Ch.172Chapter 172. Plating (1)

* * *

“You’re in quite a hurry this morning.”

“I’ve been summoned by my lord.”

As I prepared to leave, Irene wore a worried expression.

“By the way, Swen. I’ve been hearing some talk.”

“Talk?”

“Of course, I know you well enough to know it isn’t true, but… Swen, there are rumors circulating that you and Lady Serpina are… developing a somewhat inappropriate relationship.”

“…What?”

It sounded absurd at first, but applying Irene’s situation to mine made it quickly understandable.

Yes. She wasn’t the only one being covertly opposed.

Just as many people, including Senior Jenis, were dissatisfied with Irene becoming the deputy commander of the occupation forces when she had only recently arrived from another country—

It wasn’t strange that they would also oppose me, who was constantly being called upon and giving advice from a particularly close position to her.

As it happened, I was of the opposite sex to Serpina. It goes without saying that strange rumors would spread more easily about me than about Irene, who was the same sex as her.

“Of course, I’m not saying I believe that. I’ve actually reprimanded those who spread such talk. But I know well enough how difficult it can be when negative rumors continue to spread throughout the nation…”

Irene sighed softly as she spoke.

Well, she would understand better than anyone what it feels like to be buried under bad rumors within a group.

She had experienced being targeted by everyone and avoided by all despite her achievements under Lynn Brans.

I responded cheerfully with a smile.

“Don’t worry, Irene. Am I the type to be shaken by such rumors? If it comes to it, I’ll just bring Reika along and have her throw a few fireballs.”

Irene laughed at my joke.

“Yes. That’s good then… Ah, Swen. May I ask you something?”

“What is it?”

Irene hesitated for a moment, then asked in a careful tone.

“I’m curious about what you usually discuss when Lady Serpina summons you.”

“Well, things like the future political situation of the continent… That sort of thing? I am serving as a strategist after all.”

Honestly, I feel more like a prophet than a strategist, but in this game, characters with high intelligence were strategists, so…

“Is that so? Nothing else in particular?”

“No.”

For a moment, the taste of citrus lingered in my mouth from when our lips had met, but I simply answered “No.”

“I see. That’s a relief.”

“Why were you curious about that?”

“Hmm? Well… Swen, you’re a foreigner who came here with me… I wondered if you might be undergoing some kind of test. Though I don’t think our lord would do such a thing…”

“She’s treating me quite well, so there’s no need to worry too much.”

“Yes, that’s right. And finally—”

Irene hesitated again before speaking.

“When Lunarian establishes his country… will we leave immediately?”

“…”

It was strange.

Why couldn’t I answer right away?

From the moment I thought I should simply answer “yes” without hesitation—

I became aware that I was having such thoughts.

When Luna establishes his country, I should naturally go over to his side. That was the promise.

Whether I was with the Brans army or the Aeshus army, that thought never changed.

But why am I—why am I picturing Serpina’s sad face that looks like it could crumble at any moment?

“…Yes. I think that’s what will happen.”

Not wanting to lie to her, I could only give such an ambiguous answer—

But Irene seemed to understand, nodding with a smile.

“Whatever decision you make, Swen. I will be by your side to protect you.”

“Thank you.”

After exchanging farewells with her, I thought as the mansion’s maids saw me off.

Would I be able to boldly leave Serpina’s side?

‘…Let’s not think about things that haven’t happened yet.’

Now was the time to deal with the matters at hand.

* * *

Staring blankly at the door through which Swen had departed, Irene only now realized what kind of question she had just asked.

The question about what Swen and Serpina talked about when she summoned him.

‘Why… did I ask such a question?’

Swen was a strategist, so of course they would discuss military strategy. What else would a ruler and strategist discuss when they meet?

Was it really out of concern for him? She knew that Serpina wouldn’t treat Swen harshly when she treated Irene herself so well, especially since Swen was the very person she had originally wanted to bring along.

What disturbed her heart was the strange rumor.

The absurd gossip that Swen was using his charm to manipulate his lord Serpina.

He was a tall, handsome young man, and the lord was a young woman in the prime of her beauty. Given that she kept surrounding herself with Swen, it wasn’t strange that such talk would arise, and Irene understood this…

But somehow.

The fact that he kept spending time alone with Serpina… bothered her immensely.

‘…I need to calm down.’

Swen was someone she needed to protect.

Not someone she should constrain.

As much as she enjoyed being with him, her feelings might waver, but forgetting her duty as a knight was out of the question.

Even if that rumor—

If it were true that Swen was trying to seduce Serpina—what she should do was not worry about it but protect Serpina alongside Swen, the woman he had chosen.

To avoid showing an unseemly side to Swen, who was like a benefactor to her, self-discipline was needed now more than ever.

At that moment.

“Um… Lady Irene?”

From beyond, Reika approached, still in her nightclothes, rubbing her eyes.

“Hmm? Miss Reika, good morning. You’re up early?”

“Ah, yes. Today I… just woke up early.”

Reika settled beside Irene and asked.

“Where is Lord Swen?”

“He went to the palace.”

“What? Why?”

“He was summoned by our lord.”

“Ah…”

Reika nodded slowly and said.

“Master works so hard… I should prepare something sweet for when he returns.”

“…”

Irene, looking at Reika who, unlike herself, was simply thinking about what she could do, suddenly realized.

Yes.

If she had decided to be by his side and support him whatever choice he made—

Now was the time for her to do what she needed to do as well.

“Then I should prepare some suitable tea.”

“Oh, really? But Lady Irene, aren’t you going to training today?”

“Today I only need to go briefly in the afternoon.”

“Is that so? Hehe… that’s good. I was worried about being alone in this big mansion, but I’m glad you’ll be here, Lady Irene.”

“You’ll have to get used to being alone often in the future, won’t you?”

“Well, I’ll think about that when the time comes… won’t I?”

Looking at Reika who laughed after saying this, Irene smiled and thought.

How peaceful.

I hope we can live like this when we reach Lunarian’s side too.

* * *

“Swen has arrived in response to my lord’s summons.”

As I knelt and greeted her, Serpina, wearing her usual officer’s uniform, welcomed me with a smile.

“You’ve come, Swen.”

“What matter requires my attention today?”

“Must there always be some matter for me to see you?”

‘…’

Looking at her as she spoke provocatively with a seductive expression, I thought.

—My lord. There are already strange rumors circulating, and I would advise against actions that might add fuel to those rumors.

The advice I couldn’t voice aloud sank deep into my heart.

“Nothing special, but I heard the Brans army has been split into three.”

“…Pardon?”

“Just as I said. News just arrived today. Chel Brans and Kalintz Brans simultaneously raised rebellions from different castles.”

“Is that really true?”

“Yes. What would I gain by lying to you about this?”

Both Chel and Kalintz rebelled?

I don’t know about Chel since I never spoke with him, but Kalintz couldn’t possibly have that kind of courage?

If even Kalintz chose rebellion… was it because Lynn’s condition deteriorated rapidly after forming the alliance?

Serpina seemed to have similar thoughts, as she smiled pleasantly and said.

“Naturally, there aren’t many people foolish enough to sincerely serve a lord who looks like that, even there.”

When the alliance was formed—

Lynn looked like a puppet with all its strings cut.

There was no vitality or energy to be read from her lifeless eyes as she simply signed the alliance documents.

“Swen. You understand what this means, don’t you?”

“…”

“Her becoming like that was ultimately caused by the alliance with our army, wouldn’t you say? In other words, your prediction was correct again. The Brans army has been split into three, and now there is no force in this continent that can stand against our Serpina army. As you said, a truly great opportunity has come to our army.”

If the result of the alliance with the Brans army was the Brans army splitting into three, then certainly my prediction was correct again.

It wasn’t particularly surprising to me. After all, my words are always right.

The problem is—

That “my words that are always right” also include the fact that she will never achieve continental unification.

Now that the Brans army has split into three, the Serpina army has become the greatest balance-breaker on the continent, a major disaster that would feel like a tsunami to other nations… yet she is destined not to achieve unification.

“So I think it’s about time we made our move, Swen. I’m curious about your thoughts. Don’t you think this is precisely when our army should begin its southward advance again?”

Serpina asked me in a confident tone.

Normally, I would have answered, “I too believe there couldn’t be a better time. I strongly recommend preparing for the expedition immediately.”

But I could precisely determine the correct answer to her question.

‘Is resuming our conquest by advancing south now the optimal choice for our army?’

As always, I could answer strategic questions with supernatural speed.

[It is not.]

‘Ha.’

I knew it.

When anyone could see the opportunity for unification ahead, the fact that she was destined not to achieve unification meant—

This situation could not be an opportunity for us.

Once again, I raised my head to look into her sparkling golden eyes…

And I had to gild the inescapable fate that awaited her.

“My lord.”

“Speak.”

Hoping this would go over well this time too…

“I humbly submit that now is not an appropriate time to advance southward.”