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Chapter 12
Given the context, there was no other way to understand it.
“Le-Leila… why can’t it…?”
Her mother stammered in confusion as she asked.
“No, madam… Tien is absolutely impossible!”
Leila didn’t give a reason, she just cried and repeated that it was impossible.
“Leila. I understand, but… ugh…”
It was maddening, this back-and-forth of “no” and “impossible.” When I tried to push her slightly to free myself from her grip, she clung even tighter.
“Are you… trying to say something?”
“No… try…?”
Leila, who had been answering “no” blindly, finally seemed to regain her senses and echoed her mother’s words.
“Yes, try.”
“Huh…?”
“Mm…?”
Sensing something odd, both her mother and Leila looked at each other.
What kind of conversation was this?
First, she reacted with shock when she heard I had confessed. Then Leila barged in and only said “no.” I touched my throbbing forehead and spoke slowly.
“Calm down, Leila. What exactly is impossible?”
“That’s… Tien, you’re going to war…”
Leila said with a puzzled expression. A brief silence followed, and then everyone burst into laughter.
“So that’s it? Ahahaha!”
“You worry about everything! Really. You’re worried about Tien? Him? Seriously? Hahaha!”
Despite Calian’s playful teasing, Leila’s expression didn’t change. Suddenly, she looked at me seriously and said:
“You can’t go to war, Tien.”
“…It’s fine. I’ve been out a few times before; why worry so much?”
“Well… yes, but…”
Her aquamarine eyes rolled anxiously from side to side.
What’s going on? She’s acting strange today.
“Can’t you… not go?”
Leila rarely begged for anything, but today felt different. Her pale face, her lost and anxious eyes. I stroked her head and replied:
“It’s the Emperor’s order, Leila. You know I can’t disobey. And besides, who exactly are you worrying about?”
Even if it weren’t the Emperor’s order, this time I had to go.
I hadn’t planned to rush things, but something felt off. It seemed wise to take care of planned matters ahead of time.
“…Maybe…”
Leila trailed off, hesitating.
“Leila? What is it?”
“Maybe… Lionel—no, it’s nothing. Just… be careful, Tien.”
“…What? That was anticlimactic.”
That afternoon, I prepared to depart for the western borderlands and recalled the morning’s events.
Though she had trailed off, the name Leila said was clearly “Lionel.” I couldn’t have misheard.
“How could Leila…”
Lionel. Lionel Blian. He was the head of the Blian Marquis family and one of the original story’s male leads.
‘Should I call him a male lead, or a villain…?’
None of the original male leads were exactly sane, but Lionel was the worst. He had even contracted with Bael, the Demon King, to use dark magic.
‘I contracted first, so no major worry there.’
Among the other male leads, Ian Winchester was obsessively devoted to Leila as a paladin, and Euclid Persent, the first prince, was just a vain fool. Those two could be handled, but Lionel required constant vigilance.
Right. In the original story, Lionel lured Tien Elopez to the battlefield, nullified all his magic, and killed him at the end—a true madman.
And yet, of all people, the one who had been strangely adamant about me not going to war—Leila—mentioned Lionel Blian’s name?
‘Is this really a coincidence?’
That damned coincidence. There was no way it was unintentional; the timing was perfect.
…What exactly are you hiding from me, Leila?
I’d have to talk to her once I returned.
“Are you ready, milady?”
“…Yes.”
“Why the gloomy expression? Are you finally realizing your position now?”
“….”
“Soon you’ll be called the Demon of the Battlefield, after the Devil’s Contractor. Normally, no one even notices when you go out, but this time rumors spread across the empire that you are going to participate.”
“Is that so?”
“Yes! Why respond so blankly with ‘Is that so?’”
What do you want me to do? I was the one who spread the rumor.
It was good for me if more people knew I was joining the battlefield.
“It’s fine, Anna.”
“It’s not fine!”
“This time… it will be different.”
“…Huh?”
Oops. Realizing my words had slipped, I quickly laughed it off.
“Wouldn’t it be better to be called the Demon Lord of the Battlefield rather than just the Demon of the Battlefield?”
“Milady!”
“…Oof, my ears.”
“Don’t say that even jokingly!”
Anna shook her head firmly, as if refusing. I chuckled quietly at her panic.
“Shall we prepare the carriage?”
“If we take a carriage, it’ll take at least a month to reach the west. Do you want to arrive after the war is over?”
“Yes, you know that very well.”
Anna pouted, and I hugged her tightly.
“I’ll be back, Anna.”
“…Take care of yourself.”
“…Of course.”
After saying goodbye to everyone, I stepped into the yard. Closing my eyes, I felt my magic ripple around me.
Long-distance teleportation is a difficult magic; most mages can’t succeed, but in truth, it’s not that hard. You just imagine crossing the boundary of space, and it happens naturally.
‘Is that really so hard to understand?’
Once, mages at the Tower begged me to teach them long-distance teleportation. I obliged, and they angrily said:
“Do you think teleportation is just whoosh—then whoosh— and it works?!”
For me, it really was just whoosh—then whoosh—, but there’s nothing I could do about the massive skill gap. After that, no one asked me to teach magic again.
Anyway…
‘Why isn’t this simple thing working?’
I opened my eyes, realizing the flow of air in the yard had changed. I was on the castle walls, surrounded by armed knights.
“Princess Elopez! You’ve arrived!”
A knight, seemingly the commander, greeted me warmly. I had arrived safely.
“Shall we go inside first?”
“Is that necessary? Let’s go straight to the battlefield.”
“…Ah, one person hasn’t arrived yet.”
“…Who else is coming? I’m enough.”
It wasn’t arrogance; it was true. If someone less skilled came, they’d only get in the way. Even if a skilled person came, it wasn’t strictly necessary.
As I watched silently, the commander hesitated to speak. Suddenly, someone appeared where there had been no one—a man with golden hair and a familiar face.
“…Second Prince?”
“Princess…? Why are you here?”
“That’s exactly what I want to ask. Why are you here, Prince?”
Prince Sier, noticing me, quickly drew something from his chest, a worried expression on his face.
“Don’t misunderstand! I am following the Emperor’s orders. You are to participate in the war against the Citra Kingdom.”
This time he added that it was not intentional and handed me a sealed letter bearing the royal insignia—almost identical to the one I had received.
‘I see who’s behind this.’
The timing coincides with the Second Prince trying to cancel the engagement. When I unconsciously contorted my face at his blatant intent, he paled and said:
“It’s true. Please, believe me, Princess.”
…Who said what? From the outside, it must look like I’m about to devour someone.
