’re smart, sister. You must understand what I mean?”

“That Gatren is dangerous?”

“Yes! Gatren is hiding ambitions to devour the continent. Starting with our kingdom. To prevent that, we must join hands with Drason.”

Ian nodded.

At least he is slightly more worth listening to than his stupid brother.

Of course, even so, he couldn’t escape from a one-dimensional level.

“I’m not sure. But I’ll think about it.”

“This isn’t something that’ll work by just thinking about it! Father needs to quickly decide the succession and sort out this situation. If not, we’ll be taken by Gatren…”

“Sorry, but I don’t have time. Let’s continue this conversation later.”

“Sister! Wait!”

Ignoring Logan’s voice from behind.

Ian moved to her office.

“Damn it! Just because she’s a bit smart, getting so full of herself…”

Logan’s curse could be faintly heard, but she ignored it.

It wasn’t the first time this had happened anyway.

She had heard such words countless times before.

‘Ian. You cannot become king.’

‘Princess. Your role is not to handle state affairs.’

‘Sister. Stop doing unnecessary things and join my side, will you?’

‘Ian. I hear Count Sothron’s son is courting you. As your mother, I think there’s no better condition than that. Shouldn’t you think about your age now?’

Ian, who lives more diligently than anyone.

The reactions from those around her were always similar.

Contempt. Mockery. Pity.

From their perspective, Ian, who didn’t do what a woman should properly do, sometimes felt like a kind of mutant.

Even other women couldn’t understand Ian.

No, they rather despised and mocked her more severely.

They treated Ian, who tried to live a different life from theirs, as a crazy person.

They said she was bringing hardship upon herself when she could live a comfortable life.

They were busy whispering behind her back, saying she was making a fuss just because she was a bit smart.

“Hahaha…”

Ian just laughed.

The smile that had unknowingly become a habit at some point.

When she wore this smile that everyone praised as beautiful.

Actually, it was when Ian felt the saddest.

‘It’s okay. Pull yourself together. Keep smiling.’

Realizing her expression had distorted, Ian smiled again.

Otherwise, she felt her expression would become too gloomy.

Ian smiled as she always had.

‘I wonder when they’ll really decide on the succession?’

Suddenly, her brother Logan’s words crossed her mind.

That Father needs to decide the succession quickly.

Though she doesn’t like it, it’s true.

At this rate, a big fight might break out between the two prince factions.

Though it’s the lesser evil, they needed to decide the succession as soon as possible.

Why doesn’t King Mollin decide on the succession?

Perhaps he’s playing tug-of-war between Drason and Gatren.

After all, it was thanks to such tug-of-war diplomacy that a small kingdom like Chersi had survived until now.

‘Either way, it’s fortunate for me.’

Ian’s smile deepened.

Finally arriving at her office.

With only the royal knight and servant helping with work remaining.

She said, “How is it progressing?”

“It’s almost complete. Reports show 90% of the houses have finished preparations.”

“Tell them to check again even if preparations are complete. Provide intensive support to houses that aren’t ready yet.”

“Yes.”

“We don’t have much time left.”

Ian’s smile, unlike usual, contained a cold chill.

It felt solemn.

She continued, “This is our first and last chance. To remove the rotten foundation of the kingdom…”

That’s when the royal knight moved.

Swoosh-! Crash!

A quickly thrown dagger shattered the window and stuck into a tree outside.

Ian stood up startled.

“What happened!?”

“My apologies. I sensed movement outside.”

The royal knight watched outside with sharp eyes.

After staring outside for a while, he bowed his head.

“I seem to have been mistaken.”

Ian let out a deep sigh.

“It’s alright. It’s a sensitive time, so that can happen.”

She patted the royal knight’s shoulder and sat back down.

“Call a craftsman later to repair the window. Let’s continue work like this for today.”

After giving orders to the servant, Ian started working as if nothing had happened.

Behind her, the royal knight still wore an uneasy expression.

‘I definitely felt something…’

***

A little distance from Ian’s office.

Choi Hyun-seok let out the breath he’d been holding.

“Shit… Thought my heart would stop.”

“Rachel almost screamed.”

Choi Hyun-seok and Rachel slumped to the ground, clutching their chests.

“See. I told you I had a bad feeling.”

“Oh please. Says the one stalking with a perverted grin!?”

“Hey now, watch your words. It’s not stalking, it’s infiltration investigation! Like spying!”

“Yeah yeah~ Whatever you say.”

Stung by this, Choi Hyun-seok raised his voice, but it had no effect on Rachel.

“Why you…!”

He was about to hit her on the head but held back.

To be completely honest, the investigation was just an excuse – he really just wanted to see Ian.

But they ended up hearing something they shouldn’t have.

“So Hero, what should we do? That blue fox seems to be plotting something!”

“Well…”

From the circumstances, it’s clear Ian is planning something.

Though exactly what it is, they don’t know.

But it was clearly not something they could pretend they hadn’t seen and ignore.

There would probably be much bloodshed.

“Sigh, unexpected work like this should come with extra pay.”

Choi Hyun-seok got up after sighing and rubbing his face.

“Let’s move for now. We need to gather more information.”

Ian Del Chersi.

They needed to find out exactly what she was plotting behind that always innocent smiling face.

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