Noble Lady Reformation Guide - Chapter 206

"I'd rather you order us to die instead."

Princess Rozelyn personally enters Count Elvester's manor.

When the princess herself made such a declaration, the assembled troops and aides at the garrison were all dumbfounded.

In these turbulent times following Emperor Gertrel's death, sending royalty to what amounted to a suicide mission was the act of madmen.

Yet Princess Rozelyn scoffed at the commanders gathered in the garrison.

Before aide Lutain, who was bowing his head to dissuade her, she crossed her legs, propped her chin, and spoke.

"How amusing. The imperial throne at Gremfort Palace would be safer than this place, yet here we are."

"Your Highness."

"Well, let's speak plainly. While my forces waste away helplessly, what good would come of me sitting safely somewhere with crossed legs? If my Anti-Magic Seal has any use, we should employ it aggressively."

Rozelyn shook her head once before glancing sideways at Derek standing silently with folded arms in the corner of the conference room.

"I'll spare the lengthy speech. Reorganize the garrison forces under Lutain's command. Once Baron Ravenclaw and I enter and throw open all gates, charge in to create chaos."

The military officials gathered around the conference table all swallowed dryly.

The princess personally taking the battlefield. If anything happened to her, none present could expect to escape unscathed.

Yet despite every reason for self-preservation demanding they risk their lives to stop her, an undeniable aura of authority radiated from Princess Rozelyn that made refusal impossible.

The near-certain heir to the imperial throne.

To oppose her was tantamount to treason against the empire itself.

Trapped in this inescapable dilemma, Princess Rozelyn raised her voice further.

"When complete chaos erupts, whoever personally beheads that queen of the undead... I'll reward them with everything at my disposal. As warriors who value honor, you must all crave achievements rivaling the empire's greatest heroes."

And she knew better than anyone how to handle military men.

What these lifelong soldiers coveted most were battlefield merits.

"When I formally ascend the throne, I'll need figures who can become idols to the masses. Surely this disaster befalling us in such times is heaven-sent providence."

Anyone who could subdue that necromancer who conquered death itself would become Gremfort Palace's most celebrated hero.

As she made this declaration, silence once again fell over the assembly.

- Clack, thud!

- Neigh!

Gathering her dress hem, she tied it tightly at her waist to free both legs before swiftly mounting her horse and rolling up her sleeves.

Derek, holding his horse's reins beside her, glanced toward Count Elvester's manor being swallowed by countless corpses.

'The troops haven't fully regrouped yet. Lady Phee must still be recovering.'

After the bloody battle with Melberot, security at Count Elvester's manor had loosened further during her recovery. Derek's tactical harassment had also significantly reduced troop density.

"Ah... Now that I'm saddled up, it finally feels real."

Princess Rozelyn chuckled before glancing at Derek.

"I wasn't this tense even when trapped with a 6-Star confusion mage."

"Why such extreme measures? If we continued systematically attacking from the outskirts, it might take time but we'd eventually break through."

Before urging his horse forward, Derek addressed the princess.

Only now on this plain approaching the manor were they truly alone.

"Didn't I say? My Anti-Magic Seal should be fully utilized rather than wasting lives in attrition warfare."

"..."

"Still distrustful of plain speech, I see. Fine, you're right. The empire needs heroic deeds and justification—not just for knights and lords."

As Princess Rozelyn spurred her horse forward with a crack of the reins, Derek rode alongside toward the manor.

They'd use Derek's confusion magic to infiltrate the perimeter, then Rozelyn would act alone inside the walls to operate the gate mechanisms.

Meanwhile Derek would wait outside, ready to rescue her if danger arose...

Or charge straight for Phee once the gates opened.

The suicidal nature of this plan made the protesting aides'concerns understandable.

Yet Princess Rozelyn had shaken her head, insisting on personally entering the battlefield to prevent further meaningless casualties.

- Clatter! Clatter!

"With pro-magic bureaucrats like Kochella entrenched in Gremfort Palace and hardline nobles like Chamberlain Damon eyeing the throne... This empire-wide crisis couldn't be more opportune. I won't waste this chance."

"..."

"The empire's highest standing at the most dangerous frontline—you understand the symbolic power better than most. My late father earned lifelong respect simply for fighting in the fiercest battles in his youth."

Legitimacy was paramount for emperors.

Yet legitimacy could sometimes be undermined by authority and pragmatism.

She needed to demonstrate responsibility matching her birthright.

Standing alone at the forefront where countless were dying—even as a woman—would make Rozelyn impossible to ignore.

That was her true aim.

This necromantic catastrophe centered on Count Elvester's manor would elevate Princess Rozelyn to untouchable heights.

To rise beyond Kochella's and Damon's reach...

"I must stake my life."

- Clatter, clatter!

Derek glanced at the princess's white-knuckled grip on the reins.

Her slender hands trembled slightly at the sight of corpse legions and sky-blotching spirits.

"Are you afraid?"

"Hahaha. Getting bold now that we're alone on the battlefield?"

Princess Rozelyn laughed loudly before abruptly bowing her head as if a string had snapped.

Derek realized—she was clenching her teeth to hide her fear.

"Yes, I'm afraid. Death is naturally frightening."

She must have felt similarly during the Ravenclaw Academy incident.

Yet no one present had noticed her anxiety then.

"But what choice is there? Fear changes nothing."

Dismissing the matter with a shrug, Princess Rozelyn and Derek galloped across the plain.

- Neigh! Neigh!

As they neared the walls surrounding Count Elvester's manor, Derek dismounted and hid in nearby brush. Princess Rozelyn also tethered her horse in concealed foliage before briefly gazing at the moon.

"The eastern continent grows this dark at night? Hard to appreciate from Gremfort Palace."

"We must infiltrate now."

"Right. I've memorized the basic layout, but who knows how it's changed inside..."

The breach Melberot created was heavily guarded.

Count Elvester, now part of the corpse legion, was stationed there. That approach would be suicidal, making the less guarded opposite side more reasonable.

While mass troop entry would be difficult, a petite girl undetectable even by magic could slip through.

Corpses rarely acted without orders, so unless detected by key figures like the Arch Lich, Count Elvester, or the Bone Dragon, she could manage.

Derek retrieved a large mace from his saddle and handed it to Princess Rozelyn.

She grunted in surprise at its unexpected weight.

"You expect... me to use this?"

"Best if unused."

"Too heavy to swing properly. I'll strap it to my back."

"It's the lightest available. And crude weapons require less skill than specialized ones."

"You mock me."

"Regarding raw battlefield conditions, trust this former mercenary."

"Precisely why I brought you."

Princess Rozelyn nodded before studying Derek seriously.

"What next?"

"I'll cast a powerful spell at the east gate. The defenders should swarm me, letting you scale the outer wall."

"Bare-handed?"

"I'll secure a rope with grappling hook beforehand."

"A fall would be fatal?"

"Naturally."

At Derek's confirmation, Rozelyn swallowed dryly.

At the garrison surrounded by subordinates, she'd maintained arrogant composure.

But alone at the battlefield's forefront in darkness... her lips trembled with unspoken fear.

"I'm terrified."

"We can still turn back. The troops will accept that the attempt failed, still honoring your bravery."

"The devil's temptation indeed. If making me flee was your aim, you've succeeded."

After securing the mace, Princess Rozelyn forced a hollow laugh.

"Though having come this far, retreat is no option."

"No one's watching. Who would blame you for fearing death now?"

"No one? You're here."

"..."

Princess Rozelyn placed hands on hips, looking incredulous.

"You're also one of my subjects. Clearly destined for greatness—I can't appear cowardly before such a man."

"Tonight never happened. The darkness hides all."

"Enough flattery. I'll be queen—time to hunt that false queen."

Princess Rozelyn retrieved a large grappling hook from Derek's saddle and thrust it at him impatiently.

Though her hands still trembled slightly, her face remained defiantly proud.

Such was the way of the highborn. Derek recognized this demeanor from years teaching noble ladies.

- Whoosh!

Derek used magic to secure the hook atop the wall, testing its hold with several firm tugs before passing the rope to Princess Rozelyn.

She caught it deftly and asked:

"So... you'll attack the east gate with magic?"

"Yes."

"Come to think of it, you're also risking your life. During the academy incident, I noticed—you seem to lack fear of death. How?"

"..."

Derek considered carefully. Was he truly unafraid of death? Not exactly.

In his slum days, death hadn't frightened him much—he'd had nothing to lose.

Conversely, now he had much to lose. Many unfulfilled ambitions remained.

"I'm just like you, Your Highness."

Derek smiled wryly, an uncharacteristic expression.

"We proceed despite fear."

Princess Rozelyn's eyes widened as if seeing something extraordinary before offering a small smile.

"How rare to find common ground with you."

With those words, Princess Rozelyn began scaling the wall while Derek trudged toward the east gate.

Though walking opposite directions, their destination was the same—the throne room of the corpses'queen.

The night deepened.

Only occasional insect cries echoed across the besieged manor.

- BOOM!

Then an earth-shaking explosion announced renewed battle at the east gate.

- Screeeech!

- Aaaaaaah!

Amid the sudden chaos, the Arch Lich guarding the central garden rose through the spirits.

Before it stood the same scarred mage it had fought before—alone on the desolate plain in mercenary garb.

"Long time no see, Happy."

Countless spirits swarmed toward the east gate.

Phee's favorite creation had long plagued Derek—but its time was up.

- Craaack!

- KABOOM!

Derek's 2-Star combat magic—Fireball—slammed into the east gate again.

Crimson flames painted the night sky like blood.