episode_0273

* * *

Before interrogating the prisoner.

Luna was consulting with Jinor about what was going on.

“Then Vanessa… … .”

“You can’t let her live. At the same time, you can’t let her live. She’s a different class from other prisoners who can’t respond. She’s a woman who will definitely catch her master’s ankle in some way.”

“… … Is that so?”

It was the answer I expected, but I couldn’t help but sigh right away.

Vanessa’s choices may not have been the right ones, but at least when it comes to the consequences of antagonizing herself, she did what she had to do.

After all, as she said, she had betrayed Karelia.

Noticing Luna’s expression darkening, Jinor shook his head and spoke in a serious tone.

“Don’t feel sorry for her. Besides, isn’t there a justification for her master’s treason? I heard that Vanessa was the one who planted the spy to eliminate her master first. It’s not something to feel guilty about, and I don’t think it means that what she said was right. ”

Although Jinor had come in after the rebellion, he had already heard the entire story of how the Lunarian army had been run up to that point, having obtained the position of national strategist.

In his opinion, Luna was not at fault. It was Vanessa who had provoked Luna into rebelling.

This was something that no matter who the third party was, no, even Makana Karelia had no choice but to agree to.

However, Luna shakes her head with a slightly sad expression.

“No, that’s not true.”

“My lord, that’s-”

“I don’t pity Vanessa.”

After saying that, Luna looked at Jinor with a determined expression.

A kind of confidence that only those who are prepared for anything can have is engraved in her ruby eyes.

“I… … never intended to be under Karelia-sama forever. From the very beginning, the day Karelia-sama accepted us, not even once… … Because there was someone who promised not to miss the opportunity. To be honest, I wonder if Vanessa-sama was just a trigger.”

“My lord… … .”

“In order to rise up, you need a territory, but there is currently no territory on the continent that is not under the sphere of influence of the feudal lords. What if you gather private soldiers and rise up? It may not be too much, but it would take too much time. The fastest and most efficient option is only one. The result of raising a rebellion… …I’m telling you that it may not have changed. ”

Ginor was sparing with words, rather than adding anything further.

Yes. As long as she has ambitions, she cannot be satisfied with being a lord under the Karelian army. If we look at it from that perspective alone, Vanessa has shown some insight.

In conclusion, the problem was that the method was a mess, but because it was a mess, Luna was able to seize the opportunity.

“It’s okay. You said that if we don’t get our blood on, the blood that will eventually get on ours will be ours. I won’t forget what you said, Jinor.”

“If you know that, I think you will know what to do in the future.”

“In the future, is that what you mean?”

“Yes.”

Jinor bowed his head with shining eyes.

“It’s not just Vanessa we’ve captured.”

“… … !”

“If you’ve gotten this far, I think you know what I’m talking about… … .”

“… … Okay, just a moment.”

Luna’s expression began to tremble, in stark contrast to just before.

It couldn’t have been different from when I dealt with Vanessa. It was true that Luna was definitely a person with an upright and gentle personality, but she was also just a human, not a saint. Depending on who you deal with, the weight of life you deal with can only be felt differently.

And Jinor speaks directly to her in a firm tone, as if he will not tolerate her circumstances.

“Execute Makana Karelia.”

“But… …! If we execute Karelia, there will definitely be those who will be dissatisfied! It would be a bad decision in the long run, wouldn’t it? … !”

“The hearts of the people of the territory, and especially the hearts of the people of the capital city, are directed toward the lord, not Karelia. In the case of the armed forces, those with the ability and fame to pose a great threat in the long term were killed in the Battle of Tepelo Castle. If there were more to gain from killing Karelia than to gain, I would have recommended saving her, but that is not the case now.”

“But, still… … The reason why the people of Yeongji are not happy is because of Vanessa… … .”

“That is why it is even more important to deal with it now. It will not help you at all if the people of the territory know that ‘Karelia was not bad’. Rather, it means that now is the best time for the people of the territory to not blame you for torturing her as their ruler.”

“But… … !”

That moment.

Jinor, who had been keeping his head down and observing the courtesy of a strict vassal relationship, raised his head and met her eyes-

“Please forgive my rudeness, my lord. However, there is something I must tell you.”

“Mr. Jinor… … ?”

“Makana Karelia was one of the few lords who had their own agenda on this continent. She had even made her mark on the southern continent. People flocked to her at the sight of her. Remember that someone with such power can always return to this continent, whether she wants it or not. Even if she doesn’t want it!”

“… … .”

“Lynn Branth executed all the lords he captured, regardless of their abilities. Regardless of abilities, it is impossible to be a monarch without ambition. He made that decision because he was wary of that ambition. Furthermore, Karelia is not completely incompetent. Doesn’t your lord have unbreakable goals and dreams? Isn’t that why you said that when you talked about Vanessa earlier?”

At those words, Luna lowered her head without finding a word to respond.

I have to… …

The person who accepted me, with my own hands.

“These are troubled times, my lord. There has never been a time when the value of loyalty shines as brightly as it does now. No matter what decision you make, I will follow you, my lord, but please keep in mind that not all the awe-inspiring eyes that are directed at you now will always be directed at you. ”

* * *

Looking at Ginor’s face, who answered without any hesitation, Luna recalls that conversation again.

Execute Makana Karelia.

And, as if trying to recall that time now… …Ginor spoke in a very firm tone.

Luna looked at Karelia with trembling eyes.

Karelia, who was looking this way while tied up… …was not shaking. I didn’t feel any fear of death from her at all.

But it is not a sense of relief that comes from thinking that you will not die.

Rather, it seemed as if he had no intention of going against anything – a very calm appearance.

“Karelia… … .”

“It’s okay. I have no grudge against you. In fact, I was the one who tried to kill you. Don’t you know that?”

But before I could even say that it was all Vanessa’s doing on her own―

“It was my subordinate who did it. It’s all my fault. I acted as a monarch with the intention of taking full responsibility for the consequences. Isn’t that how it is for everyone?”

―Karelia, as if taking the initiative, covers Luna’s mouth first.

“I tried to get rid of you, who was loyal to me, because I was afraid of you, and I failed. If I had won the siege of Tepel Castle and suppressed your rebellion, wouldn’t it be you who would be tied up here, not me? This is what it means to have the authority to throw soldiers’ lives into the battlefield. So of course I don’t hold any grudges.”

but.

Isn’t that unfair?

It is true that in the end, the person who accepted it ended up betraying it.

Even though the man named Books made a series of wrong choices that ultimately ended his life.

She was still trying to shoulder everything on her own.

A strange feeling that could not be explained in words dug into Luna’s heart.

If she had said even one word, asking if I had been ungrateful and dared to betray her.

Would it have felt any better if he had said just one word, blaming Vanessa for begging for his life?

at that time.

“Luna Princess.”

“… … Yes.”

“This is it, you look like you’re about to cry at any moment.”

Only after hearing those words did Luna notice that her eyes were moist.

“When I first became a monarch, I often heard that a monarch should not show tears. How many years ago was that? … …As Vanessa said, you are really a person who resembles me in many ways.”

“My lord… … .”

Karelia laughed a few times without saying a word.

Within, he stares into Luna’s trembling eyes with his unwavering, dark green eyes.

“It’s ridiculous to say this while I’m a prisoner… …but let me give you one last piece of advice. Don’t make the same mistake I did.”

“!!!”

Luna immediately understood the meaning behind Karelia’s words.

The same mistake she made――taking an ambitious vassal under her wing.

“What a mistake… … .”

“My dream is not over. For the sake of all those who sacrificed their lives for me… … I will never give up this dream. Even if you save me, I can’t give up my dream for you. And that’s… …Luna-kong, isn’t that why you ended up like this?”

mistake.

Luna, who had been holding back well, finally breaks down in tears at that sentence.

“Thanks to that, I, we saved our lives… … .”

Karelia’s mistake.

But if it hadn’t been for that mistake, if Karelia had supported the majority opinion, including Vanessa.

Going a step further, if he had handed over his new soldier to the then powerful Lynn Branth under the pretext of diplomacy… …

A variety of options flashed through her head, none of which ultimately came to fruition.

“Lord Lunalian. You are the one who can surpass me. That must be the biggest reason why Vanessa was so afraid of you. From the perspective of the people of the territory, if the war can end, who is above them is not that important, as long as it is not Serpina, right?”

“And, I am very happy right now. I think that if it were you, Princess Luna, you would be able to stop the villainess Serpina who has driven the continent into a swamp. ”

Looking at Karelia speaking like that, Jinor could feel that his thoughts were not wrong.

That he could give such calm advice even when facing death.

Karelia is a dangerous woman. She is someone who can never be under anyone.

“So, don’t cry… … and cut off my neck. And if you feel sorry, promise me that you will put an end to the war, overthrow Serpina, and bring peace.”

Luna didn’t answer for a long time, but her body trembled…

Within seconds, he wiped away all the tears with his sleeve and looked into her eyes without avoiding them.

“… … I promise.”

“Thank you.”

“Drag it.”

“Yes!”

At the order of Zinor, who spoke instead of Luna, the soldiers took the captured Karelia to where Vanessa had gone.

Just before being dragged away, Karelia, who was expressing her gratitude to Luna――smiled brightly as if she were a child.

And that was the last Luna saw of Karelia.