Previously
Cecilia reviews applications for her personal guard and is delighted to find Cain's name, confirming her plan to secure Emily's future ally is on track. She decides to expand her influence by creating a larger personal faction and seeks an audience with Grace to discuss her future role.
I offered a faint smile at Grace's question, which had played out exactly as I had anticipated.
‘I deliberately spoke in a slightly provocative tone.’
A profound sense of satisfaction welled up inside me as the conversation unfolded according to plan.
The premise had originated from my desire to find Cain and lend him a hand… yet at the same time, it was also for the imperial family.
Perhaps it was the only way I could ever repay the imperial family, who continued to cherish me for who I was despite my complete lack of holy power.
‘Because I know what the future holds twelve years from now.’
It was genuinely fortunate that Leoport’s enemies happened to be a thorn in the imperial family’s side as well.
If I could secure peace for our family while helping Leoport and Emily find love, it would truly be killing two birds with one stone.
I spoke in a firm, confident tone,
“Since they hold power within the framework of the empire, they will not dare reach beyond that.”
Moreover, given the imperial family's staggering holy power, the nobles would never dream of overthrowing the regime.
“Even so, I suspect they believe that rattling public sentiment will improve their standing. Weakening the Imperial Faction has always been their goal. That is precisely why I have heard information guilds are beginning to thrive.”
I spoke while recalling how Rosivius, who would later become the savior of the Noble Faction, had woven his conspiracies using an information guild.
‘It would also be prudent to keep an eye on the movements of Marquis Alfinus’s family and Rosivius well in advance.’
That young boy I had crossed paths with in the palace not long ago… it was hard to imagine he would turn into such a figure.
“So, something of a similar nature…”
“Yes. Ultimately, I wish to establish a continent-wide intelligence network. You are aware that I have decided to bring commoner trainees into my personal guard this time, right? I intend to use them for this purpose.”
“Is there truly a need to take on the burden of creating something entirely new?”
She meant that the Imperial Knights already possessed an intelligence network extending into other lands, such as the Eastern and Southern Continents.
“Catching signs beforehand is an entirely different matter. If we wish to move within the empire undetected by the eyes of the nobility, we will require an entirely different approach.”
I added carefully,
“I do not mean to disparage the capabilities of the Imperial Army or the investigative bureau in the slightest.”
My argument regarding the need to monitor the Noble Faction seemed reasonable enough, as Grace’s eyes narrowed slightly.
And of course it was reasonable. If the Emperor’s Faction and the Noble Faction were destined to clash openly ten years from now, the precursors to that division had to be surfacing already.
“So, you wish to employ the knights you train on my behalf?”
“Until I come of age, I wish to test them here and there to see how they might be used. My budget is limited to the privy purse, so if you support me, I will have them carry out whatever tasks you require.”
“While keeping up the appearance that they are merely your personal guard.”
“Yes. Once I come of age, you may decide how to employ them and bestow appropriate ranks upon them.”
Delicate lines of gravity etched across Grace's poised brow.
It was by no means a simple decision. If this succeeded, it would amount to establishing a new intelligence organization under Grace’s supervision from the very beginning.
However, if it were ever brought to light, it could easily become a lightning rod for political attacks.
‘Yet I am merely an innocent little ten-year-old princess. No one would ever suspect such a thing.’
After a long silence, Grace finally parted her lips.
“Then what manner of support do you require of me?”
“A great many people applied as trainees for the Sixth Squad this time. I would like to review their backgrounds more thoroughly, and I also wish to provide housing for them once they are knighted, as they will need social standing to carry out their duties.”
“…Since they will be joining your guard unit, their backgrounds must be vetted with utmost rigor several times over. Regardless of your proposal, I shall see to that matter myself.”
Grace did not offer an outright agreement, but her response was more than enough to let me know I had persuaded her to some degree.
Thus, the project to enlist trainees into my guard became a joint endeavor between the Crown Princess and the Second Princess, Roselia, Commander of the Third Battalion of the Holy Knights.
Grace immediately initiated rigorous background investigations into the seventy or so candidates who had passed the initial document screening.
‘One could consider it a thorough background check… of sorts.’
Their childhood reputations, their family circumstances, whether they shared suspicious ties with the knights who recommended them… all of it came under scrutiny.
After all, this was about selecting trusted retainers who would eventually serve under Grace’s rule in the future.
Thanks to this, the vetting process took far longer than anticipated, though with the Holy Knights' investigative division, the constabulary, and even local forces mobilized… the delay was kept within reason.
“I will also activate my channels with the Temple and inquire through the priests responsible for administrative affairs.”
It did not end there; Rebecca chimed in, announcing she would verify their affiliations since holy power was tied to the matter.
“And I cannot be left behind. I have built connections with several guilds myself.”
Theodore, having formed relationships with nobles across various factions through his charitable works, possessed a network that seemed boundless… to the point of enlisting information guilds to gather data the knights could not obtain publicly.
‘I had realized it when he brought cutting-edge magical tools from the Magic Tower during my secret outings… but is it truly necessary to use guilds just to check the backgrounds of trainees? This is going overboard… way overboard.’
All of these efforts were perceived as the result of the Emperor's unconditional backing… combined with the excessive protectiveness of my siblings.
Those with keen wits belatedly realized that the Crown Princess was signaling her intention to rely upon me, the Fourth Princess, in the future, and they were filled with regret.
‘Heh, by the time you finish your calculations, it will already be too late.’
After all, such things could never be forced anyway.
And so, the fifty or so selected candidates advanced to the second stage of the evaluation.
Naturally, Cain was among them.
‘His father served Baron Roseberry’s family for decades and is now the head butler… so his background is completely unimpeachable.’
The second stage commenced as palace attendants traveled to the candidates to notify them of passing the first phase and escort them back to the imperial palace.
The purpose was to prevent any foul play, such as substituting an applicant with someone else.
‘They said the evaluation would include a simple interview and a fitness exam… but they will first observe how they interact with the servants. They even plan to have them stay the night to inspect their habits.’
Overboard… truly overboard.
Well, since they would be serving imperial family members directly, it was only natural to scrutinize their conduct. I began to ponder the challenges Cain would face.
‘The palace guard unit he used to belong to was notorious for its difficulty even among the Imperial Knights, so he will hardly fail the fitness exam. As for his manners… since he was a virtuous character in the original story, he should be fine, right?’
Originally, I had not anticipated such an overwhelming number of applicants, assuming I could easily slip Cain in.
‘Even without backing, he is bound to become a knight regardless… so he will not stumble easily on any test. Yet with so many competitors… I cannot help but worry.’
As the candidates for the second stage arrived one after another at the Holy Knights' headquarters in the imperial palace, I sat in my chamber trying to conceal my tension, sipping citrus ginger tea—a veritable vitamin bomb.
‘The best scenario would be to become an examiner myself and award Cain top marks…’
Yet even though I had turned ten, my sisters evidently felt it was unfitting for me to appear at an unofficial setting, taking charge and insisting they would handle everything themselves.
Even so, I could not simply let things take their course.
‘If I leave it alone assuming he will be fine, things will not turn out fine at all.’
Preparing for any contingency, I mapped out several scenarios where Cain could leave a stellar impression on the examiners. I even readied myself, should the need arise, to badger my sisters into admitting him on a special recommendation.
‘And to do that, I must observe what takes place near the evaluation hall…’
I began devising a plan to slip out of Freesia Palace tomorrow without arousing suspicion.
“Your Highness, are you truly choosing a playmate?”
“You have arrived.”
The day of my biweekly meeting with Leoport had come.
Was it mere coincidence or destiny that this day coincided with the second stage of the evaluation?
‘Had they not overlapped, I would have invented an excuse to summon him anyway… It is a relief I do not have to go out of my way.’
I had intended to use my time with Leoport as an opportunity—to pretend we were heading out to play, only to steal away and catch a glimpse of the evaluation hall.
Yet the moment Leoport stepped into the reception room, a petulant look covered his face, his cheeks puffed with indignation.
“Are you quite all right?”
“Even before I arrived at the imperial palace—”
“What is with that face? You look like a sulking toddler.”
“It seems I truly am angry.”
At my candid remark, Leoport’s face flushed red, and he glared at me.
Yes, more than three years had passed since we became friends.
Three years was more than enough time for a child who once could not even hold my gaze to dare narrow his eyes and glare straight at a princess.
“Your glare is getting rather brazen, do you know that?”
“Your Highness is choosing a playmate, isn't that right?!”
“Who told you that?”
“…Your maids.”
I immediately glanced toward the door. Mary and Batisha had long since vanished under the pretext of preparing refreshments.
‘They did not even spare children from their teasing… Honestly, what a pair.’
Though I had not witnessed the scene myself, I could picture it clearly.
They must have said something like, The young lord had better feel nervous…
They were desperate to link Leo and me together by any means.
I sighed and shook my head.
Perhaps because I had just entered adolescence, my sighs carried the weight of an actual sigh.
“I am not choosing a playmate. You are aware of the notice posted in the palace recently regarding the Sixth Squad trainee selection, are you not?”
“In the end, that just means I am not enough for you, doesn't it?”
Huh?
I stared at Leoport in bewilderment.
What was this exchange? He sounded like the male lead of an arranged-marriage novel clinging desperately to a wife who had demanded a divorce!
“You were the one who told me not to visit the palace more than once every two weeks, and now you say you need knights around your age staying here… That is what it means, isn't it?”
Leoport remained sullen, his lips jutting out in a pout.
‘Cute… in a way. But what on earth set him off so much?’
“My guard knights cannot stay by my side forever. This is to prepare those who will succeed them.”
“Yet you said you needed knights around your age!”
…It seemed he had latched onto the phrase “around my age.”
No, I had only mentioned it once at a banquet… How had those words spread so far that Mary and Batisha caught wind of it?
‘It seems I will have to demand some privacy one of these days and play the moody adolescent.’
Though members of the imperial family hardly possessed anything resembling privacy to begin with…
At any rate, I needed Leoport’s cooperation today. So I spoke in a gentle, soothing tone to placate him.
“Leo, even if they are around our age, they must be at least three or four years older than us to enlist as trainees. Besides, they are not friends, but knights. Whereas you… you are my friend.”
At the word “friend,” Leoport seemed to calm down slightly, his ears perking as though listening intently.
Yet, as if determined not to yield easily, he kept frowning and muttered,
“You were the one who told me to become a knight. Do you know how hard I trained my holy power to enter the Holy Knights just because of what you said?”
“Leo.”
“I still haven't heard the bell, by the way.”
Having been asked so frequently, Leoport had taken to repeating the business about the bell entirely on his own.
Well, it was only natural for friends to harbor grievances now and then…
“I know, Leo. But you are different from the trainees we are selecting.”
“……”
Leoport waited silently for what I had to say, his scowl softening by a fraction.
“They will become my hands and feet. They will be my subordinates. But you and I… that is not what our relationship is, is it?”