In the shadows of a dim room, a man knelt respectfully, raising his hands as he presented a brown paper bag to a blonde girl.

"Your Highness," the man said, "this is the intelligence gathered by the Merchant Guild. Please take a look. With your wisdom, I'm sure you can deduce which forces are behind the attack on you."

Princess Renner took the paper bag, her eyes as cold as ice—dark and devoid of emotion.

She pulled out the papers inside and glanced over them. "I've already suspected the culprits; this information confirms my guess. I will report to my father and have them all sent to the gallows."

"Assassinating a princess should be punished as treason," the man suggested, his voice laced with flattery.

"I know that; there's no need for your concern. You can leave through the secret door to the south, bypass the music hall, and make sure Climb doesn't see you."

"Yes, Your Highness." The man stepped back, disappearing into the darkness.

From behind the door, a maid's voice came, "Your Highness, sorry to interrupt, but the adventurer EeDeChi is here to see you."

"She came on her own? I was just about to find her," Princess Renner murmured. She took out a silver mirror and adjusted her expression, the icy resolve in her eyes melting into a spring of warmth, her smile blooming like a daisy.

In one moment, she was the cold-hearted goddess of revenge; in the next, she played the role of an innocent, cheerful girl next door. If the actors from the Royal Theatre could see her performance, they'd feel shame standing in her presence.

…

"Princess is still getting ready and needs a bit more time. Please have a seat," Climb said. He stood straight in his formal court attire, his light blonde hair neatly trimmed, exuding a sense of competence.

EeDeChi sat on the silk velvet sofa, nodding. "It's understandable; she's a girl."

The passing maids couldn't help but murmur among themselves, wondering about this adventurer who had the audacity to act so confidently in front of Climb, who was the princess's favorite. To them, Climb, though not wed to Princess Renner, was already seen as her chosen lover.

Climb, oblivious to the surrounding glances, gazed at her with eager admiration. "When the princess was attacked before, we were lucky you were there; without you, I wouldn't have been able to protect her on my own. I didn't realize you were such a powerful figure in the realm of 'heroes.'"

During that last attack, arrows had rained from outside, and a red-cloaked assassin had been inside. EeDeChi had simultaneously defended against the arrows and unleashed a 5th Tier spell, blowing the roof sky-high and effectively halting the assassins' plans.

"It was just a simple task; protecting you all is what I do," EeDeChi said, turning her head to see Princess Renner approaching her.

The adventurer captain glanced at the Justice Value hovering above Renner's head—194—and let out a sigh of relief. She remembered the last time she saw the princess's Justice Value was -261, straddling between malevolent and extremely evil, which had shocked her.

"Let's talk inside," Princess Renner said with a warm smile, her expression gentle. "Climb, please guard the door and don't let anyone in."

This book's true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience.

EeDeChi followed her into a secluded room, with thick walls engraved with soundproofing runes, clearly a perfect spot for a confidential discussion.

The two sat facing each other, and EeDeChi casually asked, "Did you find out who was behind the assassination attempt a few days ago?"

"I've already found out," Princess Renner nodded. "My father has helped me identify the mastermind, and they will be punished severely."

EeDeChi smiled. "I almost forgot—your dad is the king. He'll definitely have your back."

Princess Renner looked at the adventurer. "What do you need to talk to me about?"

"I heard you have a good relationship with the Blue Roses team. Can you give me their captain's contact information?"

"I don't usually see them..." Princess Renner hesitated. "They've gone to the Eastern Reiner Mountains. The Sorcerer Kingdom, whether intentionally or not, released some undead creatures that killed quite a few civilians. The Blue Roses are heading there to eliminate them."

"That Ainz Ooal Gown again," EeDeChi sighed, looking up at the ceiling. "Can't he just chill for a bit?"

Princess Renner sighed in return. "With a godlike being like him, how could he care about our lives? They're not Gaia; they're ruthless and heartless grim reapers."

After a moment of silence, EeDeChi asked, "After the war between Re-Estize and the Sorcerer Kingdom, did they demand any land or reparations from you?"

Princess Renner nodded. "The fortress city of E-Rantel, along with the nearby towns and lands, has already been ceded to the Sorcerer Kingdom. Our country must pay a certain percentage of our taxes to them each year."

She smiled wryly. "These are minor issues; it's a stroke of luck that they haven't continued their slaughter. Although we haven't openly submitted like Baharuth, we're pretty much in the same situation.

"Someone like Ainz Ooal Gown should only exist in the legends of the Eight Greed Kings, only in the songs of wandering bards. Sometimes I wonder, is there really no one who can hold them back?"

EeDeChi glanced up at Renner's Justice Value and said, "Actually... I'm working on a way to deal with Ainz Ooal Gown."

At those words, Renner's eyelids flickered, her heart jolting for a moment before she quickly composed herself. She cautiously asked, "You mean... you want to kill him?"

"I can't kill him, but I will definitely deal with him," EeDeChi replied seriously. "However, I can't do it alone; I'm looking for a way. Hmm? You seem a bit nervous."

Princess Renner's body trembled slightly. She took a deep breath, pressing her palm tightly against her knee, and asked, "Can you... defeat Ainz Ooal Gown?"

"Maybe I can defeat him, or perhaps it would end in a draw. I believe we're at a similar level of power, but I can't take on the entire Great Tomb of Nazarick. I've heard Ainz has many high-level magical items, which is a significant disadvantage for me," EeDeChi calmly analyzed, showing a keen self-awareness regarding their strength comparison.

"Are your teammates just like you?" Princess Renner's tone suddenly became respectful.

"Not at all," EeDeChi replied solemnly. "They... are just ordinary people."

"If you're going to confront Ainz," Renner said, choosing her words carefully, "perhaps I... could lend you a hand."

"You're just a princess; you can't help me," EeDeChi shook her head. "You'd be better off finding a way to contact Lakyus."

"If I could become the queen, I could mobilize the whole kingdom to help you," Princess Renner's blue eyes grew brighter, revealing unmasked fervor and desire.

EeDeChi was taken aback and gave her a thumbs up. "Ambitious! But... I've heard that according to the kingdom's laws and traditions, it must be your brother who inherits the throne."

Renner paused for a moment, then tentatively suggested, "If someone could eliminate the second prince, just as you mentioned... dealing with Ainz Ooal Gown, my chances of becoming queen would greatly increase, and Re-Estize's territory would become your solid backing!"

"You mean..." EeDeChi frowned. "Kill the second prince?"

Renner didn't answer directly, lowering her voice. "You descended into this world just like Ainz, as if a god walking among us. For a god, there's nothing impossible."

"I am not a god," EeDeChi said with distaste. "I'm just an adventurer, and besides, the second prince is your BROTHER!"

"My brother wouldn't hesitate to get rid of me. If you hadn't been there during my last assassination attempt, he would've smiled at my funeral."

"You two are like two foxes fighting over a piece of meat, unaware that the entire forest is already under the hunter's dominion." EeDeChi's voice was cold and indifferent.

"If it weren't for this piece of meat, she wouldn't survive the winter night before the hunter shot the foxes. If the mother fox makes it through the harsh winter, well-fed and warm, she might just have the courage to lead all the foxes of the forest to attack the hunter's throat."

"Let's discuss this later."

"Okay."