Princess, You Must Start the Revolution!

Chapter 3: The Forget-Me-Not Princess (2)

When one manifests magical power, it is impossible not to notice.  

If the talent is exceptional, others will find it difficult not to notice the signs as well.  

That was what every wizard told me when I requested education related to magic.  

Therefore, all I could do was wait.  

"Princess! Princess!"  

"Ugh, Nanny... Why, so early in the morning..."  

Just as I was about to ask why she was waking me up by shouting, I immediately realized two changes in my body.  

First, there were bloodstains on the bed.  

Feeling damp below, it was unmistakable that this body had started menstruation.  

The sensation was not particularly pleasant.  

"Oh my, Princess, already..."  

"Ah, that’s one thing, but first, can you call a wizard?"  

And second, even though it was winter, the room was filled with a warm and gentle heat.  

Though the heating was on, it wasn’t just because of that—it felt as if spring had come to this room alone.  

Right, they say the event that triggers it varies for each person, and for me, it must have been the start of menstruation.  

"I actually just sent someone for that."  

"Huh? Already? How did you know?"  

"Pardon? What do you mean, how did I know? Outside, the forget-me-nots have bloomed brightly. Who else but a wizard could explain why?"  

Forget-me-nots bloom in May and June.  

And right now, it was December, with fresh snow just fallen, leaving all areas covered in white except for those that had been cleared.  

Yet forget-me-nots were blooming brightly?  

At that moment, I instinctively realized something.  

My magical talent was extraordinary.  

They say signs can appear when magic manifests.  

Thinking that, I got up from bed and strode to the window, throwing open the curtains.  

"Wow, it's true..."  

"Oh my, oh my, Princess! You mustn’t get up like that right now! Come here quickly, I’ll take care of everything for you."  

Nanny was fussing, and to be honest, the damp feeling below was unpleasant,  

but I still couldn’t take my eyes off the scene outside.  

And for good reason—the sight of sky-blue forget-me-nots blooming in full glory on the pure white snowfield was truly breathtaking.  

In this modest detached palace, where there were no particularly special events, planting forget-me-nots was one of the few substantial tasks.  

It was also one of my only large-scale directives as the mistress of this place.  

So the servants had worked very hard to plant them, and now, the result was unfolding magnificently.  

"Princess, the wizards from the Magic Society have arrived."  

"Already? Tell them to wait a little; the Princess is in the middle of changing! Princess, we must be quick, please allow me to assist you."  

There was no way the wizards would have missed something like this,  

so they must have assessed the situation and set out for this place even before Nanny sent for them.  

That’s why they had arrived so quickly.  

Regardless, I had no choice but to wait until Nanny finished her arrangements.  

Whether it was magic or menstruation, both were first-time experiences for me,  

so it was only right to leave things to those who had experience.  

Though the unfamiliar sensation was mildly irritating, the relief I felt at my magical power manifesting much earlier and much stronger than I had feared far outweighed it.  

So I could endure this much.  

"Princess, we have come here for one reason—to find the source of this sudden magical manifestation. Based on our assessment, it seems..."  

"It seems that I am the one who manifested magic, doesn’t it? I think so too."  

"Oh, indeed! A wizard appearing in the royal family—this is an indescribable blessing!"  

The wizard’s reaction seemed neither false nor exaggerated.  

Certainly, even though wizards generally paid little heed to their previous social status, having a high-ranking wizard must still hold some distinction.  

Even if I had been raised merely as a royal in name only for the sake of a political marriage.  

"I don’t know much about this... What happens now?"  

The key thing I needed to understand was the extent of my magical talent.  

Since I had made flowers bloom in midwinter, I knew my power was considerable.  

But how strong was it?  

And what kind of treatment could I expect?  

"Judging by the signs that appeared alongside your manifestation, the Princess’s magical power is concentrated in the domain of life. Unlike common affinities such as fire, wind, or light, this is extremely rare. It is highly versatile and practical, as it can manipulate plants and heal injuries.  And given the remarkable manifestation signs, you will become an outstanding wizard in whatever field you choose."  

Good.  

At least in this matter, they were not playing tricks.  

Thinking that, I let out a quiet sigh of relief internally while smiling brightly on the surface.  

The wizard standing before me, someone who could access the royal palace,  

was unlikely to tell lies or simply flatter me.  

"Then do I start learning magic now? Who will be teaching me?"  

"Ah, well..."  

Naturally, I assumed someone would become my mentor and teach me,  

and that I would finally escape the royal palace—specifically, this detached palace—  to enjoy my long-awaited freedom.  

But just as I was envisioning that rosy future, the wizard’s hesitation was not a good sign.  

"Is there a problem? I’ll find out sooner or later, so just tell me now."  

Was it perhaps an issue that I was only fourteen years old?  

That could be possible.  

From what I had learned so far, magic involved drawing in surrounding magical energy, using the wizard’s body as a medium to bring about desired effects.  

So if the wizard was sick or in poor condition, there would be significant limitations on their magic use.  

The library had plenty of books that contained bits of knowledge, yet somehow always seemed to lack the exact information I needed.  

As a result, there was little written about young wizards.  

So if there were restrictions I was unaware of, it could be troublesome.  

However, what the elder wizard confessed next was somewhat different from my expectations.  

"The thing is...  there are no wizards in this country who specialize in life magic,  

so there is no one available to teach you directly, Princess."  

For a moment, I doubted my own ears.  

No matter how rare this affinity was, could there really be not a single one in the entire kingdom?  

This Kingdom of Phelancia had a population in the tens of millions, five duchies, and a royal domain whose territory was as large as two of those duchies combined. In such a vast and populous land, I was the only one?  

"That doesn’t make sense.  No matter how rare it is, you’re saying that out of tens of millions, I am the only one?"  

"Regrettably, yes, Princess. Life wizards appear more often in barbarian lands, while civilized nations predominantly produce those with fire and wind affinities. Even among the prominent civilized nations—  Sensia, Demigarden, and Perlant—there are typically only two or three life wizards at most.  Depending on the era, there can be none, as is the case for us now. That is why your manifestation, Princess, is such joyous news."  

I did not fully understand the exact conditions required for magic to manifest, but since this was the reality, I had no choice but to accept it.  

And honestly, I had been so shocked by the lack of a mentor that it took me a moment to realize— being the only one in the kingdom was not necessarily a bad thing.  

Think about it.  

My existence should have been that of an illegitimate child, since my mother was a commoner.  

Because of that, my mother had been confined in a tower within the royal palace, and I had never once stepped outside this detached palace.  

Of course, I was given a certain level of treatment and education, since I had been raised for the purpose of a political marriage.  

But that treatment was confined to this ‘small’ detached palace within the grand kingdom, and the education I received was limited.  

But what about now?  

I had become the only life wizard in the entire kingdom.  

Technically, I still needed training to become a proper wizard, but for now, what mattered was that I was the only one in the nation.  

I, who was once merely being groomed for a political marriage, was now the sole life wizard in the country.  

"Then, I must study on my own. And for that... it’s finally time for me to leave this small detached palace."

"For the future of the kingdom, that is of course the right decision, but His Majesty’s permission must come first. In fact, the reason I came here today is to understand your intentions before seeking His Majesty’s approval."  

"Then let me make it clear. I want to leave this detached palace and learn magic more professionally. The library here is too small, even aside from the issue of magic."  

At my words, the middle-aged wizard smiled.  

Did he see it as the childish complaint of a young girl?  

Well, that was understandable.  

Even though I was called the 'Princess of the Library,' there was plenty of reason to assume my argument was simply the wish of a girl longing to see the world outside this detached palace.  

No, to be honest, my desire to see beyond this damn palace was truly immense.  

For fourteen years in this body, and for over ten years since my consciousness had awakened,  

I had been confined entirely within these palace walls.  

No matter how determined I was to study and train for the sake of my future, a person’s mind has its limits.  

"I will convey your wishes to His Majesty—"  

"Y-Your highness, h-he is approaching!"  

So, she couldn’t even pretend to be composed.  

Along with that thought, a faint sense of resentment began creeping in.  

This man, who had never once set foot here in my entire life, now came in person without even needing to be informed, simply because I had manifested magical power.  

Well, let’s think positively.  

It meant my value had risen.  

And at least, I wouldn’t have to suffer the guilt of longing for a father’s affection in this world.  

Maybe I should take this chance to try and free my mother from confinement.  

"…You have grown."  

After the maid’s urgent announcement, as I and the wizards barely managed to bow properly, my father—the king—entered, remained silent for nearly a full minute, and then spoke those words.  

Since my head was bowed, I still had not seen his face with my own eyes at that moment.  

"It is thanks to Your Majesty’s concern."  

"Raise your head."  

"I am grateful for Your Majesty’s grace."  

As I lifted my head, I saw for the first time in person the face of the father I had only seen in portraits.  

He looked even older than his portraits suggested, yet the stubbornness etched into his face was unmistakable.  

His eyes were far from warm.  

They held a cold and calculating glint.  

A man like that would have no qualms about locking up a woman and her daughter in a gilded cage, simply to avoid the risk of creating a weakness.  

Fortunately, despite realizing this,  

I was able to suppress any feelings of hatred or resentment.  

"I saw the forget-me-nots blooming brightly in this winter. That must mean your magic is powerful. Is that correct?"  

"Indeed, Your Majesty. Not only has the princess awakened the rare power of life, but her magical strength is also exceptionally potent."  

"Good, very good. Then there’s no need to waste time. We can arrange a marriage match immediately."  

It felt as if a thunderbolt had struck my mind.  

Wait, a marriage match?  

Already?  

You damn man, I am only fourteen,  

I have never even stepped outside this detached palace, and I am the only life wizard in the entire kingdom!  

"…I wish to learn more about magic. Is that not possible?"  

"Of course, it is. I grant you permission to travel to the Mage Tower. Finding a suitable match will take at least a year, so focus on your magic in the meantime."  

Manifesting magic was not an escape from marriage—  

it was a reason to accelerate it.  

I wanted to squeeze my eyes shut in frustration, but I could not afford to show such a disgraceful reaction in my first proper encounter with the man who was both my father and my king.  

Suppressing a sigh, I miraculously managed to smile.  

"As you wish, Your Majesty."  

"Good. Master Dúnedain, I leave the education of Princess Annaliese to you."  

"I am honored, Your Majesty. It is a privilege to be entrusted with the magical instruction of Princess Annaliese del Carmen Lamibert."  

Damn bastard.  

I hope you fall on your way back to the main palace and crack your head open.  

Even as I silently cursed him,  

I had to keep a smile on my face.  

The king—my so-called father—gazed at me for several long seconds, then casually tossed out a remark.  

"Do not worry. I will personally select the most distinguished match for you."  

That is exactly what I don’t want you to do.  

"Thank you, Your Majesty."  

But what choice did I have?  

My trials were far from over.  

Even when I came of age and they started talking about me being past my prime for marriage, the thought of marrying a man was horrifying.  

And now, while my body was still far from fully grown,  to be forced into marriage—this was nothing short of a nightmare.  

"…Master Dúnedain, may I speak with you in private for a moment?"  

Even if I had a year, it was best to prepare for the future as soon as possible.  

With that in mind, I immediately sought a private conversation with the wizard who had just been assigned as my mentor.  

"What is it, Princess?"  

"I want to avoid an early political marriage. As a wizard, is there any way to do so?"  

Dúnedain’s face showed clear discomfort, as if he had not expected such a question right away.  

But at least, he seemed to realize that I was completely serious.