Noble Lady Reformation Guide - Chapter 205

'Ah, that man again.'

When Princess Rozelyn arrived at the scene after receiving reports, she heard Derek had already been briefed on the entire battlefield situation from a corner of the encampment.

Though this border noble, who had contributed greatly to capturing a 6-Star confusion mage, didn't seem particularly ambitious about gaining merit or power, his presence at this unprecedented incident involving a 6-Star necromancer was hardly coincidental.

'Come to think of it, he always appears wherever major incidents occur, internally or externally.'

The uprising of necromancers centered in Count Elvester's eastern territory appeared far more substantial than the initial reports had suggested.

For the imperial court already embroiled in debates about Marilyn's treatment, this amounted to facing two crises simultaneously.

'The more critical the situation, the more composed one must remain.'

As someone destined to lead the empire, she needed to make rational judgments in any crisis.

Keeping this sole principle in mind, Princess Rozelyn strode between hastily erected tents in the encampment.

"Your Highness Princess Rozelyn."

At the encampment entrance, Vice Commander of the Imperial Knights, Luthein, knelt with precise formality.

Though clearly startled that a royal princess would personally visit the frontlines, this wasn't particularly unusual from Rozelyn's perspective.

"What? Does my presence here unsettle you?"

"With all due respect, yes."

"Oh-ho."

Indeed, someone of Luthein's rank could voice candid opinions to royalty.

Some might find this offensive, others might consider it admirable.

For Princess Rozelyn, it was both.

"With His Majesty Gertrel's passing, Your Highness now embodies Gremfort Palace's future. Should anything happen to your precious person, the empire's stability would be jeopardized... You could have simply issued extermination orders from the audience chamber. Especially facing such a large-scale incident... remaining in safety would be wisest."

"True. Your sincere counsel is commendable, but you're seeing only half the picture."

"..."

Princess Rozelyn exhaled deeply, arms crossed as she surveyed the encampment.

The extermination force had apparently attempted two assaults on Count Elvester's manor already. Wounded soldiers were visible, many having lost their fighting spirit.

Had it not been for Melberot's swift initial response, the situation might have escalated further. That the frontlines held at all against such sudden calamity was impressive.

Yet what truly unsettled Princess Rozelyn were the pro-magic faction scholars stationed at the encampment's periphery.

While the scholars and magic advisors Kohlera brought were invaluable assets, the more her contributions grew, the more Rozelyn's authority within Gremfort Palace would inevitably diminish.

Damon, head of the pro-nobility faction, wouldn't dare approach such danger.

Only someone of Rozelyn's boldness would rush to the frontlines to demonstrate concern for the empire's future.

Though this incident erupted suddenly, power struggles among imperial factions continued unabated.

Even if the world ended tomorrow, power struggles would persist. Such was human nature.

Rozelyn shook her head, dismissing these thoughts.

However influential Kohlera's magic faction bureaucrats became, it meant nothing to soldiers fighting day and night on the frontlines.

Stalwart soldiers like Commander Luthein could focus on their duties precisely because they ignored such palace intrigues.

There was no need to burden these loyal warriors fighting for the empire with her frustrations.

"Enough. I appreciate your concern. But with the battlefield situation so urgent, I couldn't remain idly pacing in my audience chamber."

"Your Highness."

"Worry no more. I hear that man from House Ravenclaw is also present?"

"Yes. When our forces arrived, he'd already made two attempts to breach the count's manor."

"Two attempts... Meaning he didn't succeed on the first try."

"Yes..."

Luthein, his short golden hair barely visible beneath a large helmet, leaned on his spear as he rose to explain.

"We followed Lord Melberot's initial breach point twice, then attempted the main gate once... The first attempts were repelled by the corpse legion and the Arch Lich's defenses, while over half our forces were wiped out by the Bone Dragon guarding the spire."

"I heard Melberot dealt it a critical wound?"

"Yes. Yet... it proved difficult regardless. Lord Ravenclaw sustained shoulder wounds and took a direct hit from 4-Star magic... His companions retreated to the encampment to recover. They seemed deeply discouraged."

"Discouraged?"

Princess Rozelyn mentally recalled this man named Derek.

Could someone who always executed tasks with such mechanical efficiency truly experience discouragement?

The image of this human machine who always achieved his objectives appearing disheartened was difficult to imagine.

Yet given the battlefield's scale, perhaps even Derek might be daunted.

Corpses moved like armies everywhere, creating an apocalyptic scene that instinctively made one swallow dryly.

Defeat could bow even the steeliest heads - perhaps even Derek's unyielding spirit had been shaken.

"Well... I suppose this is the extent of what I can do in such a battlefield."

A superior's duty was precisely this.

Reprimand those neglecting their responsibilities, but comfort those who tried their best yet failed.

Derek hardly seemed the type to make careless judgments leading to defeat in such urgent circumstances.

Thus, visiting to encourage him personally felt only natural.

"..."

"Ghk, gah... Ugh..."

What would Derek Raidof Ravenclaw - a man who could make steel yield - look like when discouraged?

Princess Rozelyn, along with anyone who'd studied magic under him, undoubtedly wondered this.

Upon reaching Derek's tent... she found him sitting on a wooden crate, devouring well-cooked meat, potatoes, bacon and eggs with bandages tightly wrapped around his shoulder and thigh.

This seemed less like enjoying a feast and more like forcibly fueling his body.

What truly stunned Princess Rozelyn was realizing this might be the first time she'd ever seen Derek eat.

So this man actually consumes food.

Such an absurd thought surfaced because the defeated Derek showed no concern, simply preparing for the next assault.

"...Were you dining?"

"Princess Rozelyn? You came all this way..."

"Never mind. Continue eating."

Though protocol demanded all workers bow when royalty appeared, Rozelyn didn't even consider imposing imperial etiquette on Derek.

His dining manners were that extraordinary.

One might expect someone of his status to slice meat delicately with knife and fork, but remember - this man rose from the slums'depths. Unconcerned with decorum, yet no green noble insisting on dining etiquette at the frontline either.

This practical mindset appealed more to Princess Rozelyn.

She sat on the dusty tent's opposite side, quietly observing Derek.

"You failed to breach Count Elvester's manor?"

"Yes. Neutralizing creations of a 6-Star necromancer simultaneously proved difficult. Urk... Excuse me..."

"Never mind... Eat comfortably..."

Though intending to comfort Derek, Rozelyn found herself at a loss for words instead.

"...My aides briefed me, but I'd hear it directly from you."

Between potato bites, Derek's half-lidded eyes gradually conveyed the full account as Rozelyn's expression shifted.

First Manor Assault:

Capitalizing on Phee's incomplete recovery, they breached through the manor's collapsed walls... only to be repelled by the corpse legion regrouping.

Most shocking was Count Elvester's corpse standing atop the walls with maddened eyes - seemingly commanding the legion.

With the militarily brilliant count now under enemy control, the corpse legion's movements grew more tactical and coordinated. They lined walls to roll boulders, ambushed from defensive positions... Individually dull-witted, yet operating as a disciplined collective.

Some even wielded low-level magic, making them terrifying foes.

The terrified garrison troops accompanying Derek fled hastily. Judging further advance impossible, Derek ordered retreat.

"Count Elvester... was personally commanding them?"

"Yes. I clearly saw him surveying corpses with pale complexion and unfocused gaze from the broken wall's edge."

"Then... did the count repel your second assault too?"

"No. Happy... I mean, the Arch Lich blocked our retreat, complicating matters."

Though Derek severed an arm from Phee's favored Arch Lich"Happy"to secure retreat, he sustained shoulder wounds. Without Kalimford's aid, it might have been worse.

Princess Rozelyn eyed Derek's shoulder and frowned.

"For the third attempt, we feinted toward the collapsed wall before targeting the main gate. Then the Bone Dragon atop the spire attacked. The rest... requires no explanation."

"...A general, an Arch Lich, and a Bone Dragon..."

Though visibly tense, Rozelyn sighed and relaxed, adopting a playful tone.

"Almost as if protecting a queen."

"Given their actual queen is severely wounded and recovering... their fierce resistance makes sense."

"True. I hear their leader appears as a pale girl - much like myself in some ways."

Arms crossed, Rozelyn joked darkly.

"After my coronation, I'll become queen too. Were we to meet, we'd find much common ground."

"An unlikely scenario."

"One never knows."

"Pardon?"

After glancing toward tents housing magic faction advisors, Rozelyn approached Derek and lowered her voice.

"Considering your account and my separate reports... eliminating the queen at the manor's heart would resolve everything, correct?"

"Yes. Though breaching that path won't be easy."

"Then it's settled. The imperial army has numbers. The issue, as you said, was limited entry points through those walls."

Rozelyn's approach differed subtly from bureaucrats who only issued orders from safety.

She clearly recognized her presence on the battlefield.

"Then we plant someone inside to open all gates simultaneously."

"...You mean infiltrate through the corpse legion?"

"Why not? While forces assault from all sides, someone must reach the manor's heart during the chaos to capture the queen."

"Easier said than done."

"Because of their detection magic?"

Anticipating Derek's objection, Rozelyn confidently continued:

"True, the walls are heavily guarded. Though their queen recovers, Count Elvester was skilled in detection magic."

"Precisely."

"Then only someone undetectable can attempt this."

Derek stopped chewing, studying Rozelyn intently.

He understood her implication.

Rather than protesting, he simply shook his head.

"You anticipated my opposition?"

"Naturally. Not just you - imperial bureaucrats and field commanders would all object vehemently. But you... seem potentially persuadable."

"..."

"For infiltration, minimal numbers are best. Can you escort me to the walls?"

Rozelyn let her red hair cascade as she stood and approached Derek.

This man meeting a princess's gaze so directly would surely become one of the empire's greatest assets.

As the empire's heart, how could she not trust its foremost defender?

At least compared to cowardly nobility hiding in Gremfort Palace, this man seemed far more reliable.

"There's room for only one queen under heaven."

Meeting Derek's gaze, Rozelyn smiled faintly with closed eyes.

"Serve me faithfully, and I'll gladly offer all my trust and respect."

"..."

Derek's gaze wandered momentarily.

Determining right from wrong amidst such carnage wasn't simple.

Finally, Derek set his plate aside.

"Your Highness should eat first."

"Oh?"

"Battlefield meals tend to be greaseless and bland, I'm afraid."

"How unfortunate."

Chuckling, Rozelyn stood.

Biting into a potato, she chewed vigorously - looking every bit the village housewife.