Ch.387Chapter 387. Brans’ Final Choice

***

Hesna Castle.

Not far from Anel Castle, Lord Lynn was receiving utterly devastating news from the released prisoners.

“I see? Yuan and Marida have gone over to their side.”

“……I am deeply ashamed, my lord.”

“No. I am the defeated general. Since then, I have no right to say anything about them choosing to serve someone else. I’m truly grateful that at least you all have returned.”

“My lord……!”

“Don’t cry, Beluga.”

While encouraging each returned prisoner one by one—

She noticed Cecile, who looked visibly downcast.

“Cecile.”

“……”

“……You seem to be having a hard time.”

It was an unprecedented situation where she didn’t respond despite being called by her lord—

But Lynn was no longer the willful woman who would nitpick over such matters.

“I’m sorry, Cecile. Because of my weakness, I couldn’t fulfill your request to stop Lunarian. I never thought… that Anel Castle would be taken so easily……”

“……My lord……”

Cecile stood with clenched fists, unable to say anything.

“……Go inside and get plenty of rest. Understood?”

“……Thank you. I will… obey your command……”

After sending away all the repatriated prisoners.

Only one remained.

“My lord.”

“……”

The purple-haired female advisor.

The woman who was said to be the smartest in the Central Continent.

And the one who remained by her side until this very moment.

That’s when it happened.

“……My lord?!”

Farfalle froze in place, startled.

Because Lynn had… suddenly embraced her.

“I’m sorry…… I’m sorry, Farfalle. Because of me…… because of me, you……”

“Lady Lynn……”

Lynn’s shoulders were trembling incessantly.

—She was crying.

The once unbreakable, arrogant Lord Lynn Brans who had continued forward even after being broken once… was now sobbing weakly before her, a mere subordinate.

“I’m sorry we lost Anel Castle too. I’m sorry I couldn’t defeat Lunarian. I’m sorry for shamelessly saving my life and escaping alone……”

“Protecting the lord’s life in dangerous situations is a retainer’s natural duty. How could you apologize for that?”

“But……”

Lynn knew.

That it was over now.

That there was no way for her to stop Lunarian anymore.

“In the end, I couldn’t protect the Brans Army. I can’t face my brothers, nor do I have the courage to look Irene in the eye……”

“If I had known this would happen… I shouldn’t have driven Irene away.”

“I should have… listened to your advice to utilize her……”

Where had it all gone wrong?

Surely, the Brans Army had been the most brilliant nation on the continent.

Unlike the Serpina Army, which couldn’t properly control even the North due to successive rebellions, the hearts of the Central Continent all looked to the throne of Brans.

She had thought that once the Aeshus Army was dealt with, they could quickly take over places like the Southern Continent.

And yet…

“……”

Farfalle too couldn’t say anything.

Speaking about what would be best for the Brans Army now would be cruel to her.

Farfalle knew as well as Lynn did that the Brans Army could no longer stop the Lunarian Army on its own.

If only.

If only she had abilities like Swen.

Then she could have dropped a huge boulder from the sky.

Or if she could at least use magic like the great northern mage Reika or Tifa, who was instrumental in bringing down Anel Castle, she could have done something instead of helplessly accepting defeat…

But in this era, there was no place for the defeated.

Excuses aside, the defeated simply disappeared into the annals of history. That was all there was to this terrible age.

As Lynn, who had been crying in her arms for a long time, gradually began to calm down.

Farfalle opened her mouth to offer what would probably be her last advice as an advisor.

“Lady Lynn. We now have three options left.”

“……Tell me.”

“With Anel Castle breached, we cannot stop the Lunarian Army. The conquest of the Western Continent is only a matter of time, and our territory in the north will soon fall as well.”

“We lack troops and have no mages. We could receive help from the Serpina Army, but that too would be temporary. Without reclaiming Anel Castle, it would likely be a meaningless action that would only extend our lifespan briefly. And…… the Serpina Army, of all people, must know this fact.”

“……Yes.”

“First, we could simply hold out. It’s already too late to march troops to the Western Continent, and since we have few troops there anyway, we could abandon that area and flee as close as possible to the Serpina Army’s border, lock the gates, request reinforcements from the Serpina Army, and gradually extend our survival. I’m not sure if this strategy can stop the Lunarian Army…… but it might at least buy time for the Serpina Army to face them. Though even that isn’t certain……”

“And?”

“Second, you could abdicate now and preserve your safety. As long as you’re alive, opportunities may come. Even Lunarian, now called the Red-Eyed Dragon of the South who conquered the Southern Continent, was once just the ruler of a minor nation that couldn’t even match us. She too survived close brushes with death and succeeded. Just as no one predicted the rebellion in the Karelia Army, no one can be certain what will happen in the world. No one can be sure that an opportunity won’t come our way.”

“……I expected that much.”

Lynn, with her haggard face, slowly broke the embrace and looked into Farfalle’s eyes.

“Hold out or go into hiding…… I anticipated those two options. I know that’s all I can do now. But…… Farfalle, you said there were three methods?”

“What’s the remaining one…?”

The emotion in Lynn’s trembling voice was not curiosity but fear.

As if she wasn’t asking because she truly had no idea what the third method might be—

But rather as if she were pleading, hoping there was something else.

Farfalle also noticed Lynn’s unspoken signal—

But unfortunately, a defeated ruler’s range of options could never be expanded.

“The third method. ……Surrender to Serpina.”

“……!”

“We have a hostile relationship with the Lunarian Army. For the ambitious Lunarian Ineanne, it would be presumptuous to think that our surrender would benefit them when our conquest is practically decided. Accepting our surrender would mean giving up the maximum benefit they would gain from conquering us. Namely—”

—Lady Lynn’s life.

“!!!”

“From Lunarian’s perspective, leaving alive Lynn Brans—who once held the position of ruler of the Central Continent and still maintains high recognition there—would be much more uncomfortable than shedding blood. So even if we express our intention to surrender, they wouldn’t accept it. To avoid future troubles, they would certainly capture and kill Lady Lynn personally.”

“……”

Lynn couldn’t say anything.

If she were Luna, she wouldn’t have spared someone like herself either.

Considering her actions on her way to this position, that woman must be much more meticulous than I was, who missed the opportunity to kill a minor nation’s ruler.

“But from Serpina’s perspective, it’s different. Even if we consider the Western territories essentially lost, from a northern viewpoint, most of our territories, including this Hesna Castle, would seem quite valuable. Though not many remain, our troops and armed forces would also seem decent to the Serpina Army, which has lost most of its generals to rebellion. Decisively, aren’t the Brans Army and Serpina Army already maintaining a de facto alliance? So internal confusion is also unlikely to be prolonged.”

“Serpina……”

“Of course, there was a time when the country was divided into three parts because we joined hands with Serpina…… but the situation then and now is very different. Anyway, only the Serpina Army and Lunarian Army remain on the continent. The Serpina Army has something to gain, and we have something to offer. This moment is the last opportunity to maximize the value of the Brans name. Of course, this is only possible if Serpina accepts……”

Lynn slowly closed her eyes.

Down with Serpina.

She had raised her flag solely for that purpose, yet in the end, she would have to serve under her?

“Whatever decision you make, I will serve Lady Lynn until the end. Please choose freely.”

“……”

Surprisingly, Lynn’s deliberation didn’t last long.

As things stood, she couldn’t continue Cecile’s dream. Nor her brothers’ dreams.

At the very least, for Cecile’s sake, who had funded all the guild’s expenses for her when she was at her lowest, she didn’t want to be defeated by the Lunarian Army like this.

And…… Irene was with the Serpina Army.

Of course, she knew Irene wouldn’t want this, but… she sincerely wanted to do something that might help her, even a little.

Lynn carefully parted her pink lips.

“I—”

***

A few days after receiving the shocking news that Anel Castle had fallen.

“Has the lord’s main force arrived?”

“Yes.”

“I understand. I will immediately prepare for the audience.”

It seemed that Lady Serpina’s main force had finally arrived at Hisfil Castle.

I quickly made my way to meet her.