Ch.152Chapter 152. An Unexpected Reunion (4)

* * *

After sending Lynn in alone, Farfalle regained her composure and began to analyze the impossible situation that had just occurred.

‘Why is Irene Juliette here…??’

How could she be affiliated with Serpina’s army when she had betrayed them to join the Aeshus army?

As she witnessed this unbelievable fact and momentarily fell into panic, a strange rumor she had heard recently flashed through her mind.

‘There’s a rumor that Baranga Yurie Aeshus handed over her white-haired magician servant to Serpina as a condition for retrieving her country’s prisoners.’

It was true that there was a person presumed to be the white-haired magician in the Aeshus army. Of course, it must have been that man who originally belonged to our army.

But she had thought that Serpina’s side was spreading false rumors to shake Yurie’s reputation and the loyalty of her generals, based on an absurd premise that no ruler would ever consider—handing over their own servant for a prisoner exchange.

If anything, she had found it strange that the reportedly clever Serpina would try to use such an absurd rumor.

But.

Thinking about it—Irene hadn’t defected alone.

She had taken the white-haired magician, the man who performed miracles at the Northern Fortress—Swen.

Having already worked with them once, the fact that Irene was here, affiliated with Serpina’s army…

‘Could it be… that rumor was true?’

A ruler sold her own subject as a condition for prisoner repatriation?

What kind of nonsensical story was this, with nothing to gain and something that should never happen?

But what if it were true?

Farfalle easily imagined the worst-case scenario for Lynn.

In truth, what Lynn struggled with most wasn’t losing Irene.

She was most devastated about losing Swen.

Farfalle, who had been with her since being released from prison, could easily understand that Irene was continuously mentioned only because losing her had ultimately resulted in losing Swen.

When facing Irene, Lynn had somehow managed to endure.

But if… she were to face Swen?

‘Lady Lynn…!’

Please.

If God truly exists… and if that God has mercy on our Brans army.

—Please do not subject my lord to any more trials.

Besides relying on religion, which had completely lost its authority in these chaotic times, there was nothing else she could do now.

* * *

“From now on, I will work for Lady Lynn.”

“My talents are insignificant, but thanks to Lady Lynn valuing them highly, I was able to join the Brans army. I believe this is an excellent stage to fulfill my dreams. My dream is not to grasp the world with my own hands. My dream is to assist the person who will grasp the world.”

“My goal is to achieve success and recognition. I don’t have any special desires. Fulfill what I want. I will fulfill what Lady Lynn wants.”

“Please give me wings, my lord.”

Those moments were still vivid in Lynn’s memory.

The man she believed would stay by her side no matter what she did.

After the devastating defeat in the battle against the Aeshus army.

As she continued to lose territory to Serpina’s army—

While she imprisoned Farfalle for not following her orders and acting independently, the person Lynn thought of most during that time when she was alone, unable to take any action and trembling with anxiety, was none other than Swen.

A man who had shown extraordinary qualities from their first meeting.

She became interested in him when, despite being merely an envoy from a small country, his spirit momentarily overwhelmed hers during their private meeting.

Lynn personally rose from her chair and commanded battles to destroy an entire nation just to obtain him.

Afterward, he continued to offer advice generously.

He had said they could advance into the northern continent now.

He knew clearly which battles could be won and which could not.

He communicated with the heavens to create impossible miracles.

Why.

Why did I lose him?

Even if he had been deceived by Irene… if she hadn’t treated Irene that way, he would surely still be by her side.

If she hadn’t betrayed Irene.

Then, Irene would have protected her.

Lynn now knew. She was a woman who would never have betrayed her even if Lynn herself had held a knife to her throat.

If Irene had remained her shield—Swen would have been there beside her, protecting her.

If I, if I hadn’t been so needlessly proud.

In that final moment.

If I had just followed Swen’s advice and not sent Irene to the Eastern Fortress…

—She had spent her time in vain with such thoughts.

During that period, the soldiers, having effectively lost their commander due to Chel’s injury, were not properly led.

But she lacked even the energy to do anything. After losing the compass she had personally discovered from a small country, who had continuously pointed her in the right direction, she could no longer trust her own decisions.

It took a very long time to reach the point where she thought she should have at least listened to Farfalle.

As soon as that thought occurred to her, she reinstated Farfalle and somehow managed to salvage the situation until today… but she had wasted too much time before reaching that realization herself.

If only she hadn’t hated Irene.

No, even if she had hated her, if she hadn’t openly shown it and oppressed her, this disaster wouldn’t have happened.

Even after Farfalle’s return, forgetting Swen was nearly impossible.

The fact that she had lost to the Aeshus army a man with extraordinary talents, whom even Farfalle had acknowledged as remarkable, without properly utilizing him, continued to gnaw at her heart like a fang.

That fang. Continuously.

Scratching her heart.

Nevertheless, to take responsibility, she had to move forward.

Enduring humiliation, she was playing along with Serpina’s tune.

Honestly… she could somehow endure seeing Irene.

This was more a matter of her nature than rational thinking.

It was Lynn who had pushed her away in the first place. While Lynn did feel guilty toward Irene, it’s difficult for resentment that has festered for over a decade to disappear overnight.

She could somehow let it flow away unconsciously. At least with Irene.

But.

The man she had personally worked to obtain.

The man who had said he would work for her if she just helped him achieve success, Swen…

‘Swen…?’

Lynn looked at Swen bringing documents with trembling eyes.

Lynn herself did not exist in Swen’s line of sight…

His eyes were fixed only on the blonde female ruler beside her.

“About the part we discussed last night?”

At Serpina’s words, Swen nodded and replied.

“I’ve reflected all the points you mentioned.”

“You’ve really worked hard. Hehe…”

To Serpina, who was looking at Swen with an expression of great affection—

Swen was showing the same loyal expression he had once shown to her, saying:

“I’m glad to be of help to my lord.”

To a woman other than herself—

Seeing him call someone else “my lord.”

Crash-!

The seemingly peaceful banquet hall began to stir as the wine glass that Lynn dropped from her hand fell and shattered on the floor.

Serpina slowly approached Lynn and asked in a very smooth tone:

“Oh my, Lady Lynn. Are you alright? There, let’s have a new glass brought.”

After sending a soldier, she examined Lynn with a concerned expression.

“Are you feeling dizzy perhaps?”

“Swen…?”

Serpina’s voice did not reach Lynn’s ears.

Only the man she had lost and regretted losing could monopolize all her attention.

“Swen… why… why, why…?”

“…”

Without answering, Swen glanced slightly at Serpina.

As if understanding what he meant, Serpina stood in front of Lynn and said:

“Do you have business with one of our generals?”

“Why… why, why are you here…?”

Lynn said, barely managing to take trembling steps toward him.

“Why…? You said you would stay by my side… We… we were dreamers together…!!!”

But.

Her movement is stopped by Irene, who was beside Serpina.

“This is troublesome, Lady Lynn.”

Restrained by her former knight.

Throwing away all pretense of a ruler’s dignity, she cried out imploringly to the advisor who once served her.

“Swen…! Why, why did you… to me… why did you… leave me? I was… I was trying to give you wings. I… I…!!!”

She couldn’t understand each aspect of this situation.

Why?

Why were Irene and Swen… children who used to work for me, now under the tyrant Serpina—

Becoming her knight, being called “my Swen” by her.

That fact was so heavy.

The reality she had been constantly avoiding, the reality she thought she could finally overcome a little, hit her head forcefully like a weight again, and the sensation was so painful…

…Thud.

Lynn fainted and collapsed on the spot without even hearing Swen’s answer.

Without panicking, Serpina said to one of the soldiers guarding her:

“Bring the Brans army delegation. It seems she needs some rest. We’ll continue the meeting after Lady Lynn regains consciousness.”

“Ah… y-yes!”

* * *

After the soldier who received Serpina’s order rushed out.

I looked at the unconscious Lynn and Serpina, who was looking down at her with cold eyes.

Serpina’s gaze as she looked at the collapsed Lynn was… colder than anything else.

‘If she calculated even this…’

I couldn’t help but think that Serpina was truly remarkable in many ways.

Honestly, I did feel a bit sorry for Lynn, who was completely broken—

‘She’s the woman who tried to kill Lady Irene.’

For that reason alone, my sympathy for her quickly disappeared.

I didn’t mind the various insults she had given me, such as sending prostitutes to me. I had no regrets about her not valuing me highly.

After all, I never truly served her as my lord either.

But she drove Irene… a woman who desperately wanted her recognition, to her death.

I was able to save Irene’s life by deceiving and betraying Lynn.

Not once have I regretted deceiving her and her country.

Even if the same situation were to come to me a hundred times—

I would still betray her and save Irene.

‘She brought this upon herself.’

Karma.

It couldn’t be a more appropriate word to describe the current Lynn.