Calix’s position was truly ambiguous.

He wasn’t the Emperor, so he had no decision-making authority over state affairs, and since all the central nobles were supporting the First Prince, it was awkward for him to directly engage in magical beast subjugation.

So what he chose was theater.

What’s most needed in politics is appropriate showmanship and storytelling.

Of course, this knowledge from dramas and movies was somewhat flimsy, but anyway, it was Calix who would be implementing my ideas.

“Outside is already chaos with magical beasts. The Imperial family has abandoned protecting the Empire’s citizens, so all they can rely on is the temple, but as you know, the temple is no different.”

“I only have 30,000 troops at my disposal. Even this is insufficient.”

“Your Highness doesn’t need to eliminate all the magical beasts. You just need to show the Empire’s citizens, that’s what I mean.”

Honestly, from the citizens’ perspective, this was an opinion that deserved stones thrown at it.

But I had to think realistically.

I wasn’t even an imperial citizen anyway, and what I was doing now was assisting Calix, the Crown Prince, a politician.

I don’t know how I went from being a chambermaid to this position…

Besides, I’m not even a political science major!

“Agitation… is what it’s called, right?”

At my words, Ruel responded with a horrified expression.

“It’s a method that doesn’t align with chivalry, Miss Rose.”

“I’m not a knight, so it doesn’t matter, does it?”

“That’s true… but sometimes you seem to have a frightening side.”

At Ruel’s words, Calix nodded in agreement.

Hey, what are these people saying? They’re the scariest ones here!

“Anyway, what I mean is that even if we just put on a show, the Empire’s citizens will think it’s better than the temple and Imperial family, who are doing nothing. In the end, they’ll think Your Highness is their only hope.”

Calix and Ruel looked at each other and remained silent in deep contemplation.

“Originally, rebellions all start that way. Dissatisfaction builds up against ruling powers who merely observe despite reaching their limits, and eventually it explodes. That’s what’s happening now. People are continuously suffering from magical beast attacks, but those who should protect them are just sitting idly.”

Calix frowned deeply at my words.

Ah, I misspoke.

“Of course, Your Highness isn’t starting a rebellion. I’m just saying we should redirect people’s dissatisfaction toward the First Prince, His Majesty the Emperor, or the temple. Your Highness will become their rallying point.”

“What about the magical beasts that keep appearing?”

I shrugged at that question.

“That seems like an issue we need to discuss with the temple.”

“Didn’t you say that if the temple gets involved, things will get bigger?”

“Then what do you plan to do? Will you persuade His Majesty the Emperor? Tell him that since the temple’s involvement would make things worse, we should deploy troops to kill all the magical beasts popping up from the ground?”

At my words, Calix shut his mouth tightly.

And showed a displeased expression.

“Maybe I should just pack up and go into exile.”

“Your Highness, I told you that’s not possible.”

Ruel responded seriously to Calix’s words, gritting his teeth.

“…I’ll speak to His Majesty. I should visit the temple.”

I heaved a deep sigh.

How is it that in this huge empire, Calix seems to be the only one working properly?

I was getting irritated and felt a headache coming on.

If I felt this way, how much worse must it be for Calix?

“But what are the other princes doing during all this? What about the Duke? What about the other nobles?”

At my question, Ruel shook his head.

“That’s how nobles are, Miss Rose. They only care about their own safety. Especially since the Empire has been prosperous for so long, their complacency is a natural result.”

In conclusion, it was Calix who was strangely diligent.

Looking at that, he seems to have a kind side too…

Ah, thinking about it again, that’s not it.

Calix isn’t kind.

No, no.

He might be fit to be a monarch, but he’s definitely not kind.

I’ve been by his side all this time, but haven’t seen him sympathize with anyone.

Even now, if someone gets in his way, he’d probably just send them to the guillotine, right? I sighed deeply, approached Calix, crouched down, and said seriously.

“Your Highness, this is a good sign. It’s a perfect hero narrative.”

“What are you talking about now?”

“They say heroes emerge in times of chaos. And didn’t Your Highness survive even in front of a dragon?”

Calix looked at me, completely dumbfounded.

“How did that story get so abbreviated? Besides, it wasn’t a dragon, it was a Leviathan.”

“A Leviathan is still a dragon species, so I’m not wrong.”

I grabbed Calix’s hand firmly and said with a resolute gaze.

“Your Highness can do it!”

“…This is driving me crazy.”

***

Calix roughly sorted through my ideas and decided what to do next.

Since his position might suddenly rise and face opposition from the First Prince and the Emperor, he decided to visit the temple first.

He also successfully obtained permission from the Emperor for an audience with the Pope.

“Isn’t it ridiculous, my lord? Why does His Highness have to take on all these tasks?”

“No one else is doing it, so there’s no choice.”

At this rate, the country will collapse. Sigh.

As Calix said, since Posnia has been established for 400 years, it seems about time for it to start deteriorating.

“…By the way, Miss Rose. Why did you come here? And at this late hour!”

Ruel shouted loudly. Then he looked around anxiously and placed his hand on his forehead, clearly troubled.

I laughed and playfully poked Ruel’s firm arm.

“Ah, I have something I want to experiment with, but I thought His Highness wouldn’t allow it.”

“…Did it not occur to you that I wouldn’t allow it either?”

“Somehow, I thought Lord Ruel would help me?”

Ruel let out a disbelieving laugh. He whispered with a serious face.

“If His Highness gets angry, I can’t do anything for you.”

“Oh, it’s fine. It’s not that serious.”

Ruel frowned, and I smiled brightly, speaking as calmly and composedly as possible.

“I want to see a magical beast, my lord.”

***

Bang! Ruel’s door closed.

How could this person close the door when someone is clearly standing here! I knocked on the door again and whispered desperately.

“My lord, just once! I’m telling you, it’s for His Highness’s sake!”

I couldn’t think of any solution for how to deal with the magical beasts. So I needed an opportunity to experiment with the diary to see if that “vaccine” would work on magical beasts, too.

But Calix would 100% oppose it.

He even tells me to run away without him at the slightest provocation, so he wouldn’t let me see magical beasts.

I know my life is precious too, so I couldn’t just recklessly go outside the palace where magical beasts might be.

So I needed to act with someone who could protect me if something went wrong, but who else did I have around me besides Calix?

Who else but Ruel?

“My lord, I’m serious! Didn’t I tell you! I’m actually Mo-“

That’s when the door flung open and Ruel, with a shocked expression, covered my mouth and dragged me into his room.

“Are you insane?”

“Oh, your room is really nice.”

“Is this the time to look around the room!”

Despite his protests, I calmly put my index finger to my lips and said.

“What if His Highness hears you shouting? Don’t you know he has sharp ears?”

“No, now…”

Ruel seemed at a loss for words and just gaped, letting out a hollow laugh.

“I came to you because I had no choice. I need to have somewhere to ask for help.”

“Hah… let me hear what you have to say. Why exactly would you meeting a magical beast help His Highness?”

Ruel asked, looking nervously at the door.

“I told you about what happened in the elven residential area, right?”

“Yes… but surely not…”

“I seem to have some mysterious power, so I want to check if it can help His Highness.”

At my words, Ruel opened his eyes wide in surprise. He must have finally recognized my uniqueness.

“…I still don’t know what kind of person you are, Miss Rose.”

“Don’t worry. Neither do I.”

At my response, Ruel seemed at a loss for words and just gaped.

But it was the truth. I don’t really know what my identity is either.

Whether I’m someone who’s possessed a body, or poor Lee Chaerin who was unfairly summoned, or perhaps a product of cutting-edge human engineering with only a soul inserted into an empty shell…

“So I want to experiment, my lord.”

“If His Highness finds out, not just you but I too will be in big trouble.”

“If that happens, I’ll earnestly tell His Highness that it wasn’t Lord Ruel’s fault-“

“No!”

Ruel suddenly shouted with a startled expression.

What’s with him? Why is he like that?

When I looked at him strangely, Ruel seemed embarrassed and swept back his splendid silver hair, sighing with obvious distress.

“…Fine, I understand.”

“Oh, great. Then let’s go right away.”

“…Pardon?”

Ruel looked at me with a bewildered face as if asking what I was talking about.

“Tomorrow, His Highness is going to the temple. We need to check today.”

“No, Lady Rose!”

“Let’s go.”

I smiled brightly and handed Ruel his sword which was near the bed.

“What are you doing? I’m telling you it’s for His Highness’s sake!”

At my words, Ruel grumbled.

“…Before helping His Highness, I think I’m going to die.”

“What? What did you say? I can’t hear you.”

“Nothing…”