Ch.53Chapter 53. The Audience Chamber / Castle Annel (1)

We three prepared ourselves mentally before entering the royal audience chamber.

Over Kalintz’s shoulder, I could see Lynn, the absolute ruler of the Brans Kingdom, sitting on the throne.

Usually, Lynn’s default posture was to sit on the throne in a bored manner—resting her chin on her hand or twirling her hair with her fingers. But now, she was watching us with a dignified posture, without any of her usual scattered demeanor.

Irene Juliette and I walked up to her, matching Kalintz’s pace. When he knelt, we simultaneously knelt before Lynn.

“…Kalintz Brans, just returned to Anel Castle from Kelstein Castle.”

“Irene Juliette, likewise just returned.”

“Swen, returned to see my lord.”

“…”

If I were to describe her usual demeanor…

Rather than possessing the dignity of a ruler, she had a very playful air about her.

Of course, that’s not to say she lacked dignity or the aura unique to a sovereign, but Lynn certainly had a somewhat unruly side that made it difficult to call her a “ruler” in the traditional sense.

But at this moment.

She was looking down at us with an extremely serious and cold face, without a hint of a smile.

“…Brother Kalintz.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

“I heard everything. You escaped safely? That’s fortunate. Thanks to that, we’ve been able to save our military’s resources and capabilities that would have been spent bringing you back through negotiations. We couldn’t just let a man of the Brans family die. So I suppose you did accomplish something at the last moment. Congratulations.”

At Lynn’s overtly sarcastic words, Kalintz bowed his head even deeper and said:

“…I am ashamed, my lord. I will accept any punishment.”

“No. What fault could the smart and successful Brother Kalintz possibly have? It must all be my fault as ruler. It’s because I’m unworthy that I couldn’t stop you from making such a strange decision, right?”

At Lynn’s sharp retort, Kalintz could only bow his head in silence.

“Still, I’m grateful that you’ve proven something for me through this opportunity.”

“What do you mean…?”

“That our father was right.”

Lynn said this and let out a small laugh.

“When I became the successor, many couldn’t understand it, right? I still vividly remember the guy who self-immolated because he couldn’t accept it. But I’m grateful that you’ve proven that decision was correct. Isn’t that right, Brother?”

“…”

Wow.

Her wording is incredibly harsh.

I could see Kalintz trembling as he kept his head bowed.

Though he’s a bit unlikable, I felt sorry seeing him getting torn apart by his own younger sister.

Moreover, he was essentially being humiliated in front of his subordinates—me and Irene.

There could be no greater humiliation.

Of course, he brought it upon himself.

No matter how many times I think about it, all the blame for this incident lies with Kalintz’s unilateral actions.

“Anyway, I’d appreciate it if you’d keep a low profile for a while. I’d like to give you a chance to make up for your mistake right away, as you’re our reliable second brother, but there are too many eyes watching. You wouldn’t want to serve a lord who gives you too much leeway just because you’re family, right?”

She said this and then smiled, adding:

“Though you’re still enjoying the benefits of the Brans family, evident by the fact that your head is still attached to your shoulders.”

Then she laughed gleefully.

Her laughter slowly spread through the empty audience chamber.

Kalintz continued to say nothing, and finally parted his heavy lips.

“…I will obey your command.”

“Good. Go home and cool your head. Visit brothels like you did when you were young, or meditate under a waterfall. I’ll call for you again someday when the situation allows.”

“…”

What?

Despite his handsome face, it seems he was quite the playboy in his youth.

Well, I didn’t care about his private life.

“What are you doing? Why aren’t you leaving?”

At Lynn’s cold words, Kalintz bowed his head deeply again and said:

“…I will reflect until your command comes. I apologize once more.”

“Yes, yes. Now go. I’m busy.”

After Kalintz withdrew, Lynn’s gaze fell on Irene.

“…Irene.”

“Yes, my lord.”

“You worked hard. You’ve been through a lot.”

Lynn spoke in a more benevolent tone than she had used with Kalintz.

But I could tell that her words still concealed a blade.

“But what can we do? That fortress was built only because Kalintz insisted on building it recklessly. It would have been troublesome in many ways if we didn’t destroy it completely. All your hard work has become useless. I’m sorry?”

Despite Lynn’s overtly sarcastic tone, Irene responded with dignified composure.

“Not at all, my lord. I, Irene Juliette, am greatly honored to have been able to fulfill your command.”

“Is that so? Then that’s good.”

The old Irene would have swallowed her humiliation at this moment.

But now she seemed extremely calm.

It made sense. She no longer expected anything from Lynn Brans.

Someone who expects nothing cannot be affected by how they are treated.

“Next time, work hard for me like this again. Understood?”

“Yes!”

Lynn smiled brightly and gestured toward Irene.

“Good. You may go too.”

As Irene rose and turned to leave, our eyes met briefly.

Her gaze seemed to say, “Do well and come back,” which helped me relax a bit.

So I’m the only one left.

I kept my head bowed and waited for her words.

“…Swen.”

“Yes.”

She spoke in a calm tone without any hint of playfulness.

It was different from how she spoke to Kalintz, and different from how she spoke to Irene.

“The first thing I want to ask is… why didn’t you obey the order to return to Anel Castle?”

She sighed deeply.

“Do you have anything to say?”

I calmly analyzed her voice.

It seemed she wasn’t too angry.

Alright.

This is where it begins.

I slowly began to deliver the lines I had practiced in my head countless times on my way back here.

“I apologize. It was absolutely not my intention to disrespect Lynn’s orders. However, I wanted to show and prove something.”

“Show and prove?”

“Yes. From the moment the sun of Brans settled in my chest, my only goal was to achieve recognition. I wanted to somehow accomplish something worthy of recognition from many people, to secure a key position in the Brans army. I thought that if I succeeded in protecting Kalintz’s fortress, I could ask for your forgiveness.”

“Even if it meant disobeying orders?”

“I apologize. I only ask that you understand my sincerity.”

“…”

She said nothing.

With my head bowed to the floor, I couldn’t see her face… but the atmosphere didn’t change.

After some time in silence, Lynn finally spoke.

“…I’ve heard everything. You set up an altar to communicate with the heavens and made rocks fall, right?”

“That’s correct.”

“How did you do it? Are you perhaps a magician?”

“Of course not. I, Swen, merely have a modest talent for reading the movement of stars in the sky.”

“Reading the movement of stars?”

“Yes. After studying the principles of the heavens and communicating in the right way, it’s not that difficult to adjust where rocks will fall, even if creating them directly is impossible.”

I was prepared to add some embellishment to the explanation I gave Irene if she asked for details.

Fortunately, she didn’t seem interested in asking how I figured it out.

That was fortunate for me, but it was a bit strange.

Normally, when someone pulls off something like that, wouldn’t it be natural to ask how they did it?

“…”

Lynn, who seemed to be speaking well, fell silent again.

After a brief silence, she broke it once more.

“Then… did you also learn through reading the stars that the Allepel army was conspiring with the Aeshus army to deceive us?”

“…Ah.”

Come to think of it, I had made such a claim during my one-on-one debate with Farfalle.

I had completely forgotten about it while busy defending the northern fortress.

Excluding the troops sent to us, they must have sent the rest there.

Rather than reading the stars, I had just made that inference based on my game knowledge.

It seems things had unfolded as I said.

I should give a plausible answer here.

“I didn’t read the stars, I just read the reasons behind their actions. If ‘certain actions’ are taken, ‘certain results’ inevitably follow.”

I gave a somewhat plausible answer.

I was planning to give similarly plausible answers to whatever she asked, but silence followed again.

“What’s going on?”

I could sense that normal conversation with Lynn wasn’t flowing since a moment ago.

Very cautiously, with my head still bowed, I raised my gaze slightly to observe her.

That’s when I noticed.

Her pupils… were constantly trembling.

Yes.

She was trembling now.

As if she were facing an absolute being she couldn’t even touch.

It was a truly strange scene.

I was the one kneeling and bowing my head, and she was the one who could command me to do anything as my superior.

Yet I remained detached, while she was the one trembling.

And then she—

No longer hiding the tremor in her voice, she spoke to me:

“What about that time? When you came for the armistice. How did you know that the Serpina army would attack our forces?”

“That was—”

I was about to explain, but my words were cut off by Lynn.

“No. It’s the same this time. How did you know we needed to send troops to the north? How did you know there would be a rebellion in the Allepel army in the first place? How do you… know all of this?!”

“My lord…?”

“Answer me! Now!”

To answer her sharp demand, I slowly raised my head.

And finally—

Our eyes met as I saw Lynn looking at me, pale as a sheet.

And that’s when I realized.

Why it felt like our conversation wasn’t connecting.

The trembling voice that now flowed without concealment.

The pale face. The white eyes.

Combining all these, only one conclusion could be drawn.

She… was afraid of me.

“Well, well.”

It seems she was so amazed by my accurate predictions that her wonder had turned to fear.

Of course everything I said was right. My intelligence is 100. I don’t know why I’m right, but when I look ahead, my words always turn out to be correct.

It must seem miraculous to others. No, beyond miraculous—frightening. As if I were possessed by some divine power.

Thinking about it, Lunarian, who believes in and supports my abilities, is an unusual case. A normal ruler might feel awe at my abilities, but would generally find them very burdensome.

In the midst of chaotic times, there was no guarantee that the edge of that ability wouldn’t be turned against them.

“Swen… what exactly are you…?”

Without me answering, she asked another question.

Oh dear.

Instilling fear in the somewhat emotional Lynn Brans was not a good situation.

If her awe of my abilities turned to fear, she might decide to “deal with” me.

It seems I had revealed too much of my ability.

I don’t regret it since it helped save Irene, but still.

“I’m thinking more and more that I can’t stay in the Brans army for long.”

And at that moment.

“Huh?”

Wait a minute.

A brilliant “Brans Army Exit Plan” quickly flashed through my mind.

This situation where she fears me…

If I play it right, couldn’t I use it to my advantage?

My mind began working faster than ever before.

I had to leave her side anyway. Irene was in danger.

The essential condition was to escape safely with her.

Then perhaps I could proceed with the feeling of securing the compensation that Irene rightfully deserved but had never received.

It was time to put my silver tongue to use again.

“Lynn. It’s alright.”

“Alright…?”

With the kindest smile I could muster,

I spoke in the most trustworthy tone I could produce:

“My talent is entirely yours, Lynn. There’s no need to fear.”

“…!!!”

She looked at me in shock once again.

As if wondering how I had read her mind.

It seemed she was more cornered than I had thought.

Now’s the time.

Like driving in a wedge, I bowed so deeply before her that my head almost touched the floor, and said:

“Use me as your compass, Lynn. I will gladly comply.”