The Defeated Heroine and the Victorious Heroine
"But who the hell is that guy acting so uppity? Daniela?"
"Ah, the young master with the broken arm is Leroy. He's the eldest son of a southern earl family."
"Some nobody dares lay his hand on your shoulder?"
"Does it come off that way?"
The first to react was, ironically, Leor. The one who'd broken Leroy's arm. But Leor's response felt like he'd just found another person of utmost respect to serve. In short, it was overly zealous loyalty.
"H-how dare that wretch... Will you properly punish that scum, Your Grace?"
"Leor. I'll show him mercy."
Leor looked even angrier than I did. Leroy quietly sat back down. With Leor stepping in, he couldn't say a word.
From now on, Leor, you're in charge of him. That might be best.
"I can't tell if rules matter more or common sense does."
"There are things to do in front of His Highness the Crown Prince..."
"Any man who can stomach such an insult isn't a man at all."
It prickled. This was women's verbal sparring. The victorious heroine was pushing back against the defeated one. It felt almost reversed. She was supposed to be the winner.
"Hah, does the North fight by putting women out front?"
"Men rule the world, but women rule men. Your Highness, that's a famous saying up North. You should remember it."
"Who do you think you're lecturing?!"
"Truth be told, Your Highness's own rude demeanor escalated things."
Of course, I'd overreacted too. But in times like these, subtly shifting the blame was to my advantage.
The Crown Prince's face was turning redder by the second.
"To lay hands so casually on the body of the Northern Grand Duke's wife. In the North, that man's head would already be rolling."
"And that's your excuse?"
"But if Your Highness felt it was rude, I apologize."
No one there took those words as an actual apology. Leroy was already just watching the room's mood.
He sidled up behind the seated Daniela and placed a hand on the back of her chair.
"I'll make it up to you with actions. As compensation for your displeasure, we'll send Northern magic stones."
"Those damn rocks..."
"Oh, I heard the South was struggling without magic stones. Guess not, then. We'll compensate with gold instead."
"With just a bit of coin..."
"Then should I take that as you refusing our apology, Your Highness?"
Now Cartina de Bosch was gripping the Crown Prince's shoulder. That seemed enough to wrap it up.
But the madness wasn't over yet. I'd thought we could end it there.
"The North's compensation will be aimed solely at Leroy, then? Theo?"
"Exactly. Since Your Highness cherishes his friend so much."
"What will you do? Theo?"
"He'll never come near the North again, and he'll be forever cut off from the North's graces."
"And?"
"We'll send swords his way now and then. Even if I don't want it, Northerners will come charging to teach him manners?"
I glanced at Leor. His teeth ground with a crunch.
Daniela giggled while eyeing Leroy. It was blatant mockery.
"Swords? That's scary talk, Theo."
"It's fine. It's the Northerners' hearts protecting you, Daniela. His head will eventually arrive at Winter Castle. And then..."
They'll say this: Your Highness, I prove my loyalty this way. One head isn't enough to show my devotion, but I vow to serve you all my life!
"Something like that."
"Is that how it is?"
"You know it, Daniela. Northerners are always ready to die for the Grand Duke."
"True."
"Daniela, the same goes for you. Northerners are always ready to die for you."
I turned to Leor. He'd already caught the flow. Nodding, he embodied excessive loyalty.
Classic Northern trait.
"Right, Leor?"
"M-my life belongs to Your Grace... and to Her Grace the Grand Duchess."
"See?"
Daniela gave Leor a light nod. He nearly dropped to his knees before hastily steadying himself. His overzealous loyalty felt all too real.
I'll sort things out with Leor later. First things first.
"In any case, the North will make amends as we see fit. Understood?"
The Crown Prince glared at us, clearly annoyed. But they knew too. What was done was done; dragging it out would just circle the same points.
"Apologies from rude country bumpkins like you..."
"We'll accept the Grand Duke's apology."
Cartina cut him off. The Crown Prince fell silent. Daniela giggled again. Her laugh sounded like scorn, reigniting the dying embers of the conflict.
Of course, the Crown Prince started it.
"What's so funny? Huh?"
"Your Highness. You need to speak up. Haven't I told you before that the Crown Prince must uphold his dignity?"
"Ha! When you were my fi— fiancée?"
The Crown Prince sneered. Factually, it bordered on contradiction. The Northern Grand Duke's wife was his former fiancée. Nobles might accept it somehow, but the situation was pure farce. Absurd.
"Since when were you tied to the North, Daniela? Right after our engagement broke, you latched onto them."
"I found true love. I'm grateful to Your Highness and Cartina."
Daniela stood and curtsied. The Crown Prince started chuckling derisively.
"True love. Well, living with an impure woman like you would tarnish the imperial family's honor."
"Exactly, Your Highness. Living with a foolish man is agony for any woman."
"What did you say?"
"Cartina. Why are you staring like that?"
Cartina tsked. She'd used the Crown Prince as a stepping stone herself. And wasn't she the victorious heroine? She'd won him. A glamorous life and the title of Crown Princess were hers.
Of course,
"A woman from a modest house like yours draws plenty of talk in the imperial family, doesn't it?"
"Ah... haha..."
"No matter. My life will be different from yours now. Take good care of him. He might discard you someday too."
"No need to worry. He loves me too much."
"Does he? Even with you standing there."
Giggles echoed again. The battle of wills reignited. Cartina glanced at the Crown Prince and Leroy, but neither budged from their seats. Who cherished their woman more? Clearly not those two.
"A beloved woman always takes the seat of honor, wherever she is."
"Love? You mean leaving her like some ornament in the back?"
"It means I'll support her from behind."
"Men who leave their backs to women? Hilarious."
"To walk beside him and give her beloved peace, she needs to be behind, right?"
Cartina pressed sharply, but Daniela was more composed than anyone. Just seat positions fueling this war of nerves. My legs went weak. Weak in the knees.
"In the North, women stand beside their men, walk beside them, declare love side by side. Men must always cherish and protect them. When hardships come, they face them together; when tears fall, they offer each other's arms. That's true love. I didn't know it before, but now I do."
Something the Crown Prince had never shown. Daniela's eyes flashed as she said the last line. Was she picking a fight?
The Crown Prince bellowed.
"You filthy bitch! You used to cling, saying you'd be the imperial consort!"
"Filthy bitch?"
"Yeah. Jumping from one to the next."
Daniela pointed at Leroy, then Cartina, then the Crown Prince. Her finger spun, stopping at Cartina behind her.
"Who's the filthy one?"
"You slut...!"
I covered Daniela's ears. The Crown Prince spewed filth, Leor's face flushed crimson with rage. I was pissed too. But I didn't want pure malice aimed at Daniela. And pathetic men's curses just sounded pathetic.
"Daniela, mind if I say something?"
"No need for you to jump in, Theo."
"Still. Hearing that and staying quiet? You okay?"
"Anytime, Theo."
I approached where the Crown Prince and Leroy sat. Leor guarded our rear as I loomed over them.
"You take responsibility for those words, Your Highness."
"Don't look down on me like that!"
I crushed the Crown Prince's shoulder hard. He flailed at first, then fell silent as the pain intensified. Rebellion, how dare you touch me—such cries turned to screams as agony mounted.
"Spouting such trash. We should be the ones receiving apologies."
"Gaaah... aaaargh!"
"Don't forget this pain. Understood?"
The Crown Prince's screams ended. I helped Daniela to her feet. No one dared speak as we turned our backs. For the first time, it felt like striking the victorious heroine from behind. Daniela's face brimmed with satisfaction.