Ch.179Chapter 179. Tyrant Serpina (1)

“So that’s why you’re called a tyrant.”

Serpina’s expression as she said this was… that same expression.

Seemingly calm at first glance, but looking as if she might crumble at any moment if touched wrongly.

Come to think of it, Serpina was actually far from being a tyrant—she was closer to being an ideal ruler than any monarch I had ever met.

Her fair distribution of rewards that showed her efforts to be just and impartial, her determination never to abandon any subordinate who followed her, and her rational decision-making based on gathering various opinions rather than being swayed by emotions—these were all virtues of a wise ruler rather than a tyrant.

Compared to Lynn, who had charisma but made decisions skewed by emotional aspects, or Yurie, who had leadership but couldn’t make her own choices freely due to excessive attachment—Serpina was an outstanding ruler who needed no further comparison.

Even Lunarian, who had led relatively successful internal affairs at Zeilant Castle, had only managed a single castle, so I couldn’t guarantee she was a better ideal ruler than Serpina, who had governed the entire northern continent.

However, the outside world’s perception of her was firmly fixed as that of a “tyrant.”

No matter which country one belonged to, that evaluation was remarkably consistent.

Even from my prior knowledge, she was portrayed as a merciless being who indulged in slaughter, and after I was reincarnated into this world, everyone spoke of her as the worst ruler.

The woman destined to unify the continent—even Lunarian’s public justification for raising an army was “because we cannot hand over the continent to someone like Serpina.”

I was honestly curious, but thinking this might be her test, I gave what I thought would be the most exemplary answer.

“Regardless of such rumors, I am currently serving you, Lady Serpina.”

“If you don’t mind hearing what I have to say, I’d appreciate it if you’d humor me right now.”

She said with a joking smile.

I didn’t mean I didn’t want to hear it… I meant I would follow her regardless of rumors.

It seemed she wanted to tell me something no matter what.

Right. Sometimes you just need to listen.

“…I’m very curious, my lord. If you don’t mind, please tell me.”

“Hehe. Thank you, Swen. Seeing how you listen to my unreasonable whims time and again, you are quite kind.”

Serpina smiled, then turned her head and began leading the way again.

Following behind her… I silently listened to her story.

“I’m sorry, but it’s a rather obvious story for making you ask. Because I have so much blood on my hands. Far more than the weight the name Einhart carries. But the decisive reason is…”

“That I personally slaughtered all of my own blood relatives with my own hands.”

Almost imperceptibly, her voice trembled.

It was strange. Normally, if someone’s voice trembled while speaking of their own evil deeds, they should come across as a shameless hypocrite… but for some reason, I didn’t get that impression.

“Blood being spilled in succession disputes is, well, something easily found in history books. But… the decisive reason is surely that I summarily executed a group that hadn’t even decided whose side they were on, simply because they had a high possibility of rebellion.”

She clearly just said she would tell me “why she is called a tyrant”…

But somehow, it bothered me that she was explaining the situation from an objective, third-person perspective.

She turned her head to look at me and spoke.

“Swen. Have you perhaps heard of an educational institution called Fiviola Academy in the northwest?”

“Fiviola Academy…”

That’s definitely a name I’ve heard before.

Where?

When I was with the Aeshus Army.

Yes. On that day with the unusually red sunset, when I went to fetch Anima Ingram, who was living in seclusion after being pushed out of her position as state advisor, she told me about it.

The five core members of the Aeshus Army—the source of their bond stronger than any other nation—was related to that Fiviola Academy.

But just that much.

Fragmentary knowledge that “a great purge happened there, and based on that incident, the five became a family bound by blood.”

“I don’t know the details, but I have heard of it.”

“Anyone with even a slight interest in the continent’s history would know. An unprecedentedly horrific massacre took place there, and everyone associated with the academy, down to the students, was killed. Even their families were completely exterminated to cover up the flames.”

“The reason was…”

“Yes.”

Serpina nodded slowly as she spoke.

“Because the headmaster of Fiviola Academy was Algot’s confidant.”

After saying that, she sighed deeply and looked straight at me.

Why?

Her golden eyes held the same loneliness I had felt in the sunset on the day I faced Anima.

* * *

Turning back time, a few years ago—Einhart Castle.

Sitting on the throne in place of the late king who had died without naming a successor was the undisputed first in line—Algot von Einhart, who was the spitting image of the emperor in his youth.

The bright young man with gleaming blonde hair and golden eyes that seemed to hold the sunlight was already being followed by many as the one who would succeed the emperor.

This man was now shocked after hearing the words of his subordinate general, Julian.

“Orlando Brans… has raised a rebellion?”

“Yes, Your Highness. Insolently, he spouted nonsense about the era of Einhart being over…”

“So he finally made his move…”

Algot closed his eyes and fell into thought.

Orlando Brans was like a raccoon of a man.

It had seemed strange from the beginning—a man who was more obsessed with central politics than anyone suddenly requesting to be dispatched to his hometown of Anel Castle, saying he wanted to devote the rest of his life to his homeland, just as the late king was on his deathbed. But because the late king had been very fond of Orlando, he eventually gave him the position of castle lord… and the result, as expected, had come back as rebellion.

“Even with the throne vacant, a rebellion…”

“What will you do?”

“We must suppress it immediately. However, it might be good to try persuasion once. If war breaks out in this situation, the continent will fall into an endless abyss of chaos.”

Algot extended his hand to Julian and said:

“Tell them at Anel Castle. If they abandon their foolish decision and surrender now, I will specially spare their lives.”

“Yes, understood!”

After Julian left the audience chamber.

Despite speaking with confidence, Algot let out a long sigh and leaned back in his chair as soon as he was gone.

‘Honestly, I’m not in a position to suppress it immediately.’

Rebellion normally meant immediate execution, but the situation was different now.

This was because his brother, Sidmid von Einhart, held command over most of the imperial army except for the capital defense forces.

Although they weren’t particularly close since childhood, Algot had thought they at least had the basic bond of brothers born of the same blood… but since the king’s death, Sidmid had been openly showing his claws against him.

In this situation, even if he requested help to suppress the rebels, it was clear Sidmid wouldn’t move according to his wishes.

He would probably use the continent’s chaos as an excuse to claim the throne for himself.

Moreover, Sidmid had already made his siblings Stadtell and Lillyrose his close allies.

‘One against three.’

He had thought he maintained amicable relationships with his siblings…

‘Is it all because of my lack of virtue?’

Algot sighed deeply and looked up at the sky.

The dark sky, looking as if it might pour rain at any moment, felt especially ominous today.

* * *

Returning to the Einhart mansion within the castle grounds, Algot was greeted by a beautiful woman with long cream-colored hair neatly tied to one side.

“Welcome back, Lord Algot.”

“Miss Aria… You haven’t gone to sleep?”

“Well, you hadn’t returned yet, Lord Algot.”

Aria Ineanne.

Unlike his wives who had died suddenly without bearing children, she was the only woman who had remained by his side until now.

Though her status was too humble to be formally married into the imperial family… she was now the only person supporting Algot, who had no one else on his side.

Ironically, she might have survived because she couldn’t marry him.

All three women who had married Algot had died suddenly without living out their natural lives.

“How is the situation…?”

“The same. Nothing has changed. Oh, is there still no contact from your uncle?”

“No. It seems there’s still no special contact.”

“I see. It would be a great help if he offered assistance…”

Algot sighed deeply.

Truly, he had no allies anywhere.

Was it because he had been arrogant, certain he would become crown prince, or was it because he was truly an inadequate person?

At that moment.

Aria, standing before him, embraced Algot with all her might.

“Miss Aria…?”

“Stay strong, Lord Algot. This too shall pass as a trial.”

“…”

Algot closed his eyes for a moment and felt Aria’s warmth in his arms.

After the king’s death.

The time he spent with her was the only moment he could breathe easily in the suddenly chaotic situation.

After sharing a brief but meaningful embrace.

“Lord Algot. It’s not news about your uncle, but there is a guest here today.”

“A guest?”

She nodded.

“They’re waiting in the audience chamber right now.”

* * *

After sending Aria away, who said she wanted some fresh air, Algot hurried to the audience chamber and opened the door.

And there was—

“Brother.”

Long blonde hair and golden eyes that proved she was a child of the imperial family.

The youngest sister who resembled their deceased mother the most, the only one among his siblings who hadn’t joined Sidmid’s side.

“Serpina…?”

The person who had come was—

The youngest of the imperial family and the only one who belonged to no faction, the girl Serpina von Einhart.