Princess, You Must Start the Revolution!

Chapter 4: The Forget-Me-Not Princess (3)

If there were a way to avoid a political marriage forever, she would naturally choose that.  

However, since the immediate priority was to delay the one that had suddenly been pushed forward by a year, she had no choice but to ask.  

It seemed to be a rather difficult question, as Master Dúnedain did not answer immediately.  

"Why would you wish for that? Princess, you are now the kingdom's only life magician. His Majesty the King will surely choose a marriage partner that will not disappoint you."  

What returned was not an answer but persuasion.  

She pondered for a moment about how to express that she did not want the marriage itself.  

Of course, she did not take too long to think.  

"Even if I must marry, I want to be the one to choose my partner. A political marriage feels like being sold off, doesn’t it? Now that my position has solidified in an instant due to my magic manifestation, I want to use it to my advantage as much as possible."  

For women of high status in this era, political marriage was practically a duty.  

However, there were still many who aspired to a romantic marriage.  

At the very least, the women themselves did.  

Even in the modestly sized library of this Detached Palace, there were several popular novels dealing with romance—simply put, love stories.  

Moreover, now that she had secured a position without needing to rely on the royal family's authority, what was so wrong with hoping for that?  

With that thought, she spoke carefully yet confidently.  

"Hmm. The princess’s reasoning is valid. However, since His Majesty has already begun searching for a suitable partner, this may come across as an act of defiance against him."  

That was true.  

The kingdom’s political structure was not entirely centralized, but it was not as though the nobility threatened the royal authority either.  

It was somewhere in between centralization and feudal aristocracy, maintaining a delicate balance where royal authority was respected while noble rights were acknowledged.  

She had only learned about this from books, so there might be some differences in reality.  

Still, the fact that an illegitimate child had been formally incorporated into the royal family, even if only nominally, was proof that the king’s authority was firmly established to some degree.  

In such a situation, it would be more than enough to be perceived as a challenge if she, who had been forcibly made a member of the royal family, openly refused a political marriage arranged by the king.  

If she had been raised solely for the purpose of a political marriage, she wouldn’t have even been able to dream of refusing it.  

However, now, the game had changed completely.  

"I don’t care. I've finally gained even a small position—if I have something useful, I should use it."  

"Hmm, Princess. This is not a matter to act upon simply because it is unpleasant—"  

"Isn’t it obvious that this is more than just a matter of distaste? I’m not acting this way out of childish stubbornness or frustration. If there is no way out, I would rather bite my tongue or inflict a flaw upon my body myself."  

If it had been before she had manifested her magic, things might have been different.  

However, after her magic awakened—especially now that she had become the only one of her kind in the entire kingdom—she was valuable enough that even if her appearance suffered somewhat, she would not be discarded.  

If all else failed, she could burn half her face with fire.  

Since her magic dealt with life itself, she could likely heal it just enough to leave an unsightly scar while keeping the wound from being fatal.  

Of course, just like before, that was truly a last resort.  

After all, burning one's own face was not an easy thing to do.  

"If you are truly determined, there is an alternative that may be preferable. Though it is not an easy path for a woman, there is precedent among magicians."  

For some reason, there was an inexplicable sense of unease in the words that followed.  

Suppressing the urge to glance at his half-bald head, she cautiously asked,  

"…What is it?"  

"The military, Princess. As a magician—especially as the only one who can manipulate life—you would have an invaluable role as a military magician. Moreover, given your noble status, our Magic Academy would provide full support. Since you have already received education befitting your rank, you would quickly complete officer training as well. However, the military environment… may not be particularly suited to you, Princess."  

The military, he said.  

Ha.  

She almost let out a hollow laugh.  

As someone who had already completed military service in her past life, the idea of going back to that damned place naturally provoked such a reaction.  

Damn it.  

However, once she pushed past the momentary frustration and shock, another thought came to her.  

Back then, she had been just an ordinary male conscripted into the army.  

She had no connections, no special skills, and had not received any exceptional treatment.  

She was just a common soldier.  

But now?  

Even if it had been somewhat forced, she was still a royal.  

From what Master Dúnedain was saying, she would enter the military as an officer.  

She also possessed a unique ability that no one else in the entire kingdom had.  

While it was unusual for women to serve as soldiers in this era, there was already precedent for magicians doing so.  

If she played this right, it might actually work out well.  

"…If I do this, can it really delay the marriage?"  

"This is a method often chosen by noble heirs who wish to subtly resist their families. After all, military service is a way to prove one's loyalty to the kingdom and set an example as a noble. Even if the family realizes the intent behind it, they cannot easily oppose it. However, for magicians, one must first demonstrate a certain level of skill."  

"Skill?"  

"Yes. Of course, given your talents, it will not take you long to reach the required level. At most, I estimate it will take about six months."  

Was the skill requirement for military magicians particularly low?  

Or was her talent just that exceptional?  

No matter how gifted she was, if the standard were high, he wouldn't have been able to give such a definitive timeline.  

Well, magic that controlled life was indeed formidable.  

Looking at the forget-me-not flowers that remained in full bloom even in the midst of the cold, it was clear she could likely do something similar for humans.  

Healing injuries was a given.  

She might even be able to restore limbs lost to severe wounds.  

In this era, if a bullet struck a limb in the wrong place, the standard treatment was amputation to prevent death from gangrene.  

Without special means, that was the only option.  

She was one such 'special means.'  

Even if all she could do was immediately treat wounds from cuts, stabs, and gunshots, she would already be saving countless lives from tetanus and sepsis.  

"If Master Dúnedain says so, then it must be true. I’ll be counting on you from now on."  

"No, Princess. I am a fire magician. The only thing I can teach you is the very basics. Beyond that, I can only help by securing the necessary books and people for your training."  

And so, her first meeting with Master Dúnedain ended there.  

Of course, it had been a very productive and positive outcome for her.  

However, for her, that day did not end there.  

"Who is it this time? They were wearing pure white robes."  

"The clergy of the Lumière Order, Princess. They heard of your life magic awakening and have come to offer their congratulations."  

"Is this common?"  

"No. However, since the clergy also use divine power to heal diseases and injuries, they naturally have an interest in you, Princess."  

Even in a world where magic served many functions, religion still wielded undeniable power.  

It differed slightly from the form it took on Earth.  

Unlike Earth, where a few major religions held dominance, this world had a form of monotheism where a single god was worshiped under different virtues.  

For Pélancia, it was Lumière, the virtue of mercy.  

For Sensia to the south, it was justice.  

For Demigarden across the northern seas, it was human will.  

Of course, 'mercy' here did not mean they were any less exploitative.  

Even in the Detached Palace, what she had seen of them was enough to make it astonishing that such people could wield divine power to heal others.  

"Let them in."  

"Understood, Princess."  

What an interesting day.  

In her fourteen years of life, aside from the people who had come to teach her, visitors had been so rare she could count them on one hand.  

Yet today, she had already seen so many—first a magician, then the king, and now a delegation of clergy.

"It is a pleasure to meet you for the first time, Princess. I am Cardinal Julio Mazarin of the Lumière Order in the Kingdom of Pélancia."  

"It is a pleasure to meet you as well, Cardinal Mazarin. I am Annaliese del Carmen Lamibert, Princess of the Kingdom of Pélancia."  

The priesthood, including the cardinal, consisted of nine members, five of whom were extremely overweight.  

It was fortunate that their robes were quite spacious; otherwise, she would have been forced to witness them holding up their sagging bellies as they walked.  

The truly amusing part was that among the remaining four, three were burly men with massive muscles.  

Their muscular forms were so pronounced that they showed even through the loose-fitting priestly robes.  

Cardinal Mazarin was the only one who seemed somewhat ordinary, aside from his rather large frame.  

"I ask for your forgiveness, Princess, for making this hasty visit without proper formalities upon hearing of your manifestation of life magic."  

"There is no need, Cardinal. I am simply pleased that you came to visit me. It is not just anyone, but the entire priesthood, one of the pillars of our kingdom, who has come. If it were not for something special, I doubt I would have had the opportunity to meet you all like this."  

She infused her words with a subtle edge.  

Of course, it was not sharp enough to cause offense—just enough to make them feel a slight sting while laughing it off.  

There were more than a few people who had never once visited her before, so there was no need to be too aggressive.  

"The reason for our visit is none other than the nature of the magic you have manifested—it is life magic. There is a connection between life magic and the divine power of our order."  

"It does not seem particularly effective on those who are not already dead, though."  

"That is true. However, the fact that it can be used to heal people is what makes it similar."  

That was fair.  

She had yet to heal anyone, but from what she had read in books, heard from magicians, and now confirmed with them, life magic could indeed heal injuries.  

Not just injuries, but diseases as well.  

In that sense, her life magic did share similarities with the divine power of the order.  

Regardless of their intentions or ulterior motives, they both healed people in the end.  

"That makes sense. I have heard that the order works tirelessly for the people. So, is your visit today because you wish for me to help others as well?"  

She decided to steer the conversation in as positive a direction as possible.  

After all, the order’s public image was that of an institution that cared for the poor, and they did indeed operate soup kitchens and relief centers.  

They certainly took plenty from elsewhere, but what mattered was that they did provide aid.  

By emphasizing that point, she could make it harder for them to reveal any hidden motives so easily.  

This was only their first meeting, so they were unlikely to show their true colors right away.  

Still, it was best to prepare in advance.  

"That is correct, Princess. If possible, we hope that you would assist us in this effort."  

They wanted her to help them, did they?  

She had expected them to use a benevolent image to mask any underlying schemes, but she had not anticipated that they would outright ask her to stand with them.  

In short, they wanted her to devote herself to the order.  

"Me? With the order?"  

"Yes. If you were to make such a decision, we would immediately ordain you as a priestess. You must be aware of the considerable authority that comes with such a position."  

What was this?  

Why were they being so blatant?  

No matter what, this was their first meeting.  

Before today, they had barely acknowledged each other’s existence.  

Yet, just because she had manifested magic, their attitude had changed this drastically?  

Shouldn’t they have been more cautious and indirect in their approach?  

She was, after all, a princess and a member of the royal family.  

Being so openly aggressive and hasty in their attempts to recruit her was enough to stir controversy.  

"Why are you in such a hurry?"  

Since they had come at her so urgently, she decided to strike directly in return.  

It was clear that they were desperate enough that such a question would not even be considered rude.  

"Because, Princess, are you not trying to leave the king’s grasp?"  

For a moment, she could do nothing but blink in stunned silence, her lips slightly parted.  

Then, she quickly scanned her surroundings—the nanny and the attendants of the Detached Palace.  

"Leave us."  

"Understood, Princess."  

The attendants quickly withdrew.  

She was relieved that there had been no royal guards present.  

As the nanny was the last to exit, she made sure to watch her close the door before letting out a deep sigh.  

"Where exactly did you hear that, and what did you hear?"  

For them to be so confident meant that they had some sort of basis for their claim.  

Even if the practical influence of a cardinal rivaled that of the king, making such a statement without solid evidence was too risky.  

It was not something one would say lightly.  

"Did you not speak to the magicians of the Magic Academy?  From what we heard, you confided in Master Dúnedain that you wished to escape from the marriage His Majesty had arranged for you. Would that not be considered an act of defiance against the king?"  

Tsk.  

The groan she let out this time was not for show.  

Did Master Dúnedain tell them himself?  

No, that did not seem likely.  

Regardless, it was now certain that someone among the magicians who visited today had ties to the order.  

"I see that I was correct."  

Both the cardinal and a couple of the priests wore peculiar smiles.  

With another sigh, she resigned herself to the situation.