My father immediately called for the knights and soldiers to arm themselves. Since there were already soldiers stationed there, the formation was quickly formed.
I, too, was eager to arm myself, but there was a precious baby inside me. As I frowned, Julian held me in his arms and gently placed his hand on my still-flat belly.
“Layla, trust me right now and just think about the baby.”
I couldn't resist those words. Julian was the person I relied on most in the world. I had no choice but to nod.
I was escorted by Marian, and stood some distance from where the Imperial Army, Sasha's Army, Winsley's Army, and Duchan's Army were facing off. A few soldiers stood around me to protect me.
I couldn't sit still, so I kept getting updates from them on the situation. From where I was, the soldiers seemed small, like chess pieces.
“Madam, it’s okay. Everything will be okay.”
Marian repeatedly said, "It's okay," as if trying to reassure me. But even her voice was trembling. It was only natural. No matter how far away we were, the tension between the two armies was palpable.
The knight at the forefront of the imperial army raised his sword and shouted loudly. The wizards must have cast amplification spells, as the sound could be heard clearly even from this distance.
"How dare you defy the imperial command! No matter how noble your family may be, it is not as honorable as the imperial family! I will punish them here and now!"
Then, the knights and soldiers gathered behind him roared, "Wow!" Meanwhile, Winsley and Duchzan remained silent. My father, standing at the very front, seemed to be saying something, but it seemed like he wasn't reaching them at all.
I clutched the hem of my skirt, feeling anxious. This wasn't the time for humans to point their swords at each other. The demons could strike at any moment. I lifted my heels, eager to get a closer look at them.
One of Sasha's soldiers suddenly appeared, rushing towards Winsley. It was a solo action.
Just as I was puzzled by this strange behavior, the Imperial Army shot Sasha's soldier with an arrow. The soldier fell to the ground, landing in the middle of the two camps. Soon after, the Imperial Army and Sasha's soldiers charged, roaring loudly. What on earth was going on?
“Your Highness, the Grand Duchess!”
The soldier I'd sent to assess the situation then came running in a hurry. As soon as I saw him, I also asked him urgently.
“How are things going?”
The soldier opened his mouth, gasping for breath.
“The imperial army and the Sasha army are acting strangely!”
I could sense something was off with them, too. The soldier from Sasha's army suddenly rushed in excitedly, and the imperial soldier shot him dead with an arrow... If they truly suspected our treason, they should have been more cautious. But now, their behavior was overly aggressive and barbaric.
“Report exactly what is wrong.”
"The atmosphere between the Imperial Army and Sasha's forces is strange. His Excellency the Count of Winsley has repeatedly tried to persuade them, but they refuse to listen."
Up until this point, it was understandable to think that it was strange given the confrontation, but it wasn't that strange.
"And?"
"The atmosphere is fierce, and there are those swinging their swords in the air. But their appearance is far from threatening. It's as if they're facing a real enemy..."
“What do you mean? Are they hallucinating or something?”
That was the moment I asked that question. A shout was heard from afar. The Imperial Army and the Sasha army charged toward Winsley and Duchzan. But there was something strange. The imperial army and the Sasha army were swinging their swords even against their own allies, not just enemies.
The soldier reporting the scene could also confirm it, just as I had seen it. He shouted as if he knew it.
"It's as if they can't even recognize their enemy! As if they've ingested some strange poison!"
Winsley and Duchzan couldn't hold out any longer. They, too, began to block the imperial army and the Sasha army forces. I stared at them with trembling eyes and then grabbed the soldier's arm.
“Your Highness, I hereby issue the order.”
"Find His Excellency the Count of Winsley immediately and tell him this. He must not cause casualties, and especially not kill any Imperial troops!"
I gripped the soldier's arm tightly. The coldness of his armor felt like a sharp cut to my hand. Nevertheless, I held on, as if trying to impress my words upon him.
“I will follow!”
Only after the soldier shouted did I let go of his arm. I hadn't sent him alone. The standoff was over, and the battle was already underway. Just one soldier wasn't enough to provide reassurance.
I turned around, desperately hoping that my message would not be delayed.
“Hela, let’s go patrol the area where the demons are coming from.”
"Lady!"
“Your Highness, absolutely not. You can’t ride a horse, can you?”
Marian and Hela objected the moment I opened my mouth. I spoke with a determined expression.
“I can go by carriage.”
"Absolutely not, Madam! Please. You'll hurt yourself."
“Then what can I do in this situation?”
Marian was only concerned about me. The moment I got angry at her, I was overcome with self-reproach. At the same time, I felt despair. I was here to change the past and the future. But now, all I could do was raise my voice at innocent Marian.
I lowered my head, covering my forehead.
“I’m sorry, Marian. I don’t know why I’m doing this.”
Marian gently took my hand, lowered her head, and met my eyes. Then she smiled as if nothing had happened.
"Madam, you're not doing anything. You're protecting the baby. If you say that, the baby in your womb will hear it and be upset. Don't you think so?"
“...I wonder?”
"Of course. You trust His Excellency the Count and His Highness the Grand Duke, right? Then let's wait together. If you're worried about staying put, let's organize the supplies together. How about that?"
I nodded, still holding Marian's hand. Marian's face brightened. Hela, too, spoke with relief.
"I'll take charge of patrolling the Demonic Zone. I'll do my best to make sure you don't have to worry."
“Please.”
Despite the excruciating pain, I followed Marian and Hela's advice. Going any further would not only cause the child in my womb to suffer, but would also mean losing faith in my father, my two younger brothers, and most importantly, Julian. If I were to lose my child while trying, Julian would blame himself, and I didn't want to see that happen.
Hela knelt before me and then rode off. I held Marian's hand tightly as she led me, whispering to her as we walked.
"Thank you, Marian. For stopping me. If I had done it my way, I would have definitely regretted it."
"Why, something like this? Wait, who could have killed our lady like this? Where's the majestic figure you used to have when you stole your fiancé's mistress?"
“Oh my.”
I couldn't help but laugh briefly at the playful remark. But my head kept turning back to look at the battle.
Fortunately, I sensed Winsley and Duchzan preparing for defense. It seemed the soldier had safely conveyed my message.
I returned to the inn with Marian. I had the people sort things out, and we reviewed the remaining supplies to determine their proper uses.
All the while, I kept looking out the window, wondering if a soldier would come running at any moment, shouting that Julian was in danger.
I scoffed. I firmly believed this was another life given to save my family. But now, what I was most worried about wasn't my family, but Julian. When did it start? He became the most precious person to me. Isn't this why I came back to see him?
But even as I laughed at myself, I desperately prayed for Julian's safety. Even as I clasped my hands, smiled with trembling lips, and gave instructions to the others, my mind was gradually turning blank.
"Your Highness, there are no more supplies to check. Please rest."
A middle-aged woman who was helping with the work said worriedly.
"Yes. Your lips are blue. When you're pregnant, comfort is paramount. That way, you'll be comfortable later on."
I sat down to listen to the story, but as soon as my busy schedule disappeared, I couldn't get out of the swamp of thoughts.
I trust Julian. He was stronger than anyone else. But in my past life, Julian didn't need to participate in this battle. Everything Julian fought and got hurt was my fault. And it also aroused the imperial family's suspicion.
I wanted to get even a little closer to the intense battlefield. I couldn't just sit still and wait. As I stood up, Marian and the other women followed. Marian blocked my path and fell to her knees.
"Lady!"
"...I won't go near it at all. I'll just stay in front of the building. I won't be greedy for anything more. That's because I want to hear the news right away when the messenger arrives."
As I spoke, more calmly than I expected, Marian began to think deeply. She looked up at me for a long time, observing my complexion.
As they said, my complexion was not good. My lips were rough from biting them so much, and even then, they were pale from nervousness. My breathing was uneven, and my fingertips were trembling slightly.
“...I don’t think things will be good for you as they are now, so I’m giving you permission.”
Marian prepared chairs and blankets for us to wait outside.
I sat on the chair with a blanket wrapped around me and just looked in the direction of the battlefield.
How long had I waited? The sun had set, the air had grown chilly, and Marian, feeling helpless, was blowing breath onto my hand.
A soldier was riding towards me from afar. I immediately stood up, and Marian, supporting me, looked at him.
The soldier leaped down from his horse as if flying, then knelt down on one knee and shouted to me.
“Your Highness! We have won! We have won!”
I, too, was eager to arm myself, but there was a precious baby inside me. As I frowned, Julian held me in his arms and gently placed his hand on my still-flat belly.
“Layla, trust me right now and just think about the baby.”
I couldn't resist those words. Julian was the person I relied on most in the world. I had no choice but to nod.
I was escorted by Marian, and stood some distance from where the Imperial Army, Sasha's Army, Winsley's Army, and Duchan's Army were facing off. A few soldiers stood around me to protect me.
I couldn't sit still, so I kept getting updates from them on the situation. From where I was, the soldiers seemed small, like chess pieces.
“Madam, it’s okay. Everything will be okay.”
Marian repeatedly said, "It's okay," as if trying to reassure me. But even her voice was trembling. It was only natural. No matter how far away we were, the tension between the two armies was palpable.
The knight at the forefront of the imperial army raised his sword and shouted loudly. The wizards must have cast amplification spells, as the sound could be heard clearly even from this distance.
"How dare you defy the imperial command! No matter how noble your family may be, it is not as honorable as the imperial family! I will punish them here and now!"
Then, the knights and soldiers gathered behind him roared, "Wow!" Meanwhile, Winsley and Duchzan remained silent. My father, standing at the very front, seemed to be saying something, but it seemed like he wasn't reaching them at all.
I clutched the hem of my skirt, feeling anxious. This wasn't the time for humans to point their swords at each other. The demons could strike at any moment. I lifted my heels, eager to get a closer look at them.
One of Sasha's soldiers suddenly appeared, rushing towards Winsley. It was a solo action.
Just as I was puzzled by this strange behavior, the Imperial Army shot Sasha's soldier with an arrow. The soldier fell to the ground, landing in the middle of the two camps. Soon after, the Imperial Army and Sasha's soldiers charged, roaring loudly. What on earth was going on?
“Your Highness, the Grand Duchess!”
The soldier I'd sent to assess the situation then came running in a hurry. As soon as I saw him, I also asked him urgently.
“How are things going?”
The soldier opened his mouth, gasping for breath.
“The imperial army and the Sasha army are acting strangely!”
I could sense something was off with them, too. The soldier from Sasha's army suddenly rushed in excitedly, and the imperial soldier shot him dead with an arrow... If they truly suspected our treason, they should have been more cautious. But now, their behavior was overly aggressive and barbaric.
“Report exactly what is wrong.”
"The atmosphere between the Imperial Army and Sasha's forces is strange. His Excellency the Count of Winsley has repeatedly tried to persuade them, but they refuse to listen."
Up until this point, it was understandable to think that it was strange given the confrontation, but it wasn't that strange.
"And?"
"The atmosphere is fierce, and there are those swinging their swords in the air. But their appearance is far from threatening. It's as if they're facing a real enemy..."
“What do you mean? Are they hallucinating or something?”
That was the moment I asked that question. A shout was heard from afar. The Imperial Army and the Sasha army charged toward Winsley and Duchzan. But there was something strange. The imperial army and the Sasha army were swinging their swords even against their own allies, not just enemies.
The soldier reporting the scene could also confirm it, just as I had seen it. He shouted as if he knew it.
"It's as if they can't even recognize their enemy! As if they've ingested some strange poison!"
Winsley and Duchzan couldn't hold out any longer. They, too, began to block the imperial army and the Sasha army forces. I stared at them with trembling eyes and then grabbed the soldier's arm.
“Your Highness, I hereby issue the order.”
"Find His Excellency the Count of Winsley immediately and tell him this. He must not cause casualties, and especially not kill any Imperial troops!"
I gripped the soldier's arm tightly. The coldness of his armor felt like a sharp cut to my hand. Nevertheless, I held on, as if trying to impress my words upon him.
“I will follow!”
Only after the soldier shouted did I let go of his arm. I hadn't sent him alone. The standoff was over, and the battle was already underway. Just one soldier wasn't enough to provide reassurance.
I turned around, desperately hoping that my message would not be delayed.
“Hela, let’s go patrol the area where the demons are coming from.”
"Lady!"
“Your Highness, absolutely not. You can’t ride a horse, can you?”
Marian and Hela objected the moment I opened my mouth. I spoke with a determined expression.
“I can go by carriage.”
"Absolutely not, Madam! Please. You'll hurt yourself."
“Then what can I do in this situation?”
Marian was only concerned about me. The moment I got angry at her, I was overcome with self-reproach. At the same time, I felt despair. I was here to change the past and the future. But now, all I could do was raise my voice at innocent Marian.
I lowered my head, covering my forehead.
“I’m sorry, Marian. I don’t know why I’m doing this.”
Marian gently took my hand, lowered her head, and met my eyes. Then she smiled as if nothing had happened.
"Madam, you're not doing anything. You're protecting the baby. If you say that, the baby in your womb will hear it and be upset. Don't you think so?"
“...I wonder?”
"Of course. You trust His Excellency the Count and His Highness the Grand Duke, right? Then let's wait together. If you're worried about staying put, let's organize the supplies together. How about that?"
I nodded, still holding Marian's hand. Marian's face brightened. Hela, too, spoke with relief.
"I'll take charge of patrolling the Demonic Zone. I'll do my best to make sure you don't have to worry."
“Please.”
Despite the excruciating pain, I followed Marian and Hela's advice. Going any further would not only cause the child in my womb to suffer, but would also mean losing faith in my father, my two younger brothers, and most importantly, Julian. If I were to lose my child while trying, Julian would blame himself, and I didn't want to see that happen.
Hela knelt before me and then rode off. I held Marian's hand tightly as she led me, whispering to her as we walked.
"Thank you, Marian. For stopping me. If I had done it my way, I would have definitely regretted it."
"Why, something like this? Wait, who could have killed our lady like this? Where's the majestic figure you used to have when you stole your fiancé's mistress?"
“Oh my.”
I couldn't help but laugh briefly at the playful remark. But my head kept turning back to look at the battle.
Fortunately, I sensed Winsley and Duchzan preparing for defense. It seemed the soldier had safely conveyed my message.
I returned to the inn with Marian. I had the people sort things out, and we reviewed the remaining supplies to determine their proper uses.
All the while, I kept looking out the window, wondering if a soldier would come running at any moment, shouting that Julian was in danger.
I scoffed. I firmly believed this was another life given to save my family. But now, what I was most worried about wasn't my family, but Julian. When did it start? He became the most precious person to me. Isn't this why I came back to see him?
But even as I laughed at myself, I desperately prayed for Julian's safety. Even as I clasped my hands, smiled with trembling lips, and gave instructions to the others, my mind was gradually turning blank.
"Your Highness, there are no more supplies to check. Please rest."
A middle-aged woman who was helping with the work said worriedly.
"Yes. Your lips are blue. When you're pregnant, comfort is paramount. That way, you'll be comfortable later on."
I sat down to listen to the story, but as soon as my busy schedule disappeared, I couldn't get out of the swamp of thoughts.
I trust Julian. He was stronger than anyone else. But in my past life, Julian didn't need to participate in this battle. Everything Julian fought and got hurt was my fault. And it also aroused the imperial family's suspicion.
I wanted to get even a little closer to the intense battlefield. I couldn't just sit still and wait. As I stood up, Marian and the other women followed. Marian blocked my path and fell to her knees.
"Lady!"
"...I won't go near it at all. I'll just stay in front of the building. I won't be greedy for anything more. That's because I want to hear the news right away when the messenger arrives."
As I spoke, more calmly than I expected, Marian began to think deeply. She looked up at me for a long time, observing my complexion.
As they said, my complexion was not good. My lips were rough from biting them so much, and even then, they were pale from nervousness. My breathing was uneven, and my fingertips were trembling slightly.
“...I don’t think things will be good for you as they are now, so I’m giving you permission.”
Marian prepared chairs and blankets for us to wait outside.
I sat on the chair with a blanket wrapped around me and just looked in the direction of the battlefield.
How long had I waited? The sun had set, the air had grown chilly, and Marian, feeling helpless, was blowing breath onto my hand.
A soldier was riding towards me from afar. I immediately stood up, and Marian, supporting me, looked at him.
The soldier leaped down from his horse as if flying, then knelt down on one knee and shouted to me.
“Your Highness! We have won! We have won!”
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