episode_0139

* * *

“So you’re saying that?”

“Yes, that’s right.”

In the deserted hallway of the castle, Serpina was chatting with a soldier dressed in stealth-like clothing.

“It’s definitely true, right?”

“Yes. This is a car that has been cross-checked with several soldiers of the Brans Army.”

Serpina was lost in thought for a while without answering…

Soon, he spoke to the soldier in a stern tone.

“I understand. However, I think it is only a speculation stage, so please do not increase the workload unnecessarily.”

“Yes, I understand.”

After the soldier disappeared-

Serpina walked toward the throne room to meet him.

*

When I arrived at the throne room, Serpina welcomed me with a smile.

Since that day, my advice happened to be right for Adari and the traitors were expelled early… … She had become quite attached to me.

“Master. I heard you called me.”

“You’re here, Swen. okay. I was waiting for you.”

good.

Since it’s been a while since I met my lord, let’s try to have a social life.

“I’m so glad you look healthy.”

“I’m happy even if it’s something I don’t mean to say. Let me show you yes.”

She asked me what was so fun, with an interested smile on her face.

“This time, there is something I would like to hear your advice on.”

“Are you talking about an alliance with Roland’s army?”

“It looks like it’s already entered your ears, right?”

Serpina crossed her legs and spoke in a somewhat tickling voice.

“Okay. They say Roland’s army hopes to form an alliance with our army for 12 months. I would like to ask your opinion on this.”

‘It’s an alliance… … .’

I wondered if it was okay to ask this of me, just one of the civil servants, rather than a government official.

Once you have a question, you can enter it, so let’s see.

‘Is it efficient for our military to form an alliance with Roland’s military?’

[This is an alliance that will suffer losses in the future.]

‘also.’

I thought so, but it is an alliance that our military does not need to form.

From our point of view, it is a meaningless alliance, but from their point of view, it would be an enormous benefit to take over the Brans army’s territory and advance into the central continent without our military’s intervention.

It can also be seen as a loss to us that the advantage exists only for the other party without any advantage for us.

Even if Roland County is a smaller country than ours, it would be a one-sided diplomacy.

Even if we quit the alliance midway because we don’t like it, our military will have to endure the loss of its reputation.

If so – we have no choice but to check the conditions they put forward.

“What do they say they will give you?”

“They said they would give a whopping 28,000 gold.”

“… … Yes?”

They give you 28,000 gold?

And that too in a lump sum?

‘They give me more money than I expected?’

During the long period of peace that followed on the southern continent, it seemed that they had been faithful to internal affairs and created quite a bit of surplus funds.

Even though Serpina County did not have trouble raising taxes due to its large territory, the more gold there was in this world, the better.

For about 28,000, I thought it would be enough to close my eyes and form a 12-month alliance.

It’s an alliance that doesn’t have much merit for us, so maybe Roland’s army also blatantly overpaid?

At least, if I were Serpina, I think I would have just accepted it… …

My prediction was, ‘This is an alliance that will suffer losses in the future.’

If that gold was the amount our military desperately needed, there was no way such a prediction would have been made.

It’s definitely a coveted gold, but… … Since it was predicted that there would be a loss, it was like a poisoned chalice.

“What do you think, Swen?”

“If it’s okay, could I hear your opinion first?”

“Jena suggested forming an alliance. He said that 12 months is not a very long time anyway, and considering that, the amount offered seemed quite reasonable.”

It wasn’t a decision I couldn’t understand.

Honestly, if I were in a position where I couldn’t predict intelligence of 100, I would have taken a similar position to Jenna.

Moreover, Jenna’s intelligence was not that high. In order to maintain balance, the generals under Serpina were only those who did not display particularly outstanding abilities.

Anyway, the decision is up to Serpina.

So, I guess it’s okay to just voice my opinion.

“I don’t think we should form an alliance.”

“I’d like to hear the basis for your opinion.”

“In this alliance, the only one who gains a strategic advantage is the Roland Army. From the perspective of our military, which is consolidating internal affairs, this relationship is not helpful at all. Rather, it is judged that there is a possibility that this may become an obstacle. Even assuming that our army goes into battle, I don’t think we will need Roland’s help.”

“You all know that. However, if you can still receive 28,000 gold, don’t you think it will definitely be a profitable business for our country? Because it’s only one year.”

‘1 year… … ‘It’s been a year.’

okay.

It’s only been a year, so why did such a prediction come out?

Having the correct answer meant that you could somehow extract something from it.

So far, if you’ve been tracking ‘Why is that the correct answer?’, wouldn’t it be a good idea to track ‘Why that’s not the correct answer’ this time?

“I guess… … I think there might be a better opportunity.”

“A better opportunity?”

Once an alliance is formed, it is almost impossible to form an alliance with another country.

The same would probably be true of the southern countries, including the surrounding Hesna County, Ohana County, and Karelia County, not to mention the Brans County and Aethus County above.

From there, I arrived at the question, ‘Are other countries considering an alliance with our country?’

If it can become an alliance worth much more than 28,000 gold – the prediction that ‘it is an alliance that will suffer losses in the future’ has come to be correct.

“Master. Once the balance of the southern continent is upset, our military is no different from holding a cherry blossom party. Rather than forming an alliance with Roland’s army right away, I think we need to wait and see the situation a little longer. There’s no need for us to make a hasty decision, right?”

“Is that your opinion?”

“Yes.”

After saying that, I bowed my head –

Serpina said as she ambled over.

“The thing that matches my thoughts is not Jenna, but the same person. Swen.”

“Yes… … ?”

“28,000 gold is definitely a lot of money. However, once the balance is upset, those who want to advance into the central continent will feel most afraid of our military. Isn’t it obvious that you would want to somehow join hands with our military, even if it means incurring the stigma of joining hands with a tyrant? There are people lining up to beg for us, but we can’t pass over already.”

Serpina said that and smiled as if it was fun.

It was something I always felt, but it was clear that if I were to embody the word absolute leisure in human form, the current Serpina would emerge.

“And… … Crucially, seeing as a small person like Roland Wachowski is making such a proposal, don’t you think it’s worth watching to see what other monarchs who will offer us something in the future will bring?”

Lord of Roland County, Roland Wachowski.

As a monarch without any special characteristics, he was the weakest of the four southern kingdoms, unable to unify the South in almost all situations when playing the game by selecting a different monarch.

I only knew that he was the weakest, but I wasn’t interested in his personality… … It seems like a pretty shabby figure.

“Of course, Swen. You knew that, so you told me that, right?”

huh?

“A person as small as Roland risked that much money. So didn’t you just guarantee that ‘there will be a better opportunity’? Even if you don’t say it, you can tell that much. Hehe… … .”

“… … .”

I lowered my head without saying anything.

what… … There’s no harm in thinking that way, right?

“Okay. Thank you for your comment, Swen.”

“No. I’m glad it was helpful.”

The moment I said that.

She suddenly changed her tone of voice and asked me with a straight face.

“Do you really think that?”

“… … Yes?”

“I asked him if he really felt fortunate that it was of help to me.”

?

What are you talking about all of a sudden?

How… … Although I was a little embarrassed by the strange change in Serpina’s mood, I did not show it and spoke in as polite a tone as possible.

“That’s right… … Since you are serving Serpina, of course you won’t?”

“Really? Then, can I say that I am located in your heart?”

“Of course it is.”

Jerk, jerk.

I felt her coming closer to me.

“Swen. Lift your head up and look me in the eye.”

When you raise your head-

Her beautiful face filled my field of vision.

The golden, sparkling eyes me… … No, to be precise, he was facing me with very intense eyes, as if he was trying to see through something inside me.

“I will ask you one more time. Swen. In your heart, this I… … Does Serpina von Eyngart exist?”

I was concerned about why they kept asking me so persistently, but-

I nodded and spoke, trying as hard as I could to show that I was curious.

“That’s right. From the moment you accepted my bet and showed me mercy, I decided to serve Serpina. Didn’t I tell you that I would be your faithful hunting dog?”

She looked straight into my eyes without answering.

I met her gaze without avoiding it.

shortly… … Her voice pierced my ears fiercely.

“… … I get it. I will trust you no matter what, Swen.”

“… … Yes.”

Although this situation was a bit unexpected-

For some reason, it didn’t seem like a simple gesture from Serpina to confirm my loyalty.

Something… … Have you heard some backstory about me?

Well, from Serpina-kun’s point of view, I must be a stone.

From matters that needed to be discussed with the government officials right away to minor matters related to state affairs, he would always call me personally to ask for advice.

From the perspective of people who had been working in the Serpina military for a long time with ambition, they were jealous of me and framed me – it was a very likely story.

Moreover, I was a man who had already changed masters three times. No matter what the circumstances were, it was also a perfect position to be bitten.

‘For the time being, I guess I’ll have no choice but to work for Serpina-kun as much as possible.’

Serpina is a very smart person.

to be honest… … Wasn’t what I said just now a lie?

The lord in my heart was not Serpina, but another woman. therefore… … In a way, those who wanted to frame him were saying the right thing.

In order to hide suspicion, I act strictly for the benefit of Serpina-kun.

It wasn’t that difficult for me because they always gave me the right advice.

In order to safely escape from this place with Iren and Reika, it was necessary to gain Serphina’s trust.

“Please trust me, my lord. I am willing to sacrifice my body for your great cause.”

“Didn’t I tell you? I will believe you. This is my decision.”

Serpina said that and just looked into my eyes.

The fragrant scent of citron passed my nose.

* * *

The throne room where Swen disappeared.

Serpina sat on the throne, resting her hand on her chin, lost in thought.

“When crossing from Brans County to Aceers County, and… … His actions until he became the general of Brans County are unusual.”

“Maybe he… … ”

Serpina, who was thinking about the story the soldier had just told her, closed her eyes and cut off the seed of the blooming thought.

Stories told about him.

However, I closed my eyes and let those guesses go.

‘I’ll trust Swen.’

Serpina wanted to make Swen hers.

I wanted to somehow get his heart.

How can you win his heart if you can’t even trust him?

I didn’t want to accuse him of something for which I had no evidence.

And even if that slanderous inference is true-

-I will win his heart with my own strength.

I muttered that in my heart… … I looked at the red carpet of the throne room where he had disappeared for a long time.