I got goosebumps from the long, glistening pupils nearby. They said the area near the campsite was safe, but that was all lies.
I felt guilty for unnecessarily putting Lindel in danger, too. I should have been more patient.
No, why did he have to pick a fight in the first place?
The reptilian eyes repeatedly dilated and contracted. They were exhaling quiet breaths, poised and ready for our next move.
Lindel called to me while staring straight ahead.
“Hey.”
“What?”
When I responded curtly to his curtness, he glared at me sharply, not realizing his own tone.
I returned a crooked smile in response. He sighed deeply and muttered that he would let it go.
“You’re letting it go? Speak properly, will you?”
That’s crossing the line.
My pride was hurt hearing such words from Lindel, the official immature one of Epine.
He sighed, asking if this was important right now. He gripped the sword at his waist tightly and asked.
“Can you run away?”
“Run away? Where to?”
“Into the camp.”
“Bringing the monsters with me?”
He pointed to the largest tent in the center. It was the Grand Duke’s tent.
“You can go to the Grand Duke.”
“His Highness might be defenseless.”
I shook my head, saying that wouldn’t work. Lindel immediately frowned.
“Are you really seeing that b＊stard?”
“Why does that become the conclusion? And who are you cursing at?”
“Ha. Already taking his side.”
“Even if a stray dog came by, I would take its side. Not yours.”
“Hey!”
“Lower your voice.”
This was not the time to growl, but Lindel just couldn’t help himself.
No, I need to focus.
I sighed deeply and was the first to signal the end of our verbal battle.
“So what do you want me to do?”
“…Run inside.”
“I told you that’s not possible.”
He rolled his eyes in irritation at my repeated refusal.
“I’ll hold them off, so go call people.”
“What?”
“Hurry and bring help. I can’t handle this alone.”
After thinking for a few seconds, I realized there was no better option.
If two people entered the camp together, the unprepared people inside could get hurt.
And I, who had never even held a sword, couldn’t face the monsters either. Both options would only lead to unnecessary sacrifices.
I bit my lip hard. Then, glancing at him, I threw out a gruff comment.
“Don’t get hurt.”
“Hurry back.”
Right after our conversation ended, I ran with all my might toward the camp. At the same time, Lindel drew his sword. From behind, I heard the screams of monsters.
Kreeeek-!
As I was sprinting toward the inside and about to shout, someone quickly brushed past me.
“Lindel!”
It was Calix, who had come running from somewhere. Looking back, I saw Calix blocking a monster that was lunging at Lindel.
Lindel’s left arm was already soaked in bl＊＊d. I turned my gaze away from there and ran, gritting my teeth. This was all I could do right now.
Just as I entered the camp and was about to shout, my eyes met with the Grand Duke’s, who was talking with Ante in front of the tent. As if guessing something, he quickly approached, leaving Ante behind. The Grand Duke asked worriedly, seeing my urgent breathing and gestures.
“What happened?”
“Huff, huff. Your Highness, the forest, in the forest. Lindel, Calix.”
“You stay here.”
Having sensed the situation, he quickly ran toward the forest. Though I couldn’t match his speed, I urgently followed behind. Hoping it wasn’t too late.
“Urgh-!”
When I arrived, Calix was being pushed back by the force of a monster. Lindel was struggling as well.
Lindel blocked the monster with a pained expression. As expected, the two of them alone were not enough.
Monsters with appearances too bizarre to be given specific names kept emerging endlessly.
“Lindel!”
It was the moment when another monster was about to pounce on Lindel from behind.
The Grand Duke’s sword, who had arrived before me, sliced between the monster and Lindel.
Swoosh-
Kwaaang-
“…!”
“Urgh-.”
The monsters were silently cut down by the Grand Duke’s sword energy that flew without hesitation. The monster about to pounce on Lindel from behind died without even a scream. The backdraft of the sword energy pushed Calix’s body backward as he stood right in front.
Kwaaang-!
With the flash of light, the crisis detection magic activated inside the camp. The piercing alarm rang out mercilessly.
Beeeep- Beeeep-
“Haa, haa.”
As I was catching my breath, I heard people who had been organizing the camp running toward us.
“They shouldn’t come… this is bad.”
What excuse should I make?
Meanwhile, the Grand Duke continued to send out sword energy, cutting down monsters. Calix and Lindel also gritted their teeth and continued to clean up the remaining monsters. Unlike the Grand Duke, they seemed to be struggling.
Kreeeek-
Clang-
Kwaaang-!
Dust rose hazily wherever the Grand Duke’s sword energy brushed past. Trees that had been there disappeared, and large holes formed.
“Cough-.”
They were the ones fighting, but my legs were about to give out.
The Grand Duke, having roughly sorted out the situation, came to me and supported my staggering body. He led me toward the inside of the camp, leaving behind the two who were still fighting one monster each.
“Didn’t I tell you not to come?”
“I couldn’t just stand far away, stomping my feet anxiously. Though coming didn’t help either.”
When I said this while scratching my cheek, the Grand Duke smiled and said that was just like me.
“Thank you, Your Highness. It could have been a disaster.”
“I’ll hear the explanation later.”
“Yes.”
While we were talking, the two who had cut down the last monster walked toward us. Calix bowed his head to the Grand Duke and expressed his gratitude.
Then, I stepped hard on Lindel’s foot as he stood there with a sullen face. After stepping on it about three times, Lindel bowed his head.
“…Thank you.”
His tone clearly showed how reluctant he was. The Grand Duke simply nodded in response. Soon after, the expedition members who had been inside the camp arrived. They gasped at the devastated surroundings.
“What on earth happened here?”
The Grand Duke answered in a casual tone.
“These two discovered monsters trying to enter the camp and were fighting them.”
Calix and Lindel flinched. The knight asked again with a confused face.
“What? Are you saying they went outside the camp alone after discovering monsters? Besides, this area is supposed to be free of monsters.”
“They instructed my maid to relay the message.”
“Even so, leaving the camp like this on their own…”
“I will punish them later.”
When the Grand Duke drew the line, the northern knight bowed and retreated. The capital’s expedition members also withdrew quietly, seemingly not wanting to bring up their side’s mistakes.
“Hmm, when we return, I will ask Count Epine about this incident.”
Sir James from the capital warned of Epine’s accountability and disappeared with a serious face.
The Grand Duke ordered the knights to return to their positions and prepare for departure. The situation was quickly resolved.
Thus, the other expedition members retreated to their places. Only the Grand Duke,  Calix, Lindel and myself remained.
“Umm…”
An awkward silence flowed between us. After quietly observing the three people, excluding myself, I suggested to the Grand Duke.
“Your Highness, before I explain the situation.”
“Yes, Lora.”
“Shouldn’t we treat his wounds first?”
I raised my hand and pointed at Lindel. Lindel’s face was turning pale in real time.
The Grand Duke looked at him indifferently and spoke.
“He won’t die. Not from that much.”
Bl＊＊d was trickling down from Lindel’s arm. I smiled gently as I watched.
“He will die.”
*** 
“…Thank you.”
While Lindel was being treated, the Grand Duke personally offered his tent. Despite the glares from both the capital and northern sides. It was his determination to hear a clear explanation of the situation.
When the treatment was finished, Calix, Lindel, and I looked at different places, watching each other cautiously. The Grand Duke asked me.
“What happened?”
While I could somewhat predict how the Grand Duke would react to Lindel if I spoke honestly, I wasn’t entirely sure.
Should I sugar-coat it?
No, let’s not do that. It’s not like he’s going to kill him, right?
Having made up my mind, I opened my mouth toward him.
“I lured Lindel into the forest.”
The Grand Duke frowned, troubled by my opening statement.
“To kill him?”
And an unimaginable answer came back. I stared at him blankly. The Grand Duke asked again, seriously.
“Then why did you call him?”
Beside us, Calix cleared his throat with a “hmm.”
“Why did you treat him? For perfect evidence destruction?”
What’s wrong with you, too?
“…None of you are serious, right?”
While wondering why everyone was avoiding my eyes, I persistently chased their gazes. They stubbornly avoided looking at me.
Just as my eyes were narrowing into threads, Lindel, who couldn’t stand it anymore, opened his still-blue lips.
“It’s my fault.”
“That’s right, it’s Lindel’s fault.”
When I promptly answered, Lindel sighed while giving me a side-eye. Then, with his face still pale, he spoke firmly.
“I will tell you everything. But first, please explain why Lora is here.”
It was an uncharacteristically serious attitude, but I cut off his words.
“No, Lindel. The order is wrong.”
Calix also let out a deep sigh.
“Yes. Lora is right.”
“Brother!”
“I apologize. I will explain everything that has happened until now.”
Pushing aside the agitated Lindel, Calix began his explanation.
His words were exactly as I had expected. Surprisingly, the two of them didn’t know that I was Lora.
When he mentioned that they hadn’t noticed at all, the Grand Duke and I simultaneously looked at them with contempt. To think they couldn’t recognize their sister, whom they had known for ten years. Those idiots.
Anyway, the conclusion was this:
Having heard rumors that Lora had been rejected by the Grand Duke, they thought the cause was the maid I was disguised as.
That the maid had seduced the Grand Duke.
That useless misunderstanding had caused this current situation. Naturally, I was furious.
“Even if that were the case, I left Epine. What business is it of my brothers? You’ve never been helpful in my life, not even once!”
“Lora…”
Not only Calix but even Lindel hung his head. I didn’t feel sorry for them at all.
“And don’t you think it’s really petty? Not saying anything to His Highness, but bullying a powerless maid.”
“…”
“You two haven’t changed, from then till now.”
The two remained silent with their heads bowed. It was a situation where they had nothing to say, even with ten mouths.
Calix moved his lips a few times before closing them again. After hearing our story, the Grand Duke said just one thing.
“This is the first time I’ve been so insulted.”
Not only had they doubted me, but suspecting the Grand Duke’s private life was also a tremendous rudeness. Calix and Lindel’s heads lowered, seemingly wanting to disappear into the ground.
The Grand Duke sighed and dismissed them with a nod, regarding them with palpable disdain.
“It would be better not to think about interfering with Lora’s affairs from now on.”
“…”
“Get out.”
The two walked out dejectedly. Their backs looked miserable. I clicked my tongue at those pitiful retreating figures.
“You should have behaved better when you had the chance.”
Once the two had completely left, the Grand Duke suddenly chuckled. Seeing his smile, I asked.
“Why are you laughing?”
“You look strangely alike.”
“…With whom?”
The Grand Duke raised the corner of his mouth as if asking if I didn’t know. I also raised the corner of my mouth as I looked at him.
“Your Highness, why are you trying to create conflict with me since morning?”
“That can’t be. Me, in conflict with you.”
He rose, saying we should also prepare to depart. I sighed as I watched him heading outside the tent.
“How can we be alike? Their souls are completely different.”
*** 
The departure was being delayed again.
This time, it was because of the capital’s leadership, which suddenly insisted on moving separately. It was an overreach that went beyond the command authority issue.
“That is absolutely not possible.”
“Having two expedition teams moving together like this is too inefficient!”
“This is the safest method. And the most efficient one!”