The Regressed Tyrant Princess Rewrites Her Dark History - Chapter 2.11
Ariadne and her knights, having entrusted the maintenance of order in Rosewood to Wilfried’s forces, promptly returned to the royal capital. However, they did not enter the city; instead, they set up camp outside the gates.
After all, they could not risk bringing the plague into the capital under any circumstances.
Yet, before long, a summons arrived from the royal castle. After receiving healing magic to ensure she was not carrying the disease, Ariadne dressed appropriately and made her way to the conference chamber within the castle.
Gathered there were King Raphael, Prince Arnold, Siegbert, as well as several influential nobles and high-ranking commanders of the Royal Knights.
The room was already abuzz with heated discussion. In the midst of it, Prince Arnold noticed Ariadne’s arrival, rose from his seat, and walked over to greet her.
“Ariadne, Your Highness. I heard you went to Rosewood to handle the plague crisis. Is the town safe now?”
“Yes, the worst has passed. But judging from your words, it seems you were not the one who summoned me, Prince Arnold.”
“Indeed, though I was certainly concerned for your well-being…”
His gaze, filled with quiet warmth, conveyed that he had no intention of obstructing her actions. Caught off guard, Ariadne felt her cheeks flush and quickly averted her eyes.
As she shifted her gaze, she met Wilfried’s eyes.
“Ah, if it isn’t Princess Ariadne. I heard you made great efforts to maintain order in Rosewood until my knights arrived. You have my gratitude.”
Though he spoke words of thanks, a sly smile curled on his lips. He clearly knew what had transpired in Rosewood.
His words, though superficially polite, carried a veiled insult—an implication that he was grateful for her having served as a mere stepping stone.
To those unaware of the circumstances, it might have sounded like genuine appreciation. However, everyone present understood one thing: Wilfried would never truly express gratitude toward Ariadne.
A hush fell over the room as all eyes turned to her, waiting to see how she would respond. Ariadne merely smiled serenely.
“I am relieved.”
“Relieved, you say?”
The smirk that had been fixed on Wilfried’s face twisted slightly.
“Yes. When I arrived in Rosewood, I found the soldiers had abandoned their duties. It almost seemed as if they were deliberately trying to spread the plague. Naturally, I was deeply concerned.”
“Wha—!?”
“That is why I was truly relieved when the knights of Marquis Wilfried took control of the situation.”
Her words, though spoken with an air of sincerity, carried a sharp undertone. It was a thinly veiled accusation—suggesting that she had feared Wilfried’s relatives in Rosewood had intentionally spread the plague but had come to realize they were merely incompetent instead.
Wilfried surely understood her implication.
However, Ariadne’s true intention lay elsewhere.
She had not simply insulted him; she had planted a seed of doubt in the minds of those present.
Of course, it would take some time for that seed to take root.
Ariadne turned away from Wilfried and curtsied toward the King.
“Ariadne, I appreciate you coming. It was I who summoned you.”
“It has been some time, Your Majesty. I recall that this meeting pertains to military matters. May I ask why I was called?”
Before her regression, Ariadne had participated in military discussions as a matter of course. That was because she had the backing of Queen Carla and had acted as Siegbert’s strategist.
Now, however, there was no reason for her to be included in such meetings.
Which meant—
“I was the one who suggested it,” Siegbert spoke. “That we should hear Ariadne’s opinion.”
The moment he said this, Ariadne felt a slight shiver run down her spine. Masking her reaction, she turned to him and asked calmly, “Why is that?”
“Because Marquis Wilfried seemed to be in distress.”
It was clear now. Siegbert had issued the recall order as a favor to Wilfried, expecting Ariadne to hesitate in relinquishing control. If that was the case, then her attempt to drive a wedge between them might not have been as successful as she had hoped.
Just as she reached this conclusion, Siegbert spoke again.
“Besides, you were the one who informed Her Majesty that the recent attack involved a neighboring country, weren’t you? If that is the case, I assumed you would have already investigated their movements.”
At his words, Ariadne understood—her carefully sown seeds had begun to sprout.
By saying “a neighboring country,” Siegbert was implying that they had found traces of other culprits as well. That meant Queen Carla had discovered the evidence Ariadne had planted, linking Wilfried to the attack.
(And yet, he still goes out of his way to do Wilfried a favor. How shrewd… Is Queen Carla advising him?)
It was highly possible.
But there was no denying Siegbert was growing more astute.
“As you say, I have conducted some inquiries into our neighboring nation,” Ariadne admitted cautiously.
However, it was not Siegbert who reacted to her words—it was Wilfried.
“Hmph. If it’s only a little information, we have already gathered enough. The Theocracy of Avelia has amassed approximately three thousand troops along the border. A mixed force of knights, magicians, and soldiers. Hardly a threat to Granheim.”
His words were laced with arrogance.
Ariadne offered a polite bow. “My apologies for speaking out of turn.”
Then, she let out a small chuckle.
“It seems our definitions of ‘a little information’ differ greatly, Marquis Wilfried.”
“What!?”
Wilfried’s face darkened with rage as he moved to confront her.
But before he could, Siegbert stepped in.
Though Wilfried scowled with displeasure, Siegbert ignored him and gestured for Ariadne to continue.
“Avelia is a theocratic state. As the land where the first Holy Maiden was born, religious devotion runs deep among its people. As such, even ordinary citizens often possess healing magic.”
“Are you saying… their knights can use healing magic?”
“Even their foot soldiers can.”
Though most could only heal minor wounds, in a world where medical advancements were limited, this made a significant difference.
In the war before her regression, the recovery rate of wounded soldiers had been notably higher for Avelia compared to Granheim.
“Avelia’s knights may be heavily armored, limiting their mobility, but the border region consists of forested hills. They will use the terrain to their advantage. Furthermore, they possess an elite mage division. If we face them head-on, we will struggle.”
Their strategy was to use the terrain to hinder enemy mobility while launching magical attacks on enemy rear lines. This was Avelia’s favored method of warfare.
Granheim had been unaware of this tactic before Ariadne’s regression, which had resulted in a difficult battle.
“Given our national strength and military numbers, we cannot lose if we plan strategically. However, if we rush into battle unprepared, we will suffer heavy losses.”
Ariadne’s expression darkened slightly.
In the initial conflict, Avelia had gained momentum, overrunning border towns and villages. Fleeing civilians had spread the plague, which eventually infiltrated the Granheim military.
It was Ariadne’s first bitter defeat.
Of course, Granheim had ultimately won.
Under Queen Carla’s guidance, various strategies were employed to subdue the enemy, leading to a successful invasion of Avelia’s capital.
As a result, both Siegbert and Ariadne had gained considerable fame.
However, the casualties they had suffered—combined with the plague—had weakened Granheim for years.
For Ariadne, it was a regrettable debut on the battlefield.
As she relayed her insights, the room fell silent, overwhelmed by the depth of her analysis. Eventually, King Raphael cleared his throat.
“…I see. Avelia is not an enemy to be taken lightly. However, Ariadne, you seem to be speaking as if their invasion is inevitable.”
“Yes, Your Majesty. That is my prediction.”
“Their true intentions have yet to be confirmed. Do you have any evidence?”
“My assessment is partly based on speculation… but may I proceed?”
King Raphael nodded.
Thus, Ariadne began presenting her findings. The catalyst had been the collapse of the Restour Empire, which had destabilized the region’s power balance.
Of course, she was not foolish enough to say that outright.
Ariadne spoke bluntly.
“The King of the Theocracy of Avelia has fallen.”
“The King of Avelia… has fallen?”
King Raphael’s expression hardened as he turned to the others for confirmation.
However, not a single person nodded.
Even before her regression, Ariadne had only learned of this fact later. At this point in time, there was no one in this country who should be aware of it.
Before anyone could question the credibility of her claim, Ariadne spoke again.
“This is my speculation, but I have heard that the First Prince of Avelia is highly aggressive by nature. I suspect he is seeking to gain the upper hand in the succession dispute with the Second Prince.”
Waging war against a neighboring country to bolster his achievements—it was an absurd notion to the common people. However, for those involved in governance, it was a perfectly reasonable motive.
Even so—King Raphael pressed further.
“Ariadne, do you have any evidence to support this theory?”
“It was agents of the Theocracy of Avelia who orchestrated the attack on Queen Carla and me.”
She met King Raphael’s gaze head-on as she made this declaration.
A shocked murmur rippled through the room, but Ariadne did not avert her eyes.
As she and the King locked gazes, Siegbert suddenly spoke.
“Father, we have confirmed this matter as well.”
“Oh? So you support Ariadne’s claim?”
His tone was probing.
Siegbert slowly shook his head.
“I cannot say how accurate her intelligence is, but it is a fact that the neighboring country’s involvement is becoming evident. Moreover, the Avelian army has already begun mobilizing.”
“So, we must prepare accordingly.”
Regardless, it was clear that the military had to be deployed.
Understanding this, the first to speak was Wilfried.
“Indeed, His Majesty and Prince Siegbert are absolutely right. In that case, I believe Prince Siegbert would be the most suitable commander for this campaign.”
This was a calculated move. Since the decision came from King Raphael and Siegbert himself, Wilfried was using this as an opportunity to solidify support for the Second Prince while simultaneously undermining the First Prince’s faction.
As expected, the nobles aligned with the Second Prince immediately voiced their agreement.
This was exactly how events had unfolded before Ariadne’s regression. If things continued down this path, King Raphael would approve, and Siegbert would lead the knightly order into battle.
However, Ariadne could not accept two outcomes:
One, Granheim suffering severe casualties.
Two, Siegbert gaining military achievements that could allow him to regain momentum in the struggle for succession.
Thus—Ariadne exchanged a glance with Prince Arnold.
He immediately understood her intent and spoke up.
“Your Majesty,” Arnold addressed King Raphael, “I also wish to lead troops into battle.”
“What!? Are you implying that Prince Siegbert alone is not sufficient?”
Wilfried exaggerated his reaction, his voice laced with mock outrage.
However, Prince Arnold remained composed as he continued, “If Princess Ariadne’s information is accurate, then our enemy is not one to be underestimated. Should we not take every precaution?”
His words carried an implicit threat—if the Second Prince’s faction refused to cooperate and this led to unnecessary losses, would they be willing to bear full responsibility?
The Second Prince’s supporters certainly did not want to give Prince Arnold any opportunity to prove himself.
However, neither did they want to risk taking the blame if things went wrong. Hoping that someone else would object in their place, they remained silent.
It was King Raphael who spoke next.
“Arnold’s argument holds some merit. However, sending both heirs to the battlefield at once is also a risk. Siegbert, what do you think?”
The chamber buzzed with murmurs from both factions.
The Second Prince’s supporters were uneasy because the King’s question shifted accountability to Siegbert. Meanwhile, the First Prince’s faction was restless because the decision now rested entirely in Siegbert’s hands.
As all eyes turned to him, Siegbert finally responded.
“The border where the Avelian army is amassing falls within the territory of my supporters. Therefore, I believe it is only natural that I take command of our forces.”
“Hmm. A logical argument. Then, does that mean Arnold’s assistance is unnecessary?”
Siegbert hesitated briefly.
If he outright rejected Arnold’s offer, he would not be able to avoid blame should the battle turn against them.
Moreover, Ariadne had already warned them that Avelia’s forces posed a more serious threat than expected. It would be reckless to refuse additional reinforcements.
However, he also suspected Ariadne’s involvement in this entire affair.
That uncertainty prevented him from making a definitive choice.
Thus— “…Prince Arnold could oversee the supply lines.”
A vague response.
On the surface, he accepted Arnold’s offer, but in reality, he was ensuring the First Prince had no opportunity to distinguish himself on the battlefield.
The Second Prince’s faction murmured their approval, while the First Prince’s supporters scowled in frustration.
It was undoubtedly a bitter turn of events for Arnold.
Ariadne thought as much.
However, to her surprise, Arnold remained composed. He then turned to her and asked,
“What do you think, Your Highness?”
(Is he aware of my intentions? No, that’s impossible… Then why?)
Ariadne felt a flicker of confusion as she looked up at Prince Arnold.
His expression remained calm, his gaze steady as he regarded her.
Realizing that it was a gesture of trust toward her, Ariadne’s amethyst eyes wavered slightly.
Then, as if trying to mask her thoughts, she spoke.
“Managing supplies is just as crucial to determining the outcome of a war. I am certain that you, Prince Arnold, will fulfill that role admirably.”
She voiced her support for Arnold overseeing the supply lines.
The First Prince’s faction showed faint signs of dissatisfaction at her words, but Arnold accepted his role without hesitation.
Thus, the roles for this war were decided.
Would they lead to triumph and praise, or disaster and scorn?
Even Ariadne did not yet know.