"Trolling?"
Lauga tilted her head at the unfamiliar word.
"Yes. Simply put, it's mutual destruction—a strategy where neither our side can win, but we prevent the enemy's victory while greatly enhancing the enjoyment of the game."
After hearing my explanation, Lauga stretched her lips into a wide grin.
"I knew it. You're not as innocent as you look, are you?"
"Of course not. This is all for an exciting tournament. The martial arts competition is already excellent on its own, but wouldn't it be even better with some added seasoning?"
"Hehe, I like dramatic developments too. Have you read that novel? It's a romance novel that's popular in the Imperial Court these days, and the plot is absolutely wild."
Lauga began tapping her fingers on the desk, already shifting to another topic of conversation.
Listening to her prattle on is giving me a headache.
I need to take an aspirin too.
"Hehe, this year's flower viewing will be so much fun!"
Until the end, the Princess was more excited about flower viewing than the martial arts tournament.
And so, my deal with Lauga was established.
***
Two days after making the mask for Lauga, strange conversations began circulating around the Imperial Court.
"I tell you, these days you can't even go out without a mask!"
"Look how sharp my jawline looks now. I don't know why we didn't create something like this sooner."
"They say it prevents disease too, so why wouldn't you wear one? It's less suffocating than a corset anyway."
"Since it was invented by the court physician, I trust it."
Masks had begun to trend as a fashion item among the noble ladies and young women of the Imperial Court.
Made of linen, they didn't completely restrict breathing, and women already accustomed to corsets seemed perfectly willing to endure this much for fashion.
All the noble women entering and leaving the Imperial Palace were wearing modern-style masks.
It seemed everyone was rushing to buy masks copied from mine by clothing merchants and stockpiling them in their drawers.
"Isn't this the first protective gear you designed, Teacher? Is it alright for just anyone to make them?"
Tanya voiced her concern as she observed the trend. It was a valid point.
"Medicine should be widely available to the people."
That's the basic principle, after all.
"But in this world, compensation is also essential. I should definitely get my royalties."
I left the office wearing my doctor's coat.
***
Another day quickly passed as Lucy, Asella's head maid, meticulously carried out her daily duties.
She always attended to her master, Asella, by her side.
She seemed a bit uncomfortable.
Lucy could guess the cause.
Since their previous confrontation, Empress Camilla had been keeping her distance from Asella.
It was essentially a cold war.
Nevertheless, Asella silently continued with her scheduled education.
Though the education had begun at the Empress's command, Asella herself had a strong determination to become the next Emperor.
'That determination was probably instilled by the Empress too.'
That's what the head maid thought after observing Asella for so long.
Though she didn't show it much, whenever Asella succeeded in casting a higher-level spell, she couldn't hide her joy.
It was the desire for achievement at higher levels.
Everyone in the Imperial family was like that. Perhaps it was a destiny engraved in their blood. They all strive to reach higher realms and possess more.
They were like incarnations of greed, albeit with ability as a prerequisite.
Even the current Emperor had been a battle-hardened veteran who expanded the Empire through countless wars in his youth, all to realize his endless greed.
'But no matter what high level of magic the Princess reaches, she never receives any praise.'
Even harboring such disrespectful thoughts was a crime worthy of beheading, but what could she do?
The head maid never thought Camilla was a good parent.
She was already a genius witch who had reached the inhuman realm of 5th Circle magic, which required both talent and effort.
Even though Asella could already use 3rd Circle magic at such a young age, Camilla showed no sign of being impressed and only demanded higher levels while scolding her.
To her, it seemed like elementary magic that she could use naturally.
Being able to use 3rd Circle magic as a teenager would have been considered an unprecedented genius achievement in any magic tower.
Most magicians, even if they pursued adventure as a lifelong career, would barely manage to use a single 3rd Circle spell by the time they became white-haired elders.
Her teacher, Seymour, was a historic grand magician—a Sage, one might say—who appeared only once every two hundred years.
The comparison made it even worse.
'The Princess doesn't deserve such poor treatment.'
That was the head maid's minor complaint.
To Empress Camilla, Asella was merely a means to gain power.
She was born so Camilla could enter the palace in the first place.
The head maid often doubted whether Camilla even recognized Asella as her own daughter in the normal sense.
Asella's other family members were either half-siblings trying to eliminate her or use her, so she had no allies in the Imperial family.
'The Princess's desire to become the next Emperor...'
The head maid suspected it was because Asella could receive praise if she fulfilled Camilla's wishes.
"Then I'll see you at the next session."
"You may leave."
The private tutor left the study room. Though he was a skilled former professor from the Hero Academy, Asella didn't show him much courtesy.
The head maid served carefully prepared tea to allow Asella to rest comfortably during her brief break.
"Princess, here's your refreshment."
"Pour it for me."
The head maid felt somewhat relieved seeing Asella sipping her tea like a squirrel.
The court physician had said it was good to drink plenty of warm water during cold season outbreaks like now.
'At least the Princess follows the Teacher's instructions.'
She had been less worried lately thanks to the recent court physician.
In the few weeks since his arrival, Asella definitely looked more at ease than before.
Even if she had another nighttime episode like before, the head maid believed he would somehow resolve it.
"Asella, are you there?"
A voice like a hammer shattering glass broke the peaceful moment.
It was an unexpected visit.
Empress Camilla had come to Asella's study room with her knight escorts.
The head maid immediately dropped to the floor in respect. Camilla stood in front of Asella's desk.
"Mother."
Camilla briefly glanced at the book Asella had been studying and looked down at her.
"So you're still pretending to study. How diligently you must be working without my supervision. As if you could ever concentrate properly."
Asella silently listened to Camilla's barrage of harsh words.
"Do you think you can succeed to the throne without me? I've been waiting for you to come crawling back, but you haven't shown your face at all. That rascal has completely corrupted you."
Asella's eyebrows twitched when Camilla mentioned Lars.
"You have no idea how important the martial arts tournament is. We don't know how many more years His Majesty will live. We need to take the successor position before that foolish First Prince is appointed!"
The head maid had a truckload of rebuttals for the Empress but swallowed them all.
She knew better than anyone how hard Asella was preparing for the tournament.
Despite her packed educational schedule, she never neglected managing her knights and continued practicing magic to demonstrate her own performance.
"If you continue to act on your own, I'll simply cut off my support. Georg, the Second Prince, wants my magicians to demonstrate their skills in his faction."
"You're going to lend your disciples to another faction?"
When Asella reacted, Camilla smiled victoriously. It was the composure of someone who had gained the upper hand.
"Haven't we always been friendly with Prince Georg? We shouldn't reject him just because he's from a different faction."
"You know perfectly well why Georg supported us. He's not an ally. He's a successor candidate."
Asella shot back angrily.
The head maid could also guess the reason.
Among those actively seeking the next Emperor position were Second Prince Georg and First Princess Heike.
Naturally, whoever could control Asella—who would become the Imperial family's powerful magical weapon—would gain a stronger position in the future.
The Second Prince's support didn't stem from goodwill or brotherly affection.
Rather, it was a political strategy based on his view that Asella was merely a tool without succession rights.
"Asella, what have I always told you?"
"You told me to become the next Emperor."
"You misheard."
Camilla glared coldly at Asella.
"I said I need an Emperor. If you're not on my side, I don't need you."
The head maid thought it was a cruel statement.
Come back to me, or I'll turn to the Second Prince's faction.
It was nothing short of a threat.
The head maid believed that although Asella always appeared cold, she was quite attached to what she considered her possessions.
As proof, she never treated her maids like the head maid or her knights harshly.
Though the workload might be heavy, her orders never exceeded the bounds of reasonable commands.
That's why those belonging to Wolgwang Palace were loyal to Asella.
The Empress was also someone within Asella's category of "her own."
But as far as the head maid knew, the Empress had never shown affection to Asella.
She only tempted her with the promise of affection, like now.
"Do you think you can win the tournament without me and impress His Majesty? With that childish training of yours!"
"That's..."
Asella bit her lip.
It was true that no matter how hard she tried, the conditions were extremely unfavorable.
First, her knight order was small in number.
As Camilla said, the training might be nothing more than child's play.
Both the Second Prince and First Princess would undoubtedly prepare much more sophisticated strategies.
"Do you understand reality now? Asella, without me, you're just a clueless child. Get on your knees and beg now. If you receive special training, I might forgive what happened that day..."
—Knock knock.
The door swung open with a forceful knock.
"Princess, Court Physician Gotberg reporting."
Camilla whipped her head around to glare at the physician.
Her face wrinkled with irritation.
"You...! Can't you see I'm having an important conversation with Asella? Who do you think you are to interrupt here!"
"Why is an outsider here?"
"What did you say!"
Ignoring the seething Empress, Lars presented his report to Asella.
"I've temporarily reorganized our Wolgwang Palace knights for the tournament. I'll proceed if you approve."
Asella quickly flipped through the report.
"One hundred and forty?"
"Yes."
Camilla's eyes bulged at this alarming information.
"One hundred and forty? What are you talking about? Physician!"
"My, my, are you trying to peek at confidential documents the Princess is reviewing? Please maintain boundaries, even if you are the Empress."
Lars blocked Camilla's view with his back.
Asella unconsciously raised the corner of her mouth slightly as she turned to the next page.
"What's this?"
"It's a patent application for the masks. With your authority as Princess, you could approve it right away, couldn't you?"
Lars nodded lightly.
"The patent revenue will go to the Wolgwang Palace budget. And a little into my pocket too."