Who Could Have Loved the Monster Princess? - Chapter 45

We must be one and the same.

‘That phrasing… Isn’t that something my dad often says to my mom?’

I felt strangely embarrassed and pushed the cookie plate toward Dahliana, almost on instinct.

Dahliana’s eyes sparkled. After giving the girl a quick look, I turned to Sean.

“So, Sean, how do you want me to help?”

“Well, I think Darling can do whatever she wants, right?”

It sounded like he hadn’t really thought it through.

“If I become her guardian, it doesn’t mean Dahliana will suddenly have the authority of a lord. Look at this. The affairs of Bittern are being discussed over there, while we’re completely ignored.”

“I know. It’s fine.”

“It doesn’t look fine, though…? What Dahliana wants is to command the entire family, right? I’m not the only one responsible for my family. My reputation comes from being my father’s daughter, but my bloodline is respected because my mother is a princess. And family matters can only be handled with the support of the vassals.”

In addition to that, I was also receiving help from the Crown Prince, who wanted to make use of the advantages I had. But Dahliana had nothing. Who could she rely on? Her father, who abandoned her and disappeared? Her mother, who died after being exiled? Or her guardian, Sean Onra, who hides his true identity?

Even if I used all the resources I had, I wasn’t sure if Dahliana could truly be recognized as a liege lady. Sean, despite my worries, just smiled.

“Lia is only five years old.”

“Yes, and…?”

“How many years do you think it will take for them to restore the Bittern territory and regain their power? The entire land, abandoned by its inhabitants. Ten years? Twenty? How long do you think the families currently cooperating with them will keep lending their strength?”

Sean said calmly.

“What we wanted to protect was our village, Riverheim. The ones trying to swallow up all of Bittern territory won’t last long.”

I was stunned when I heard that. I had forgotten that Staedt was different from Bittern. In Staedt’s case, full authority was handed to me less than a month after my uncle’s death. Staedt, which had been functioning fine, was suddenly on the brink of collapse.

But Bittern was already at rock bottom. Even with a young liege, it would be fine to take the time to slowly rebuild over the years.

“I see. You’re right.”

I leaned back comfortably in my seat as I listened to Sean. Although he was young, he had served as High Priest at Dahliana’s age and had seen the world through the eyes of a god for over ten years. So, having him by my side was as good as saying that the child had won the competition with her relatives.

“The reason you didn’t step up as her regent directly is to prevent them from using your power for the territory’s restoration.”

“Of course.”

“I can’t just offer my full cooperation either, given the many vested interests I have.”

“Yes.”

I felt a little burdened by suddenly taking on the responsibility of a child, but it was reassuring to know that we weren’t immediately trying to build political power as a liege lord. Helping the child grow while laying the foundation in the meantime wasn’t too difficult.

Lately, I’ve been having more and more distractions, but while I’m focused on helping and taking care of the child, I felt like I wouldn’t have to dwell on those worries as much.

‘More importantly, what I picked up today…’

The problem was Ken’s mana stone.

‘Come to think of it, did Sean not see this?’

I asked Sean, who was drinking his tea.

“Did you notice anything strange from the spirits today?”

“Strange?”

I hesitated for a moment at his reply. As soon as I found it at the scene, I suspected that Ken had summoned the spirit there. Of course, I thought that was unlikely, but why did he do it? What’s the backstory behind it? My thoughts leaned more towards that side.
It was almost as if I had already convinced myself it was Ken’s doing.

‘But that’s not possible. Ken said he had no grudge against the imperial family.’

Ken wasn’t someone who would summon spirits to harm innocent victims out of some resentment toward the imperial family.

I fell silent, and Sean spoke up.

“Are you not going to ask? About the fact that the item belonging to the person you’re thinking of was left at the spot where the spirit was dealt with?”

“Did you know… about that?”

“Darling, do you think I didn’t notice?”

If he had seen it, if he knew, what did Sean think of Ken?

Sean had spent more time with Ken than I had. I usually stayed behind handling support and defense, while Sean and Ken had never been absent from front-line combat.

“That’s Ken’s mana stone. Since it’s imbued with a spell that blocks curses, it could be used as a sealing stone for the spirit.”

“Was the spirit sealed inside it?”

“Yes. When I first went to Riverheim, I sealed all the spirits around the village. The spirit from the Finheim forest was one of them, but someone found it and broke the seal.”

Sean spoke casually.

“Someone?”

“I think they’re a participant in the tournament.”

Sean nodded towards the Bittern family members and suddenly asked:

“Darling, when do you plan to get married?”