Zola

Zola (ゾラ) was the second official wife of Balcus but eventually divorced by Balcus during war event between Holfort Kingdom & The Principality.

Appearance
She has long noble tangled styled hair. She is often shown with earings and vests with her own jewelry across her body to show her supremacy as a noblewoman.

Personality
Zola is a typical Holfort noble lady: arrogant, haughty, unfaithful, and greedy. She is also callous and hypocritical. She has no qualms about sending her husband’s children to die in battle for more wealth, and accuses of them of not doing any work, while she never works herself. She is a strong believer in the system where women receive better treatment than men.

During Gabino's rebelion, it is further shown that Zola has care no one but herself. She uses her own children for her own gain and doesn't hold back to punish Rutart when he fails to perform his task.

Volume 1
Zola appears with her children the day Leon regains his memories of his past life.

10 years later, Zola makes an arrangement with another noble to marry Leon off to their 50 year old daughter. Leon refuses and he and Balcus manage to convince her to postpone the marriage in exchange for them getting her the money she would have made from it.

She is present when Leon arrives back with Luxion and immediately demands that the boy hand over everything he acquired while adventuring to her. Leon refuses, as adventures have total ownership of all items acquired while adventuring under the law.

She returns to the Bartfort Household, with Merce and Rutart, exactly the same day when Leon was returning home with Angelica and Olivia with him and was complaining to Balcus for all the trouble Leon had caused in the Royal Capital. When Leon came home, he was hiding behind Angelica and as Zola didn't know her, she behaved rudely towards her. But when Angelica's identity as the duke's daughter was revealed, Zola's behavior took a roundabout turn and started to treat her in a courteous manner. When Angelica asked Zola why the eldest son, Rutart wasn't helping out with the household duties and why is she constantly away from the residence. Zola tried to dodge the question by asking Angelica for why she was here to which Angelica replied that she had come for sightseeing and would staying at Leon's home until her household contacts her. After hearing this Zola was flustered and returned to the Royal Capital the next day with her children.

Volume 3
Zola appears in Volume 3 when Balcus attempts to recruit Rutart into the war. The boy hides behind his mother and Zola refuses to allow him to participate, but when Balcus pushes, Zola snaps, telling Balcus he has no control over Rutart as Balcus isn't his real father, accidentally revealing the boy's true parentage. Realizing her mistake, she quickly tries to backtrack her statement, but Balcus has no interest in hearing it and leaves.

After the war, Zola loses her noble rank for deserting and the Holfort Kingdom's system changes, allowing Balcus to divorce her.

Volume 7
A year after the war, Zola creates an organization to be called The Forest of Lady around a deserted forest and turns it into a village for any woman who is still dwelling into her past glory. Zola is invited by Gabino for a plan to destroy the Holfort Kingdom to regain her life and having the law of "Woman must be on the top" to be returned again.

During the war, Zola commands Rutart to kidnap one of Leon's fiance but only to have Jenna and Finley to be taken by Rutart instead. This infuriates Zola as she assumes that Leon wouldn't care to have them to be threatened. However, Zola doesn't expect that Leon really come to save them alongside Oscar after Zola has let Merce to torture both sisters. Before Zola able to react, Leon has freed both of his siblings and Zola has herself to be beaten down badly at the same time as Merce by Finley as a fit of vengeance.

After Finley has left Zola and Merce to be alive but dying, Zola injects Rutart with the serum to turn him into a monster for a distraction so Zola and Merce can make an escape. But instead of giving more chance to prolong her chance to stay alive, the monsterized Rutart cannibalized both Zola and Merce instead.

Family
Although she was against him fighting in the war to the point she accidentally revealed his real heritage, Zola saw him nothing more than a disposable tool to acquire more power and wealth, as to how she viewed all men.
 * Rutart

Later on, Zola still took Rutart in her custody and had him to disguise as a garden tenant for the school to take any girl who wants to have the old rule to be returned. During the war, it is further revealed on how badly Zola treat Rutart without proper love, not like what she does towards Merce. Ironically, Zola is killed by Rutart as a monster without self awareness when she turns him into a monster.

It is yet to be known on how far Zola cares for Merce, but Zola praises her for being able to seduce King Roland and poisoned him in secret. But with Merce shows on how she disgusted on the family bond between Jenna and Finley, it is strongly suggested that Zola is not kind towards Merce too, although Rutart is treated worse than her.
 * Merce

Ex Family
Because she sees Luce’s sons as stupid and worthless, she has no problem with Leon dying in battle or being sold to a fifty-year old woman, all in order to acquire more money.

Zola has no real love for Balcus. She sees him and his children by Luce as nothing more but means to acquire more wealth for her lavish lifestyle.
 * Balcus Fou Bartfort


 * Leon Fou Bartfort

Just as Zola has no real love for Balcus, she doesn't have love towards Leon. However, she bears a strong hatred towards Leon more than towards Balcus as Leon is responsible to turn the life of Bartfort's family and able to make Balcus to be brave enough for divorcing Zola since Leon has made his family to be able to live even without Zola's share of wealth.


 * Finley Fou Bartfort

Zola is unaware that she is antagonized badly by Finley.

Trivia

 * She likes to have a private lesson with her servants.