Sitting right in front of her was Princess Senel Polena Dragona.

Hestia couldn’t help but feel a sense of doubt as she observed the princess, who, despite having the power to end her on the spot if she so wished, had instead asked for a conversation.

‘Why..? Given Senel’s personality, she wouldn’t give a betrayer two chances… would she?’

Once a traitor, always a potential traitor.

Knowing this well, Senel had always maintained a merciless attitude towards betrayers.

And that applied to Hestia as well, even if they had once been close friends.

However, despite her doubts, Senel requested to talk to her.

This meant that she intended to hear her side of the story, at least to confirm why she had betrayed her.

This only automatically told Hestia that it was still too soon to give up on life, so she took a seat, showing a fearful expression as she gazed at her former superior.

“So, what is it you wish to discuss?” Hestia asked with a trembling voice.

Seeing her, Senel spoke in a serious tone. “Before we start, it’s best not to have any unrealistic expectations. I just have a few things I want to confirm before I finish you off.”

“….”

With that line clearly drawn, Senel began the conversation.

However, Hestia could tell that this wasn’t Senel’s true feelings, though she decided not to show that just yet.

After all, the prospect of immediate death still loomed over her.

“Then… tell me. Why did you betray me and the Dragona Empire to side with the Sacred Empire? You know full well we had never treated you poorly!”

There was a palpable resentment in Senel’s words.

Hestia couldn’t help but smile bitterly as she replied, “Yes, as you said… I had everything I could possibly need back then. I was in an almost spoiled position.”

“Then why?!”

“But!… no matter how good it was, I couldn’t just stand by… I couldn’t overlook the storm that was brewing… the madness that had barely been contained, teetering on the brink… I simply couldn’t let it go.”

“…”

Senel held a moment of silence at Hestia’s words.

Then Hestia, with a tinge of bitterness in her voice, began to reveal what she had long kept hidden.

*

Hestia Playmer,

While serving as an official in the Dragona Empire, she came to realize a major fact.

That was the signs of a catastrophic disaster brewing in their long-standing rival, the Sacred Empire.

Clearly visible religious conflicts and the signs of an impending explosion.

Hestia comprehended the internal situation of the Sacred Empire, which had become a powder keg ready to blow, before anyone else.

When it finally erupted, thousands upon thousands of innocent lives would be snuffed out, and the repercussions would ripple across the entire continent.

Many people from various nations would end up killing each other, ensnared by the illusion of religion, and the horrifying aftermath would undoubtedly paint the continent in blood.

This was one of the situations Hestia despised most.

A reality where innocent lives were shed due to the fallout from an illusionary ideal and power struggles, entirely unconnected to her.

For her, this was a future that could not be tolerated, regardless of which side it favored; thus, she began to think of a way to prevent that tragedy…

Or rather, to minimize the impact of the tragedy that was bound to occur.

However, she couldn’t just inform the Dragona Empire, which was the foundation of her power, about this looming crisis or attempt to use their strength.

The Dragona Empire was currently maintaining an unspoken peace with the Sacred Empire, allowing basic trade.

But if it so happened that the Sacred Empire was significantly shaken and there were signs of internal strife, the Dragona Empire would likely react somehow, having kept their gaze eastward for so long.

While they might initially cling to a policy of disregard for western affairs, the situation of a long-standing rival and enemy wobbling from within would undoubtedly entice them to seize what they perceived as an opportunity.

In fact, due to the fallout from the ongoing war in the Sacred Empire, almost all the countries on the continent, including the Franz Kingdom, Lorend, the Kalmar United States, and the Bratten Kingdom, had jumped in to exploit the situation, affirming Hestia’s perspective.

The nations embroiled in the war would only complicate matters further instead of preventing it, and in the process, countless of their own citizens would be sacrificed, shedding even more innocent blood.

No matter the outcome, whether it led to national benefit or loss, massive casualties would surely result.

Amidst this backdrop, Hestia sought ways to minimize the war’s fallout,

At the very least, she wanted to ensure that the Dragona Empire wouldn’t exacerbate the situation by sacrificing their own people in the east.

Her plan was to utilize someone she intimately knew, a friend and superior, as well as the emperor’s daughter who could firmly bind the emperor’s will—

Princess Senel.

Despite her status, she was playful, light-hearted, and friendly to everyone.

Yet, she showed no mercy towards traitors and always personally punished those who betrayed her, and Hestia decided to leverage this aspect of her character.

And so, Hestia’s plan began with her betraying Senel, poking the dragon’s reverse scale.

After delivering a stunning political blow to her, Hestia fled to the Sacred Empire.

With the betrayal of a trusted friend and subordinate, Senel, as expected, disguised herself and infiltrated the Sacred Empire to punish Hestia.

Thus began a game of hide and seek within the vast Sacred Empire.

And, naturally, this situation rendered the Dragona Empire’s Emperor Rozebeta unable to intervene in the affairs of the Sacred Empire right from the start.

While she was a strong emperor who ruled over her empire, she was infinitely soft when it came to her family… particularly her daughter.

Such nature meant that even if it would mean sacrificing apparent benefits for the country, anything that could potentially interfere with her daughter would never even be on the table for her.

This was the background for the Dragona Empire’s somewhat frustrating focus solely on eastern affairs, both throughout the war and even up to today.

In this way, by marking herself as a traitor, Hestia successfully averted the worst-case scenario, and her gaze then shifted towards ensuring an end to this madness as swiftly as possible…

To that mad emperor who had the power to bring peace.

As a result, Hestia began to seek out Valenshtein, a figure who had started as a low-ranking noble but quickly expanded his influence through exceptional skill and a bit of luck.

With his help, Hestia had reached this moment today, hoping to put an end to the war.