Ch.285Chapter 285. Departure Ceremony

* * *

That night.

Serpina von Einhart lay in her bedroom, unable to sleep for a long time, spending the night with open eyes in deep anguish.

Perhaps because she was wearing a slightly see-through negligee for sleeping rather than her usual uniform, her current anguish appeared more like the worries of a woman rather than the dignity of a ruler—and that was indeed the case.

‘Swen…’

Only one man filled her thoughts now: Swen.

Serpina hugged her pillow tightly, burying her face in it as she cursed herself and recalled the lives that had vanished.

The former subordinate generals who betrayed her because they couldn’t die under her command.

The rebels whose condemning eyes were vivid, who once pledged loyalty to the imperial family.

Everyone was like that. Not a single person was willing to dedicate their life to her.

A ruler who seemed to have everything, but was ultimately standing on a castle of sand.

Though her power hadn’t been taken away, no one willingly acknowledged her authority—a tyrant who deserved to die. An evil woman who had plunged the continent into chaos.

Despite this situation, Serpina never stopped trusting.

When new generals came, she treated each one with sincerity. She wanted to make them her people.

She maintained strict but fair rewards and punishments, prioritizing ability over background or bloodline. She believed that if she recognized others first, someone would surely recognize her in return.

Even after being repeatedly betrayed by those she trusted, favored, and held in high esteem, she never wanted to let go of that thread when dealing with rebels from various regions.

She had to prove herself through results. She thought that as long as she bore the cross of Einhart on her back, there was no way to atone for this sin except by pacifying the continent.

What broke her was the recent assassination attempt.

The experience of nearly being killed by a man she had trusted her entire life and to whom she had entrusted her back was a tremendous event that shook her to the core.

Fortunately, Irene Juliette, who was practically an outsider, and Reika Nighthart, who could use healing magic, were by her side, so she could avoid major harm…

But even with Reika’s magic, it was insufficient to heal the deep scars left in her heart.

The answer that never changed no matter how many times she asked using Swen’s “Mind’s Eye.”

Swen’s face as he repeatedly said with a troubled expression, “Lady Serpina cannot unify the continent.”

—Perhaps I am, after all, a person who is unqualified to be a ruler.

Her confidence as a ruler, which hadn’t wavered even when facing him, had been broken after the assassination attempt.

She tried her best not to show it, so most of her subordinate generals didn’t notice, but she had essentially half-given up on establishing a unified empire.

After all, how could one achieve great things without a single retainer willing to die for them?

Since realizing this, terrible loneliness and solitude had come to her, and at the same time, she began to cling more desperately to Swen.

She didn’t know when it started, but she needed the man himself, Swen, more than his Mind’s Eye ability.

She wanted to be held in his arms and forget everything, if only for a moment.

She knew well that this kind of thinking would never lead to good results, but still, she wanted to escape. If only she could forget this loneliness for just a brief moment before Swen disappeared.

If she could forget everything by joining bodies with him…

To her, who had somehow developed such a weak mindset, Swen had said that.

He asked her to die with him.

‘Can you… die with me?’

It was the first time.

Swen was the first person who willingly entrusted his life to her when everyone else had rejected her.

Whether as a retainer, a colleague, or a friend… it was the first time someone had bet on her.

And—

The true lord Swen served was not her.

The person in his heart… is not me.

That’s why she couldn’t hold onto Swen. Even though she wished he would stay by her side for a brief moment, she didn’t desire for him to be by her side forever.

And she thought that someday she would have to let Swen go.

At first, yes. At first, she wanted to be with him by any means necessary.

It was true that she wanted to bind him to her side under any conditions.

But to indulge in such selfish whims, Swen had become too precious to the current Serpina.

A strategist with the Mind’s Eye ability, a man she adored, one of the few beings she could trust—these three titles all referred to one person.

Of course, she couldn’t indulge in whims. She thought it would be enough if he embraced her even for a moment.

And she thought that someday she would have to let Swen go.

I had clearly made up my mind to let you go.

But if you say such things again.

‘No…’

Tears began to flow from her eyes.

She, who had never cried carelessly in front of anyone, was alone in the dark bedroom, soaking her pillowcase.

She didn’t want to let him go.

She wanted to stand by his side and look at the future he saw.

She didn’t want to lose him. She wanted to be connected to him in any form.

…I don’t want to.

Swen, I don’t want to let you go…

If you would just stay by my side, I—

—Perhaps I don’t need to unify the continent.

For the first time since ascending to the throne.

Serpina was intensely yearning for something other than unification.

* * *

Some time later.

The occupation forces began to be organized in earnest to invade Chel’s army.

Before the departure ceremony, Serpina summoned Irene Juliette separately to commend her for her service.

“Irene. You have worked hard to protect me while continuing your duties as vice commander. I will never forget everything you have done for me.”

“No, my lord. If it weren’t for you, I would already be dead. I consider it a lifelong honor to have served you. I will surely repay my debt to you by achieving merit.”

Hearing those words, Serpina smiled at Irene.

“No. You have already done what you needed to do… you can now think that you owe me nothing.”

‘…!’

“So, whatever decision you make in the future… I will bless your path.”

Irene easily caught the implied meaning in Serpina’s words.

The meaning that she wouldn’t resent her even if she left her side someday.

So, Lady Serpina… has she noticed that Swen and I will leave someday?

Although she couldn’t know exactly how she had reached that conclusion, Irene quickly understood, having learned about the empress’s remarkable intuition while performing her duties as a guard knight.

I… cannot lie.

Because the person I will follow, whenever it may be, is Swen.

Even so, my gratitude toward her was sincere—

“As long as I serve you, I will be an unwavering light for my lord, unshaken by anything.”

Irene closed her eyes and dedicated some of her loyalty to her lord.

Since Lynn Brans, this was the first time she had pledged allegiance to any “ruler.”

“…Yes. I believe in you, Irene.”

After the light conversation between the two ended.

Jenis, who arrived at Einhart Castle after a very long time, had an audience with Serpina.

“Jenis Al Caski has arrived at Einhart Imperial Castle at my lord’s summons.”

“Yes, Jenis. You must know the details from the messenger?”

Jenis bowed deeply and said.

“I have never forgotten the heavenly grace with which you forgave me when I almost strayed once, though I did not participate. I may not match my brother Irian, but I will do my best to serve by your side.”

“The past is just the past. You don’t need to talk about it anymore. You have already been punished enough.”

“My lord…!”

Jenis seemed moved and began to sob, then carefully wiped her eyes and said.

“I will do my best…!”

After Jenis was selected as the new guard knight, the departure ceremony took place in the afternoon.

This departure ceremony was not particularly splendid.

If Serpina had not participated as the commander-in-chief, they would have held as magnificent a ceremony as possible to boost the morale of those going to war—

But the moment the ruler herself stepped forward, a lavish departure ceremony would inevitably become an extravagance.

However, though not splendid.

A sufficiently disciplined departure ceremony was being conducted with the ruler’s participation.

Serpina positioned herself on a slightly elevated place in front of the royal castle, with the new state strategist Swen guarding her side.

In front of them were the talents leading Serpina’s current army.

And behind them, numerous soldiers stood in formation.

Serpina looked at them and stretched out her snow-white hand.

“My soldiers! We will once again advance into the central continent. Many things have happened, and good results have not come—but nevertheless, we must take steps to advance into the central continent again to establish peace on the continent and to continue the history of the Einhart Empire!”

Despite so many people gathered here, no noise other than Serpina’s voice could be heard.

Naturally, everyone gathered here looked at Serpina.

Many easily focused on her speech due to her elegant gestures and appealing voice.

“In this expedition, I will accompany you as the commander. It may be a difficult battle. No matter how favorable the situation is for our army, a battle can take a completely different turn if just one part goes wrong. Since a one-sided battle without sacrifice is impossible, many may die, that’s what I think.”

“But! I will not just stand by and watch as you die for the empire! I too will die for the empire! For you who have fallen for the empire! Einhart! I, Serpina, will die for you!!”

Swen’s pupils trembled slightly at Serpina’s words about dying for them, but she didn’t notice it and continued her speech.

“No matter what happens, I swear here that I will be with you! So, follow me! By removing the remnants of Orlando Brans, who first raised the banner of rebellion against the Einhart imperial family, and by re-establishing the empire’s flag in the central continent, we will sweep away the footprints of the incompetent Brans family who drove the domain people into the abyss of suffering by repeating meaningless wars, and bring true peace to the central continent!”

What followed Serpina’s words as she shouted with clenched fists was thunderous cheering.

The passionate response of those who had engraved the will of Einhart as a pattern on their armor.

Immediately after the speech—

A large-scale occupation force began to advance toward Chel’s domain.

Once again, war was breaking out.