Ch.109Chapter 109. Choice, and Consequence (1)

* * *

Underground prison of Anel Castle, the capital of Brans Kingdom.

“Here’s your daily food ration.”

The guard’s tone was extremely polite for someone delivering meals to a prisoner.

But he had no choice.

After all, the imprisoned person was—

“Thank you.”

—Farfalle, the woman who had served as the national strategist.

“Is there anything else you need?”

“No. You’ve been very accommodating, and I’m doing well. Thank you.”

“I’m only doing what’s expected.”

“And my lord…?”

“There’s been no word yet… but General Chel asked me to tell you that he will try to persuade her somehow, so please wait a little longer.”

“I see.”

Farfalle nodded, then answered with a resolute tone.

“I’m grateful for the considerations you’ve shown me. I will never forget this kindness.”

“Not at all. Then, I’ll take my leave.”

The guard showed his respect with a light salute to Farfalle before backing away.

As his footsteps faded into the distance, her emotions became increasingly clear in her mind.

Imprisonment.

Farfalle’s charges were insubordination and abuse of authority.

Despite clear orders to fight against the Aeshus forces, she had acted on her own judgment and pulled troops back near Anel Castle, the capital. She was imprisoned to take responsibility for this action.

When Lynn, consumed with rage over Farfalle’s independent actions, furiously declared that “insubordination is treason, and traitors deserve execution,” the surrounding vassals barely managed to intervene, somehow ending the matter with imprisonment.

Though she was in solitary confinement, it wasn’t actually that uncomfortable.

Meals were provided regularly, she was given books worth reading, and even had a private bathroom.

There was even a simple bed fully furnished.

Of course, these were special provisions made for Farfalle after her imprisonment, and it seemed that Lynn, as the sovereign, didn’t bother to make an issue of these accommodations.

Perhaps Lynn also knew that this approach was correct—hiding her excitement and thinking calmly.

That was Farfalle’s speculation.

‘My lord…’

Although she had ended up in this state, Farfalle still hadn’t let go of her connection to Lynn.

Certainly—Lynn was somewhat arbitrary, arrogant, and unwilling to listen to others.

But she was a capable ruler who could move forward without hesitation if the situation improved and if there was nothing to disturb her heart.

While the public might call Lynn a tyrant, at least she wasn’t like Serpina of the North, whose very existence brought bloodshed.

From Farfalle’s perspective, who believed that what this world needed was a monarch’s charisma, Lynn was the only one worth serving.

Besides, if Lynn had truly been beyond redemption, Farfalle’s head would no longer be attached to her shoulders by now.

Farfalle let out a short sigh.

The matter of Irene Juliette was already out of their hands.

It was time to pull herself together and strengthen their forces based in Anel Castle once more.

If Lynn changed her mind and sought her counsel now, Farfalle was ready to rush to her side at any moment.

‘Please open your eyes, my lord…!’

For that moment, she needed to survive.

Farfalle forced herself to finish every bit of the food given to her.

To continue this tenacious life.

* * *

Meanwhile, in the royal palace of Anel Castle—

Chel was kneeling before Lynn.

“My lord. It has been several weeks since Farfalle was imprisoned.”

“…”

“Please reconsider your decision now. She made her decision out of pure loyalty. And there is still much she needs to do for you. In this precarious situation facing Serpina’s forces, we must judge her crimes but then use her talents again to avoid collapse.”

Chel was speaking frankly to Lynn.

In fact, he was the only one in this country who could speak directly to Lynn, the absolute sovereign.

Not only was he related to her by blood, but unlike Kalintz who had no particular achievements, Chel was a core talent of the nation who had accomplished countless feats.

Lynn knew this as well.

She also understood that her dignity could not be maintained indefinitely in these troubled times.

Objectively speaking, the Brans forces had already lost more than half their territory. She was well aware that the loyalty of her generals had somewhat diminished due to recent events.

But even so—

She couldn’t allow herself to be pushed back unilaterally.

The moment someone in power showed weakness was precisely when they became vulnerable to attack.

This was something her father had told her many times.

“Brother. Don’t you find it strange?”

“Please speak.”

“According to Farfalle, Serpina’s forces should have attacked our territory by now… but there’s been no movement yet. Because we’ve openly shown a loss of fighting spirit, the lords and soldiers at the border are in growing confusion, feeling abandoned. I’m focusing on defending the capital for your sake, but even I can’t tolerate this much longer.”

“That’s…”

Yes.

According to Farfalle’s thinking, the castles around Anel should have all fallen under Serpina’s control by now.

Her opinion was that they would continue to advance, and since we couldn’t stop them, withdrawing troops was the right move.

But Serpina’s forces had stopped advancing at some point.

As a result, soldiers and commanders at the border had been in an “abandoned situation” for a long time, accumulating discontent.

“…I think it’s only a matter of time.”

“No. Maybe Farfalle’s thinking was wrong?”

“My lord.”

At Chel’s words, Lynn sighed deeply.

“…I know, brother.”

She muttered that she understood Farfalle’s reasoning wasn’t nonsensical, lowering her head.

Lynn was no longer able to maintain a strong appearance.

Given her personality, she would have shouted at Chel several times despite him being her eldest brother… but she couldn’t do that now.

She too was backed into a corner.

“…Brother. You know.”

“…”

Chel bowed his head silently, focusing on Lynn’s words.

“If… Swen were here.”

Swen.

The white-haired man who called forth miracles.

The commander who followed Irene Juliette when she betrayed them and defected to the Aeshus forces.

“If Swen were here, what would he have said? Wouldn’t he have told us… what would be best to do?”

Her voice began to tremble.

Her blue eyes shook violently.

“I mean… looking back, everything he said was right, wasn’t it? Someone like that… was deceived by Irene… and ended up like this? So, I…”

She covered her face with both hands.

The woman who always maintained high charisma was now openly breaking down in front of her subordinate commander.

Chel wasn’t seeing this for the first time. It was the kind of weakness she had often shown only to him, her blood relative, before she became the ruler.

“Should I… should I have… acknowledged Irene?”

“…”

“Since childhood, I’ve heard that she, who was born merely to serve our family, excelled me in every way… Did all this happen because I refused to acknowledge her…?”

Silence.

Chel knew all too well that adding any words now would only be poison.

“…No. I can’t acknowledge her. I should have… killed Irene earlier. I should have cut off her head long ago. Then… Swen too.”

He always said the right things.

He swore loyalty to me.

He was deceived by Irene. Deceived by her and betrayed me.

“My Swen would never have been deceived by her!!!!!!”

“My lord, please calm yourself!”

Chel rushed to calm her as she began pulling at her hair.

“Let go! I said let go!”

“Lynn! Calm down!”

“!!!”

Lynn was startled by the voice calling her name and stared at Chel with a pale face.

…Standing before her was not the national general but her eldest brother.

A look in his eyes she hadn’t seen since childhood.

“Calm down, Lynn. This is something we can’t change now.”

“Brother… I…”

“Think about it slowly. We can build everything up again from the beginning. You’re the ruler. You can’t waver at times like this. This country rests on your shoulders. …Understand?”

Lynn didn’t answer and just lowered her head.

Chel didn’t seem to expect an answer from her either, as he slowly moved away from her and bowed at a 90-degree angle while saying:

“…I implore you once again to make the right decision.”

Then he slowly left the royal palace.

Left alone in the palace, Lynn was only now beginning to realize.

What consequences her unreasonable “choices,” prioritized by her emotions, had brought about.

* * *

And at the royal palace of Balhart Castle.

“A messenger from Serpina’s forces?”

“Yes.”

“Why? The messenger we sent hasn’t arrived yet, has he? Did they cross paths?”

Even if their paths had crossed, too much time had passed.

By now, they should have arrived long ago.

The messenger who brought the news answered Yurie’s question with a troubled expression.

“I’m sorry. I don’t really understand the situation either…”

“Is that so?”

It was somewhat concerning, but what could possibly be wrong?

“Tell them to come in.”

“Understood.”

Shortly after, a messenger knelt before Yurie.

“I am honored to meet Yurie, ruler of the Aeshus forces.”

“Let’s skip the formalities and get to the point, shall we?”

“I have come to discuss the treatment of the prisoner Anima Ingram.”

Hearing this, Yurie jumped up from her seat in surprise.

“Anima…?”

“Yes.”

Wait, isn’t that something that should be discussed with Swen, the messenger we sent?

Why… why send a separate messenger to us?

“…Go ahead and explain.”

“Our lord Serpina is willing to release the prisoner Anima Ingram.”

“If she’s willing to release her, she could just do so. Why create this drama?”

Despite Yurie’s somewhat aggressive tone due to her frustration, the messenger maintained his composure and spoke respectfully.

“However, there is a condition.”

“We sent 7,900 gold. Is that not enough?”

“That’s correct.”

It seemed they had realized that Anima was an important commander in our forces.

Yurie inwardly shuddered.

‘That cunning woman…’

What would she demand?

Surely… she wouldn’t demand Laclaine Castle or Zelstrom Castle?

At least in Yurie’s common sense, that would be the maximum Serpina might demand.

If she asked for a castle… honestly, Yurie could give it.

There would certainly be complaints about the excessive payment, but… if it was a castle likely to be lost anyway, prioritizing Anima’s safety was the better choice.

Ginor had also said that maintaining three castles at the border was strategically disadvantageous for our forces in the long run.

“Fine. What does she want?”

However.

What came from the messenger’s mouth was something Yurie had never once considered.

“The man you sent to our forces as a messenger.”

“Swen? Why Swen?”

“Hand him over to us.”

“!!!”

What… did he say?

To Yurie, who looked shocked with disbelief, the messenger was simply—

forcing the “ultimate choice” upon the ruler of the Aeshus forces with an emotionless tone.

“Hand over Swen to our forces. In exchange, we will release Anima Ingram.”