Ch.249Chapter 249. Lies

No way.

Shocked by the thought that just occurred to me, I lose my words, unable to even hide my expression properly.

“……Swen?”

Serpina von Einhart was someone who could read my mind like a ghost, even when I wasn’t trying to show anything.

And now, I wasn’t hiding my inner thoughts at all.

It wasn’t strange that she was looking at me with a puzzled expression.

“Um…… please wait a moment, Lady Serpina.”

Instead of answering or responding to my words, she slowly nodded.

I needed to organize my thoughts.

To confirm whether the thought that struck me like lightning was true, I needed a few pieces.

What question could extract those ‘pieces’?

If there was something within the scope that an intelligence 100 brain could answer, something related to military strategy that could confirm my thoughts…

“……My lord. Could you perhaps ask if it would be efficient to immediately organize troops to provide relief work for plague victims near Kelstein Castle?”

Kelstein Castle is near the border. While it might be understandable for soldiers, this would certainly be a helpful action for the territory residents in our army.

She looked at me worriedly as I suddenly asked this puzzling question, but then without questioning it, she repeated exactly what I asked her to say.

“……What do you think about organizing troops to provide relief work for plague victims near Kelstein Castle?”

The intelligence 100 brain.

Just as it had always done before, it casually conveyed the position of my affiliated country.

[It’s a decision that brings absolutely no benefit in any aspect.]

——Ah.

Now I understood.

Why such terrible rumors had spread about Serpina.

Even why, despite her making the decision to save her territory’s people, there seemed to be no way to contain those rumors.

Well, at the point where the answer “in any aspect” came out, it was as good as decided.

If such actions were taken—that is, if it became known that the rumors about Serpina spreading the plague were false, and that despite her country not suffering a major outbreak, she was dedicating herself to humanitarian relief efforts—there was a possibility that Serpina’s damaged reputation might improve somewhat.

If improving the territory residents’ evaluation of their ruler benefited the country, such a definitive answer wouldn’t have come out. It would have been more diplomatic, like “Not really.”

But the fact that the result came out as if cut by a knife meant…

Yes.

My prediction represents the position of my affiliated country, not myself.

We lost four territories. In exchange, the Aeshus army, which had the potential to grow into a dangerous rival, collapses. Additionally, with the Chel army being swept up in the situation and the plague spreading, the central continent becomes devastated.

‘This wasn’t all of it.’

And.

The public sentiment toward Serpina—the biggest obstacle to our country’s unification—becomes shattered by a misunderstanding that seems impossible to overcome.

With a feeling like I might vomit…

‘This was part of the prediction result all along…!!!’

I accept my prediction.

* * *

We stood silently in the royal palace for a long time.

My prediction was the best decision for the Serpina army—but it wasn’t for Serpina as a person.

Recalling the prediction result that hit my head like a strong blow, I fell into thought again.

‘Should I think that… I was naive?’

No matter how objectively I tried to think about it, noticing this would be in the realm of gods, not humans.

While blaming oneself rather than others before taking action was certainly constructive behavior, excessive self-blame wasn’t always the answer. Like right now.

I had to protect Serpina.

That was meaningful to me in two ways.

First, it was the way to keep my promise to Luna.

Second, it was what I wanted.

It meant I didn’t care if the Serpina army as a country got closer to continental unification.

What meaning would there be in unifying this country by sacrificing Serpina?

I just felt… unjustly treated, even though none of this had happened to me personally.

A ruler who tightens the noose around her own neck the more she follows her advisor’s efficient strategies.

She had tried so hard. She was someone willing to save people even knowing she would be covered in filth for it.

And this is her reward…?

“……Swen.”

“Ah….”

Serpina’s voice coming from close by finally allowed me to regain my senses.

“My lord…?”

Only after hearing my voice did I notice. That I was trembling.

And then—

Serpina extends her snow-white hand and lightly brushes my cheek.

No, she’s not brushing it. She is—

“Why are you crying, Swen.”

She was wiping away tears I hadn’t even noticed myself.

“……My lord.”

“Why do you have such a sad expression on your face?”

Consumed by the whirlwind of thoughts, I hadn’t even been aware of what kind of face I was making, and only then could I assess my situation.

I had thrown out one question, suddenly made a serious expression… and then trembled while shedding tears.

I.

What should I say?

As soon as I realized I was crying.

As soon as I recognized that Serpina had come close before my eyes.

As if it was the natural thing to do.

“……!!!”

I embrace her in my arms.

“……Lady Serpina.”

I, so fearlessly.

Committing the grave offense of hugging my lord without permission or consent, an act for which I could lose my head and it wouldn’t be strange.

“Lady Serpina, you have done nothing wrong.”

I blurt out the words boiling up in my chest, without filtering them.

“Lady Serpina… you are not some tyrant who shouldn’t exist.”

I tighten my grip on her.

These words… were meant for her and simultaneously for myself.

“No matter what, a ruler who uses their position to try to save people… cannot possibly be a tyrant.”

“Swen……”

She calls my name once, then says nothing for a while.

Then, slowly… she buries her head against my chest.

And then, raising her hands, she embraces me.

“……”

I could feel her body trembling.

I sensed something hot touching my chest.

She was… crying.

Just as I had burst into tears, she too was crying.

I slowly accept her, resting my face on her head.

It’s warm.

There’s a scent of yuzu. A scent that warms the heart.

I… have to protect her.

At this moment, that was the only thought in my mind. Nothing else mattered. As long as I could protect her.

As for why I wanted to embrace Serpina in this moment… honestly, I didn’t know.

Perhaps even after days pass, after a long time flows by, I’ll never have the chance to know exactly what I felt then.

Nevertheless, I won’t regret this action. Probably until the day I die.

Afterwards, we spent time together, holding each other like pieces that had always belonged together and had finally reunited.

The fact that no one entered the royal palace was truly fortunate for me.

* * *

As time passed.

Having regained some composure, Serpina and I were sitting comfortably with our backs against a pillar in the royal palace.

While it might be acceptable for me, the sight of a ruler sitting on the floor rather than on the throne would be problematic in many ways if seen by a third party.

But well, both she and I knew well that such matters of appearance weren’t important right now.

“Swen.”

“Yes, my lady.”

“About the question you asked me to pose earlier… could you tell me why you had me ask such a thing?”

“……”

I fell into contemplation for a moment.

If I were to be honest, it would mean telling her with my own mouth, “Lady Serpina, you yourself are the biggest obstacle to the unification of the Serpina army.”

So, I brazenly lie.

“Because that would be the most efficient method for our army.”

“……Why is that?”

“Perhaps because it could somewhat suppress the rumors?”

I could assert this based on the prediction result that had just come out.

The statement “there is absolutely no benefit in any aspect” would mean that Serpina’s reputation would improve.

And my assertion was confirmed by her next words.

“……Didn’t I tell you, Swen? In a situation where even the northern territory residents have a low opinion of me, if I mobilize soldiers who would clearly fear contracting the plague to carry out such relief work… far from suppressing rumors, I would only hear more negative stories. Regardless of what you think… you know.”

—Ha.

Swallowing what almost came out as a hollow laugh, I once again realize the weight of what intelligence 100 means.

That it truly… produces only terrifyingly accurate statements.

“No. The soldiers will be fine. And this will solve everything.”

Saying that, I look at Serpina and smile.

In the most confident tone possible, with a nuance suggesting, why worry about such things?

“Have you forgotten, my lord? I have—”

—the ability of the Mind’s Eye.