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The story that followed went something like this.

First, the secret of Maria’s birth, which until now only Sophia knew, was revealed. It turned out that Maria was actually the missing princess of the Kingdom of Catalonia, and her full name, “Maria Francesca Isabel Isabella de Gloria Joanna Antonia de Cruz y Hortas,” was finally disclosed to everyone.

Of course, Maria was completely stunned upon suddenly learning the secret of her birth.

Naturally, it’s not easy for anyone to accept such news out of the blue. Maria tried to refute it in various ways, but her objections crumbled one by one in the face of the evidence Sophia presented—Maria’s nameplate, the mysteries tied to her lineage, and so on.

Just when things seemed to have settled, Conra raised a new question.

“Even if Maria’s true identity is the princess of Catalonia, what does that have to do with her needing to go to Hiberia?”

It was a valid question. After all, the secret of one’s birth doesn’t necessarily dictate one’s actions.

Sophia’s response was simple.

“Because there’s something to gain.”

What she meant was this:

With the passing of the Supreme King, who left the Duchy of Asturias vacant, the feudal lords of Hiberia’s various small kingdoms must gather to elect the next Supreme King. However, the current King of Catalonia is bedridden and on the brink of death, so his successor must go in his place.

But the current heir, Count Enrique of Barcelona, while genealogically the king’s nephew, has some suspicious aspects to his background.

If Maria can go to Catalonia and have her rightful status recognized, she could not only step into the line of succession for the Catalonian throne but also participate in the election of the Supreme King.

Participating in the election of the Supreme King is no small feat, even for kings ruling small kingdoms. It could be a significant advantage for Maria if she ever becomes active in Hiberia.

Karl, who had been listening, suddenly opened a bag of questions.

“So, why did Lady Chazel specifically ask Maria about going to Hiberia? From what I can see, it’s unclear what benefit Lady Chazel would gain from this…”

This was also a valid question. From what had been mentioned so far, it was clear that Maria could gain something from this opportunity. However, just because there’s a benefit doesn’t mean one must act on it. Especially since what Maria would gain had little to do with what Sophia was trying to achieve.

Sophia hesitated for a moment. She had to decide whether to reveal the thought that had crossed her mind the moment she learned of Maria’s true identity. That thought had momentarily silenced her.

After a brief pause, Sophia spoke.

“Nothing, really.”

After all, Sophia was Maria’s teacher, and Maria was her student. As a teacher, it would be the worst to close off a student’s potential path rather than open it up.

But at the same time, it wouldn’t be right to let an opportunity for the student to claim what’s rightfully theirs slip by without considering the student’s feelings.

‘But I can’t just casually suggest this path either.’

Sophia, who prided herself on understanding her student’s personality, knew that despite Maria’s tough exterior due to her upbringing, she was fundamentally a kind person.

Simply mentioning the path would likely lead Maria to ignore it out of loyalty to her teacher.

‘So, I need to give her a serious motive to consider.’

“However, this is undoubtedly a rare opportunity. You both know how messy power struggles can be, right?”

At Sophia’s words, Maria and Conra nodded quietly. They were well aware of how far secular monarchs could go, even crossing lines for the sake of power. Conra had even witnessed heirs to the throne in Rotaringia getting involved with demons.

“In that sense, there’s no better stage than the upcoming Bardenas Reales to secure a legitimate claim without resorting to underhanded tactics. The eyes of Hiberia’s monarchs or their representatives will all be gathered there.”

“If that’s the case, the opponent’s underhanded methods will be limited. But within those limits, things will get even more intense.”

“Exactly.”

Sophia smiled faintly at her students’ ability to read between the lines. She then added,

“Catalonia holds a unique position within Hiberia. If Asturias is the leader of northern Hiberia, Catalonia can claim to be the leader of the south.”

Catalonia’s position was indeed special. It bordered Franquia and Rotaringia, the strongholds of the Church, and had Valencia to the west and the Balearic Islands to the south, making it a hub for southern Hiberia’s coastal regions.

Historically, it was the first land settled during the westward expansion beyond the Pyrenees. Politically, it had rich economic power and culturally stood as the leader of the south, distinct from the north.

This was strategically crucial for the future human front against the Great Demon. Southern Hiberia was the southwestern front of the Church’s influence, and securing it was undeniably important.

“Ultimately, the decision is yours. So, what do you want to do?”

At Sophia’s question, Maria pursed her lips and fell into thought.

Honestly, Maria herself couldn’t quite grasp her own feelings.

When she first heard about the secret of her birth, she didn’t feel much beyond what she had expected. It wasn’t that she was indifferent. It was just that hearing such unexpected news in an unexpected situation left her mind too numb to process it properly.

When she finally understood Sophia’s words, it still didn’t feel real.

How could it? Maria had grown up as an orphan in the back alleys of Valencia. Hearing that her true identity was the princess of Catalonia was something she couldn’t immediately accept.

She had wondered about her parents, imagining who they might be. But her only reference was the peaceful, ordinary families she saw in the streets of Valencia.

Being the princess of a kingdom was something she had never even imagined.

‘What should I do?’

She was curious about her parents, but she didn’t have any lingering attachment to her original status. She was already fulfilled. The time she had spent with Sophia and Conra had been incredibly fulfilling.

Sophia had cared for her like a daughter, and Conra had always shown her more affection and attention than she deserved, becoming an irreplaceable part of her life. She had felt the familial love she thought she would never experience. There had been battles she couldn’t handle and thrilling adventures.

So, Sophia’s words felt a bit disappointing to Maria.

It felt like Sophia was telling her to leave her side and reclaim what was rightfully hers, as if she had to give up the fulfilling life she had and find a different path.

And if her identity changed, how would all her relationships change? She had a vague feeling that things wouldn’t be the same.

But…

Would it really be okay to ignore all that and just do as she pleased?

Everyone has a natural desire to know their roots, and Maria was no different. She hadn’t realized it before, but after hearing the secret of her birth from Sophia, a strange emotional turmoil had begun to rise within her.

Sophia quietly observed her student’s inner conflict. Finally, after a long wait, Maria’s lips parted.

“I’ll go.”

“Maria!?”

“What, little lady?”

The unexpected statement shocked everyone around, especially Conra, who was immediately filled with worry at the thought of his young and fragile younger sister heading off to distant Hiberia.

Seeing no change in Maria’s demeanor despite her revealed status, she couldn’t help but smile a little.

“Honestly, I still don’t know what I want to do. So, I need to go and see for myself what these things that were supposedly mine are. I’ll decide what to do after that. Is that okay?”

Sophia smiled warmly at her student’s words.

“Of course. Go and see for yourself, then decide what you want to do.”

As she spoke, Sophia poked Maria’s chest with her index finger.

“Whether it’s this or that, being curious about your roots is a universal human trait. Whatever you decide, make sure to think it through and organize it in a way that feels right to you.”

In the path of training, knowing oneself is the most important thing. By accepting oneself as they are, one can finally begin to untangle the roots of their troubles.

Troubles that grow in unknown places will always become obstacles. If Maria aims for higher realms, she must first confront everything that makes her who she is.

“You won’t be going alone. It would be strange if Conra didn’t accompany you, right?”

“Master!”

Conra’s face lit up with joy at Sophia’s words. The same person who had been frowning with worry moments ago now looked completely elated.

Conra, not bothering to hide his feelings, puffed out his chest and said,

“Hmph, hmph. Stating the obvious, aren’t you? Who else would dare stand by my younger sister’s side?”

Sophia, catching the unspoken word, stifled a laugh and clicked her tongue.

“Kuh, even if there were someone, I wouldn’t allow it.”

“No, Master!”

Ignoring Conra’s protest, Sophia turned her gaze to Karl and Brantley, who had been listening quietly. Realizing the gravity of the situation, the two straightened their backs.

“We’ll also ask for your help.”

“Lady Chazel, we were following you…”

The two looked troubled, and rightly so. They had originally followed Sophia, and now they were being asked to help her students travel to a distant land. It might have seemed a bit presumptuous.

But after glancing at Conra and Maria, they nodded solemnly.

“Since ancient times, places where the life and succession of a monarch are at stake have always been treacherous.”

Brantley Somz spoke in a low, measured tone, maintaining a serious expression. Despite his appearance, he was from a prestigious family of skalds, court poets. His father, Rasmus Somz, had been a chancellor during the turbulent times of the Kingdom of Dane. As his son, Brantley had seen and heard plenty.

Moreover, having lived as a guest in the manor of an imperial elector and a candidate for Kaiser, he had witnessed more than a few political intrigues.

In such circumstances, it was unthinkable to leave a promising young boy and girl exposed to such dangers without any protection.

Karl followed Brantley’s lead. He felt the same way and didn’t hesitate to speak.

“We can’t just send two young kids off to such a place alone. We understand. Leave it to us.”

No matter what, they would protect the students of the hero they respected—the future heroes in the making. That was the only thought in their minds.

 

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