If You Take the Enemy Prince as Your Knight Chapter 36

How much deeper and higher could I push this? Could my dominion handle it?

 

Lost in thought, I trimmed the thorns and leaves from the stem of a rose. Flower arranging, along with arts, instruments, dance, and embroidery, was an essential part of a princess’s education, so I had a fair amount of expertise in this field. I carefully trimmed the cut flowers sent from the imperial palace’s greenhouse and arranged them in vases.

 

Regen stood beside me, occasionally handing me the tools I needed. He seemed quite interested in my dominion.

 

“Is it burdensome for the imperial family if a knight is both physically and mentally strong?”

 

“I do need more dominion, but calling it a burden feels a bit off. If it feels burdensome, it would mean they tried to take in a knight beyond their capacity. In that case, it’s better to let that knight go.”

 

Hoping I wouldn’t regret these words later, I continued explaining. “Of course, humans are greedy and foolish. Looking through the imperial records, there were imperials who used dirty methods to acquire knights beyond their level.”

 

“Dirty methods, you say…?”

 

“They couldn’t increase their dominion, so they chipped away at the knight’s mental strength. By addicting them to drugs or using violence, for instance.”

 

“…”

 

“There were even records of using seduction, though I don’t know if that’s true or if it was actually effective.”

 

Regen’s expression darkened. Well, it did seem like a story that didn’t quite align with the dignity of the Lohengrin royal family, which had produced generations of kings of knights.

 

“Still… Many of the emperors in history were virtuous rulers. The imperial family’s covenant ensures they don’t lose their sense of righteousness.”

 

Regen handed me a single blue rose and said, “The history of the imperial family doesn’t matter. Bloodline is just a small part of what makes a person. What’s important is that Sasha becomes a virtuous ruler.”

 

“…You’re right.”

 

As the daughter of the mad emperor, his words were a great comfort and encouragement to me.

 

I finished decorating the vase by placing the flower that Regen handed me. There were still some flowers, both large and small, left over. After some thought, I decided to weave them into a very small bouquet. It was a boutonniere with green lisianthus as the main flower, accented with asters around it.

 

“Sir Regen.” I pinned it to the left side of his chest. “Did you know? The boutonniere originates from flowers given to knights returning from war, symbolizing courage.”

 

“It’s the first medal bestowed by Your Highness.”

 

I was relieved that he seemed to like it.

 

“Your Highness.” A calm voice called from the direction of the door. Hamel stood there with a serious expression, carrying the air of the outside world with her.

 

“It seems you bring important news from outside the chambers. Report.”

 

“Sir Jerom is dead.”

 

It was an expected outcome. The Fifth Princess, Sehera, had completely lost her personal knight. This meant she was disqualified from participating in the tournament, and her circumstances would inevitably change as a result.

 

“We’ll have to watch how the mad emperor handles those who are eliminated.”

 

“Your Highness.”

 

“Is there more to report?”

 

“Yes. The date for the charity auction has been set. It will be in a week.”

 

“Ah.”

 

The time for the covenant to be fulfilled was drawing near.

 

I sat on the couch and picked up the teacup. As I sipped the amber liquid, I thought about the dominance I would soon devour.

 

✦

A week quickly passed, and the day of the charity auction arrived. Since today’s event was also a type of imperial social gathering, I dressed up meticulously. Draped in a violet dress adorned with intricate lace, I was escorted by Regen.

 

The venue for the charity auction was the Imperial Opera House, located in the main palace. After receiving a wooden paddle marked with a unique number, I entered the hall. There was still plenty of time before the auction began, so the interior was relatively quiet. As I made my way toward the special seats prepared for the princesses, I could hear the nobles murmuring as they engaged in their conversation.

 

“I heard that many of His Majesty’s personal art pieces and antiques will be auctioned today.”

 

“The competition will be fierce. His Majesty has such an exceptional eye for aesthetics; it would be an honor to acquire even one piece.”

 

“I also heard that all the proceeds will be donated to the church?”

 

“Hoho, perhaps the saintess will finally recognize His Majesty’s devotion. She should hurry and deliver a new prophecy to ease His Majesty’s concerns.”

 

I stifled a laugh.

 

Women who harbored resentment toward the mad emperor weren’t exclusive to the imperial palace. The saintess, who was confined to the Grand Monastery, was one of them. There was no way she would whisper sweet words in favor of the mad emperor.

 

The special seats for the princesses were located in the first and second rows, closest to the center stage.

 

“It seems there are only seats for the princesses here.”

 

“I will stand by the wall. Call for me anytime.”

 

After parting ways with Regen, I greeted the elder princess who had arrived earlier than I. Vivian, the eldest sister with her blue hair pinned up, sat with a melancholic expression, her eyes drooping.

 

“Hello, Sister Vivi.”

 

“Oh, Sasha. Hello.”

 

“You don’t look well. Are you feeling unwell?”

 

“I just didn’t sleep much. I had a nightmare.”

 

Sister Vivian experienced anxiety every time the imperial palace social gatherings were held.

 

I sat next to her and pulled out some candy with a calming effect from my pocket. “Want one?”

 

“Candy? I’m not a child.” Despite her words, she took it without hesitation. “Thank you.”

 

Vivian was fragile, lacking the courage to confront anything, but she tried her best to live righteously in the given circumstances. I didn’t dislike that about her.

 

At that moment, a small commotion broke out in the front row. My third sister, Gwendellin, who had her black hair loosely tied back, seemed to have gotten into an argument with some young nobleman.

 

The nobleman, who had almost fallen but managed to regain his balance, turned sharply to look at Sister Gwendellin. His gaze was utterly disrespectful, but instead of getting angry, Sister Gwendellin flinched.

 

“A-Are you alright?”

 

“It would have been better if you had moved your dress out of the way.”

 

“Ah… I’m sorry. I didn’t see it.”

 

“Never mind. You must be nervous about the tournament these days, so I’ll let it slide.”

 

“Ah, yes, thank you for understanding.”

 

Since the last tournament, Sister Gwendellin had been branded as someone unworthy of respect. The fact that a mere second son of a noble family was acting so arrogantly said it all.

 

Unable to hold back my temper, I spoke up. “Blaming a lady is hardly gentlemanly.”

 

“Ah, Princess Silver Bird!”

 

Unlike his haughty attitude toward Sister Gwendellin, he immediately bowed to me. The fact that he acted differently depending on the person only made me more disgusted.

 

“You claim you didn’t see who was in front of you, but it seems you recognize me? It would be nice if you acknowledged Sister Gwendellin.”

 

“I-I apologize.”

 

I had no intention of escalating the situation. I just wanted to demand that he apologize to Gwendellin, as she rightfully deserved. But an unexpected obstacle arose.

 

“Sasha, stop it! I have no intention of flaunting my status as imperial.”

 

“…”

 

“Lord Vendern, I’m sorry. I’ll apologize on Sasha’s behalf, so please just go.”

 

“Y-Yes!”

 

This ridiculous situation was completely unforeseen. Even more absurd was how Gwendellin, who seemed so timid in front of the young noble lord, appeared so assertive when scolding me. How could someone be so bad at handling situations like this?

 

Sister Vivian, who had been watching from the side, seemed just as frustrated. As soon as the young noble lord left, she spoke up to Gwendellin. “Sasha was trying to help you, so why would you respond like that?”

 

“W-Why are you blaming me? It’s not like I specifically asked for help… Besides, I just thought it wasn’t very princess-like to argue with a lord, that’s all…”

 

“…”

 

Sister Vivian fell silent. If my kind-hearted eldest sister had given up on the conversation, there was no reason for someone as mean as me to try. I simply filtered out part of her words and laughed.

 

“Not very princess-like, huh.”

 

“…”

 

“I never thought I’d learn about being princess-like from Sister Gwendellin.”

 

“…”

 

It was such a dull remark that it couldn’t even be called sharp, but it was more than enough to provoke someone with a sense of inferiority. Gwendellin bit her lip and avoided eye contact.

 

As time passed, the empty seats began to fill one by one.

 

“Shushu, move over one seat.”

 

“Eek! Sister Nana, why are you eyeing the seat next to me? I’m allergic to deer!”