Chapter 367

Hersela, unable to continue speaking due to feelings akin to shame, and Ja-han, repeatedly pleading for forgiveness.

I let out a sigh, already lost count of how many times, and calmed him down.

“Stop bowing your head and get up. ‘The real Ha-shal-leur’ says… ‘I won’t hold you accountable for what you did unknowingly. Be more careful from now on.'”

[…Every time you open your mouth, it’s a lie. When did I ever say that?]

Only then did Hersela, who had regained her senses, mutter as if scolding.

Right. I never said that.

But, didn’t I just tell you not to nitpick every little thing? Have you already forgotten?

‘What, you have a problem? Then shall I make you pay for your sins by cutting off Ja-han’s head right here? Like a true Ka`har. I don’t really care either way.’

[No, that’s not it…]

At my sincere suggestion, Hersela immediately backed down.

Apparently, Ja-han was quite special to her.

Unlike the other Imperial Guard members who had their heads cut off for chatting during night watch.

If she ever gives me trouble, I can just use Ja-han to shut her up.

“I am grateful for Princess Ha-shal-leur’s mercy…!”

Upon hearing my words, Ja-han immediately raised his head and stood up.

…This guy is a bit unbelievable.

In situations like this, shouldn’t he usually say something like, “No! I have violated Princess Ha-shal-leur’s strict command, and I deserve to be punished!” with a solemn tone?

But as soon as he hears he’s forgiven, he pops right up. It’s way too natural. Isn’t his attitude shift a bit too quick?

Did he always play around like this? It’s so ridiculous.

This farce is not just absurd but downright pathetic.

It felt like watching Bonnie and Clyde playing house.

Are these guys really the Empire’s destroyers, the mad Hersela and her right-hand man, the Paladin Ja-han?

Is there something wrong with my memory?

—

The story continued after that.

I proved that her consciousness remained within me by recounting a few old memories only Hersela and Ja-han would know, and I allowed Ja-han and Hersela to communicate directly by carving words into the prison wall using Life Force.

She kept pestering me to talk to Hersela.

I was a bit worried she might say something unnecessary… but thankfully, she didn’t.

“Are you saying you will postpone reclaiming your body?”

/Yes. I too do not know who could have committed such a heinous act. However, considering the timing of losing my body, the culprit is likely hiding in the Great Plains. Unfortunately, I cannot go there now. The Empire won’t let me go, and even if we barely make it back, we’ll be chased down by Ai-shan and meet a futile end. To them, we are already clear traitors, aren’t we?/

Actually, we can’t go anyway.

I have no intention of heading east, so how do you plan to go with just the two of us?

“Is the Empire trying to detain Princess Ha-shal-leur?”

/That’s not what I mean. You don’t know yet, but the author has become a key figure in the Empire within half a year. It’s no exaggeration to call him the Emperor’s closest confidant now. It started thanks to my mother’s family and my power, but… gaining this level of influence was more due to the author’s role than my own abilities./

I shrugged at Ja-han, who looked at me as if asking if it was true.

Yeah. It’s all thanks to me.

If Hersela herself had defected to the Empire, wouldn’t she have been executed after throwing a tantrum and causing a scene?

/Moreover, even in pure martial prowess, he is close to the Empire’s strongest. Someone who didn’t even know how to hold a sword at first is now equal to or even surpasses me. Unless the Empire’s people are fools, they wouldn’t let someone like this go, would they?/

Hersela still had no conscience.

‘Equal to or surpasses me,’ she says, even though she’s at the level of a Paladin herself. What nonsense. Can you even block the Reverse Heaven Sword?

“…An impossible growth rate. Wasn’t he originally just a soldier?”

/Well… perhaps his original body couldn’t keep up with his talent? Anyway, given the situation, our best choice is to help the author raise the Empire’s military forces and use them as the vanguard for revenge. If things go smoothly, it might be more effective than Mersin’s plan of building a foothold within Ai-shan and causing internal strife./

Surprisingly, Hersela was quite willing to persuade Ja-han to help me.

Even if it was for her own revenge plan.

‘Is this really okay? Attacking the east with the Imperial Army would mean not just your enemies but the destruction of Ai-shan itself.’

[That’s none of my concern. A country full of those who despised my mother and, for whatever reason, betrayed me. If they won’t follow me, if they hinder my revenge, there’s no reason to keep them alive.]

A rather cold answer.

Well, she didn’t show much reluctance when attacking the White Flag Troops either.

Although she defines her identity as a Ka`har warrior, she doesn’t think highly of the other Ka`hars in Ai-shan.

Being a mixed-blood makes her quite a complex character.

/This person’s goals don’t completely align with mine… but it’s undeniable that we’re walking the same path. So, Ja-han, until everything is over, follow his commands as if they were mine. Just as you are my Paladin, he is my War Chief. Understood?/

“…Yes. I will follow your command, Princess Ha-shal-leur.”

Thus, Ja-han, finally convinced, accepted the proposal to fight as a warrior under my command.

A satisfactory outcome.

—

After that, I explained to Ja-han the matters he must adhere to as my subordinate.

“This is the Empire, not the Great Plains. If you act like a Ka`har warrior, you’ll be treated as a barbarian and ostracized. That would be troublesome, wouldn’t it?”

Unless it’s a situation of self-defense, never draw your sword without my permission.

When it’s just the two of us, it’s fine, but in front of others, treat me as Princess Ha-shal-leur of Ai-shan.

And don’t be rude to my acquaintances or subordinates.

These were the minimum conditions to avoid bloodshed.

“Hmm…”

“You don’t have any complaints, do you? If you’ve decided to defect to the Empire, you should at least try to adapt to the life of an Imperial citizen.”

Ja-han, being a pure-blooded Ka`har unlike me, would find it difficult to be accepted by the Empire’s people.

If he causes trouble on top of that, my position could become quite troublesome.

So, at the very least, I had to prevent extreme conflicts.

“If you can’t do it, then stay here quietly until everything is over.”

It’s not exactly a comfortable residence, but if you stay quiet, Ludwig will at least provide meals.

I waited for his response, chewing on a half-burnt cigarette.

From my perspective, whether Ja-han agreed or not didn’t matter.

What I promised Hersela was to ‘protect’ her subordinate, so even if he stays locked up here, the oath of protection is still fulfilled.

“…I will follow your command. No, I will follow it.”

After a moment of hesitation, Ja-han nodded with a firm expression and agreed to the conditions I presented.

He even changed his speech to a respectful tone, treating me as his superior.

Well, he didn’t have much of a choice.

If you have to choose between a leash and a prison, the leash is the better option.

“Good. I like your quick decision. With this, you are now a member of Épée de Ciel.”

“Épée de Ciel…?”

“Ah, you don’t know Imperial language, do you? In the eastern style, it’s called the Heaven’s Sword. It’s the name of my Imperial Guard unit. I’m forming a small elite knight order composed entirely of master-level warriors. With you, it will be five members.”

Ja-han looked a bit surprised at the mention of five master-level warriors.

“To recruit four Paladins in just half a year… Princess Ha-shal-leur must be very pleased. Did she give the name Heaven’s Sword?”

No. Hersela insisted on a crazy name like the Heavenly Demon Blood Sword Order.

She’s still not over her Heavenly Demon illness.

Probably never will be.

But well, I did take the name Heaven’s Sword from there, so it’s not entirely wrong.

“Something like that. Why, don’t you like the name?”

“Not at all. It’s a good name, not too flashy but still conveys a sense of strong power and spirit.”

Is that so? Glad you like it.

Though it feels like flattery since Hersela came up with the name.

—

“The fact that you escaped from Ordos and ran all the way to the barrier means you don’t know what’s happening in the east beyond that, right?”

“Yes. Given that no pursuers followed, it seems something happened in Ordos… but I don’t know the details.”

That’s a shame. I wanted to know when Or-han would invade.

I thought you might have detailed information about the east since you had something to tell Hersela… but all you have is the information that the Imperial Guard Cavalry betrayed us.

This way, Landenburg will have to maintain this alert status. Everyone must be tired.

I asked a few more things, but Ja-han didn’t have much information.

The only gain was that Amin, who was defeated miserably, didn’t return to Ordos and disappeared, and because of this, Amin’s maternal family is in trouble.

Amin… I wonder if he died somewhere.

Since there are no priests in the east who can perform healing miracles, treating such severe injuries wouldn’t be easy.

“Then wait here for a bit. I’ll go get Ludwig’s permission to release you.”

I stomped out the burnt cigarette butt and turned around.

Although I said I would take Ja-han as my subordinate, I still needed Ludwig’s permission to get him out of prison.

“…Before that, there’s one last thing I’d like to ask. May I?”

There’s something you want to ask me?

“Go ahead. What is it?”

“I would like to know your name. In front of others, I will call you Princess Ha-shal-leur, but I can’t call you that when it’s just you and me.”

Ah, my name?

[Yes. I want to know too! You know everything about me, but I don’t even know your name. Isn’t that unfair? What kind of name is it that you keep it so hidden?]

Hersela also urged me, agreeing with Ja-han.

Well, it’s not like I can’t tell you.

I just decided not to mention my old name since I vowed to live as Ha-shal-leur.

But since you wouldn’t understand a Republic of Korea-style name, I’ll have to translate it into your language.

So…

“Fleur d’Étoile de Flèche. In your language, it would be ‘Bira Ushairha.’ That’s my name.”

[……Good heavens.]

Hersela muttered in a dazed voice.

I told you, and this is the reaction I get?

[The Flower of the Stars. What a terribly mismatched name. And you were a noble? You…?]

…No, that’s just the translation in your language.

In my original world, it didn’t have such a bright connotation, okay?