Reborn as the Psycho Villainess Who Ate Her Slave Beasts' Contracts

One of the kneeling knights spoke up—a younger man with small horns and nervous energy. "Your Highness, they were made by your research team. Before... before they were dismissed."

Elara stopped. "They were dismissed?"

"Two years ago, Your Highness," the knight said quickly. "After your mother passed. The steward said the household couldn’t afford to keep funding experiments."

Of course he did.

Elara looked at the construct again. "And these still work."

"Yes, Your Highness. The enchantments were made to last. We maintain them ourselves when they need repairs."

"Where is the team now?"

The knight hesitated. "Some left the capital, Your Highness. A few are still in the lower city. One or two might still be in the palace as general laborers."

Elara turned to face the group. Thirty knights, all watching her, all clearly confused about why a princess was asking questions about constructs and research teams instead of fleeing from their "dirty" training ground.

"New standing order," Elara said. "If anyone from that research team is still in this palace, you find them and bring them to my wing. I don’t care what job they’re doing now. I want them back."

The knights exchanged glances. The young one spoke again. "Your Highness... they’re commoners. The court wouldn’t—"

"The court isn’t running my household anymore," Elara said. "I am. Find them. Bring them to me. If they’re in the lower city, send word and I’ll arrange retrieval." She looked at the captain, who’d gone very pale. "Any questions?"