"Sir Menil, where have you been?"
In a sunny lake, the Valdinians ran into each other.
It has been a month since the Princess came to Katzen.
Regardless of being a foreigner, she naturally adapted to the unfamiliar life of Katzen.
And her followers were also busy adjusting, and they had just taken a breather.
"I followed Lord Alpha to the Chengdu Theater. Even though our Valdina has made great progress in the maintenance of its facilities, it is still a long way from this place."
Menil looked tired of thinking of the endless banquet hall and the support of the saints.
She thought that Valdina had become quite rich as they turned the tide of trade, but a building or place like this, where Katzen had accumulated the wealth of history that they had accumulated so far, could not be created overnight.
"But when it comes to skills, our Valdina is not inferior. That's clear."
"How many knights have you experienced in Katzen Saints?"
"If you include simple melee sparring, about twenty-five."
Both as an agema and dressed up as a Facade mercenary, Menil was busy traveling back and forth to Katzen's holy city.
"Have you finished checking the power?"
Neril lowered her voice slightly, wondering if anyone would hear it.
"Almost, except for the Imperial Palace Knights. But I think we'll see it soon. It turned out that the swordsman defeated in the banquet hall belonged to the Imperial Palace."
Menil told her how he became friends with him. He is a neutral nobleman, but he is simple and has great skills.
Saya's eyebrows narrowed at that.
"Be careful, Lord Menil, you know that you are not to trust anyone except His Royal Highness the First Prince's entourage."
"I know. That's why I didn't lose a few sparring sessions on purpose, as you said."
Menil looked at her with resentment, but Saya spoke more firmly.
"We caught twelve spies trying to hide in the palace this week alone. The handmaiden said that it has increased since Her Highness came. Aren't they nasty people? If you want to know about Her Highness, you can send her an official invitation or ask for an audience...!"
After the audience with the Emperor, there were constant attempts to find out the reaction of the First Prince and his wife.
"The two Empresses in the imperial palace are blatantly ignoring our Highness. It is also to release the anger that His Highness the 1st Prince has suppressed because he is afraid."
The people on the street still talked about the mystery of the First Princess that they had seen at the coronation.
The more arrogant the nobles turned away from Medea.
After the fact spread that the Emperor was Medea's guardian, he did not easily touch her, but instead treated her as if she did not exist at all.
What was most fatal was the fact that even the people in the inner palace of the Katzen imperial family did not seek the First Princess.
Because the First Prince and his wife stayed in a separate palace away from the imperial palace, she became more and more isolated.
"Hah. So the only people who visit the palace now are the noble wives of the First Prince."
However, the socialite who could surpass the two Empresses had already passed away or moved away from power, so the remaining ones were far from being able to compete with the 1st Princess.
"The method of killing them is so despicable and low-level. I know that our Highness will blink an eye."
Our Highness is the one who has recognized the ugly identity of the fake Saint. Neryl muttered.
"Well, if you reveal yourself as a Saint of the old church, there will be a line in front of you."
"What kind of people are Holy See? For this reason, we can't give them any signs of reaching out again. Above all, Her Highness doesn't want it."
"I know. It's just that I'm..."
Menil grumbled.
The only high-ranking Princess of the New Empire has been married to Katzen, but no one is looking for her despite her unique status as 1st Princess.
If she had just been married, she would have been embarrassed and ashamed of her current situation.
She must have been swayed back and forth in order not to lose the face of her country.
But Medea didn't waver.
She never went out to pursue her connections, and she did not hesitate to make friends with other nobles.
She was as relaxed as ever, and she did what she had to do as a hostess of the palace without fail.
Even the first Prince's subordinates were impressed by her cold and serene composure.
"By the way, the vassal of the First Prince Sect has come to me now, and they are saying that they want our Princess to use their power in the social world..."
Menil scratched his head.
The cruel disposition of the First Prince Cesare and his widespread infamy made him an object of fear.
Therefore, there was always a limit to gaining the support of the majority or attracting new forces.
However, this time, seeing Medea suddenly become a symbol of protection for the people, the courtiers seemed to see hope.
"His Highness the First Prince doesn't say anything, so what are they saying?"
Neril snorted.
She was still dissatisfied that the First Prince was her master's companion, but she could not deny that he treated Medea.
The First Prince had handed over the money line to Medea, so that the vassals did not dare to find Medea, and they managed to convey their wishes to their servant Menil.
"Don't relax, everyone. You should check every time you are followed and keep an eye out for anyone who approaches you carelessly."
Then, Saya warned him again.
"What is Katzen palace... It doesn't seem to be a place where people are killed with just knives."
Growing up in the slums, she felt the color of the environment more than others.
Here in Katzen, even the streets of the earth where ordinary people traveled were neatly arranged.
But she knew firsthand that the more brilliant the outside, the uglier and more dangerous the law behind it.
"Yes, I will. It is the path chosen by our Highness, but who can be this Menil?"
Menil nodded and raised his hand over the sheath. His fingertips shimmered with a more stable greenish auror.
Valdina's sons and daughters once again made up their minds and put forth thorns.
If someone tried to touch his master, he would have to be prepared to have his hand pierced by this thorn.
***
At that time, the 1st Prince's reception room.
Medea was meeting Kensington.
"Still, the streets of the capital are abuzz with stories about Your Highness. When the High Priest from the Central Temple arrives, the news that Your Highness has inherited the will of the gods will become more of a foregone conclusion."
Medea nodded.
"When the will of the people gathers, it becomes a powerful force. So what did I ask you to do?"
"Yes, here it is."
Kensington placed a thick leather book.
"Bellmore, Sutton, Fontaine... Are these representative neutral aristocrats?"
"Yes, they were also students who once studied under the Marquis of Eratosthene. After the Marquis fell, they raised a neutral force that was not involved in the succession fight. And now, with the Marquis back in politics, he naturally became the head of this faction. The 3rd Prince and the Eastern Empress are trying to attract him."
Kensington hesitated for a moment before adding.
"Eratosthene is the father of His Majesty the late Empress, and therefore His Highness Cesare's maternal grandfather."
Coincidentally, after the death of the Empress, they were the ones that Cesare took away from the execution site and saved their lives.
However, instead of returning the favor to the First Prince, they established their own neutral force.
Kensington didn't think they were ungrateful.
However, the fact that the First Prince did not bother to touch them and tolerated them was considered quite lenient.
If Cesare had made up his mind, the neutrals wouldn't have had the opportunity to grow in power like this.
"... Eratosthene."
It is a name that does not exist in Medea's previous life.
She tapped on the table and lost in thought.
"When the Continental Congress was held, he was present as Emperor Katzen's representative, and I don't know if Your Highness saw it."
Kensington paused as he answered.
It was because he found a pale pink invitation placed on the cabinet next to the table.
"Your Highness, this..."
Medea tucked slightly as if she could see it.
"Eastern Empress is so sudden... Are you going to attend?"
Kensington's eyes narrowed sensitively as he opened the invitation.
"It is no coincidence that she suddenly decided to invite Your Highness. It was right before the event."
It was a big mistake that the Empress would have known, and it was a blatant provocation that she would not give Medela time to prepare.
"There must be a trap. Recently, I heard that the Eastern Empress has been going to the entertainment district often, so the gods will try to find out more about their plans."
"You won't have time for that... Isn't it a tea party that sent an official invitation? If you avoid it, it will only bite you more."
If it is thought that the reason why the 1st Princess is now living is because she is a hidden coward, then the mystery is over.
"It's okay. I was going to go anyway."
Medea smiled.
"I have something to say to the Eastern Empress."
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