Leina Vance is the protagonist of Queen's Blade: The Exiled Virgin. She is the middle daughter of the noble Vance family and the heir to the title of count, yet she rejects the suffocating life of an aristocrat. Driven by a desire to follow in the footsteps of her mother, a warrior, Leina runs away from home and enters the Queen's Blade tournament, a competition to determine the realm's next queen. Her personality is headstrong and independent; she likes to do as she pleases and is eager to face a variety of opponents in order to grow stronger. She possesses a strong sense of justice and a bright, determined character, often helping powerless people she encounters during her travels. However, she is also somewhat naive and prone to fear, and when overwhelmed by a powerful foe she can be visibly terrified. Her core motivation is to become a powerful warrior in her own right, not for wealth or prestige, but to refine her skills and uphold justice. During the events of the story, Leina is placed under a sleep curse by the Swamp Witch, forcing her to sleep sixteen hours a day and causing sudden drowsiness that can strike even in battle. Under the alias Maria, she later dons a mask and continues her journey. Leina has key relationships with her family members: she is the half‑sister of Claudette Vance, the older sister of Elina Vance, and she holds deep admiration for her mother, whose sword she inherits. She also respects the bandit Risty, with whom she once crossed swords but forfeited the fight upon recognizing Risty’s own sense of justice. As a fighter, Leina is a skilled all‑around combatant who wields a sword and shield. Her signature technique is the Dragon Tail, a powerful energy attack. She has the ability to copy the abilities of opponents she observes, enabling her to adapt in battle. After encountering Claudette, she gains lightning manipulation and can combine it with her own attack to create a Lightning Dragon Tail. She also learns a warrior priestess kick from Tomoe. Her breastplate carries magical defensive properties that protect her from harm, and her mother’s sword, later reforged as Evindil, proves effective against demonic forces. Over the course of the series, Leina develops from a runaway noble into a seasoned adventurer, gaining new powers, overcoming her curse, and solidifying her role as a champion of the weak.