Ch.368Chapter 368. The White-Haired Strategist and the Red-Haired Lady Knight

A sudden envoy visit from the Brans family.

“Yes. What would you like to do?”

Lunarian sank into quiet contemplation.

After causing such a commotion, they wouldn’t send an envoy just to propose a peace treaty now.

As she glanced over at Ginor—

“We have no reason to avoid them, my lord. Please respond as you normally would.”

Though they had been crossing swords just days ago, sending an envoy meant they wanted something from our side.

Luna slowly nodded.

“Show them in.”

Whatever proposal they make, I’ll handle it as usual.

Thinking this, she took a deep breath and mentally prepared herself, but—

“——!!”

Her expression, which remained composed except in matters concerning Swen, faltered at the appearance of someone she never expected.

Walking slowly across the red carpet with the status of an envoy was… long blue hair, sky-blue eyes much brighter than her hair, and skin as white as clouds floating in the sky.

The darling of the Brans family and the sole successor of founder Orlando Brans, simultaneously the only person left with Brans bloodline.

“…This is our first direct meeting, Lunarian Ineanne.”

It was Lynn Brans, ruler of the Brans territory.

“You…!”

Luna’s eyes filled with anger.

Lynn Brans. The source of all this trouble. Coveting Swen and taking him from her was her first sin, an original sin that could never be forgiven.

Her second sin—after taking him away, she failed to protect Swen and ultimately caused him to fall into the hands of Serpina’s forces!

“How dare you, how dare you think it’s safe to…”

At that moment.

Ginor whispered to Luna in a voice just loud enough for her to hear.

“My lord. You must not waver. Remember that we are in diplomatic proceedings!”

“…!!”

…That’s right. I mustn’t waver.

Fortunately, Luna wasn’t particularly impulsive. Besides, wasn’t Ginor someone Swen had appointed for her?

Thinking that following his advice was essentially the same as following Swen’s words, her pounding heart quickly began to calm.

“I’m Lynn Brans. I lead the Brans territory. Well, you probably know that without an introduction. I came today because I have something to say to you.”

“…”

“I’m surprised you agreed to meet with an envoy, Lunarian. Though that’s not the only surprise. I never thought the rumored Red-Eyed Dragon would look like such an innocent country girl.”

“I’ll acknowledge your courage for risking your life to come to the heart of enemy territory just for idle chat. Is that all for your last words?”

“Ahaha!”

Lynn laughed loudly at Luna’s words, then returned to a cool expression.

“You like making harsh jokes despite your appearance? Well, I didn’t come here to play, so let’s stop the unnecessary talk.”

“State what you want.”

At those words, Lynn twirled her hair with her finger—

“Prisoner exchange.”

“What…?”

“You have them captive in your territory. Belut Ruga, Isaac Dipontia, Merillian Jenas. Release these three people. In exchange.”

‘…!!!’

The moment he heard those words, Ginor realized something.

Perhaps… Lynn had outmaneuvered them!

“On our side, we’ll release two of your generals we’ve captured as prisoners, including Charlotte von Einhart.”

“!!!”

Calmly.

Very calmly, let’s put them on the negotiation table.

Charlotte von Einhart. By name value alone, she was the most valuable person among them. A powerful general who, once captured, should never be released—a person of special concern. An A+ class general whose mere presence boosted allied morale.

In contrast, the three Brans generals including Belut were ordinary individuals who could barely be rated C-class at best. People who were necessary for governance but whose sacrifice in wartime would cause no real loss—just ordinary people filling positions.

Their presence couldn’t change the tide of war, and appointing them as city administrators wouldn’t produce effects noticeable to the territory’s residents, but they were the kind of people you could select without much thought when someone needed to fill those positions.

Simply for “negotiation” purposes, releasing those three people was certainly not equal in value to releasing Charlotte.

In other words—”releasing Charlotte in exchange for those three people” was a losing deal for the Brans territory.

Why would they release such a valuable captive for mere common officers when Charlotte could be used to seize territory if utilized well?

However, Lynn’s proposal went beyond that.

It was already a loss to release just Charlotte, yet she was willing to release another officer as well!

A loss!

This was definitely a loss. But Ginor could understand. Taking a loss was Lynn’s strategy!

‘Is she trying to create an image that she never abandons her officers…!’

She doesn’t care if they’re A-class or whatever.

The message: I will never abandon those who risk their lives for me.

It’s certainly not an efficient choice, but there are results that remain precisely because it’s inefficient—and we call that benevolence and righteousness!

One might say “only now,” but there was a huge difference between doing it now and not doing it at all.

“…”

From our army’s perspective, no matter what we decided, the situation would flow according to the Brans territory’s intentions.

If we agreed to negotiate, Charlotte would be safely returned, but it would enhance Lynn’s reputation among her subordinate generals. This would likely become a major obstacle in future battles.

Even if we didn’t agree to negotiate, Lynn would gain the image of “having done her best” just by making the attempt. Although she wouldn’t see the dramatic effect of actually completing the deal, she would still gain something.

Crucially, we were the ones who needed Charlotte. We had prepared gold because we thought Lynn “wouldn’t make a losing deal.” In this case, unless we completely gave up on Charlotte, Lynn would gain both image and practical benefits.

Simply by coming alone to enemy territory before the battle was even settled—

And by making a proposal that sent a message to her officers, against the Lunarian forces who had already used diplomatic deception—

Lynn had secured a “guaranteed winning path” in this diplomatic battle!

She might have to give up the money or perhaps even territory that could be gained by maximizing the use of the Charlotte card, but from the perspective of the Brans forces who had to fight desperately, this decision would ultimately prove to be the most efficient one.

Ginor sighed because he realized this.

We were too late.

We should have made the same proposal first!

The excuse that we couldn’t think of it because Lynn had the image of “a stingy ruler who never makes losing decisions” was ultimately just a failure to read the current situation.

“So, Lunarian? Will you release them? I think there’s no loss for either of us since I’m releasing your subordinates too.”

Luna carefully looked at Ginor.

“…I don’t think it’s a bad condition, but please do as you wish, my lord.”

Luna slowly rose from her throne.

Then she walked steadily toward Lynn who stood before her.

The two stood facing each other intensely, close enough to touch if either leaned forward.

Luna was the first to break the silence.

“…Lynn Brans. If my strategist, whom someone like you could never possess no matter how much you coveted him, were by my side, I would not be negotiating with you now but burning your corpse.”

“My, how curious. I feel the same way. If my most loyal female knight, whom I lost due to my foolishness, were by my side, I wouldn’t be talking to you but chatting with your severed head.”

“You should be thankful that my strategist is not by my side now, Lynn, as you are the ruler of a weak nation without the power to protect yourself.”

“Likewise. You should be grateful for the rest of your life that you’re still alive because I was an incomparably stupid woman.”

And so, they glared at each other as if they would devour one another for several minutes.

Finally, Luna spoke first.

“Charlotte and Jenus are safe, I presume?”

“I’ve stationed them at a nearby fortress. Who would come to negotiate without preparing their cards?”

“The prisoner exchange ceremony will be held in three days.”

“Good. Not bad. Anything else to say?”

“No.”

Only then did Lynn smile slightly and give Luna a light bow.

“We had a very good conversation today, Lunarian. But, well. We probably won’t have another conversation like this again.”

“I’m glad you’re aware of that fact, Lynn.”

And with that, Lynn walked out along the red carpet…

* * *

The prisoner exchange between the Brans forces and the Lunarian forces took place.

On the surface, it appeared that the Brans forces suffered a one-sided loss, but—

“L-Lynn! For someone like me, you gave up Charlotte von Einhart who was captured with such effort…!”

“Don’t cry, Belut. Why are you saying such things? It was thanks to you that we captured Charlotte in the first place. I heard everything.”

“But, but…!!”

“I told you. I would never forget your name. Thank you for risking your life… for someone like me. Thank you, Belut.”

“My lord…!!!!”

—The Brans forces had certainly gained an invisible, unspoken value compared to the Lunarian forces.

The truly ironic thing was—

The white-haired strategist whom Luna had longed to meet again her entire life.

And the red-haired female knight whom Lynn missed so much and wished to atone to—

These two people were now serving the same lord elsewhere.