Ch.271Chapter 271. What It Means to Become a Sovereign (6)

* * *

Around the same time.

Karelia was being escorted by Violet, her entire body bound with ropes.

“In one form or another, there will certainly be those who wish to leave the territory during battle. Search everyone, and if they’re merchants, confiscate their goods and charge them at more than double the market price.”

‘The strategist’s words were true after all…’

Ginor had said it. That Vanessa would certainly try to help Karelia, the ruler, escape.

Following his orders, troops were stationed at every route that could lead from other territories to Tepello Castle.

Given that our forces were overwhelmingly superior in number, dispersing them like this wouldn’t affect the outcome of the battle… it was nothing short of a brilliant move.

If not for Ginor’s judgment, our army might have let the enemy ruler slip away at a critical moment—the thought sent a chill down my spine.

‘I suppose I can relax now…’

Makana Karelia.

A mature woman with deep green eyes and an exceptionally gentle appearance.

The person whom my lord Luna had originally served.

A woman praised by many for her great virtue.

Violet thought, if anything, that Karelia was an overrated woman.

Seeing how she was dragged along by the actions of Vanessa, who had caused the rebellion, made Violet think she was more foolish than kind.

But now, facing her directly—she could understand why so many people flocked to her like clouds.

Why it had taken so much persuasion to get her to rebel.

The aura of a great person. The composure that overwhelmed others.

She was a ruler. This woman existed above the high clouds.

‘If Vanessa hadn’t wielded military power as she pleased in the first place, most of the people from Karelia’s army who now work for our forces probably wouldn’t have joined the rebellion…’

While thinking this and looking at Karelia, their eyes met.

Karelia smiled reassuringly and said:

“Ho ho, you can relax. As I just said, I have no intention of running away.”

The soldiers escorting her flinched slightly at those words.

Though she was now a prisoner, she had been a ruler.

It was only natural that a certain dignity would emanate from her, making her difficult to approach casually.

Violet felt it too, so the soldiers must have felt it even more strongly.

Violet—stared at Karelia’s eyes for a moment, then spoke in a somewhat aggressive tone.

“Don’t try any tricks. I’m sure I told you to follow quietly.”

“Ahaha! Tricks? Look at me. What could I possibly do now, a woman completely tied up? It’s just that, the soldiers and you as well… being so tense makes it hard to breathe.”

“…”

“I would follow you even if you untied the ropes… but I won’t ask you to untie them. Well… instead, though it may seem odd to say, wouldn’t it be nice to chat about this and that if you’d like?”

“Know your place. Trying to sway us with honeyed words won’t work.”

“Ahaha! Honeyed words? I must look like someone like Serpina to you. That’s quite disappointing. If we had more time, I could show you that I’m quite a decent person.”

Karelia said this with an amused laugh, and then in a completely casual tone as if discussing tomorrow’s weather—

“This will likely be my final outing… wouldn’t it be nice to make my last moments lively?”

“…!”

Violet was startled, turning pale, but quickly composed herself and spoke calmly.

“Our lord is not one who deals with lives carelessly.”

“Lord… you mean Lord Luna. Hehe. That’s right. Luna is not one to swing her sword recklessly. I know that too. She is a woman of extremely gentle character. But…”

Karelia examined Violet’s face for a moment, then turned her head to the side, letting her sentence trail off.

“…she’s still young. Poor thing. Young ones like you having to come to the battlefield is a tragedy of our times. I drew my sword to stop Serpina because I didn’t want such a world to come.”

“…”

Though Violet wasn’t sure what she was talking about,

feeling that she might get caught up in this woman’s pace, she decided to end the conversation and turned her head sharply.

“Anyway, I have no intention of engaging in pointless conversation with you. It would be best for you to follow quietly, Karelia.”

“As you wish.”

After that, Karelia kept her mouth shut… but Violet couldn’t let her guard down.

This woman… was definitely dangerous. Someone with something that drew people in.

‘My lord…’

Violet cut off the various thoughts that were beginning to surface.

Yes. Everything was for her lord to decide.

Whatever decision her lord made, she would follow. That was the duty of a retainer as Violet had learned it.

And so, Violet headed toward the burning Madlan Castle with her definite “prize” in tow.

* * *

When the battle ended and Luna entered the gates of the capital city Madlan,

a crowd of territory residents who had gathered like clouds began to cheer as they looked at Luna.

“Lady Lunarian! Welcome!!”

“Thank you for liberating us from Vanessa’s tyranny…!”

“Long live the Lunarian army! Long live Lady Lunarian!”

“Everyone…!”

Surprised by the unexpected reaction, Luna’s gaze fell upon a farmer who used to plow the fields with her.

“You did it, Lady Lunarian…!”

“Hello, Mr. Keiji! It’s been a long time!”

Keiji.

A middle-aged farmer who used to work the fields with her when she worked at Madlen Castle.

She couldn’t forget him. He was one of the few people who had opened his heart to Luna when many others were still wary of her.

Luna dismounted and offered her hand to him as a handshake.

Farmer Keiji bowed at a 90-degree angle and took her hand with both of his.

“Ever since I heard that Lady Lunarian had raised an army at Tepello Castle, I’ve been waiting for this moment.”

“Is that so…?”

“Of course! I thought you must have had a purpose. Lady Lunarian, even when we were plowing the fields together, I could tell you weren’t the type of person to do such things.”

It seemed that Vanessa’s reputation among the territory residents was nearly at its worst.

It couldn’t be helped. She had demanded twice as much military service from the residents, and the military law had become so harsh that many people lost their lives.

Even though military power had strengthened, she had ultimately lost the hearts of the people.

Decisively, the fact that Karelia didn’t put any restraints on Vanessa’s unilateral actions wasn’t a situation that pleased them either.

“I’ll come help you again sometime.”

“No, what are you saying! Someone who has important things to do now… leave such matters to us commoners! Lady Lunarian should do what Lady Lunarian needs to do!”

While she was exchanging pleasantries with the territory residents,

Ginor approached her.

“My lord.”

“Ah, Lord Ginor.”

“I have a message from Violet. She says she caught… someone at the northern riverbank.”

“…!!”

As soon as she heard his words, Luna’s pupils contracted momentarily.

“Then… as you said, Lord Ginor?”

“Yes. It seems so.”

“…”

I see.

You were trying to escape, Karelia.

Or perhaps, as Ginor claimed, she was “made to escape” regardless of her own will…

The fact that she was now captured by her meant—

‘…’

Luna put a smile back on her face and bid farewell to Keiji and the other territory residents.

“Stay well! Lady Lunarian! Bring peace to the continent!”

—Long live Lunarian!!!!

Watching Lunarian advance with the residents’ cheers behind her, Ginor was lost in thought.

‘I’d heard about it, but I didn’t expect her to have won over the people to this extent.’

A woman who could gain an overwhelming advantage over none other than Karelia in terms of the residents’ trust… where had she been hiding all this time?

And how did Swen manage to find this person who had been hiding?

In any case, he could be certain from those cheers.

The one who would drive the conversation on this continent from now on would be neither Lynn Brans, nor Baranga Yurie Aeshus, nor Serpina von Einhart… but Lunarian.

* * *

“This way, please.”

What greeted Luna as she entered the royal castle of Madlan, guided by Francis and the soldiers, was—

“So you’ve come, Lunarian Ineanne.”

A short-haired woman glaring fiercely at her—Vanessa Trinity.

“…”

Before Luna could give any instructions, the soldiers surrounded her and immediately attempted to bind her.

Naturally, she was restrained with ropes without much difficulty.

“That kind expression won’t help you. You filthy traitor.”

“You bastard! Watch your tongue! You were the one who first—”

“It’s all right, Francis. Calm down.”

“B-but my lord…!”

“Calm down. That’s an order.”

“…!”

Lunarian calmed the furious Francis, then approached the bound Vanessa.

“I think we were both unlucky. Both me and you, Vanessa.”

“Ha! If this is how you mock the defeated, it’s certainly original.”

“It’s not mockery. I’m sincere. I just… think perhaps it would have been better if we had never met in our lives.”

“What…?”

After saying this, Luna looked at the enraged Vanessa grinding her teeth.

As soon as Vanessa met Luna’s eyes, she was startled, turning pale.

That gaze. She had seen it before. Eyes that truly cared for others. Eyes that reminded her of Lady Karelia—

‘W-what is this…!’

No.

There was no way this vile woman could possess the same kindness as Lady Karelia.

Vanessa shook her head vigorously to clear her thoughts…

And as she recognized Karelia’s name, she noticed the sense of unease she had been feeling.

This was the royal castle.

But Karelia was not here.

Then Luna should naturally be questioning her disappearance…

Why…

How can she remain so calm…?

‘No way…!’

“I’ll see you soon.”

Luna nodded slowly, then.

“Francis, please imprison this person.”

“Yes!”

“W-wait! Lunarian, n-no, it can’t be? Surely…!!”

“Come along!”

Vanessa was dragged away before she could finish her question.

After she disappeared, Lunarian closed her eyes and recalled what Ginor had just told her.

If one does not stain their sword with the blood of others, then someday, what will stain that sword is one’s own blood…

‘…’

Lunarian once again steeled her resolve.

The resolve to be reborn as a true ruler.