Ch.195Chapter 195. Her True Feelings (2)

I once again carefully reflected on the sentence that kept appearing in my mind.

Why did things turn out this way?

“What good is a title?”

Serpina turned her head and looked straight at me.

Those eyes again. The eyes of a girl in love.

“I have prepared more than just a title for you. Look ahead.”

Her outstretched hand pointed to a small castle barely visible in the distance.

The vast land and blue sky all lay under the sovereign’s hand.

“Here, everything is prepared for you—your own domain. Do you see? All the land and people before your eyes will become yours.”

When her nation becomes the unified empire, the political system of the old empire will likely be restored.

If I receive a noble title, I might indeed become the actual master of the land and people before me, just as she said.

To me, showing no emotion, she whispered carefully.

“Yes. I… this body will bind you by my side forever. I can do anything if it means keeping you. Granting titles, bestowing domains… would you not believe me if I said I could even relinquish certain imperial rights?”

I cannot disbelieve her.

What filled her eyes was sincerity itself.

A remarkably beautiful and dignified woman with long golden hair that shone almost blindingly—

The ruler of Serpina’s forces and the final victor in the crown prince’s battle—Serpina von Einhart.

“Didn’t I tell you, Swen? You are mine…♥”

She speaks with a voice that burns with passion, looking at me fiercely with eyes full of love.

As she drew closer, I found it increasingly difficult to think clearly due to the citrus scent emanating from her.

“I can give you everything for your sake. Wealth, honor, power… if you wish, I could even give you the family name ‘Einhart.'”

“…!!”

“Become my consort, Swen.”

“Become my consort. I will mix your bloodline with mine. Bound to you by covenant, I will bear your child.”

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

Serpina’s eyes formed slight crescents as she spoke.

Of course.

Of course, I understood. This wasn’t the first time I’d heard it.

So… she was proposing marriage.

If I wanted, I could become a member of the Einhart family, the most noble house on this continent.

“I’m certain that neither Lynn Brans nor Baranga Yurie Aeshus can give you what I can.”

As she said, neither Lynn nor Yurie could offer this.

Lynn never fully trusted me to the end, and Yurie wasn’t even interested in me.

It was true that besides Lady Luna, Lady Serpina was the only woman who utilized my “Intelligence 100 ability” to this extent in leading a nation.

Considering that even Lady Luna hadn’t governed for very long… it was uncertain whether anyone could utilize me better than Lady Serpina.

Looking straight into my eyes…

She speaks as if gazing at something incredibly precious.

“Even if that weren’t the case… you can never, ever escape from me. You will be with me forever.”

Serpina firmly grasped my hand and said:

“From the moment we first met… it was destined to be so. Hehe…♥”

She laughs again as she says this.

Her golden hair, bathed in sunlight, once more disrupts my vision.

Why?

The greatest discomfort I’ve felt these past few days was that her treatment of me was far from how one would treat a capable retainer.

To be honest, lately she seemed to… I couldn’t deny the thought that she wanted me not as a retainer, but as a man.

Looking at me with a low voice and a smile, she soon brightens her eyes like a young girl and asks me “that question” she always asks.

“So… now tell me once more your ‘prophetic vision.’ Can I… Serpina von Einhart… hold this world in my hands?”

A question I’ve received countless times.

Even though she hears the same answer each time, she never gives up and continues to push forward.

Running toward an unattainable goal reminded me of Lady Irene when she served under the Brans forces, but the difference was—

While Lady Irene seemed like she might collapse at any moment, Lady Serpina appeared full of vigor.

Faced with this maddening irony, there was only one thing I could do.

Predict the answer to her question.

Regardless of my will, once I receive a question, I predict.

That was the mechanism of my “Intelligence 100.”

‘Can Serpina von Einhart become the ruler who unifies the continent?’

I rack my brain and fall into thought.

Can she pacify this age of chaos and become the unifying ruler who grasps this world in her hands?

Quite some time has passed since I began helping her. Is it possible that an opportunity might come her way by now?

My predictions weren’t always the same. Since results reflected the situation at the time of questioning, there was a possibility that the same question could yield different results than before.

Before long, the answer comes with ridiculous simplicity.

Of course, my intelligence was 100 after all.

[No, she cannot.]

As expected.

The answer flows out that she cannot.

As long as Lady Luna, who holds the destiny of continental unification, exists, Lady Serpina cannot take that position.

Given that Lady Serpina’s survival is the most important condition for Lady Luna to become the emperor of the unified empire—

It was extremely difficult for Lady Serpina to find an opportunity.

The severe weight of this “fact” cannot be overcome no matter how much effort is made.

Unable to explain all this directly, I could only give her the same answer I had always given.

“…My lord cannot grasp the world in your hands.”

Like that.

Until now, fate remained unchanged.

“I see.”

Serpina nodded slowly once more. Then, turning her head, she looked back at the land spread before her.

“I understand. I’m sorry for asking the same question every time. It must be tiresome to give the same answer repeatedly.”

“Not at all. I…”

Seeing her lonely profile, I wanted to offer words of comfort, but honestly didn’t know what to say.

I feared that carelessly spoken words might cut her like a blade. Sometimes, knowing what will happen was often a disaster for me as well.

Then.

“Swen.”

“…?”

“…I express my gratitude.”

Seeing her slightly blushing face as she turned her eyes away, I opened my mouth in surprise.

“Yes…?”

“You were worried about me, weren’t you?”

“…!!!”

Once again, I freshly realized.

Hiding one’s sudden emotions in front of Lady Serpina must be one of the most difficult things in the world.

“You are kind. Sometimes I think perhaps I want you not for your ability… but for that broad heart of yours.”

“…”

“I know. These aren’t words that should be spoken by a nation’s ruler, especially one who carries the imperial lineage. Before leaning on someone else’s embrace, I should rightfully be the embrace that others lean on.”

“That is the weight of the emperor’s throne. An entity that embodies the sacred light of the greater good by embracing the passionate fervor of the common people.”

Serpina smiled again.

“I don’t mind. If it were a matter to be resolved overnight, I wouldn’t have attempted it at all. You’ll come to know through this opportunity. I’m a woman who must accomplish what I’ve set my mind to before I can be at peace. Hehe…♥”

Without particularly responding to her words, I bowed my head.

Given this fate—the absolute truth that “Serpina von Einhart cannot become the ruler of the unified empire”—a time of choice will eventually come for me.

Then I will have to tell her my truth. I will have to leave her side. Because I promised.

I never forgot that promise, whether I was with the Brans forces, the Aeshus forces, or now with Serpina’s forces.

But why.

Why do I feel such sadness while looking at that smile?

Why do I hold in my heart the image of her struggling for an unattainable goal?

Feeling the citrus scent lingering at the tip of my nose, I recalled the ruby-colored will I held in my heart.

My lord…

What should I do to be right?

No, what should I do… to have no regrets?

Even as I sent this impossible question beyond the sky—

The continent’s time was slowly but steadily moving forward.

* * *

A day no different from any other.

Four knight guards, like her shadow, were escorting Serpina as she prepared to go out on an inspection to check on the sentiments of her domain’s people.

However, today there was something slightly different.

“You say he fell from his horse?”

“Yes. He was seriously injured and is now in the hospital…”

One of the knight guards was injured, leaving only three.

There was Reni, the leader figure who had served as Serpina’s guard since she became ruler; Shura, a female general who volunteered to become a guard; and Irene, who had recently joined the guard roster.

The absent one was Siegfried, a young elite around Irene’s age.

“Then today’s inspection…?”

“Will proceed as planned. We won’t be going beyond the Einhart castle grounds anyway.”

Hearing Shura’s words, Irene nodded and fell into thought.

‘Well… we’re one person short, but with General Reni and General Shura both being strong, nothing unusual should happen.’

Her greatest concern was the presence of assassins.

For one reason only: Swen had said an assassination might occur.

Despite having no evidence, she had investigated through people who trusted her, but there were no signs of an impending assassination anywhere.

Being within Einhart territory, they wouldn’t face a sudden attack—

And even if something similar happened, she was confident these three could somehow overcome it.

After spending some time with them, she knew they were quite formidable.

‘But as Swen said, there’s a high possibility of an assassination or something similar. Today I need to be extra vigilant in guarding my lord.’

As Irene was encouraging herself not to let her guard down:

“…I apologize for keeping you waiting.”

The knight guards bowed to greet Serpina as she walked out from the door.

“I’ll be counting on you today as well.”

“Yes!”

And so, another seemingly ordinary day was beginning.