Chapter 09
She always planned with the worst-case scenario in mind.
“If you want to live long, you’d better figure out how to win without me. I hear you can’t use your arm.”
“…I’ll find a way to fix it. Until then, you can just command from the rear.”
Daniela had no response to that.
She hadn’t been a commander stationed in the rear from the beginning. She had been forced back after losing her combat ability.
It was the perfect way to break someone’s morale.
Whether she wanted to admit it or not, the truth was that she was no longer useful in the war.
And her homeland would never just leave her be. The King of Frost, who had always been an eyesore to her, had become even more aggressive after Daniela became the Queen of Krovihe.
The king kept insisting that she was unfit to serve as a commander of the Frost Kingdom.
Until now, her skill had kept his criticism at bay—but that time was over. Daniela made a decision.
“Jed. You’re the new commander of our army.”
Jed did not welcome the proposal.
“No.”
“You can’t just refuse. There’s no one else suitable besides you.”
“Then I’ll only do it until you recover, Daniela.”
“My arm won’t heal.”
“…There must be a way.”
Daniela had once seen someone poisoned by Pandever mushroom while she was a mercenary.
The man had been a renowned archer, but no matter what treatment he tried, he could never shoot his bow again.
Every failed attempt deepened his despair, and he turned to medicine and alcohol.
The last she saw him, he was being beaten by men for gambling debts.
The glory of his past was gone. Drenched in medicine and alcohol, completely ruined, he crouched like a beast, dodging flying kicks.
Seeing him, she had wondered if she could remain intact in such a situation.
If she could never pick up a sword again…
Shaking her head, Daniela continued speaking.
These were words for Jed, who clung to a futile hope, and perhaps for herself, who might do the same.
“It’s better not to have useless hopes.”
If she could never hold a sword again… she had resolved never to dwell on it.
How much she had loved gripping a sword, how it had transformed her from a powerless child into a capable being.
The hilt that had filled her empty hands, the glint of the blade that seemed to cut through her fear—she had buried all of it deep in memory, promising herself never to think about it again.
And now, she would focus on what she could do.
Her life as a commoner and a woman had been harder than that man’s. She couldn’t afford the luxury of futile hopes or pointless attempts.
If she had been the one beaten, soaked in medicine and debt-ridden in a gambling den, it would have been far worse than for him.
Yet without hope, her heart ached.
Though it felt suffocating, she finished the task she had set for herself without showing it.
“Since I probably won’t even be able to write, mimic my signature and write a letter to the king of our homeland. Tell him I can no longer serve as commander and recommend you, Jed.”
“When did you know I could mimic your signature?”
“Since you added a teddy bear to the supply list while stealing my signature.”
“The teddy bear is necessary. It provides emotional support for sick soldiers.”
Daniela thought this silly conversation gave her a little relief.
Not that she wanted to keep debating the merits of teddy bears, though.
“Alright, now that you’re the commander, make a teddy bear battalion if you like. And…”
“And?”
“…Is there anything important I should know?”
Even though Daniela knew that if there were something important, Jed would have told her earlier, she asked anyway.
Jed pursed his lips and thought. Why couldn’t he just be honest when his wife was curious?
“Well, nothing noteworthy recently. By the way… I don’t know if you’re curious, but His Highness Benjamin is doing well. See these flowers in the vase? They’re magically preserved so they won’t wither. Benjamin sent them to you from afar.”
“…I see. And Princess Esmeralda?”
Daniela blushed at the mention of Benjamin sending flowers but tried to act nonchalant.
Then she suddenly realized she had forgotten to ask about the princess, whose welfare had concerned her so much.
How could she forget something so important? She scolded herself but didn’t need an answer.
As soon as Daniela finished speaking, the door opened, and Esmeralda came in.
“Daniela!”
Esmeralda shouted in joy as she entered.
But then her expression stiffened. Hesitant, the princess finally spoke.
“Please don’t be too shocked… A messenger came from the main army. And my brother…”
Esmeralda covered her face with her hands, unable to continue.
Daniela’s heart sank.
But then Esmeralda raised her hands and exclaimed:
“My brother won! The monsters are retreating. It’s our victory!”
“Then why did you act sad?! You scared me!”
Daniela protested, feeling as if half her life force had been drained. The princess replied:
“It’s fun.”
“Fun…”
Daniela put her hand to her head, thinking everyone had learned bad jokes while she was unconscious.
“Not fun.”
Jed, however, disagreed with her.
“I thought it was fun. Your expression, Daniela, was funny.”
Daniela, looking at Jed who agreed with the princess, found it odd that he wasn’t surprised at such big news.
Even if she had missed the right moment to react while calming her heart, it was strange. She asked Jed:
“Did you know? Why aren’t you surprised?”
“No, if I knew, why would I hide it from you? But I did say we were winning. I wasn’t going to be surprised whenever it ended.”
“I remember you said we were winning… but I didn’t expect it to be this much.”
Just the other day, she had been bracing for the annihilation of their troops, and now, after waking, they had won.
Daniela felt like she was dreaming. Esmeralda seemed to share that thought:
“Indeed. I can’t believe the day has come when we actually win. It feels like a dream.”
Esmeralda continued, her happy face trembling with emotion:
“And Daniela, you finally woke up… This is the happiest day of my life.”
Daniela could feel how much the princess had worried for her.
“…There will be many happier days ahead.”
Daniela spoke sincerely. The princess seemed like someone born destined for a happy life.
A radiant and lovely person. Though war had shaken her fate, in a time of peace, she would walk a path of guaranteed happiness.
Daniela pushed from her mind the image of the princess’s corpse she had seen in her lingering dreams.
The war was over, and such things would no longer happen.
The princess smiled like sunlight, reassuring Daniela’s troubled thoughts.
Her bright face reminded her of her brother. Even thinking of him made her chest ache.
Watching Benjamin see her off to Krovihe, she had wondered if it might be the last time.
Since then, she had thought several times that she might never see him again.
But now he would return.
Though not hand in hand as promised, Daniela was in the only place he would come back to.
Just moments ago, the thought of never holding a sword made her feel suffocated, but now her heart swelled, her breath quickened, and her chest raced.
At the same time, her anxious heart rose with her excitement.
The hardships of her life seemed to mock her, saying: “Even after all that, you hope again?”
Yet no anxiety mattered today. It was a good day for everyone.
The joyful news brought by the messenger spread, and the cheers of people filled the streets outside.
Daniela, looking at the cheering crowd, was explained to by Esmeralda:
“This is Arban Street on the east side of the palace. Normally bustling with merchants and travelers, it’s now where many have gathered because many noble estates were burned. This area was least damaged.”
Esmeralda looked at Daniela after glancing outside.
“I’m sorry we brought you to such a humble place. Once the palace is somewhat restored, we’ll move your residence.”
“Humble? To me, a building with a roof feels like a palace. I haven’t lived under one in so long.”
Esmeralda smiled proudly at Daniela.
“You’ll be amazed when you see the real palace. The beauty of Krovihe’s palace is unmatched anywhere.”
