episode_0135

Luna pondered what Vanessa had just said.

Kill me?

For violating military law… … Even that family?

Luna first whispered to Violet, who seemed embarrassed next to her, to stay still, and then examined the situation.

Unlike Cecil who shouted in anger, Vanessa was very calm.

“Going to the battlefield means risking one’s life. In the southern region, where war did not occur and there was a peaceful time, this fact may be forgotten, but this is the stark reality. Do you think that a soldier who cannot even follow the military laws properly can fight properly against the Southern Continent, and further against the Brans Army and the Serpina Army?”

“Isn’t that too much? I understand what you mean, Vanessa. I also agree that we need to be prepared. but… … This doesn’t seem to be the case. Have you heard the opinions of the soldiers and the sentiments of the people of the territory? Don’t you feel that the laughter on the streets is gradually decreasing?”

“… … .”

Vanessa closed her eyes and let out a long sigh.

And then… … As if he had made up his mind for something, he slowly opened his eyes and looked straight at Cecil.

“Cecil Lohengrin. If you continue to protect those who break the military law, this will be regarded as a protest against Master Karelia, and you will be punished with the power legally granted to you.”

After saying that, he continued in a slightly softened tone.

“Cesil is an indispensable talent for our military. Please do this. Because I don’t want to hurt Cecil either. Please make a wise choice.”

After hearing those words, Cecil looked at the trembling girl next to her.

This girl shedding tears… … Just because she was the daughter of a soldier who violated military law, she had to end her life here.

That is the future of Karelia that I dreamed of, that we all dreamed of?

The answer to that question is not difficult to find.

At the same time, Cecil pulled out the knife from inside her throat.

“If you say this is a protest, that would be correct. Because you have been granted legitimate power by your lord. So, punish me.”

“!!”

“In any case, I think it would be okay to issue a summary disposition right here. Wouldn’t you be a good example?”

Vanessa’s pupils trembled slightly after hearing Cecil’s words.

The soldiers watching this… … When I realized that the situation was getting very serious, I couldn’t say anything and just swallowed dry saliva.

So, after a few minutes of silence-

Finally, Vanessa’s lips opened.

“… … Don’t be too angry.”

After saying that, she nodded slightly.

A sturdy soldier on either side of her drew his sword.

At the same time, a soldier on the other side headed towards where Cecil was and began to capture her.

“Chae… … Sir!”

“Um, over there… … !!”

At first the soldiers began to whisper, but-

Here in Karelia County, where Karelia’s absolute power was established, Vanessa’s words, given full authority to her, were the same as the words of Lord Karelia.

“Thank you for your hard work. Hello.”

“… … .”

Cecil slowly closed his eyes.

What comes to mind is the moment when the dark green flag was planted on the ground for the first time.

We gathered together under the sparkling banner of ‘I hope everyone can regain a happy and peaceful life.’

Until today, he never regretted for a moment the donation of most of the assets of the Lohengrin family, which he had accumulated as a merchant, to the Karelia army.

If Karelia is shocked by my death and realizes something.

If only we could see that Vanessa’s reign of terror was wrong… … !

Tight!

Cecil closed her eyes tightly and prepared to face the pain that was to come.

but… … I didn’t feel anything.

Since he’s still breathing, it doesn’t look like he’s dead yet… … ?

at that time.

“Stop it!”

Cecile slowly opened her eyes as the voice of a woman she had heard before reached her ears.

Before your eyes… … A woman with white-brown hair was standing there.

This is someone I know. A person of sincerity rarely seen in recent times, who worked hard to cultivate the farmland with the people of the territory… …

“Luna… … ?”

Runarien Inian.

Just as the woman who serves as the lord of Tepel Castle tried to protect the girl in front of her-

To protect herself, Vanessa and-

He was fighting against his lord’s will.

“Vanessa. Please calm down and assess the situation broadly. Do you think it is right to summarily dispose of Cecil here?”

“… … Runarien Inian.”

Vanessa muttered in a low voice and gritted her teeth slightly as she looked at the ruby-colored eyes glaring at her.

Then, he quickly regained his composure and answered in a cold tone.

“What are you doing now?”

“We are asking you to stop the meaningless executions.”

“Do you know what you are talking about?”

“I know. As the lord of the castle, aren’t you speaking to the treacherous man?”

Vanessa’s eyebrows twitched slightly when she heard those words.

castellan. If there is a position where one can talk on an equal footing with a manager, it would be Seongju.

Sometimes, it was the lord of the castle who gave orders to the strategist from a higher position.

“If you have become the lord of the castle, you probably don’t know that I am your lord’s agent, right? Are you really going to rebel against your lord?”

“… … !”

Luna bit her lower lip slightly.

Vanessa’s eyes… … It was noticeably different from when I looked at Cecil.

A clear sense of vigilance.

That woman… … I was very wary of myself.

to be honest.

I knew that this action would be a protest against my master.

No matter how much you are the lord of a castle, you cannot disobey the monarch’s orders. Perhaps, he would be executed right here along with Cecil, tied up in wholesale money.

but.

‘Swen said… … A monarch must have a courageous spirit… … !”

This was what Swen told me when I was staying at Zeeland Castle, who told me not to use polite language.

Amazingly, just thinking about his voice… … I could feel the fear rising in my heart disappearing.

good. If so, let’s take one step forward.

If you were Swen, what would you have said here?

I remember him always giving me extraordinary advice with confidence… … Luna, in her own way, selected sentences that she thought he might have said as best as she could.

“… … I have no intention of complaining to my lord.”

“In that case, please move aside.”

“But.”

Luna spoke in a clear voice, not giving in to Vanessa’s wary eyes.

“I intend to disagree with the teacher’s opinion.”

“What… … You say?”

“I serve Karelia. If it is Karelia’s will, I will follow it, but if it is Vanessa’s will, I have no intention of just following it.”

Somehow, Vanessa kept her cool-

As soon as I heard that, I lost my composure and glared at Luna.

This was a huge bombshell.

I don’t know if I received full authority or not, but it meant that I couldn’t listen to what you said.

“… … Runarien Inian. Are you saying that you will now challenge your authority?”

“No. We are just exchanging opinions on an equal footing with the teacher.”

“I mean!!!”

Vanessa shouted loudly.

“… … I mean, it’s just like what my lord Karelia said!”

“I don’t think so. There is no way Karelia would give such a cruel order.”

“Qu… … !”

Vanessa trembled for a while, as if she couldn’t control her anger-

Soon, he spoke in a cold tone that made you feel like you would freeze if you touched him.

“Okay. If you want it that much, it would be right for you to listen.”

“… … .”

And then.

After receiving the sword from the soldier standing next to him-

He said, aiming it directly at Luna with his own hand.

“I will execute you with my own hands. The crime was rebellion against the lord. Do you have any complaints?”

“Master. Come to your senses. Sir, you are not my lord. The will of the master cannot be the will of the master!”

“Is that the end of your will?”

“… … !”

Life flowing through the tip of the sword.

Feeling the fierce murderous intent towards her, Luna suddenly felt that the moment of choice had come to her.

Obediently welcome her sword here?

no. That couldn’t be possible.

“Master! Be healthy! And, if the opportunity comes, don’t miss it! I will definitely return to your side!”

Didn’t you make a promise to that person? I will definitely survive.

Didn’t he survive and meet Swen again…? … !

So here, I had no choice but to fight her.

Let’s think about the rest later, for now just think about neutralizing her.

She was a strategist, not a general. Even though my head worked well, I was confident that I wouldn’t be defeated in a fight.

Thinking like that, the very moment I was about to carefully move my hand to the handle of the sword hanging on my waist.

“What are you doing now?!”

Everyone gathered here turned their heads towards the voice at once.

There stood the monarch of Karelia – Makana Karelia.

Seeing that there was a soldier next to her, it seemed like the soldier had realized the seriousness of the situation and quickly went to get her.

“Can’t you stop right now?!”

“… … .”

Vanessa immediately erased her killing intent, handed the sword back to the soldier, and got down on one knee.

Luna also immediately knelt down to greet her rightful master.

Karelia said nothing and then-

Soon, he approached Vanessa first and spoke in a deep voice.

“… … How on earth did this happen, Vanessa?”

“We were just discussing punishment for those who violated military law.”

“What are you talking about about Cecil? What on earth is going on? and… … .”

“… … .”

“Why on earth is Master Luna…? … Why are we pointing our swords at each other?”

Leaving behind Karelia, who was devastated and asking… …

The three just remained silent for a long time.

* * *

after that-

Karelia, who roughly understood the situation from Vanessa’s explanation, spoke in a very serious tone.

“Vanessa. I truly appreciate your actions out of loyalty to me. But looking at the current situation, I don’t think it’s too much.”

“Master, but-”

“I know. It’s not that I don’t know your heart. However, I would like to ask you to stand up for me now.”

“… … .”

Vanessa lowered her head and couldn’t say anything.

Karelia sighed briefly, then turned her head to look at Luna and Cecil and said.

“And Cecil, Lord Luna. For both of you, I will make this a special note in consideration of your achievements so far. However, Vanessa’s orders are the same as my orders as the monarch of this country. I hope something unpleasant like this doesn’t happen next time.”

“But, my lord. It is too harsh to hold even a young child guilty of complicity. Regarding this part-”

“Cecil.”

Karelia cut off Cecil’s urgent question… …

He said it in a tone as if it was really unfortunate but there was nothing he could do.

“I entrusted military authority to Vanessa… … Please follow her opinion.”

“Haona… … !”

“I won’t tell you this twice, Cecil… … I’m sorry.”

“… … .”

Cecil lowered her head.

Luna, who was next to her, could naturally notice that she was biting her lip, unable to overcome her anger.

“Then, it would be nice if you could just pretend that nothing happened today. I will specifically absolve you of the crime of asking that child, just this time. Do you understand, Vanessa?”

“Yes, my lord.”

As these were the monarch’s words and not someone else’s, Vanessa immediately lowered her head.

“… … I will be going to the royal castle first, so everyone please prepare for the meeting. Then.”

So, after Karelia left.

Vanessa approached Luna and Cecil.

“Cecil. Please do not forget what my lord said just now.”

“… … .”

“And… … .”

Unlike when he spoke to Cecil in a somewhat subdued tone-

To Luna, he spoke harshly without bothering to hide his hostility.

“Lord Seong, in order to live without trouble in the future, it would be good for you to follow the laws of this country.”

After saying that, Vanessa followed Karelia out of the barracks.

… … How did you avoid the anger?

‘ha… … .’

“Are you okay…? … ?”

Violet supported Luna from the side, as she was relaxed and her steps were slightly twisted.

Luna left herself to her, let out a long sigh… … Talked to her hero.

‘Swen… … I was able to survive somehow.’

It’s all because Swen was with me.

I wanted to convey this to the person who has always been my strength in my heart. So much.