episode_0109

* * *

The dungeon of Annell Castle, the capital of Brans County.

“Here, today’s portion of food.”

A voice with a very polite tone for a guard serving meals to prisoners.

But, it had to be that way.

Well, the person in prison-

“Thank you.”

-Because it was Farfalle, a woman who held the position of national secretary.

“Is there anything else you need?”

“No. Thank you for your convenience, I am doing well. Thank you.”

“I’m just doing the obvious.”

“My lord… … ?”

“You haven’t said anything yet, but… … General Chell told me to tell him to wait a little while as he will try to persuade me somehow.”

“Is that so.”

Farfalle nodded and answered in a determined tone.

“I just appreciate your convenience every time. I will never forget this grace.”

“No. Then, please excuse me.”

The guard lightly saluted Farfalle and stepped back.

The sound of his footsteps fades away, and the emotions in my head become more and more clear.

imprisonment.

Farfalle’s crime was failure to follow instructions and abuse of authority.

Although he was clearly ordered to fight against the Aethus army, he acted on his own arbitrary judgment and was held responsible for killing a soldier near the capital, Annel Castle, and was imprisoned here.

Rin, who was filled with anger because Farfalle acted according to his own will, was able to somehow end his angry outburst, saying, ‘Failure to follow instructions is treason, and traitors are subject to death,’ with the help of the surrounding retainers who managed to stop him and imprison him.

Although I lived in solitary confinement, it wasn’t actually that uncomfortable.

Meals were provided on a regular basis, books worth reading were provided, and even a private bathroom was provided.

It was even fully equipped with a makeshift bed.

Of course, these were things that were specially given to Farfalle after she was imprisoned, and it seemed that the monarch, Lyn, did not bother to find fault with this.

I hid my excitement and thought about it calmly, and in the end, this method was the right one. Maybe it was because Rin knew that.

Farfalle just predicted that.

‘Master…’ … .’

Even though it ended up like this, Farfalle did not let go of her ties to Rin.

Clearly – she was a somewhat dogmatic, arrogant, and hard-to-listen-to-others person.

However, if the situation improved, she was a capable monarch who could move forward without hesitation as long as there was nothing to disturb her.

People in the world say that Lin is a tyrant, but isn’t she a being who drives blood just as much as Serpina of the North?

From Farfalle’s point of view, who judged that what this world needed was the charisma of a monarch, Rin was the only person worth serving.

Besides, if Rin was truly incorrigible, she wouldn’t have this neck hanging on her shoulder by now.

Farfalle let out a short sigh.

Irene Juliet’s problem is already out of our hands.

It was time to gather strength again and solidify our power once again based on Anel Castle.

If Rin said that she would change her mind and ask for advice, he would run to her at any time.

‘Please open your eyes, my lord… … !’

Even for that time, we must survive now.

Farfalle ate through the food given to her without leaving any behind.

To continue this tough life.

* * *

And, in the royal castle of Anel Castle-

Chell was on her knees facing Lin.

“Master. Several weeks have passed since Farfalle was imprisoned.”

“… … .”

“Please reconsider your thoughts now. She made decisions based solely on her loyalty. And, she still has a lot of work left to do for her master. In order not to collapse in the situation of wind and lightning facing Serpina, you must bury her sins and use them again seriously.”

Chell was speaking directly to Lynn.

In fact, Chell was the only person in this country who could speak directly to Lin, who had absolute dignity.

Not only was he related to her by blood, but unlike Kalinz, who had no special achievements, he was a key national talent who had made countless achievements.

Lin also knew that.

He also knew, of course, that his dignity could not be maintained forever in these difficult times.

Looking at it objectively, Brans County has already lost more than half of its territory. He was well aware that the generals’ loyalty to him had decreased to some extent due to a series of events.

But still-

It should not have been pushed unilaterally here.

The moment the person in power shows signs of weakness is the perfect situation for them to be bitten.

This was a story her father had told her over and over again.

“Brother. But, isn’t it strange?”

“Please tell me.”

“According to Farfalle’s words, Serpina’s army should be launching an attack on our territory by now… … There hasn’t been much movement so far, right? Because we have openly shown a loss of will to fight, the castle lords and soldiers on the border are becoming more confused as they feel they have been abandoned. I’m concentrating on defending the capital out of respect for my brother, but I can’t stand it any longer, right?

“That’s… … .”

okay.

According to Farfalle’s thoughts, all the castles around Annell Castle should have fallen under Serpina’s army.

Farfalle’s opinion was that it would continue to advance and that it would not be possible to stop it, so it was right to withdraw the troops.

However, the Serpina army stopped advancing at some point.

As a result, the soldiers and generals on the border were in a situation where the ‘abandoned situation’ continued for a long time and their dissatisfaction was accumulating.

“… … I think it’s just a matter of time.”

“No. Farfalle might be wrong, right?”

“Master.”

At Chell’s words, Lin sighed deeply.

“… … I know, brother.”

I lower my head, muttering, “I know that Farfalle’s thoughts are not absurd.”

Rin was no longer showing his strong side.

Judging by his personality, even Chell, who is the eldest brother, would have screamed several times… … I wasn’t able to do that.

She, too, was backed into a corner.

“… … Brother. You know.”

“… … .”

Chell said nothing, lowered his head and focused on Lin’s words.

“If… … If there was Swen.”

Swen.

A man with white hair who summons miracles.

When Irene Juliette betrayed, a general who followed her and fell into the Acer army.

“If Swen had been there, what would she have said? What should I do… … Wouldn’t you have told me?”

Her voice is increasingly trembling.

Blue eyes began to shake violently.

“So… … What he said was, when you look back, it was all right… … ? The kid like that… … I was deceived by Iren… … Isn’t this what happened? So, I… … .”

She covered her face with both hands.

She, who had always maintained a high level of charisma, began to fall apart in front of herself, the leader of her subordinates.

It wasn’t Chell’s first time seeing that sight. Before she became a monarch… … It was the kind of weakness that he often showed to his own flesh and blood.

“I… … Airen, Airen… … Should I have admitted it?”

“… … .”

“Ever since she was young, I heard that she was better than me in every way, even though she was born only for our family… … Because I didn’t admit it, this happened… … ?”

silence.

Chell knew very well that saying anything more now would only be poisonous.

“… … no. I can’t admit it. Irene… … I should have killed him earlier. I should have cut that head off a long time ago. then… … Swendo.”

He always said the right things.

You said you would swear loyalty to me.

I was deceived by Irene. I was deceived by her and betrayed me.

“My Swen would never have been fooled by her!!!!!!”

“Master, calm down!”

Chell ran to the woman who was tearing out her hair and calmed her down.

“Let go of this! Let go!”

“Lin! Calm down!”

“!!!”

Rin, startled by the voice calling her name, opened her eyes and looked at Chell.

… … What was standing before her eyes was not the country’s general, but her older brother.

It’s a look in my eyes that I haven’t seen since I was a child.

“Calm down, Lin. It’s a problem that we can’t do anything about now.”

“Oppa… … I am.”

“Think about it slowly. Because you can build it up again from the beginning. You are a monarch. At times like this, you shouldn’t be shaken. On your shoulders, this country rests… … Do you understand?”

Lin lowered his head without answering anything.

Chell probably wasn’t expecting an answer from her either, so he slowly walked away from her and bent his waist at a 90-degree angle.

“… … Please, please make the right decision.”

And then, he slowly left the royal castle.

Rin, who was left alone in the castle, began to realize little by little.

About the results of an irrational ‘choice’ that gave priority to one’s emotions.

* * *

And, the royal castle of Balharat Castle.

“A messenger from Serpina Army?”

“Yes.”

“Why? The messenger we sent hasn’t arrived yet, right? Did their paths diverge in the meantime?”

Even if our paths crossed in the first place, too much time had passed.

I think we would have already arrived by now, right?

When Yuuri asked a question, the messenger who delivered the news answered with a troubled expression.

“Sorry. I also don’t know how things are going… … .”

“Really?”

I was a little worried, but was there anything wrong?

“Tell them to come in.”

“Okay.”

And soon, a Shinigami arrived in front of Yuuri and knelt down.

“Meeting with Yuuri, the ruler of the Aceers County.”

“Since it’s okay to say hello, why don’t you get to the point?”

“I came here to discuss the treatment of the captive Anima Ingram.”

Yuuri, who heard those words, was startled and immediately stood up.

“Anima… … ?”

“Yes.”

No, isn’t that something we can talk about with Swen, the envoy we sent?

Why… … Did you send an envoy to us separately like this?

“… … Let’s talk about it first.”

“Our lord Serpina says she is willing to release the captive Anima Ingram.”

“If you are willing, why are you putting on a skit like this when you could just release him?”

Yuuri seemed a bit aggressive, perhaps due to his frustration, but the Shinigami didn’t care and spoke politely.

“However, there is a condition.”

“7900 You sent gold, right? Or is that just not enough?”

“Yes.”

It seemed like he realized that Anima was an important general in our military.

Yuuri trembled internally.

‘A bitch like a snake… … !’

What on earth are you going to ask for?

no way… … You’re not asking for the Lacline Castle or the Zellstrom Castle, are you?

At least according to Yuuri’s common sense, that was the maximum Serpina could ask for.

If you ask me to hand over my last name… … Honestly, I could pass on it.

There will definitely be complaints that the overpayment is too much… … Since the castle was likely to be taken anyway, it was a better choice to take care of Anima’s safety.

Jinor also said that from our military’s perspective, maintaining the three castles bordering the border would be disadvantageous in the long run.

“Okay. What do you want?”

but.

What came out of the Shinigami’s mouth was something Yuuri had never thought of.

“This is a man sent as an envoy to our military.”

“Swen? Why Swen?”

“Please hand over that man.”

“!!!”

what… … Called?

To Yuuri, who was surprised with an expression of disbelief, the Shinigami simply spoke in a grave tone-

The ‘ultimate choice’ was being forced on the ruler of Aishus County.

“Please hand over Swen’s new recruit to our military. With that, we will release Anima Ingram.”