Ch.250Chapter 250. Proof (3)

After that incident.

I was dispatched to Kelstein Castle on the frontlines with Reika.

My dispatch request was approved with unprecedented speed, and within days, my departure date was right around the corner.

“My lord. I, Swen, wish to depart early tomorrow morning for Kelstein Castle to carry out the mission you’ve entrusted to me.”

After finishing my formal greeting, I looked at her face and saw she still couldn’t shake off her worries.

“So today is your departure day, Swen.”

“It has come to that already.”

I tried my best to show a composed smile.

During the time that passed—rumors had begun to spread worse than expected.

For starters, Serpina’s reputation among the northern continent’s subjects had fallen to levels similar to when she first took power.

When the youngest daughter suddenly appeared on the throne instead of Algot or Sidmid, how many rebellions broke out from those who couldn’t accept it?

If her current reputation was similar to that time… it wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say it had hit rock bottom.

My intelligence 100’s most efficient answer was certainly doing its job faithfully.

“……”

I was worried about leaving Serpina, who was looking at me so precariously without saying anything.

“My lord. While I’m gone, you can rely on General Irene.”

As long as the most trustworthy Irene remained by Serpina’s side, nothing serious would happen.

From the beginning, what I was trying to do was an action that [would not benefit Serpina’s army in any way].

It was almost laughable to think that this would reversely guarantee Lady Serpina’s safety, but I swallowed those thoughts for now.

“So please don’t worry too much, my lord. Didn’t I tell you that this outcome was already within the range of what I expected?”

“……”

“Swen…”

At that moment.

Serpina came closer to me, grabbed my hand firmly and spoke.

It felt like she was asking me not to go, and I could neither tighten nor loosen my grip on her hand.

“Did I… do the right thing?”

“Of course.”

“But it has always been this way. My life… the more I try to do something, as if I were trying to harm someone I despise… it has always run in unexpected directions. So rather than having you caught up in strange rumors—”

“My lord. In the end, sincerity prevails. And unlike before, I am by your side now, aren’t I?”

“…!”

“So please believe me. I will prove that my ‘mind’s eye,’ which shows the path most favorable to you, has not been wrong.”

Only then did Serpina slowly release her tight grip on my hand.

“I’ll be back.”

“…Come back safely. I shall be waiting for you.”

For a moment, I wanted to pat her head.

But I thought that no matter how much she cared for me, placing my hand on my lord’s dignified body would not be good for either of us, so I bowed respectfully and slowly left the royal palace.

When I came out of the castle, the sky was exceptionally high and blue.

How could I protect Serpina?

What should I do to go against the ‘most efficient’ method?

Actually.

The answer came more simply than I expected.

‘Can’t I just not do what I’m told?’

They say don’t do this? Well, I’m going to do it.

With my intelligence at 100, it was obvious that the consequences of doing exactly what I was told not to do would apply as expected.

So this time, I would use my ‘always correct predictions’ in reverse. To ensure Serpina could safely keep her throne, I would continue down the path that offered ‘absolutely no benefit.’

Whether Serpina’s army could achieve unification or not wasn’t my concern. My concern was Lady Serpina’s life. Lady Serpina’s safety. And Lady Serpina’s smile.

‘Let’s give it a try.’

To keep my promise to Luna.

To protect Serpina’s life.

From this moment on—

I would gladly become an intelligence 0 strategist whose plans all miss the mark.

* * *

The day of departure.

“I entrust our lord to you, Lady Irene.”

“You needn’t worry too much, Swen. I will stake my life to protect our lord from all threats.”

“No, there’s no need to stake your life. Please don’t overexert yourself.”

As long as my predictions exist, Serpina won’t be in serious danger anyway.

“……”

Afterward, neither of us spoke.

I… noticed what this silence meant. I didn’t want to pretend not to know and act cowardly.

“Lady Irene.”

“…!!”

So I took the first step.

And embraced her tightly.

“I’ll be back soon. You have to wait for me. Understand? This… is the only place I have to return to.”

Saying that, I slowly stroked her red hair.

Her scent, now quite familiar to me, gently tapped at my heart.

The firm sensation, distinctly different from when I embraced Lady Serpina, strongly asserted that she was a woman who lived on the battlefield.

“Um, you know…”

“Tell me.”

“Parting like this feels somewhat regretful… but since you’ll come back… I’ll wait well… you must return, okay?”

“……”

—What was I thinking?

As soon as I heard her say she didn’t want to part like this, I felt like a switch flipped in my head.

Without thinking, I… kissed her cheek.

“…?!?!”

With a soft smack, Irene looked at me in great surprise.

Her face was completely flushed and she was clearly flustered… but she didn’t seem displeased.

Today was somehow a very strange day.

I’d become a bit bold, you could say.

Wanting to tease her a bit, I deliberately pouted my lips and said:

“…Did you dislike it?”

“Huh? N-no, no… I-I didn’t dislike it! I didn’t dislike it…”

“Then will you give me one too?”

“What? Um… y-yes…?”

“Here.”

With an excited heart, I slowly closed my eyes.

And soon after, as her breath came very close—

Smack.

The sensation of her lips brushed against my cheek.

When I opened my eyes, there stood Lady Irene, her eyes cast downward, her face completely red, unable to say anything and fidgeting.

Come to think of it, since my possession, hasn’t my life been one grand epic of protecting her?

Meeting her because of Lynn’s mischief, then betraying Lynn to save her and going over to Yurie.

And she, for her part, willingly becoming a traitor because of me who was abandoned by Yurie.

Through all those moments, that she and I… could safely exchange greetings like this was nothing short of a miracle.

Especially considering her status as a general who goes to the battlefield.

“……”

As I silently looked at her with such thoughts, perhaps she misunderstood.

Irene mumbled awkwardly, as if not knowing what to do.

“…Um, if… if it wasn’t enough…”

“Not enough?”

“B-but…! Swen, you’re not saying anything… so, well.”

She who showed such strength when leading everyone.

The voice she was making now was so delicate it could hardly be considered a general’s voice.

A female voice. It might be a bit vulgar, but there was no other suitable word to describe Irene right now.

“S-sorry… I… I’m new to this. This is all new to me… I don’t know what men like, things like that…”

“I like exactly this about you.”

“…Huh?”

“Men. They like this kind of behavior. So you can be confident.”

I said with a smile.

“R-really? Is that so…?”

“Of course.”

“I see… Then… what about Swen?”

“Me?”

“Since Swen is… a man too, do you… like this kind of thing?”

…Ha.

I unconsciously let out a deep sigh inside.

If we continued talking, I might not want to leave.

I should wrap this up.

“…Of course.”

Only after speaking did I notice my voice trembled slightly.

Being always close to her, I had forgotten. That she was an extremely beautiful woman.

Even beside Serpina, whose beauty was unmatched, she never fell behind, and in terms of feminine features like her chest and hips, she even slightly surpassed Serpina.

I had always just found her cute… but when she approached me sincerely like this, my tongue got tied without me realizing it.

“Really? Y-yes… that’s a relief.”

“So don’t worry and wait for me. I’ll take responsibility and bring Reika back safely too.”

“Yes. Alright. Since Swen said he’ll return safely, I’ll believe those words.”

“Good.”

After parting with Irene.

Only then could I face Reika who was waiting in the carriage.

“Let’s depart now.”

“Yes!”

Finally, in the moving carriage, Reika, sitting opposite me, tilted her head slightly and asked:

“Um… did something happen?”

“Huh? To me?”

“Yes.”

“Why? Nothing happened.”

“Is that… so?”

She seemed very puzzled, so I asked what was wrong.

“Swen… your face seems very red… are you feverish?”

“…Me?”

“Yes. Oh, I…”

Reika rummaged through her belongings and then took out a small hand mirror and handed it to me.

Looking into it… I saw my reddened face.

‘……’

I thought I had handled Irene quite composedly…

But this is how I must have appeared to her.

Thinking about it made me laugh involuntarily.

“…Swen…?”

“It’s nothing. Just found it funny.”

“Huh? Oh, yes…”

Reika looked at me a bit strangely, but it wasn’t an unpleasant feeling.

At that moment.

“Anyway, if you’re tired, would you like to sleep a little…?”

“I have trouble falling asleep while sitting. I’m fine.”

“You can lie down…!”

“In this cramped space? How?”

“Well…”

Reika shifted her body little by little, pressing herself against the corner.

Then she patted the area where her knees were.

Her voluminous chest swayed nicely with her gesture.

“Here…!”

“…?”

Though I understood what she meant, at the same time I didn’t understand—

Reika said with a very bright expression:

“You can lie down here comfortably…!”

…Today was definitely a very strange day indeed.