Ch.376Chapter 376. Time Flows Equally for Everyone (3)

Iolline seemed flustered by the sudden statement, waving her hands dismissively with an expression of uncertainty.

“I apologize to Your Majesty, but I have neither the confidence nor the talent to meet your expectations…”

“No, Iolline. Indeed, the time we have spent together has not been particularly long. It’s true that I haven’t had enough time to understand what kind of person you are. However, you come recommended by none other than my advisor.”

“…!”

Only then did Iolline raise her head to look at me.

I nodded while meeting her gaze.

“My lord is correct. I was the one who recommended Iolline.”

“Lord Swen…?”

“I don’t know what you think about this… but I believe you have the discernment to distinguish between what should and shouldn’t be done, you’re one of the few survivors of the Al Caski family despite its downfall, and you’re someone who can be trusted emotionally—in these three aspects, I believe you’re more than qualified to become a talent for our army.”

“That’s…”

“It’s fine if you decline because it feels burdensome. However, if you have even the slightest interest in serving—please help us, Iolline.”

As I bowed my head again, Iolline approached me and spoke with an uncertain voice.

“Um, please calm down first, Lord Swen. So…”

And then.

She carefully looked at Serpina and said:

“Do you… need me?”

“Yes.”

“Is that Your Majesty’s wish?”

“I don’t want to lie to you, so I’ll be honest. I don’t know much about you. As I said earlier, since I don’t even know what kind of person you are, it wouldn’t make sense to say I came here solely based on my own will. It’s true that Swen’s opinion played a significant role in my choosing you.”

“Then this is Lord Swen’s opinion… I see.”

Iolline slowly nodded.

Then, bowing at a 90-degree angle toward Serpina—

“Your Majesty. If it’s not too presumptuous, could you give me some time to speak with your advisor?”

An incredible situation—asking the monarch who came to recruit her to leave.

However, Serpina wasn’t angered. She wasn’t foolish enough to be bothered by such things in the first place.

“Take your time talking. Whatever decision you make, I promise to protect you as a valued citizen.”

After Serpina left.

Iolline slowly looked at me and said:

“Lord Swen, please raise your head.”

“…”

“Honestly, I’m indebted to you, Lord Swen. So naturally, if you need help… perhaps I should help you.”

“But since I don’t know if such an opportunity will come to me again… I want to be selfish one last time.”

“…Please speak.”

“Lord Swen. Would you promise not to forget… that I helped you with this matter?”

Her words were somewhat puzzling, but as I looked into her eyes:

“If you promise not to forget that I granted your request at this moment, I’ll join Serpina’s army. Of course, as I mentioned earlier, it’s true that you’re the savior of my life, so making such a request might be shameless… but please consider it as my last childish wish before enlisting.”

“Is that enough?”

“Yes. What will you do?”

There was no time to deliberate.

Though I was concerned about her setting conditions, thinking about it, I didn’t believe Iolline would cause me trouble.

She had feelings for me.

And I had no intention of lording over her just because I had saved her.

So for now, I decided to trust Iolline.

“Very well. I promise I will never forget this favor.”

“Good.”

Only then did Iolline extend her hand to me—

With a warm smile she had never shown before, her eyes filled with me, she said:

“I look forward to working with you, Lord Swen.”

* * *

News spread that Iolline Al Caski, essentially an outsider, would be appointed as the new lord of Einhart Castle.

Normally, people might have questioned how someone who had just arrived could be appointed as lord of the capital castle…

But in reality, more than 80% of the internal affairs officers hadn’t been serving significantly longer than Iolline.

Besides, this might sound inappropriate, but… honestly, there weren’t many ambitious or exceptional people available.

One couldn’t expect too much from randomly recruited generals, could they?

In conclusion, it seems her appointment as castle lord, despite being a complete newcomer, was accepted without much complaint.

‘This is practically like a newly established country.’

Anyway, the urgent matter was resolved.

Now it should be fine to head to Balhart Castle.

‘I hope I won’t have to come back here for a while.’

Looking at the bright yellow flag fluttering atop Einhart Castle’s spire, that’s what I thought.

Well, the likelihood of rebellion was low since most potential rebels were dead—but still, I prayed no rebellion would occur.

Continuing to make “relatively better” decisions… I prepared to depart.

* * *

A few days later.

A large occupation force, including elite soldiers who had been deployed to quell the Einhart Castle rebellion, marched toward Balhart Castle in the central region, which Irene was guarding.

“Are you comfortable, Reika?”

“Ah, I-I’m fine…!”

Reika, who was in the carriage with me, was carefully handling something in her hands.

“What’s that?”

“Oh… this. It’s a container with cookies… just a moment.”

Reika opened the container and held out one cookie to me.

Since this wasn’t the first time, I skillfully leaned forward to accept it.

“Delicious! Did you make these yourself?”

“Yes! It’s because I’m meeting Lady Irene after so long…! Hehehe.”

Reika smiled brightly, her face slightly flushed.

She looked like a girl excited to meet her friend.

“You really like Irene, don’t you?”

“Of course! She takes care of everything for me… Unlike me, she’s confident and expresses her opinions well… And also.”

“…Also?”

She suddenly trembled, so I asked with concern.

“Well… I feel like if Irene had been there, Lord Swen wouldn’t have gotten hurt…”

‘…Ah.’

Seeing her shoulders shaking after saying that, I slowly moved to sit beside her.

It was a bit cramped, so our bodies were pressed together… but given our relationship, this distance should be fine.

“You don’t need to worry about that, Reika.”

“But… because of me, because I didn’t know better… when I think that Lord Swen could have died.”

“I recovered perfectly fine thanks to you, Reika.”

This wasn’t just flattery.

She had drawn mana from her entire body to desperately try to heal me, which is why I survived such an ordeal.

She too had to spend quite a long time in the hospital as a result, similar to me.

While it’s true that I risked my life to save her… hoping she wouldn’t dwell on that point, I wrapped my arm around her shoulders.

“Thank you for staying alive.”

“I should be thanking you, Lord Swen…”

When I firmly held Reika’s hand, she naturally rested her head against my chest.

I didn’t resist and adjusted my posture so she could lean comfortably.

Her hair smelled of the butter from the cookies we had just eaten.

* * *

“News that the main force has marched from the capital toward this location, sir!”

“Hmm. I understand. Let’s prepare.”

“Yes, sir!”

Having received the soldier’s report, Irene was looking at the map with a serious expression.

A female knight carefully approached him.

“Um, Commander.”

“What is it?”

“Regarding our conversation yesterday… I still believe we should deploy troops to the border.”

News that the Lunarian army was gathering forces near the territory at the border previously occupied by the Brans army.

Despite hearing this, Irene was hesitant to make a decision.

“…As you know, we still don’t have our lord’s official approval. I haven’t heard anything from the soldier just now either.”

“Aren’t you the commander? I believe you have the authority to freely deploy troops within your assigned territory.”

“However, if we actually deploy troops…”

Then they might truly have to wage war against the Lunarian army.

Concentrating troops at the border was already halfway to a declaration of war.

Knowing Swen’s circumstances, Irene was naturally cautious about showing hostility toward the Lunarian army.

“It would be fortunate if war doesn’t break out as long as we don’t strike first… but if they attack first, we could lose our territory. Moreover, they were the ones who gathered troops first. Please make a decision here.”

“…”

Honestly.

Irene knew well that not deploying troops now was his own stubbornness.

Because Swen served the Lunarian monarch, he instinctively tried to avoid creating friction.

However, from Serpina’s army’s perspective, listening to the deputy’s advice would be the rational approach.

‘Troops… just troops…’

…Right.

We have no intention of declaring war anyway.

Besides, they were the ones who gathered troops first.

Preparing for the worst-case scenario… that must be the right answer.

“Very well. I’ll organize the troops immediately, so please summon the generals to the conference room.”

“Yes, sir!”

Watching the back of his deputy who saluted and walked away, Irene thought:

—I hope nothing happens until our lord arrives.