Ch.115Chapter 115. The Wanderer’s Fate, Pointing to Serpina (2)

* * *

A few days later.

Irene knelt before Serpina von Einhart, who had come to visit her room.

Serpina looked down at her indifferently, showing no signs of bewilderment as she spoke.

“I heard the general story from Swen. You said you want to serve me?”

“Yes, Lady Serpina.”

Irene answered while slightly examining Serpina’s face.

She’s truly beautiful.

It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say she possessed the most beautiful appearance among all the women Irene had ever met.

She had thought Lynn Brans, whom she previously served, was quite beautiful, but compared to Serpina before her eyes, Lynn was merely a drop in the ocean.

“Irene Juliette… the red-haired knight, specialist in siege warfare. A name I’ve heard before. Having someone of your talent helping me would certainly be a great asset. I can approve your qualification without even asking about your skills.”

“It’s a humble reputation, but I’m honored that you recognize it.”

“However.”

Serpina spoke in a somewhat cold voice.

“I heard you betrayed the Brans army and handed over an entire fortress to the Aeshus army. And now, you’re essentially betraying the Aeshus army and your lord Yurie again.”

“…”

“Of course, Irene. I am not reproaching you. In these chaotic times, all rulers except myself are merely warlords, so it would be foolish to place much meaning in whom you serve. However, I am curious about your motives for deciding to betray twice.”

Irene pondered for a moment, then looked into Serpina’s eyes.

There was no hint of malicious intent to torment her in those eyes.

Irene knew better than anyone what kind of gaze people who harbored hatred directed at her.

She had lived her entire life receiving such gazes.

In that case… rather than making up something, it would be better to speak honestly.

Irene carefully parted her pink lips.

“I was abandoned by my first lord, Lynn. My second lord, Yurie, abandoned Swen. I have nothing to say if you call it betrayal, but I simply cannot serve someone who easily abandons others anymore. And.”

“And?”

“When I was abandoned, Swen willingly shared the stigma of being a traitor with me. Now it’s my turn to face that stigma head-on for him who has been abandoned. That’s all I think, with no other motives.”

Hearing those words, Serpina gave a faint smile.

A thought crossed Irene’s mind: So this person does change expressions sometimes.

Along with that, another thought stirred in her mind: How could someone merely smiling possess such captivating charm?

Even to another woman… her beauty was flawless.

“I do not dislike those who maintain their own loyalty even without recognition.”

Then, she extended her snow-white hand with precision toward the kneeling Irene.

“Irene Juliette, from this moment on, I expect you to serve our army well.”

“Yes!”

After telling her to stay here until further instructions and turning to leave-

“Um, excuse me…!”

“…?”

Reika, who had been in the corner, cautiously raised her hand to ask Serpina a question.

Of course, “asking a question” was just a figure of speech, as she was stammering too much to properly speak.

“Th-th-that is!! I, I, um… L-L-L-Lady Se-Se-Serpina…! I, I mean, ha-ha-ha, I have s-something to, no, I w-w-would like to ask…!”

“…”

Serpina silently approached her slowly.

“Eek…!”

The closer she came, the more Reika naturally shrank back.

She looked exactly like a mouse confronted by a cat.

“Calm yourself. I won’t eat you or anything.”

“Ah, I, um, I…!”

As she became even more flustered by Serpina’s words and didn’t know what to do-

“Reika.”

Irene approached and touched her body, and only then did she take a few deep breaths and speak again.

“…I… would like… to send… a letter…!”

“A letter?”

“Yes! I, I mean… to my father… I’d like to send a letter… but I don’t know where…”

She had clearly prepared the question in her mind: “I’d like to send a letter to my father, but since this is my first time here, I don’t know where the postal facility is. If it’s alright, could you please tell me where to go?” But Serpina’s aura intimidated her so much that she couldn’t speak properly.

Fortunately, perhaps, Serpina spoke in an indifferent tone without paying much attention.

“Bring it to me.”

“Eh, y-yes…?”

“I said bring the letter to me.”

“Ah! J-j-just a moment, p-please!”

Ah.

She bit her tongue.

Although she continued to fumble afterward, she somehow managed to hand the letter she had written to Serpina.

“I will deliver this for you. Is that acceptable?”

“What? You don’t need to…”

“It’s fine. This hardly counts as doing you a favor.”

“Ah… th-thank you.”

Bow.

As Reika gave her thanks, Serpina asked her a question.

“You look surprised.”

“…Pardon? Oh, m-me?”

“Yes.”

“…”

Reika had an expression that suggested she was unsure whether to speak or not-

But for some reason, feeling it might be okay to say it, she carefully opened her mouth.

“Well… Lady Serpina seems a bit… different from what I’ve heard.”

“Oh?”

“I-I mean! That… I’m absolutely not criticizing you… but, according to my father, I heard you were a very frightening person… so, well.”

“I see. So I am now holding a letter to be delivered to your father who describes me as a devil.”

“What? No, th-that’s not it…! I-I mean, not like a devil…!!”

Pfft.

With that slight sound, Serpina raised the corner of her mouth and said:

“Whatever others say about me, it’s none of my concern. If I couldn’t withstand such rumors, I wouldn’t be worthy of wearing the crown.”

After saying that, she slightly showed the letter and-

“I’ll make sure it’s delivered, so don’t worry.”

With those final words, she quietly left the room.

Irene and Reika stared at the door through which Serpina had departed for a long time.

They too were thinking that Serpina as a person… might be somewhat different from the widely circulated rumors.

* * *

Valhalart Castle, Nighthart Mansion.

Since Reika had left, the mansion had become somewhat lonely, and Ginor was spending his time idly for the first time in a while.

Anima had returned.

There was no emotional reunion.

Upon learning that Yurie had traded Swen to save her, Anima mercilessly criticized her, asking if she was in her right mind.

As the most intelligent person in the Aeshus army, she must have properly understood what impact this would have.

However.

The founding contributors led by Epinel were mediating between the two, and decisively, since Anima’s misjudgment was the critical reason things had turned out this way, the situation seemed to have calmed down for now.

They would probably accept it eventually. After all, they were destined to face even death together.

And from that point on-

*

“You’re resigning as the national strategist?”

“Yes.”

Ginor bowed deeply to Yurie and said:

“I am getting old, and my mind is no longer as sharp as it used to be. I would like to spend my time quietly writing books. Please grant this old man’s final selfish request.”

“But Ginor, without you-“

“We have Lady Anima.”

Ginor said with a gentle smile.

“With Lady Anima here, I can step down from this position with peace of mind.”

*

Ginor had resigned as the national strategist.

Since his heart had left the Aeshus army, there was no reason to rack his brains to help it prosper.

Yurie seemed concerned, but she wasn’t in a position to force him to do anything.

As soon as the news of Irene’s departure spread, about 20,000 soldiers had left the army at once.

She could punish them if she wanted to, but doing so would destroy the morale of the territory’s residents, so Yurie was in a situation where she couldn’t do anything.

She probably had her hands full just dealing with this situation.

Thanks to Epinel somehow patching things up with logic, the fire hadn’t spread as much as expected, but it wasn’t without damage.

Soon, a few more armed officers might leave her side as well.

In any case, these were the consequences Yurie had to bear in exchange for saving Anima.

At that moment:

“Excuse me, Lord Ginor.”

A maid came to the study where Ginor was staying.

“What is it?”

“A letter has arrived.”

“A letter?”

“Yes. It’s… for Lady Reika.”

As I thought, she’s safe.

I had assumed so, but hearing the news for certain made me feel relieved.

I had only brought her in after discovering her talent as a mage, but it seems I’ve grown attached to her.

Thinking I must be getting old, I checked the contents of the letter.

The content could be summarized as follows:

[I am healthy and doing well.

I plan to act together with Lord Swen and Lady Irene.

Please don’t worry and I would like your permission to stay with them like this.]

‘Permission, is it.’

Permission or whatever.

This was precisely Ginor’s aim.

In any case, if she was able to send a letter here, she seemed to be in a better situation than expected.

Even Serpina, as long as she wanted Swen, didn’t want to upset him.

If that’s the case, it should be fine to ask.

Ginor immediately wrote a reply.

It was more like a letter to Swen than to his daughter Reika.

* * *

Several days had passed since joining Serpina’s army.

She seemed busy managing the situation around Hisphil Castle and the surrounding front lines.

She said she would call for me soon, so while waiting for the summons, I was enjoying some rare free time.

Knock knock knock.

Hearing someone knocking on the door, I opened it wondering if it might be Serpina.

“Ah, hello… Lord Swen…!”

“Reika?”

The visitor to my room was Reika.

I sat her down on the sofa and brought out some light refreshments.

“Th-thank you…!”

“Not at all. I’m sorry this is all I have to offer. I wish I could brew some tea for you. By the way, aren’t you having the same snacks?”

“Huh? Well… that’s true, but this is from you, Lord Swen… nom.”

Since we’re staying in the same annex, of course she’d be eating the same snacks.

Reika said that as she munched on the snack.

Her appearance was quite adorable, so I watched her for a bit before asking:

“What brings you here?”

“Oh! Well… I received a letter.”

“A letter?”

Nod, nod.

From what I heard, it seems she had been corresponding with Ginor.

That was fine, but apparently there was a message in it that she needed to show me.

“For me?”

“Yes. It seems… my father wants to ask you something.”

I thought it might be about marriage arrangements, but if that were the case, wouldn’t Reika be more obviously flustered?

“I understand. What’s the question?”

“Ah, here…!”

I took the letter she handed me.

Most of the letter’s content was advising Reika to behave properly toward Swen, that is, toward me.

After skimming through that part, there was indeed a phrase at the end that seemed to be questioning me.

[Is your lord now Serpina?]

‘Oh ho.’

Indeed, he deserves to be called Intelligence 99.

Ginor was truly a sharp-minded old man.