Ch.142Chapter 142. Questions (4)

“I’m sorry to make you come all this way every time.”

“Not at all. I don’t have any special assignments anyway.”

The internal administration system of Einhart Castle was already running efficiently and effectively.

That meant there was no need to forcibly insert someone like me, who was presumed to have low status that would likely be of little help to internal affairs.

“Besides, it’s not just anyone but my lord’s command. Even if I had other matters, wouldn’t it be proper military etiquette to come immediately when summoned?”

“I don’t usually enjoy obvious flattery, but I’ll make a special exception today.”

She said this, then looked at me with the corners of her lips slightly raised.

Beautiful.

Every feature of her face was so pretty, as if each had been crafted solely for beauty.

What did it mean for Serpina to have been born in this era?

Did she consider herself fortunate to be recognized for her abilities rather than her appearance?

Such foolish thoughts crossed my mind because she was so beautiful.

In a peaceful world, her beauty might have overshadowed everything else about her.

Nevertheless, despite the somewhat strange impression Serpina gave off—

Somehow, I was gradually becoming someone who could exchange such trivial jokes with her.

Thinking about it now, I couldn’t understand why she had the reputation of being a tyrant.

At least among the rulers I had met, she acted most reasonably and seemed to treat her subordinates with sincerity.

She was strict about rewards and punishments, absolutely unforgiving of traitors, and I had heard rumors that she showed quite a cruel side during the northern unification period that I wasn’t familiar with… But compared to Lynn Brans, who never bent her stubbornness and ruined everything herself, or Baranga Yurie Aeshus, who valued her founding contributors so much that she was practically dragged along by them, Serpina’s flaws hardly seemed like flaws at all.

All the nations I had belonged to until now had loose screws, making it easy to understand the prediction that “unification is impossible.”

But why couldn’t Serpina achieve unification?

Why had the fate of that great undertaking flowed to Lunarian?

It would have been nice to have more time to contemplate this.

But Serpina, as if telling me she had no intention of giving me leisure time, immediately got to the point.

“An envoy has arrived.”

“Another alliance negotiation?”

“Yes.”

Alright. Who is it this time?

It must be one of Ohana, Hesna, or Rolland.

Let’s hear the conditions quickly.

At that moment.

“Interesting.”

“…Pardon?”

“Your expression, I mean.”

Serpina maintained her composure and smile as she spoke.

“I can clearly see the boredom on your face, as if you’re thinking, ‘I’ll be asked similar questions again.'”

“…My lord is quite perceptive.”

“Someone who cannot quickly read people would not be able to bear the weight of the crown.”

After saying that—

She slowly erased her relaxed smile and spoke in a somewhat serious tone.

“It’s the Brans army.”

“What?”

“The Brans army has requested an alliance with our forces.”

The Brans army??

‘Uh…’

Of course, if we simply look at the situation—

Surprisingly, the Brans army stood to gain the most by forming an alliance with us.

If they could somehow hold us off, they could much more easily block the offensive from nations coming up from the southern continent, even if they lost some territory.

The problem was.

‘Was Lynn Brans someone who could set aside emotions and make clean decisions based on benefit?’

The Lynn Brans I knew was a woman with extremely strong pride.

That high pride and self-esteem easily led to arrogance, and naturally, making decisions easily swayed by her emotions was her fatal flaw as a ruler.

Once considered the only force in the continent that could match Serpina’s army, she constantly tried to plant her flag in the northern continent, then collapsed and lost several territories to Serpina’s forces—and now she’s requesting an alliance?

‘…What’s going on?’

Had there been a change of heart?

Real humans weren’t just characters. Their thoughts could change.

Even my predictions changed depending on the situation. Sometimes the prediction for the same question would be different a few days later. It was a system that provided the most efficient answer at any given time.

Anyway, the decision must have been Lynn’s own.

Unlike the Aeshus army, power in the Brans army was concentrated solely in Lynn.

If this was true—

‘She might have come to her senses.’

Although the Brans army was pushed to the brink after making the worst choice of cutting ties with Irene, there was a reason they were once considered equal to Serpina’s forces.

It meant that if she came to her senses now, she was not someone to be taken lightly.

‘Lynn Brans abandoning her pride for practical benefit’ was not someone who could be easily dismissed.

Anyway…

I still hadn’t heard something important.

“What are the terms?”

“A ceasefire agreement and a six-month alliance. They’re offering 12,800 gold.”

‘Hmm…’

While not an excessive overpayment, it wasn’t a particularly enticing offer either.

Whether she couldn’t bring herself to completely abandon her last shred of pride—

Or perhaps her financial situation wasn’t as good as expected, I wasn’t sure.

‘Anyway, there’s no need to accept it.’

We’ve already turned down three better offers.

I thought about just passing on this one too… but it would be good to check.

‘Would forming an alliance with the Brans army be efficient for our forces?’

And then.

Once again, that damned prediction—tumbled into my view.

[This alliance would be an efficient one that presents a great opportunity for our forces.]

‘??????’

What?

This… this is the right answer?

Rejecting the holy sword and tens of thousands of gold, but accepting this?

And specifically, forming an alliance with the Brans army is the right answer?

And why is it the right answer?

Is the heavens particularly pleased with an alliance with the Brans army this time?

For example, something like this:

[The constellation ‘Armchair Strategy Game Troller’ likes your bizarre decision to throw away all your benefits.]

[The constellation ‘Fantasy Novel Minor Gallery Jokester’ supports your choice and bestows a blessing on Serpina’s forces using the constellation’s power.]

[The constellation ‘Guardian of Balance’ donates 500 coins to Serpina’s forces.]

Without outputting messages like these, finding a reasonable explanation for why this alliance would be most beneficial seemed nearly impossible.

Anyway.

If this is the right choice… I need to convince her to do this?

Me?

That impregnable Serpina who won’t listen without clear evidence?

There’s no time to work backward on this!

“Excuse me, my lord. I think we should accept this proposal. Because… well… anyway, that’s how it is.” How else am I supposed to explain it?

One might even wonder if I’m a Brans army agent. Maybe I infiltrated the Aeshus army as a spy and was unluckily sold here—such thoughts wouldn’t be strange at all.

‘Should I just reject this one too, saying it’s not worth it?’

Yes.

I’m not a god, and she probably won’t say anything if I fail to notice that this alliance would be beneficial.

Serpina was a wise woman, so she wouldn’t question why I didn’t notice.

Even to a third party, they wouldn’t say things like “Did he know and deliberately hide it?” if I missed this.

And, while I was in shock—

“Ahah…♡”

A woman’s extremely coquettish voice reached my ears.

Guessing the owner of that voice, I slowly raised my head…

“Has it descended upon you, Swen?”

“…Pardon?”

“I asked if ‘that moment’ has descended upon you again…!”

Serpina’s two eyes—captured me.

In her pupils, there were two of my faces.

What could be read from those two versions of me was—bewilderment.

“I… what do you…”

Serpina gently caressed her cheeks with both hands.

It was truly a foolish thought, but… at that beautiful sight, my gaze was drawn to her involuntarily.

“Your expression changed. Swen, your expression. Your eyes flashing as if you’ve realized something tremendous… Do you know? It’s a very captivating sight… to me…!”

My expression changed…?

When I received the prediction, did I… show some surprise?

No, I thought I was hiding my expression quite well…?

“A very intense moment that naturally draws me in…!”

After saying that, she stood up and walked steadily toward me as I stood there dumbfounded.

Soon, the distance between her and me was closer than ever before.

Serpina’s enormous chest pressed against mine. As if even that didn’t matter, she pressed herself as close to me as possible.

“…!!”

No… wait.

I want to think, but the intense citrus scent assaulting my nose made it impossible to think clearly.

Her body was—very soft.

Stupidly, that sensation alone filled my head.

I couldn’t deny that my instincts were strongly responding to her physical beauty.

“Swen. May I ask you a question?”

“W-What is it?”

“The alliance with the Brans army… don’t you think forming that alliance would be an opportunity for our forces?”

!!!

No, how did she—

“‘How did she know that?’ is the expression you’re making? Hehehe… you have a cute side, Swen.”

She smiled like an innocent woman who had received a lifelong promise from the only man she had known in a flower garden.

I don’t know why such a specific image came to mind… but that was exactly what I felt, without a lie.

“It’s not that difficult to notice.”

She slowly stroked my cheek with her white hand.

It was warm.

I could feel warm blood flowing through the woman before me.

“Your eyes, your expression, the change in your eyebrows… and just capturing the moment when the atmosphere in this space changes.”

No, normal people can’t notice all that and figure things out like a mind reader, which I think is quite impressive…

“I’m merely perceptive… Swen, it’s nothing compared to your ‘mind’s eye’—just a trivial skill.”

Mind’s eye.

That term again.

What exactly does “mind’s eye” mean?

Considering that both Serpina now and Ginor before had mentioned it once, there seems to be something to it…

Unfortunately, I didn’t have the leisure to think about such things right now.

“Now, answer me. What do you think? This alliance, should we form it or not… give me your advice, as you always have.”

As soon as I heard that question again, my mind, which had been filled with thoughts of Serpina, suddenly cleared.

Yes.

I had to answer anyway.

Lying here would clearly be a bad move.

Whether she read my expression or whatever… what she was saying was close to the truth.

She had uncannily hit the nail on the head regarding my thoughts.

In this situation, engaging in a battle of wits with her would obviously put me at a disadvantage.

From days ago, when she asked questions like whether I was confident in my heart, I was already in a position of suspicion among her military officers, and as mentioned earlier, the truth was in her hands.

And—if one option was clearly a bad move.

My decision could only be one thing, right?

“…Yes.”

I bowed my head and answered as calmly as possible.

Firmly grasping my only weapon—”predictions that are always right”—in both hands.

“I believe an alliance with the Brans army would be an opportunity for our forces as well. May I suggest that you form this alliance?”