The Regressed Tyrant Princess Rewrites Her Dark History - Chapter 2.12
As the military meeting concluded, Ariadne left the conference room.
Naturally, Prince Arnold fell into step beside her, and together they made their way to a separate chamber.
Waiting in the grand reception room were the former Queen, Isabel, and her daughter, Olivia.
The moment Olivia noticed Arnold, she stood up as though she had been eagerly awaiting his arrival.
“Brother Arnold, what happened in the meeting!?”
“Calm yourself, Olivia. That behavior is unbecoming.”
Chastened by Isabel, Olivia murmured an apology and returned to her seat.
However, her expression made it clear that she was deeply concerned. Noticing this, Arnold let out a small chuckle.
“Siegbert will lead the army as its commander and head to the border. I will oversee the supply lines as his deputy.”
“…The supply lines?”
Olivia’s expression grew conflicted.
On one hand, she was relieved that Arnold would not be on the front lines. On the other, she understood that such a role would not allow him to gain any real merit.
Seeing through his sister’s thoughts, Arnold let out a soft laugh.
“Princess Ariadne also supports this arrangement.”
(Prince Arnold… Why do you say that as though my endorsement should be reassuring? The only one satisfied by that is you.)
Ariadne thought to herself.
Of course, Arnold could not hear her inner voice, but Olivia glanced at Ariadne with narrowed eyes.
“Sister Ariadne… What exactly are you plotting this time?”
“Surprisingly, you seem to trust me in unexpected ways. …Though, I wonder if it should be called trust at all?”
Ariadne looked slightly troubled.
Perhaps out of concern or perhaps due to her own hidden agenda, Isabel shifted the conversation, asking for details about the meeting.
“Actually—” Ariadne began, relaying what had been discussed in the conference.
“So, the Theocracy of Avelia is making its move… That means First Prince Garrett is beginning to consolidate his power. But is the King of Avelia truly in such poor health?”
“It does not seem to be improving.”
Ariadne was careful with her wording, but in truth, before her regression, the King of Avelia had passed away in the near future.
Even with the foreknowledge she possessed, the war with Avelia was unavoidable.
“…I see. If an invasion is inevitable, then it makes sense that Siegbert would be appointed commander, given that the battlefield will be in the territory of his supporters. But—no, because of that—was it truly necessary to provide the Second Prince’s faction with such detailed intelligence?”
Isabel’s sharp gaze locked onto Ariadne.
She was serious.
To her, it would have been preferable for Granheim’s army to struggle rather than allowing Siegbert to gain a decisive victory.
It was a ruthless perspective, but one necessary for a faction leader.
Her question was direct: Why did you help Siegbert?
“Mother, that is—” Arnold began, attempting to interject.
However, Ariadne raised a hand, stopping him.
“Former Queen Isabel, I have no intention of allowing Prince Siegbert to gain more merit than necessary.”
“And yet, you still gave him crucial intelligence? Don’t tell me…”
“Yes. If I had not, Granheim would have suffered a devastating blow.”
“That… Surely not,” Isabel murmured in disbelief.
“I find it difficult to believe. The Theocracy of Avelia has always been seen as a nation of faith, with little emphasis on military strength…”
“That perception is not incorrect. However, because they venerate the Holy Maiden, who exists beyond the realm of magic, there is a common misconception. Many of their so-called ‘miracles of the gods’ are, in truth, magic. In other words—”
“In other words, they are a formidable magical power on par with Granheim.”
As understanding dawned on Isabel, Ariadne gave a small nod.
“I understand the reluctance to allow Prince Siegbert any more victories. However, when considering Granheim as a whole, it is imperative that we minimize our losses.”
Avelia’s military was that much of a threat.
Realizing this, Isabel’s expression grew even more serious.
“If this is true, then we have no choice but to cooperate with the Second Prince’s faction—at least for the time being. But, Ariadne, do you truly believe we can win this war?”
Her question was not merely about the war with Avelia.
It was also about the battle against the Second Prince’s faction.
Understanding this, Ariadne’s lips curled into a confident smile.
“I will repay the favor Prince Arnold has granted me. Not only will I drive back the Theocracy of Avelia’s army, but I will also ensure that Prince Siegbert’s influence is kept in check.”
It was a declaration brimming with confidence—one that promised victory for her side alone.
◆◆◆
While Ariadne and the others were engaged in their discussion in the reception room, another meeting was taking place elsewhere.
Queen Carla and Siegbert sat face-to-face, going over the details of the military conference.
Their main topic of discussion: How much of Ariadne’s intelligence could be trusted?
“It seems to be true that even Avelia’s common soldiers may possess healing magic. Some of the intelligence we’ve gathered suggests similar possibilities.”
“Then Ariadne’s assessment of their military strength is accurate… or at least, it cannot be dismissed outright. Even now, I still can’t fully grasp what she’s thinking.”
Queen Carla let out a sigh as she spoke.
She was not naive enough to consider Ariadne an ally at this point. However, there was a possibility that she was temporarily aligning herself with them to face a greater threat.
Even so, that did not mean she would allow Siegbert to claim victory so easily.
The moment Granheim secured its victory, Ariadne could very well strike from behind. That possibility could not be ignored.
“Mother, have you learned anything new regarding Rosewood?”
“Rosewood, you say… It seems Ariadne let Wilfried take all the credit. Her reputation in the town is at an all-time low.”
“Ariadne was outmaneuvered by Marquis Wilfried?”
“That would be a rather poor joke. Marquis Wilfried is capable, but he is not on Ariadne’s level. Besides, she accepted the transfer of authority without any resistance.”
That meant she had deliberately allowed Wilfried to take the credit. There had to be a reason behind her inexplicable actions.
“…She truly is a troublesome one.”
Fighting against the Avelian army while dealing with the unpredictable variable that was Ariadne would be challenging.
Yet, refusing the role of commander was never an option.
Now that Ariadne was engaged to Arnold, the balance of the succession struggle had tilted significantly in favor of the First Prince’s faction.
Few people were aware of this yet, but that was precisely why Siegbert needed to regain momentum before the truth spread.
Backing down was simply not an option.
“Mother, how likely do you think it is that Marquis Wilfried is involved in Avelia’s movements?”
“…I cannot say for certain. He would never outright betray the country, but he is the type of man who would make secret dealings with the enemy if it served to advance his own position.”
Even if it was a loss for the nation, as long as it was a gain for himself, he would not hesitate.
That was a common mindset among many nobles, but Wilfried embodied it more than most.
“Then, what about the possibility that Ariadne herself is working with Avelia?”
“That… I cannot deny.”
Carla’s voice carried a hint of caution.
“She is unpredictable. If the need arises, she would not hesitate to strike a deal with me. There is no reason to assume she would act any differently with Avelia.”
“Which means… her true objective remains unknown.”
It was not impossible that Ariadne was neither aligned with the First Prince’s faction nor Granheim itself.
If she harbored resentment toward Granheim for the destruction of the Restour Empire, she could very well be using Avelia as a means to exact revenge.
If that were the case, then her motives became entirely unreadable.
As Siegbert sank into deep thought, Carla spoke again.
“However—”
“It would not be wise to let Ariadne dictate our actions. Your priority should be securing a decisive victory in this war.”
“Yes. I understand.”
Siegbert’s gaze sharpened.
“This time, I will not underestimate her. I will anticipate every possible scenario and ensure that I defeat Ariadne.”
He clenched his fists tightly, vowing not to be outmaneuvered again.
Yet, in his caution toward Ariadne, he failed to realize just how much she had already influenced his thinking.