episode_0333

Help me.

Help me.

Serpina’s voice continued to ring in my ears.

Even though I was holding her in my arms, her voice was so pitiful… … that my heart didn’t flutter at all.

“Serpina… … .”

“Please, Swen. There’s no one around me. Now, now, there’s only you left… … .”

“There’s no one by my side… …They’ve all left. They’ve all either betrayed me, or lost their lives because of me, and are dead.”

“Swen, I know that I am not the lord in your heart… … But, I beg you anyway. Please, just this once, help me… … .”

… … What should I do?

Up until now, I had decided to help Serpina, but I had been living my life drawing a strict line so as not to get too close to her.

It was the least I could do for her. When everything was over, I had to return to Luna-sama. As she said, the lord I served was Luna-sama, not Serpina-sama.

The first person to make a promise with me was Luna-sama. I don’t know what Luna-sama thinks about that promise, but at least I’ve never forgotten it for a single moment.

Accepting her now would ultimately mean crossing the line.

Serpina is something that pushes its feet deep into the human heart. It becomes a relationship that is so entangled and tangled that it is impossible to escape.

That he gave her too many ‘illusions’ even though he was going to leave.

Let’s be objective.

The best conclusion for both of us was to avoid answering and calm her down quickly.

She seemed to be on the verge of collapse at any moment due to Jenna’s sudden death, but she was fundamentally a strong person. If I spent time with her to help her regain her composure, she would no longer act out against me. She didn’t want to cause me any trouble. She was a caring person who understood and respected my decisions.

She will quickly respond after regaining her senses and realizing that even though she lost Jenna, she can easily subdue the rebels. I will listen to her questions and give her a perfect solution with 100 intelligence, and that will be the end of it. It is a very simple matter.

therefore.

You should say something like, ‘Serphina, calm down. Nothing will happen. We can do it.’

Instead of putting that sentence in my mouth――

“Serpina.”

He hugs her tightly and spits out words straight from his heart, without any thought to his brain.

“I’ll help you, Serpina.”

“… … !!!”

“I will never leave your side. I will not betray you. I will not die. It doesn’t matter how many times it happens. I will be there to help you… … Calm down.”

Serpina was startled by my words and looked at me with her eyes wide open.

… … Honestly, even I couldn’t understand why I said that.

All I can know is that this is my true heart.

Putting aside my promise to Luna-sama, my will to protect Serpina-sama, and everything surrounding Airen-sama and Reika-sama—my heart was strongly telling me to protect her.

“… … Really?”

“Yeah. Really.”

“You won’t leave me… …? Really?”

“Yeah. I’ll never leave.”

“You won’t die because of me… … ?”

“I won’t die. Never. Serpina, you know that, right? Avoiding a life-threatening situation isn’t that hard for me.”

Only after hearing those words did I close my eyes tightly.

I’m so sorry.

He muttered an apology to himself, not even knowing who he was apologizing to, then slowly opened his eyes and looked at her-

“… … So, calm down, my lord. Let’s take it slow. Let’s show those traitors who dare to rebel against Lady Serpina a lesson. Got it? ”

At that moment, I could feel it anew as I looked into Serpina’s golden eyes looking up at me.

A feeling that is exactly the same as the intense feelings I feel for Irene.

――I love this woman.

That’s why I wanted to protect her.

The reason he didn’t turn back and continued to stay by her side even after Luna appeared was because of his love for her.

‘I can’t help but feel fortunate that polygamy is a common worldview… … .’

The thoughts that came to my mind in that desperate moment, while holding Serpina in my arms, were truly pitiful.

* * *

The outskirts of the castle of Balharat.

“As you commanded, I have sent the course of action to the lords in the territories surrounding Eingart Castle!”

“Thank you for your hard work.”

Airen, who had received the royal order – or rather, had received the order under Swen’s judgment – was quickly taking control of the situation together with Irian.

It is no exaggeration to say that the soldiers were able to maintain their composure even in the unprecedented situation of a rebellion breaking out in the capital city, thanks to their quick response.

“General Irene!”

From afar, Irian came running with an urgent expression on his face.

“What’s going on?”

“I have dispatched a search party as you said. Is it okay not to deploy troops to the border?”

Irene shook her head at Irian’s words.

“You don’t have to worry about that. The agreement is still valid.”

“Isn’t it possible that Mr. Brans will change his mind?”

“… … .”

When I heard the name Branth, a strange feeling passed through me for a moment, but-

Now she knew too. There was no more foolishness or anything left for that woman.

Because the last time we met face to face, I had shaken off all the remaining dregs.

So now, I can make an objective assessment of my former master, Lynn Branth.

“I wouldn’t do something so foolish. Even so, it would be okay not to prepare until the monarch’s policy is announced.”

“Okay.”

At that very moment, Irian and Airen were trying to sort out the situation and were waiting for Serpina’s new instructions.

“General Irian!”

A soldier approached Irian with an urgent expression and said.

“What’s going on?”

“Ioline has come to see you! She has something urgent to tell you… … !”

“Iolinega?”

Did you come here to take refuge?

No, if your only goal is to escape, there is no need to come all the way to the distant castle of Balharat.

Since the news was just delivered, I can guess that he came down here at a similar speed as the messenger… …simply to report that a rebellion had broken out at Eingart Castle?

The puzzle just didn’t fit together, but when they finally met, everything would be solved.

“Bring it this way!”

“Yes! He’s already waiting downstairs.”

“… … No, I will go there myself. General, please excuse me for a moment. ”

“Have a nice trip.”

After sending Irian away, Irene thought for a moment.

‘A rebellion broke out in the capital… … .’

Is this rebellion within Swen’s prediction?

So, in conclusion, is this rebellion beneficial to the country?

It was always that way. If you did as Swen said, you would eventually win no matter what. And Lord Serpina relied on Swen more than anyone else, and listened to him completely when it came to ruling.

But… …I heard that the former scribe, Jenna, lost her life. Does that mean that it was helpful to our army?

To be honest, it was an unacceptable conclusion, but it was not like he, a mere general, could come up with a suitable alternative.

‘It’s okay. Everything will be in Swen’s calculations. What I have to do is trust his decisions and support him.’

After the two of them created ‘evidence’ together, Irene’s feelings for Swen became even stronger.

Now, he was ready to obey whatever he commanded. Even if he wanted his life, he was willing to give it up.

It would not be long before Swen would show him the path he should take. It was clear that his job was to pave the way to where he was pointing.

In that way, Irene strangely erased the anxiety she felt towards Serpina.

All for Swen.

The only thing that could move the human named Irene Juliet was Swen.

* * *

“Brother… … !”

As Irian appeared, Iolin greeted him with an urgent expression.

“What about Zenith Orabeoni?”

“Zenith is standing guard around the castle. More importantly, why did you come down here? What about Al Kaski?”

“That’s… … .”

Ioline looked at her brother with an expression that looked like she was about to cry.

“Brother. Let me be serious. I have some really bad news.”

“What happened? Did our family suffer any great harm during the rebellion?”

“Would you believe me if I told you that it would have been better if that had happened?”

“… … What?”

Ioline let out a long sigh.

“Did you hear that it was Mary who led the rebellion?”

“I heard that story.”

Mary. It wasn’t an unfamiliar name. She was a diligent, bookish young lady who always stayed by Jenna’s side and followed her around.

That’s why I couldn’t help but be more surprised. I never would have thought that she, of all people, would kill Jenna.

“But, she was the one who led the rebellion, and the monarch the rebels installed was someone else.”

“What did you say… … ?”

“No, to be exact, it would be more correct to say that Mary did that because she had someone behind her.”

As she spoke, Ioline’s face darkened again.

“They haven’t announced it in a big way yet… …but I’m sure of it. Because I heard it with my own ears.”

When Irian heard those words, his head started to ring.

Of all people, Iolini heard it with his own ears?

And, after hearing that story, Ioline came to the castle of Valharat in a hurry to tell me something.

Feeling the maddening anxiety from all these facts, Irian, gripped by a tension as if someone was strangling her… …barely, carefully, separated her lips.

“That’s… …who is that?”

“… … .”

Ioline let out another long sigh and-

She calmly told the young head of the household the fate that had befallen her clan.

“Nathan Al Kaskey… … is my uncle.”

* * *