Each One’s Power Base

The Nightingale House had been the second prince’s trump card — and also his discarded card.

Eric had once told them that following him would lead only to a dead end.

Loyalty or life — they were free to choose.

As the team leader, Azure Eagle had known this long ago.

From the moment he chose to stay by Eric’s side for the sake of a so-called “utopia,” he already understood that using one’s life as the price for a dream kingdom was, in fact, the cheapest deal imaginable.

After all, the members of the Nightingale House had all gone through inhuman training.

Being mentally unstable was practically normal.

So someone like Azure Eagle, who could still communicate normally, had once been treated like a treasure by Solor.

Although in Solor’s heart, Azure Eagle still could not compare to Scarlet Crow, who had stayed by his side since youth, in terms of comfort and atmosphere — aside from the Scarlet Crow, colored by childhood nostalgia — the one Eric valued most was Falk, the Azure Eagle.

But… where could she even find him now…?

In the past, Falk had come of his own accord.

All he wanted was a chance to survive, so he brought along his sworn sister, Blue Sparrow Alita, and entered the Nightingale House together to make a living.

It was hard to say whether the chaotic era or the Nightingale House itself was more suitable for survival.

Fortunately, both Falk and Alita survived.

With their outstanding abilities, they remained by the second prince’s side and each obtained a code name.

Falk, in particular, became the team leader simply because his mental state was far more stable than the others’.

But that was the previous life.

In this life, due to the emperor’s diligence, warfare was not as severe.

Although there was still a gap between rich and poor across the country, it was not so bad that people were forced to wander just to survive.

Those who couldn’t live didn’t simply die.

Those who could fight desperately didn’t all have to become bandits or thieves.

A world where everyone was happy — such a utopia might indeed be impossible.

But reducing the death rate at least meant the effort had not been in vain.

Ellie knew this very well.

In her previous life, even if Falk died, even if she herself as the second prince died, even if all those who opposed Solor were eliminated, the world would still have conflict.

There would still be struggles for power.

Her death could only bring a moment of peace.

The halo on her brother’s head — stained with the blood of his own sibling — could only intimidate those old men for a short while.

Three years later.

Five years later.

Ten years later.

They would still fight.

They would still struggle.

They would still kill each other over the crown.

And if Solor later had multiple sons, then perhaps it would be his turn to be poisoned by his own children.

What Ellie had to do — was to prevent that from happening.

Ellie needed to have her own power base.

Perhaps “power base” wasn’t the right word.

Rather, as a princess, she needed to have her own people under her command.

If something unexpected happened, she needed people who would obey her orders.

People who could help her escape danger.

And her brother, as the designated heir and future emperor, was in an extremely dangerous position as well.

People sent by others could not be trusted.

Only those she had personally vetted — those who were truly loyal to both herself and the prince — would do.

So now, Ellie was effectively choosing her own personal guards.

Not guards loyal to the vague concept of “the royal family,” but guards loyal to her and her brother.

Since Falk’s whereabouts were unknown, the first person Ellie thought of was still the Scarlet Crow of this world — Firth.

As for Evelia, the female Scarlet Crow, she looked like an ordinary girl in this world.

Because of her engagement to Agmad, she dressed like a noble lady.

That kind of girl… there was no need to drag her into this.

A girl with no combat ability would only slow things down.

So the one Ellie sought out was Firth, who had become the vice commander of the Royal Knights.

…How the wheel of fate turned.

In the previous life, Firth had changed gender and become Evelia to seduce the commander of the Royal Knights.

In this life, there was no need to change or seduce anyone — he had directly become the vice commander himself.

Then in that case… what about Carle, who had once been the vice commander?

Had he been promoted?

Or had he gone into business?

No — that didn’t matter.

The Ellie of this world looked like the kind of sheltered young lady who didn’t care about such things at all.

Eric, who had crossed over, searched through her memories and discovered that she knew nothing about political affairs.

She didn’t understand the open and hidden struggles among nobles.

She didn’t know who cooperated with whom, or who opposed whom.

Her mind was filled only with proper etiquette and a deep-seated inferiority complex, always thinking she was unworthy of her brother.

What the hell was in this girl’s head — was it trash?

Eric was not the type to dawdle.

Seeing how timid and twisted Ellie’s past self had been, Eric couldn’t help but roll his eyes.

You don’t bother learning about serious matters, but you let other people’s gossip drive you into depression?

That was only because Eric had arrived too late.

Those gossiping tongues had truly “pushed” Ellie to her death, which was how Eric came to this world.

If Eric had arrived ten years earlier…

No — five years would have been enough.

Just five years earlier, and she could have dealt with most of those who loved to gossip behind others’ backs.

After all, such people were usually terrified of death.

Now, because of Ellie’s fall and injury, Solor had flown into a rage.

For a short time, many people around them dared not say anything about his sister.

But that didn’t mean that once Solor became busy with state affairs again, those voices wouldn’t reappear.

Disrespecting the second princess was disrespecting the royal family.

Disrespecting the royal family meant harboring ill intent toward Solor.

What audacity.

At this point, the idea of rebuilding the Nightingale House had firmly taken root in Ellie’s heart.

What she needed to do next was exactly that.

So, a few days later, Ellie used her status to make contact with the Royal Knights.

By coincidence — or perhaps inevitability — that day happened to be the Royal Knights’ scheduled inspection of the Holy Fleurs Church of the royal family.

Such tasks were usually handled by the vice commander.

Naturally, Firth would be assigned to the church.

But sitting around and waiting was not Ellie’s style.

Coincidentally, Solor was still uneasy about Ellie going out, fearing she might do something dangerous again.

If she wanted to leave the palace, someone would have to accompany her.

So—

Why not have this vice commander, whom her brother trusted, act as her escort?

This would also give her the chance to learn about the distribution of power within the Royal Knights of this world.

After all, the Royal Knights were the nation’s military.

If Solor was to remain safe, they had to be loyal to him.

It wasn’t enough for just the vice commander to be close to Solor.

That unknown commander also needed to be Solor’s person.

“Someone, prepare a carriage for me. I’m going to the Royal Church.”

Thus, Ellie decided that she had to go in person.

Sometimes, conversations held inside a carriage were far more convenient than those in the back garden.