10. Second
Merle had spent so many afternoons of her young life watching the Prince of Fanelia become a king. She had spent so many years sitting unusually quiet as Balgus spoke words of wisdom to his pupil.
The words had never been meant for her, she knew that, but still she chose to take them to heart. The training was not intended for her, yet she knew deep down inside that she was worthy of it. She was a warrior in her own right. And so she learned the philosophies of a fighter; she knew the soul of a soldier.
A battle is not won by mere strength; you need to conquer the difficulties in your mind, Van-sama. Only once you have truly understood that you have no equal will you be able to vanquish all of your enemies.
Merle hates being second. In her vocabulary, there is only number one. Van-sama taught her that, to be nothing but the best. She has lived in the realm of Fanelia royalty; she knows she is not a mere ordinary cat-girl. She may be an orphan, but Van and his family had never let her feel the weight of the world.
So when Hitomi arrives, and Merle has become second best, she can't stand it. She knows that her entire world is going to change.