Not the Defeated Heroine, But a New Heroine
The conversation with the Crown Prince ended there. There was nothing more to say, and Cartina had judged that any further fuss from him would only cause her losses. That was the kind of person she was.
I couldn't say it was the first time I'd seen her. I'd encountered her in the novel, after all. But if she was as quick with her calculations as in the story, she had even less to gain. If the Crown Prince threw a tantrum and picked a fight with the Grand Duke, the North might end up at a disadvantage—but that wasn't the point. Any more commotion, and rumors would spread, which was the last thing we needed right now. If factions started clashing, the imperial family would have to take sides. Weird rumors alone were damaging enough.
"Is that really okay?"
"Don't worry. He's just a pathetic fool who wouldn't dare dream of coming north anyway."
"Not the Crown Prince, but what if other nobles attack..."
"The North?" I let out a scoffing laugh. The road from the North to the South being treacherous meant the reverse was just as bad. No one knew how much it would cost to mount an expedition.
"No need to fret. No sane person would cross the Northern Mountains just to pick a fight."
"But isn't it easy to travel now?"
"For you, maybe. Between individuals, sure. But this is an army. Armies are different."
Armies were different. Picture hundreds of soldiers in weapons and armor scaling the mountains—it was plausible enough. But the Northern Mountains were on another level. There were only three paths: the rough trails and the two newly paved roads. They'd be spotted for sure. And crossing without the roads? That was a loser's desperation move from past wars.
"That's why they can't touch me even if I act this bold. They'll just try to stir things up from the inside."
"You're surprisingly sharp with your calculations, Your Grace?"
"Plus, it's winter. No one's ever been crazy enough to attack the North in winter."
"The Crown Prince might..."
"I know. But if he does, that's good for us. Really good."
Complacency invites disaster, but as long as the South couldn't muster their full forces, the Northern Mountains would hold. At minimum, they'd need over ten thousand men just to reach Winter Castle—and how many would die? If they died, that'd be lucky. In this war, they'd freeze before sword strikes took them.
"A-as expected of Your Grace."
"Northerners don't flinch against Southerners, right, Leor?"
"I-if you'd only permitted it, I w-would've cut down those insolent b-bastards myself."
"See?" I turned to Daniela as I spoke. Her expression had come alive. The hand resting by my side still trembled slightly, but she'd landed a solid hit. The defeated heroine's counterattack. She'd pinpointed exactly what they hated.
I placed my hand over hers. There was still work to do. To show her not as a discarded woman, but as a proper lady in her own right.
"Now we're off to see Marquis Roland. You sure you're okay?"
"Of course. It's not over yet, is it?"
"No need to push yourself. We've already done what needed doing."
"Still, Your Grace. Wouldn't it make a difference if I was there?"
She had a point, but something nagged at me. Sure, bringing Daniela to Bart territory was partly for the gains. Having her step in during negotiations or elsewhere might smooth things over.
"You've saved my face, so this much..."
"Thanks for the help, Daniela."
Guided by the maids, we arrived back at the marquis's room. Leor rushed ahead and flung the door open. Shouldn't he knock or announce us first?
The marquis sat in his chair, just as he'd been during the negotiations. No trace of the earlier panic. If anything, he looked composed.
I pulled out a chair and offered it to Daniela. She settled into it gracefully, one hand lightly resting on the arm.
"That..."
"Marquis, I apologize for the incident. It was unseemly."
"No need, Your Grace."
"We must settle the accounts properly. What do you want, Marquis?"
Roland von Bart's mind was whirring—I could practically hear the gears turning. His daughter sat right there, yet he couldn't even greet her. Where had it all gone wrong? But now wasn't the time for root causes. He had to judge what the Bart family could gain from this.
"First, if you could explain what happened, Your Grace."
"There was a fight at the banquet hall. With the Crown Prince and that... I can't recall the name. Some Southern brat."
"The prior incident, sire."
"What, you mean when I had Leor break that brat's arm?"
No dodging it now. From the Bart family's view, the real question was why their daughter was with the Grand Duke.
Daniela's eyes held no venom, only softness. No need to fight here.
"I'd heard the Northern Grand Duke had no wife."
"That's right."
"So, does that mean what I think..."
"Well, not yet."
I pretended to mull it over. Lies wouldn't do with Roland von Bart. There was some injustice here. I hadn't asked her to come first. She'd walked into it herself.
"She's a guest for now. Who knows about the future."
"Aren't you being too honest?"
"Can't lie, can I?"
Roland von Bart focused intently on our exchange. Casual chit-chat, yet so natural. How long had we been like this? What did that imply for their relationship?
"No need to agonize, Marquis. The North will welcome Daniela."
"Daniela is my daughter—and a vital asset to our house."
He wasn't wrong. She'd nearly married the Crown Prince. But when the engagement broke, who'd sent her north? None other than Roland himself.
"I understand, but didn't you send her north first, Marquis?"
"Daniela..."
"I got the message loud and clear. That's why the North is taking responsibility—and why I brought her here. Shouldn't you be grateful to me?"
Not exactly fair play, but he had sent her north. The moment the engagement shattered, the Bart family's position turned precarious. Who knew an engagement could be such poison? Few paths remained: marry into another house or join a convent. To shore up their standing, they needed ties to some family. But all had failed, so they'd tried to forget.
"Aren't you glad, Marquis Roland? To see your daughter alive."
"Of course, Your Grace."
"Your face says otherwise. Thought she'd died in the North?"
"Not that, but I'm glad to see her again."
"Power's like that—blood ties discarded in an instant. The imperial family must've terrified you."
The marquis fell silent. It rang true. Failing as Crown Princess, with another woman at his side—the Barts had no place. They could lose everything they had now.
"Please stop, Your Grace."
"Not angry, Daniela?"
"It's understandable. Expected, even, here."
She smiled, but bitterness lingered. Blood was the ultimate justification—yet the easiest to discard. When pain came unavoidable, family ties snapped first.
"Even from a father who told you to die?"
"I don't see it that way."
"Why? Didn't you read the letter?"
"I wanted my father's happiness. Prayed for his safety."
Self-sacrifice. I gauged the father and daughter. They'd known without words—this was how they'd survived.
"And our house's people too. It was my fault. The engagement wasn't my choice, but I tried my best."
"I know."
"But I failed. Felt like my fault. So I understand Father's heart. That it was unavoidable."
"I can't understand. Why?"
In the flow Daniela and I set, the marquis could only watch. A pivotal moment. The Barts had abandoned her. The North wouldn't. We'd proven it. But siding with him now...?
"Our house is weak. Only the imperial family could protect us."
"Why not resist?"
"Couldn't. Too much rode on me."
"Tragic, Daniela. So tragic."
Perfect momentum. As Daniela's words ended, Roland jumped in, spilling his woes. Negotiations hardly mattered now. His goal was obvious.
"Our house has nowhere to lean now, Your Grace. The imperial family's pressure... we could do nothing."
"A pity..."
"If the North aids us, this won't happen again."
I feigned deliberation. Blood alliances formed simply.
"An eternal, perpetual alliance—it's so straightforward, isn't it, Your Grace?"
A massive justification. Who'd dare touch the Northern Grand Duke's wife's family? My answer didn't come easy—some reservation was needed. But the conclusion was simple.
"We'll need a bit more time, but yes. The North will help."
A new market had opened.