Ch.319Chapter 319. Who Could It Be?

“What……!!”

Unlike Serpina who was greatly agitated, Jenna spoke in an extremely calm tone.

“My lord. You must know this as well. Only strictly political reasons factor into imperial marriages. I believe you understand that this is not a matter decided by things like love as common territory residents might do.”

“That’s……”

“I don’t know how you feel about the Advisor. However, if we consider only the abilities the Advisor has demonstrated, I believe we would agree that regardless of his family background, he is a person worthy enough to be given the Einhart name. Am I wrong in saying this?”

“……”

Even though Serpina gave no answer in succession, Jenna continued her explanation without particular concern.

“It doesn’t matter how you do it. You must keep the Advisor. The Advisor’s existence will be the greatest help to your cause, Lady Serpina. If the Advisor shows any sign of wanting to leave our forces in any way, then at that time, the Advisor—”

“……That’s enough, Jenna.”

At Serpina’s words, Jenna bowed her head once more.

“I apologize, my lord.”

“No. I understand… what you were trying to say.”

“Please consider it seriously, my lord. I wish you a safe expedition. Please leave Einhart Castle to me. Though I will certainly be inferior to you, I swear I will perform the role of lord to the best of my ability, even at the cost of my life.”

* * *

Having finished her reminiscence, Serpina turned her head to look at the window where sunlight was pouring in.

At that moment, Serpina could almost guess what Jenna had been about to say before she cut her off.

—At that time, you may need to eliminate the Advisor, something like that.

Make him an ally by all means. If he doesn’t seem likely to become an ally, eliminate him.

Purely from a vassal’s perspective, that advice had sufficient basis.

If it had been before she knew him, it might have been different, but after getting to know him, she understood that the prospect of him becoming an enemy was more frightening than anything else.

The problem existed in a place Jenna didn’t know.

That was—

I love Swen.

I love that man.

By thinking about marriage with Swen, she could clearly feel her own heart.

This feeling was clearly love. To put it simply, Serpina wanted Swen.

What she wanted wasn’t his strategic mind, his “Mind’s Eye” ability, or his unbelievable insight.

What Serpina wanted was— his gentleness that made her want to lean on him.

The way his eyes curved into crescent moons when he smiled.

The warmth she felt when he stroked her back.

‘Marriage…..’

Would he accept my feelings?

From what she could see, there was definitely a woman named Irene in his heart.

Although it’s said that a man can have four wives… here again her status as a ruler became an issue.

The question of ‘whether the husband of a ruler, and an emperor at that, could have other wives.’

Serpina herself didn’t mind at all, but there was the matter of public perception. As Jenna said, imperial marriages were extremely political actions.

But apart from all that— naturally, things got complicated from the very first step.

There was no way she could fully convey her feelings to him.

After all, she wasn’t the true ruler he served.

She didn’t want to take a step forward only to have Swen truly leave her.

If he were to leave, she couldn’t possibly eliminate him as Jenna advised. Nor could she hold onto him.

Sometimes, Serpina would think about wanting to have in her grasp not the world that couldn’t be captured no matter how hard she tried, but simply the white-haired man who would speak warmly to her.

At that moment.

‘……Wait.’

At a truly, truly unexpected moment.

A thought crossed her mind.

Who is the ruler that Swen is really serving, the one in his heart?

Unless there was a rebellion, there were very few lords left on the continent.

Among them, Lynn and Yurie were naturally excluded. They were countries Swen had already “passed through.”

What remained were the four lords who divided the southern continent—Aski Hesna, Seta Rolland, Navidos Ohana, and Lunarian Iniang.

So it must be one of them?

If she had to pick the most likely person—

Knock knock knock.

“……!!!”

“My lord. I bring news that the Advisor who went out for reconnaissance has safely returned.”

At the soldier’s words, Serpina instantly dismissed the question that had arisen.

“I understand. I’ll be out shortly.”

Right. First, let’s deal with the Aeshus forces.

Marriage with Swen is something to think about afterward.

Serpina lightly adjusted her clothes, then unnecessarily smoothed her hair.

Seeing how her mood improved at the thought of meeting Swen after a while, she could be certain once again.

I like Swen.

I like him so much that now, I couldn’t possibly imagine a life or world without him.

I desired him because I wanted to gain the world, but now my heart’s longing for him contained nothing like the world.

If.

Just if.

If Swen were to say to me, ‘I’ll marry you if you hand over the world to me,’ I would…

‘……’

She clenched her fist tightly and held it to her chest, counting to three.

One, two, three.

‘……Let’s go.’

Serpina, once again becoming “Serpina von Einhart,” left the quiet office.

To meet the man who was, without exaggeration, everything that constituted her current self.

* * *

Near the border between Lunarian forces and Rolland forces.

The news that reached Luna, who had built several watchtowers and a small fortress, was that Seta Rolland was coming to intercept with a large force.

And surprisingly—

“Is it true that the ruler Seta Rolland himself is coming as the commander-in-chief and vanguard?”

“Yes, that’s correct.”

Charlotte, who was beside the contemplative Luna, spoke in a serious tone.

“I wonder if he’s underestimating us, or if he’s truly serious.”

“Probably both.”

The one who interjected was Ginor, the national advisor of the Lunarian forces.

“‘I must take the field myself,’ and ‘This is a battlefield where I alone am sufficient.’ It’s a case of having both sentiments.”

“Is that so?”

“Yes. He is an extremely bellicose individual, and a person with immense pride in himself.”

“A bellicose individual, you say?”

At Luna’s words, Ginor turned his head and immediately bowed to show respect to his ruler.

“He probably came out personally because he has a high regard for you in his own way. At the same time, he must be confident of victory, which is why he’s personally attending from the first battle.”

“I see……”

“Our position remains unchanged. Regardless of who the commander-in-chief is, winning the battle is all we should think about.”

Luna slowly nodded, then asked with a serious face.

“How do you think we should respond, Lord Ginor?”

“My proposal is as follows.”

As if he had been waiting, he placed a map on the table and gave a general briefing.

“I propose placing you, my lord, as commander-in-chief, myself, Ginor, as chief of staff, Violet as deputy chief of staff, and Francis and Charlotte as the vanguard. I also propose setting an ambush with the Chilean mercenary corps between the mountains on the right.”

“Is there a reason?”

“The enemy will likely advance sequentially from three castles. If we can hold up just one of those units, we can lead the battle favorably despite our insufficient forces. I believe the elite Chilean mercenary corps is more than capable of this.”

Luna pondered for a moment, then looked straight into Ginor’s eyes.

“May I hear why you placed two people in the vanguard?”

“Rolland is quite a powerful general. Although he’s acting as a ruler now, he can be considered closer to a warrior, having come from a warrior background. There’s probably no general in the Rolland forces who can match his skills. Since our strongest general, General Tifa, is guarding Tepel Castle, I first designated General Francis, who is judged to be the next strongest, as the vanguard. By adding General Charlotte, I’ve roughly balanced the power.”

“In other words, you’ve put forward the strongest card our forces can play against the Rolland forces?”

“That would be correct.”

Luna nodded a few times, then—

“In that case, I will take the vanguard position myself.”

“…Pardon? But for a ruler to personally go to the battlefield, and as the vanguard no less, is far too risky. During the rebel army days, there might have been no choice for the sake of boosting soldier morale, but now there’s no need to take such a reckless adventure like Rolland—”

“No, Lord Ginor. This isn’t a reckless adventure.”

Luna slightly raised the corners of her mouth in a smile.

Her ruby-colored eyes were sparkling with a remarkably impressive light.

“Just as Rolland has done—we’re simply putting our strongest force in the vanguard.”

“What…? What do you—”

At that moment.

Kail, who had been quietly listening to the conversation, placed his hand on Ginor’s shoulder.

“You don’t know yet, it seems.”

“……???”

“The strongest person in our Lunarian forces is… Lady Luna. That is, our lord.”