Ch.381Chapter 381. Fate (3)

“…..”

Irene carefully looked around Luna.

Somehow, soldiers had surrounded her, forming a formation as if they had encircled her.

In other words… she was surrounded.

I can’t escape…

While Irene was calmly assessing her situation, Luna’s voice reached her.

“Do you remember me, Lady Irene?”

At Luna’s words, Irene slowly nodded.

“…I remember you.”

“I remember you too. How could I forget… the very day when my strategist performed a miracle for the Brans army.”

‘…!’

Luna’s red eyes mentioning ‘my strategist’…

Despite clearly showing a gentle smile, they gave off an eerie feeling.

‘Swen, I…’

Does this mean I have to fight against the monarch you serve?

“…..”

Luna slowly looked around.

The soldiers, noticing her gaze, uniformly stepped back.

They didn’t break the encirclement. It merely seemed like they were making space for the two to confront each other.

Irene easily understood what all these actions meant.

She was a warrior too. How many times had she read the true intentions behind unspoken behaviors on the battlefield?

Therefore-

Carefully, she adjusted her grip on her sword from atop her saddle.

“…There’s nothing more to say, is there?”

Luna, without answering, readjusted her grip on the blood-stained Adina Sword.

And then—

Clang!

“…!!!!”

It was a single exchange.

With just one exchange, Irene staggered and lost her balance.

‘What, is this…!’

Irene was someone who lacked some fame compared to renowned warriors.

Chel Brans, Epinel Rosenkroz, Seta Rolland… she hadn’t distinguished herself compared to the many generals who had made their names through one-on-one duels.

But that was merely a relative comparison. At this point, she was one of the famous strong warriors.

She could face Chel somewhat equally. She hadn’t fought Epinel, but she wouldn’t have been overwhelmed one-sidedly, and it was clear she could secure victory after a close fight against Rolland, who hadn’t been able to hone his skills in the southern continent for many years.

And yet she.

After just one clash of swords with Luna… she was on the verge of falling from her horse and facing defeat!

‘No…!’

Irene barely regained her balance and readjusted her grip on her sword.

Certainly.

She remembered crossing swords with Lunarian before.

Because her eyes were clear, that day’s memory was vivid. Lunarian was definitely a strong warrior who could be felt just by clashing swords. Having also faced Chel Brans, she could be even more certain.

However.

It wasn’t to this extent.

If she hadn’t had that previous experience, she wouldn’t have been pushed back this much in a single exchange.

Surely back then, while definitely strong, it didn’t feel like she was facing a non-human entity like now—

‘…!’

Irene noticed that Luna was quietly staring at her.

That she… wasn’t giving her all in this confrontation.

In fact, the time it took for her to regain her balance was the clearest evidence.

If Luna had quickly followed up with a few more attacks, she would have collapsed right there!

“…Haaah!”

Irene, without retreating, charged forward with her sword this time.

Clang!

Lunarian easily received Irene’s strike.

Starting with that, they exchanged a few more blows.

And-

Irene finally had to admit.

‘I can’t… win!’

Lunarian was continuously receiving her attacks with all her might.

Damage was definitely being inflicted. To a third party, it might have looked like Irene was one-sidedly pushing forward.

However, despite being on the defensive, Luna’s expression showed no urgency or the typical confusion of someone being overwhelmed.

It felt as if.

She could attack but was deliberately choosing not to.

Irene slowly backed away, then shouted loudly toward Luna.

“Lord Lunarian, what exactly do you want?!”

“…..”

“I can tell. You have no intention of having a proper duel with me right now! If you wanted to take me prisoner, you could have done so, so why this charade?!”

After staring at Irene silently for a while, Luna finally broke her silence and moved her lips.

“Lady Irene. The red-haired female knight who stood by the strategist’s side… is that you?”

Strategist, is it.

Understanding immediately who she was referring to, Irene slowly nodded.

“Lord Luna is correct.”

“…!!!”

Luna flinched at those words-

Then, with a slightly trembling voice, she asked another question.

“Is your lord Serpina von Einhart?”

“That’s right.”

“Then, is the person you serve also Serpina von Einhart?”

“…..”

Though it seemed like a redundant question at first glance-

Irene easily understood the hidden meaning behind her question.

“The person I serve… still serves you even now.”

“!!!!”

She would understand who was being referred to.

Indeed, Luna’s pupils, which had shown no change in expression, visibly dilated in Irene’s eyes.

“The person I want to protect thinks of you as their monarch. I half think so too.”

It was then.

Luna, with an expression filled with emotion, shouted at Irene.

“…Then.”

“Then why are you still under Serpina?!”

“Why are you doing something like being a national strategist under that detestable villainess?! Why… why don’t you return to my side!!!”

“…..”

“At first, I thought you were being threatened by Serpina! But that’s not it… if that were the case, there would be no reason to take the position of national strategist. I… I know too!”

“If what you say is true, the strategist didn’t… didn’t abandon me. Yes. Just as I believe… the strategist also believes in me. But why… why under Serpina… why don’t you return to my side and stay there…?”

“Lady Irene, after hearing your words, I understand even less. Why… why doesn’t the strategist… return…?”

Lunarian’s voice was getting quieter.

She had conquered the southern continent at an unprecedented speed with the title of Red-Eyed Dragon.

Now, having achieved an incredible victory against Serpina’s army, she somehow seemed incredibly vulnerable.

Just moments ago, when crossing swords, she had felt like a ghost-

But now she seemed like nothing more than a fragile maiden.

Irene slowly bowed her head.

Yes.

Why hadn’t Swen returned?

Why hadn’t he, who so often said ‘Lunarian is the unifying monarch’ and ‘The monarch I serve is Lunarian,’ returned to Luna’s side?

…Irene thought she knew the answer.

After all, she loved Swen.

She was close enough to him to understand what he was thinking – because she loved him.

“…Lady Serpina is…”

She knew what impact her words would have.

Lunarian hated Serpina. Her red eyes burning with hatred whenever she mentioned her name was proof of that.

And now, she was telling Lunarian, who hated Serpina—

“Lady Serpina is not the evil person Luna thinks she is.”

“!!!!”

“I came to know this fact… and Swen came to know it too. That’s why we’re staying by Lady Serpina’s side, who has been abandoned by the world – that’s all.”

“What… what are you saying…”

—Luna’s body trembled.

Her hand gripping the Adina Sword tightened.

‘…!!’

What crawled up Irene’s spine was a killing intent she had never felt before.

She too gripped her sword, but… her body trembled slightly.

Even if she incurred her wrath here and something went wrong… it’s okay. I won’t regret it.

Swen’s will is my will. And Swen – wanted to protect Lady Serpina.

Strangely, thinking about Swen made her feel like she could withstand Luna’s killing intent head-on.

Luna continued to tremble for a while-

Then, letting out a light sigh—

“…Fine.”

—She looked at Irene with empty, lifeless red eyes that seemed almost dead.

“It seems you too have been deceived by that villainess.”

“But Lady Serpina is completely different from the rumors-“

“Lady Irene.”

Luna cut off Irene’s words firmly.

“Go back.”

“What…?”

“Based on the circumstances, you and Swen are exceptionally close. I… won’t do anything to earn Swen’s hatred. So, I won’t kill you. I won’t take you prisoner either. I will never do anything… that would make Swen sad.”

“Lord Luna…”

Was that why she hadn’t been serious in their one-on-one confrontation?

“It’s okay. With time, you’ll understand. Both you and my strategist… how terrible Serpina is. Who will become the monarch to unify the continent.”

“Yes, because I believe in Swen…”

—Because he said if I just believe in him, he’ll give me the world.

—Shiver!

At that moment, Irene understood why Luna was called the Red-Eyed Dragon.

If you get on this woman’s bad side… you die…!!

“Lady Irene. Please protect Swen in my place. For a man like Swen… it’s not strange for one or two women to follow him. I don’t intend to make Swen uncomfortable with unnecessary jealousy over such things. But.”

“You must protect Swen from that villainess who is clouding his eyes. Do you understand?”

Why.

Why does she hate Lady Serpina so much – I wondered.

In truth, there probably wasn’t a single lord in the continent who didn’t hate Serpina.

Both Yurie and Lynn would tremble at the mention of Serpina’s name.

Lynn’s country was split into three parts due to the collapse of public support after allying with Serpina, and Yurie became a failed lord who ruined the grand plan for the world due to her vengeful feelings toward Serpina.

The southern continent was the same. Karelia, who easily came to power due to her antipathy toward Serpina, was a prime example.

From an outside perspective, the continent’s current state was entirely Serpina’s fault. After all, she had killed her own family with her own hands and disintegrated the empire.

As a result, chaos ensued, and the living conditions of the territory’s people plummeted.

But.

Luna’s hatred for Serpina before her eyes… was not simply at that level.

It seemed even more intense than Yurie’s hatred, perhaps.

“…..”

At that moment, Luna raised her hand and made a slight gesture.

With that, the soldiers parted on both sides, creating a perfect path for escape.

“Lady Irene. Please take care of Swen. And tell Swen that he can return anytime. I’ll be here. The strategist of our Lunarian army… is only you, Swen.”

“…..”

Irene slowly bowed her head in respect.

Regardless, Luna had not only refrained from taking her prisoner after her defeat in battle but had also opened a path for her to escape.

Given that she could have killed her at any time, Irene owed her life to her.

In such a situation, there was no need to provoke her further.

“Please convey that message. Understood?”

“…Thank you. I won’t forget this favor.”

With that, Irene turned her horse and was able to smoothly escape from the Lunarian army’s encirclement.

—And.

After watching Irene disappear into the distance, Luna, still with lifeless eyes… muttered to herself.

“Swen, it’s only you. The only one who can be my strategist. The only one who should be by my side is you.”

“You might make a wrong judgment temporarily because you’ve been deceived by Serpina. Because you’re a kind person.”

“But.”

“If, just if.”

“Even if you say you can’t leave her side because of the compassion you feel for a woman like Serpina, which has become a shackle due to your kind heart… it doesn’t matter. Because a Swen who has become like that is a changed Swen, so naturally I’ll have to ‘fix’ you…”

“Serpina… I’ll ‘remove’ her so you can’t see her. Of course, what you can do is only to be by my side and see the same view as me. Only to support the world I will create.”

“It’s okay. I’m confident I can make you forget about someone like Serpina by adjusting everything to you… if you want a woman from me, I’ll become a woman for you. If you want honor, I’ll give you power beyond a monarch. Even if I become the unifying monarch and reign above all, for you… I’ll be a submissive Luna for you, day or night. So.”

“So, so—”

—You cannot escape from me.

Because the fate tied by your blood and mine is absolute.

Luna, saying this, wore a faint smile.