Ch.403Chapter 403. The Most Efficient Method……

* * *

After honestly confessing everything to Serpina—

The news of my marriage to Serpina spread incredibly quickly, as if carried by a ship with favorable winds.

“Congratulations, Advisor!”

“I heard the news! Congratulations!”

“To become the consort of our sovereign… truly remarkable, Advisor.”

“Thank you.”

Despite being the marriage of a nation’s sovereign, surprisingly, there was no wedding ceremony.

If Serpina had planned to continue managing state affairs normally, we could have prepared a somewhat lavish ceremony despite the difficult circumstances—

But she had something more important to do right now.

“Serpina.”

I placed my hand on Serpina’s slightly trembling shoulder.

“Swen…”

“It’s alright. Just speak as you planned. The rest… I’ll take care of it.”

“…”

“I told you. I’m giving myself to you. No matter what happens, I’m on your side. I’ll never leave you.”

Serpina murmured “I’ll never leave you” several times, and then…

“…Yes.”

Carefully, she stepped forward onto the stage for her speech.

* * *

This place was a small terrace on the outskirts of Kelstein Castle.

Below the terrace—people gathered in groups, filling the narrow plaza to hear the sovereign’s important announcement.

Serpina carefully exhaled.

This would probably be her last speech as sovereign.

Grasping her trembling heart… she finally, carefully parted her lips.

“My people. I would like to begin by thanking you for gathering here today… but I think today may not be an appropriate situation for such words.”

“What has the Serpina Army been fighting for? Today, I have called you here to tell you about that.”

Serpina slowly extended her hand forward.

It was the disciplined gesture of an absolute ruler, as always.

“Until now, the Serpina Army has fought for the reconstruction of the Einhart Empire. I firmly believed that was the path for everyone. Whatever the reason, I still believe that if someone must take responsibility for bringing chaos to the continent through the empire’s collapse, it should be the people of Einhart.”

“But I couldn’t help thinking about the true goal beyond that. Is maintaining the symbol of Einhart bloodline truly important!”

—Murmurs spread.

The soldiers and armed forces began to stir at the radical words coming from Serpina’s mouth.

Is the only ‘legitimate’ heir of the Einhart Empire… denying her own existence?

“The shell of bloodline is not important for freeing the territory’s people from chaos and returning them to peaceful lives, nor for preventing the empire’s downfall! Legitimacy only matters when feudal lords are in rebellion. Now that the continent is essentially divided between north and south, how can we cling to legitimacy when the nation’s survival is at stake!”

“Therefore, I no longer wish to obsess over the meaningless legitimacy of being a ‘direct imperial descendant.’ For the future of our Einhart Empire, which faces imminent danger in the war against the Lunarian Army, I intend to pass the imperial crown to someone more capable than myself!”

“”!!!!!!””

The people gathered in the plaza froze at Serpina’s shocking words.

…Now is the time.

I carefully walked to Serpina’s side.

Serpina glanced at me slightly.

To others, she might still appear as the cold absolute ruler… but I could tell.

Her slightly trembling eyes and tightly clenched fists. She was also extremely nervous.

I nodded.

And then—

“I, Serpina von Einhart, pass the position of sovereign of the Serpina Army to Swen, who has become my husband, and I will serve under him to help operate this empire together! My people! Nothing has changed! From now on, gather your strength under Swen’s banner, for Swen’s army!”

—Waaaaaaaaah!!!!!

I looked at the cheering soldiers and armed forces and thought.

And I recalled the conversation I had with Serpina that day.

* * *

“You’re asking me… to marry you?”

“Yes.”

Serpina turned pale and couldn’t say anything—

Then, clever as she was, she realized what I was trying to say and asked.

“Swen. I… I’m fine. I can… trust you and hand over the crown. But I think there will be great confusion. If the sovereign suddenly changes, perhaps the country might split in two—”

“That won’t happen, Serpina.”

“What…?”

Right.

Even with a sudden change in sovereign, the unity of the Serpina Army wouldn’t collapse.

The reason was quite simple.

Because—everyone was dead.

In the process of the rebellion against Serpina, almost everyone who harbored resentment toward me as advisor had died.

Eight out of ten commanders were newly appointed officers, and our nation’s most excellent generals Irene and Irian, the great magician Reika who received admiration and support from many for countless achievements, and Iolline, the lord of the capital castle Einhart—

All the core members of the Serpina Army belonged to the so-called “Swen faction.”

So.

For Serpina, it might be a miserable story—

But because there was no one to defy me, I could comfortably accept the position of sovereign.

After briefly explaining the current situation to Serpina, I spoke in a serious tone.

“Serpina. This is the only way to protect you from Lady Luna. I’ll… I’ll try my best. I’ll break the ill fate between you and Lady Luna, and forge a path for everyone.”

“A path for everyone…”

“This is a deal. Trust my ‘Mind’s Eye’ and give me the country. Then… I will give myself to you, Serpina.”

“…!!”

At my words about giving myself to her, Serpina’s expression changed noticeably again.

And… finally, she answered.

“You know, Swen. The position of sovereign… was just something given to me. I never wanted this… I sat in this position to atone for the sins of the Einhart family… pushed by Brother Algot, to fulfill the request of Aria who died believing in me.”

“This was a task given to me. But… if I hand this position to you, wouldn’t I be running away in the end?”

“And to give this cursed position to the person I love. To someone more precious than myself… are you asking me to do that?”

“Yes.”

“…!!”

“Give this cursed position to me.”

I.

Firmly held Serpina’s hand.

“I want to be cursed together with you.”

“S-Swen…”

Serpina looked at me again, tears flowing.

“Because of my ill-fated destiny, you… might die… You might come to resent me for being hated by the world.”

“I don’t care. That’s what I want.”

“!!!”

“If your fate tries to kill you, I’ll fight your fate by your side until the end. As you said, my life might be in danger. But I don’t care. I—”

—If I can be with you even in death, that’s enough for me.

* * *

—And now.

Looking down, I could hear people’s cheers directed at me.

“Long live Lord Swen!”

“Long live our new lord!”

As I expected, there was no resistance to my appointment as sovereign.

Is this a tragedy, or is it fortune?

It’s sad considering that this happened because many people died—

But for me, who values Serpina the person more than imperial legitimacy, this was fortunate.

After all, those who died were only harmed because they tried to kill Serpina.

And so, the Serpina Army became the Swen Army.

I had enlisted in the Lunarian Army, betrayed them for the Brans Army, been abandoned by the Aeshus Army and joined the Serpina Army.

A commander who had changed lords four times—finally reached a position where I no longer needed to change lords.

‘…What a spectacle.’

I thought to myself, mocking myself.

A sincere apology that would never reach whoever might write a history book about this moment in the future.

* * *

—And that night.

In the sovereign’s chamber at the center of Kelstein Castle, a private wedding ceremony between Serpina and me took place.

Although we couldn’t hold a grand wedding ceremony due to the circumstances… I thought that if there was love, we could vow to be together forever with just a simple ceremony between the two of us.

Serpina and I were kneeling, facing each other.

Her face… was flushed. More flushed than ever before.

“…Serpina.”

“Swen…”

What Serpina was wearing was—an ordinary dress.

It was just a ceremonial outfit that had been in Kelstein Castle, neither luxurious nor befitting the dignity of someone who had been a sovereign—

But because of the person wearing it, it looked extremely elegant and graceful.

“Thank you… for saying you could die with me.”

“Until now, I was always alone… but from the moment I met you, when you said you would protect me… I was no longer alone.”

“Thank you for loving me, a witch abandoned by the world and a notorious villainess…”

“You’re neither a witch nor a villainess, but even if you were, that’s fine. I told you. My wish is to die with you.”

“…That’s your wish?”

“Yes.”

Seeing me answer so calmly, Serpina let out a small laugh.

How long has it been?

Since I’ve seen her laugh so freely.

“Serpina. Thank you for trusting me and choosing me. I won’t forget your will. I’ll clear your unjustly accumulated infamy and definitely move forward on a path for everyone. As I said, I’m yours now… you must never forget that. Understand?”

“…Yes.”

We slowly approached each other.

We could have talked more if we wanted to—

But it seemed that both I and she—desired something other than conversation.

And—

“…”

Our lips overlapped.

A kiss.

As if only the two of us existed in this world… we embraced each other and continuously intertwined our tongues.

The intense citrus flavor on my tongue made me finally realize that it now belonged to me, not someone else.

—I, with this woman.

I married Serpina.

I promised a lifetime with the sovereign I served.

Swen von Einhart.

Following Swen Juliette, another candidate for the new name I would use from now on was created in this moment.