Lunamaria and Lilianne faced each other, their weapons held firm despite the exhaustion etched onto their faces after exchanging countless blows in a battle that was, by all accounts, an even match.
The conclusion would come soon. At the very moment Lilianne—and every spectator in the arena—realized this, a faint smile played across Lunamaria's lips.
"I suppose that's enough."
"What is?"
"It means I’ve achieved my goal. I forfeit."
"What!?"
Lunamaria casually raised her hand to signal her surrender. She then began gathering the weapons scattered across the arena floor, stowing them away into her Magic Box.
Lilianne watched in a daze. After a few moments, she snapped back to reality, picked up an axe that had fallen nearby, and held it out to Lunamaria.
"Just what on earth are you thinking?"
"Oh, thanks. It’s exactly what I said: my goal has been achieved. To be honest, if I’d been matched against Lili in the first round, this would have been over then. But since we were in different blocks, I had to win my way to the finals just to get to you. I never had the slightest interest in winning the tournament itself."
"You..."
As Lilianne opened her mouth to speak, Lunamaria cut her off with a cheerful question.
"Lili, did you have fun?"
"I... Yes. I was incredibly angry at first, but now that it's over, I feel... strangely refreshed."
"Then that’s good. It looks like you’ve finally let the tension out of your shoulders."
"What?"
"I suppose it’s a noble thing—to carry the expectations of everyone around you and behave exactly as a princess should. It’s likely the right thing to do. But humans aren't built to live while constantly pushing themselves. If you stay wound too tight, eventually, you'll snap. I believe that every once in a while, it’s necessary to forget the eyes of the world and play the fool."
"Luna..."
Those words came from Lunamaria's own bitter experience. When she first became an adventurer, she had been desperate to become a professional as quickly as possible so her mother could live in comfort. She had taken on requests at a frantic pace, recklessly tackling dangerous missions.
But her impatience had narrowed her vision, causing her to ignore the subtle warnings she would have noticed had she only asked a veteran for advice. In the end, she had put her mother’s life on the line.
"It’s okay. You should show more of your true self. You don't have to be 'the Princess Lilianne everyone wants you to be.' You can just be 'the Lilianne you want to be.' I won't tell you to stop caring entirely, but your own self matters too. If you embrace that, then surely, people who want to follow you for who you are—regardless of your royal status—will naturally appear."
"Is that... really true? Could I really..."
"Of course. Status is just an external accessory. At the very least, I like the Lili who was laughing innocently while we fought far more than the version of you I met a year ago."
Speaking in a gentle tone, Lunamaria finished packing her weapons and stood up. She gave a light wave and began to walk away, her back turned to Lilianne.
"Luna!"
"Yes?"
"Thank you. For saving me... For saving the 'Lilianne' who was trapped inside the cage of the princess role."
"I told you, didn't I? I saved you because I felt like it. It was purely for my own satisfaction."
"Will I see you again?"
"I suppose so, eventually. Let’s have tea together next time. We’re friends now, after all. I’ll make sure to teach you exactly how to let your hair down."
"Yes!"
Lunamaria glanced back once at Lilianne, who wore a radiant expression at the word 'friends,' and then vanished into the crowd without another word.
She left behind a distinct warmth in the heart of the young girl named Lilianne.
Then, after the turn of the year, as Lilianne welcomed the new season with a fresh heart, Lunamaria suddenly reappeared.
"And so, I am Lunamaria, the newest member of the Second Division of the Kingdom's Order of Knights! I look forward to working with you."
"Huh? What? Lu-Luna!? Why are you here? What about being an adventurer?"
"I quit. Well, when I was scouted with the promise that I’d get to see Lili again, I couldn't exactly say no. It was easy to get a special recommendation since I was a top-class adventurer."
"Eeeeeeeh!? No, when I said I wanted to see you, I meant we should meet up normally! Not this! Eeeeeeh!"
The reunion had come much sooner than expected. Lilianne was utterly flabbergasted that Lunamaria had so casually walked away from a long, successful career as an adventurer—one that had earned her a famous title—to start over as a knight.
Yet, despite her shock, Lilianne couldn't hide the joy that lit up her face.
By the time Lunamaria had fully settled into her new life as a knight, Sieglinde, who was training with her subordinates, felt a certain presence and stopped mid-motion.
"LUNAAAAAA!?"
"Hieee! It-It was just a little joke, wasn't it?"
"What part of that was a 'little joke'!? I am not letting you off today!"
To the knights of the Second Division, this was already a daily occurrence. Lunamaria would pull a prank on Lilianne at every possible turn, and Lilianne would chase her around with a sword in hand. It had practically become the Second Division's signature attraction.
"There they go again. The Division Commander and Lunamaria-san."
"Yeah. They really are close, aren't they?"
Nodding along with her subordinates, Sieglinde watched the two of them play tag with a warm expression.
Lunamaria’s presence had been a wonderful influence on Lilianne. Whenever Lunamaria felt that Lili was becoming too tense, she would use every trick in the book to tease her, acting in a way that forced her to relax.
Thanks to that, Lilianne no longer seemed so stiff. She had become approachable and well-loved by her subordinates. Recently, she had become so popular that some even whispered she should be the next King or the Knight Commander.
Lunamaria’s presence had also changed Sieglinde. Until then, Sieglinde had tried to be a friend who respected and pushed Lilianne to higher heights. She had tried to be a rival rather than just a friend.
But what Lilianne had truly needed was someone to laugh with. Realizing this through Lunamaria’s example, Sieglinde had started calling Lilianne 'Lili,' and their conversations shifted from work duties to casual chatter.
"Ah, Sieg! You’ve come at the perfect time! Save me!"
"Luna, thank you. Thanks to you, I’ve been able to change in many ways. I’m truly grateful."
"What’s with the sudden heartfelt speech?"
"Nothing. I just thought it might be nice to join in the fun for once."
Lunamaria—with whom she now shared a bond of true friendship—tried to hide behind Sieglinde’s back to escape Lilianne. Sieglinde spoke gently, then moved with lightning speed to get behind Lunamaria and lock her in a firm hold.
"Now, Lili! I’ve got her! Go for it!"
"Nice work, Sieg!"
"Eeeeeeeh!? This is a cold-blooded betrayal! Ganging up on poor, innocent me like this... This is practically bullying!"
"Save your breath. Are you ready, Luna?"
"Wait, forgive m—gyaaaaaaaaa!?"
Before they knew it, Lunamaria had become an irreplaceable part of their lives.
To both Lilianne and Sieglinde, she was a woman who insisted on being an equal friend, a presence that was as dazzling as it was warm.
In a room within the Royal Castle, Lunamaria bowed her head before Illness, the maid rumored to be the most skilled servant in the palace.
"Instruction? I don't mind, but are you really becoming a maid?"
"Yes, that’s the plan. Since my knight qualifications have been stripped, after all."
"I heard that you took the blame so that Milady and Sieglinde would not lose their positions?"
"Oh? I have no idea what you're talking about. I simply summarized the facts objectively and reported that I was the one most responsible for failing to notice the signs before that incident."
"You have a very troublesome, self-sacrificial nature, don't you?"
"Those two are at their breaking point. There’s no reason to force them to carry the extra weight of formal responsibility. Besides, it’s not like I ever actually wanted to be a knight, nor do I have any knightly pride to protect."
The two were discussing a recent incident where the Second Division had unwittingly set up camp at the epicenter of a monster stampede.
Anyone with even a modicum of knowledge could see that the incident—which had left Vice Division Commander Sieglinde with severe injuries—had been a setup. However, a formal scapegoat was necessary for a disaster that could have wiped out an entire division.
Lunamaria had negotiated directly with King Ryze. Since there had been no fatalities, the matter was settled by her departure from the Order of Knights.
This was kept secret from Lilianne and Sieglinde. Ryze encouraged Lilianne to leave the knights and become a Duchess instead, presenting it as a form of punishment when it was actually a move to protect her.
However, because Lunamaria had taken the fall, the kingdom provided Lilianne with extensive support for the establishment of her Ducal House. Lilianne might have eventually realized how light her punishment was and suspected Lunamaria’s involvement, but she currently lacked the emotional leeway to think that far ahead.
"So, a maid then? There is always the option of serving as mansion security."
"Lili is incredibly unstable right now. Sieg is blaming herself too, but Lili is even worse. She needs someone by her side to support her."
"Why do you go so far for her?"
"Because that’s what I want to do."
"I see. If you are fine with me as a teacher, I will show you what I know."
"Thank you very much!"
After receiving Illness’s consent to teach her the ways of the maid, Lunamaria bowed deeply. They agreed to discuss the details later, and she headed to Lilianne’s room.
Inside the lavish royal chamber, Lilianne sat looking down at the floor as she packed her things.
"Lili, what are you doing? Your hands have stopped moving."
"Luna... I... What am I supposed to do? It’s my fault... because of me... If I had only been more reliable... then Sieg wouldn't have..."
Watching Lilianne mumble with her head down, Lunamaria gave a small smile—and then slapped her across the cheek with all her strength.
"Ow!? Wait, why does my hand hurt more than my face when you didn't even use mana?!"
"Luna?"
"Ahem! How long are you going to mope over things that have already happened, you Idiot Lili!?"
"Wh—!?"
"Listen to me. Sieg isn't dead. She’s alive! If that’s the case, stop dwelling on the past and start thinking about how to heal her wounds! You can play the tragic heroine all you want, but it won't change a single thing!"
Lilianne sat in stunned silence. Lunamaria placed her hands on the girl’s shoulders, gripping them tightly as she continued.
"There has to be a way. Sieg can be healed. It’s going to be okay. I’m coming with you. If the two of us—no, the three of us look together, we’ll find the answer in no time."
"You’re... you’re coming with me? But Luna, the knights... and what about your mother?"
"I quit the knights. I was never that attached to them. As for my mother, well... I’ll be expecting a very generous salary, Milady."
"..."
Looking at Lunamaria’s fearless smile as she spoke so casually, Lilianne finally let the tension drain from her body and laughed.
"Heh... fufu. I suppose that depends on your performance then?"
"Oh, you've got some nerve. Just you wait. I’m going to make you say, 'I'm nothing without Luna' before we're done."
"Ahaha... I’ll be looking forward to that, Luna."
"Good. Now, let’s get this packing finished. We don’t have all day."
Lunamaria stood up and began organizing the room to change the subject. Watching her back, Lilianne whispered in a tiny voice.
"I’m so glad you’re here, Luna. But I guess it's a bit late for that. I reached the point where I couldn't do without you a long time ago."
"Hmm? Did you say something?"
"No, nothing at all."
"Oh, look at this, Lili! A nostalgic toy! I used to have one of these too. Want to play for a bit?"
"Weren't you the one who just said we didn't have all day?"
"Oops, totally forgot. My mistake. Oh, wait, what's this!?"
Watching Lunamaria find interesting things to talk about every time she tried to clean, Lilianne smiled with genuine, deep-seated joy.
"You’re always playing the fool like that... You really are a troublesome best friend."
Serious-senpai: "That was some good drama. Setting that aside, by 'playing the fool,' does that mean that’s how you evaluate Lunamaria?"
Mystery Entity: "Yes. As I told Kaito-san once before, I like people who play the clown. I feel a certain sense of kinship with them."