I am failing to see why you guys are having second male lead syndrome...He really isn't looking great when you look at all the facts. He has only helped her once in her childhood and for some reason it garners this response? Seriously think for a moment... If she did join the mercenary group earlier on, can you wholeheartedly tell me it wouldn't have ruined her relationship with her brother? Her going away to leave for some guy her brother doesn't know? Following along that thought, how about Palace life? Not only would she become an embarrassment because of the princess but her brother would have been scammed too. Nobody to help because there's no reason to help. That's if we think on the belief that Ares seemingly became attached because he went hip to hip with her. This is a more extreme situation with a bit of truth mixed in. Realistically if her brother didn't burn that paper she'd join and became the weapons advisor to the mercenary group, there is no reason to believe she wouldn't do same as she does presently earlier. Her brother would just become semi friends with Lancelot. Ares would always develop an interest- the natural law thing. She would recognize that Ares is good looking but not admit it. Lancelot would be pushed away on missions/oddjobs. The cycle of courting continues.