“What do I do?” I wailed.
I couldn’t stop crying from the shock of what’d just happened. I’d worked up my courage to tell Sir Gino my selfish desire to join him on the battlefield, and was prepared to have an argument with him, but I never expected him to cry...
“Sorry. My head’s not on straight right now. Let’s talk again once I cool down,” he’d said, tears streaming down his face, before running away.
Though Sir Anthony had said that he and Sir Justin would speak with Sir Gino, they also said that they couldn’t agree to my request since they were knights, but they would at least try to listen to my side of the story.
I’d learned from my parents that knights didn’t get involved in others’ disagreements. Even if the members of the family they served got into a fight, if they ended up taking one person’s side, it could become a much bigger conflict that spread beyond the family and into their respective houses. Thus, it was imperative for them to always remain neutral.
Once they’d gone after Sir Gino, Matthew guided me to an empty room inside the fort, where I simply cried alone. I knew it. I should have kept my desires to myself. Maybe we’re not at a point in our relationship where we can tell each other our selfish wants... That makes me sad... What if he hates me now? What should I do?
“Lady Anastasia, I’m here!”
“Lady Ekatarina?! What are you doing here?!”
“I made you a promise. Remember?” she said, wearing a bright smile as if her being here were the most natural thing in the world.
Even I knew how hard it would be to get House Byron, who was estranged from our family, to help House Sevensworth. It would’ve been one thing if the Simon territory had already strengthened their trade relationship with House Byron via increased production of magic tools, but that was still in the discussion and planning stage. There shouldn’t have been any logical reason for them to assist in the war right now, but Lady Ekatarina, who wasn’t even the head of the household, had somehow mobilized their forces for our sake.
“We’re friends, aren’t we?” Lady Ekatarina said, winking at me with a smile.
I could only imagine how much she’d had to go through to accomplish this. Despite that, she didn’t boast or complain whatsoever. All she did was flash that magnificent smile of hers. She truly is my precious friend.
“Well, that aside, it seems you’ve been crying quite a bit. What’s the matter?”
“Sir Gino... I think he hates me now.”
I began explaining everything to Lady Ekatarina. She sat there, listening to every word I said without interrupting.
“Lady Anastasia... Pardon my intrusion...”
“Huh?! Lady Janail?! Why are you here?!”
In the middle of my story to Lady Ekatarina, complete with fresh tears, Lady Janail had arrived. Not only was she the last person I’d expect to see on the battlefield, but her family had absolutely no ties to our house and thus no reason whatsoever to send us aid. I couldn’t contain my surprise.
“Well, I can’t fight, but... But, you know, I can give my support in the background...”
“I had her come with me and my family’s army. If she wants to marry into a military household, then there’s no better place to learn what she needs to do than near the battlefield,” Lady Ekatarina explained.
After I’d returned to the Sevensworth territory to prepare for the upcoming war, it seemed that Lady Janail had gone to House Byron to continue her studies about military families in hopes that she could marry into a certain one. Since House Byron’s forces were deploying to our territory, Lady Ekatarina advised Lady Janail to tag along.
“But besides that, what’s wrong? What’s got you so upset...?” Lady Janail asked.
I knew that she was in a much more painful situation than me since her engagement had just ended, so I was hesitant to put more problems onto her—especially since my situation was nowhere near as devastating. But since she asked, I decided to be honest.
“You shouldn’t let yourself get so down. Cheer up! I’m sure it’ll be fine.” Even despite everything she was going through, she still smiled and comforted me. She’s such a kind person.
“Worry not,” said Lady Ekatarina. “I’m on your side. I will talk some sense into Sir Ginorious. Though it’s not a proper lady’s place to interfere with the affairs of others, I’ll make an exception this time. After all, if there’s conflict between the very family leading our armies, then there should be no problem if I say something as an ally.”
I could feel the warmth of her heart as she forced a reason to talk with Sir Gino. I couldn’t be happier. For now, I needed to reconcile with Sir Gino.
“I’ll stay back... I’m slow, so I’m sure I’ll only be a hindrance to you,” Lady Janail said, staying in the room and leaving me and Lady Ekatarina to go to Sir Gino.
“Should you really be here on the front lines and not in the rear? I’m sure you could help there and learn too,” I asked Lady Janail.
“Oh, don’t worry... Everyone from House Treves is here, so it’ll be more educational for me to be here with them.”
“But it’s dangerous here. It’s possible for something to happen where you could even lose your life.”
“I’m okay with that... If I don’t get married, I’ll end up spending the rest of my life in a convent as a nun... If I’ll have to live like a dead person for the rest of my life, I’d rather try my best now.”
I hadn’t realized she was this far at her wits’ end. It was rough for women in old-guard houses if they didn’t get married. Due to worries that something could happen between the unmarried woman and their sister-in-law, they’d send her off to a convent. To Lady Janail, that must have been the same as being sentenced to death. I really can’t forgive our new king. I could understand him ending their engagement for a political advantage; however, tossing Lady Janail away like a pawn was unforgivable. She was mature, bashful but also straightforward, and very kind. It was horrible of him to push this wonderful girl into a corner like this. Fortunately, she hadn’t lost her will to fight on. She was truly impressive. When Sir Gino had ended our engagement, I’d stayed in my room for days. She was a much better person than I was.
She was literally risking her life to find happiness now. I should take a page out of her book. I need to do whatever I can to make up with Sir Gino, become more capable of expressing my true desires, and get much closer to him as well. I feel so motivated now! I’m going to do my best!