Ch.151Chapter 151. An Unexpected Reunion (3)

Lynn stared repeatedly at the purple-eyed female knight with red hair.

That face. A face she could never forget.

The face of the person who had always said she would do anything for her…

“…”

At this moment, she was looking at Lynn with such coldness.

Irene ignored Lynn’s trembling gaze, which had turned pale with fear, and ordered the soldier beside her.

“Report to the lord. Tell him the envoy has arrived.”

“Yes.”

After the soldiers finished searching the delegation and left.

Irene looked over the delegation staring at her in shock and said in an extremely dry voice.

“Follow me.”

Irene’s voice was utterly parched.

A voice devoid of any emotion.

There were many kinds of emotions. Joy, sadness, and anger…

Having emotions in one’s voice was proof that the other person was someone who could stir feelings within her.

But.

In her voice toward Lynn now – there was no emotion to be felt.

“Um…!”

Lynn tried to say something, but-

Before she could, Irene cut her off and looked at the rest of the group with an expressionless face.

“The rest of you will wait here.”

“You mean we can’t enter?”

Irene nodded at Farfalle’s question.

“Isn’t it natural that only one envoy enters when meeting a foreign lord?”

Irene’s voice was unbearably cold.

Farfalle, who had once been called “Advisor” by her, who had once shown compassion, was so confused by this side of the loyal knight he had never seen before that he couldn’t even respond properly.

Her words were correct.

It was natural for an envoy visiting for diplomatic purposes to enter the audience chamber alone.

But since they had come as ruler to ruler, and were planning to form an alliance, they had expected some level of courtesy…

‘They know too well that we’re the ones in need.’

Farfalle observed the expressions of the armed guards who had followed them.

It wasn’t difficult to read the anger they were suppressing.

‘I don’t mind. This humiliation, I can handle it… but my lord and the other officers…!’

Just as he was about to speak up, thinking he should say something.

“However-“

“…Farfalle.”

Surprisingly, it was Lynn who stopped him, extending her hand with a pale face.

“I’ll… I’ll handle this myself. So… wait here… I… I am the ruler after all…”

“My lord…”

After Farfalle’s reinstatement, this had become Lynn’s constant refrain.

That she had to handle things herself.

Since the country had been cut in half due to her misjudgment, bearing that burden was her last pride as a ruler.

Farfalle knew this all too well, so he could only bow his head deeply.

“…Please return safely.”

“Yes…”

After answering, Lynn carefully turned to Irene…

Toward the woman who had always pledged everything to her, she managed to open her trembling lips.

“…Take me… I… Ire…ne…”

Irene, hearing Lynn speak her name, replied in a tone still devoid of any emotion.

“Lord Lynn. I understand you are a ruler of a country, but speaking to a foreign general in such a condescending manner is against propriety. I would appreciate if you kept that in mind.”

“Ah, I understand…”

Nod, nod.

She could only nod her head, unable to properly respond, but Irene didn’t make an issue of it.

“Hey. Um… Irene, you know…”

“Follow me.”

Irene walked ahead without even listening to Lynn’s words.

Lynn reached out slightly toward Irene but then silently followed behind her slowly.

In the past, she would have been concerned about Lynn, but now she could clearly tell.

She had felt somewhat complicated before facing her, but-

Now that she was actually facing her, the truth became clear.

This woman means nothing to me now.

Truly, all emotions toward her have disappeared.

Resentment, hatred, even the compassion that might naturally arise when seeing the downfall of a lord she once served, and all the complex emotions of love and hate-

None of it resonated with the current Irene.

To such an extent that it would feel the same if anyone else were in Lynn’s place.

Now by her side was that man – Swen.

A man who sincerely told her he only wanted her to survive, who supported her in any situation, an incredibly lovable man.

Born as a sword to protect someone-

Having someone definite to protect meant she could maintain stronger mental fortitude than anyone else.

“…”

In contrast, Lynn – with regret, self-blame, and resentment all mixed together so chaotically that it was difficult to identify exactly what emotion it was-

Felt suffocated every time she looked at Irene’s back.

Clearly.

Clearly she was a woman who had said she would be a stepping stone beneath my feet, to be trampled whenever I wished.

Someone who showed absolute loyalty to me no matter what orders I gave.

‘Irene… why…?’

Why… not the Aeshus army.

Why are you under Serpina’s command, who is like an evil spirit…?

“Lord Lynn. Only you can stop Serpina von Einhart’s tyranny. I, Irene, will follow you until my bones turn to dust. Use me whenever you wish. If my lord orders me to cut someone down, I will do so without hesitation, regardless of who they are.”

‘That’s what you said… So why…?’

Despite the fact that it was she herself who had driven Irene away.

Despite the fact that it was she who had ignored Swen’s advice and sent Irene to her death-

Foolishly, recalling past scenes, she resented Irene in her heart.

Even after all that reflection… seeing Irene’s face made her heart complicated again.

‘You… you shouldn’t be like this… So why did you… abandon me… why…?’

Lynn wanted to ask her these questions many times as she stared at her back, but-

Now she knew. She knew it was an unreasonable question that could never reach her.

‘No…’

Lynn bowed her head deeply.

She barely managed to hold back the tears welling up.

‘I… I, I shouldn’t have done that…’

Following behind her, she couldn’t shake the feeling that she herself was the criminal.

The fundamental cause of the Brans army’s downfall after once commanding the central continent.

Because she had tried to kill Irene before her eyes for no reason.

She wanted to apologize.

But neither the time, place, nor anything else helped her to convey those words.

All Lynn could do was bite her lip and barely keep pace with Irene’s footsteps.

It was far too late for regret.

* * *

Throughout the journey into the royal castle, a more fundamental anxiety weighed on Lynn’s mind.

Lynn tried to empty her thoughts as much as possible to escape this anxiety.

How long had she followed behind the woman who had once been her sword, head bowed like a criminal?

When she came to her senses, she could hear Irene’s voice.

This time in a more familiar tone.

“My lord. I have brought Lord Lynn Brans, who has just arrived.”

Irene knelt, standing on the emblem attached to her armor, before the blonde absolute ruler – her new master, the hegemon of the northern continent, the tyrant – Serpina von Einhart, who smiled seductively at her.

“Yes, Irene. Well done. You’ve worked hard.”

“Not at all. I merely did what I should for my lord.”

Serpina rose from her seat and walked to where Lynn was.

“Lord Lynn. I am Serpina von Einhart. It’s a pleasure to meet you like this.”

Lynn buried her lingering attachment to Irene in a corner of her heart and somehow gathered her wits to speak.

“…I am Lynn Brans.”

“Yes. You wish to form an alliance with our army?”

“That’s correct.”

“I see. I never thought I would form an alliance with the Brans army, with whom we were crossing swords until recently… But in these chaotic times, there are no permanent allies or enemies. I understand your decision. You’ve made a very rational choice.”

Lynn didn’t answer, barely managing an awkward smile.

Serpina didn’t particularly mind Lynn’s reaction – she was silently proceeding with her next plan to crush her.

“I certainly welcome the opportunity to work with the Brans army. However, the reason I’ve specially invited Lord Lynn to Einhart Castle is.”

After saying this, Serpina moved closer to Lynn.

Lynn’s perfume was completely overwhelmed by Serpina’s intense citrus scent.

“Shouldn’t we let as many people as possible know that we have joined hands to pursue peace on the continent? Hehe… Hey there. Prepare something light to refresh us before the banquet.”

“Yes!”

‘…I see through you, Serpina.’

She had known from the moment she was summoned here.

She’s planning to use her infamous reputation to isolate the Brans army diplomatically.

But in a situation where the country itself could be annihilated if they continued to lose territory, she had no choice.

Fortunately or unfortunately, Serpina’s transparent actions had helped Lynn calm down considerably since her first encounter with Irene.

Lynn responded with the most relaxed smile she could muster.

“…I hope the friendly relations between our armies will continue forever.”

“As do I. This way, please.”

Lynn silently followed behind her.

Deliberately ignoring the red-haired female knight who followed closely beside Serpina as if guarding her.

*

Exchanging meaningless pleasantries in the banquet hall naturally helped her calm her mind.

‘I’ll just form the alliance quickly and leave. I’m just doing what I need to do.’

While she wasn’t opposed to speaking with Irene, it seemed difficult now.

Thinking it would be better to quickly disappear from sight, she casually asked Serpina about the upcoming schedule, to which she replied with a smile.

“Well, an alliance is just a matter of paperwork. You seem to be in a hurry. Hehe…”

Lynn didn’t bother to respond, just letting out a light laugh.

Vowing that nothing would sway her anymore.

Serpina looked at Lynn with smiling eyes, then glanced sideways at Irene and said.

“Bring the documents.”

“Yes.”

After saying this, Irene disappeared somewhere.

Only after she was gone did Lynn feel her constantly pounding heart gradually quieting.

‘Stay calm… Form the alliance quickly and go back. If we can block the northern front… We can hold off the Hesna army. That’s the starting point. If we succeed this time, we can appease the officers, my brother, and the dissatisfied soldiers abandoned at the border… Farfalle said so… Surely, surely we can do it.’

She didn’t know why Irene was with Serpina’s army, but it didn’t matter.

Right now, she just wanted to somehow apologize and then forget about her and move forward.

Yes.

You’re doing well, Lynn.

To not disappoint the father who chose me, I couldn’t collapse like this.

Everything for the Brans army.

She took a sip from the wine glass offered by Serpina, trying her best to compose herself.

‘I will repay all this humiliation when I conquer the continent. Serpina.’

As she smiled, swallowing her hostility toward Serpina.

‘…?’

Serpina’s expression was… strange.

No, more precisely, she was smiling, but… there was a clear expectation of something.

Of what?

What else could be coming?

And at that moment-

“My lord.”

A voice came from beyond.

A man’s voice.

A familiar voice.

And as soon as she recognized it as a “familiar voice”-

That “fundamental anxiety” that had overwhelmed her while following Irene.

‘…No way…!!!’

It opened its ferocious jaws wide and began to stare at Lynn as if it would devour her.

The fact that Lynn hadn’t thought about, or rather, hadn’t wanted to think about on her way here.

–If Irene was here, where was Swen who had been with her then?

And the answer…

Was revealed to Lynn in an all too cruel manner.

“I’ve brought the documents, my lord.”

Slowly turning her head, there stood a white-haired man.

The man who always spoke the truth, who had told her to use him freely-

“Ah, you’ve come, my Swen… hehe…♡”

Was being called “my Swen” by Serpina.