Chapter 13
I thought I had torn it… a little.
The knights must have been flustered by my charismatic shout.
“Tsk.”
One of the knights smiled kindly.
No, that’s not right. What exactly went wrong?
“Young lady, you shouldn’t go around impersonating the princess.”
“You’ll get in serious trouble. Hahaha!”
It seemed the two of them didn’t believe that I was Isabel.
Well, my face wasn’t widely known, and I looked like this, so it was understandable.
I stopped the nanny from saying anything and asked to be put down.
She set me on the ground.
I stood tall on my own two feet, trying to look dignified.
Carefully enunciating as best as I could, I said:
“State your affiliation and name.”
The knights ignored me and turned their attention to the nanny instead.
Their expressions were completely different from how they treated me.
“She’s just a child, but what are you doing?”
“Take the young lady and return at once.”
I spoke again.
“Is it Billotian law to ignore the princess when she’s speaking?”
“…What?”
“I asked for your affiliation and name.”
Confusion spread across the knights’ faces.
They seemed to realize something was off.
“You’re guarding the imperial banquet hall and you don’t even recognize a member of the royal family?”
“….”
“Do you want to be punished? If you don’t recognize my face, the proper procedure is to report to your superior and confirm it first.”
“….”
“I won’t forgive you.”
The two knights stood there, speechless.
They looked quite shaken.
That should’ve been enough… to show the dignity of a princess.
There were many eyes watching.
Everything I did would be recorded, becoming my reputation and image.
So I had to be clear about what needed addressing and speak firmly.
I smiled brightly.
“But I’ll let it go. Today is a happy day.”
“—To commemorate the Day the Sun Rose, this was personally crafted by Archmage Amyuriel of the Mirotel Magic Federation…”
Serna discreetly poked Ron in the side.
“Your Majesty, you should respond.”
The one who had just presented the gift was Wilhelm, a rising star of the Mirotel Magic Federation.
The Mirotel Magic Federation was a dominant force, rivaling the sword empire Billotian.
“Your Majesty?” Serna whispered.
But Ron hadn’t been listening.
He had already sensed the commotion at the entrance.
His extraordinary hearing had picked up Isabel’s voice.
“How dare you! Make way! I am Isabel!”
From that moment on, his attention was entirely fixed on the entrance.
Everything Isabel said afterward was correct.
That’s right. Asking for affiliation and name first—good. Reprimanding them logically—also correct. Very much like a princess.
Meanwhile, the empress, noticing Ron’s distraction, stepped in.
As empress, she took over his role.
“We sincerely thank the Mirotel Magic Federation for such a precious gift.”
She met Wilhelm’s eyes and smiled gracefully.
“In the future, we will visit and personally convey our thanks to Sir Amyuriel as well.”
Ron’s behavior was technically a serious diplomatic breach.
But no one minded.
The empress shone brilliantly enough to cover it.
Then suddenly, Ron stood up.
“Let her in.”
His voice carried mana.
It pierced through the crowd like an arrow and reached the entrance.
The knights flinched.
“D-did you hear that?”
“Yes!”
They turned toward the hall.
Their gazes met his.
Cold sweat ran down their backs.
“P-please enter, Your Highness.”
“We’ll escort you.”
They realized something had gone very wrong.
Their faces stiffened.
Isabel took one knight’s hand and walked forward.
His hand was drenched in sweat.
She smiled brightly.
“It’s okay. I already forgave you.”
“….”
“My father only punishes a mistake once.”
At that moment, the knight felt that the small hand in his felt incredibly heavy.
He realized this tiny, smiling child truly carried royal blood.
“We deeply apologize. We will come to formally ask forgiveness later.”
“You don’t have to.”
“It would ease our hearts.”
“Then bring me jelly. Or ice cream. Peach jelly, chocolate ice cream.”
The knight felt something strange.
An overwhelming dignity… mixed with irresistible cuteness.
Escorted by the knight, Isabel reached the front.
She looked up at Ron.
“I prepared a gift too, Your Majesty.”
The envoys whispered among themselves.
Not kindly.
Her appearance didn’t suit the banquet at all.
“Good heavens, that’s the princess?”
“She’s covered in soot!”
“How disgraceful…”
They hid behind fans.
“They say she’s practically abandoned by the royal family. It must be true.”
“Even so, she should at least be properly cared for.”
“I would’ve scolded the nanny severely.”
Standing next to the elegant empress, Isabel looked even more out of place.
“The empress is so graceful…”
“Even a fallen noble’s daughter would look cleaner.”
But Isabel didn’t care.
She could barely hear them anyway.
And she only had 17 years left—no time for trivial things.
“Here.”
“What is it?”
Ron, who had ignored the federation’s gift, leaned forward.
“It’s a ring.”
Isabel proudly held out the flower ring.
It sparkled with mana.
“Tada! It even glows!”
“….”
“I’ll put it on for you. Can I come up?”
Everyone stared, stunned.
They expected the iron-blooded emperor to erupt in anger.
“What a disgrace…”
“Indeed.”
“She can’t even use swordsmanship, and now she embarrasses the emperor…”
At that moment—
A gust of wind blew.
The fans of those speaking ill were shredded to pieces.
Then the emperor spoke.
“Stay where you are. I’ll come to you.”
Ron, who had always remained seated, stood.
For the first time.
He walked down slowly.
He stopped before his scruffy-looking daughter.
Then he knelt on one knee, meeting her eyes.
“Did you make this?”
“Yes.”
“And you ended up like this while making it?”
“…Yes.”
Her voice grew small.
In truth, she’d just been playing in the dirt.
But she couldn’t exactly say that.
“This is unacceptable. I should scold the nanny.”
“N-no!”
“I’m joking.”
Ron gently brushed her messy bangs behind her ear.
The touch wasn’t practiced, but it wasn’t rough either.
Isabel smiled.
It was a warmth she had never known in her previous life.
Her heart tickled.
She stepped closer and whispered:
“I’m happy because you’re here, Daddy.”
“….”
“It’s a secret.”
“What is?”
“That I like you.”
She covered her mouth and whispered, “Shh.”
She beamed.
This is a little embarrassing…
Her face flushed.
But she wanted to be honest.
Only seventeen chances left.
Right—the gift.
With her tiny hands, she carefully slipped the ring onto his finger.
Ron’s hand trembled slightly.
Late at night, near midnight—
Serna sighed deeply.
“How could you choose a flower ring as the best gift? It’s become a huge issue. You do realize your actions can be seen as insulting the other delegations, right?”
He had chosen Isabel’s flower ring over all others.
A clear insult.
“You maintained a blank expression all night, but the moment your daughter appeared, you smiled.”
“I did not.”
“You did. I saw it.”
“I didn’t.”
“Really? I’ll stake myself on it.”
“….”
Cornered, Ron stayed silent.
According to his physician, he had a “condition” where he couldn’t lie if Serna was involved.
His face reddened slightly.
“You once said a swordsman has no need for rings. Remember?”
Rings interfere with grip.
“And yet, you chose a glowing mana-infused flower ring as the best gift.”
“….”
“I’ll be busy cleaning this up. Maybe I won’t see you for months.”
That was punishment.
Diplomatic issues were trivial.
But not seeing Serna? That was serious.
“…Was I truly in the wrong?”
“I didn’t say that.”
Serna smiled.
“I would’ve done the same.”
Still, damage control was necessary.
Many delegations were offended.
He would have to make amends.
Politics and diplomacy were always like that.
The next day—
For the first time in a long while,
Ron visited Isabel’s room.
