“Your Highness. We’ll proceed with the planned course.”

“Fletcher?”

The face of the Empire’s 17th Princess Aira, seated in the royal chair on the bridge, turned deathly pale. She must be exhausted from days of continuous naval battles. Captain Fletcher of the Girogssar gave her a sympathetic look.

She was still just a young princess, forced onto this warship at barely sixteen due to her siblings’ power struggles. Fletcher swallowed his expression and spoke again.

“The Archipelago fleet is in sight. We’ll set course for them. Shall we raise the surrender flag?”

“How could this be…”

“Your Highness?”

The princess’s voice leaked out, crushed by fear. Perhaps she was frightened now that they were actually heading to another country. Those who had lost in the power struggle were already as good as dead. Though they had relied on her abilities, her position as the 17th princess came too late in succession. Yet despite knowing this, they had no choice but to follow her. Fletcher spoke with sincere loyalty.

“Your Highness. If you don’t wish it, we’ll join the 2nd Fleet instead. I will serve you to the best of my ability.”

Even if the Girogssar survived, none of them except the princess would live. But Fletcher was willing to follow that path.

“Your Highness. The flagship has raised the signal. We must join the 2nd Fleet immediately.”

“The Archipelago fleet is also moving away. If we miss this chance, going to the Archipelago will be impossible…”

The princess wrapped her arms around herself, shivering. Her small body trembled pitifully. After moving her lips silently for a while, she squeezed her eyes shut then opened them. She looked around at her retainers who were watching her. Just as Fletcher was about to give an order, the princess cut him off with a firm command.

“Set course southwest—”

“To the Republic.”

“What?!”

“Your Highness!”

Shock spread throughout the bridge. The crew, who had been quietly preparing themselves while waiting for the princess’s orders, turned to her in surprise. The princess finally seemed to have made up her mind, straightening her posture.

“The Republic. Yes, the Republic is our only option.”

“Your Highness. The Republic is our enemy. The Archipelago, which has remained neutral for over 100 years, would be a better choice.”

“No. The Archipelago won’t work.”

“But the Archipelago’s royal family shares blood ties with the Imperial family. Their abilities are similar too. You would receive better treatment there. Moreover, their reputation is favorable. I’ve heard that the King of the Archipelago, Luten, is generous and gentle.”

BANG!

At the mention of Luten’s name, the princess slammed her fist on the armrest. Despite being dragged into this situation, she had never abandoned her royal demeanor. But now her clenched fist trembled violently.

Fletcher met the gaze of the princess, whose face had turned bright red with veins standing out. Her eyes looked ready to shed tears of blood.

“Absolutely not.”

“Pardon?”

“Generous and gentle? Ha, hahaha.”

“I… Your Highness?”

Making a sound that was difficult to interpret as either laughter or crying, the princess rose from her seat.

“Fletcher.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

“Turn the ship. Starboard 24 degrees.”

Fletcher looked confused at her resolute voice.

“That direction leads to the Juhwe Reef. It’s dangerous to approach, and even if you want to surrender to the Republic rather than the Archipelago, that’s not the right way.”

“No. He’s there.”

The princess slowly closed and opened her eyes, looking at the faint cluster of reefs in the distance.

“To Jens Will.”

At the mention of Jens Will—the Republic’s hero who had dealt a crushing defeat to the Imperial forces in the Servolang Naval Battle—the crew of the Girogssar were left speechless.

* * *

“Damn it! What kind of treatment is this? Do they know she’s an Imperial Princess?!”

“Let it go, Fletcher.”

Aira waved her hand at Fletcher. Most of the Girogssar’s crew remained on their ship under the watch of Republic sailors, while only the princess, captain, and senior officers had been transferred to the Republic warship, the Nautile.

Perhaps out of consideration for her status, she alone was placed in a small cell, while the other officers were pushed into the cell across from hers.

Fletcher had no complaints about that arrangement. But the condition of that cell was appalling—a cold, empty prison without even a mat to lie on. Their own cell was slippery and unpleasant with mold, moisture, and moss. The opposite cell would be no different. How dare they put the young princess in such a place.

“Hey! Guard! Is this how you treat an Imperial Princess?!”

“Shut up, Imperial!”

“Did we get captured by force? We surrendered peacefully! Treat her with the respect she deserves!”

“Silence! Who knows what you’re plotting! I’d gladly throw you all into the sea!”

The guard readjusted his grip on his gun, glaring menacingly. Undeterred, Fletcher glared back. The guard clutched the keys at his waist, looking ready to unlock the cell and stomp Fletcher.

“I told you to stop, Fletcher.”

A quiet voice came from the cell opposite. Fletcher flinched and backed down.

“I apologize, Your Highness.”

“How amusing.”

The guard smirked, deliberately banged on their cell door, and turned away. Fletcher grumbled but could do nothing more. It was the princess’s decision.

Across from Fletcher’s reluctantly retreating form, Aira slid down against the wall covered in black stains. She lowered her head to her gathered knees, and her long ivory hair settled around her like bird feathers.

After holding her breath for a while to prevent any sound from escaping, Aira raised her head and stared at her hands. In the Empire, she had never been allowed to handle guns or swords, so her hands remained smooth.

For now, at least.

‘You don’t need to dirty your hands personally.’

‘What meaning does revenge have if not carried out by my own hands?’

That promise remained unfulfilled. But she had no regrets.

‘Why am I alive again?’

Her life had ended at age 22, that winter day. Yet somehow she had returned to this time, this place. To the moment before meeting Luten, right before she willingly walked into that hell.

‘Am I dreaming? A life flashing before my eyes before death?’

Aira slowly raised her head. At the end of her gaze was a round window, distinctive of Republic warships. Behind her back, she could hear water flowing through pipes and the hissing of gas. The chaotic noise gave her a sense of reality.

This was indeed a Republic warship, and she had chosen Jens over the Archipelago and Luten.

In the past, at this time, she wasn’t in this prison that seemed designed to display hatred toward the Empire. Instead, she had been sitting blankly in the VIP room of Luten’s flagship, unaware of her impending fate, idly thinking that the Archipelago’s treatment wasn’t so bad.

Aira buried her face in her knees again. She had been just about to order the ship to head toward the Archipelago’s flagship.

Shocked by her sudden return to life, she had failed to give proper orders. As a result, the Girogssar had struck the Republic’s mines that Jens had laid for the next operation and burst into flames. Most of the crew, including Aira, had died in the explosion.

It wasn’t Fletcher’s fault. That had been a secret Republic operation, and only she, having already lived through the entire Servolang Naval Battle, knew about it.

Just when she thought her pointlessly revived life had ended, she returned again. Back to the exact moment before choosing Luten. Back to that time that seemed to force her to make a choice when she hadn’t been able to choose anything.

She couldn’t choose the Archipelago and Luten like before. Her previous life had suffered too much because of that choice. But she couldn’t return to her homeland, the Empire, either. In the final battle of the Servolang Naval Battle—later to be named the Rokor Battle—due to the 9th Prince’s foolishness, only a handful of ships would survive.

Even if she somehow survived and returned to the Empire, she would only fall into the clutches of her siblings’ conspiracies and the 3rd Prince. Moreover, the retainers of the Girogssar would certainly be disposed of, if only to assign blame for the defeat.

Her past decision to leave the Empire and surrender to the Archipelago hadn’t been made lightly.

She could go neither to the Archipelago nor back to the Empire, and escape was impossible. This was her only remaining option. Though it was an impulsive decision made in a short time, Aira consoled herself. Yes, this is the only way.

But beyond this fate-changing choice made in an instant, no other thoughts came to mind. Her head was simply blank.

BANG BANG.

“Princess.”

Aira lifted her face from her knees and stared at the person calling her. A familiar face. Through the bars stood Yuvil, still wearing a lieutenant’s insignia. The large soldier was one of his loyal subordinates.

“Come out. Captain Jens Will is waiting to interrogate you.”

At the emphatic mention of Jens Will’s name, Aira found herself smiling involuntarily. Yuvil flinched at her smile, but Aira paid no attention.

Ah, already. I’m not mentally prepared yet.

What kind of expression should I wear when I see him?