Ch.226Chapter 226. Decision, and Decision (2)

“Thank you for your hard work, Counselor.”

“Not at all. If anything, Lord Merlen, you’ve been working too hard. I’ll make sure all your military achievements are properly reported, so please don’t worry and continue to focus on your duties.”

“Leave it to me.”

With the report from Lord Merlen, the lord of Gran Isle Castle located at the westernmost point of the Northern Continent, Jenna’s mission had passed the eighth ridge.

All that remained was to investigate Kelstein Castle and its surroundings.

It wasn’t ideal for a State Counselor to be away for so long, but Serpina von Einhart was an exceptionally intelligent person, and Jenna’s own work was focused on thoroughly supporting her, so there wasn’t much cause for concern.

Rather, what had been worrying was a different matter… but that situation had begun to take a different direction.

“Counselor.”

A female general approached Jenna as she was leaving Green Isle Royal Castle.

It was Merry, a new female general who had only recently begun working with her.

“Have you been waiting long?”

“Not at all. Oh, I’ve completed everything you ordered. Please check it!”

“I’m sure Merry has done an excellent job.”

Originally, the general who assisted Jenna in these situations was Erin.

But Erin had recently been exposed for participating in a rebellion and was executed.

Not only Serpina but even Jenna had to indirectly realize how hated her lord was.

“Are you heading straight back to the castle now?”

“No. I still have places to check. I need to visit Kelstein Castle.”

“Ah…”

Merry hesitated for a moment before looking at Jenna and asking in a cautious tone.

“But, is this really okay?”

“What do you mean?”

“About… Lord Swen.”

Hearing those words, Jenna easily understood the true meaning behind Merry’s question.

Yes.

Until recently, Jenna had been wary of the rise of Swen, the traitor.

She had judged that if her lord Serpina approached outside personnel without prejudice, then she as the counselor should deal with external personnel with even more stringent standards.

In Serpina’s army, where everyone from long-serving members to newcomers had been staging rebellions, Swen’s existence was quite unique.

It was peculiar how he had been abandoned by the Aeshus army and passed through various countries before coming here, but what concerned her most was how strangely he received Serpina’s protection.

Jenna had initially been wary of him. In a situation where Serpina trusted him excessively, if he were to betray her, the impact could be incomparably more damaging to her than all the previous rebel forces combined.

However, recently.

After hearing that he had brought a pink-haired magician to Serpina—Jenna completely withdrew her previous thoughts.

“Lord Swen will be fine.”

“Is that so…? But you said earlier that being away for too long wasn’t good…”

“That was certainly true then, but not anymore. Unnecessarily being at odds with Lord Swen by trying to keep him in check would be more detrimental now.”

Even without considering the magician incident, if you thought about how the highly accomplished female general Irene Juliette was essentially one with Swen…

The conclusion was inevitable.

Being hostile toward Swen and offending him would now be a greater loss for their army.

In Serpina’s army, already devastated by rebellions, Swen’s value could only increase day by day.

Rather.

Jenna had recently been seriously considering that perhaps arranging a marriage between him and Lady Serpina might truly be the best path for her lord.

In any case—Jenna’s stance on Swen had now changed.

From keeping him in check to getting as close to him as possible.

“Well… if the Counselor says so, then it must be right.”

Merry didn’t press the matter further.

At least from Merry’s perspective, apart from their lord Serpina, there was no one in their army with a sharper mind than Jenna.

“Shall we get going then?”

“Yes, let’s go.”

And so, Jenna set off for Kelstein Castle with Merry.

Even the State Counselor of a nominally strongest nation was making her own decisions to survive.

* * *

Valharat Castle, the capital of the Aeshus army.

“Really? Ginor has shown himself again?”

“Yes.”

“And he appeared with… the Lunarian Ineanne army that recently rebelled against the Karelia army?”

“That’s what they say.”

Upon hearing Anima Ingram’s report, Baranga Yurie Aeshus immediately fell into thought.

‘Why on earth…?’

Leaving our army to join a mere rebel group?

There were many strange points about this choice for someone as intelligent as Ginor.

Though she didn’t know the details, the rebels apparently had their own justification for the uprising.

Moreover, with the declaration of support from Kail von Einhart, who was thought to be dead, they had gained name recognition comparable to a powerful lord, despite being a rebel group.

But it still didn’t make sense that he would join them based on just that. After all, they still only controlled one territory and remained a candle in the wind, liable to be suppressed at any moment.

“Do you know what kind of person Lunarian is?”

“I’m not sure. He doesn’t seem to be a well-known figure.”

“Then why would Kail join someone like that…?”

To Yurie’s question, Anima answered in an ambiguous tone.

“I can’t be certain… but I think Kail might be the real leader.”

“Huh?”

“The value of Kail’s bloodline, despite being from a collateral branch, exists only because Serpina killed all his brothers and sisters with her own hands. Plus, given his age, he might find it burdensome to establish and run a country directly. So he probably just put up someone manageable as a figurehead while he rules from behind.”

“Would he undertake such a risky venture at his age?”

“It’s just speculation. I’d need more information to be certain. But there must be something to it. After all, it’s a country chosen by none other than Ginor.”

After saying this, Anima fell into thought and then continued.

“I’m thinking.”

“…Yes?”

“Could it somehow be related to that man… Swen?”

“Huh?”

To the completely puzzled Yurie, Anima explained in an uncertain tone.

“Well… Lord Ginor left our army because of that incident, right?”

“…Yes.”

“And Swen was most deeply involved in that incident. Of course, if you ask what that has to do with anything, I can’t really explain, but since we have nothing else to go on…”

‘Joining a newly formed rebel army because of Swen…’

Yurie tapped her fingers on the armrest of her chair, lost in thought.

“But if that’s the case, shouldn’t Swen also have defected to their side? According to recent reports, Swen belongs to Serpina’s army.”

“Well, that’s true. Honestly, I don’t know either. Maybe it’s just the whim of an old man, or perhaps he’s placing his hope in Kail von Einhart rather than that woman.”

“…”

“Or do you have any evidence? Evidence that Ginor should be in the same army as Swen?”

“I wouldn’t call it evidence exactly…”

Since Ginor’s adopted daughter Reika Nighthart—the magician—was with Serpina’s army, Yurie had naturally assumed Ginor would go there too.

But to bring this up, she would have to mention how she had personally eliminated the magician, so Yurie let her words trail off without further explanation.

She thought Anima would understand her, but there was no need to bring up something that would only lower morale.

“It’s okay, Yurie. I don’t think we need to think too deeply about it at this stage. Despite Kail’s support, they’re still just rebels. From the looks of it, they’ll probably be dealt with by either the Karelia or Ohana armies.”

“I suppose so…?”

“Yes.”

Despite the confident answer from her trustworthy friend and State Counselor Anima, Yurie couldn’t shake the anxiety in her heart.

Swen, who was active in Serpina’s army with the magician.

Ginor, who had abandoned her and joined a rebel army led by a lord who would be nameless without Kail’s backing.

She couldn’t understand why she felt so uneasy, but it was actually instinct.

An uneasiness that only Yurie, among all the lords of this continent, could feel. To explain—

—It was the intuitive sense that only someone who had once held both men in the palm of her hand could experience.

“So, cheer up, Yurie. We have a lot to do ahead of us.”

“Alright…”

Yes.

Whatever happened, at least she had been able to save Anima before her eyes.

All she could do now was take comfort in the fact that Anima was alive.

A life satisfied with the knowledge that her peaceful haven remained intact.

A life content that this model garden of a world hadn’t been shattered.

“Anyway, that’s not what’s important.”

“Huh? Oh… yes. That’s right.”

Indeed.

She hadn’t called Anima to discuss people who used to be in their army.

“I’m ready. Just give the order anytime, Yurie.”

“…”

After Swen left, Irene departed, and several officers and soldiers had gone.

Following a long period of turmoil, the Aeshus army had accumulated strength for quite some time while the Brans army split into three factions and Serpina’s army remained inactive.

Being ready meant it was time to spread their wings again.

For Yurie, the moment of decision had come once more.

Certain that now was the time, Yurie slowly rose from her throne.

Then, looking at her counselor whom she wouldn’t give up for all the gold in the world, she spoke.

“Summon everyone, Anima.”

“Understood.”

Yurie, Emma Adeline, Erinandorf Arisian, Epinel Rosenkroz, and Anima Ingram.

The will of Aeshus had once again begun to extend its hand across the continent.