“However, isn’t Lord Graham funding the Romelia Alliance?”
“True, he supports us financially, but only because it’s profitable.”
I shook my head at Lord Dunham’s words.
Father is tight with money, supporting only because there’s profit. Though he acts as a patron in the borderlands, he doesn’t openly acknowledge my activities, fearing the royal family’s reaction. He pretends to be troubled by his wayward daughter.
It’s quite two-faced, but perhaps it’s his unique political sense.
“I don’t have a good relationship with my family or my father. Marrying me won’t bring any benefits from the Graham family.”
Not wanting any misunderstandings, I made my strained relationship with my family clear.
“I’ve heard various rumors about the Graham family’s parent-child relationship in the social circles.”
Lord Dunham nodded solemnly, pondering what he’d heard.
“I don’t mean to meddle in others’ family affairs, but as a parent myself, parental love often doesn’t reach the child.”
“Is that so?”
I’m good at reading others, but I can’t figure out what my father is thinking.
“Love is something that often doesn’t get communicated well.”
I contemplated Lord Dunham’s words.
Honestly, I don’t know if my father loves me, or if I love him.
I understand resentment, jealousy, calculation, and lust easily, but love eludes me.
“Having a daughter who rescues and helps others, Lord Graham must be proud. The statues, books, and plays he sponsors show that.”
I frowned at the mention of the statues, books, and plays my father created.
“Those are just for fame and income.”
I denied it firmly.
I don’t mind him acting as a patron, but using statues, books, and plays for popularity bothers me.
“Those statues aren’t even accurate.”
I didn’t hide my disgust.
The statues he built resemble me in the face but have an exaggerated body. I’m taller, my chest is 30% larger, my waist is enviably slim, and my legs are long. It’s an idealized version of myself, but I don’t want it immortalized in a statue.
“Seeing those, people wouldn’t recognize me in person.”
“Really? I thought they were quite similar.”
“In what way? And writing romance novels about me is troublesome.”
I recalled the recent romance novels.
They feature a lady called the Lily of the Valley, admired by twenty knights, in a beautiful but fleeting love story. The lily is my favorite flower and is on the Cashew Defense Force’s banner. The twenty knights are obviously based on my squad.
“Oh, that book is popular in Polvic too. Today, some ladies wanted your autograph, Lady Romelia.”
“Please stop. Meeting readers, they ask who my favorite is, but I have none.”
I shook my head in distress.
“Indeed, the romance seems highly fictional, but what about the plays? Aren’t they closer to reality?”
Lord Dunham brought up the plays currently showing.
“What are you talking about? They’re complete lies.”
I firmly denied it.
The statues and novels are bad, but the plays are worse. I went to see one, and it was public humiliation.
It was so embellished and fabricated that I couldn’t recognize myself. They depicted me nursing wounded soldiers and single-handedly facing armies to save people. It was too embarrassing to watch until the end.
Statues, novels, and plays, all full of lies and fabrications. Yet, to my horror, they are hugely popular. The plays are sold out, the books keep selling, and the statues are romantic meeting spots.
It’s said that confessing love in front of my statue ensures eternal love. However, I, who had my engagement with Prince Henry broken and no romantic prospects, find it absurd.
“Though I’m almost disowned, I wish he’d stop profiting off his daughter.”
As I showed my resentment towards my father, Lord Dunham laughed.
“But because of Lord Graham’s efforts, you’re welcomed wherever you go.”
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I had to agree with Lord Dunham’s words.
Many lords dislike foreign troops entering their lands. Some don’t want a woman helping them either.
Initially, there was much resistance to my military alliance because I’m a woman. But as our activities became known through books and plays, the resistance turned to welcome.
There’s no better way to spread our activities. Perhaps my father cares for me in his own way.
For a brief moment, I felt a surge of affection for my father. However, memories of his glorified statue, the fabricated love stories, and the falsified plays quickly washed it away.
No, definitely not. I thought, it’s absolutely not.
It’s all for money. The more popular he became, the more books sold and the more people attended the plays. That’s all there is to it.
I quickly resolved my family issues and stopped thinking about it.
The banquet hosted by Viscount Dunham continued, but I decided to leave.
“Excuse me, Viscount Dunham. I’ll be retiring for the night.”
“Oh, already? I was hoping to hear more from you.”
“I apologize. I’d love to stay, but I’ve been pushing through nights without sleep and I might fall asleep here.”
“I didn’t realize. A room has been prepared for you, please let me guide you.”
“Thank you, but before I rest, I would like to visit the injured soldiers.”
I declined his offer with a bow. On the nights after a battle, I always visit the wounded.
“That’s commendable. Just as described in the books and plays, you are a true saint.”
“No, I’m just checking on them. The healing is left to the healers.”
I laughed off Viscount Dunham’s words.
When the Kashu Defense Force was smaller, there were few with medical knowledge, so I had no choice but to treat the injured myself. The dramatized scenes in the plays likely stem from those days.
However, as the Kashu Defense Force grew, the battles became fiercer and the number of injured soldiers increased.
It’s no longer possible for me to treat everyone alone. My job is not to personally treat the injured but to gather many skilled healers and save the soldiers without staining my own hands with blood.
“Then, Viscount Dunham, I’ll excuse myself.”
As I bowed, Al and Ray also stood up.
Whenever I go out, someone from the Rome Squad always accompanies me as a guard. We have many enemies, so this is a precaution against assassination attempts.
Accompanied by the two, I visited the barracks of the Polvic Defense Force where the injured were gathered.
The barracks had been turned into a makeshift clinic, with wounded soldiers lying on beds, groaning in pain. Seeing the suffering soldiers made my heart ache.
“Lady Romeria!”
One of the soldiers noticed me and struggled to sit up. Following him, the other soldiers also noticed and began to rise one by one.
“Please, don’t strain yourselves. Are you all okay?”
When I asked, the soldiers who had been in pain moments before smiled as if they had forgotten their suffering.
A man with a blood-stained bandage around his abdomen raised his arms to show he was okay, and another with a bandage around his head smiled and answered.
“Everyone, you fought well today. I will never forget your bravery. It was truly a valiant fight.”
When I praised the soldiers, they were overjoyed and cried tears of happiness. I spoke to each one, comforting their injuries and praising their bravery.
As I held their hands and spoke to them, the soldiers wept with joy. However, seeing their smiles made me feel like my heart was cracking.
Despite denying being called a saint, I act like one in front of the soldiers. By behaving in a way that makes them see me as a saint, I can inspire them and boost their morale. I am using their admiration and trust.
I felt sick of myself for using their hearts so conveniently, but this was still the easier part. More difficult trials awaited me.
As I spoke to the wounded soldiers, I made my way to the back of the barracks. The further I went, the less lively the soldiers became. Instead, low moans of pain filled the air.
The severely injured were in the back.
As I spoke to the severely injured, I found a soldier lying down, accompanied by a friend. I went over to him and looked at his face.
The soldier was pale from blood loss and breathing shallowly. It was clear he wouldn’t survive. Despite the healers’ efforts, some lives couldn’t be saved. This soldier was in a miraculous state, barely alive.
“Hey, Canus. Wake up, Lady Romeria is here, open your eyes!”
His friend called out, but Canus no longer had the strength to respond.
“Canus. Canus. Can you hear me?”
I knelt beside Canus and called out.
It was doubtful if he could hear anything. But when I spoke, his eyelids fluttered slightly and he opened his eyes faintly.
“Lady… Romeria?”
Canus weakly called my name.
I had seen this scene many times before.
When I speak, many soldiers on the brink of death open their eyes.
It’s a miraculous scene that the playwrights love to depict. But this isn’t because I have miraculous powers. They were just waiting for me, clinging to life on the brink of death.
“You fought well, Canus. I saw your efforts.”
I praised Canus.
Of course, it was a lie. There’s no way I could watch each soldier’s actions on a vast battlefield. It was just to give some comfort to a dying soldier.
“Ah… ah…”
Canus moved his right hand. I removed my glove and took his hand.
His hand was shockingly cold and weak.
As a single tear ran down Canus’ face, his hand suddenly grew heavy and lifeless.
Canus had just died. It felt as though my hand had drained the life out of him.
“Rest in peace, Canus. Take your time and rest.”
I spoke to the deceased Canus, placed my hand over his face, and closed his eyelids.
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