“—Why are you the only one who survived?”

Forgive me.

“That’s not fair, why just you?”

I’m truly sorry, everyone.

…I’m sorry, I’m sorry for being the only one to survived, I’m sorry—

My bloodied comrades resentfully glared at me.

None of us wanted to die. Everyone wanted to live long enough to see their families again—yet they didn’t, even after death. Instead, their remains were buried in those merciless battlefields.

“—Why didn’t my son come back even though you did?”

A mother, having been informed of her son’s passing, tearfully implored me. Her eyes were blaming me.

“…I’m sorry. I know it’s pointless to say that.”

Blood and tears flowed on the battlefield. They flowed and flowed, staining the ground—yet the war wasn’t over.

It wasn’t enough.

Paides demanded more sacrifices.

As if offering a sacrifice to the gods, Paides sent more soldiers to the battlefield.

How many lives must be sacrificed?

…How many would it take to end this war?

“I have a dream.”

A peasant, still in his youth, looked up towards the sky.

“I want to fall in love in a peaceful country, get married, have a child, and spend the remainder of my life with the two of them. Twenty years later, my child would’ve grown up, meet someone, get married, and have a child of his own. As for me, I’ll become a grandfather. I’ll pamper my grandson a lot. Then, the cycle of life will go on; naturally, endlessly…”

In a country without war, it was a scene that could be seen everyday as if it were the most natural thing in the world. However, in Paides and Elda, it had disappeared entirely.

Even if we did fall in love with someone, we couldn’t promise them a happy future. After all, we lived in a reality where we may not even live to see another day.

“I won’t have to kill anyone anymore. I want to go back to a life where I don’t have to lose anyone. If we defeat Elda, will peace be restored?”

The youth who said that died within the hour.

He appeared in front of me, carrying his bloody companion.

Tears, mixed with blood, rolled down his face.

“I didn’t want to die.” He spoke, “I still wanted to live.”

When I woke up, a single tear fell.

“…Sorry, I’m sorry.”

I sent an apology to my comrades who didn’t make it. An apology that stemmed from my guilt for having survived.

How shallow!

◆◇◆

“Iris!”

“…Your Highness.”

That day, I was supposed to guide the crown prince of Elda through my territory. However, when I went to meet him, the princess was present with him for some reason.

Excitedly, the princess rushed over to me and smothered me with a hug.

“Uwaah…” Eric scrunched his face at the scene. My aunt was shocked, but didn’t let it show on her face, and instead welcomed the crown prince. She secretly nudged Eric who was like an open book.

“Your Highness, welcome to Lowenberg.”

“Thank you. Please take care of me today.”

“Of course. By the way, why is Her Highness here? I don’t recall you making any appointments.”

Even though I pointed that out, the princess wasn’t dissatisfied with me. She beamed, “I’m going with you today!”

“…Going where?”

I involuntarily asked, hoping against hope that she’d leave me alone.

“Of course, to the inspection of the Lowenberg territory, silly!”

No, please, anything but that…

“I can’t agree to that one due to security issues. You’re the esteemed princess of our kingdom. If something happens to you, it’ll be a problem.”

“It’ll be alright! I’m not a child. See? I brought an escort.”

Boasting like that was fine, but she only brought a few guards. Suffice to say, the number wasn’t enough to accompany a princess on an inspection.

The number of visible guards certainly didn’t matter that much. But usually, dozens of escorts mixed with populace was necessary.

I turned to the crown prince. He was smiling without a care. I still didn’t know what he was thinking. Then, I turned to her escort knight, only to be dismissed. The guy seemed tired.

Surely, despite his adamant protests, she pestered him to come.

Still, you’re her escort knight, you need to be stricter.

“I shall bring this matter to His Majesty.”

“Why would you bring my father into this?”

—Because he’s your guardian.

Besides, if something happened to the princess, not even Eric and my aunt would escape the blame.

“Because Her Highness’ time should be managed by a schedule, and only with His Majesty’s approval would you be able to act against it.”

“But that’s just suffocating! I wish I was born a commoner, and not a princess…”

“…”

Prices soared during wartime. As a result, many starved to death in the frontier. The children and the elderly were also forced to eat less. Even the commoners in the royal capital were affected, so her statement just now was really tone-deaf.

“Your Highness the Crown Prince, I’m sorry, but is it alright if I delay the appointment?”

“Understandable, considering how unexpected the situation is. Do what you have to do.”

“Thank you.”

I immediately led the two of them to the drawing room and sent a messenger to the royal palace.

---

***T/N: If Iris were to make a YouTube video titled “This video ends once the princess said something inappropriate to either the ambassador from the neighboring country or the people”, I believe it’d end after 3 seconds.

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