My father is dead, and the country is on the brink of a civil war. There hasn’t been any direct fighting yet, but it is only a matter of time.
Also, the girl who is said to be the miko, Alice, has been imprisoned.
I would not have been able to gather this information on my own. Before someone from Vene came to inform me, I was very confused.
My brother, the third prince, has imprisoned Alice and said many things, including that my father died because he propped up a false miko.
According to Vene, there is a good chance that the third prince had my father killed. He has no proof that the miko really is false, so he is most likely saying this in order to be king.
The crown prince and the second prince deny it. Of course they do, they probably never even thought about the possibility that Alice is not the real miko.
Would things be different if I said I didn’t think Alice is the real miko? Would my father still be alive? I cannot stop thinking about things I can do nothing about no matter how hard I think about them.
As I struggle to put my thoughts together, the person from Vene standing in front of me speaks.
“What will you do princess?”
“What will I…”
“You have a few options. First, you can align yourself with one of the factions fighting for the throne, although there is a good possibility that you will be executed if your faction loses.”
This person casually says. My father has died and I cannot put my thoughts together, so I do nothing but listen.
“Second, you can run, basically leave the country altogether. If you stay here, you will be dragged into the conflict eventually. If you do wish to run away and live a modest life as a commoner, we can act as mediators.”
Run and live as a commoner…
“Third, you can strengthen ties with another country and influence the kingdom of Fairytrof from there, although there is a good chance that you will become their puppet.”
Run and become a puppet…
“Lastly… You can aim for the throne.”
That is something I had not thought about. In the middle of this confusion and struggle for the throne, proclaim that I will take it.
“To accomplish what you wish, that may be the best path.”
A princess with such a low claim to the throne, taking it.
“Of course, there is no guarantee that you will be successful, but without power, you will not be able to work for the good of this country or save the girl that was said to be the miko, and who may be executed at this rate.”
The voice echoes, but I still only listen.
“The ones fighting for the throne only want power, but you never even thought about taking the throne. You want to work for the people in this time of crisis and believe it is wrong to push all the responsibility onto a young girl. We can have hope in a princess such as yourself.”
I never had the opportunity to speak with my brothers a lot. I am just the daughter of a concubine, and their mothers have high social status.
However, I do know how they have been living.
According to Vene, they only think about their right of succession, and nothing more.
They probably could not care less whether or not the miko is false.
My father feared the being known as the miko, and was very nervous about not angering her.
My brothers probably do not fear this being very much. If they did, Alice would not be imprisoned, even if they think she might be a fake.
If the third prince did kill my father with the justification that it was because he propped up a false miko, that action alone would be enough to anger the miko or incur the wrath of god.
Although I imagine our country has already made the miko angry anyway…
“I…”
What should I do? How should I live? I do not have the answer, but I did tell prince Hicked that nothing will come from doing nothing, and no one knows how things will turn out if you do take action.
Getting into trouble by one’s own will and actions is much better than getting into trouble by the actions of others.
As worried as I may be, I cannot afford to sit idly by and do nothing after having said that.
I make up my mind.
—Princess and resolve
(The princess receives information, hears her options, and makes up her mind.)
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I wonder if the 3° prince knew what he is doing is accelerate the inevitable demise of his own country
it will be a difficult path, but hey, you may even be able to ro-reign two countries.