Chapter 155

The Princess’s Scheme
In my personal workshop and research lab, where various pieces of equipment were haphazardly arranged. I had designated the workshop above ground for magic potion research, so this one was the one I was using now. The one above ground was only for occasional use. After all, that place contained dangerous herbs and plants that exploded when exposed to fire.

In the open space at the center, I took out my cards. There were two: one for the engine and one for the vehicle body. The engine was still incomplete due to a lack of rare metals and the nonexistence of certain materials. Many of my inventions remained unfinished for similar reasons.

"Card, release."

As the cards glowed, the vehicle body and engine materialized on the floor.

"A vehicle?"

"One that doesn't require a living creature to pull it and moves even faster. It's a common mode of transportation where I come from. But I never finished it because I lacked rubber and metal."

Alicia circled the car, examining it with curiosity.

I used Factory to create the necessary parts from metal ingots and assembled them into the vehicle body and engine. It took several hours, but it gradually started to look more like a real car. Once it reached a certain level of completion, I integrated magic tools into it.

In my previous life, I lost my family in an accident. In this life, I refused to make the same mistake. I embedded thorough defensive magic, which resulted in a vehicle with an abysmally low fuel efficiency—the equivalent of one kilometer per liter of gasoline. However, in exchange, it was far more durable than a tank. No matter what accident occurred, the passengers would be safe. Even a direct hit from an RPG or a missile wouldn’t harm it. It could even survive a fall from a cliff. It was safer than the cars from those movies featuring a certain gentlemanly spy.

"Playtime is over, my dear. It's time for bed."

Madame entered just as I was losing track of time, fully engrossed in building the car. Since this research lab wasn’t a classified area, authorized personnel could come and go freely.

"Wait, Madame! I haven’t attached the mirrors yet! Don’t pull me away!"

It was so close to being finished, but Madame picked me up and tried to drag me out of the lab. The mirrors weren’t installed yet!

"You need some sunlight. This is unhealthy."

In the end, I couldn’t finish it that day.

Madame continued her pointless princess re-education efforts afterward, but I didn’t change… Sorry. I won’t sneak food again. I won’t secretly stash sweets in the Treasury, so please put away the whip. Also, Eibon is not the enemy. He may be a pervert and an utter scoundrel, but he’s not a bad person anymore, so don’t try to get rid of him. He’s still useful, and his intellect is valuable.

Being forced into a strict daily routine was frustrating for me. I had no issue with waiting until after Father’s birthday festival to go to Ostland, but my schedule was packed. Yet they still restricted my research and my activities with the Viceroy Merchant Union. That part wasn’t a huge issue since Mr. Ponpoko was acting as the chairman in my stead, but limiting my research was unacceptable. I was incredibly busy.

And now, they were even plotting to confiscate my guild card. Apparently, since I was a royal princess, dangerous activities were absolutely forbidden. But I refused to comply. The royal family had a policy that its members should train themselves as adventurers. Technically, this applied only to the princes, but it was never explicitly stated as such. So there was no issue.

"I refuse… I’m absolutely not going."

"You refuse to attend His Majesty’s birthday festival? That is unacceptable."

On the day of Father’s birthday festival, Madame and Alicia arrived at my room with a dress. It was the same one they forced me into last time. Apparently, they had decided back then that I would attend this year.

I hate dresses. They’re difficult to move in, thin, and too frilly.

"I’m still a child, so I’m not required to attend yet."

"No, Princess. As a high-ranking military officer, your attendance is mandatory."

"T-Then I’ll retire as Air Marshal. From today onward, Captain Pash is the new Marshal."

At this point, my only option was to sacrifice Captain Pash to escape the party. In reality, he was already the de facto leader of the air force. My only roles were manufacturing weapons and securing budgets.

On the other hand, Captain Pash controlled the personnel affairs of the air force.

"Princess… Captain Pash is competent, but if you step down, no one will follow him. Besides, the invitation was sent under your title as Director of the Technical Development Bureau as well as the Viceroy. It’s unprecedented to have three separate invitations."

Ugh… This cunning scheme had to be the Prime Minister’s doing. Neither my Big brother nor Father would go this far to force me. Even if I resigned from the air force and the Technical Development Bureau, I still couldn’t escape as long as I remained the head of the Viceroy Family. In that case…

"Fine. From today on, I’m just an ordinary Alicetia."

"Absolutely not!"

"Not happening, my dear!"

Apparently, even trying to renounce my position in the Viceroy Family was unacceptable.

"What are you thinking?! If you leave the royal castle, riots will break out!"

"You need a proper education in royal duties from the ground up."

Alicia and Madame were furious and scolded me thoroughly. But I didn’t care. It was too much of a hassle, and there were still annoying nobles around. If I attended, some would start demanding this or that.

I only give things to my ‘allies.’ As long as the people aren’t causing trouble, they’re my ‘allies,’ and I’ll support them without limit.

However, nobles fell into different categories.

First, those who don’t harm me or make unreasonable requests—these are my ‘allies.’

Next, those who respect my position and refrain from unnecessary involvement—these are also ‘allies.’ They’re the easiest to deal with.

The worst ones are those who bring trouble without offering anything in return. They aren’t enemies, but they’re not ‘allies’ either. So I won’t grant them any benefits.

That’s why I don’t want to deal with them.

"It will be fine. The Beastfolk nobles and Dwarven nobles revere you, Princess. If any nuisances appear, they will eliminate them. The Elves, as always, will only send tribute and not attend."

"The Elves were never interested in national politics to begin with. They don’t interfere excessively, but they also don’t allow interference. They’re peculiar like that. The number of times they've attended the King’s birthday festival can be counted on one hand."

Both the Dwarves and Beastfolk were looking at me with sparkling admiration, which honestly made me a little uncomfortable. Also, recently, some of the Beastfolk nobles had resumed glaring at Alicia. Why? What do they dislike? I even gave them the magic combs!

"Since I don’t have a partner, I won’t be attending after all. Besides, if I bring a strange partner, people will assume they’re my fiancé."

Currently, I didn’t have a fiancé. Strangely enough, I didn’t even have any candidates. Most likely, it had something to do with the power balance between the Royal Family and the Viceroy family.

"That’s where I come in!"

"We are in the middle of changing!"

Just as my Big brother dramatically flung the door open with a smug look on his face, Madame closed the distance in an instant and delivered a single, precise strike to his solar plexus. He crumpled to the floor. For the record, I hadn’t even started undressing yet—I had just been cornered against the wall.

This was my chance to escape to the Treasury…

"Princess? If you run there, Madame will never forgive you."

The moment I grabbed the key, Alicia seized my arm. Madame was watching me with the eyes of a beast about to devour its prey—there was no mercy in her gaze.

"Ugh… Everyone’s so mean. Fine, I’ll go… I’ll go."

And just like that, my attendance was decided. I was unnecessarily dressed up, and as Madame and Alicia discussed it, they fastened accessories onto me. Since Gladius was deemed too disruptive and banned, I opted to bring my school-use wand, crafted from a dragon’s tear. As a mage, carrying a wand was perfectly acceptable. Plus, I could use Telekinesis to grab distant snacks with it.

Later, after recovering, my brother was declared my partner for the event.

"You should have a partner too, Big brother…"

"I turned them all down. I was certain that this year, Alicetia would finally be my partner. I couldn’t stand those noble ladies’ predatory stares anymore…"

Apparently, every year, my brother was relentlessly pursued by noblewomen with the ambition of becoming the future queen or at least a concubine. The sheer number of contenders was ridiculous. And since my brother was the perfect image of a prince—aside from his slightly problematic personality—he was a highly sought-after crown prince.

"You have my condolences."

"You’re just as targeted, Alice, but the fools after you should be gone by now. I made sure to educate them properly, so none should dare approach you anymore."

Big brother, your smile looks awfully sinister… What exactly did you do?

"For now, the Princess does not need a fiancé. It would only throw the kingdom into chaos."

"Don’t worry. I’ll make her my bride in the future."

"That possibility is zero. The royal family would shrink too much."

This was why a marriage between us was out of the question. In the distant future, the Royal family and Viceroy household might intermarry, but right now, there were only two members of the next royal generation. By next year, there would be three, but that was still too few.

Big brother’s dark smile clashed with Madame’s exasperated look, sparks flying between them. She seemed to be his greatest obstacle. And intimidation tactics wouldn’t work on her.

"I want at least five children in the future, so marrying Alice wouldn’t be a problem."

"Increasing the number of royals is good, but a marriage with the Princess is absolutely out of the question. That is the consensus of the kingdom’s nobility."

"It’s fine. If I make it impossible for them to oppose, it’ll be settled."

Big brother declared his intent to take control of the entire noble faction. I wish he would direct that passion elsewhere.

While listening to Madame and Brother argue, I came to a realization. Even if the nobles who had been “educated” by Big brother were silent, others would still flock to me. I needed a countermeasure.

Alright, I’ll pull out something rare—like the magic-powered vehicle—and surprise everyone. The ensuing chaos should make them forget about approaching me.

I can do this!