Humanity's Ugliness
Living life, one inevitably encounters a moment when the futility of existence crashes down.
There comes a time when one feels the ugliness of humanity in their bones.
For one of the three war heroes, that time had arrived for Reina Royce.
“Tsk!”
Reina rolled across the bed in her white suit.
She was irritated again today.
So much so that she didn’t even notice her sky-blue hair—smooth as silk—falling into disarray.
Her suit was her armor.
The battlefield had been a place where she might need to rush out even while resting, so the habit of always staying in uniform had remained.
She could move at a moment’s notice.
When she had first returned, everyone had welcomed her and rejoiced in victory.
She herself had stood among them, sharing in the joy.
But joy evaporates quickly, while sorrow lingers with vicious persistence.
Fear was the same.
Just like the war they had endured until now.
The servants who had celebrated began to change after only a few days.
Her parents were no different.
Everyone watched her with excessive caution; even their smiles were steeped in fear.
The commoners living in the territory were the same.
Am I their enemy? It’s not like I’m going to kill them, so why are they acting like this?
Even when she told them to stop, they only obeyed out of obligation, without a shred of sincerity.
It was as if they were submitting to a threat.
That made her irritation burn even hotter.
Since people themselves were the source of her irritation, the hours she spent shut away in her room only increased.
If they couldn’t see her, it would be less irritating.
If they couldn’t see her, perhaps those people would fear her less.
Of course, it wasn’t a fundamental solution.
It was merely avoidance.
Reina knew that, yet she still needed time alone to cool her rage.
Before it exploded.
The fear, the depression.
And the loathing that had begun to bloom faintly within them.
It was a situation with no answer.
Even so, she refused to approach others by shattering the power and pride she had built as a mage with her own hands.
That would be too pathetic.
It’s not like I did anything wrong, is it?
Steam so hot it felt suffocating filled Reina’s lungs.
It seemed ready to burst.
No—she wanted to make it burst.
“M-my lady. A letter has arrived for you, my lady.”
In the middle of it all, a maid knocked on the door with a trembling voice.
There she goes again.
“...Bring it.”
Reina spoke while still lying on the bed.
She suppressed her emotions as much as possible so the girl wouldn’t flee in terror.
“E-excuse me.”
The maid entered, stuttering.
She held a white envelope.
“Give it here.”
“Yes.”
Reina took the letter the maid offered with polite hands.
The frightened face and trembling posture nearly made her sigh.
“E-excuse me. Please rest well.”
The moment the letter was delivered, the maid hurried out of the room.
Her facial muscles quivered from the strain of forcing a smile.
Seeing that face made irritation surge through Reina, but she held it back.
She was curious about the letter’s contents.
“Huh?”
Reina’s eyes widened.
On the front of the letter paper, Amelia’s name was written in elegant script.
The irritation that had been boiling like lava inside her vanished in an instant.
The stifling pressure in her chest opened up with joy.
Amelia?
It had been over a month since they parted at the imperial palace.
Her friend had sent her a letter.
She was so curious about its contents that she bolted upright.
However.
...What have I been doing all this time?
Her friend had thought of her and sent a letter, yet she had been holed up in her room, stewing in irritation.
The realization brought regret.
In the past—on the battlefield—she would have taken the lead, cracking dirty jokes and shifting the mood.
Now she was like this.
I really am pathetic.
Reina sighed and tore open the letter.
Her heart pounded with curiosity, but the initial excitement had cooled considerably.
The letter inside was thick—about three pages.
— To my respected and beloved friend Reina.
A soft smile rose to Reina’s lips.
The first line was perfect.
It was enough to summon a smile she had forgotten for so long.
“...Crazy.”
Yet the more she read, the more the smile faded.
Her eyes trembled.
The devotion that had received no reward.
Bankruptcy caused by a mountain of debt.
The unfortunate circumstances the Glacel Viscounty had suffered were written so vividly.
I... am truly trash.
A terrible self-loathing rose in Reina’s eyes.
It was directed at herself.
A spoiled brat who had been unaware of her friend’s suffering and had only wallowed in her own troubles.
There was no worse lowlife.
Reina’s family was a marquisate.
They could have easily resolved the debt of a mere viscounty, which only fueled her anger further.
Calm down.
Reina breathed deeply, pushing down the self-loathing.
There was still much she hadn’t read.
As she continued, her anger gradually subsided.
In its place, curiosity bloomed.
Meyer?
Reina’s gaze locked onto the name Meyer.
She knew it well.
Although the family had been in the rear and relatively safe, that position had carried its own dangers.
Especially the enemy navy’s surprise attack.
They were known for having prevented the resulting damage almost perfectly.
There were even rumors they had increased their fortune during the war.
And now that family had personally stepped forward to pay the debts and treat her with utmost respect.
With proper courtesy.
Like a single drop of water received just before dying of thirst.
Meyer’s kindness carried that much value and emotion.
Moreover, an invitation had been sent to their remaining friend as well.
It was a chance for all of them to gather after so long.
Should I go?
Determination sparkled in Reina’s eyes.
She had been feeling suffocated anyway.
This seemed like the perfect opportunity to break out of her prison and meet her friends.
#
Meanwhile, the black-haired war hero had also received a letter from her friend Amelia.
The eldest daughter of the Albrecht ducal family.
The great hero.
There were few women who possessed as much authority as Charlotte Reinhardt.
She could be counted on one hand.
Yet if one asked whether she was happy, the answer was a resounding no.
Rather, she felt nothing but disgust.
Charlotte’s family was a ducal house.
It boasted powerful authority and influence, but that also meant a mountain of responsibilities.
The weight on her shoulders was enormous.
First, the commoners.
Resolving the grievances of the people in the territory was only natural.
Even if they looked at her with fearful eyes.
Even if fear outweighed gratitude, she tried to understand and move past it.
It was the same reaction she had experienced before the war.
But that very responsibility filled her with disgust.
Those who used the war as an excuse to beg.
Those who whined to satisfy their greed and then poured out resentment—there were far too many.
False reports. Exaggerated reports.
Embezzlement, plunder, and everything in between. It was an absolute mess.
Nobles and commoners alike.
Is this what humans are?
As the daughter of a ducal family, she had witnessed countless filthy things.
The rumors she heard were just as vile.
She had thought she had grown accustomed to humanity’s ugliness, but she was wrong.
It went beyond imagination.
She realized too late that there was always a lower bottom.
It was then that welcome news from her friend arrived, and she couldn’t help but rejoice.
“...Sigh.”
Charlotte sighed as she sat in her chair.
Dark clouds hung heavily over her jewel-like red eyes.
She was speechless from self-loathing.
It was fortunate the letter said her friend was doing relatively well; if the situation had remained tragic until the end, she would have stormed out even at this late hour.
Because it was news about her friend.
How stupid of me. I should have reached out first to keep our connection alive...
The excuses—I was busy, I was hurting too—were useless.
She shouldn’t rationalize it.
To think the result of fighting with their lives on the line was only this.
As a noble, she felt ashamed.
Let’s go.
The moment Charlotte made her decision, she left the room.
Like her friends, she wore a black suit.
A habit from the war.
People on the road flinched in fear and quickly stepped aside.
So they wouldn’t incur her wrath.
“Excuse me. I’m coming in.”
Knock, knock.
Charlotte rapped on the office door and entered without waiting for permission.
It wasn’t a major breach of etiquette.
“What brings you here? You look upset.”
The man working inside asked in a calm voice.
Charlotte’s father.
It was exactly the demeanor expected of the head of the Albrecht family.
“I plan to stay in Marseille for a while. My friend is there, and she invited me.”
“Suddenly? What’s the reason?”
“She simply said she wants to see me, so I’m going. I need to cool my head as well.”
Charlotte approached the man and explained the full story.
Strange relationship or not, a duke was still a duke.
Reporting her thoughts and planned actions was proper etiquette.
Duke Albrecht listened and nodded.
It was absurd, but he understood.
The emperor brought this upon himself... Still, it’s not a bad idea. Some distance will give her breathing room and ease the pressure in her chest.
He had already found his daughter burdensome; if she left for even a short time, it would be a great relief.
Even if a scandal arose, he would simply let it pass.
His daughter was no longer the daughter she once was.
He lacked the authority to scold her for tarnishing the family honor.
The scales of power had tilted.
“I permit it. Stay as long as you wish.”
“Thank you.”
“And... if you mean to console her, offer appropriate compensation.”
“Yes. On this occasion, it would be good to punish those worm-like nobles and seize their assets.”
The “worm-like” creatures referred to the corrupt nobles.
Insignificant and repulsive beings.
He’s not wrong.
The duke, who feared his own daughter, nodded without objection.
He sympathized deeply.
“As duke, you should deliver punishment.”
“If anyone complains, tell me. If I say I’m angry, they’ll handle it themselves. They all fear me as a monster.”
Charlotte smiled, disparaging herself.
It was bitter and infuriating, yet she intended to use even that reputation.
“Remember that. When do you plan to leave?”
The duke asked with a nod.
Aside from the fear, the increase in usable cards improved his mood.
Though a corner of his heart ached.
“Right now.”
Charlotte answered decisively.
Having lived through a war where hesitation meant death, she had no qualms.
“Take as many supplies as you need.”
The duke showed mercy to his daughter.
Separate from fear, he intended to uphold the honor of a noble.
As a true noble should.
“Thank you.”
Charlotte smiled and left the office.
Even though a large amount of funds would be spent, the Albrecht ducal house stood firm.
It would not falter from offering compensation.
She prepared the supplies and ordered them sent directly to the Glacel Viscounty.
It was a form of consolation money.
Charlotte herself packed lightly and stepped outside.
Alone.
Rather than taking people and receiving uncomfortable stares, solitude was better.
This is much better.
No escorts, no worries.
It was an exceedingly shabby departure, yet her heart felt at ease.
And the horse did not fear its master.
It simply followed with blind loyalty.
Unlike humans, who kept their distance even after the hierarchy had been established.
“Let’s go.”
Charlotte mounted the horse and gave the reins a firm snap.
Soon, the horse broke into a gallop.