Ch.49Chapter 49. Lunarien, Entrusting Herself to the Karelian Army

As she was diligently plowing the fields while encouraging the farmers, a woman approached her.

“Luna. So you were here.”

“Ah! Hello, Lady Cecile.”

Cecile Lohengrin.

She was one of the founding contributors of the Karelia Territory, the sole daughter of the wealthy Lohengrin family who had donated all her assets to Karelia after being captivated by the ruler’s character.

With her modest light brown bob and monocle that seemed to prove her meticulousness, she was highly respected within Karelia Territory for her gentle personality that matched her lord’s.

She was also one of the people who had advocated that it was “okay to accept” Lunarian’s wandering group.

As such, she had grown quite close to Lunarian beyond just a business relationship.

“How is it going? Is the work progressing well?”

“Well… I believe all the farmers are doing their best… but the weather hasn’t been cooperative, so I’m not sure if we can achieve our quarterly targets.”

Even in this era where various technologies had developed and agricultural production had increased dramatically.

If the most important factor—the weather—didn’t cooperate, there was little that could be done.

There was a saying that the year’s harvest depended entirely on the heavens.

“Everyone sees how hard you’re working, Luna. I don’t think you need to worry too much.”

“I’m humbled by your kind words.”

Luna bowed politely, then carefully asked.

“But may I ask why you were looking for me…?”

Luna knew that Cecile had been given a special assignment from Karelia, the ruler, this quarter, so she shouldn’t have had time to come here.

It wasn’t difficult to deduce that if she had appeared, there must be a reason.

“The lord is looking for you.”

“The lord?”

A nod.

Though she couldn’t know why she was being summoned, as a vassal, she couldn’t refuse her lord’s call.

“I understand. I’ll go to the royal castle right away.”

“Let’s do that. Though I’d love to catch up with you, we’re both busy right now… Let’s talk again when we have the chance.”

“You’re always welcome, Lady Cecile.”

After parting with Cecile with a smile, Luna turned to the farmers she had been working with.

“Everyone. Since the lord has summoned me, I think we’ll end today’s work here. You may all return home. I’ll finish up when I come back.”

“You don’t need to come back, Lady Lunarian! Leave the rest to us! You don’t need to return today!”

“No, it’s fine. You don’t have to push yourselves—”

“Please allow us to work for Lady Lunarian!”

“…Everyone…”

Luna hesitated for a moment, moved by the farmers’ words, then bowed at a 90-degree angle and said.

“…Then I’ll leave it to you. I’ll be counting on you tomorrow as well. Please don’t overwork yourselves and get home safely.”

“Take care!”

The fact that there was a commander who apologized to them even when there was no need to do so.

She was completely unaware that this fact had become a small topic of conversation among the farmers of this castle.

*

Madlan Castle was a rather practical space that lacked the splendor typical of a royal castle in a major city.

This was partly because the castle itself was planned and built to serve only minimal functions from the beginning, and partly reflected the current ruler Makana Karelia’s preference against meaningless luxury.

Luna walked through the now-familiar corridors of the royal castle toward the audience chamber in the center.

When she arrived at the audience chamber—

“Oh. Lady Luna. Welcome.”

Karelia greeted her with a smiling face.

Her long, dark green hair was beautifully tied up and secured with simple accessories.

Her eyes, slightly darker than her hair color—like black ink with a drop of green mixed in—were filled with something akin to compassion and generosity.

Though there were no fancy decorations, even plain clothes seemed extremely dignified simply because she wore them.

She definitely possessed the aura of a ruler.

Not the charisma that proved itself through pressure and dominance, but the aura of warm leadership that embraced everyone.

Standing beside her was Vanessa Trinity, with brown bob hair and a somewhat cold expression as she looked this way.

She was Karelia Territory’s national strategist who perfectly filled in the areas where Karelia was lacking.

“Lunarian Ineanne, I have just arrived at the lord’s summons.”

Karelia gestured to Luna, who was kneeling in respect, and said.

“You may be at ease. Yes, I believe I entrusted agriculture to you. How is the work going?”

“I’m working hard… but due to my lack of ability, I don’t think I’ll be able to achieve the targets.”

Hearing this, Karelia tilted her head.

“Lack of ability? You don’t need to say that. I’m well aware that the weather hasn’t been cooperative these past few days. I wish you wouldn’t blame yourself so much.”

“But…”

“No, no. Let’s put that aside. I didn’t call you here today to discuss this at length.”

After saying that, she continued in a somewhat serious tone.

“Today, I have a favor to ask of Lady Luna.”

“A favor, my lord?”

“It’s about Tepelo Castle. Luna, you’re familiar with it, right?”

Vanessa flinched slightly at those words, but Luna failed to notice.

“Tepelo Castle… you mean the castle adjacent to the border with Ohana Territory?”

“You know it well. Lady Luna, your friends Lady Tifa and Lord Cain are stationed there as well.”

When Luna had pledged allegiance to Karelia Territory with 3,000 troops.

Luna was assigned to this capital, Madlan Castle, while Cain and Tifa who came with her were assigned to Tepelo Castle, separating them.

Since then, they had been too busy to meet even once.

Although war hadn’t broken out, Luna honestly felt uneasy about sending her comrades to the border while she remained in the capital.

“Yes. Recently, the castle lord Carlos expressed his wish to step down due to old age and health reasons. I want to respect his will to dedicate himself to our territory even at his age. Therefore, the position of Tepelo Castle’s lord is currently vacant.”

“Is that so…?”

“What do you think?”

“Um… I think Lord Carlos must have worked very hard…”

“And?”

“And what? I… I’m very sorry, but I don’t know what else to say…”

“…Heh.”

Karelia laughed several times, apparently finding Luna’s reaction amusing.

“Lady Luna is truly an innocent person. I think it would be easier to speak directly to someone like you.”

“…?”

“Lady Luna. As of this moment, I want you to become the lord of Tepelo Castle.”

Only then did Luna realize why she had been summoned, turning pale with shock.

“M-My lord. Suddenly offering the position of castle lord is too much for me—”

“I apologize for interrupting, but my mind is made up. I want to let Lady Lunarian swim in deeper waters. I don’t want your abilities to be wasted here in the capital.”

“However…”

Just as she was about to politely decline the position again.

A voice she could never forget quickly flashed through Luna’s mind.

“My lord! Stay healthy! And if an opportunity comes, never miss it! I will definitely return to your side!”

‘Ah…’

Swen.

Her first strategist, buried deep in her heart, whom she could never forget.

Why did the voice of that man who had said ‘If you trust me, I will place the world in your hands’ flash through my mind just now?

Becoming one of the castle lords of Karelia Territory.

This could perhaps be an opportunity.

Being a castle lord meant managing a domain, albeit a small one, and someone who manages a domain well could inevitably win the hearts of its people.

And, in the unlikely event… depending on the situation, one could raise an army in rebellion.

Wasn’t that much easier than raising an army in an empty space with no one?

Then wasn’t this an opportunity?

But still, her heart was uneasy.

Fine words like “easy rebellion through betrayal” ultimately meant stabbing Karelia in the back after she had taken her in.

Luna had absolutely no desire to do that. While she did want to hold the world in her hands, she couldn’t betray someone who trusted her like this—

Only after thinking this far did she remember why she had lost her country.

‘No… I need to be rational… After sacrificing Swen due to an emotional decision… I can’t run away from responsibility anymore…!’

Yes.

Even without betrayal, this was still an opportunity.

She had sworn to him that she would seize any opportunity that came. So, without hesitation, Luna nodded and said.

“…I accept your command, my lord.”

“Oh. Thank you. I’ll be counting on you.”

Karelia rose from her seat, extended her hand, and said.

“Lunarian Ineanne. As of today, you are the lord of Tepelo Castle. Cease all your current duties immediately and go to Tepelo Castle to fulfill your duties as its lord.”

“I accept your orders and will do my best not to disappoint you, Lady Karelia.”

The position of Tepelo Castle’s lord.

Whether this was an opportunity or a poisoned chalice, she didn’t know.

But she hesitated no more.

Even if only to fulfill what her one and only strategist had asked of her when they parted…

She fiercely grasped the opportunity that had come to her.

All for the strategist who had believed in her, and whom she had believed in.