Ch.330Chapter 330. When Opportunity Knocks

* * *

Einhart Royal Castle.

Despite the monarch Serpina’s long absence, the territory was running smoothly without any particular issues.

“My lord, as you instructed, we have begun repair work on the irrigation facilities.”

“Good work. With this, we can increase next year’s harvest without any problems.”

For Serpina’s territory, which had relatively low crop yields compared to its vast size due to the barren northern continent, properly expanding irrigation facilities to help farming was the most important task. To make matters worse, being a large island between major rivers meant that in the capital Einhart, there was a shortage of farmable land except for the outskirts near the rivers. Even if they conquered the entire northern continent, it would only yield about half the efficiency of the fertile central continent where milk and honey flowed.

“Has there been anything else unusual?”

“As you instructed, we are keeping an eye on the powerful local clans in the Inab region. And in the process, we detected some strange movements.”

“Strange movements?”

“It’s not entirely clear… but they seem to be repeatedly relocating garrison troops to different territories within the same region. When asked about the reason, they claim it’s for more effective reconnaissance by the soldiers, but…”

Moving soldiers?

The authority over those soldiers belonged to the lord of the territory to which they were assigned. Simple matters like sending or receiving a few thousand men to or from other territories didn’t require the monarch’s approval. But Inab region had been quite peaceful after going through a period of turmoil—was there really a need to keep moving soldiers around like this?

‘Is it just for show? Or if not…’

“What would you like to do?”

“I think it’s probably nothing serious, but we should check. Without changing their affiliation, I’ll send 30,000 soldiers in the form of a transport unit to patrol the outskirts of the Inab region. Could you arrange that?”

“I will carry out your orders, my lord.”

Only after finishing all the day’s work in this manner could Jenna finally take a brief rest sitting on the throne. This short moment of sighing was the only rest time given to her throughout the day.

‘I knew this wouldn’t be easy, but…’

The lord of Einhart Castle didn’t just rule Einhart. All roads in the northern continent led to Einhart Castle, and all infrastructure spread out like a spider web centered around it. It was a position that required overseeing the north-central region at minimum, and the entire northern continent at maximum. Having always assisted Serpina, she already knew that Serpina handled an enormous amount of work—but because the superhuman Serpina had managed it all so effortlessly, Jenna now wondered if she had misjudged the difficulty of the tasks.

‘She never showed any sign of struggle despite such overwhelming duties.’

If Serpina had any weakness—it would be that she had no true allies by her side.

‘I wish she would make a decision soon…’

Jenna had very valid reasons for recommending Swen as Serpina’s partner. First and most importantly, Swen was an exceptionally capable talent. Losing the position of royal advisor was an incredibly humiliating thing for any person to accept. Yet there was only one factor that could make someone accept it—a person clearly superior to oneself. Swen was definitely someone who fulfilled this requirement. As long as someone like Swen existed, handing over the advisor position was inevitable. It was just a matter of timing.

Moreover, though she hadn’t mentioned this to Serpina—from Jenna’s perspective, it was clear that Serpina had special feelings for Swen. Though she didn’t show it due to their difference in status, one could easily notice from the look in Serpina’s eyes when dealing with Swen that he occupied a place in her heart. No matter how political royal marriages might be, relationships formed solely on political logic without any affection would ultimately struggle to develop into truly trusting relationships.

Outstanding ability, the Emperor’s own affection. There could be no more ideal candidate for consort than Swen. The only problem was the aforementioned difference in status—the idea that Swen, a commoner without even a family name, would dare to become the consort of the Einhart imperial family… but fortunately, this was an era of chaos that swallowed up things like status gaps that weren’t advantageous for survival.

All that remained was Serpina’s will. If Serpina just wanted to take Swen, at least from Jenna’s perspective, she could incorporate him into the Einhart royal family without any problems. And if that happened—

“Excuse me, my lord. It’s time for patrol.”

As she was organizing her thoughts, a woman walked into the audience chamber. It was Merry—the intelligent woman whom Jenna had been taking around as a sort of successor, teaching her various things, though that had become somewhat derailed since Swen’s appearance.

“I understand. I’ll prepare quickly, so please wait at the castle entrance.”

Having essentially conquered half of the central continent with the recent fall of the Aeshus territory, it wouldn’t be a bad time to take a pause and hold a wedding ceremony… With such thoughts, she began preparing for patrol.

* * *

That day was no different from any other ordinary patrol day. The night sky was filled with stars, pouring down bright light as if blessing those who looked up at it.

“You’ve arrived, my lord. This way, please.”

“Very well.”

Jenna set out on patrol, escorted by Merry. Merry was a grateful presence who continued to serve by her side just as before, even after being pushed out of the national advisor position and essentially losing the political battle for control of Serpina’s territory to Swen. Though she sincerely wanted to reward Merry for helping without any change in attitude despite knowing she could no longer pursue a career as the advisor’s successor, she also knew that Monarch Serpina would not allow it, so she couldn’t take direct action. She could only hope that Merry would prove her “value” through her own achievements. Still, Jenna thought she had plenty of potential—after all, she hadn’t marked just anyone as her successor candidate.

As they patrolled various parts of the darkened Einhart territory with the soldiers, Merry, who usually followed silently behind her until spoken to, unusually spoke first.

“My lord. There’s something I’d like to ask.”

“What is it?”

“When a situation arises where you can seize an opportunity, but must miss that opportunity for moral reasons, what decision do you think is right?”

It was quite a specific question for such a sudden inquiry. Jenna lightly examined Merry’s expression. She looked no different than usual.

“I think I need some more context to answer that.”

“Then let me change the question. What is your assessment of Lunarian?”

“You mean the leader of the southern rebel army?”

“Yes.”

Though called a rebel leader, she was now already the proper monarch of a nation. Rumors said that even Rolland had been swallowed by Lunarian’s forces. Though preoccupied with affairs in the northern continent, even Jenna couldn’t ignore that Lunarian was currently the hottest topic of conversation across the continent.

“Despite various incidents, she ultimately betrayed Karelia who trusted her and gave her the position of lord, seizing that opportunity to devour the country and establish her own. In this process, I’d like to ask what you think about her decision—the decision to betray Monarch Karelia.”

It was a strange question, but one worth considering if one wanted to develop a perspective on grand politics. Can one really just condemn someone for seizing an opportunity by betraying a monarch’s trust? Perhaps in peaceful times, but in an era like this where even parent-child bonds have weakened?

In truth, the answer she would give was practically predetermined. After all, her lord Serpina could never escape from such “moral issues.” The reason she had come to follow someone who had killed all her siblings with her own hands—she thought that someone with such level of determination and courage might truly bring about change in this world.

“I think Lunarian made an extremely wise decision. Opportunities don’t come along just anytime, and even if you seize an opportunity, it doesn’t always lead to results. Though she violated the duties of the lord-vassal relationship, in times like these, who could dare condemn her and cast stones at her with a clear conscience?”

“I see. So you’re focusing on the idea that if an opportunity comes, one ‘must seize it’?”

“That’s right. But—”

—Shuk

The words “But why are you suddenly asking such a question?” never made it past Jenna’s lips. When she came to her senses, all she noticed was overwhelming pain and… the realization that her stomach had been pierced by something sharp.