Here’s a little something I’ve come to feel recently.

It seems I’m totally unsuited for parenting.

My once pure and adorable daughter has turned into a reckless troublemaker, living it up with gambling and drink. Naturally, I felt compelled to step in and set things straight.

“Please stop drinking. You have an important schedule tomorrow. What do you think you’re doing?”

“Oh, the hangover can be dealt with, whether it’s with medicine or a hair of the dog. It might be a bit unhealthy, but… I’m not exactly planning to live long anyway.”

Suggested advice with logical reasoning? A major fail.

“If word gets out that the princess has holed up in a gambling den, your already terrible reputation will hit rock bottom. Your life could be in danger!”

“Well, everyone already knows, so there’s no reputation left to plummet. Besides, no matter what I say, people only see what they want to see.”

Trying to scare her with a bit of a threat? Nope, nil, nada.

“Just one day. Just one day would be great, so please, focus on work. I’ll do whatever I can about your reputation and the politics!”

“That… won’t work.”

Even appealing to her emotions by saying it was a matter of life and death? A total flop.

Honestly, it was an endless series of failures.

Reforming a troublemaker is definitely not an easy task. It’s not for nothing that people say you can’t change a person.

‘Well… there certainly has been some progress.’

Even if all my advice was rejected, just sticking around consistently meant we spent more time together naturally.

And honestly, it feels like we’ve built a bit of a bond.

But, I hadn’t asked her, so it could just be my one-sided thoughts …

“Yuli!”

Seeing her smiling drunkenly at me with that flushed face, I’m getting the vibe that my hunch is probably right.

She usually sticks close to me, but today she joined the tavern after being called by the Second Prince.

I stood on my tiptoes, waved to let the girl know where I was, and sat down next to her naturally.

‘This girl really is a puzzle sometimes.’

Her fondness for me was clearly evident. You could see the joy on her face and in her actions from reuniting with a familiar friend, along with the thrill of sharing a secret no one else could know.

She surely felt a sense of closeness, no doubt about it.

But for some reason, she just doesn’t take my words to heart.

Is it because she’s stubborn?

Or maybe the addiction to drink and gambling is that strong? I really couldn’t figure it out.

I racked my brain again, trying to understand what was going on in this girl’s head… when I suddenly realized one thing.

‘…If I’m curious, I can just ask!’

Of course, not everyone will easily spill their inner thoughts just because you ask, but that doesn’t mean I don’t have a strategy for that.

There are those things that exist even in modern times.

A magic drink that makes a person honest.

In other words, booze.

I didn’t even need to force it down her throat. She seemed to have happily knocked back a few bottles on her own.

With the stage set like this, why hesitate?

I opened my mouth right away.

“Why are you doing this?”

“……Huh?”

With her tongue loosened up, Yuli replied with a dazed expression.

I might’ve been a bit too direct, but, honestly, beating around the bush wouldn’t mean a thing in this situation. I pressed on.

“You know this is wrong, right?”

At my words, she paused to think.

The goofy expression from earlier evaporated, and her face grew serious as she finally spoke up.

“I have to do this to survive.”

She has to act like a troublemaker just to keep on living.

That strange sentiment brought a puzzled look to my face.

It seemed she anticipated that reaction, as she smiled faintly and continued her explanation.

“You know, I can’t just have anyone around me recklessly. Do you think it’s realistic to compete for the throne under such conditions?”

That made sense.

It really sounded a bit tough.

Connections and influence count for a lot in the race for the throne, and Yuli had to stay isolated due to her secrets.

“Ultimately, my defeat is already set in stone. If I make a fuss and threaten my position, what do you think will happen?”

Yuli’s words clicked into place for me.

“So I have to be a troublemaker. I have to act like a person who could never claim the throne, a supposedly stupid jerk, just to survive.”

She wasn’t enjoying her drink and gambling; she was just desperately struggling to stay alive.

Naturally, a wave of guilt rushed over me.

Had I really been cursing out this girl for being a troublemaker?

It’s possible my words might’ve hurt her.

How the heck am I supposed to apologize for this? I was caught up in my thoughts, fumbling through the possible scenarios…

“So I’m acting like a troublemaker… that’s just a lie.”

Then she delivered a curveball.

“Those older brothers of mine are just merciless. Do you think they’ll let a competitor slide because they’re having a difficult time? The only way for me to survive is to win this competition.”

…That’s certainly a valid point.

Looking back, that thought felt entirely more plausible.

Renya, although appearing laid-back, is pretty sharp. He can slice someone off if they’re weak, but he doesn’t do so lightly.

Then, what’s weird is…

‘So why the heck is she doing this?’

If what was said before was just hot air, why on earth would she need to act like a troublemaker?

My face tensed up at that question.

Did Yuli notice my confusion? She scratched the back of her neck awkwardly and this time finally managed to give me a straightforward answer.

“Uh… It’s lonely, and I don’t quite have anything to do by myself…”

So she’s just getting caught up in ordinary fun?

That awkward lie she told earlier was probably just an excuse to sidestep the truth.

Her answer made me feel utterly dumbfounded.

Having just fretted about how to apologize after hearing her story, I suddenly felt completely foolish.

Seeing my stunned expression, Yuli seemed to realize she’d embarrassed herself and avoided my gaze, stumbling over her words for a while before…

She finally brought up something a bit more serious.

“Anyway, even if I do change, it won’t matter.”

A defeatist comment.

As I tried to encourage her not to give up before she even started, she hit me with…

“People only see what they want to see and gossip about only what they want to gossip about.”

That phrase.

The way she said it, the voice carrying that sense of hopelessness, blocked my own speech.

It wasn’t giving up without a fight; it was a definitive surrender after numerous attempts. I could see that in her expression.

A silence enveloped us.

Just a suffocating silence hung in the air.

In a situation like this, I had nothing to say, and Yuli had darkened her expression as if recalling unpleasant memories.

This was undeniably awkward.

Fortunately, though, the silence didn’t last long.

“Well, you don’t worry too much. I’ve already gotten used to it. And… more than anything….”

You are here with me.

That’s all I need. I don’t ask for anything more.

The girl downed her drink again, laughing brightly as she spoke.

“So just never, ever betray me….”

With her slurred words, she stated.

Given my experiences, I could already tell. Yuli wouldn’t last much longer before she passed out.

Sure enough.

Having surpassed her limits, she started nodding off in her seat until her head plopped onto the table.

I quickly slipped my hand under her to cushion her fall. If I hadn’t, she would’ve surely ended up with a big bump on her head.

In this state, not even a bucket of cold water would wake her up.

I knew that for sure after trying it once before.

In the end, there was only one solution.

Once again, it seemed I’d have to carry her out. Usually, that would annoy me a bit, but today I felt unexpectedly upbeat.

“Don’t worry. After all, I’m a bodyguard. Even if it kills me, I’ll see to my duties as best I can.”

I said that as I helped her up and rose from our seats.

‘This girl’s earrings have got to go!’

Lately, I keep hearing about the impending doom of the world, or perhaps I cursed some along the lines of facing the truth soon enough.

Or that everything would start over again.

I really need to dispose of these nonsense-chanting earrings!

And then….

“……?”

My steps toward the palace naturally came to a halt.

How could they not?

A familiar face was waiting for me at the tavern’s entrance.

An utterly unexpected presence entirely unfit for this place showing up right now.

Snow-white hair.

And bright red eyes.

Heinrich.

The Swordmaster of the Empire stood right before me.