Ch.219Chapter 219. First Encounter (1)

This is the mansion where Irene and I reside.

With Reika still not back due to her library duties, dining face-to-face with just the two of us was something that hadn’t happened in quite a while.

“If you have concerns, perhaps you could share them with me?”

If I had to worry alone, it might have been quite lonely.

But being with Irene gave me a sense of relief.

“I thought you might have some insight, Irene. What do you think?”

Hearing this, Irene smiled bitterly and replied.

“…Hmm.”

After a brief silence, she finally broke it.

“It seems Lunarian has finally raised an army in the southern continent.”

“…”

“I don’t know the details, but it appears she betrayed someone under her… though I don’t intend to make an issue of it. That’s just how things are in chaotic times.”

According to Serpina, Lunarian’s military uprising took the form of rebellion.

I’m not sure about the situation with the Karelia army, but including Karelia herself, everyone aligned with them highly values loyalty, so the chances of a successful rebellion should be extremely low…

For some reason, it seems quite a few Karelia army commanders have joined under Lunarian.

“By the way, I never thought she would be under the Karelia army… Was this all part of your plan too, Swen?”

“My plan…”

“Seek refuge with Karelia.”

That was all I said.

Whether she started a rebellion or did anything else was entirely Lunarian’s decision, having nothing to do with me.

Besides, at that time, I was only giving advice based on my game knowledge, not consulting my intelligence 100 brain.

Come to think of it—all I could do was figure out what the results would be.

Controlling the actual outcome was fundamentally impossible.

Of course, I did change some results by altering actions beforehand… but performing magical feats that make the impossible possible was beyond me.

That day.

When I ordered Tifa to handle commerce, she immediately retrieved treasure chests full of gold coins.

When I put Cain in charge of the vanguard, mercenary groups appeared and blocked Kalintz’s attack.

Lunarian credited these successes entirely to my “contribution”…

But I had merely advised on what would be most efficient based on known outcomes, without actually predicting such events would occur.

At first, I didn’t notice how strange this was.

But as I spent time with the Brans army, the Aeshus army, and finally here with the Serpina army—I gradually began to realize how bizarre it all was.

“It wasn’t my plan. I just…”

“Just?”

“I can only guess that it might have been my lord… Lunarian’s destiny.”

Yes, destiny.

Just as Serpina seems to be hindered at every crucial moment by some past evil deed or the world’s malice, preventing her from becoming the unifying monarch despite successfully leading the exceptional Serpina nation—

Lunarian is the opposite, destined to become the unifying monarch.

No matter what she does, things ultimately go her way.

Whatever decision she makes, situations unfold in her favor.

If the goddess of fortune truly exists, one could say Lunarian’s life is blessed with that goddess’s abundant love.

That must be how she could stage a rebellion in the loyalty-valuing Karelia army while maintaining legitimacy.

Without legitimacy, she would surely have failed, especially in that country.

So what should I do?

Should I return to Lunarian immediately as planned?

Should I…

abandon the unfortunate Serpina, who seems forsaken by the goddess of fortune?

“Swen.”

“…Ah.”

Irene’s voice, suddenly right beside me, quickly brought my consciousness back to reality.

“Despite appearances, I’ve been traveling between three nations with you. I can tell what you’re thinking and what’s troubling you… at least that much.”

After saying this, Irene firmly held my hand between both of hers.

These are the hands of a woman who wields a sword. Naturally rough and coarse… but to me, these hands felt softer and warmer than any saint’s.

“Swen. I don’t care what decision you make. Take enough time to think and contemplate. Contemplate again and again before deciding. Whatever the outcome, I… will stay by your side forever.”

“Irene…”

I slowly nodded, then placed my other hand on top of hers and said.

“Thank you, Irene.”

A woman who would stay by my side no matter what decision I made.

Perhaps thanks to her encouragement, my complicated feelings seemed to calm down a bit.

Whatever happens, Irene at least will remain by my side.

That alone was enough to organize my thoughts.

Afterward, we spent a long time holding hands tightly.

Irene, this woman… was an incomparable sanctuary for me.

* * *

Time was flowing mercilessly.

Although Swen hadn’t come, the fortunate thing for Lunarian was that nothing significant had happened in the meantime.

The Karelia army had gathered their forces but continued to show no movement.

And renegotiations with the Ohana army, though sluggish, were still being pursued under Violet’s coordination.

In the process, fortunately, they discovered that the Ohana army hadn’t conspired with the Karelia army beforehand.

It would have been strange for Karelia, which values loyalty, to join hands with Ohana, rumored to be the most vile of the four southern lords—but Karelia had already lost much of its shining legitimacy while being manipulated by Vanessa.

With rebellion already occurring, there was no reason they couldn’t work together.

Yet the lack of news suggested that Karelia couldn’t properly aim for either legitimacy or practical benefit.

This was clearly good news for them, but.

Nevertheless, Lunarian’s heart had been withering away since that day.

Why… hasn’t he come?

Swen was most likely in the Aeshus army, the neighboring country to the Brans army.

Even if the rumors Violet mentioned were somewhat true and Swen belonged to the Serpina army, enough time had passed for him to have heard the news and come down.

Sufficient time had passed for one person to travel here on horseback.

Given the situation in the northern continent, regardless of where he was, he should have arrived by now if he rode at full speed…

To Lunarian, it made no sense that Swen would know about this and not come, so naturally her thoughts led to—

‘Could he be in a situation where he can’t receive news?’

If he couldn’t receive news, many things would make sense.

Could he possibly be detained in the Serpina army?

If he was being detained by Serpina for some reason, it wouldn’t be strange that people had seen him in the northern region.

Moreover, it would explain how the Aeshus army had sold him out. Prisoners sold like that were typically locked in underground dungeons.

Given Swen’s exceptional talents, Serpina might have found ways to use him.

Even if that wasn’t the case, if some personal issue prevented him from hearing about our army’s uprising…

Or worse, what if something had happened to him?

At that moment, a chill more piercing than the winter wind ran up Lunarian’s spine.

‘Did I… wait too long?’

These were chaotic times.

A period of confusion where loyalty, trust, and human life were treated carelessly.

It wouldn’t be surprising for a military commander to wander from place to place and end up executed.

Thinking that far, a suffocating feeling began to overwhelm her again.

Did I… just keep waiting for opportunities?

Waiting and waiting to secure legitimacy?

Believing irresponsibly that I would win if I held out until the end, did I drag things out too long… and end up too late??

‘No way…!!!!’

Just as that unthinkable situation flashed through her mind.

A soldier approached the audience chamber.

“My lord. A man has come seeking to enter your service.”

“!!!!!!”

Hearing the soldier’s words, Lunarian’s face lit up as she sprang from the throne that had once belonged to the province lord.

“Is that true?!”

“What?! Ah, th-that… th-that—”

“Quickly! Bring him before me at once! Hurry!”

The soldier, startled and unable to properly respond, went to fetch the visitor, pushed by Lunarian’s momentum.

‘Lord Swen…!’

Aah…!!!

I knew it.

I believed in you, Lord Swen.

You’ve come to me.

I’ve been waiting for this moment.

I believed you would definitely come…!!!!

Not for a single moment did I forget the promise we made then.

Lunarian sensed her heart beating more fiercely than ever before.

Yes.

She needed that person.

It was true she needed him as an advisor, and she had to meet him because of their promise and to repay his kindness.

But… now she seemed to understand.

I just needed Swen as a single human being.

The person who first acknowledged my potential when everyone else ridiculed and laughed at me.

The person who told me—a ruler of a pathetically weak minor nation—that I could “unify the continent.”

She needed that person who always demonstrated miracles beyond explanation, as a human being, as a woman.

When they met again, she would first say… thank you for waiting.

And, sorry for making you wait.

Thank you for surviving, thank you for meeting me again… probably even days of conversation wouldn’t be enough to convey all her feelings.

But that was okay.

Because they had met.

Being together meant they could keep talking.

Until this moment, Lunarian—

had never considered that the man who came seeking service might be anyone other than Swen.

But——

“This is the person, my lord.”

“Huh…?”

The person the soldier brought was indeed a white-haired man.

But that’s where the similarities with Swen ended.

It was clearly an aged man, who looked to be Cain’s contemporary rather than hers… kneeling before Lunarian.

“It’s an honor to meet you, Lady Lunarian.”

“…?”

“I am Ginor Nighthart. It’s ancient history now, but I once served as the Imperial Chancellor. If it pleases you, would you accept this old man into your service?”

——The situation began to unfold in a way Lunarian had not anticipated.