Ch.389Chapter 389. Even If the Whole World Becomes Your Enemy

* * *

After my conversation with Serpina ended.

Irene and I also shared the news of our marriage with Reika.

“You’re finally getting married……!! Congratulations, congratulations……!!!”

“Thank you.”

Far from being jealous, Reika’s eyes sparkled as she sincerely congratulated us.

“Lady Irene, I’m truly, truly happy for you…… You’ve wanted to marry Swen for so long.”

“W-when did I ever say such things—!”

“You didn’t…? From what I could see, it always looked like you were saying ‘I want to get married’……”

“T-that’s…… that’s not, well…… I’m not saying it isn’t true…… ugh……”

Lady Irene’s face turned bright red as she looked at me, which was adorable.

And her inability to deny that she “wanted to marry me” was equally lovable.

At that moment.

“Ah, come to think of it…… what will happen with your surname when you get married?”

“Surname?”

“Yes. Normally, the wife, Lady Irene, would take her husband Swen’s surname, but… Swen doesn’t have a surname.”

It was an important issue I hadn’t considered, and her casual mention of it gave me pause.

“Now that you mention it, that’s true. I hadn’t thought about it.”

“O-of course, not having a surname… in this day and age, what does it matter……! It’s just……”

“No, I’m not criticizing you… What about you, Lady Irene?”

Irene slowly nodded.

“Swen, I’m fine with whatever you want. There’s no need to continue the Juliette name.”

Irene nodded as she said this, but I felt I understood what she was worried about.

If I became “Swen Juliette,” then automatically my second wife, Lady Serpina, would also take my surname and become “Serpina Juliette.”

For someone else, at least someone like Lady Reika, becoming “Reika Juliette” wouldn’t be an issue—but Lady Serpina was different.

The Einhart name was Serpina’s very identity. Of course, with the continent divided as it was now, the importance of the Einhart name had somewhat diminished.

‘……There’s no need to decide right now.’

Since the right to decide the surname issue belonged to me as the husband, I could take my time thinking about this.

“I’ll let you know later. For now, let’s proceed without changing surnames.”

“I will follow your wishes.”

“If that’s what you say, Swen……”

After our conversation with Reika, several days passed.

The first news we received was that the Brans army had officially surrendered to our forces.

It was certainly advantageous for us that the ruler Lynn Brans, the national strategist Farfalle, and many B to C-class generals who had supported the Brans army were now joining our forces.

No matter how I looked at it, this was nothing but beneficial, yet this was “merely” the most efficient method…

I had my suspicions, but regardless, we were simply doing the best we could in our current situation.

Lady Serpina apparently appointed Lynn to continue governing that region as its lord.

Normally, former feudal lords were rarely accepted even as subordinates, let alone as castle lords—but since they had surrendered to our army, this measure was entirely appropriate to prevent chaos in that region.

Considering that Nabidos Ohana, the ruler of the Ohana army who surrendered to the Lunarian army, was given the position of Second Corps Commander in the Lunarian forces, there was likely no need to worry about rebellion.

If they had intended to rebel, they wouldn’t have needed to surrender to us when we had a non-aggression treaty.

I wasn’t sure what Lynn thought about all this—but at least Irene seemed indifferent, just as she had said.

Beyond indifference, she treated it as if it were just an ordinary matter of no concern.

It worried me to think about how much time had passed and how many wounds she must have endured to reach the point where she could accept matters concerning Lynn so indifferently.

And then, Lady Irene stepped down from her position as corps commander.

She said she wanted to focus more on fighting at the front lines rather than commanding from behind.

Of course, hidden behind this was her desire to be closer to me… but Lady Serpina wasn’t someone who would fail to notice this, so there was no point in hiding it.

Lady Serpina accepted Lady Irene’s request, and as expected, General Irian was appointed as the new commander of the Second Corps.

It was originally going to go to Kransis, but he adamantly declined, so it went to Irian instead.

With most capable generals dead, Irian was, along with Irene, one of the only A+ class warriors in Serpina’s army, so I had no complaints about this decision.

“I humbly accept the glorious position of Second Corps Commander. I promise to dedicate myself fully to achieving victory against the Lunarian army.”

“Good. I expect great things from you, Irian.”

I couldn’t help but smile bitterly again at the words “against the Lunarian army.”

I see.

Now the Lunarians are the only enemies left.

On this continent, there are truly only two countries remaining.

And the prediction that has never changed—Lunarian Ineanne will become the unifying monarch.

‘Lady Luna…’

I wrote a brief letter to Lady Luna.

I told her I hadn’t forgotten our promise.

I asked her to wait a little longer.

I wrote that I would definitely find a path for everyone—and then I was about to write “Lady Serpina is not as evil as you think,” but—

‘…No.’

I still hadn’t heard the detailed truth about the incident from Lady Serpina.

There was a high risk of causing trouble if I conveyed this in writing rather than speaking face to face.

If Lady Irene was right, Lady Luna hated Lady Serpina, so I needed to be especially careful.

‘I’ll stop here.’

I immediately sent the letter to Lady Luna.

It would have been problematic if there were generals who questioned sending personal letters to an enemy monarch… but fortunately or unfortunately, there was no one left in Serpina’s army who would oppose me.

And so several more days passed…

Finally, that day arrived.

* * *

I looked up at the sky.

“…It’s clear.”

The world was in the midst of chaotic times—

But the sky was intensely blue, with only pure white clouds floating quietly.

A pleasant breeze, air that somehow felt much fresher…

‘Let’s go.’

I carefully took a step forward.

To meet today’s protagonist.

* * *

Today was—the day of my wedding ceremony with Lady Irene.

I no longer wanted to postpone Lady Irene’s feelings, and she had simply accepted me for that—but just that alone made my heart pound as if it would burst.

I had no intention of holding a grand ceremony. We planned to have just a simple ceremony in the audience hall of Valharat Castle with only a small number of people.

A honeymoon was out of the question. As soon as we were married, we would both have to return to our respective positions.

I would return to my position as national strategist, and she would return to the battlefield as a general.

Since these were difficult times for everyone, I thought we shouldn’t make a fuss, but…

“Ah…”

I certainly thought that way.

“……”

The moment I saw Lady Irene waiting for me on the red carpet, dressed in a beautiful wedding dress… my heart felt like it would leap out of my throat, and I couldn’t help but stop in my tracks.

Her snow-white skin and pure white dress symbolized her purity and unwavering loyalty as a knight.

Her overwhelming chest, which required custom-fitted armor, looked as if it might spill out of her dress.

Someone who always wore a knight’s attire and armor on the battlefield… just by wearing a dress, she had overwhelmingly transformed into a woman, making me feel dizzy.

‘I shouldn’t keep Lady Irene waiting any longer.’

I slowly stepped onto the carpet.

The number of attendees was truly minimal. Lady Serpina, Reika, a few other generals, and Lady Serpina’s bodyguards including Senior Jenna were all.

The officiant was an old priest who had worked when religion still held sway. Apparently, he had blessed many couples in his prime.

The wedding ceremony was also very simple.

We would make our vows of love in order, share a kiss, and that would be it.

In the midst of war, even being able to do this much was an extravagance.

After the officiant spoke—

Lady Irene addressed me first.

“…Swen.”

“Yes?”

“Thank you… for not abandoning me then… for staying by my side until the end. Now I’ll stay by your side for the rest of my life. Even if the whole world becomes your enemy, just as you did for me… I’ll always be on your side.”

Irene in her wedding dress, tearfully expressing her sincere feelings, was so lovable…

I carefully approached her.

“I love you, Irene.”

“I love you too, Swen…”

We shared a kiss that contained our eternal vow.

I heard applause from behind, but… it didn’t register in my ears at all. Probably the same for Lady Irene.

After all, at this moment, the world belonged only to us two.

And so, with vows of love exchanged among the few guests—

—Irene and I became husband and wife.