Chapter 42: From the Moment I Was Ordinary, I Was a Sinner

I looked straight at the King of Yaiban, brimming with confidence, and smiled.

“No one doubts that being executed is my true desire. Please, rest assured and carry out my execution.”

The fact that everything would be settled with just my execution was, when you think about it rationally, an outrageously favorable condition.

With the Deken Empire now at war with us, every prospective marriage alliance I had was gone.

In other words, I was merchandise that had lost its buyer. If that was still good enough for them, I’d gladly offer myself up.

“Now then, please bring the written statement. Surely, someone of the stature of the King of Yaiban wouldn’t go back on their word, would they?”

“W-Wait a moment, Princess of Saripa.”

“I will not wait. After all, you’ve presented me with such a mouth-watering deal.”

I had indulged in luxuries, feasting on the hard-earned taxes of the people.

If all of that was meant to lead up to this moment, then so be it.

“...You.”

“For the people, for the country. I have no regrets offering up my life.”

Oh King of Yaiban, you meant those words as a threat, didn’t you?

But you shouldn’t make such cheap offers to a diplomatic envoy in a public forum.

Come now, bring out the Iron Maiden, the Brazen Bull, whatever you like.

The thought that I would show up here without being prepared for this just irritated me.

“Go ahead!”

Seeing my eyes shine with determination, the King of Yaiban was at a loss for words.

This exchange sounded like a petty argument, but who knew? Maybe this plan would actually work.

“...Ah—”

His calculations had gone awry, and it looked like the King of Yaiban was troubled.

The command tent fell silent for nearly a full minute. No one spoke a word.

I suppose it was too much after all. Even if the King of Yaiban had let something slip, perhaps I was being too greedy.

“Permission to speak.”

A girl’s voice broke the silence.

It was dignified and beautiful, like the sound of a bell.

“May I ask Princess Rishali a question?”

“...Hmph. Go ahead.”

“Thank you, Your Majesty.”

Turning toward the voice, I saw it belonged to a girl wearing a sky-blue robe.

She stared at me with a curious expression.

“Then… may I ask?”

“Of course, I’ll answer anything. What is it?”

Was she the Princess of Yaiban, or perhaps the daughter of some high-ranking noble?

She seemed far too young to be in a tent filled with the kingdom’s most influential figures.

“Is it really okay for a princess to so easily throw away her life?”

“I’m not throwing it away lightly. This is simply the moment where my life holds meaning.”

Still, I would answer her question.

No deception, no pretense—just my honest feelings.

“Why can you so easily throw your life away without hesitation?”

“Ah, so that’s what you’re wondering.”

A look of genuine confusion crossed the girl’s face. She was honestly puzzled.

She probably couldn’t comprehend my decision at all.

“...It always puzzled me, you know? Why was I so spoiled and pampered?”

I turned toward the girl and spoke with my most dazzling Princess Smile.

To show that I had no regrets about this choice.

“I’m just an ordinary person. A plain girl who had ridiculous amounts of money spent on her upbringing.”

The girl in the sky-blue robe never took her eyes off me.

She stared intently, almost glaring, her gaze locked firmly on me.

“There are so many poor people in Saripa. Children who die from hunger.”

This was about my pride. Something that always made me sick to my stomach.

Living in luxury despite having no talents, being showered with affection felt disgusting.

I was praised for doing ordinary things, celebrated for accomplishing tasks anyone could manage.

—Simply because I was a princess of a nation.

“While there are people who don’t know if they’ll have food tomorrow, the royalty enjoys lavish parties.”

Saripa is a small, weak country. Its politics have improved somewhat, but poverty still remains.

There are people who must work themselves to the bone, clinging to survival, staying up through sleepless nights just to afford tomorrow’s meal.

Meanwhile, all I had to do was finish the assignments given by my tutor, and I’d be rewarded with a warm meal and a comfortable bed.

“Isn’t that inequality? Isn’t that wrong?”

The reason such absurdity is tolerated is because it benefits the people.

When the royalty holds authority and behaves with grace and elegance, it strengthens the nation’s diplomatic standing.

If I dressed in rags and ate filthy food, the nation called “Saripa” would be looked down upon.

That’s why we must be graceful, extravagant, and opulent. That is the duty of a princess like me.

“As compensation, when the time comes, the royalty must offer their lives for the people. Only then is the balance restored.”

To begin with, I was a sinner from the moment I was born ordinary.

Even though I was born a royal with knowledge from my previous life, I couldn’t contribute anything to Saripa.

If I had been able to recreate even a fraction of modern Japanese technology in Saripa, how many lives could I have saved?

If I had any talent, how many people could I have saved from starvation?

“I, Rishali, am a being that exists solely for the sake of the nation. My will must always align with Saripa’s national interest.”

In my previous life, I was foolish—living idly, never putting in effort, gaining nothing, and dying without purpose.

…So why would someone like me deserve preferential treatment?

“If the only way I can repay those who raised me is through death, then I will gladly accept it.”

“That… is your answer?”

“Yes.”

Then, at the very least, I will fulfill my duty as an ordinary princess.

When the time comes to offer my life, I will do so without hesitation.

I possess neither the martial prowess of Takeru, nor the intellect of Juugi, nor the strategic genius of Berka.

If I can’t at least be competent as a princess, I would have no right to stand tall.

“Hmph.”

Upon hearing my answer, the girl had a faintly complicated expression, like she was somewhat convinced but still unsure.

It didn’t seem to fully click with her.

Well, I suppose this is a feeling only royalty can understand.

“Rest assured, King of Yaiban. Saripa is strong.”

“Strong?”

“The treaty sealed with my life as the sacrifice—surely it will be of great benefit to Yaiban.”

In negotiations, I would stake my life to pursue the interests of my country.

That is the pride of Rishali, the second princess of Saripa.

A form of self-punishment for my former self who wasted her life and failed to use any of her knowledge.

“Now, please bring the written agreement. Execute me however you see fit, King of Yaiban.”

“...M-Mm.”

I am completely serious. This declaration is neither a bluff nor an act.

That’s precisely why it works. After all, if they kill me, they won’t be able to secure any favorable terms.

Since they would have killed Princess Rishali, they’d be obligated to settle the matter peacefully.

Surely, the King of Yaiban was troubled. Politically, there was no advantage to killing me.

It would only serve to satisfy his emotions—nothing more.

“────Urgent report! Urgent report!”

Just a few seconds after I pressed the King of Yaiban, it happened.

A Yaiban soldier suddenly burst into the command tent, shouting at the top of his lungs.

“King of Yaiban! Deken forces have been spotted advancing!!”

“So it was true after all!”

As I suspected, Yaiban had already picked up on Deken’s movements and had sent out scouts.

From what I had observed, the King of Yaiban was a shrewd and level-headed ruler.

“What’s the situation!? How far have they advanced!?”

“T-That’s… well…”

I listened closely to the battlefield report. Yaiban’s war situation would directly affect Saripa’s fate.

If we were to form an alliance, it would be troublesome if Yaiban lost.

“They haven’t advanced yet. It seems they’ve been stalled.”

“What? Stalled? Stalled by what?”

“They appear to be stuck at Byuredesto, in Saripa territory.”

“Hah?”

According to the report, the Deken forces were bogged down in Byuredesto.

Apparently, they’d been stalled for three days, caught off guard by Berka’s clever stratagems.

“Oh-ho-ho! As expected of Berka-san!”

“…I see. So Saripa is strong after all.”

Hearing of Berka’s triumph, I laughed proudly.

Of course—Berka had defended Byuredesto for three years without suffering a single casualty. A truly brilliant commander.

When it came to military strategy, there was no doubt he was one of the strongest in Saripa.

“…Let’s change the terms, Princess Rishali of Saripa.”

“And by that, you mean?”

“The new condition is the return of Doraznest. For now, we’ll form an alliance on that basis.”

Upon hearing the report, the King of Yaiban altered the terms of negotiation.

Return Doraznest, huh. It was originally Yaiban’s territory anyway, and frankly, Saripa had been struggling to manage it.

…Yeah, that works. In fact, it was a perfectly reasonable demand.

“…I have no objections! I, Rishali, accept these terms.”

“Thank you, Princess Rishali. Your bold words were truly admirable.”

If Yaiban took over, it would also resolve the winter food shortages.

In truth, it might even be a relief for Saripa.

“Princess Rishali, had we executed you, there would have been no peace—regardless of any last testament.”

“Eh, but I thought—”

“Even if the people of Saripa understood, their emotions wouldn’t allow it. Much like I myself, moments ago.”

With a commanding tone, the King of Yaiban declared this and strode right up to me.

His stern gaze remained unchanged as he said,

“I will trust you—not Saripa, but you personally. Live up to that trust.”

“Of course.”

“Good.”

Saying that, he roughly ruffled my hair.

---

"Everyone, we’re no longer in a position to be fighting Saripa. Does anyone object to this alliance?"

"N-No, not at all."

…And just like that, the alliance between Yaiban and Saripa was formed.

Fortunately, King Yaiban had been open from the start to the idea of using Saripa to their advantage.

"Someone, escort the princess of Saripa. Support the Saripa front line as well."

"We’re even receiving reinforcements? Are you sure?"

"If you lose, that would be a problem for us too."

"Is it really alright to divert your troops here?"

"Don’t underestimate us. Do you know how many times more soldiers the Yaiban army has compared to yours?"

"…We’re truly grateful for your generosity."

I was a little overwhelmed, but there was no reason to turn down reinforcements.

Nodding repeatedly, I humbly accepted the offer.

"Then, Your Majesty. May I go?"

"Levi? You want to go?"

"…There’s a boy I want to see in Saripa."

"Oho, a good match for the daughter of Levigdard? Very well. You may go."

And so, it was decided that the reinforcements for Saripa would be led by a girl named Levi.

…Wait, isn’t she the terrifying one Takeru couldn’t finish off?

"Princess Rishali, this is great, isn’t it? Alright, let’s go."

"Y-Yes… Kyaa!?"

Levi, who was a monster on the same level as Takeru, let out a soft chuckle.

She wrapped my entire body in water and effortlessly lifted me into the air.

“W-Wha!? What is this!?”

"There’s no horse for you, Princess Rishali, so I’ll carry you myself. That way, it won’t be such a bumpy ride."

"Noooo—!?"

And just like that, I was floating inside a blob of water Levi summoned, being abducted in broad daylight.

King Yaiban watched the whole thing with a half-smile as I was spirited away.

---

"Princess Rishali, you’re lucky. That wasn’t even intentional, was it?"

After we left the Yaiban army’s command tent—

The light-blue-haired girl, Levi, said something with a curious smile as she carried me through the air.

"Intentional? What do you mean?"

"Well, kinda. I think what you said really hit home for our king."

Apparently, the reason King Yaiban accepted the alliance had something to do with what I said earlier.

It seems that…

"The prince we lost to the Deken Empire—right before his execution, he supposedly said this:"

"The prince? King Yaiban’s son who was killed?"

"'I am royalty. I fear neither capture, nor threats, nor execution.'"

It turns out the words I shouted earlier mirrored what the deceased prince had once said.

"'As someone raised by this nation, I will gladly give my life for it—that is the duty of royalty.'"

They say that prince had the same convictions I do.