Although now in dire straits, no matter how you say it, I’m a princess, and my existence impacts the Empire’s situation.

Whether it is the Emperor or the Rebels, the two major forces in the Empire are now openly and secretly fighting to win me over.

But why, in front of a minor Lord, am I, the princess, as insignificant as an ant?

Such bare words are an insult to someone who considers themselves important!

Complex emotions surged in Sofia’s heart, gradually eroding her consciousness.

Sofia’s awareness was being tested...

But Lance didn’t care about her feelings at all, still emphasizing this concept.

"Just like now, if it weren’t for you persistently coming to me, I wouldn’t bother with you at all, don’t see yourself as too important."

"You don’t understand... you don’t understand..." Sofia finally broke down, lowering her head, speaking in a trembling voice.

No matter how strong the heart is, it is difficult to withstand Lance’s step-by-step pressure.

What’s more terrifying than hatred is indifference; she felt like an ant before Lance, even a glance at him was daunting.

As those emotions brewed, she suddenly raised her head, revealing a face with uncontrollable tears sliding down, crying out to Lance, "Do you think I want this? You have no clue what I’ve been through!"

"I understand you, because of these experiences you lack a sense of security, and emotions seem false to you, but people always need something to support them.

So you blamed everything on power, thinking that your previous surrender led to these happenings, thus creating a desire for power.

Your obsession with power has reached an extreme, because it’s your reason to survive."

Lance didn’t show any excess emotion due to her reaction, but followed her words and analyzed her psychology.

From her own recounting, Lance could roughly guess, choosing to back down from the throne was a crucial choice she made, and it was the turning point.

But it was that abandonment of power that brought not kinship but suspicion and hatred, as the situation deteriorated, she was even imprisoned and assassinated.

That sense of powerlessness deeply affected her, and the death of that Knight could also be considered a turning point.

When the last trustworthy person vanished, she began to distrust so-called emotions, and this experience made her almost pathologically infatuated with power.

She began to enjoy the pleasure of controlling others, silently reveling in the superiority of being hidden behind the scenes.

This could be seen from her control over Bastia at her club, and then her aspirations upward.

Upon arriving in Hamlet, she started seeking connections, attempting to meddle in various affairs.

Simply put, she’s insecure; no emotions are useful, and external objects can hardly shake her determination, only power can satisfy her.

However, she’s also unlucky; if it were an ordinary territory, she’d have succeeded long ago.

But right when she was about to reach the upper echelons in Bastia, she was brutally beaten by the Eagle Flock, fleeing in disarray.

In Hamlet, just as she made some progress, who would’ve thought Lance foresaw it and transferred her to the distillery to cool her heels.

After continuous blows, she couldn’t endure it any longer, hence visiting him at night, seeking some connections.

After all, even Grendel wasn’t aware she’d been caught, and she confidently thought she could impress Lance.

Unfortunately, Lance didn’t fall for it at all, ruthlessly exposing her power-corrupted heart.

"Because you’ve lost other emotions, and your own strength isn’t enough to provide adequate security, so everyone seems a threat to you, and those nice to you harbor ulterior motives.

Only power, or a sense of control, can make you feel like you’re controlling others, eliminating threats, slightly alleviating your anxiety."

Lance’s words were straightforward, not artificially profound, nor with any sarcastic undertones, just plainly analyzing a matter.

Sofia didn’t anticipate that one day she’d understand herself anew through someone else, noticing angles she hadn’t before.

Only after hearing him did she suddenly realize — so that’s how it is.

In that moment, Sofia’s last shred of hostility towards Lance vanished because he truly understood her!

"Yes, that’s it... exactly..."

Sofia, with tears in her voice, kept emphasizing, desperately needing affirmation.

But seeing her like this, Lance slowly shook his head, a look of disappointment appearing on his face.

He understood Sofia, but who understood him? Those coming to Hamlet were almost all abnormal, each with some issues, and at this rate, he might as well become a psychologist himself.

"In some ways you’re indeed pitiable, but that’s no reason to harm others."

Lance didn’t provide the validation she wanted, rather he further severed her excuse for evasion, suffering isn’t an excuse, Hamlet is full of victims.

"But I’m scared! I’m really scared! You know that, you should understand me." Sofia couldn’t help moving closer, grabbing Lance’s arm and shaking it.

"Ha! Funny." Lance couldn’t help but scoff, raising his hand to brush away the obstinate Sofia, questioning with disdain, "I’ve let you go several times, and never restricted your actions, even knowing your identity doesn’t change this.