---

Camilla, born into a strict knightly family, lived a life bound by chivalry and discipline from a young age.

“Don’t lose your dignity.”

“Know your honor.”

“Protect the Empire’s subjects.”

These were the words she heard countless times as she toddled around.

Of course, she didn’t dislike hearing them. She fully understood and acknowledged that these were things she had to uphold.

However, with her naturally adventurous spirit, Camilla found her restrictive family suffocating. Thankfully, as the cute youngest of four siblings and under the doting protection of Count Tristitia, she lived under somewhat looser rules compared to her brothers.

If not for these privileges, she might have run away from her stifling home.

Perhaps due to her upbringing, what mattered most to Camilla was always her interest. Whether it was something trivial or monumental, if it piqued her curiosity, she would dive in headfirst, no matter the consequences.

This tendency worried Count Tristitia and her brothers, who feared she might get hurt. Their overprotectiveness continued to this day.

Camilla herself acknowledged this as her own fault, so she tried to satisfy her curiosity without causing them undue worry. Even the famously reckless Camilla didn’t want to trouble her family.

Balancing her thirst for excitement, she grew up and eventually enrolled in the Demia Empire Academy, where her restraints were finally loosened.

The Demia Empire Academy, known as one of the safest places in the world, was brimming with elements that fascinated her. Here, she could indulge her curiosity without worrying her family. In this win-win situation, no one could stop her.

And among all the fascinating things, one person left the most intense impression and sparked her greatest interest: Gilbert Lion Heart.

The so-called black sheep of the Lion Heart Count Family, Gilbert made waves from the moment he enrolled, standing out more as the semester progressed. He wiped out Resistance terrorists, won the competition tournament, and even thwarted an unprecedented academy attack.

No one could call him a black sheep anymore based on his actions alone.

This intrigued Camilla. She was dying to know what had caused such a change in Gilbert, who had once been notorious for his reckless behavior.

This was a first for Camilla. Never in her short life had she wanted to know someone so deeply.

Even for her, who always sought out interesting events and curiosities, a change had come.

So, she wanted to know even more. What was the source of Gilbert’s occasional anxiety and worry? What thoughts and goals did he have? She wanted to know it all.

That’s why she followed him to Bismarck during this break.

But once she arrived in Bismarck with Gilbert, things changed. Simply chatting with him became fun, and eliciting his annoyed reactions became a joy.

Camilla, who had always sought out interesting events, found that simply getting to know one person could be just as exciting.

Even she couldn’t clearly explain what this feeling was. She just went along with her curiosity, as always.

However, her lightheartedness changed when she heard that the Sigurdians might wage war.

Even the carefree Camilla couldn’t help but be startled by the word “war.”

Only then did she understand why Gilbert had been so anxious and worried. He already knew that war with the Sigurdians was inevitable.

Realizing this, Camilla bit her lip. The pranks she had played on him on the way to Bismarck now felt childish.

She felt pathetic for thinking of ways to embarrass him while he was agonizing over the impending war.

Unable to bear her self-loathing, Camilla expressed her desire to join the war to help Gilbert. After all, she was a member of the great Tristitia Count Family.

Though her training had been lax, and her skills paled in comparison to her brothers’, she still had more than enough ability to lend a hand.

But Gilbert firmly refused her participation. His stance was that he couldn’t involve a guest of the Lion Heart Count Family in the war.

However, Camilla knew that wasn’t the real reason.

The privileges she enjoyed as a member of a count’s family weren’t just handed to her at birth.

While such families undoubtedly existed, the Tristitia Count Family wasn’t one of them.

“Know your honor. Fulfill the obligations of what you enjoy.”

A passage every direct descendant of the Tristitia Count Family had to memorize.

If one wished to uphold their rights, they had to bear the corresponding responsibilities.

The Tristitia Count Family was at the forefront of upholding the Noblesse Oblige.

Thus, if the Sigurdians attacked the Empire, it was their duty to take up arms and face them.

This was an unbreakable rule, even for Camilla, who lived for her interests.

Gilbert couldn’t possibly be unaware of this. So, there was only one reason he excluded her from the military formation.

“I must be below standard, right?”

Camilla bit her lip again as she watched Gilbert’s colossal mech leading the troops at the forefront.

She understood. Objectively, Camilla had no war experience, and her mech control skills weren’t outstanding.

It was a well-known fact that having her in the military wouldn’t be of much help. Even with her duties as a member of the Tristitia Count Family, Gilbert, as the supreme commander, was solely focused on winning the war.

This made Camilla feel something. A boiling sensation deep in her chest.

Biting her lip and reflecting on her feelings, she realized what it was.

It was frustration and helplessness. Frustration at not being able to help her friend and helplessness at her past wasted years.

And these feelings sprouted when she saw Gilbert win the war in an unprecedented way.

Wiping the blood from her lips, Camilla looked at Gilbert standing proudly and made a resolution.

“I must stand by his side.”

With this resolution, her complicated feelings suddenly turned into joy.

As always, Gilbert was an enigmatic person. Just when she thought she understood him, he showed a different side.

This time was no different. He ended the war in an unexpected way, without a single casualty.

Camilla smiled brightly, thinking of how she would tease Gilbert when he returned.

– Kwaaang!

“Gilbert!”

Until he was suddenly attacked.

***

Lily, watching Gilbert at the forefront of the troops, had to admit it.

He had changed. Though he couldn’t completely erase his past as a black sheep, he was undoubtedly no longer the Gilbert of old.

Leading the most dangerous frontline was no small feat, especially for a supreme commander. His character was evident in this alone.

If everyone deserved a second chance, Gilbert had more than earned his.

And Lily finally accepted this. Reflecting on all his actions since arriving in Bismarck, she had no choice but to accept.

She decided to forgive Gilbert when he returned. She had given him a second chance, and he had seized it spectacularly.

The reason for his change didn’t matter. Ultimately, Gilbert had become a better person, and the kind-hearted Lily chose to accept that.

Of course, the scars from that day still lingered deep within her. They might remain for life, but she felt they could finally heal.

“He really never fails to surprise me.”

Lily smiled as she watched Gilbert after over a decade, thinking what a troublesome man he was.

Gilbert was up to his usual antics at the forefront. He started something called the “Volsung Saga” and subdued the Sigurdians.

Though the meaning of the “Volsung Saga” was unclear, the fact that it could end a potentially devastating war with minimal casualties was astounding.

Standing before countless Sigurdians and behind countless Imperial soldiers, he looked as natural as if this were his rightful place, unwavering.

“Is this also because you’ve changed?”

Lily let go of her childhood image of Gilbert and took in the man before her.

She had once hated the old Gilbert enough to want him dead, but she quite liked the changed version.

“I should at least say something when he returns.”

Lily muttered to herself and chuckled. A little complaint wouldn’t hurt.

She thought she might finally get a good night’s sleep.

If not for the unexpected bombardment.

– Kwaaang!

“Gilbert!”

Only after hearing Camilla’s scream beside her did Lily snap out of it.

What just happened?

The last thing she saw was a Sigurdian soldier firing at Gilbert.

She thought the war had ended before it began, but that was just an illusion.

The communication screen was filled with dust. Both sides drew their weapons, ready to charge at any moment.

In the middle stood Gilbert’s colossal mech, seemingly trying to prevent the war from reigniting.

Lily frantically looked for Gilbert’s mech. The thick dust still obscured his condition.

I was too complacent!

Thinking the war had ended too quickly was her mistake. No matter how good the plan, there would always be dissenters. Overlooking this fact came back to bite her.

Camilla shouted at Dorothy, who had turned pale. It seemed Camilla intended to rush into the battlefield.

“No, you can’t!”

“Why not? Gilbert’s in danger!”

“That’s exactly why you can’t! My eldest brother told me to stop you two from joining the battlefield, no matter what.”

“Is that really the time for this?!”

Camilla’s face was twisted in a way Lily had never seen before. Lily herself almost made a similar expression but held back and tried to calm the agitated Camilla.

“Camilla, calm down. We can’t act recklessly here.”

“Don’t stop me, Lily! You saw it too! Gilbert was attacked! By a mech’s bombardment!”

“I know. And I feel the same way. But if we interfere now, Gilbert might be in even more danger. So… we have to wait.”

“But…!”

Camilla tried to argue further but stopped when she saw the blood trickling from Lily’s lips. She realized how Lily felt holding her back.

With her sharp demeanor softened, Camilla noticed Dorothy’s trembling hands and pale face. Only then did she realize that Dorothy was the most devastated here and silently hugged her.

“Sorry, Dorothy. I should’ve thought of you.”

Dorothy shook her head.

“No, it’s understandable. I want to rush out there too.”

But she couldn’t, knowing she wouldn’t be of any help in the war. Rushing in would only cause more trouble.

The troops were already organized, and they were trained regular soldiers. No matter how much Dorothy’s skills had improved, participating in a war was a different matter.

But… brother.

Dorothy was still deeply worried about Gilbert, whose condition was still unknown.

Logically, surviving a magical bombardment designed to take down mechs was nearly impossible.

But even thinking that made Dorothy feel like collapsing. After all, Gilbert was her family.

How long did the tense situation last?

[Stop making a fuss.]

A dry voice echoed through the valley via the communication magic.

Hearing that voice, Dorothy’s strength left her, and she collapsed. It was the familiar voice of her eldest brother, Gilbert.

Thank goodness. He’s alive.

Dorothy let out a long sigh of relief as she saw Gilbert standing proudly amidst the settling dust, looking as composed as ever.

 

---