Ch.149Chapter 149. An Unexpected Reunion (1)

“She told me to come find her directly?”

“Yes.”

After hearing Farfalle’s story, Lynn fell into thought for a moment, then sighed deeply and said.

“Looks like she’s determined to humiliate me.”

“……”

She didn’t want to acknowledge the fact that they had already sent an alliance request, but did Serpina want to complete the picture of Lynn lowering herself by summoning her personally?

From Lynn’s perspective, she could naturally only reach such a conclusion.

After all, that kind of humiliation was primarily what she herself often did to others.

However.

Having already wasted too much time, Lynn couldn’t afford to spend any more days doing nothing.

“Farfalle. What should I do?”

“My lord……”

Since Farfalle had been reinstated and returned as the national strategist—

The deteriorating situation of the Brans forces had been gradually improving.

Although they had lost Elgaim Castle, if she hadn’t been commanding at the forefront, they would have lost more territories even faster.

There was even a possibility that Anel Castle might have been endangered.

Therefore, Lynn trusted Farfalle above all else.

No. Actually, knowing she couldn’t make proper judgments in her current situation, she had no choice but to rely on her even more.

After abandoning Irene, losing Swen, and having several territories taken away, she couldn’t even trust her own thoughts and judgments anymore.

And Farfalle—

She spoke to Lynn in a strong tone, as if forcing her to make a decision.

“…With all due respect, in this situation, you must close your eyes tightly for the sake of the country.”

“You mean I should go to her directly?”

“Yes. Think about it. That mere humiliation of being looked down upon to your face, you can endure it many times over. Isn’t that much better than the Brans forces being destroyed and you becoming known as the dark lord who brought down the once-mighty Brans forces?”

Since realizing that Lynn greatly trusted her opinion and relied on her—

The intensity of Farfalle’s statements had considerably strengthened.

Considering that she used to be afraid to speak the truth for fear of hurting Lynn’s feelings, this was tremendous progress.

“……”

Lynn bit her lower lip hard.

The metallic taste of blood spread across her tongue.

“Do we really need to go this far? …Already, just by us requesting an alliance… they’ve essentially won. Isn’t that enough……”

“She is Serpina von Einhart, widely known as a tyrant. Wouldn’t that witch be capable of doing even worse things?”

Farfalle privately thought Lynn was of a similar type, but she refrained from mentioning it.

Her temperament didn’t matter. As long as she was on the throne, supporting her was the practical way to save the Brans forces.

If the Brans forces, which she had chosen after rejecting numerous offers, were to collapse, it would mean her choice had been wrong.

Wasn’t that precisely what she was trying to avoid at all costs, even enduring imprisonment to be here?

So now was the time to tell her what she wanted to hear.

“Think of it this way, my lord. With this humiliation as a foundation, we can sharpen our blades and wait for the right opportunity, which will surely come. Serpina von Einhart, in my view, is absolutely not the kind of person who can conquer the world. Don’t you know how many people across the continent hate her? You must not forget that the empire was torn apart and this chaotic era began because many people resented her for killing all the imperial princes and trying to ascend to the supreme position.”

“…I know. I know that much… But… sigh.”

Lynn let out a long sigh, but Farfalle was actually relieved by it.

In a pattern similar to before, her opinion was being reflected.

“…Let me think about it for a bit.”

Though she said she would think about it, they both knew she would go.

It was time to start preparing the delegation.

As the ruler would be going in person, it would require considerable effort.

“Understood. I ask for your swift decision.”

Just as she said this and was about to leave to make preparations.

“My lord!”

The audience chamber door suddenly opened.

Normally, this would have caused an uproar about such disrespect, but there were cases where such behavior was forgivable.

First, if it was a messenger.

Second, if it was someone with considerable influence in the country.

This time, it was the second case.

“Brother…?”

The one who burst in was Chel Brans, who had finished his recovery and was waiting for military reassignment.

Behind him followed Kalintz, Chel’s younger brother and Lynn’s second older brother.

“Is it true that you’re forming an alliance with Serpina’s forces?”

“……”

Hearing those words, Lynn turned her head away again.

It was a kind of protest indicating she didn’t want to discuss it further, but from Chel’s perspective, this was an issue he couldn’t possibly overlook.

“You cannot, my lord! You know well that Serpina is a woman with sinister intentions! If we join hands with her, it will become an indelible disgrace, and the morale of our territory’s residents toward our forces will surely be shattered. Moreover, many subordinate generals have serious doubts about this decision. Please reconsider!”

“I…”

“My lord. It wasn’t long ago that my comrades, the brave soldiers who shed their blood for our Brans forces, lost their lives at the hands of none other than Serpina’s forces. Even if there are benefits from this alliance, they will be momentary, and we will surely lose much more. Please reconsider…”

At Chel and Kalintz’s pleading, Lynn trembled.

Since losing confidence in her decisions… Lynn had lost much of her spirit and charisma.

“I… I don’t know. Farfalle. Talk to Farfalle…”

“My lord…”

Kalintz looked at his sister, who had become a different person, with a pained expression.

The woman who once seemed ready to devour even her brothers had now become much more fragile than when she was young.

“Strategist.”

“……”

Chel looked directly into Farfalle’s eyes and spoke.

“I understand why you’re suggesting we join hands with Serpina. Indeed, if we could temporarily not worry about the northern front as you think, we could effectively block the southern forces, including Hesna’s forces. But what about after six months? Even if we extend the alliance, what then? Do you really think it’s best to focus solely on protecting the territories we currently hold?”

“We cannot lose any more territories. We’ve already… come too far.”

At first, it was fine.

In the very beginning, before Farfalle was imprisoned—it might have been okay to redirect all soldiers and generals toward Anel Castle.

Although they would have immediately lost territories if Serpina’s forces had invaded, they wouldn’t have lost as much. After all, they had already declared those areas abandoned.

They could have gathered everyone at Anel Castle and properly regrouped.

But Serpina didn’t fall for the Brans forces’ strategy.

Instead, she stopped the invasion after adding defense troops to the border, essentially abandoning the Brans forces.

Naturally, the anger of the generals and soldiers in the border territories of the Brans forces, which were essentially abandoned, reached its peak, and as time passed and they gained some leeway in troops, there was no need to concentrate on Anel Castle just to suppress that anger.

In other words, if losing territories quickly was beneficial then—

Now, protecting territories had become beneficial.

It would have been better if a decision had been made quickly before losing Elgaim Castle, but that couldn’t be helped.

Farfalle believed that minimizing mistakes now was the answer.

“General. I’m sorry, but taking Serpina’s hand is the only way now.”

“So… we must quietly follow? Joining hands with our enemy… and forming an alliance with those who took our comrades’ lives just a few months ago?”

“…Yes.”

“!!!”

Shocked by Farfalle’s words, Chel looked at Lynn, but—

Lynn, seated on the throne, turned her head away, avoiding eye contact with her brother.

“…I see.”

“General Chel. I know it’s a difficult request, but please endure this humiliation for now. I beg you.”

“……”

Chel remained silent for a long time without answering—

Then, after briefly bowing to Lynn, he turned away.

“Let’s go, Kalintz.”

“……”

Normally, this would have been considered disrespectful to the ruler, but—

Farfalle could only watch their retreating backs in silence.

‘Although many people won’t understand now… once we achieve results, they’ll surely understand.’

Of course.

She knew there would be strong resistance to an alliance with Serpina’s forces.

But, since international relations are about benefit, once it’s confirmed that they’re benefiting, they’ll change their minds and follow my decision—

That was Farfalle’s thinking.

Having earned military merits on the battlefield but always strategizing from the rear rather than directly crossing swords—

With more interest in military treatises than in people themselves, she couldn’t help but think that way.

And Lynn, who should have been controlling Farfalle, was far from controlling her and was seriously dependent on her.

In a situation where the Brans forces’ national power had been halved due to too many mistakes, Lynn was in no position to exercise the same absolute power as before.

Punish Chel?

It would be foolish to antagonize someone who had fought on the front lines, even while injured, in the battle against Serpina’s forces.

Secretly, there were quite a few officers who remained loyal to the Brans forces despite disliking Lynn as the ruler.

From the beginning, Lynn was a woman who wielded power through results rather than popularity, so the number of people who personally followed her was bound to be small.

‘…It’s okay. Producing results is what matters.’

Speaking of which, should it really be Serpina?

Recently, she spread false rumors about the Aeshus forces selling prisoners, and now she was saying that if they wanted an alliance, they should bring their ruler directly to Einhart Castle.

She absolutely couldn’t let the world fall into the hands of such a malicious woman.

‘I will definitely prove… that the ruler I chose was the right one.’

Thus, Farfalle pushed for a decision that would surely benefit the Brans forces.

She was a clever woman, but… not someone who could lead people’s hearts.

* * *

And so, leaving behind some uneasiness—

A delegation was formed solely for the purpose of an alliance with Serpina’s forces.

Lynn and Farfalle, along with dozens of armed guards and 10,000 soldiers.

Originally, they wanted to bring Chel or Kalintz as the vanguard, but Farfalle judged there was no need to provoke the two further.

Although they were essentially entering enemy territory, their purpose was an alliance, and no matter how deranged a witch Serpina might be, she wouldn’t harm a foreign ruler, especially the ruler of the Brans forces, who had come for diplomacy.

If she did such a thing, she would lose what little public support she had left, not just among other countries but among her own territory’s residents.

Farfalle asked Lynn, who was staring blankly at the delegation.

“My lord. Are you ready?”

It was simply asking if she was ready, but more specifically, it meant mental preparation.

“…Yes.”

Indeed.

She didn’t want to make mistakes anymore.

She didn’t want to do something stupid like losing Irene because of her stubborn pride.

Farfalle’s words were sound. If following her advice meant losing only pride, then that was obviously something that should be sacrificed.

“Understood. We’ll depart soon, so please get into the carriage.”

“Alright.”

And so, the delegation including Lynn embarked on quite a long journey from Anel Castle to Einhart Castle in the northern continent.