Huey’s face changed slightly. Then he soon stepped back from Isolet.

She observed his behavior. She was curious about why he had stepped back. After all, she was checking which words carried power,

Since not every word she uttered manifested her “ability.”

It seemed a bit difficult to confirm whether Huey’s reaction just now was due to Word Command or not. No, judging by the lack of energy, she might have failed to use Word Command.

Isolet observed Huey again. He briefly checked his surroundings and then stepped back.

‘Oh. He steps back like this? Even without using Word Command.’

The thought suddenly occurred to her. She had overlooked the fact that even without Awakened power, one could move people’s hearts with just words and attitude.

‘I didn’t need to be so desperate for something I couldn’t have.’

Watching Huey behave respectfully toward her, she once again reflected on her attitude toward life.

Did she really need to be so greedy for Awakened power? She could have lived gratefully with what she had. Even without Word Command manifesting properly, she could get what she wanted.

‘Yes, there’s no need to be so hasty.’

She reassured herself once more.

The head servant promptly guided her to the Emperor. It seemed that several nobles had already entered the audience chamber.

Isolet knew this as well. That’s why she deliberately chose this time to come see the Emperor.

“I heard that yesterday, Her Highness the Princess went to see Lord Herington…”

They were already talking about her, it seemed.

It was as expected. There was no way there wouldn’t be talk when the half-mad Princess Isolet met with Theodore, who brought gossip wherever he went.

Of course, the nobles couldn’t speak harshly in front of the Emperor, but they seemed to find it hard to believe that Isolet had let Theodore and his fiancée go without causing any harm.

Come to think of it, the timing was indeed such. Before the regression. The day before the two came to find Isolet, she had gone to Theodore directly and caused a scene.

‘That’s what happened in the past.’

It felt like a distant time, but for them, it was just yesterday.

They seemed to think Isolet, who had changed her attitude overnight as if flipping her palm, was up to something.

Well, if she caused such a scene yesterday and suddenly changed like that today, anyone would find it hard to believe.

Isolet stood quietly listening to their conversation.

Rather, the head servant was more flustered and hurriedly went inside.

Remembering her old self, he thought she might cause another scene after hearing such talk.

He quickly went in to announce her arrival, worried that there might be a commotion.

“The Princess has arrived.”

At those words, the Emperor, who had just been thinking of calling Isolet for a talk, brightened up immediately. It was a very timely appearance.

He promptly invited Isolet in.

“Oh, come in.”

At his words, she entered and greeted him formally. Looking around, she saw about four people sitting near the Emperor. Three were familiar faces, and one was a man she had never seen before.

‘That man.’

The reason Isolet had deliberately come here at this time was not only to meet the Emperor but also for another purpose. It was to meet that man.

While she was briefly examining the nobles, the Emperor smiled and opened the conversation.

“I heard you met Theodore today!”

He went straight to the point without hesitation. He seemed to have been curious about it for a while. Isolet turned her gaze to the Emperor and answered calmly.

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“And I heard you blessed them and sent them away. Is that true?”

The point of the question that followed immediately after Isolet’s answer was obvious.

It would be a father’s heart hoping that she would no longer have lingering feelings for Theodore. Isolet showed a very faint smile.

“That’s correct.”

At her answer, all the nobles present seemed surprised and exchanged glances. They looked as if they couldn’t believe what they’d heard.

Only the Emperor raised his voice in delight.

“Our princess finally has the broadest heart of all! This father is proud! So proud!”

Despite his words, the nobles still had dubious expressions.

Ignoring them, Isolet spoke.

“I have something to say about that, Your Majesty.”

“Oh, what is it? This father will listen to anything.”

He truly looked like he would listen to everything.

“Please send me to the military.”

“What…!”

But his expression changed instantly at Isolet’s request.

The nobles also seemed quite surprised. It was something they had never expected to hear.

“Don’t tell me. Is it because Theodore is a soldier and you want to follow him!”

The Emperor’s smiling face was completely withdrawn. At his words, the nobles looked at each other with expressions that said, ‘I knew it.’ Isolet shook her head and answered calmly.

“No, Your Majesty. Shouldn’t a member of the imperial family serve in the military at least once? I want to go to the border where Theodore is not.”

A moment of silence followed her words. The Emperor asked again, as if he couldn’t believe it.

“The border?”

His reaction was perhaps natural. The border wasn’t a place just anyone could go.

She doesn’t know how it is now, but there’s a special unit at the border composed only of those with exceptional swordsmanship who have been thoroughly vetted. It was a place of great past glory. Therefore, no member of the imperial family had ever requested a border assignment before.

Moreover, it was a place only those who passed the test of the ‘Commander-in-Chief Kalansa’ could go.

“Yes. To the border.”

Kasimir Hesse Kalansa. The Commander-in-Chief of the empire and the only man who could match the Emperor in power. A figure who appeared in the military like a comet.

He was famous for being an incredible talent who had enlisted as a non-Awakened but later awakened and secured the position of Commander-in-Chief in just three years.

His awakened ability was also known to be comparable to “Word Command,” but no one knew its exact nature.

He was a mysterious figure who rarely showed himself, claiming he disliked places with many people.

Some said he was a monstrously ugly man, while others said he was as beautiful as an angel. Since he rarely appeared, rumors abounded.

‘The most important thing for a soldier is honor.’

That was the first thing Kasimir said to the soldiers when he first became Commander-in-Chief.

‘A soldier who values honor.’

Perhaps he would be the most difficult opponent for Isolet. She was far from honorable.

Moreover, he was also famous for demanding very high standards from soldiers. It was said that those recognized by him could be counted on one hand, and for a man, being acknowledged by him was considered a family honor.

But could she pass his discerning eye and enter the military?

It was an absurd notion for Isolet, whom everyone knew well.

The Emperor loved his daughter dearly, but he couldn’t simply say, “You’re right about everything, you’re the best.”

“I know the princess likes swordsmanship, but… to that extent. Ahem.”

Before the embarrassed Emperor, Isolet spoke again.

“If the Commander-in-Chief gives permission, that’s enough, right?”

“That’s true, but…”

Isolet quickly responded as if she already knew everything. That was also why she wanted to meet the Emperor now.

Isolet opened her mouth again with a confident face.

“Commander-in-Chief Kalansa. Please let me meet him directly, Your Majesty.”

The Emperor swallowed at her words. Not just the Emperor, but the nobles beside him were visibly shaken.

To ask to meet the Commander-in-Chief? That man who might barely appear if the Emperor summoned him.

“Meeting him is not an easy task, Princess.”

As the Emperor tried to soothe her, Isolet widened her eyes.

“He’s right here. Commander-in-Chief Kalansa.”

As she spoke, she turned her gaze toward the man sitting opposite her.

And she met his eyes properly. The man with the most unfamiliar face here.

‘Kasimir Hesse Kalansa.’

It was him. She wanted to meet him.

If not today, she would have to wait another year for an opportunity to meet him.

He was someone who would appear at the Emperor’s summons, but in two weeks, a major incident would occur at the northern border. He would personally go there to handle it, but it would take longer than expected, and he would end up staying in the north for a year.

So she needed to make her presence known to him today.

Isolet opened her mouth once more, smiling brightly.

“It’s nice to meet you here like this, Commander-in-Chief Kalansa.”

Everyone was astonished by her boldness.