Ch.220Chapter 220. First Encounter (2)

To the old man who introduced himself as Ginor, Luna couldn’t readily think of how to respond.

More accurately, she stood frozen in place—it would be correct to say she couldn’t understand why the person who had come looking for her wasn’t Swen.

“…Why…?”

“?”

Ginor observed Luna’s strange gaze.

Though he had made a sudden request for an appointment, even so, that look was like… perhaps it could be described as facing someone completely unexpected.

For now, it would probably be best to mention Swen’s name, as he was the one who had introduced him to this place.

After reading Luna’s expression, Ginor cleared his throat a few times and spoke.

“I’ve heard a lot about Lunarian Ineanne from Lord Swen.”

“!!!!”

Luna, who had been standing frozen while muttering something in a small voice, finally began to take interest in the old man before her.

“Lord Swen?! Are you acquainted with Lord Swen?!”

“L-Luna. Please calm down first.”

Violet, who was standing beside her, tried to stop her, but someone who had merely read books couldn’t possibly restrain Luna’s physical strength.

Ginor might have been flustered by Luna placing her hands on both his shoulders and looking at him with an urgent expression—

But surprisingly, he explained the situation in a calm tone.

“We worked at the same place. There were many things that happened, this and that. If I were to explain in detail, the story might get quite long.”

“That doesn’t matter. If you don’t mind, please tell me what happened…!”

“Before that, I would appreciate if you could answer the proposal I made to you first. I can’t explain everything in detail in a place like this.”

At Ginor’s words, Luna finally realized what she had done and bowed her waist with a reddened face.

Having continued to wait for Swen, she wasn’t without disappointment… but still, the offer of appointment was an extremely grateful matter.

“Ah… I apologize for my rudeness. Um, that… did you say your name was Ginor?”

“That’s correct.”

“Since you’re offering to help me, I have no reason to refuse. However, we are just a newly established country that has barely started… and honestly, our situation isn’t good. I’m truly grateful that you want to join us, but I may not be able to provide treatment befitting someone who rose to the position of imperial chancellor… would that be acceptable?”

“I didn’t come here to settle for the present, but to look toward the future, so it doesn’t matter.”

“…”

Luna nodded and extended her hand to him.

“You may rise, Lord Ginor. Though I am lacking, I look forward to working with you.”

“The honor is mine, my lord.”

Ginor greeted Luna with proper etiquette, then—

He brought up the words she would most want to hear.

“Then, if I may be so bold… would you listen to this old man’s story for a moment, my lord?”

“…I would be pleased to.”

And so Luna moved along with Ginor, leaving behind Violet who was watching her with a concerned gaze.

* * *

After changing locations to a small room near the audience chamber.

Seated at a table in the multipurpose space, Luna asked what she was most curious about.

“Lord Ginor—”

“You may speak comfortably, my lord.”

“…Did Lord Ginor come to me after hearing from Lord Swen?”

Ginor slowly nodded.

“That is correct.”

“May I ask what kind of relationship you had with Lord Swen?”

“Of course. We once served the same ruler.”

“The same ruler…?”

“You must know of the Aeshus army, my lord?”

‘…So it’s true.’

As rumored, he was in the Aeshus army, not the Brans army.

Having realized this fact, there was something she couldn’t help but ask.

“From what you’re saying, it seems Lord Swen told you about me… is that right?”

“Yes. I came here because of his recommendation.”

As soon as she heard those words, her heart ached again.

Lord Swen, even in a situation where he was sold off alone, was still thinking about us, about the future of our army.

Yes. Lord Swen must have certainly intended to keep his promise. The person named Ginor who had appeared before her was the best evidence of that fact.

However.

Luna couldn’t continue to feel grateful.

After all, there was still a much more important issue remaining.

“But… why didn’t you come with Lord Swen, and instead came alone?”

“…”

If he had received Swen’s recommendation and was under the same country as Swen, shouldn’t they have come together?

But Ginor had come here alone.

Unable to hide the strange anxiety rising within her, Luna spoke as if urging him on. Ginor, sitting across from her, seemed to organize his thoughts for a moment, then slowly parted his heavy lips.

“There were many things that happened… but.”

“You can take your time.”

“To put it simply, I couldn’t accompany him.”

“…?”

“Because he is no longer affiliated with the Aeshus army.”

“…Pardon? I don’t quite understand with just that—”

And then.

Ginor, with a deeply troubled expression… explained “what happened to him” in a dry tone.

“The ruler, Lady Yurie, sold Swen to the Serpina army.”

“!!!”

Thump!

Looking at Luna who had stood up without realizing it, Ginor fell into thought again.

“Ah… I-I’m sorry. That… um… I don’t quite understand what you said.”

“One of our army’s generals was taken hostage by the Serpina army. In that process… instead of the hostage, Swen, who was an envoy, was handed over to the Serpina army.”

“What…?”

Then.

That absurd rumor… was true?

That they sold off an envoy, it wasn’t just propaganda spread by the Serpina army… but something that really happened?

Luna clenched her fist.

It would be more accurate to say that strength entered her hand without her realizing it.

Rage.

An overwhelming rage that couldn’t be explained in words began to consume her.

It was so intense that she thought she had never felt such anger toward another person in her life.

‘How… could they… to free a hostage, they sold off their own country’s envoy.’

‘And.’

‘Not just anyone… but my Lord Swen…!!!!!!!’

She wanted to release the surging indignation right now—

But before that, there was something she absolutely needed to know.

“…Lord Ginor, I would like to ask you one question.”

“Please do, my lord.”

“Why… why did Yurie… sell off Lord Swen?”

It was something Luna’s common sense couldn’t comprehend.

That’s why she hadn’t believed it. Unless she had seen it with her own eyes, it would have been foolish to fully believe rumors.

But if it was true, there must surely be a reason?

For instance, being threatened by Serpina. That cruel witch was a woman who wouldn’t hesitate to use any kind of scheme.

Even so, selling off Lord Swen would not be a forgivable act.

Ginor, as if understanding Luna’s feelings, nodded slowly with a serious expression.

“For Lady Yurie, the captured hostage was someone more precious than anything else.”

“What? Then… it wasn’t because of threats—”

Nod.

“Lady Yurie handed over Lord Swen to Serpina of her own will. Although it was the Serpina army that proposed it…”

“…A precious person…”

As if all strength had left her body, Luna collapsed into her seat.

She sold him off for her precious person?

For such a reason… Lord Swen.

She treated my precious advisor, who was more important than anyone else… like that?

The blood in her body grew cold.

Her mind became clearer than ever before.

This sensation. It was the first time she had felt this sensation since losing her only blood relative, her sister, to Serpina.

Until now, she had only one enemy in her life.

Serpina von Einhart.

The worst tyrant who deserved to be driven out of the continent.

The witch who killed the entire imperial family with her own hands, solely with the determination to become emperor herself.

Her sister had died miserably at that woman’s hands simply because she was connected to someone from the imperial family. They couldn’t even find her body.

Because she couldn’t let such a cruel woman take over the world, she had raised her flag and stood up, even though she had nothing in her hands!

But.

From this moment on, Serpina was no longer her only enemy.

‘Lord Swen… my Lord Swen, how dare they…! Not knowing the gratitude for having Lord Swen by their side, I… I—’

—Even though I wanted Lord Swen by my side… I couldn’t have him…!!!!!!

Baranga Yurie Aeshus.

The talented female ruler who led the Aeshus army, who loved her comrades—no, none of that matters.

She was the one who sold Swen to the witch Serpina.

Luna repeated her name more than three times.

She would surely never forget it for the rest of her life.

She hated her even more than Lynn, who had tried to take Lord Swen away from her, for daring to hand over Lord Swen to Serpina’s clutches because of a mere hostage.

Whoever that hostage was, it wasn’t an important issue to Luna.

Because to Luna, Swen was more important than anyone else.

Never.

I will never forgive you…!!!!

At this moment.

Another name was engraved in Luna’s heart.

The name of another woman whose blood must be washed away.

* * *

‘It seems I’ve stirred up a hornet’s nest.’

Though he wondered if he should have brought it up, Ginor knew well that it had to be discussed eventually.

All he could do was wait until she calmed down.

Since she was the ruler directly recommended to him by Swen himself, he was confident that she would quickly make a sensible judgment.

And, as he thought—

Luna regained some composure, stood up from her seat, and bowed to Ginor.

“I’m… sorry.”

At this, Ginor immediately stood up and bowed as well.

“No. There’s nothing to apologize for, my lord. There’s no need for you to bow before your servant.”

“…”

After that brief storm had passed.

“I don’t know the circumstances, but it seems you’ve been through quite a lot.”

To Ginor, who spoke calmly as if he understood, Luna bowed her head and said.

“…Yes.”

“Well, my lord has her own circumstances. Just as I came here with my own circumstances, wishing to serve you. So, there’s no need for you to tell me everything.”

At those words, Luna barely managed to gather her emotions.

Even if she wanted to maintain her composure… whenever the topic of Swen came up, Luna would typically lose that composure easily.

After all, she had never forgotten the grace of him sacrificing himself to save them from the boots of the Brans army, not even for a moment.

In any case—

Now was the moment when she needed to hear more from this man.

—Even if the truth that would reach her ears would be shocking.

“Then, where is Lord Swen now…?”