The handsome man now standing before him was Prince Helios Edmond la Sunverro. The man with golden brown hair and red eyes like Ruby looks very charming. Rowena was sure that any woman who saw the man would fall in love at first sight.
"Say your name and what you came here for!" said Helios.
"My name is Rowena Ernest, His Highness Prince Helios Edmond la Sunverro," answered Rowena, her hands tied behind her back with ropes.
After her title was revoked, Rowena could no longer use the royal name after her name. Then to hide the fact that she is the daughter of Erica, a member of the Odelette kingdom, Rowena also changes her last name to Edgar's last name, Ernest.
Helios looked surprised after hearing Rowena's voice. "You're a woman?"
All the soldiers there were surprised by the question asked by Helios. As usual they were surprised because the enemy knight they captured was a woman. Because in appearance, Rowena really looks like a man. Her body is slightly stocky and her hair is short.
Rowena was also confused by the question Helios gave. "Is there something wrong if I'm a woman?"
A man who had been standing next to Helios immediately walked up to Rowena who was on her knees and kicked her pretty hard. "How dare you speak presumptuously to His Majesty."
Helios who saw that immediately told the man to stop his actions because after all Rowena was a woman who was definitely weak and easily shattered like glass.
"Then what is your purpose in being here? According to the reports of my soldiers, you came here to kill me."
"Huh? You think I have nothing else to do? Why should I plunge myself into the abyss if I can live in peace and serenity?"
Since being kicked out of the palace, Rowena's way of speaking has changed drastically. Because she had mingled with many commoners, her way of speaking was not like that of the nobles anymore and you could even say his way of speaking was very presumptuous.
"Soldiers, quickly arrest this woman! I will interrogate her myself," ordered the man who had just kicked Rowena.
The soldiers followed the man's orders. They again dragged Rowena into a cage made of wood. Rowena didn't fight back at all. She just stood still and let her body be dragged by the soldiers. You could say she had given up on being killed. Wouldn't that be better than being harassed by Sunverro's soldiers like what happened to him in the Edelle barracks.
Maybe when she was killed by the soldiers of Sunverro, she would beg for forgiveness from her mother the next time they met because she couldn't avenge his mother.
At his camp, Helios reads the papers Rowena's bag which she had searched just now. There was nothing in the bag other than paper, pens, and maps of several kingdoms. On all the papers were written how to conquer Richella and several other kingdoms. Helios had to admit that all the strategies and war plans written on the paper were truly geniuses. Even Helios himself couldn't believe that all these strategies were written by a woman.
"You haven't killed the woman, have you, Cedric?" Helios asked the man who had kicked Rowena moments ago.
That man was Cedric Domain von Litchbell, a Duke of the Sunverro Kingdom. He is the deputy commander of the army and a good friend of the crown prince.
"Of course not. I still have to interrogate the woman," replied Cedric.
"Shall we go together while interrogating the woman?" bargained Helios.
"It's up to you as long as you don't make a fuss."
The two of them walked to where Rowena was being held. Rowena seemed to be sitting relaxed in the narrow cage. Cedric orders the guards guarding Rowena to get her out of there. After being ejected Rowena was forced to kneel in front of Helios who was standing in front of her holding several sheets of paper.
"Your majesty the Prince of Helios, your lowly servant begs to be killed instead of being tortured or abused," said Rowena, glaring at Helios.
"No, I didn't come here to do all that you said. I just came here to ask you a few things. I hope you will answer all the questions I ask."
"All right," said Rowena curtly.
"What's your name?"
"Didn't I already tell you my name. Have these wars disturbed His Majesty's memory?" said Rowena innocently.
"You bastard!" said Cedric.
"Shut up, Cedric!" said Helios to Cedric.
Helios looked back at Rowena's face and smiled. "Unfortunately I still have a very good memory. Your name is Rowena Ernest, isn't it? I'm just not sure if your name is only two syllables."
In all kingdoms a noble or a member of the kingdom had a name consisting of three syllables, while the commoners had only two syllables in their name. In other words Helios was starting to get suspicious of Rowena's status.
Rowena couldn't help but laugh out loud. "Your Majesty, does my face look like that of a noble or a member of the imperial family? My father is just a commoner who works as a bodyguard in a noble's house. How could I have a name consisting of three syllables."
"Then how can you write and have knowledge of the basics of swordsmanship and war strategy? As far as I know the common people can't read or write at all," asked Helios who was still not satisfied with Rowena's answer just now.
"In the past, the son of the nobleman where my father worked was a good friend of mine. So he also taught me how to read and write. In addition, I was also given access to the library from his residence. That's why I was able to know a lot about swordsmanship and war strategy. Are you satisfied with my answer?"
"Yes, I'm very satisfied with your answer. Then from your armor, I can tell that you are a knight from the Edelle Kingdom. According to my informant, the Edelle Kingdom and Terania have been waging war for the last 15 years over the territory of Richella. But I read one your paper containing the strategy to subdue Richella for both Edelle and Terania."
"So what you want to ask me is why I didn't propose my strategy to the commander of my royal army to win this war. Am I right?" Rowena said.
"Turns out you're a quick-witted person," Helios praised.
"The answer is simple, I don't want the Kingdom of Edelle to win this war. As long as His Majesty knows that Richella area is a trading center and has a diamond mining area. Whoever gets that place will definitely benefit greatly. Whereas I am the one who doesn't want Edelle to experience any gains."
"Then why don't you give your strategy to Terania?"
"That would not benefit me, Your Majesty. After all, would anyone want to use a strategy devised by a woman? Even I myself believe that when Your Majesty reads all the papers in my bag, Your Majesty will not believe that all of those strategies made by a lowly woman like a servant."
Helios immediately flinched at Rowena's words. "Okay, I got it. I have one offer for you."
"Will Your Majesty's offer be in my favor?" Rowena said with a smile.
"Of course. I'll make sure you don't feel the slightest loss."
"So what's the offer?"
"As long as I live I have always dreamed of uniting all the kingdoms in this world under the auspices of the Sunverro Kingdom. That means I have to conquer all the kingdoms in the continents from North to South and west to east. Therefore, will you become a knightess who will help me conquer all kingdoms?" said Helios who looked at Rowena expectantly.