episode_0331

“… … Huh… … ?”

What hit Jenna’s mind even harder than the pain she felt in her stomach was the bewilderment she felt at the sudden unfolding situation.

What the hell is going on?

Her surprisingly cold brain quickly began to grasp the current situation before her breath even stopped.

As a result, he easily realizes that the tip of the sword of the soldier who had always been guarding him had stabbed him.

Unlike Jenna, who was confused about what was going on, Mary in front of him just closed her eyes, bowed her head, and spoke in a calm tone.

“I will not forget Jenna’s last teaching that it is important to seize opportunities.”

“What… … what… … .”

The words wouldn’t come out properly.

Instead, what was bursting out of his mouth was red blood that was slowly flowing out of his mouth.

“Wouldn’t the best time to occupy the capital, Eingart Castle, be when the monarch is away?”

When Jenna heard those words, her head started spinning quickly as if she was in a trance.

Patrol course. Soldiers performing patrols.

If you think about it, Mary prepared everything.

Of course, I never doubted it for a single moment.

Like my lord Serphina, who almost lost her life to her escort knight, I never doubted it even once. No, I never thought of doubting it.

Because Mary always followed him. Even after he stepped down from his position as a book publisher, even after he found himself in a situation where he might not be able to return the promises he had made.

The thought that she might be betrayed by someone she trusted so deeply… … At that point, Jenna truly realized for the first time the agony Serpina must have been going through.

The person who always smiled at me and was kind to me then stabbed me in the back… …was more horrible, painful, and distressing than I had ever imagined.

“Mary… … You, surely, would… … rebel… … ?”

“Treason, Lady Jenna. I just took the opportunity. Rather than becoming a loser like Karelia, I decided to become someone who didn’t miss the opportunity like Lunarien.”

“No, Ki, Hui… … You… … .”

Is this an opportunity?

How on earth can we possibly defeat Serpina in this situation?

Even if she gets the capital, what if she has the asymmetrical power magician Reika, elite soldiers, excellent generals, and most importantly, Swen by her side?

Do you really not know that even if you rebel in this situation, you will only be able to maintain your hegemony for a very short time and will be killed immediately?

Or is there some kind of trustworthy backing?

Mary isn’t that stupid of a woman. There must have been something that made her do something like this, even though she knew it would be difficult.

What’s more likely is that she has something to believe in – someone above her.

But no matter how many times I thought about it, I couldn’t think of anything that could overwhelm even Swen’s presence.

That meant that this attempt was doomed to failure no matter what.

If I wanted to explain everything to her one by one, I could tell her everything-

Unfortunately, at the same time that the sword was pulled out of the ship… …blood began to gushing out of the ship in such a large amount that it was impossible to stop the bleeding.

“Jenna’s last teaching, I will never forget it for the rest of my life.”

“Mary… … Lee… … .”

Am I misreading people?

I never knew I could be this foolish.

If they really wanted to stage a successful rebellion, they shouldn’t have been fixated on things like the monarch being away or occupying the capital, or clinging to meaningless backing, but should have made it a top priority to win over Swen, the man who was practically leading this country…

Because in Jenna’s eyes, the rebellion with the highest probability of success was the one in which Swen participated. Which meant that any rebellion without Swen’s participation would eventually be suppressed.

However, because her consciousness was fading, her only ability to recite the most important key words was her limitation as the light of her life faded away.

“S… … Wan… … ul… … .”

“You’re talking about the new bookworm. Jenna used to highly evaluate that man. Well, come to think of it, Jenna was also pushed aside by Swen in the end… … Maybe I’ve learned all the lessons I needed to learn.”

Mary said this and raised her head to look at the soldier.

The soldier seemed to realize what she was talking about and raised his red-tinged blade again towards the bleeding Jenna who lay on the ground.

“Goodbye.”

The blade plunged into Jenna’s body several more times.

Two times became three, then four… …the floor turned red, red.

The dreams she had harbored, the eyes that had read possibilities in the blood covering Serpina’s body, had all come to an end.

The last moments of the life of the talented woman who willingly entered the service of the greatest villainess in the belief that she could change the continent with her blood were extremely miserable and shabby.

* * *

A small villa connected to the royal castle of Balharat Castle.

Originally used as a warehouse, the place was lightly renovated as there was no suitable place for the monarch to stay after finishing her duties, and is now transformed into a place where Serpina spends her time after finishing her duties.

For a place where a monarch of a country resides, the furniture and furnishings were extremely simple, but Serpina was not the type to be obsessed with such customs, luxuries, or formalities, so she spent her time there without any complaints.

‘Phew.’

After finishing her bath, she was wearing a see-through negligee, enjoying the end of a long day with relaxation.

After destroying the Aesir Army, days passed by peacefully for a while without any fighting… … but the lack of fighting did not mean that there was no work to do.

Rather, the ruler had to take on much more than simply commanding war.

First of all, he had to secure the hearts of the people of the territory ruled by the Aesir Army. This was easier than he had thought, and he was somehow managing to do it well, based on Swen’s advice.

In addition, this was an area that had been hit hard by a plague. Unlike other places, it was not completely devastated due to the size of the castle itself, but it could not be ignored as if it had not been touched at all. Naturally, a great deal of resources had to be consumed for the development of the central continent, and in the process, there was a mountain of work to be done.

I was used to having to do this much.

The problem is that her mind is in the soybean field these days.

‘… … .’

Serpina looked at her empty wine glass with a slightly excited face, feeling slightly tipsy.

What will Swen think of me?

If I had really been just a passing monarch to him, I don’t think he would have worked for me for this long.

So, having a serving monarch is a disguise to hide the real purpose?

Even if we make that assumption, there is no clear conclusion, and it doesn’t seem like he is lying to himself.

Serpina knew it too.

That his one-sided and blind faith had been repaid time and time again and ended in failure.

Still, I couldn’t possibly believe that the way Swen looked at me, the way his voice trembled when he spoke to me, or the way he resonated with my sadness and cried with me were fake.

If even that is close to a lie, then what reason do you have to live?

Anyway, assuming that everything Swen said is true, the fact that he still hasn’t left his side―

‘Because staying by my side… …is it helpful to him, to the monarch he serves… …?’

Swen was a man with the power of psychic ability, which meant he could see through any situation to see what decision would be most efficient.

Of course, it’s impossible to predict without being asked, and even then, it doesn’t seem like it can answer all the questions that exist –

Even so, if you think about it logically, if there is solid evidence, there is no reason for the monarch you have in mind to be by your side.

What should I do here?

Using his power to take Swen by force? It wouldn’t be impossible if he used his position, but he didn’t want to do that. Especially since he wanted Swen as a person, not Swen’s abilities.

Telling him honestly and urging him to make a choice? I was afraid that I would provoke him unnecessarily and something bad would happen.

With a “gurgle,” the empty wine glass was filled again.

By taking a few sips of it, Serpina washed away her complicated mind.

‘What I want… … .’

What you really want.

To unite the world again as it was before and continue the Eingart Empire.

Before he died, he carried out the will that Algot had left to him.

Ending the war and establishing wise rule to atone for Eingart’s original sins to the people of the entire continent… …

……no.

What I really want to do is to give up everything and stay by the man I love’s side, keeping pace with him.

It’s about staying by the side of the man who is the only one who doesn’t abandon her when she’s abandoned by everyone else, and who faces the fearful and anxious truth together with her instead of giving her vain hopes, even if it’s painful.

It’s okay if you don’t get the world.

I don’t mind taking full responsibility.

If only I could be by your side. If only I could stand there holding hands with you as you take in the scenery… …

At that moment, as I was pouring my glass of wine alone, I was having such a bold thought that a monarch of a country should never have―

Knock knock knock!

At the sound of a loud knock on the door, Serpina stopped her thoughts and put on a light coat to cover her negligee as she shouted towards the door.

“What’s going on?”

“My lord! This is a big problem!”

“Come in.”

The door opened, and a soldier was looking at him with an expression of unprecedented urgency.

Serpina looked at him, holding a wine glass in her hand, and asked.

“Calm down. What the hell is going on in the middle of the night?”

“That, that’s… … .”

And, the ‘news’ that the soldier relayed to Serpina was―

– Clang!

“What… … you said?”

The soldier lowered his head as if he didn’t know what to do as he cried out to Serpina, who was trembling with fear and had become blind.

“In Eingart Castle… … a rebellion broke out… … !!”