Representing the Hovos Federation as the eldest daughter of the Scor family, one of the Five Great Ducal Houses, Lelia returned to her tent in the Hovos encampment after the allied war council.
Inside, red dresses were neatly arranged, hats piled on a desk, and shoes of various styles placed atop boxes. A jewelry chest spilled over with rings, necklaces, and hair ornaments adorned with colorful gemstones.
Though the tent was relatively spacious, the sheer volume of clothing and accessories made it feel cramped.
Lelia weaved through the clutter and approached her bed, where a worn-out teddy bear sat solemnly.
After staring down at it for a moment, she raised a fist, her willow-like brows twisting in anger, and struck the bear.
Her fist sank into the stuffed cotton, but she didn’t stop. She hit it again and again.
“I hate this! I hate it here!”
She screamed as she pummeled the bear, her frustration boiling over.
Being on the battlefield was unbearable for Lelia. No amount of lavish tents or fine clothes could comfort her. She wanted to return to her familiar mansion.
She hadn’t come here willingly. The downfall of her house had forced her hand.
The Scor Ducal House was one of the Five Great Houses forming the backbone of the Hovos Federation. But its glory days were long past. With her father, Duke Scor, politically disgraced, the family’s fate hung by a thread.
In desperation, the duke had tried every means to restore their standing—including sending his eldest daughter to war.
“Why me?! Why do I have to be in this horrible place?!”
Her punches grew fiercer, denting the bear’s stomach.
Lelia had lived as a proper noble lady, utterly devoid of military knowledge. Yet her father had sent her here for one reason.
“It’s all that woman’s fault! If only Romelia didn’t exist!”
Romelia’s face flashed in her mind, and she struck the bear with full force.
Romelia had not only joined the journey to defeat the Demon King Zelgius but had also quelled a rebellion led by General Zaria, earning her the title of “Saint of Salvation.” Her exploits were celebrated even in Hovos, with people lamenting the lack of such heroines in their own nation.
Hearing this, Duke Scor had sent Lelia to the battlefield, hoping she could emulate Romelia’s success.
But Lelia had no means to distinguish herself in war. Her only hope was Romelia’s failure. If Romelia stumbled and disappointed the people, Lelia’s own shortcomings would go unnoticed.
Yet even that hope had crumbled.
“Why does that woman always succeed?!”
She screamed and hit the bear again.
Since the siege of Gangaruga began, Romelia had seemed idle, wasting time. But she had secretly devised the flooding strategy. Even Lelia, with no military expertise, recognized its brilliance.
The people of Hovos would surely applaud Romelia’s cunning—and scorn Lelia for her inaction.
“Don’t ask the impossible of me! What am I supposed to do?!”
She grabbed the bear by its leg, swung it overhead, and slammed it onto the bed.
The bear lay there, its button eyes staring at her. Panting, Lelia met its gaze.
Then, as if softened by its silent judgment, she reached out and hugged it gently.
“I’m sorry, Tonton…”
Calling the bear by name, she buried her face in its soft fur.
Holding her childhood friend, she suddenly felt like crying.
The unfamiliar environment had pushed her to her limit.
Compared to the soldiers around her, she lived in luxury. But until recently, she had resided in a grand mansion, attended by maids and servants. Suddenly thrust onto the battlefield, with no close companions, her heart found no peace.
With a sigh, she looked around the tent. Red dresses filled the space.
Though she preferred red, she wore blue each morning to greet Princess Guderia of the Fulgus Empire, who favored the color. But Guderia showed no interest in her, keeping their relationship superficial. She had even tried flirting with Prince Hughes of Hurion, but he, too, ignored her. Nothing she did worked.
“My lady.”
A woman’s voice called from beyond the tent flap—Maise, her bodyguard.
Hearing it, Lelia shuddered.
Though having another woman as an escort was meant to be comforting, Lelia despised Maise. No—feared was more accurate.
A former mercenary, rough and masculine, Maise was a world apart from the sheltered noblewoman. Her manners were crude, her speech unrefined, and her face and body bore countless scars. She showed no hesitation in baring her skin—once even walking outside in her undergarments.
Moreover, it was said that Maise had fought against a great general that the Demon King’s army was proud of, and had cut off one of his arms. She couldn’t think of such an opponent as the same woman as herself.
“What is it?”
Lelia placed the teddy bear on the bed and replied through the tent fabric.
“Princess Helen from the Heirent Kingdom has come.”
“Helen-sama has? Please let her through.”
At Maise’s report, Lelia straightened her posture and answered, waiting for Helen to arrive.
“Excuse me for intruding, Lelia-sama.”
Helen was guided by Maise and entered the tent.
“Welcome, Helen-sama. What brings you here today?”
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Lelia welcomed Helen. However, Lelia didn’t particularly like Helen.
She wasn’t a bad child and had a cute face, but somehow they weren’t compatible personality-wise. She was reserved and quiet, seeming to love reading books above all else. She knew nothing about social gossip, fashionable dresses, new hairstyles, or makeup. She wasn’t an enjoyable person to talk with, but girls of the same age were precious on this battlefield. Helen seemed to feel the same way, as she often visited Lelia.
“I apologize. Actually, the camp has been noisy, so I fled here.”
“Ah, it’s the same here. General Dimos is being enthusiastic.”
At Helen’s words, Lelia nodded.
General Dimos was fired up in preparation for the Demon King’s army reinforcements.
“It’s all because of Lady Romelia. Because of that person.”
“As always, you dislike Lady Romelia.”
When Lelia made a disgusted face, Helen sighed.
Helen was a good girl, but there was one thing Lelia didn’t like about her. She held Romelia in high regard. She seemed to like books, so she was probably reading novels featuring Romelia.
“Let me tell you, Helen-sama. That person is not as saintly as the books portray her.”
“Is that so?”
“It is! I could tell at first glance when I met her.”
To Helen’s vague response, Lelia stated firmly.
“First, about those pure white clothes she always wears.”
“They’re beautiful, those clothes.”
“Yes, they truly are beautiful, I’ll admit that. They use luxurious silk and are decorated with fine embroidery and lace. With that much decoration, one outfit would cost as much as a carriage.”
“Is that so?”
At Lelia’s words, Helen gave a listless reply.
“Those white garments might look pure and upright at first glance, like a mirror of noble poverty, but in reality they’re the height of luxury. Moreover, despite being white where dirt would be conspicuous, I’ve never seen her clothes dirty. She changes them immediately when they get soiled. Imagine how much money she spends on clothing.”
Lelia clenched her fists. One outfit that Romelia wore would cost as much as several of Lelia’s dresses. But it was worth that much. The embroidery and lace on the clothes were truly beautiful. Lelia didn’t prefer white, but she couldn’t help thinking she’d like to try wearing them.
“And that hairstyle and makeup!”
“She always looks so beautiful.”
When Lelia raised her voice, Helen returned gentle words.
“Yes, she’s always perfectly groomed. She could go to a ball just as she is.”
Lelia recalled Romelia’s hairstyle.
Her beautifully arranged hair was truly lovely, making her want to imitate it in front of the mirror every morning.
However, Lelia’s pride wouldn’t allow her to imitate it, so she always bit her lip and endured.
“But Lady Romelia doesn’t wear that much makeup, does she?”
Helen tilted her head, putting her right index finger to her chin.
“What are you saying? That’s completely the product of makeup.”
Lelia shook her head vigorously.
“Certainly, at first glance it looks like she’s not wearing makeup, but she’s using makeup techniques to make it appear that way. She uses powder and rouge, changing the color tones little by little to create depth while making it look like natural skin! That’s quite elaborate.”
Lelia directed her irritated voice at Helen, who hadn’t noticed Romelia’s makeup.
“Oh! Is that so?”
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