Chapter 29

I grunted in pain as I dismounted from the horse, causing Lucia to laugh a little.

“The soreness is to be expected, especially since it’s your first time riding a horse for so long.” She said as she followed suit, leading Mary over to a nearby tree to tie up. “Why don’t you use your holy magic to help?”

I shook my head as I stretched, trying to ease the aching in my legs and lower back. “My body needs to heal naturally to strengthen the muscles properly. I didn’t use it for my sword training either, except to dull the pain when it got out of hand.” I bent over to touch my toes and released a slow, deep breath. “I can handle this much aching. I’ve dealt with much worse for much longer.”

After tying her up, Lucia gave her horse a loving pat and a handful of treats as I finished my quick stretch. Then, we went to find Prince Abel. He had split from us to make the call for camp, riding back down the column from our position at the front. We found him talking to a group of soldiers, laughing and joking with them despite his title. You could tell all of the knights were perfectly comfortable with his presence.

As Lucia and I joined the group, The knights all turned toward me and respectfully bowed their heads.

“We’re honored to have you with us, Lady Guardian.” One of them said. The formality made me incredibly uncomfortable, even more so with their casual attitude towards Prince Abel.

“Please, there’s no need for all that,” I said.

“You are blessed with divine authority, Lady Guardian. It would be remiss of us to address you otherwise.” The same knight spoke. He must be the squad leader. Lucia had filled me in during the ride on how the army was organized. Each battalion was made of three companies, and each company was organized into ten squads consisting of at least six people.

“Forgive me for not introducing myself.” The knight bowed his head again. “My name is Anthony Pradt. I am the captain of River Company, in the third battalion of his majesty’s royal army. I am also the leader of the first squadron.” He was in his mid-twenties, with hazel eyes and dark skin, and had his black hair cut short in the way most knights seemed to favor. I could tell from the conversation so far that he was quite a serious person. Unlike the literal prince beside me.

Speaking of, I leaned in to whisper to him. “Hey… I know Prince Luke said I needed to be a symbol and all that, but do I have to act all ‘holier than thou’ the whole war?”

Prince Abel hummed for a moment. “I’m sure that’s what my brother had in mind, but I think we’ll drum up more support and morale if you just be yourself.” I couldn’t help but grin at his permission. I won’t get them to change their treatment of me by words alone; I need to show that I’m not any different from them.

“But you are different, Audrey,” Aurora said.

“Maybe when it comes to power, but at the end of the day, I’m just as human as they are. I don’t want to be treated like some kind of holy woman or prophet.” I paused for a second. “Also, you read my thoughts again!”

“You do realize a holy woman is exactly what you are now, right?” She scoffed. “And regarding your thoughts, It’s not like I actively choose to eavesdrop on your mind! If anything, it’s your fault! At this point, you have to make a concentrated effort not to send me your feelings.”

“Both of those things sound like a hassle…” I complained mentally before turning back to the group of knights.

“I know!” I said with an excited clap of my hands. “How about we spar together! There’s no better way for knights to understand each other, right?” The prospect was pretty enticing, fighting all six of them simultaneously.

“I know I told her to be herself, but…” I heard Prince Abel say to Lucia, who only gave me an exasperated smile.

“This is the most ‘Audrey’ outcome possible… I wouldn’t be surprised if she’s fought every knight in our caravan by the time we arrive at the frontlines.”

“Wait, is that an option?!” I turned toward them excitedly.

“No!” They said together, which earned them a pout.

“Then why mention it at all?”

After sulking at them for a few moments, I faced Anthony, his shocked expression turning my pout into a smile. “So?” I asked again. “All of you against me, how about it?”

“Pardon me, Lady Guardian… You want to spar against my whole squad?” He confirmed, and I nodded my head.

“That’s right! I haven’t been able to train much the last few weeks, so I’d like to get back into shape before the real fighting starts.” I explained. “Will you help me out?” It was mean of me, but I hoped his sense of duty wouldn’t allow him to deny my request.

“It would be our honor,” he said with resignation. The knights of his squad didn’t look enthused about it either, but I knew they’d get more into it once we started.

“What are the rules, Lady Guardian?” he asked. I tilted my head in thought. I wouldn’t win with just swords, and the battlefield would be extremely dangerous and chaotic… I should get used to fighting with everything I have.

“No restrictions,” I said simply. “Swords, arrows, magic, traps… Anything goes.” Anthony nodded his head, even more reluctant now.

“If that’s what you wish.” Prince Abel and Lucia had moved to clear the area when I first suggested the spar, so we had plenty of space and quite the audience now. Anthony gathered his squad together and briefly huddled away from me. When they finished, I asked Lucia to give us a countdown.

“Match, Start!” She yelled, and I quickly erected a defensive water barrier. I figured the knights wouldn’t have their heart in it quite yet, and my suspicions were confirmed as a few weak spells collided with my barrier. How do I ignite a fire underneath them? As I wondered how to coax out their fighting spirit, Prince Abel took care of it for me.

“Do you plan to disgrace your knighthood?!” He yelled across the field, drawing the squad’s attention. “Our divine guardian challenged you in good faith, and this is how you respond? Are you not ashamed?” I saw all six of them look away. “She may not look it, but the divine guardian will be the strongest person on the battlefield. But she’s inexperienced in actual combat. She’s turned to you for help, and you give her half-hearted resolve? Regardless of her status, this is a training match. So give it everything you have as you would with anybody else!” He finished. Anthony and his squad all looked at each other, their jaws set in new-found determination.

“Apologies, Lady Guardian. We let our pride mislead us.” All six of them moved into a ready stance, and I could tell by their eyes alone they meant business now. “I hope you’re prepared!” He shouted before they all moved in complete sync, surrounding me quickly with various spells.

Even under the barrage, my barrier held firm. I could just immobilize them all with my shadow magic, but I wanted to see what they could do. I’m going to try and win with only my water!

I maintained my barrier for a few more minutes before pushing my mana through it. Water spears launched toward all six simultaneously so fast that only four of them managed to dodge it. The other two barely blocked it with their magic, but I could tell it still did some damage.

“Treat this like an actual battle!” Prince Abel yelled again. “Don’t worry about injury. The divine guardian has healing holy magic.” There was no barrier here, like at the academy or castle. It was likely for the participants of training matches like this to get injured, but with my magic, that was no longer a concern. Even if I don’t like hurting them… I’ll do much worse to our enemies in just a few days. I need to prepare myself.

Once the smoke cleared, I could see one of the knights I had hit, A female knight with short brown hair, clutching at her shoulder. A small patch of red was blossoming across the fabric of her torn shirt, but I just gritted my teeth and stayed focused on my surroundings. I doubt an injury like that will keep her down, anyway. The other five knights only had minor scratches and showed no signs of slowing down.

I could just stay inside my barrier… So far, none of their attempts to breach my defenses have been successful, which was to be expected. The only person who’s ever broken through my magic has been Lydia… But staying on the defensive wouldn’t be beneficial to me. Right as I had the thought, an overwhelming swell of mana crashed into my water barrier, ripping a hole right through it with loud noise and a flash of light.

Sensing danger, I side-stepped out of pure instinct, and I saw myself wide-eyed in the reflection of a sword slicing through the air right where I’d been a moment ago. The only victims had been a few strands of my red hair.

Jets of water erupted from my feet, launching me into the air in a graceful flip as I created some distance between myself and my new attackers. None of Anthony’s squad had moved, which means… My eyes focused on Lucia, who maintained eye contact with me as I retreated briefly, an approving look on her face and her sword still drawn.

My eyes flicked to Prince Abel, who had been the source of the magic. He stood there with a giant grin, energy crackling around his arm. No… Is that lightning?!

“Sorry, Audrey!” The prince yelled. “But there are no rules on the battlefield!” I couldn’t even respond as Anthony’s squad took the opportunity to move against me now that I was exposed. I drew my sword from my hip, moving into a defensive stance as four knights swung at me. My blade met the first one, and I channeled my mana through the metal to materialize water around my opponent's weapon. The increased weight visibly impacted the knight, slowing his swings dramatically. I wish I could freeze things as Aunt Bella does…

There was no time to dwell on the thought as I ducked under a horizontal swing from my right side. I put my weight on my hands as I kicked out in retaliation, sending a deluge of water into the female knight with long, black hair. Following through with my weight, I rolled forward, protecting my back with a thick layer of water that caught the last two swords as they bore down on me.

The two knights who hadn’t attacked me in close quarters waited in the wings, magic already flying my way as I escaped the other four. As I flipped over it, a stone spear grazed my arm, and I was forced to block a fireball midair with my water. The explosion blasted me backward, and I slid across the ground a few feet before recovering to my feet smoothly. Six on one is rough!

Despite the stacked odds, I couldn’t help the pounding of my heart. Excitement coursed through me as I searched for a way to win. I sensed that massive swell of mana again, but I easily dodged out of the way since I knew where it was coming from this time. Lightning scorched the ground where I had been standing, and I launched a volley of water arrows at Prince Abel, who had moved behind me during the chaos. His magic is fast and powerful, but he can’t change its trajectory once it’s launched! I could sense the mana disconnecting from his body as it left, meaning he had no retroactive control over his attacks.

Winning against Anthony’s squad would’ve been challenging enough with their impressive skill and teamwork. It was obvious they trusted each other with their lives and inherently covered for each other’s weak points. Had this been a pure test of swordsmanship, I wouldn’t even win a one-on-one with their weakest member. My magic was the only reason I was still standing.

I wanted to win with just my water magic, but if Lucia and Prince Abel are also coming at me, I can’t hold back. A thick wall of water rushed toward me, but I simply stood there and let it split on my body as I used my stella to break the wave apart. Lucia was right behind the attack, her sword already thrusting at my heart. I stopped the tip mere millimeters from my chest with a hardened shadow.

They’re really trying to hurt me… I knew what Lucia’s and Prince Abel's intentions were, but it didn’t stop me from feeling upset. A shadow wrapped around Lucia’s legs, lifting her into the air and throwing her hard directly at the prince, whose eyes widened in surprise as he caught her. The impact buried his feet into the dirt and sent him sliding backward a bit, but Lucia was held safely in his arms.

My friend’s face heated up in embarrassment. “P-Put me down right this instance!” She yelled, her hands pushing against Prince Abel’s face until he dropped her. Lucia hit the ground, then scrambled to her feet, dusting herself off. But she froze as I appeared out of her shadow.

“I’m never going to let you live that down, just so you know,” I whispered before I swept her legs out from underneath her, sending her back into the dirt. My hands aimed at Prince Abel from point-blank range and unleashed a barrage of water needles at him. He managed to draw his sword, slicing through the ones aimed at his vitals and tanking those that weren’t.

“That was a cheap shot, Audrey!” He yelled, but his eyes twinkled with the same excitement I felt. He swung his blade at me, but I was already sinking back into the shadows, so it passed harmlessly through my body.

“You started this!” I said back with a smile, then moved through the shadows back to where Anthony and his squad were. They had managed to free their weapons from my water and had regrouped. Tendrils of shadows raised all around them, one for each knight, and began to lash out at them mercilessly. Using my water, I launched myself from the center of their shadows directly above them. Flipping around, I found the brown-haired knight I had injured earlier, her wounded shoulder delaying her movements by a second. I aimed my sword directly at her as I fell, water gathering around my body.

As I landed on top of her, water flooded around me, sweeping the other knights off their feet except for Anthony, who avoided the attack with a quick earth spell to lift himself above the flood. The female knight and I stared tensely at each other as the tip of my blade hovered over her throat. Hesitation rushed through me. Can I really kill someone?

Sensing my lapse of focus, Anthony sent a massive rock flying my way, knocking me away from his comrade and into the dirt. I coughed, trying to catch my breath from the impact. Pain shot through my chest as I tried to get up. Ah… That definitely broke some ribs… The metallic taste of blood filled my mouth, and I winced. The knights hesitated to move on me in such a state, but Prince Abel and Lucia didn’t.

“Get up, Audrey!” Prince Abel yelled as he charged at me. “Why are you not healing yourself?!” I forced myself through the pain as I rolled away, his sword digging into the ground where my head was. His expression was deadly serious, his eyes gleaming like a predator. “Do you think the imperial soldiers will wait for you to recover?”

I managed to get to my feet, my hand hovering over my chest as I tried to focus on my holy magic.

“Heal—” I began but screamed in pain as a water arrow ripped into my shoulder from behind. My mind couldn’t keep up with the sudden change of pace as I whirled around to see Lucia priming another spell. Her eyes whirled with conflict, but it wouldn’t stop her. The friendly sparring match quickly turned into a real life-or-death battle.

“The battlefield won’t be like your training! There is no fun to be had when fighting for your life.” The prince said as he charged me again. My body was slow to respond, my hands barely raising to block his swing with a water shield. The pain was overwhelming. I thought I could handle pain… But this is different from what I know.

The agony from being stabbed and the fear of someone taking my life were sharp and precise. I couldn’t think clearly, and it showed in my movements. Lucia sent another spell at my back, even as Prince Abel pushed down on me with his sword. A shadow rose from the ground, but I couldn’t concentrate, so only half of Lucia’s spell was blocked. I screamed again as a water blade cut into me. My body was weakening as blood flowed down my back, and I fell to my knees as Prince Abel bore down on me harder.

“You can’t hesitate, Audrey!” He shouted at me, his voice loud in my ears as the world spun around me. “It’s kill or be killed. If you don’t act now, I will take your head!” H-He wouldn’t… But as our eyes met again, I saw nothing but anger and resolve. “Think about Lydia! It will be your fault if you die, and she’ll be left crying and alone. Is that what you want?!”

My eyes widened as he mentioned Lydia, and I acted automatically. The spinning stopped as I called on my stella. The flood of power caused half a dozen shadow spears to shoot from the ground behind him into his back. They lifted Prince Abel’s body off the ground slightly, and he coughed up blood. I turned toward Lucia, but a shadow had already wrapped itself around her, constricting around her neck as she collapsed to the ground.

I don’t feel right… The thought crossed my mind as I watched my friends struggle. Everything seemed to move slowly, and my mind was suddenly clear of emotions. They tried to kill me. I shouldn’t let them live. The thought was intrusive, as if it came from someone else. It was happening again, I used too much stella, and now I was losing control.

“Audrey, stop! They really will die if you don’t heal them right now!” Aurora screamed in my head.

“I-I can’t control it…” I said back. “I-It’s like last time… Like the stella is acting of its own volition…” I felt the wounds on my back healing as my holy magic activated more efficiently than usual. My arm was raised at Lucia, who was gasping for breath and looking at me with fear in her eyes. I could feel the mana gathering in my hand and desperately tried to hold it back. Tears streamed down my face as I struggled with my own body, but then my eyes landed on my wrist. The colorful bracelet that Sasha had made for me hung there, and as I focused on it, I saw Lydia and Sasha smiling at me. I have to control it… So I can return to them with my head held high!

Closing my eyes to focus, I tried to visualize the storm of stella inside me. Like last time, I could feel it threatening to blow me away, urging me to let it take control. I won’t let it you! The effort required was enormous, but I managed to calm the raging stella down. I willed the shadows holding Prince Abel and Lucia away, and that uncomfortable feeling of something else being in my head vanished.

Prince Abel laughed with pain as he hit the ground, calling for healing magic. Luckily, my attack had just barely missed his heart, but the fact he was acting so cavalier with half a dozen holes in his body was a bit terrifying.

Lucia rubbed at her throat, breathing deeply to ease the burning of her lungs. When our eyes met, my face still covered in tears, she gave me a smile and thumbs up, which made me giggle in relief.

“I’m so sorry!” I cried. “I-I lost control again…” Lucia stood up and walked over to me, enveloping me in a gentle hug.

“No, it’s our fault for pushing you so far…” she said, biting her lip before her eyes darted to Prince Abel, who was surrounded by mages bathing him in a soft yellow light. They had managed to stem the bleeding at least and were working on closing his wounds. “On second thought, this was that foolish prince’s idea. It’s his fault.”

As she casually threw him the blame, he looked up at us from the ground with a pained smile. “It might have been extreme, but it was for a good reason. I sensed your hesitation earlier when you were fighting Anthony’s squad.” He groaned as he sat up, ignoring the pleas of the mages that were healing him. “I can’t have you fighting if you’re second-guessing yourself.” Moving quickly, I crouched beside him, applying my holy magic over the healing magic.

“Lydia gave us the details of what happened with the assassin… But it’s different seeing it first hand.” He said as my magic closed his wounds much faster than the standard healing magic.

“What do you mean?” I asked as I finished healing him. I couldn’t do much for the blood loss other than boost his body to replace it a bit faster.

“Your hair… it was like staring at the night sky. Your eyes were glowing silver as well. Even how you move changed, like you were someone else entirely.” His words chilled me to the bone because that’s exactly how it felt.

“You two shouldn’t have been so reckless… What if I hadn’t managed to bring myself under control? I could’ve killed both of you!” I shouted in anger now that all the injuries had been healed.

“But you didn’t.” Prince Abel said simply, brushing off my concern. “I had faith you wouldn’t do anything to make my sister cry.”

“T-That’s ridiculous…” I muttered. My anger dissipated like water on a hot day.

He shrugged, then rotated his shoulder to test the movement. “But I was right in the end, no?” Lydia and Sasha indeed were how I reigned in my stella… Yet, I was filled with an unexplainable sense of defeat.

“It amazes me that you’re related to Lydia and Prince Luke,” I said bluntly, forgetting to filter my actual thoughts. But he just grinned at me.

“Now you sound like everyone else!” He said as he stood up. “Also… Weren’t you complaining about people being formal with you earlier? I’ve noticed you still refer to Luke and me with our titles…” He said, and I looked away, embarrassed.

“Well, I haven’t spent a lot of time with the two of you, and I respect you as Lydia’s older brothers.”

“Yet you call the literal king and queen of our nation ‘Auntie’ and ‘Uncle.’” He countered.

“He’s got you there, Audrey,” Aurora commented. “Besides, don’t you already consider them family? They’ll be your official brothers-in-law eventually anyway, right?”

I wrung my hands in frustration. I wasn’t quite sure why I was so embarrassed by the prospect of being closer to the princes. My face flushed as I spoke with resignation.

“A-Alright then… Abel.” I muttered. For some reason, Anthony and the surrounding knights were smiling at this little display until I noticed they hadn’t been attended to for their wounds yet. The brown-haired knight, in particular, seemed to wince a little as she moved. What a perfect distraction! I thought as I turned to her, but she flinched a little as I did.

“O-Oh, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to scare you…” I said, a little worried. My concern seemed to anger her, however, as her face twisted into an unreadable expression.

“I wasn’t scared!” She said before noticing the stares of her squadmates and the surrounding knights. “A-Apologies, Lady Guardian.” She mumbled.

“No, it’s fine. We were just fighting, after all.” I said, trying to acquiesce her anger. “May I take a look at your shoulder?”

Under the pressure of her comrades, she couldn’t bring herself to say no. I’m sure it hurts. I should take responsibility since I was the one who did it.

She nodded reluctantly, and I stood beside her to examine the injury. My water spear hadn’t pierced all the way through, but it was still actively bleeding.

“Just take a deep breath,” I said as I raised my hands. “Heal.” The familiar white glow of holy magic emanated from my hands, and her muscles and skin stitched themselves back together until the only trace of the wound was the trail of dried blood down her torso.

“Thank you, Lady Guardian.” She mumbled.

“It was the least I could do. Can I ask your name?” This girl seemed slightly wary of people, even with her squadmates. If that’s the case, she’s just like how I used to be… I want to be her friend.

“Hailey Rhodes. Age nineteen. She’s the youngest soldier in the river company.” Anthony said when the girl clammed up. “Quite the talented girl, especially for her age. She was just recently promoted to the first squad.”

So, she’s older than me and Lydia… I feel a little awkward trying to talk to her now…

“You do know it’s likely you are the youngest person in the army right now? Everyone you meet here is going to be older than you.” My goddess pointed out.

“Maybe that’s why she’s so standoffish?” I ventured. “She doesn’t respect me because I’m younger than her?”

“Could be that or something else. That only way to know is getting to know her better.” Aurora said. “Luckily, you’ve become quite a charismatic young woman. I’m sure it won’t take you long.” I thought her confidence was a little misplaced, but rolled with it.

“Hailey? That’s a very nice name. If you’d like, you can just call me Audrey.” I held my hand out, and she tentatively took it while still not looking at me. “I hope we can be friends.”

“I-If that’s what you want, Lady Guardian.” She said quickly, still addressing me with a title before releasing my hand and turning around. “I don’t feel so well. Please excuse me.” And just like that, she was gone.

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“I hope you’ll forgive her attitude, Lady Guardian,” Anthony said wryly. “Hailey is quite stubborn and has only been on the first squad for a couple of weeks. I’m sure she feels she has to prove her worth.”

“I can relate to that feeling. I hope we’ll become good friends.” I said quietly, and Anthony smiled at me.

“I’d appreciate it if you did. She’s a flawless team member in combat, but she has yet to open up to any of us personally…” I nodded understanding before turning to the rest of the squad once Hailey’s retreating figure was out of view.

“Thank you all for sparring with me. Like I said before, don’t feel pressured to use a title or anything like that. My name is Audrey.” I said, realizing that the king hadn’t actually announced my name, which might be why everyone has been calling me ‘Lady Guardian.’ I went around the circle, shaking the hands of the four knights I hadn’t been introduced to yet.

The other men were Jack, Marco, and Russell. Marianne, the woman with long black hair, was the only woman on the squad besides Hailey. They were all in their late twenties and early thirties, and I was pleasantly surprised to hear that Russell and Marianne were actually married. They were all friendly and fun to talk to but continued to refer to me formally, though it took on a more teasing tone now that I was sulking about it.

We talked a while longer, and then they decided it was time for them to find Hailey and prepare camp, so we bid farewell for the evening. Now that it was only the three of us, I turned toward Abel and Lucia.

“I’m sorry I worried you two… I know that It’s naive, but I’m struggling with the thought of killing others…” I said sullenly.

“You killed the assassin, right?” Abel asked, but I shook my head.

“I did, but I wasn’t in full control then. Besides, due to his affinity for shadows, I was able to override his magic from the inside. There was no blood… no pain.” I shivered as I thought about the attack at the castle and all the blood that had been spilled. The haunting image of that noblewoman crying over her husband is something I’ve relived countless times when I close my eyes.

“Ah, I think I understand. You’re struggling with the conscious choice to end someone's life.” He said, looking into my eyes. “I know this was forced on you, so you may not want to hear this, but It makes you a good person, worrying about such things.” He patted my head with a small smile. “It’s obvious you’re resolved to do whatever it takes to return to Lydia. So just focus on that, and know when that hard decision finally comes on the battlefield, Lucia and I will be there to support you in the aftermath.” His words and gestures embarrassed me, and I looked down.

“I get it now!” Aurora suddenly said in my mind. “It’s because you don’t like being treated like the younger sister!”

“W-What are you talking about?” I was almost afraid to ask.

“You were so hesitant with the princes because you knew they’d dote on you, like you do to Sasha!” I could sense the smugness in her voice.

“I don’t think that’s…” But I cut myself off as I thought about it. “Maybe it’s because I’m not used to being cared for? Obviously, there’s Lydia, but she feels different than everyone else…” As I imagined it, the only other person I didn’t feel as uncomfortable with was Aunt Bella. Probably because she feels similar to Lydia, just not the same. Of course, I liked Uncle Stephan and the princes, and I didn’t hate their affection. It just made me restless. “I just don’t know how to accept it from them… I think.” It was my best guess, and my Goddess seemed to agree.

“I think you just need to open your heart more to others… Outside of Lydia and the other girls.” I resolved to give it a try, and I relaxed my body under Abel’s hand and looked up at him with a smile. For some reason, this seemed to freeze him in place.

“Abel? Are you alright?” I asked, worried now. Maybe the change in demeanor was weird?

“Oh, I’m fine.” He said, covering his face with a hand. “You were just very adorable right then… As little sisters should be. Lydia could learn a few things from you.”

“R-Right…” I wasn’t sure what to do with that, so I just shrugged it off.

“Anyway, Don’t you have to brief the soldiers for the day, Your Highness?” Lucia interjected, doing her best to send Abel away.

“I should probably do that, yes. I’ll find you two later before we hit the hay.” He said, back to his typical, easy-going attitude. We watched him go before I turned to the knight.

“Shouldn’t we start to set up as well?” I said, opening my pocket dimension with a small shadow. I had stored all of Lucia’s and mine things here before we left the capital.

“Let’s find a good spot first, then we can.” We walked around the clearing we had stopped in for the night, bathed in the orange glow of sunset as the light slowly faded away. Once we found a good spot slightly under a tree, I reaccessed my magic.

“That really is convenient,” Lucia said as I pulled out her bedroll and bag. She laid it down on the soft ground as I retrieved my things from the magical space, and I put my bedroll right next to hers. There were no tents since the extra luggage only slowed our travel time. The weather was forecasted to be nice anyway, so I was pretty excited to sleep under the stars.

Lucia and I finished the minimal setup just in time to be called for dinner. We joined Anthony’s squad around a campfire with a pot of boiling soup hanging over the flames. The meal was surprisingly nice, with a bread roll to soak up the leftover liquid, and we spent the time talking and laughing around the campfire. I did my best to get closer to Hailey, but she was guarding herself pretty well, only giving short answers whenever the conversation turned to her. I’ll keep trying, slow and steady!

Once the moon was up, it was time to sleep for the night. Abel found us just as promised, and we pointed out where we were sleeping and said goodnight. We would wake up early to get on the road again, but Lucia and I stayed up a bit longer after settling into our bedrolls, talking while staring at the twinkling stars and moon. I always felt at peace when under the night sky, since it made me feel like Aurora was here with me.

“I’m always with you…” She objected playfully. After a few moments of peaceful silence, I felt the call of sleep and closed my eyes. “Goodnight, Audrey.”

“Goodnight, Aurora.” This marked the end of our first day on the road. I knew that these peaceful nights wouldn’t last once we arrived at the front, so I wanted to enjoy these moments while they lasted.

***

I groaned as sunlight flooded my room, bringing a hand up to shield my eyes from the light. Trying to escape, I rolled the other way.

“Let me sleep a little longer…” I mumbled, trying to hold onto the sleepiness that was fading away.

“I’m afraid that won’t be possible, my lady. You have an important meeting today.” Leah said, walking around the bed to yank the warm blanket away. I cried out helplessly as my haven was taken away, then accepted my fate and sat up slowly. Leah guided my tired body to the dressing table and started brushing my messy blonde hair back into order.

“I suppose they should be arriving at the frontlines today, right?” I asked, suppressing a yawn. It had been three days since Audrey and the others had left the capital. Assuming there were no delays while on the road, they should arrive sometime in the afternoon.

“That’s right, my lady,” Leah responded with a smile. “I’m sure everything will be just fine, knowing Lady Audrey.”

“I hope so…” I trailed off, looking down at my lap. Even though my girlfriend had been gone for a few days already, I still wasn’t used to her absence. I’ve been plagued by nightmares nearly every night of Audrey lying dead on the battlefield. I trust in Audrey and her power… I just miss her so much!

But I knew I couldn’t be like this until she returned, so I had promised myself to start working again the same day Audrey was set to begin her duties. I can’t sit here and mope around while she’s out doing her best.

Once my unruly hair was settled, Leah helped wash my face and dress me for the day. Today, I wore a red dress and simple silver accessories so I could be reminded of the one I loved most as I worked. Once I was all prepared, we left my bedroom and walked through the castle to my study.

“His Highness has asked for you to complete some of the budget work for the reorganized army today. After that, you’ll attend the war's first strategy meeting at noon. Then you have a tea party scheduled with Duchess Rose and her daughter at three o’clock this afternoon.” Leah reminded me of my schedule for the day as I flipped through the paperwork on my desk.

I sighed as I looked over the expenses for the new weaponry we had ordered for the soldiers and thought about my meeting with Audrey’s stepmother. What had initially been a plan for Sasha and me to spend some time together and comfort one another in her sister’s absence had turned into an annoyance.

The Roses had kept Sasha from the castle, claiming they feared for her safety. But they had suddenly allowed it under the condition that Duchess Rose would attend anything I invited their daughter to as a chaperone. Ridiculous. Even if an actual attack happened, what difference would his wife make… I can’t comprehend Duke Rose’s logic on this. But maybe that was the point since he didn’t seem to value their lives during the celebration attack.

The morning passed slowly as I made my way through the paperwork, creating a simple table to break down our losses and expected utility from the new arsenal. I also included an extra section for estimated transportation costs once the shipment was ready. I stretched backward in my chair with a relieved sigh when I finished.

“Hey, Leah?” I asked as a thought came to me. “Is Simon still running errands for my brothers?” He hadn’t been reporting to me for the last few weeks. “The last time I saw him was when Audrey and him met.”

My lady-in-waiting tilted her head in thought. “If I remember correctly, he’s been out gathering information on the imperial army across the border.”

“He’s not even in the kingdom?” That came as a surprise. It was pretty dangerous to be in enemy territory, but I knew he had the skills necessary. Leah placed a steaming cup of tea in front of me, which I sipped quietly for a while in thought.

The peaceful silence filled my remaining hour until we left for the strategy meeting. Then, we met up with Luke in his office so we could go together.

“Here are the budget reports,” I said, adding them to the massive pile of documents already on his desk. “You should send some more work my way so I can help lighten the burden on you and Father.”

“If that’s what you want. I just wanted to ensure you remembered how to do paperwork since you’ve been slacking off for so long.” My brother joked, but his face was taut with exhaustion.

“I wasn’t slacking…” I muttered, even though I had been. “You know this kind of work is a breeze for me. I’ve been incredibly anxious since Audrey left, so I need to keep my mind and hands busy.”

He nodded in understanding with a wry smile. “Then I’ll take you up on that offer… Maybe I’ll send you anything that doesn’t fit on my desk at the moment.” My brother gestured to the massive pile of papers that sat on the floor. Where is all of this coming from?!

I patiently waited for Luke to finish what he was working on, and then we walked to the war room together. When we arrived, the generals and higher-ranking advisors were gathered around a map table with markers to symbolize the positions of the armies and surrounding points of interest.

Since our fastest method of communication was still a few hours between the castle and the front, it would be impossible for us to keep up in real-time. So, the plan was for us to track and direct the overall plan while letting Abel and the battalion commanders make the moment-by-moment decisions in combat.

I stayed quiet as the meeting progressed since Luke and I had the same thoughts on just about everything. The only reason I wanted to be here anyway was to keep tabs on Audrey and Lucia. Even though this whole war was his idea, Duke Rose sat quietly and let his followers handle the actual debate about what to do. What a bastard.

Looking at the actual map reinforced our disadvantage. The imperial army covered the majority of our border, and it was clear that a straight offensive would only result in disastrous results.

“We should send out covert units to strike at their supply camps and try to assassinate the leadership.” One general said, pointing at some of the larger markers. “Chaos would spread like wildfire in such a large army. And even if their soldiers are under the influence of some strengthening magic, they still need food.”

Everyone else nodded in agreement, but the sheer force of their numbers was still a problem. If they attack with everything, our defense would last a couple of days, even with Audrey there. She’s only one person… she can’t cover the entire border alone.

As the war council debated and proposed different ideas to try to even the odds, a sudden knock at the door occurred. The guard on duty cracked it open to verify who it was, suddenly stood at attention, and then opened the door all the way to reveal Father standing there with a surprising guest.

Her black hair was done with hair sticks, and she was dressed perfectly in Yamadian formal wear. Yuzuki gave me a pleasant smile as she stepped into the room, her flawless posture giving the illusion she was gliding across the floor. Father led her to where Luke and I stood, ignoring the confused looks on the advisor's faces. You’d never be able to guess she was only fifteen if you didn’t know beforehand. Yuzuki had always been an elegant girl, but what she exuded now was unadulterated confidence.

“This young woman beside me is the eldest daughter of the great Hina clan of the Yamada Islands, Yuzuki Hina.” Father introduced her with a smile. “She has been attending the academy as a foreign exchange student and has built a close friendship with my daughter.” Judging by the situation, there was only one reason why Father would have been with Yuzuki and why she was here now.

“As you all know, Our allies have been reluctant to reinforce our army for fear of the empire striking at their weakened borders. Ms. Yuzuki has been negotiating with her family and Yamadian leaders since before our offensive became official, and thanks to her efforts, has convinced them to send troops to assist.” A murmur of relief spread throughout the room.

“The Imperial army numbers around thirty thousand, with our own only being half that.” Duke Rose interjected for the first time, his eyebrow raised in interest. “How many troops have the Yamadians pledged?” All the eyes in the room landed on the young foreigner, but she didn’t seem swayed by the pressure in the least.

“As you all no doubt know, my nation is much smaller compared to your own kingdom.” She started, her eyes unwavering. “Five thousand troops are crossing the water from our home islands to push back the empire. It may not seem like much, but I assure you that each of our soldiers is skilled enough to make up the difference.” Our troops were skilled themselves, but our country has always emphasized magical combat. While the Yamadians also used magic, their national martial art forms were renowned across the continent and covered a wide range of weapons and styles.

“In addition to our troops, our honorable Daimyo authorized one hundred of our shinobi to assist in espionage and intelligence.” This bit of news sent a wave of disbelief through the room.

“Shinobi?! They’re rumored to be the best assassins in the world!”

“We’ll have a hundred on our side? What fortune!” The advisors chattered among themselves before Father got their attention again.

“While this is good news, These reinforcements will not arrive at the frontline for another two weeks. Keeping that in mind, I propose we hold a defensive position until our allies join us, and then we utilize their strength in our offensive.” The suggestion was so obvious that not even Duke Rose could argue against it, though his face twisted in frustration. Ultimately, it was decided we would still launch covert operations to sabotage the imperial army while we waited for reinforcements unanimously. I hope this keeps Audrey out of harm’s way a little longer…

Yuzuki and I watched as the orders were written down and sent to Abel via magic. It was the same method Simon and I had used to communicate while I was at the academy, so we watched as the paper bird shot off into the distance.

“Thank you, Yuzuki.” I turned to her, bowing slightly in gratitude. “I had no idea you were doing something like that all this time.”

“Please raise your head, Your Highness.” She said with a small smile. “I just wanted to help my friends. Since I refused to come home and even said I would fight if I had to, my family quickly changed their tune.” She looked out the window. “I’ve done nothing but exercise the status I was born with.” She bit her lip and leaned against the window sill. “Do you know much about the current state of my homeland?” I shook my head. Under normal circumstances, I’d be well-versed in foreign affairs, but I haven’t stayed up to date with the empire running rampant.

“I see… I told you before that my family is quite powerful, right? The truth is that my clan is poised to take complete control of the country. The current Daimyo has fallen ill and has no immediate family worthy of taking his title. To prevent a power struggle, he has appointed my eldest brother as his replacement.” She sighed. “Though it hasn’t been officially announced yet, It’s all but guaranteed.”

“Isn’t that wonderful news?” I asked, wondering why she sounded so upset by it. “If it’s the family that raised someone like you, I can’t imagine they’d misuse their power.”

She laughed gently at that. “Yes, it’s true that my parents and siblings are worthy of respect, and I have no doubt my brother will strive to lead our people well.” She turned around, meeting my gaze. “The problem lies with my clan as a whole. It extends beyond just my immediate relations, and plenty of people will plot to take my brother’s place.” She looked down, her face slightly flushed. “Not to mention my husband will no longer be of my own choosing…”

I’m sure she’s thinking of a certain boy… I took her hands in mine and smiled. “I’m sure it will all work out in the end, Yuzuki. I bet he'd be easily convinced if you asked him to wait for you.” I winked at her, which caused her blush to worsen.

“I-If you say so, Your Highness…” Knowing about her family, I frowned as she used my title.

“I let it slide before, but everything you’ve told me means you're a princess yourself, right?” I said teasingly. “Not to mention, you admitted we were friends, so you should use my name.”

“Alright… Lady Lydia.” She said with a shy smile. Oh! That feels nice… I was so jealous that Audrey got closer to her before I did!

Leah suddenly appeared behind me and coughed into her hand, causing me to jump slightly. “Excuse me, my lady, but it’s time for your next appointment.” All the happiness I had just received was blown away as I realized it was indeed time for the dreaded tea party.

“Fine…” I said, sullenly letting go of Yuzuki’s hands. “I have to go, but I hope we can sit down for some tea soon.”

“I’d love to.” The younger girl said sweetly. “I have to finish discussing the plan with His Majesty anyway, so I’ll be on my way as well.” With that, we parted ways, and I let Leah lead me to the tea room where Duchess Rose waited. When we arrived, Mother was waiting outside the doors, and her eyes narrowed at me as we stopped in front of her.

“Surely, my daughter doesn’t intend to greet the duchess with such a sour expression.” She flipped her folding fan open to cover her face, Her icey eyes in ice-queen mode.

“I know…” I mumbled. “I was just looking forward to spending time with Sasha.”

“I don’t like it either. That’s why I’m joining this little get-together. I haven’t had much opportunity to talk to the homewrecker who took Cecelia’s place, so it’s a good chance for me to observe her.” Mother said, her voice dripping with venom. I wouldn’t want to be Duchess Rose right now… Though, I was relieved to hear I wouldn’t be alone. Maybe I can sneak off with Sasha somewhere to actually relax.

As we entered, Sasha and her mother quickly stood from their seats and curtsied respectfully. The duchess’s eyes widened as they landed on my mother since she only expected me.

“Y-Your Majesty, I wasn’t aware you’d be joining us today!” She said, her sharp voice grating our ears. I had only seen her from afar until now, but I could tell my previous impression of her was right on the mark. The Duchess wore a gown that was way too complicated for a tea party and was adorned with flashy accessories and makeup. Knowing this was the person directly responsible for tormenting Audrey also did her no favors.

“Do you have an issue with my presence, Duchess Rose?” Mother said, her voice dangerous. I could tell Mother felt the same way I did because her real feelings slipped through her facade.

“O-Of Course not!” Watching Duchess Rose stumble through her words was quite entertaining and helped ease my anger a bit. Only a little, though. My eyes landed on Sasha, her expression trembling with terror and her hands clenched at her sides. At least Sasha is dressed properly…

The atmosphere was suffocating as the four of us sat around a table laden with cakes and teapots. None of us moved for the food as Mother glared daggers at the duchess, who was starting to sweat under the pressure. When our eyes met, I tried to reassure Sasha with a smile, but she was still shaking.

“Try this, Lady Rose,” I said, entering princess mode. I handed her a small chocolate cake. “This is the divine guardian's favorite. I’m sure you’ll love it as well.” I hoped reminding her of Audrey would help to calm her down, and it seemed to do the trick as she eyed the dessert.

“Really? I’ll give it a try as well, then.” She took a tentative bite, then brought a hand to her cheek and hummed in delight. Audrey had taken quite a liking to chocolate since she had it at her party, and it seemed Sasha took after her sister. “This is truly delectable, Your Highness.”

Sasha finally composed herself. We had to be careful not to give Audrey’s identity away since the duchess was here. I also eyed that despicable maid in my peripheral vision. She had to come along as well, huh? It made sense she was here since she was the duchess’s personal attendant, but I could feel my mana surge with anger just by looking at her. Calm yourself, Lydia.

After Sasha and I had our little exchange, Mother finally spoke again. “Lydia, why don’t you take Lady Rose to the next room? There’s also some tea and cakes in there for you two.”

“Of course, Mother,” I said happily, taking her escape. Typically, it would be considered rude for the party to split like this, but the original invite had only been for Sasha anyway. Standing up, I offered my hand to Sasha, who hesitantly took it.

“W-Wait a moment, Your Majesty!” Duchess Rose suddenly said. “I don’t feel comfortable being separated from my daughter!” Causing Mother’s eyes to narrow at her.

“Are you implying the royal guard isn’t enough to protect her?” She said, her tone chilling me to the bone even if it wasn’t directed at me. “Or perhaps you’re saying I’m not good enough company alone?”

“T-That wasn’t what I meant…!” Duchess Rose squeaked. Time to leave… Give her hell, Mother. I mentally cheered her on as Sasha and I disappeared through the connecting door to the next room, where another spread was prepared. Once the door closed behind us, muting the conversation of the older women, I let out a long sigh.

“I’m sorry, Sister Lydia,” Sasha said, her expression breaking into tears. “My mother forced me to bring her…” I patted her on the head as she sniffled.

“It isn’t your fault. Let’s sit down and relax while we can.” I said as Leah and Anne pulled out chairs for us. Once we both settled with another slice of cake and a cup of warm tea, she spoke again.

“Is there any news on my sister?” she asked hopefully, but her face fell as I shook my head.

“Audrey’s only been gone for three days.” I reached over and took her hand. “Don’t worry. We’ll know immediately if anything happens to her. She promised to return to us, so we must believe in her.”

“I know you're right, but I can’t help but worry.” I gave her my best smile, trying to disguise my own worry for my girlfriend.

“For now, let’s just enjoy our cakes and relax.” She nodded at me, still a little down, but the sweets helped to cheer her up as we chatted about Audrey, sharing stories the other didn’t know until there was a knock from the other room, signaling the end of our time. The tea party was only meant to last an hour, but it felt much faster as Sasha hugged me on her way out.

“I promise you’ll be the first to know when I hear anything,” I whispered, and she looked at me gratefully. We waved at each other as Sasha walked down the castle hallway with her mother. The duchess looked to be in terrible shape, her legs shaking and her makeup ruined from sweat. I turned to my own Mother, who was beaming happily as she watched them go.

“Just what did you do?” I asked.

***

Once my daughter left with Sasha in tow, I turned back to Duchess Rose, who patted her face with a handkerchief. So, this is the woman who replaced Cecelia. She seemed pretty pathetic to me. I knew through gossip that Victoria Rose was a woman driven by validation and greed, but it turned out she wasn’t anything special. She’s just someone who lifts herself up by bullying those weaker than her, disgusting. I closed my eyes in thought for a moment. How could you let someone like her beat you, Cecelia?

I knew it was an unfair thought to cast over my friend, but I knew she’d forgive me when I saw her again. Opening my eyes, I saw Victoria’s trembling hand reaching for a plate.

“Tell me, Duchess.” I began, freezing her in place. “How are things in the Rose estate?” She swallowed nervously, brushing her brown hair out of her face.

“I’m told everything is fine.”

“You were told?” I questioned. “Are you telling me you aren’t involved in managing the estate at all?” Most noblewomen took over the estate so their spouses could focus on the domain as a whole.

“M-My husband told me I wouldn’t have to worry about it. Our head butler is quite competent.” She hastily explained like it was the perfect excuse.

“Is that so?” I leaned back, keeping my eyes on her. It seems Thomas doesn’t want this moronic woman messing with things, either. “Are you not ashamed at all to be an ornament?”

My blunt question caught her off guard, and she gasped. “A-An ornament?! My husband loves and cherishes me!” She cried, but I only gave her a thin smile.

“What exactly do you do for him, then?” I prodded. “How have you earned his trust?”

“I— Um…” She scrambled but couldn’t come up with a good answer. My eyes locked onto hers as I leaned forward like a predator.

“Duke Rose has already thrown away one wife, and she was a much more capable woman than you.” I hiss. It was dangerous to antagonize her like this, but I could no longer hold back my anger. “What makes you so valuable to him?”

Her face flushed with rage and embarrassment as I compared her to Cecelia. She slammed her hand against the table, her lips twisted into a smirk. “I get it now… you knew that whore of a woman.” Her demeanor change was surprising, but I was too focused on the insult she dared to say in my presence.

“Excuse you?” My voice dropped, my magic lowering the temperature in the room. Her expression flickered in fear momentarily before she did her best to maintain her composure.

“Everything makes sense now.” She said triumphantly. “That’s why you’ve been harboring that useless, disgusting brat of hers.” My eyes widened before I caught myself, but she saw it as an opportunity to continue to push. “That’s right! I know all about her. I don’t know how she’s alive or why the royal family decided to lie and prop her up as some kind of powerful hero, but that bitch still belongs to me as her mother!” Her misplaced confidence was so shocking that my jaw just hung open. Is she being serious right now?

“Don’t worry, Your Majesty.” Her tone became more condescending as she continued to speak with that grating voice. “I promise not to tell my husband or accuse the royal family of kidnapping if you return her to me.” She smiled and laughed cruelly. “I was so disappointed when the whore’s daughter died. Who would I take my anger out on? But it will be much more fun crushing her spirit again!”

“You’re quite dumb, aren’t you?” the cold words escaped me as my mind finally caught up with the situation. I stood up slowly and stepped toward her. The room was so cold now that my breath was visible, and frost was starting to coat the walls. “Did you really think you had the upper hand here? You thought you could threaten your queen like this and get away with it?” I smirked as she stepped away from me, but I just pursued her until her back was against the wall. My hand slammed next to her head, ice sprouting from my palm.

“Y-You can’t hurt me! Everyone will find out what you did!” She cried out, her facade crumbling.

“You clearly didn’t think this through.” I hissed in her ear. “With what evidence would you prove your claims?” I leaned back and smiled at her. “That’s assuming it's true, and the divine guardian is the first daughter of Duke Rose, even.” Her eyes flashed with uncertainty.

“N-No! I was told she was!” Her eyes flicked to her maid, who was collapsed on the ground from the fear and cold. She looked around at the other attendants in the room, but the rest were my own staff, and they just glared at her and watched.

“You risked your life on heresy? How foolish.” My hand grabbed her chin roughly, forcing her to look at me. “I could have you killed for the sheer disrespect you’ve shown me. Your status as a duchess wouldn’t save you from my wrath.” Ice began to crawl up her face, sealing her mouth shut as her eyes widened in fear. Unfortunately, I couldn’t really kill her even though I wanted to. It would not be easy to explain away, even for the royal family. Luckily, this bitch is too stupid to realize it.

My ice covered her nose as well, blocking her airways completely as she struggled weakly against me. “How does it feel to be at the mercy of someone stronger than you? Being the victim?” I asked, knowing full well she couldn’t answer. Her eyes began to roll back from the lack of oxygen, so I shattered the ice on her face, allowing her to breathe again. I let her collapse to the floor and sat down on a chair my personal attendant brought me. Duchess Rose gasped for breath on the ice-covered ground before looking up at me with pure terror on her face.

“P-Please… I-I don’t know what I was t-thinking.” She shuddered, the temperature in the room dangerously cold. “J-Just let me g-go.”

“Beg for my forgiveness,” I order, leaning back in my chair. I knew Cecelia and Audrey wouldn’t have approved of my actions, even against someone like her. But neither of them are here right now. “Apologize and swear you’ll never mention the first Duchess Rose or her daughter ever again!”

The rise in my voice startled the duchess. Then she prostrated herself on the ground. “P-Please forgive me, Your Majesty! I’ve been an irredeemable fool! I swear on my life I’ll never utter another word about them!”

I nodded, then released my magic. My attendants also stopped using their own magic to soundproof the room and keep themselves warm. The frost melted away quickly as those who could use fire magic started to heat the room again so the girls wouldn’t notice anything when they returned.

I returned to the table and gestured for the duchess to do the same. “Sit,” I said bluntly, and she moved quickly to her seat. A few of my attendants checked on the maid, waking her with a touch of healing magic and helping her up, though I could tell none of my people wanted to.

“Eat,” I said again. “It will look suspicious if nothing has been touched. You wouldn’t want to worry your daughter, right?” Duchess Rose only nodded, grabbing a fork with a trembling hand. A few minutes later, I had one of my attendants knock on the adjoining door to call for our daughters.

“Did you two have a good chat?” I asked as they entered, sipping on my cup of cold tea.

“Yes, thank you, Your Majesty,” Sasha said with a cute curtsey. Her expression was much better than when we arrived. How could such an angel survive with parents like hers? It was a true miracle that couldn’t be explained. I watched as Sasha hugged my daughter goodbye, then left with her trembling mother. I glared at Duchess Rose when she looked over her shoulder, and she increased her pace.

“Just what did you do?” My daughter asked as she waved goodbye.

“Nothing. We just had a heart-to-heart.” I said with a casual smile.

She just frowned at me. “If that were true, Duchess Rose wouldn’t be walking away right now.”

My daughter knows me too well.