Chapter 11
“I’ll Make You See It Properly”
Let’s rewind time a little—before the princess and her entourage approached Deus’s room.
“I am merely a sword sworn to protect Your Highness. I know well that it is improper to voice opinions freely. Yet, this time, I must risk offense to speak.”
The imperial guard assigned to the princess spoke in a solemn, unwavering tone.
“Go ahead, Sir Lyle,” the princess said.
“You need not do this, Your Highness. I am well aware of how formidable he is, but he has already rejected your proposal once. And yet… you intend to approach him again. Even personally?”
“They say the thirsty dig a well. But the one who lacks it most is me. So of course I have to plead with more desperation.”
“My…!”
I could understand why my guards were uneasy.
She had stubbornly insisted on coming to this academy instead of being sent to another noble house. She had shown willingness to wield her sword for the empire, ready to face the enemy.
But now, the rumor of her personally pleading twice with a common-born instructor—what would that do to her reputation?
“I wish to dedicate myself entirely to the empire. Unlike other princesses with low succession ranks who chose noble marriages, I want to fight as the heroic warriors who willingly sacrificed themselves on the battlefield.”
“….”
“Even you must know. Objectively, without any personal bias, the instructor best suited to help me is him.”
The guard could only nod silently. He wanted to help, but having seen the man in battle, he knew he was far more capable than any imperial guard. He wasn’t an ordinary survivor.
In the end, they chose to follow the princess’s decision.
“Now then… Meilin? Could you switch clothes with me for a bit?”
“Your Highness?!”
At her sudden command, the surrounding entourage erupted in shock.
“I want to examine this instructor, Deus, more thoroughly with my own eyes. If I stand in front of him as the princess, it would be difficult, wouldn’t it?”
When observing from the side, you notice things you cannot see when sitting face to face. Few in the academy knew her true face anyway.
The guards could not object to such reasoning. So the princess became a maid, and the maid became the princess. Only then could they move.
“Remember. Do not reveal the slightest hint of your identity.”
Several warnings later, they reached Deus’s door. Fortunately, the guards still recognized Meilin as the princess and faithfully assisted her.
Watching from behind, the real princess thought anyone would be fooled.
‘I apologize, Instructor Deus. Please think of it as a curious student’s prank.’
But her expectation was completely wrong.
“If someone who isn’t truly Her Highness acts this way, it’s only natural for me to respond accordingly.”
Deus’s tone left no room for interest toward the imposter. The moment he looked directly at the real princess, a chill ran down her spine.
“Isn’t that so, Princess?”
She felt something strange for a while… Could he have noticed something off during their conversation? Or had he known all along?
“…Would it be too naive if I said I don’t understand what you mean?”
“I am sorry, Your Highness. I wish to indulge your curiosity, but this matter is important, so I had to risk being impolite.”
“Impolite? On the contrary, I should be the one apologizing.”
She gestured, and the former princess—now a maid—quickly bowed and stepped back. Simultaneously, the guards returned to the real princess’s side, ready for any situation.
“But… when did you know? Surely not from the start?”
“Regrettably… yes, from the start. If you think carefully, I have never once addressed the maid behind you as ‘Your Highness.’”
The realization struck everyone—the guards, the maid, even the princess herself. Deus had never used royal titles for the imposter.
“I could feel your focus lingering more on the maid than the person you were supposed to protect. Your gaze, your steps, even the rhythm of your breath… it all gave you away. Simply put, it’s the instinct of a survivor.”
“Each time I moved a step, you measured the distance not to your charge, but to the maid behind. That was when I was certain—you are the true princess.”
The guards felt embarrassed, but the princess smiled. She understood it meant they were doing their utmost to protect her.
“I see. That explanation suffices. You are… truly remarkable.”
It was genuine admiration. She had come prepared to humble herself, and it was the right decision—she needed him. Not as a princess, but as a hero.
“Now, shall we get back to the main topic?”
“…As you wish.”
From the beginning, something was off. Her appearance was slightly different from the portraits I remembered. For instance, the illustrations had a tear mark under her eye, but she did not.
No other princess would make such a personal request to me at this time—only Edelweiss Tricia, the 7th princess of the empire. The maid who called herself the princess had also introduced herself with that name. The probability of anyone else was practically zero.
“You are truly remarkable,” the princess said, oblivious to the fact that Deus already knew her secret.
He decided to focus on her proposal. He already had a sense of what she would ask, but he listened carefully in case there were changes.
“My proposal remains the same. I want you to personally train me.”
“…There will be talk, and it will be hard for both of us, Your Highness.”
“I am prepared.”
Her answer came without hesitation—a confidence that was more than youthful idealism or the desire for glory. There was depth to it, triggering one of my weaknesses: I never ignore a story with history.
“I want to serve this empire. Not through marriages or bloodline politics like previous princesses, but to fight its enemies like the great heroes of the past.”
“That’s impossible,” I said, keeping my tone logical, though it was necessary to explain the dangers of putting a high-born in the front lines.
“Yes,” she replied again, unwavering. “I know all of that. That’s why I’ve been preparing, sparing even my sleep and meals. I have talent too—I am one of the best students at the academy, as your Chancellor surely knows.”
“I have heard. Not only talent, but loyalty and courage as well.”
“Then, will you help me?”
I hesitated, explaining that I already had students to train—troublesome ones on the brink of expulsion. Their situation differed from the princess’s, but she insisted.
“This is not a bad offer for you. Those students can benefit from both your instruction and my help.”
Her words carried potential I could not ignore. This could truly make a difference for my other students.
“Then… I can assist with their sparring. If they need anything, I will help as much as I can.”
In the game, it would have been just some growth materials—but now, in reality, the value of help from the 7th princess was immense.
After a brief contemplation, I decided to secure the agreement properly:
“First… you must follow my instruction no matter what.”
“Of course. That’s why I came.”
“Second… you must also aid the other students I’ll train.”
“I would not be so cowardly as to break that promise.”
A few more conditions would come later. For now, it was enough.
[Character Info: Edelweiss Tricia, C-rank]
Traits: Disguise, Romantic, Hardworking
Growth Potential: Developing slowly
C-rank? And with such unusual traits—Disguise? Why would a princess carry that?
“You’ve wielded a sword, Your Highness?”
“Yes. Should I change weapons…?”
“No. Use what you are accustomed to. But if you would permit, may I have you hold the sword once? I’d like to observe your stance and breathing.”
“Sir Lyle?”
He handed her the sword, but she shook her head.
“Not this one.”
“Your Highness?”
“Give me that one.”
“Are you serious? That sword—”
“It’s fine. I have a special sword reserved for important occasions. In front of you, I must wield it.”
She smiled awkwardly, but I could only swallow my astonishment.
‘…That sword?’
What the hell? Why now? Why here?
