Ch.201Chapter 201. Under the Night Sky

With Serpina’s unexpectedly quick return, the “series of incidents” was rapidly calmed.

First of all, the situation itself didn’t escalate further. Had she been absent from the throne for longer, the confusion would have continued, but with her swift return, she could continue governing the nation without much issue, almost as if the incident had never happened.

The difference between an absolute monarch being absent for several weeks versus just one day was inevitably significant.

Indeed, I should call her Lady Reika.

I don’t know what method she used, but Lady Serpina’s wounds healed remarkably quickly, and she seemed stable enough to live normally now.

Seeing how she slept for 24 hours straight and still struggled after waking up, it seemed she had pushed herself extremely hard.

The reason she could go that far… must be because it was related to Lady Irene. After all, Reika was extremely devoted to Lady Irene.

Next was the disposition of the assassin, Reni.

While Shura was already dead, Reni had survived. And because he survived, he couldn’t avoid severe torture.

Just when Serpina was about to acknowledge his spirit for refusing to reveal his backers no matter what…

“They’ve occupied a fortress?”

“Yes. They’ve occupied a small fortress northwest of Amir Castle and are claiming that ‘we cannot accept the rule of the current monarch.’ This time… well, um.”

“Don’t worry about offending me. Just tell me exactly as it is.”

At Serpina’s words, the officer who came to report hesitated before finally squeezing out his words.

“They’re claiming that although they failed to end the life of the witch Serpina, this isn’t the end…”

Considering that the news wouldn’t have spread throughout the continent quickly due to her short absence—

“So they’re essentially confessing to being the masterminds.”

“Yes. However, the situation seems complicated in various ways.”

“Complicated?”

“It seems they originally planned to attempt rebellion from nearby Terk Castle, not the fortress, but things didn’t go as planned…”

“…”

Did their plans get complicated because the assassination failed?

Well, such matters shouldn’t be Serpina’s concern.

And—

“I understand. Continue to investigate their movements and report back.”

“Yes!”

After the officer left, Serpina looked at me.

“What do you think, Swen?”

Right.

What circumstances led them to attempt another rebellion?

It wasn’t Serpina’s concern, but it wasn’t mine either.

“Shouldn’t the rebels be severely punished?”

“However, if it’s a fortress in the direction of Amir Castle, we’ll need time to gather troops.”

The southeastern part of the northern region was close to being the most rural area among Serpina’s territories, with small populations and few soldiers.

There was a reason why stationing troops at Amir Castle was considered a radical plan.

But.

“There’s no need to gather troops. How many did they say were at the fortress?”

“I heard about 10,000.”

“With that number, we can capture them without much difficulty.”

Yes.

These rebels had a crucial difference from previous rebels.

Namely…

‘I absolutely cannot let them get away with endangering Lady Irene.’

The fact that they had put Lady Irene in danger, of all people.

The lives of Shura and Reni weren’t enough. If there were masterminds behind this, I felt I couldn’t accept it unless they were thoroughly dealt with.

I looked straight into her eyes.

“Please give me 3,000 troops. I would be grateful if you appointed General Irene as the vanguard.”

“You plan to defeat 10,000 with just 3,000? There’s no need for that. I can provide you with many more troops.”

“No. Taking more troops would only result in losing valuable soldiers and consuming additional provisions. 3,000 is sufficient.”

Serpina stared into my eyes quietly—

Then carefully parted her lips.

“You’re planning to take Reika with you.”

“…”

As expected.

With a mind sharper than any ruler I’d ever met, she seemed to have quickly figured out my plan.

As she said.

It was now necessary to establish the fact that a magician had appeared on the continent.

“Regarding the continuous rise of rebels… while it might be due to the ‘karma’ you mentioned, my lord, I believe it’s also because we haven’t demonstrated ‘overwhelming power.’ Therefore, I think we need to make a grand display this time.”

We couldn’t hide the fact that she was a magician forever anyway.

If it had to be revealed, the right answer was to extract all possible benefits from it.

To make those who dared touch Lady Irene pay the price, and to repay Lady Serpina who tried to save Lady Irene… I wanted to make the ‘power of magic’ appear as hers.

If the fact that she possessed such ability could become another variable for them, it would reduce the likelihood of them taking action.

Moreover, this was the only timing to create the miracle of defeating 10,000 with 3,000.

In terms of magic catching people off guard, now was perfect while it wasn’t yet widely known.

“I understand your intention, but… for me, ‘that power’ is something I can only enjoy when you are by my side, is it not?”

“…Since much remains unknown to the public, I believe rumors alone will be sufficient to control people.”

“‘Don’t worry, my lord, I will be by your side’… is what you’re not saying. Hehe.”

Serpina laughed as if amused… but I couldn’t meet her eyes.

Fortunately, she didn’t pursue the topic further and rose from her seat, extending her hand to me.

“Swen. I will give you 3,000 troops. I’ll assign Irene as the vanguard. Show those rebels who don’t know their place and wave false flags who the true ruler of the Einhart Empire is.”

“Yes!”

I answered loudly and reminded myself.

It was now time for me to take revenge.

*

While marching with the troops toward the fortress, I had many conversations with Irene.

“It seems Reni is dead.”

“Yes. Executed, I heard. He held out until the end.”

In the dark night.

After leading troops on horseback all day, the brief rest time before sleep was when I could talk with her.

“It’s funny. I judged him to be the most trustworthy among the knight guards. To think that Sir Siegfried, whom I trusted least, was the only one not connected to the rebels… I never thought my judgment of people could be so poor. Even now, I feel indignant thinking about it.”

“How could you have known that, Lady Irene? You hadn’t been a knight guard for long.”

“But I was the only one who could have stopped it.”

“Lady Serpina is alive because you were there, you know.”

My words weren’t empty flattery.

If she hadn’t been there… the fate of the unified empire would have passed from Lady Luna to some unknown person.

One way or another, Irene had saved me again.

“So I hope you won’t blame yourself too much. No one would blame you, Lady Irene. The lord is also very grateful.”

“Swen…”

Irene seemed to understand my feelings and gave a faint smile.

Being able to keep seeing that smile… was also thanks to Lady Serpina.

No matter how many times I thought about it, I couldn’t deny that I owed her a great debt.

“…What about Reika?”

“She’s sleeping in the carriage. She seemed quite exhausted from traveling such a long distance with the soldiers, looking lost all day.”

“I see.”

Irene was one of the people who knew Reika was a magician.

Naturally, she also knew what it meant for her to come along.

“I’m worried.”

“About Reika?”

“Yes.”

“…”

I could easily guess what Irene was talking about.

Both Irene and I were official military officers of Serpina’s army. We were soldiers.

Unlike me, who gave advice from the rear, Irene, who held a sword and took lives with her own hands, knew much better than I did what it meant to go to the battlefield.

So she seemed concerned about Reika, who was essentially a civilian, coming here.

I had thought about that too.

But—

“Reika said she wants to do what she can for you, Lady Irene, and for Lady Serpina who saved you.”

“…”

“Though from a powerful family, she wasn’t raised like a hothouse flower. She knows what she’s doing. If that’s her decision, I want to support her.”

“I see…”

Once again, silence fell.

The crackling sound of the campfire filled the quiet night air.

“Just a moment.”

I took a bottle placed on the campfire, brewed some tea lightly, and handed it to her.

“…Thank you.”

“Not at all.”

The sound of insects under a night sky filled with countless stars, the sound of drinking tea…

With these quiet sounds and the warm tea going down my throat, my body felt relaxed.

“Hey, Swen.”

“Yes?”

“I heard there’s… marriage talk between you and Reika?”

“…?”

I turned my gaze from the campfire to where Irene was sitting.

With a flushed face, looking at the campfire, she asked.

“What do you think? Will you… marry her?”

“…”

I moistened my throat with a sip of tea, then—

“Well, I’d have to talk with Reika first—”

“Assuming the talks go well, would you marry her?”

Irene turned her head toward me and asked urgently.

Marriage. Marriage…

I slowly looked into Irene’s eyes.

My image filled her purple irises.

If I were to be honest, I wanted to marry Irene first.

I felt we had grown incredibly close.

Every time she called my name, I felt my heart fill up more than ever before.

But.

“…Honestly, I don’t intend to marry right now.”

“Right now… so it’s not about your feelings, but a matter of timing…?”

“Yes.”

I wanted to postpone marriage until I could put down roots.

It wouldn’t be respectful to my partner to start a family while living as a wanderer.

I had planned to propose when Lady Lunarian raised her army, which I had considered my roots, and that thought hadn’t changed.

But why.

Why did Lady Serpina’s image keep flashing before my eyes?

The image of that woman, so fragile and weak despite her reputation as a tyrant, clutching my hand and asking me not to leave her.

So I.

I couldn’t easily say, ‘I plan to propose after returning to Luna’s army.’

Nevertheless.

I didn’t want to tell evasive lies at this moment.

Looking straight into Irene’s eyes…

“…You know, don’t you?”

“…!”

As if surprised, her purple pupils dilated momentarily.

Then, with a deeply flushed face, she lowered her head and—

“Swen…”

She murmured my name several times.

Had my feelings been conveyed to her properly?

Or was she just matching the mood without really understanding?

And, not long after—

Irene raised her head and met my eyes directly.

“…Yes. I’ll wait for you forever, Swen.”

Irene said this, making crescent moons with her eyes.

The sound of the campfire enveloped us under the countless stars that seemed ready to pour down at any moment.

Shortly after, Irene came closer to me—

And gently leaned her head toward me.

Without rejecting her, I silently gazed at the campfire with her.

It was peace. The peace of us two wanderers who had changed lords together.

In that moment, I was certain.

I would never forget this moment until the day I died.