“The subjugation failed?”


    Eleanor sighed upon hearing the news.


    The information delivered by the fourth prince, Rerhulta Jerman, was shocking.


    “Yeah, I heard they failed to subjugate the demonic monster. It was bigger and faster than they expected, so they couldn’t inflict much damage. As a result, my brothers were severely scolded by Father.”


    Could it really be described as just a scolding?


    Compared to the lives of the soldiers led by the three, it was an excessively light word to use.


    Since Eleanor and the fourth prince, Rerhulta, were only a year apart in age, they decided to speak casually to each other as friends.


    “I heard the vassals barely managed to stop Father from taking matters into his own hands.”


    Rerhulta grumbled to himself while chewing on the fruit he had brought for Eleanor.


    He shook his head sharply, criticizing his stubborn brothers.


    “I wonder why my brothers, who always trained and fought together, are suddenly cooperating. Father must be very disappointed.”


    That damn ‘father’ word.


    Rerhulta, the fourth prince’s faith in his father, was to an excessive degree.


    Even now, with every sentence, he would add a remark about his father.


    He had an excessive amount of loyalty and dependence on his father, King Ramahul.


    That was how Eleanor saw Rerhulta.


    “Ha, I hope Father doesn’t take me to be the same as my brothers. Of course, you too.”


    Though seeing him wink was quite annoying, Eleanor thought for a moment after hearing that.


    “How about making a confirmation first? This might be a chance to show the king your abilities, Prince.”


    She smiled lightly.


    * * *A few hours later.


    The one who appeared first was the first prince, Rahul.


    He didn’t make any attempts to hide his dark expression and was clenching his teeth in anger.


    “Rerhulta!”


    Rahul assumed that Rerhulta, who was nowhere to be seen, might be with Eleanor.


    And indeed, Rerhulta was spending time in Eleanor’s room.


    “Brother?”


    Rerhulta looked at his eldest brother with a puzzled expression, but Rahul immediately swung his fist at him.


    Thud!


    “Ugh!”


    Rerhulta’s head snapped to the side as his body flew and hit the floor. Startled, he cried out while looking bewildered.


    “W-what are you doing! Princess Eleanor is right here!”


    “Shut up! How dare you insult me in front of Father?! Are you that desperate to look good in front of him, even at the cost of betraying your own brother?!”


    “N-no, Brother! What are you talking about?! I just brought up a way to subjugate the demonic monster!”


    “Then why did you have to specifically point out the reason for our subjugation’s failure?! You knew I was in charge of the army!”


    “Th-that’s...”


    “Do you know how Father looked at me because of you? You... You damn bastard!”


    Rahul, who looked like he wanted to hit his brother a few more times, stopped when he met Eleanor’s eyes. He clicked his tongue and stormed out of the room.


    This wasn’t the way to behave in front of a princess from another country, but it showed just how emotional and impulsive he could be.


    “Damn it.”


    After Rerhulta wiped the blood trickling from his mouth, he stood up and apologized to Eleanor.


    “I’m sorry you had to witness such an embarrassing scene.”


    Rerhulta forced a bitter smile and awkwardly scratched the back of his head.


    However, Eleanor shook her head.


    “I didn’t realize Prince Rahul would be so upset. It’s my fault.”


    This was because it was Eleanor who had advised Rerhulta on the strategy for subjugating the great demonic monster.


    Since the Griffin Kingdom had expanded through invasions, they often dealt with not only indigenous people but also demonic monsters, which in turn helped them develop several strategies for handling them.


    Meanwhile, the Jerman Kingdom was different; having lived in a place as harsh as the Sahar Desert, where even demonic monsters struggled to survive, the experiences they accumulated were not the same.


    At Eleanor’s apology, Rerhulta too shook his head vigorously, insisting it wasn’t her fault.


    “No, thanks to you, I’ve gained Father’s approval. He’ll likely call on me for the next subjugation due to your help.”


    Having shared one of the Griffin Kingdom’s demonic monster subjugation strategies, Rerhulta genuinely felt grateful to her.


    However, Eleanor’s expression darkened at his words.


    For the first time since arriving here, she let out a girlish giggle. Serhul, curious after seeing Eleanor’s shoulders shake and hearing her hum a tune, asked a question.


    “Do you like that man?”


    “Yes.”


    “...”


    Serhul was quite shocked as hadn’t expected such a straightforward answer.


    However, he didn’t show it on his face.


    “But things are difficult as he’s already engaged.”


    “...I see.”


    “Well, it’s a one-sided crush. There’s nothing much I can do.”


    Watching her wear a sad expression pained Serhul more than he expected.


    He found it both infuriating and enviable that the Soul Whisperer, despite already having a fiance?e, had also won the heart of such an attractive princess.


    Then, Eleanor, as if realizing something, alternated her gaze between Serhul and the drawing of Deus. She chuckled.


    “Now that I think about it, Prince Serhul is quite similar to Deus, aren’t you?”


    “Similar...?”


    Him and that man?


    Serhul had dull grey hair and copper-colored skin. He was relatively short, and although his body appeared thin, he had well-defined muscles.


    After all, Serhul was still a warrior.


    However, Eleanor smiled as she spoke.


    “You’re both quiet.”


    Watching Eleanor laugh so heartily, Serhul couldn’t help but entertain a glimmer of hope.


    * * *“Do you know what’s really bad about that girl?”


    As we passed through the Marias Great Forest on our way to the Jerman Kingdom, Aria, who had come over to ride in our carriage, spoke as she chewed on a dried squid in her mouth.


    “Did you really just refer to the Princess as ‘that girl’?”


    Deia, who was sitting besides me, scolded her in disbelief, but Aria paid no mind.


    “The fact that she uses everything at her disposal without a second thought is what’s really threatening about her.”


    It was indeed a skill that could be considered an advantage, but Eleanor saw it differently.


    “When it comes to achieving her goals, she really doesn’t hesitate to dive in headfirst. Do you know how much I struggled to save those kids she brainwashed back then...”


    Aria clicked her tongue and shook her head while continuing to chew on the squid.


    Deia wondered what on earth she just started blabbering, and of course, she couldn’t make sense of it.


    Because it was a story from the First Round.


    “But it’s a relief that she’s completely changed, thanks to Professor. What was the name of her illness again?”


    I stayed silent for a moment at Aria’s words and then shook my head.


    “It wasn’t an illness.”


    “Pardon? But the Eleanor right now is very different from the one I knew.”


    One was a fallen princess.


    And as the leader of the rebellion, she used propaganda to turn the academy students into rebels, inciting discontent against the kingdom.


    The other was the innocent Eleanor.


    Now, she would spend her time drawing. If one were to call it a deviation, it would be the occasional sketch of something risque?, accompanied by her soft giggles.


    Yes, you could say that she was a completely different person.


    “No, Eleanor has not changed much since then.”


    In the original story, the innocent Eleanor was trapped in a dream, while the Eleanor who acted in reality was burdened with royal responsibilities.


    Now, the two personalities had merged into one.


    So...


    “She can be both.”


    “...”


    At my words, Aria swallowed a piece of the squid’s tentacle and, with a subtle expression, turned to me and asked.


    “She won’t cause any trouble, right...?”


    To that question...


    “...”


    It was quite difficult to give a clear answer.