I Don’t Want to Be a Lady

I was swept away by the rough current and couldn’t come to my senses.

“Keheug! Ugh! Brbrbr! Keck!”

Having been confined to the mansion all my life, I naturally didn’t know how to swim. Even if I tried to shake my arms and legs with all my might to live, my face hardly got out of the water.

Ah, no… Eventually, I couldn’t hold my breath any longer and swallowed the water in the river. The last thing I remembered was the sight of me getting swept by the current before losing consciousness.

* * *

This… What is this sound?

Crackle. The sound of firewood burning was heard in my ear.

My entire body felt heavy as if I was being pressed down by a wet blanket. I managed to lift my eyelids and saw the darkened night sky.

I’m sure I fell into the river… But where is this place?

I took a moment to catch my breath when I heard someone’s voice.

“You’re awake. That’s a relief.”

It was a strange but somewhat familiar voice.

“Who…?”

Soon after, I heard a familiar yet friendly voice that pleased me whenever I heard it.

“Arianne! You’re finally awake. Sigh.”

Someone’s figure fell over my view.

“Charter.”

Charter took my hand and put it to his cheek, then said in a watery voice, “I was really worried. There’s a chance… that something might go wrong with you…”

At first glance, it seemed that his deep black eyes were wet. I stroked his face and smiled because he looked really lovely. “Can you help me up, please?”

I was able to sit down with the help of Charter. My whole body was limp, but fortunately I was able to sit down. Then, someone else came into my eyes.

“Prince Paku?”

Why is he here? When I recognized him, Paku showed his teeth and smiled kindly.

“Long time no see, Lady Arianne.”

Charter’s eyes shone fiercely. “…She’s Lady Kaien.”

Charter was speaking like a wild animal. At this moment, if he is needlessly stubborn, they might see blood…

“Yes, long time no see. But why did you… Rather than that, where is this place?”

I looked around and asked as if I had just remembered. A bonfire was lit under the bare tree with few leaves. A river could be seen in the distance, and low grass sparsely grew around it. The overall view was rather unfamiliar and empty. No matter how I look at it, this place is…

“This is the Suran region of the Kelteman Empire.”

I frowned at Paku’s answer. “So this place is really Kelteman Empire.”

Now I have figured out the situation. I seemed to have been swept away by the strong current. It just happened that the direction of the current was to the Kelteman Empire.

“But I remember falling into the river, so why are you guys… in here together?”

Charter answered my question. “Seeing that you’re in danger—”

I opened my mouth wide. “The commander-in-chief followed me with his back to the battlefield?”

Charter’s face hardened for a moment, but I didn’t let go of my bewildered expression.

Did you think I would praise you for running after me? You fool!

Despite Arianne’s comment, Charter showed no guilt on his face. For him, Arianne was his whole world and his top priority.

I turned my head, still with a bewildered expression. “And why is Prince Paku here too?”

Don’t tell me he’s following me? One fool was enough for me. I asked, hoping he wouldn’t say the same thing.

Paku laughed. He was doing a lot of things that he himself didn’t understand. Neither today’s actions nor the actions on the battlefield to save her before that were at all rational, not like him at all. Looking at Arianne’s expression, he could tell she treated him like a madman.

It might be quicker for him to die by the sword of Charter, who was glaring at him from behind him. 

Charter’s brows crumpled up. It’s an obvious lie.

Apparently, Paku noticed Arianne was in trouble before Charter. As he watched Paku’s actions, Charter realized later that Arianne was in danger. Maybe if it wasn’t for Paku’s actions, he might have lost Arianne. Charter didn’t like that fact, and it was unpleasant, like a huge thorn growing out of his stomach.

Charter glared at Paku as if trying to figure out what was on his mind. On the other hand, Paku only silently tossed small twigs into the fire.

I then asked. “But what happens to the battle if the two commanders-in-chief are in here?”

* * *

“Shit!”

Pierre swept away his messy hair and uttered out a curse. He felt like he had come back alive in the face of death.

“Why do I have to suffer like this in a place like this?”

Originally, where was he supposed to be? He was supposed to be in his house now, getting food and drink prepared by his wife, watching his sons’ talent, and saying ‘hohoho’ while stroking his stomach. But what’s this situation?!

It’s all because of that damn woman! Right. If it hadn’t been for her, I would have been living well with my family in my house now! It was a very subjective imagination of ‘what would have been.’

Pierre vented his anger by hitting the ground with his crumpled helmet. “That damn bitch! If you wanted to die, you should have let me go and die by yourself!”

The soldiers around him slowly moved away to avoid him. Looking at him, they could tell that Pierre was the type you would be tired to handle. So it was best to avoid this madman.

A little while ago, as Arianne left the battlefield, Duke Kaien and Prince of Kelteman, the commander-in-chief of both sides were left. At that time, the soldiers fighting in the forefront stopped their swords and watched in dismay as their commander-in-chief suddenly disappeared somewhere. In the distance, a human figure fell into the river, and the Prince of Kelteman, with the Harpion’s commander-in-chief, jumped in one after another.

“Shit. What kind of situation is that?” Pierre muttered as he lowered the shield he was holding.

Both the Harpion army and the Kelteman army were equally perplexed. It was to the point they had already lost their fight in that absurdity. It was ambiguous to pick up their swords again while facing the enemy, and it was ambiguous to stay still. Fortunately, the quick-witted commanders on both sides hurriedly called for a retreat.

“Harpion army, return to the camp! Don’t fight anymore, and retreat!” exclaimed Viscount Bening.

“Kelteman army, return to the camp! Form your battle lines and retreat quickly!” shouted the Kelteman’s commander.

The battle ended just like that. It would probably go down in history as one of the most ridiculous and least damaging battles. However, no matter how small the damage was, there were casualties during the battle.

Pierre was deployed to the front line by Arianne’s special order and survived after a fierce battle. He had never held a sword before in his life, but he became a spearman on the front life and had to face the enemy first. Never in his life had he been so nervous and afraid.

Why the hell am I doing this here!

Pierre thought he was dreaming; this situation wouldn’t be real. However, the tension and excitement of soldiers nearby, the smell of sweat, and the sound of breathing were telling him this situation was real.

Pierre hoped as he watched the commander-in-chief converse with the commander-in-chief of the enemy army. Maybe there won’t be a battle today. But, disappointing his expectations, his commander exclaimed with the flesh in his eyes.

“March!”

Damn it. Pierre never wanted to take a step, but the push from behind forced him to move forward.

“Shit! Hey, these bastards! Don’t push! Stop! Uaah!”

That’s how Pierre fought the first battle of his life. Rolling this way and that way, he survived without even getting hit by a single bullet. It was more important for him to survive at the forefront, even if the cost was that he was in bad shape after rolling on the ground.

But right now, there was a problem. Baroness Devit, who was holding his leash, disappeared, so he thought he might be free now.

“Anyway, since the party to the contract is dead, doesn’t the contract end now?”

Then there was no reason for him to be here anymore. He was lucky to survive today, but there was no guarantee that he would be lucky in future battles.

Pierre rose from his seat as if determined. “Even if I look like this, I’m a noble! If I leave, I will leave!”

Then someone appeared behind Pierre.

“This. Sir Pierre, where are you leaving?”

Pierre’s body leaped up and down. Looking back with surprised eyes, he saw a stupid fellow with hazy glasses standing. “Sir… Bein.”

Although he hated to die for treating a mere commoner highly, that commoner had a position as an aide to a noble. The fact that he, a commoner, had more power than himself, who had a noble bloodline, was undeserved.

“That… Now that Baroness Devit has died, I’m free…”

For a moment, Pierre felt a terrifying pressure from those hazy glasses.

“I’ll take that as a misheard. Because Baroness is alive. And she entrusted me to handle you, Sir Pierre.”

Bein continued after a while. “Anyway, you’d better not think nonsense. I want you to know that my duty is to take the responsibility I have been given, even at the risk of my life. Then, bye.”

Bein turned his back and disappeared as if he had nothing more to see and say.

Pierre let out a hollow laugh. “No, she died because she was swept away by that river. Do you really believe that she’s alive?”

Pierre had no doubt that Baroness Devit, as well as Duke Kaien and the enemy commander, were all dead. Why? Because the name of that river was a river that could never be crossed, the River of Death, which boasted its fast current all year round.

“You won’t be able to find her body.”

Pierre, who had been sarcastic, hardened himself involuntarily at his sudden thought. “Could it be that they won’t let me go until they find her body?”

Pierre looked at the river reflected by the moonlight and prayed with all his heart. “Please… come back alive, you damn baroness.”