episode_0114

*

After seeing off Serpina as she returned to the castle, I headed to the place she guided me to.

After explaining the situation to the guard, I opened the door to the room and went in, barely able to reunite with the girls.

“Swen!”

“Swen… … !”

“Everyone is safe.”

Although we had only seen each other for a few days, it felt like we had not seen each other in a very long time.

I guess I wasn’t the only one who thought that way; they also seemed to welcome me very much.

Especially Iren… … It seemed like he was crying a little.

“Irene, calm down.”

“But… … Swen. I thought I might never see you again… … Black.”

“Why can’t we meet again? It’s not like Serpina is trying to eat me.”

Well, in the end, I decided to serve her, so if I was eaten, I could say I was eaten.

“But, Swen, when I asked what happened to you… … I heard that you are heartbroken, have stopped eating, and are constantly starving… … I’m so worried about that.”

“… … .”

I thought it was just a joke, but did you really say that?

You are a woman whose true feelings are unknown, Serpina.

“Swen… … You need to eat well… … I’m already very thin, so if I don’t eat well, my physical health will be in shambles… … .”

Even though she was crying, I still felt sad because I could feel her concern for me.

She was always mature and dependable, but there were times when she appeared like a child.

“Ah, Irene… … Now, knock, knock… … !”

“Keuheung.”

For some reason, just looking at her personality, it seemed like Reika was the one to cry, not Iren, but it was kind of fun to see the two change.

So, calm Irene down.

Only then did I find out roughly how they were doing.

“Have you two been together?”

“Yes. that is… … Well, Serpina took care of my convenience. Originally, we stayed separately, but when I told him I was worried… … He said he would send it to me if I didn’t mind staying with him.”

It hadn’t been long since we met and talked, but she was truly a completely different person than the rumors said.

In fact, it makes me think that he might be a more compassionate person than Yuuri.

“Was it worth it?”

“Yes… … Meals come regularly, and Irene is there too… … . But you really stopped eating… … ?”

“No. I ate well and stayed well, so you don’t have to worry.”

As he said that, he looked at the faces of the two people.

I briefly wondered if it would be awkward since I wasn’t there to act as a middleman, but…

If you think about it, these two people. We became quite close friends from the time we rode in the carriage together.

As you live, you come to distinguish between people who are compatible with you and people who are not compatible with you.

People who are compatible become friends surprisingly quickly even without saying a few words, while people who are not compatible tend to cause disharmony no matter what they do.

In that respect, the two people seemed to have a very good chemistry.

Irene calmed down to some extent.

Only then was I able to get to the point with the two people.

“Master… … Swen, instead of letting you go, I asked for Anima’s release… … ?”

“I think so.”

“Is that so?”

Yuuri’s decision must have been quite shocking, and Iren seemed speechless.

Well, if you think about it with common sense, you wouldn’t make the decision to hand over another general, especially the recruits of a general sent as an envoy, in order to save a general.

“Then in the end, you were abandoned.”

“That’s how it happened.”

I felt half pity and half a sense of kinship in Iren’s gaze.

If you think about it, she was also abandoned by her lord, Rin.

There are many people who make irrational decisions that go beyond common sense, so it would not be surprising if some of them were high-ranking people.

“Ah, that’s… … .”

I placed my hand on Reika’s shoulder, who was helpless and unable to join in on the conversation.

“꺗… … !”

“Mr. Reika. Please calm down and listen without misunderstanding what I am saying.”

“Ah, that, that… … !”

To the girl who was wide-eyed and at a loss, I spoke in the clearest voice possible.

“I think they made you suffer here for no reason. I’m really sorry.”

“Yes? No, no… … Well, that’s okay… … It’s okay.”

“I will send you safely to Balharat Castle right away.”

“… … E?”

As soon as she heard those words, she was embarrassed and looked at me like an abandoned cat.

I thought this might be the case, so I added the words so that you don’t misunderstand.

“So, I’m not saying that Reika isn’t needed or that she isn’t helpful… … I am no longer a member of the Acious Army.”

“What? That means… … !”

He looked at Reika, who was surprised, and nodded.

“Yes. As of today, I start working under Serpina.”

“I see… … Well, I don’t think I would be welcomed back to Acious County now.”

Iren quickly realized that there was a point.

She’s quite intelligent, so she can easily figure out what’s going to happen.

“So, I don’t think we can go together anymore. It’s unfortunate.”

“Well, like that… … But.”

Reika spoke in a hushed voice as if she were squeezing out.

“Ah… … Irene, then… … ?”

“That’s right. Irene, what would you do?”

Well, it seems like it would be a waste of time to ask, but it would still be better to ask.

As expected, the answer came immediately without even a second of hesitation.

“I told you, right? No matter what happens, I will stay by your side, Swen. I will also serve Serpina.”

“Aren’t you worried? I guess my new master has a bad reputation.”

“If you decide to serve me, then whoever it is, is my lord.”

I thought it would go like this, but-

When I heard him say things like that, I felt proud and yet my stomach was tickling.

“I understand. To Serpina… … So, I will talk to my lord. Irene is an outstanding person, so I think she will probably accept it, so you don’t have to worry too much.”

“Um.”

Anyway, it is said that Irene, as a general, has the freedom to decide who to serve, but-

Since Reika was tied to Jinor, there was no reason to keep taking her with us.

“Well, then me too… … !”

“Mr. Reika. I also want to be with Reika, but if something goes wrong with Reika, I don’t have the decency to see Jinor.”

“It doesn’t matter… … ! I want to do this with Swen… … .”

“Why doesn’t it matter? Of course there is.”

“No! really… … I really don’t care. So.”

Reika was desperately trying to say something.

“Permission, I got it! Father’s… … Permission!”

“… … Yes?”

“If you have time, stay by Swen’s side… … Before I left, I heard you… … ! So, it’s okay for me to be here… … ! To begin with, I’m not serving anyone. If only I had my father’s permission… … It’s okay, it’s okay… … !”

Although she spoke in a rather strong tone, which was uncharacteristic of her, –

If you think about it carefully, that was correct.

She was just practicing magic at Jinor’s mansion and was not particularly a member of the Aishous Army.

The only person who can control her is her father, Jinor… … If Jinor had given permission, wouldn’t there be a reason to send her to Balharat Castle?

“… … Is that true? You’re not lying, right?”

“Of course… … ! I, uh, don’t lie or anything like that… … . No, of course, I… … I understand that it seems unsatisfactory, but… … .”

“No. It’s okay if it’s not a lie. then… … Please stay with us for the time being.”

“Do as Swen says, Reika. If we are by your side, at least you can stay safe.”

Only after hearing Airen’s words did the sadness on Reika’s face disappear.

“Swen… … Irene… … !”

While comforting Reika with Iren, thoughts of my old master once again came to mind.

Not Rin or Yuuri, but the only person who believed in me – Runarien.

There hasn’t been much news yet, but if she can return to Luna’s side in time for the moment she raises her arm –

Female knight Iren and wizard Reika.

Both of you will be of great help.

And then I took a good moment and proposed to Irene.

Afterwards… … If I propose to Reika too, will that work?

Since I still don’t know Reika’s true feelings, it felt a little premature to propose to her.

I was embarrassed that something like this happened while I was in the middle of marriage talks… …

Once you stay together, you’ll be able to get a feel for what to do.

Thus, we came under the control of Serpina, the Queen of the North.

From Iren’s perspective, he was the third lord, and from my perspective, he was the fourth lord.

* * *

“Well, I’ll come back soon.”

After Swen left the room, Irene sat on the sofa and thought.

He seemed to have said that Serpina would decide on a place for him as soon as possible, so he told him to live in a separate building for the time being.

It was a confinement, but it didn’t really matter because I was able to get by.

To be precise, it was okay.

The problem is… … I couldn’t ask Swen that question.

‘A story about self-talk… … ‘I couldn’t ask.’

I was also curious about the story about marriage with Reika.

What I was more curious about than that was… … It was about why Reika said things like ‘Iren was my first wife.’

She said, ‘After listening to Swen’s story, I couldn’t help but think that way’… … What on earth did you say that makes you say that?

‘Swen… … .’

To be his wife, not his colleague.

Irene had long since given up on the idea of meeting someone she loved and starting a family.

His job is to go to the battlefield and kill people with his sword. Being able to take someone’s life also meant that someone could have their life taken away from them.

Fearing that he might die leaving behind his beloved family, he swore that he would never love anyone in the first place, and lived a life devoted solely to his sword and his lord.

but.

Just thinking about becoming Swen’s wife made me feel excited.

I was very confused at first, but after thinking about it carefully.

If Swen wants… … I wanted to be his wife.

I wanted to have a child who looked like him.

I didn’t think life would be bad for a man who recognized me when no one else did, and who always relied on me and became my will.

Only then did she realize it again.

That you are doing something called love.

I can’t bring this up right now because I changed my master due to an unexpected situation and it became a mess… …

‘Next time… … ‘Let us ask.’

Around this time, Irene was having very girlish worries.

Reika’s concerns were a little more realistic than that.

‘First of all, I said the words… … ‘What should I do?’

Although I wasn’t lying about getting Jinor’s permission.

Still, wouldn’t I be worried if I didn’t contact you?

… … To be honest, he wasn’t someone I would worry too much about, but wasn’t there still a blessing in raising him?

‘I wonder if it would be a good idea to send a letter.’

If you tell me you’re staying with Swen… … It’ll be okay.

It seems like only yesterday that I couldn’t even go outside, but after meeting Swen, I felt like I was regaining my freedom.

If my father told me to come back right away… … ?

‘I’m scared because I’ve never done it before… … The comment to reject is also appropriate… … ‘I’ll have to think about it.’

Although she was very weak in appearance and behavior.

I did not want to have the freedom I once gained taken away again.

My magic teacher, who gave me this freedom as a gift –

-In front of a person with whom she still wants to spend more time, a woman becomes stronger than anyone else.