Chapter 15: Realization

Inside the command tent.

After finishing breakfast, Xavier and his generals were holding a briefing for the next battle.

“There are currently no signs of the Moirai forces attempting to cross the Hume River.”

“What about the Crown Prince? Have we gathered any information on his beast form?”

“Not yet… He hasn’t stepped out of his tent even once.”

Xavier stroked his chin with his index finger.

“That’s even more suspicious. Given his temperament, he’s not the type to stay cooped up in a tent.”

“That’s why I’ve sent three additional scouts.”

“Good. Any updates?”

“None so far.”

It was Moirai who had declared war on the Empire and invaded its borders. Yet, for two days now, they had been silent, as if this were the calm before the storm. The First Division, where Xavier was stationed, faced the midstream section of the Hume River, while the Second Division was positioned downstream.

“Any reports from the Second Division?”

“They’ve reported a significant buildup of sediment downstream over the past two days, but nothing else of note.”

“Is there a levee upstream? There shouldn’t be one near the border.”

“Could it have been a landslide?” 

Ethan cautiously suggested.

“There are no reports of that from the scouts.”

“Maybe they were so hungry they started digging up the river.” 

Wilhelm said, blinking his one remaining eye.

“Trust you to come up with something so stupid, Wilhelm.”

Jude, arms crossed, smirked at him, which made Wilhelm bristle.

“What? What’s that supposed to mean?”

“It means you can’t resist anything to do with food. Like someone possessed by a hungry ghost, you’ve been going on about chicken porridge since morning.”

Wilhelm’s face turned red at Jude’s teasing.

“Are you saying that for me to hear?”

“No, not you. I’m talking about Lady Graham. Since His Grace wasn’t paying her any attention, she’s switched tactics. Pretending to work hard, acting sincere—just pretending, pretending, pretending.”

“Jude.”

Xavier’s voice, laced with aura, reverberated through the tent.

“My apologies.”

At Xavier’s reprimand, Jude promptly apologized.

“Rexton, focus the troops downstream in case the specialized beastmen attempt to cross the river.”

“Yes, I will relay the order. Also, the Second Division was struggling with a shortage of healers and potions due to the high number of injured, but they managed to get through thanks to the supplies from the Graham Trading Company.”

“I see.”

With that, the meeting concluded. As Xavier rose from his seat, he suddenly turned to Rexton and asked, 

“By the way, has Lady Graham returned to Pins?”

“No, she’s currently washing dishes in the cooking area…”

Xavier’s teal gaze slowly shifted to Rexton, who faltered under the weight of his master’s oppressive stare and couldn’t continue.

However, Wilhelm and Jude, oblivious to the tension, quickly chimed in. Wilhelm raised his hand and reported loudly, 

“I saw her heading toward the waste disposal site earlier.”

“No, no. On my way here, I saw her loitering near the laundry area with a maid. She’s trying way too hard to get noticed—it’s so obvious.”

But Jude’s complaints fell on deaf ears. Xavier was simply dumbfounded. The contract had been signed; she could have just behaved like a proper noble lady, finished her tasks, and left.

Yet, for some reason, she was staying in the camp and continuously involving herself in something. And with great enthusiasm, no less.

Her actions were starting to seriously irritate Xavier.

Suddenly, the memory of that morning, when the beast had taken over him, flashed through his mind.

‘That soft texture! I’d love to touch that sleek butt again. Kiki seemed to enjoy it too.’

Xavier’s ears, which rarely betrayed any emotion, turned faintly red. It was a humiliation he had never experienced in his life.

Grinding his teeth, Xavier muttered, 

“How many bodies does that woman have?”

Rexton let out a quiet sigh as he observed Xavier’s exasperated expression.

“She seems determined to find work for herself.”

＊

After the rave reviews for the chicken soup, I enthusiastically threw myself into more volunteer work.

If you think war is just about fighting battles, you’re mistaken. Even Florence Nightingale did laundry and mended clothes on the battlefield. There’s an endless list of tasks to do in a camp.

I washed dishes, took waste to the disposal site, mended clothes at the sewing station, and now I was on my way to the laundry area with Maya, carrying a load of laundry.

‘Even after reincarnating, my fate hasn’t changed, has it?’

Having worked myself to the bone before reincarnating, maybe my soul had been permanently scarred by it.

I hadn’t intended to go this far. I just wanted to make a good impression on the Duke to ensure my survival. But before I knew it, I found myself genuinely putting in effort out of sheer stubbornness.

All just to hear a single word of gratitude. Even though he didn’t seem to appreciate it.

‘No, if I want to live comfortably for the rest of my life, I have to push myself now!’

Rekindling my determination, I quickened my pace toward the laundry area.

“Lady Graham.”

And then, Xavier Auguste appeared in front of me. A few steps behind him, Rexton stood with his hands politely clasped in front of him, waiting.

‘Why is he here? Could it be that he’s finally acknowledging my contributions?’

“Lady, I hear you worked hard making chicken soup early this morning.”

“Yes, it was delicious, wasn’t it? You finished it all, didn’t you?”

“I also hear you’ve been washing dishes, disposing of waste, and mending clothes.”

Ah, so my efforts have been well-reported to him. It was worth hovering near the generals. Feeling a bit smug, I couldn’t help but smile broadly.

“You seem to know everything, don’t you?”

Now, will you finally say thank you? Surely, you’re not someone who doesn’t know how to express gratitude.

With this, I’ve made a good impression. Now I just need to leave.

But Xavier’s next words shattered my expectations.

“And what exactly are you doing now?”

I fed him chicken soup, and this is the thanks I get? Can’t he just say it was delicious? I even treated him kindly, despite knowing he’s the ultimate villain. Guess that was a mistake.

I dropped the laundry basket onto the ground with a thud and replied curtly, 

“As you can see, I’m here to do laundry, Your Grace.”

The tense atmosphere drew the attention of passing volunteers, who stole glances in our direction.

I could feel Maya fidgeting nervously behind me. But I had no intention of backing down.

“Yuria Graham.”

Xavier’s eyebrows shot up. I matched his intensity, furrowing my brow and raising my own.

“Yes, Your Grace, Xavier Auguste.”

The silence was deafening.

Xavier was the first to break it, letting out a sigh-laden voice.

“Why are you doing this?”

“Why are you so prideful? If something tastes good, just say it does. If you’re grateful, just say thank you. I’m just a trivial baron’s daughter—I don’t know the ways of the high nobility. I can’t sit idly like other noble ladies while people are dying on the battlefield.”

“……”

Xavier’s lips parted slightly before pressing shut again. Sensing the moment, I launched my final volley.

“I have no intention of trying to win you over, so don’t worry. I stayed here just to tell you that. Now, goodbye.”

Ungrateful jerk.

Without waiting for a response, I picked up the laundry basket and marched past Xavier. Maya bowed to him and hurriedly followed me.

The nerve of him. I should’ve known better than to expect gratitude from someone like him. Why am I even doing this? The moment the mercenary captain arrives, I’m leaving without looking back.

Maya caught up with me, scolding as she did.

“Miss, how could you leave His Grace like that?”

“What? Why?”

“Weren’t you trying to get on his good side?”

“No, I’m going to make sure he never sees me again! I’m disappearing completely!”

“What kind of nonsense is that?”

Fuming, I stormed ahead of Maya.

The laundry area was piled high with blood-stained clothes and uniforms. Volunteers were diligently hand-washing them, and among them was Connie, the water spiritist, helping out.

“Deputy Master!”

He greeted me with a bow, and I returned it with a nod before rolling up my sleeves and sitting down at the washing station.

“Miss, give me the laundry. Why are you doing this? Your pretty hands will get ruined!”

Maya stood beside me, fretting and stomping her feet.

Ignoring her, I pulled out the washboard I had brought with me. Maya’s eyes widened at the sight.

“What’s that stick for?”

“It’s a hot item for hand-washing.”

“A hot item? What does that even mean? Oh, never mind. Miss~!”

Paying no attention to her protests, I began pounding the laundry with the washboard, pouring all my frustrations into each strike.

Just then, a soldier arrived, carrying a neatly folded uniform.

“This is His Grace’s uniform. Who’s in charge of it today?”

The moment I heard that, my ears perked up.

“Give it to me.”

Before another volunteer could take it, I snatched the uniform from the soldier and threw it onto the stone slab. The soldier froze mid-motion, but I ignored him.

Maya quickly reassured the soldier, promising to properly wash and return the uniform, and sent him on his way.

The sight of the sprawled-out uniform reminded me of Xavier’s smug face, and it made me feel a little better. I called out to Connie, who was still staring blankly at me.

“Connie, water.”

“Ah, yes, Deputy Master.”

A torrent of water gushed out beside me like a waterfall.

“Good water pressure.”

Gripping the washboard, I began furiously scrubbing the soaked uniform.

‘And what exactly are you doing now?’

Petty bastard.

His annoyingly handsome face floated above the uniform.

Smack, smack.

Thwack.

“Ah, this feels great. So cathartic.”

“Miss!”

Oh no, this is bad.

I cautiously picked up the uniform. The fabric, now riddled with holes, flapped in the breeze, revealing Maya’s pale, horrified face through the largest tear.

And, of course, the hole was right over the heart on the left side.

Damn it. Why did it have to tear there?

“What do I do? I’m doomed, doomed!”

It wasn’t until I had ruined the Duke’s uniform that I came to my senses. My mental state was as full of holes as the uniform.

“This must’ve been defective. How does a uniform tear just from a little scrubbing?”

Maya muttered under her breath, 

“You were pounding it with the washboard, and then you started slamming it against the stone slab…”

There was no excuse. I must’ve temporarily lost my mind.

I collapsed onto the wet ground of the laundry area. The dampness didn’t bother me—nothing mattered anymore.

“I’m just a lowly baron’s daughter, and he’s a Duke!”

I should’ve kept my temper in check.

If I wanted to live a long and peaceful life, I needed to stay on his good side. Why didn’t I just endure it? Why did I do this?

“Miss, you’re going to make things worse for yourself.”

Maya looked at me with pity as she sorted through the laundry.

“Maya, stop. I’m already drowning in despair.”

What if the Duke sees the ruined uniform, loses his temper, and kills me on the spot?

Terrified, I rubbed my face with both hands. Then, noticing the neatly folded black uniforms Maya was putting into the laundry basket, an idea struck me.

I had brought hundreds of uniforms. I could just send him a brand-new one.

“Right, I have plenty of high-quality imperial uniforms! If I give him a new one as a gift, he might forgive me.”

“I don’t know… His Grace might not appreciate a gift from you.”

“Then what should I do?”

“You should take it to him yourself and apologize sincerely.”

“I hate you, Maya.”

In the end, I carried a freshly ironed uniform prepared by Maya and headed to the Duke’s tent. Too scared to go in directly, I asked Rexton to tell the Duke I had a gift for him.

“If it’s delicious, just say it is. If you’re grateful, just say thank you.”

I wanted to sew my mouth shut for saying such nonsense.

But more importantly, where’s my Kiki?

If Rexton’s tent was near the Duke’s personal tent, maybe I’d get lucky and see Kiki. I had even brought chicken br*ast in a pouch, just in case.

I wanted to touch those soft jelly-like paw pads. And his belly. His teal eyes were so beautiful.

Thinking about adorable Kiki calmed my nerves, which had been frazzled by the Duke.

Standing in front of the Duke’s tent was Rexton, who sighed deeply upon seeing me.

“I’ve informed His Grace, but don’t get your hopes up.”

“Yes.”

I nodded firmly, closing my eyes.

At that moment…

“Meow, meooow!”

The sound of Kiki’s desperate cries echoed from the Duke’s tent.