Ch.212Chapter 212. Return of the King (6)

With a single word from Luna, everyone gathered once again in the audience chamber.

However, this time the atmosphere was markedly different.

Unlike before when only a few people, including Violet, actively encouraged betrayal, now everyone who understood the situation began urging Luna to make a decision.

“I, Metz, will gladly become the justification for Lady Luna’s cause.”

“…”

“We feel the same, Lady Luna. Please, make your decision!”

Luna closed her eyes and organized the current situation.

Clearly—a justification had fallen into her lap.

Considering Metz’s words, this was a clear justification she could never have obtained if she had chosen “practicality” just moments ago.

However.

Looking at it objectively… there was a possibility that claiming this as justification wouldn’t be accepted.

Her opponent was none other than Vanessa Trinity. No matter how much Metz insisted on the truth, she was someone with the power to crush it whenever she wanted.

With Karelia’s complete trust, manipulating public opinion would be even simpler for her.

This plan wasn’t something Karelia would devise.

It was probably Vanessa’s doing. There was a high chance she had acted independently without the sovereign’s approval.

In conclusion, even if Luna rose up claiming injustice now, she would inevitably end up shouldering the stigma of being a traitor.

Luna’s plan had been to wait for “an even more certain opportunity.”

But at this rate, her life might be in danger before a better opportunity presented itself.

There was no guarantee that such an ideal situation would ever materialize.

Even if she managed to preserve her life and somehow step down from the Karelian army, could she secure this level of territory, troops, and resources in another country?

But these were all just excuses.

The choice to betray remained unchanged.

Perhaps her conscience would be slightly clearer. She had a plausible reason: Vanessa had targeted her first, so she would betray in self-defense.

Even so, wouldn’t deciding to betray ultimately prove that Vanessa’s actions had been correct all along?

Perhaps the right answer here would be to summon her lord and honestly discuss the current situation.

As she had thought earlier, since Karelia likely hadn’t conceived this plan herself, she might take Luna’s side.

Yes.

This was Luna’s judgment.

Despite the situation, not to betray, but to honestly report the current circumstances to Karelia and resolve the problem.

If she didn’t ask for anyone else’s opinion, this would probably have been her decision.

No.

To be honest, Luna would have—probably forgiven Vanessa.

And for the sake of Karelia who had trusted her, she would have shouldered everything alone and sacrificed herself. Not for herself, but solely for Lady Karelia.

Others might consider it foolish and dull-witted… but just like Karelia, Lunarian Ineanne was also someone who valued loyalty above all else.

But Luna no longer thought alone.

Beyond her thoughts, always, that man followed like a shadow.

“It’s all right, Lady Luna. Please trust me. I will definitely come back to serve you again.”

He had said that.

That he would definitely come back for her.

“My lord! Stay healthy! And if an opportunity comes, never miss it! I will definitely return to your side!”

He had said that.

If an opportunity comes, never miss it.

That man was waiting for her.

So naturally, she couldn’t cling only to her own beliefs when a justification had so conveniently presented itself.

‘Even now, what am I hesitating about…!’

Betraying Karelia?

Despite having justification, it wasn’t the proper way for a vassal.

Vanessa had created this situation. The Karelia she knew would certainly not overlook this, even if it involved her trusted Vanessa.

Karelia had given her this position because she trusted Luna greatly.

This was especially true considering she had rejected even the advice of her favored Vanessa.

Betraying such trust might mean she would no longer have the right to point fingers at Serpina von Einhart.

But.

‘Swen sacrificed himself for me…’

What was the point of constantly insisting on justification and just waiting, in front of someone who had taken direct action?

When Brans’ military boots threatened to extinguish the Zeilant Castle like a candle in the wind.

He had saved her life and those of her comrades, taking on everything and sacrificing himself.

By now, Luna had to seize this opportunity.

The very opportunity that Swen had emphasized so importantly.

She had promised never to miss it.

“A ruler of a country must be able to extend their hands to dirty places. There are times when you must stain your hands with dirty blood.”

‘That’s right. After experiencing all this, always saying the right thing isn’t the only answer…!!’

Cecile Lohengrin had said it too.

Karelia was too kind and gentle by nature, which sometimes worried her.

Even to become a better ruler than the one she currently served, Luna needed to adopt her strengths while avoiding her weaknesses.

Not to be excessively swayed by a single subordinate commander.

And to hold meaningful and lofty ideals in her heart until the very end.

In that process, the stigma she would inevitably bear no matter how much she claimed innocence—the evaluation of being “a cowardly woman who stabbed her trusting lord in the back”—was something Luna herself had to accept.

Just as Swen had sacrificed himself for them.

How could she carelessly flaunt mere reputation in front of someone who had willingly given even his life?

Only then did she realize.

That at the moment of choice, she might have been hiding behind the words “the right and most efficient method.”

Such a method might indeed exist. But Luna wasn’t Swen. Predicting what he would say would inevitably differ from what he would actually say.

If so, she should at least not keep him waiting any longer.

Him, who kept waiting for her in the Brans army, or as rumored in the Aeshus army, now in Serpina’s army, or perhaps somewhere else…

Only after thinking that far did her complicated mind and slightly trembling body feel calmed.

Swen.

I’ve always been indebted to you.

At moments when decisions must be made, during days that must be endured, everything… I’ve been able to come this far thanks to you.

So.

I can’t make you wait any longer.

I can’t break my promise to you.

I want to meet you again as soon as possible.

I want to discuss important matters. I want to talk openly about many things, like we used to.

Not just about governing a nation, but other things too. Once more, I want to dream with you, to envision the future together.

If you’re by my side, I believe I can build the country I’ve dreamed of, where everyone is happy.

My one and only advisor in this world, my Swen.

I’ll keep waiting. I’ll be waiting—

“Everyone.”

From her voice, pitched slightly lower than usual—

Others might not have noticed, but Tifa, who had spent a long time with her, could sense it.

That Luna had finally made a kind of “resolution.”

“For now, I will draw as many resources as possible from our lord. If the opinion is that it’s for war, she won’t refuse and we can gather plenty. Once the soldiers arrive, I will summon you all again, so please gather here. And… please ensure that our conversation today absolutely does not leak outside this room.”

“Lady Luna. Does that mean…?”

“Yes.”

To Cain Nerkis’s question, Luna nodded and replied.

“After the troops are deployed to the castle, once we’ve stockpiled as many resources as possible, when the invasion order comes.”

Luna’s ruby-red eyes began to blaze as if they had swallowed the sun.

What they contained was the will to become a unifying ruler even if it meant bearing a dirty stigma. Conviction. And a deep longing for someone, along with a sticky emotion.

“I, Lunarian Ineanne, will once again raise the flag of the Lunarian army.”

—You must return to my side, won’t you?

Her obsessive vow, which she had endured for months upon months…

Was making her endure everything and take action.

* * *

After that day.

The first thing Luna did after making up her mind was to request resources. The logic was that she needed ample resources as she would be facing multiple territories alone.

Since it wasn’t strange logic, the Karelia side sent gold and military provisions generously to Tepelo Castle without much suspicion.

Resources stockpiled during the long years without war.

An enormous amount, enough to fight with this large army for several months.

And again, a few weeks later.

Finally, as planned, 90,000 troops arrived at Tepelo Castle along with several generals.

“Gail Arend, reporting to the lord of the castle.”

“Seria Jail, reporting to the lord of the castle.”

“I apologize for being late. Mügendorf, reporting to the lord of the castle.”

Luna rose from her seat to welcome the three generals who had arrived together.

“Welcome, General Gail. General Seria. General Mügendorf. Thank you for your hard work on the long journey. As the commander-in-chief for the upcoming war, I may have shortcomings, but I ask for your cooperation.”

“There’s no question about it. On the battlefield, we will fight thinking of you as our lord. Just give us your orders. We will certainly win.”

“Your words give me great confidence.”

Luna smiled brightly, then turned her head to the side and asked.

“Metz. Is the banquet I mentioned prepared?”

“It is prepared.”

“A banquet? There’s no need to prepare such a thing…”

To Gail’s words, Luna replied with a smiling face.

“You’ve come a long way, haven’t you? It’s very important to relieve physical fatigue before war. The soldiers must all be tense too, so I would like everyone to rest well today.”

“If you say so…”

Indeed, while it might not matter for a general like himself, giving a day of rest was important for maintaining the morale of the soldiers.

From the Karelia army’s perspective, this was their first real battle in a very long time.

“Come, come. All three of you, please follow me this way.”

After the three generals followed Metz to the banquet hall—

Francis quietly approached her side and asked.

“Lady Luna. Shall we proceed as planned?”

“…Please do.”

Hearing Luna’s resolute voice, Francis realized once again.

That truly now, an irreversible event was about to unfold.