Chapter 153

Madame Smith's Arrival and Smith's Thoughts
Upon returning to the castle, my nemesis was there.

"Why are you here? You were supposed to be sent to the provinces."

"I was merely overseeing my nephew’s education, but it seems Princess’s education is lacking, so I cut it short and returned early.”

Yes, Madame was here. Dressed in an elegant gown, she was absolutely furious.

"My period of education should be over."

"Silence! I provided an education to make you the flower of high society. Yet, no matter how long I waited, you showed no sign of entering high society. Instead, you have been heading to the battlefield like His Majesty—utterly unacceptable! Therefore, you require re-education. You will participate in His Majesty's birthday celebration this year."

With a snap, she pulled out a modified riding crop—her weapon. And under the guise of education, Madame held authority that even surpassed the royal family.

Even if she were to strike me with that whip, it wouldn’t be considered a problem. She was a terrifying person.

But there’s no way the new and improved me would lose.

"I am the head of the Viceroy Family, the Director of the Technology Development Bureau, and the Admiral of the Air Force. I’m busy with political affairs, so let’s do this another time! Mr. Coote, let’s move out at once…?"

When I turned around, Mr. Coote had fainted.

"I was eliminating monsters while educating my nephew. That beast—I’ve seen it before. It’s the same one that once tucked its tail and fled from me."

Madame, known as the Lady of the Battlefield, was a fearsome warrior. She had a reputation for reforming enemy soldiers on the battlefield, turning them into proper citizens.

Imperial soldiers who had faced Madame would return to their country, quit the military, and either become diligent farmers or socialites. They never set foot on the battlefield again, so it wasn’t really a problem. But she had a unique way of fighting. However, her education involved fear and pain. Those educated by Madame could never defy her. Isn’t that basically brainwashing?

Since the utterly useless Mr. Coote would need to be disciplined later, my only option was to defeat Madame and escape this re-education. I reached for the gun at my waist, switching the bullets to rubber ones. However, just as I drew it, Madame closed the distance in an instant and struck it down with her whip.

"Resistance will not be tolerated. Now, time for dance lessons. I have also arranged twenty instructors. I will make you a proper princess again."

"Guh… If you interfere with me, it will hinder state affairs…"

"I’ve already entrusted everything to the Prime Minister, dearie. He was overjoyed and locked himself in his office. And your language—fix it!"

I narrowly dodged the approaching whip. I had grown too.

"I am not the same as before. I am devoting myself to the advancement of the Kingdom! I refuse to be caged!"

The old me might have been quiet. But now, I have things I can do. Entering high society isn’t everything. I have my own strengths.

"… Let me tell you about something I experienced.

There was once someone who said the same thing as you. She was greatly feared because she kept doing what she could. And she was crushed by that role—losing her life.

I will never allow you to go to the battlefield. If you insist on standing your ground, then prove your strength."

For some reason, this turned into a duel.

I knew. Madame admired my Great-Grandmother. She must be talking about her. It was obvious from the timeline. And Madame had once been in the Knights' Order, even serving as the Vice-Captain of my Grandfather’s royal guard. Her skills likely still surpassed mine. By the way, no one would ever tell me the name of the captain. That person had left the military when Father became King, refusing to serve him.

I headed to the training grounds. The main one used by knights was directly above the dock… the entrance. I didn’t want to use it. I’d probably break something.

"Now then, I shall prove that you would be of no use on the battlefield. Once I do, I will make you the flower of high society."

This was bad. I wasn’t in top form—I was exhausted. Facing Madame directly was dangerous. And Mr. Coote had already lost his fighting spirit. What exactly had she done to wild Mr. Coote?!

Madame, now dressed in a knight's uniform instead of her usual gown, had no openings. I searched for a way to turn the tables.

This wouldn’t work. That wouldn’t work either. I couldn’t deal with Madame’s physical abilities. My body was too immature.

"If you won’t move, then I will."

Madame closed the gap in an instant and swung her whip downward. I instinctively blocked with Gladius. Surprisingly, I managed. My body was moving. I angled Gladius to deflect the whip and released my right hand from the hilt, aiming a palm strike—an art of the Shishidou style.

"Too naive."

She dodged my palm strike, grabbed my outstretched right hand, and threw me. I conjured a shield midair, using it as a foothold to spring back, thrusting with Gladius. But Madame had already moved.

With a sharp clink, Gladius flew from my hand, striking the ground hard.

"How unsightly. On the battlefield, you would die instantly."

Madame gazed at me coldly.

"I’m not afraid to die. I’ve already died once before… That’s why I can win against you. Spirit Armament!"

"Princess, you mustn’t!"

Alicia, who had been watching, screamed. I knew Madame was worried about me. But I wouldn’t back down.

The earth spirit entered me. My body changed with a glow. My white skin darkened, and my chest was wrapped in only a sarashi. My outfit resembled a kimono, and I wore a pure white headband.

"My ultimate technique—Earth Shatter!"

I slammed my fist into the ground, causing it to crack open. Madame leaped to avoid it, but jagged spikes of rock shot up from the fissure.

"It seems we must start with the importance of proper attire."

Amazingly, she used the spikes as stepping stones, hopping toward me. Then, she swung her whip down. I caught it with my forehead.

"Right now, I’m incredibly tough."

I grabbed the whip and crushed it in my grip. This was possible because my Spirit Armament was specialized for strength.

"I want you to acknowledge me, Madame."

"Silence! I will never let another princess of the royal family set foot on the battlefield. I refuse to let my comrades and my people experience that pain again!"

I didn’t understand why she was so angry. But I had my resolve too… Wait? My strength was fading, and I fell to my knees. The Spirit Armament unraveled on its own.

—This is enough. Alice's body is exhausted. She must rest.—

Dizziness struck, and I collapsed.

"Madame…"

"I know. But I will not accept this. The Princess is just like Lady Cynthiana. If I don’t make her faint, she’ll never rest."

Madam is not the kind of woman who would suddenly challenge someone to a duel. If Alicetia had returned normally, she had planned to forcibly bring her into lessons as usual.

She had educated Alicetia as a "princess." Not as a warrior.

Alicetia did not understand. That Arland currently had only two royals to carry on the next generation.

Cynthiana had been a great queen. In the history and memory of Arland, she was feared as a queen drenched in blood. But Madam knew the truth. She had been a kind person. However, her abilities had been far too specialized in slaughter.

Cynthiana, who was specialized in slaughter, was always on the battlefield. Even the divine dragon that Draconia defeated had originally been repelled by Cynthiana. At that time, its three pairs of wings had been reduced to one, and its four pairs of eyes had been reduced to one. Cynthiana had the ability to accomplish such feats alone.

She was not originally someone who should have been on the battlefield. She did not even like fighting. However, the era did not allow otherwise. When situations arose where she had no choice but to fight, Cynthiana would take to the battlefield. And then, she would slaughter her enemies and be feared. Even by her allies.

Madame had seen her cry countless times. "The royal family is cursed," she had murmured over and over. And that was the truth. They were the descendants of those who had slain their own parents.

Madame’s family was a count's house, one not inferior even to a marquis in Arland. They were also one of the founding families. Having served the royal family since Arland’s inception, she understood Alicetia’s abnormalities.

"Princess was born abnormal. The Spirit King was never meant to be revived. If one is born... it means the beginning of war."

The Spirit King would not return. That was a curse sealed away to prevent the same events from repeating. Yes, the system of the Spirit King had already been broken, and a bug had occurred. It was never a power that humans could control. That was why it had been sealed, ensuring it would never resurface. The reincarnation cycle had ended, and peace had finally come to this world.

What caused its return was Iris’s mistake. Refusing to reincarnate, she had instead created Alicetia—using even the soul of the hero who had fallen as the Demon King.

"Princess’s birth was unavoidable. It is possible that centuries have loosened the seal. Yet we have no means to confirm the state of the seal."

"And so you intend to keep Princess away from battle? Do you really think she will accept that?"

"Judging by her attitude, it seems impossible. Back then, Princess was so quiet... I failed to notice she was merely storing up power."

Alicetia had an abnormally good memory. She could perfectly learn something after only a few lessons. At the time, Madame had seen no danger. She had assumed that Alicetia would marry some noble and live a quiet life. She had never imagined that she would become so influential.

But now, the course had changed. Most likely, Alicetia would be targeted by people across the continent. What had alarmed Madame the most was learning that she had been operating as an adventurer in Ostland. Of course, the Secret Service were likely eliminating threats in the shadows. However, from now on, she needed to avoid leaving the country—at least until the Empire could be silenced.

"Princess is on vacation starting today. She is clearly overworked."

Alicetia would likely never know peace in the future. If she continued in her current exhausted state, it would be dangerous. She had risen to become an indispensable figure in the Kingdom. That was a good thing. The Kingdom could no longer afford to lose her. In the worst-case scenario, she might even be sold off to another country—but that was unlikely. The other royals would never allow it, and Alicetia was popular among the people. From now on, the battle to protect her would begin.

"Understood. Lately, She has been having trouble sleeping and feeling exhausted, so this is a good opportunity."

"You were supposed to stop her in the first place."

"Princess is not one to obediently listen to what I say. This sleeping drug will not be necessary, either."

Alicia casually tossed away the sleeping drug. If Alicetia had continued working, they would have had to force her to rest. Ever since the turmoil in Ostland, she had been working almost nonstop. At this rate, she would break down. She lacked self-restraint.

From that day on, Alicetia took a break. The ministers mostly cried about it, but since it was obvious she was overworked, no one could complain.

—
Author’s footnotes:
Madam Smith strongly opposes Alicetia's activities, as they have ultimately increased Alicetia's danger.

Madam Smith comes from a family that knows the history of the Kingdom. Only the Five Dukes and a select few nobles are aware of the secrets of the Arland royal family. Even Alicia only has a superficial understanding of these secrets.

Cynthiana shared a similar personality to Alicetia. Despite being described as cruel, Cynthiana was fundamentally uninterested in battle. However, her methods in combat were excessively brutal. And unfortunately, she was incapable of fighting in any other way, making her a pitiable figure.

Incidentally, Cynthiana is the one who pushed the Divine Dragon, which Draconia later defeated, to the brink of death. The Divine Dragon that Draconia defeated had recovered from its injuries, but its combat capabilities were far from halved—it was in a severely weakened state.