I've Pushed It Off

Mani quickly came back to her senses.

"Such a great responsibility is beyond someone like me…!"

"Then name someone more suitable. I'll assign them instead."

"That would be…"

Mani tried to suggest someone's name.

But she immediately faltered.

"I'm not saying this on a mere whim. There simply isn't anyone in the Kingdom right now who can be trusted with this."

"That can't be…"

"The Secretary of Military Affairs came from a distinguished noble family. And that family monopolized the position of Secretary of Military Affairs for a long time. What do you think happens then?"

"Almost all key posts end up under the Secretary's influence."

"Exactly. Capable people with accomplishments also go under the Secretary of Military Affairs to advance their careers. Though it seems you didn't do that."

"That's because I'm a woman. Since I wasn't going to advance anyway, I got shuffled around. I've only reached my current position by somehow producing results."

"That's why you know so many people despite your youth. You have ability and know the field. You really are the right person for this. Just so you know, you have no right to refuse. I'm a princess, so I can simply give orders."

Princess Tianis slapped Mani on the back as she tried to argue and sent her off.

"With this, I've managed to push off rebuilding the military, I suppose. It was outside my expertise and beyond what I could handle anyway."

"That may be true, but that was quite bold. Making her a general at such a young age."

"It can't be helped. The remaining centurions can do their jobs but are fence-sitters, and I can't trust them with this. It's much better to entrust someone with as much motivation as her."

"Motivation is important, after all."

I had entrusted an entire inn to Kazusa because she was trustworthy and motivated.

Maybe I wasn't one to talk.

"The Empire's learned quite a bit about us, hasn't it. A large army isn't going to suddenly show up starting tomorrow, is it?"

"I don't think Emperor Kelves would resort to something like a sneak attack… but what would you do if that happened?"

"If the Alsarm Army doesn't make it in time, we raise the white flag. In our current state, resisting would only make victims of our people and soldiers."

That was an unexpected answer.

I had thought she would fight to the last.

"Let me be clear though: the Church of the Sun God is a different matter. I don't know what would happen if they occupied us. The Empire is someone we can reason with, so if we don't resist, we won't be treated too badly. Except for me and my sister, anyway."

"Let's pray it doesn't come to that."

"Yes. And keep this between us."

After that, we moved to Princess Tianis's office.

There, we found Princess Yupe buried in a mountain of paperwork.

Apparently, she was being endlessly burdened with work.

"Why am I being treated like this… This is ridiculous."

"Good work, Sister Yupe. You can take a short break."

"Short?! I've been working since morning!"

She collapsed limply onto the sofa.

She was nicely worn out.

"Now that you're healed and healthy, please contribute to the nation, dear sister. You can do whatever you want once you finish your work."

"Even if you say that, there's no way I can finish this mountain of work…"

Princess Tianis's complexion had improved because she was getting enough sleep now that she was making Princess Yupe do the heavy lifting.

Come to think of it, Chancellor Anatia also had a healthy glow to her skin.

"Fufu. Things were tough with just two of us, but with three, it's much easier."

"You two are definitely giving me the bigger share!"

"Oh, I was sooo scared when Sister Yupe tried to kill me."

Once that was said, Princess Yupe had no choice but to fall silent.

It was her bad luck to have shown weakness to Princess Tianis.

Though eventually, she would probably be treated better.

"You there."

"Me?"

"Yes, you. Tianis's lackey. Come here for a moment."

So that's how I looked from the outside.

Since denying it would be pointless, I moved closer as instructed.

"Actually, my neck has been itchy for a while now. But I don't have the courage to look in a mirror, and you'll do just fine. What's happened to my neck?"

Princess Yupe shifted her choker and showed her neck.

Her white skin leading to her collarbone came into view.

The neck itself had… thorn-like marks.

They ran along where Azu had severed it.

It was probably an effect from having her head severed and then reattached to regenerate.

The fact that a severed head could reattach was impossible in itself.

I decided to tell her exactly what I saw.

"There's a mark encircling your neck. The itching is probably from that."

"You're lying…"

Princess Yupe gently traced her fingers along the mark on her neck.

"Ugh, there really is something there. My perfect body…"

"I'd say just surviving that is more than enough."

"I know that, don't lecture me. And that's why I'm obediently working like this. Serving Tianis has made you quite the smart-mouth."

Princess Yupe put her choker back and lay down on the sofa, looking displeased.

She was going to sulk herself to sleep.

"Work has become easier. We can only wait and see how the Empire responds. Now, shall I hire the servants we've been putting off while we have the chance?"

"That's right, we were going to do that. With everything that happened, Azu and the others have been filling in, but is it finally happening?"

"Sorry about that. I'll pay their wages for it."

"Thank you for your business."

"But what should I do? We haven't even decided how to hire them yet."

"In that case, shall we go back to the relief distribution plaza? The food being distributed now should be adequate."

"Let's do that. Of course, Sister Yupe is coming too, right?"

"I want to sleep."

"Look with your own eyes at whose food you were stealing!"

Reluctantly, Princess Yupe got up.