Ch.196Chapter 196. Night of Destiny (1)

Returning earlier than usual to the mansion, Reika greeted me at the door.

“Lord Swen…! W-welcome back…!”

“Did something happen?”

“No, just well…”

After fidgeting for a moment, she carefully approached me with tiny steps and whispered.

“Since you came back early today, I was wondering if… if you wouldn’t mind, would you like to go for a walk together…?”

Her awkward uncertainty was so cute that I unconsciously placed my hand on her head.

“…!!!”

Reika seemed momentarily flustered, but soon accepted it and entrusted her head to my hand.

Both Reika and Lady Irene are truly adorable people at times like this.

A walk, huh.

Come to think of it, it’s been quite a while since I went outside with her after the library visit.

Perhaps I’ll spend time with Reika today.

“Is there anywhere you’d like to go?”

“Huh? No, um… as long as I can be with you, Lord Swen, anywhere is fine…!”

For some reason, she seemed to have made some grand resolution, which made me slightly curious.

But it didn’t seem like something I needed to pry into, so I left the mansion with her.

As we stepped outside, Reika suddenly spoke up as if remembering something.

“Ah, um… Lord Swen! There’s something I want to show you.”

“What is it?”

“Well… I learned a new magic spell.”

She hesitated a bit while tapping her fingers together.

“I’ll have a chance to show you… soon…!”

“I look forward to it.”

It seemed that since she’d been spending a lot of time alone lately, she wanted to report various things to me.

Listening to her wasn’t difficult at all, and I was grateful that this much could motivate her.

I had been concerned about leaving her alone because I was busy.

“G-great…! Hehe… for now, let’s go for our walk.”

And so, Reika and I ended up touring around the Einhart Castle grounds after a long while.

For me, it was essentially a rare moment of relaxation.

*

Reika and I wandered around various places within Einhart Castle.

There seemed to be some small festival happening, with more street vendors than usual, and it was quite enjoyable to browse around and purchase good tea leaves and cooking utensils.

“You bought quite a lot.”

“Ehehe… I guess I got excited… being out with you, Lord Swen.”

Seeing Reika’s bright smile, I realized how much she had changed since we first met.

She still had that awkward uncertainty, but the darkness that had once shadowed her face seemed completely gone.

She had become much brighter and seemed to smile more than before, which put my mind at ease.

“Shall we head back now?”

“Yes…!”

Just as we were about to return to the mansion.

“…Huh?”

In the distance, a familiar female figure was running toward us.

Red hair with a silver circlet, somewhat tattered clothes…

‘Lady Irene?’

Irene was rushing toward us with an extremely urgent expression.

Of course, that wasn’t all.

She was… carrying someone on her back.

That person was…

‘Huh?’

* * *

Rewinding time a bit—

Serpina von Einhart had been frequently inspecting her domain lately.

While it was natural for a ruler to look after her people, it was quite extraordinary in many ways for the ruler of a former imperial power like Serpina to personally make these rounds.

Recently, Serpina had been making tremendous efforts.

Her fate as revealed by Swen—the harsh reality that she could not become a unifying ruler.

However, Swen had clearly explained that this prediction was based on the current moment. If her efforts could change things, why shouldn’t she try?

In fact, public sentiment toward Serpina among her domain’s residents had improved considerably.

When she first became ruler, despite the common saying that rulers handle their own affairs, the citizens of the former imperial capital weren’t pleased that all the prominent imperial candidates like Algot and Sidmid had died, and that she, with little foundation, had become ruler and continued purges.

But having overcome successive rebellions and managing the internal affairs of Einhart Castle quite well, many people had opened their hearts to her.

In truth.

The very fact that someone who might have become emperor was making inspection rounds was bound to leave a strong impression on the domain residents.

Humans were simpler creatures than one might think. Seeing a golden-haired empress with striking beauty that seemed almost sculpted, people naturally thought of her as heaven-sent.

At this point, the duties of the guard knights remained largely unchanged.

They were to follow her like shadows and provide protection.

Veteran guard knight Reni, the talented Shura, and Irene, who had earned recognition for suppressing rebels.

Naturally, today was also expected to pass without incident.

However.

Only one person, Irene, remained vigilant without letting her guard down.

She constantly kept in mind the worst-case scenario that something might happen to Serpina.

Whatever she did, Irene never took her eyes off her.

That’s why.

“I suppose it’s time to head back.”

She didn’t miss ‘that moment.’

At that moment.

Reni, who had been guarding Serpina for the longest period, approached her—

“…My lord!!!”

Irene, who had been raised solely as a faithful guard knight of the Brans family and who never lowered her guard for a moment due to Swen’s request, instinctively lunged at Reni.

“!!!!”

While everyone was startled, Irene quickly struck Reni’s wrist forcefully.

Clang!

A small concealed weapon fell from his hand.

Understanding what this meant, Serpina turned pale as she looked at Reni’s face.

“Th-this is…!!”

Leaving the shocked Serpina behind.

Having discovered the weapon, Irene wasted no time and swiftly thrust her blade into Reni’s ankle.

The iron rule she had learned since childhood: never compromise with an assassin.

“Aaaaargh!!!”

Assassination.

And by someone who had been her guard knight for years?

Her mind was racing, but she thought she could at least question him about his backers since she had properly subdued him.

But… was she missing something?

Irene’s mind began working faster than ever before.

It made sense that Reni would attempt assassination today, but to recklessly proceed with Shura and herself present?

Though one person was missing, a 2:1 situation would clearly be difficult for him.

Wait.

2:1?

‘Huh…?’

At that moment.

A dark shadow enveloped Irene’s back.

The person becoming the 1 in the 2:1 situation wasn’t Reni, but perhaps…!!!

“Haaaaaah!!!!”

‘Damn it!’

It was fortunate that Irene had thrown herself based on reasoning even before sensing anything, because there was no way an assassination attempt would be carried out alone in an unfavorable situation.

If they considered the absence of one person due to a riding accident as an opportunity, then naturally…

Irene quickly turned her head upon hearing Shura’s scream.

She knew.

That it was too late.

‘I should have dealt with Shura first… damn it…!’

She knew.

That predicting and acting to such an extent was beyond human capability—it was in the realm of gods.

Nevertheless.

Swen had warned her about a possible assassination.

She had promised not to take risks alone.

If she were to get injured here, or worse, die… she wouldn’t be able to fulfill Swen’s request to stay safe.

Why hadn’t she suspected the existing guard knights?

Right.

At the very least, she had to save Serpina.

Since Swen had asked her to protect Serpina as well, saving her would be important to him too, and she owed this person a debt of gratitude.

With that determination, she tightened her grip on her sword to resist the impending future and turned her head.

“…Huh?”

Instead of Shura who should have been in front of her—she saw someone else.

Long blonde hair.

The person she was supposed to protect… was standing firmly in front of the one who had lunged at her.

“What a foolish woman.”

Thud!

“Ugh… ah…”

“I commend you for enduring by my side all this time for this moment, Shura. But whatever you thought, you were wrong. Rest peacefully in the afterlife and don’t chase illusions.”

Serpina said this as she pulled the sword from Shura’s body.

Splurt!

Seeing the red blood gushing out, Irene knew instinctively.

She’s dead.

It was a sight she had seen many times on the battlefield. People die when they lose that much blood.

The flame of life extinguished without even leaving a final cry.

No, more importantly…

“My lord! Are you alright?”

“…What about Reni?”

Looking back to check on Reni, she saw that he was still groaning, effectively subdued by Irene’s swift attack to his knee.

“He’s still breathing.”

“Don’t kill him… keep him alive. This doesn’t seem… like the act of a lone wolf… We need to know… who’s behind this.”

“Yes, understood…”

She responded quickly, but something seemed off about Serpina’s condition.

She was gasping for breath… the light in her eyes gradually fading.

Irene’s vision caught something alarming—

Drip.

Her blood falling to the floor.

“My lord…?”

Only then did she notice the blood flowing from Serpina’s side.

Having been through many battlefields, Irene quickly understood what had happened.

Serpina had blocked Shura’s strike that was meant for her.

“…What are you doing, Irene…? Take Reni… to the royal castle… to find out… who’s behind this…”

“My lord…! You’re bleeding…!”

“This much… is fine. We’ll go to the castle… for treatment…”

Why?

It wasn’t a guard knight sacrificing themselves for their charge.

A ruler had sacrificed herself for a mere guard knight?!

‘…No!’

There was no time for meaningless dialogue about whose fault it was or what had happened.

What needed to be done right now was to save her charge.

The wound on her side was deep, but not immediately fatal.

Irene quickly raised her blade and stabbed Reni’s other thigh.

“Aaaaarrrrggghhh!!!!”

“You won’t die, but if you try anything foolish, it could become truly dangerous. It would be best for you to behave.”

Then, she tore her outer garment and wrapped it around Serpina’s waist.

“My lord. Please don’t speak. I’ll get you treatment immediately.”

After roughly administering first aid, she bent down and lifted Serpina onto her back.

“Please bear with the discomfort for a little while.”

“…I’m sorry, Irene…”

“…”

Hearing those words of apology almost brought tears to her eyes.

But wasting time on emotional displays now could mean missing the golden time for treatment.

And so, Irene began running with Serpina on her back, heading to a place where she could receive treatment.

And then…

* * *

The person Irene was carrying as she ran toward us from the distance.

It was… Lady Serpina.