episode_0115

* * *

A few days later.

Iren knelt down towards Serpina who came to the room.

Serpina looked down at her indifferently and spoke without any signs of embarrassment.

“I heard the general story from Swen. Did you say you wanted to serve me?”

“Yes, Serpina.”

Iren responded and briefly looked at Serphina’s face.

He is a really pretty person.

At least, it is no exaggeration to say that Irene is the most beautiful of all the women she has met.

I thought Lin Brans, whom I had served before, was quite a beauty, but compared to Serpina in front of me, she was nothing more than a pale girl.

“Irene Juliette… … A red-haired female knight, siege warfare specialist. It’s a name I’ve heard of before. It would definitely be of great help if someone as talented as you could help me. I can give you a pass without even asking about your skills.”

“It is a humble reputation, but I am honored to be recognized.”

“Just.”

Serpina spoke in a rather cold voice.

“I heard that the Brans army betrayed and handed over the entire fortress to the Aethus army. As a result, this time, you will be betraying Acious-kun and your master, Yuuri.”

“… … .”

“Of course, Irene. I am not blaming you for opening. In this difficult time, all the monarchs other than this body will ultimately be nothing more than warlords, so it would be ridiculous to place great importance on serving them. However, I am curious about the reason behind the decision to betray twice.”

Irene thinks for a moment, then looks into Serphina’s eyes.

There was no hint of any dark energy in his eyes that was trying to make trouble for him.

Irene was a person who knew better than anyone else how a person who harbored hatred looked at her.

Because I have always lived with those looks on my whole body.

Then here… … Rather than just making things up, it would be better to be honest.

Irene carefully lifted her pink lips.

“I was abandoned by my first lord, Lin. The second lord, Yuuri, abandoned Swen. If you say it’s betrayal, I have nothing to say, but I just think I can no longer serve someone who easily abandons them. And.”

“And?”

“When I was abandoned, Swen willingly bore the stigma of a traitor with me. This time, it’s my turn to dive headfirst into that stigma for the one who was abandoned. I just think so, I have no particular intention.”

Serpina smiled slightly after hearing those words.

A spoonful of thought occurred to me that that person also changes his expression sometimes.

A thought ran through Irene’s mind as to how she could have such a charm that could lead people even though she was just smiling.

Even if the same woman sees it… … His appearance was so outstanding that it could not be faulted.

“I do not hate those who keep their own beliefs even if no one understands them like you.”

Then, he solemnly extended his white hand towards Iren, who was kneeling.

“Irene Juliette, I look forward to your active service for our military from this moment on.”

“Yes!”

So, after telling her to stay here until further instructions, I turned my back to Serpina –

“Um, over there… … !”

“… … ?”

Reika, who was in the corner, carefully raised her hand and asked her a question.

Of course, what I meant was ‘I asked a question,’ but I was so stuttering that I couldn’t even say it properly.

“That, that, that, that’s why!! That, that, that, that… … Three, three, three, three, Serpina… … ! Well, I mean, hahaha, ha, I have something to say, no, I have something to say… … !”

“… … .”

Serpina slowly approached her without saying a word.

“Hi Iik… … !”

The closer she got, the more Reika naturally flinched.

It would be appropriate to say that it is like a mouse with a cat in front of it.

“Calm down. Because I won’t eat you.”

“Ah, that, that, that… … !”

While I was even more embarrassed by Serpina’s words and didn’t know what to do.

“Reika.”

Irene came next to me and touched my body, and only then did I take a few deep breaths and open my mouth again.

“… … I… … That’s the letter… … I wanted to send it… … !”

“A letter?”

“Yes! That, that, that… … Father, to… … The letter… … I’d like to send it to you, but where… … .”

In my head, I was thinking, ‘I want to deliver a letter to my father, but since it’s my first time here, I’m not sure where the facility that handles letters is or where it is. If you don’t mind, could you tell me where to go?’ I had set the question well, but I was so overwhelmed by Serpina’s aura that I couldn’t speak properly.

Perhaps I should say it was fortunate, but Serpina spoke in a grave tone without paying much attention.

“Bring it.”

“Eh, yes, yes… … ?”

“I told him to bring the letter to me.”

“Ah! Now, now, just wait a moment… … Wait, Lord, Seyo!”

ah.

I bit my tongue.

Even though I was struggling after that, I was somehow able to deliver the letter I had written to Serpina.

“Let me pass this on to you. It’ll be okay, right?

“Yes? Well, there’s no need for that… … .”

“That’s it. This isn’t particularly favorable.”

“Ah… … Thank you… … C.”

Nod.

Toward Reika who greeted her, Serpina asked a question this time.

“You look surprised.”

“… … yes? Oh, me, me?”

“Yes.”

“… … .”

Reika looked like she was wondering whether she should say this or not, but-

For some reason, I felt like it would be okay to say something, so I cautiously opened my mouth.

“That… … Serpina, what I heard is a little different… Because I think it’s someone else.”

“Ho?”

“That’s right! that… … I’m not saying anything at all… Oh, I heard that your father is a very scary person… … So, that is.”

“I see. Are you holding a letter to your father, who describes me as a devil?”

“Yes? Oh, that, that, that’s not it… … ! Well, I mean, the devil, it’s not the same thing… … !!”

Foot.

By slightly letting out that sound, Serpina raised the corners of her mouth and said.

“No matter what people around me say, it’s none of my business. If you can’t overcome that level of rumor, you’re not worthy of wearing the crown.”

After saying that, he briefly showed me the letter –

“I will definitely deliver it to you, so you don’t have to worry.”

With those last words, he quietly left the room.

Iren and Reika looked for a while towards the door where Serpina left.

Just like them, a human named Serpina… … I was thinking that he might be a slightly different person than the well-known rumors.

* * *

Balharat Castle, Nighthard Mansion.

After Reika, who he always stayed with, left, Jinor wasted time in the somewhat lonely mansion for the first time in a while.

Anima is back.

There was no such thing as a touching reunion.

Anima, who learned that Yuuri had sold Swen to save herself, mercilessly criticized her, asking if she was out of her mind.

As she was the most intelligent person in Aishus County, she would have properly understood the impact this would have.

However.

The founding public figures, including Epinel, were mediating between the two, and Anima’s misjudgment was the critical reason why things ended up like this, so it seemed to have entered a lull now.

Maybe he will accept it in the end. Because they are ultimately destined to face the moment of death together.

And starting from that time-

*

“Are you going to quit your job as a national secretary?”

“Yes.”

Jinor said, bowing his head towards Yuuri.

“As I get older, my brain is no longer as sharp. Now I want to spend my time quietly writing a book. Please allow the old man’s last foolish moment.”

“But, without you, Jinor-”

“Isn’t Anima there?”

Jinor said with a kind smile.

“If you are Anima, I too will be able to leave this place with peace of mind.”

*

Jinor resigned from his position as national officer.

Since my heart was gone from Atious County, there was no reason to use my wisdom to revive this place.

Yuuri seemed very nervous, but it wasn’t like she could force him to do something.

Immediately after hearing the news of Irene’s departure, about 20,000 soldiers left the army.

If he wanted to impose a punishment, he could, but if he did so, the public sentiment of the territory’s residents would be shattered, so it would be impossible for Yuuri to do anything.

It’s probably going to be overwhelming just to sort this out.

The fire did not spread as much as expected due to Epinel’s logic, but it did not mean that there was no damage at all.

Sooner or later, a few military officers won’t leave her side.

In any case, these were the things Yuuri had to bear in return for saving Anima.

at that time.

“Me, Jinor.”

A maid came to the study where Jinor was staying.

“What’s going on?”

“A letter has arrived.”

“A letter?”

“Yes. that is… … To Lady Reika.”

As expected, you were safe.

I thought that would be the case, but I definitely felt relieved to hear this news.

I just discovered his talent as a wizard and brought him here, but it seems like he felt affection for me.

I checked the contents of the letter, thinking that I, too, had grown old.

To summarize, the contents were as follows.

[I am doing well and in good health.

We plan to take action together with Swen and Irene.

Don’t worry, I want to stay with them like this, so I hope they will allow it.]

‘Permission.’

Allow me to sleep.

Isn’t this exactly Jinor’s plan?

Anyway, it seemed like I was in a better situation than I thought, as long as I could send a letter here.

Even if Serpina wants Swen, she doesn’t want to go against his wishes.

If so, it would be okay to ask.

Jinor immediately wrote a reply.

It was more like sending it to Swen than to her daughter, Reika.

* * *

A few days have passed since I entered Serpina County.

She seemed to be busy managing the situation around the front lines, including Hispil Castle.

He said he would call me soon, so I was having some free time for the first time in a while while waiting for him to be called.

Knock knock.

I heard a knock on the door, and opened it, wondering if it was Serpina.

“Ah, hello… … Swen… … !”

“Mr. Reika?”

The guest who came to the room was Reika.

I sat her down on the sofa and brought out some light refreshments.

“Thank you… … !”

“No. This is all I have to give you. It would have been nice if I could at least make tea for you. Rather than that, isn’t Reika eating the same thing?”

“Yes? what… … That’s right, but this is something that Swen gave me… … Yum.”

Since we live in the same outbuilding, of course we will be eating the same refreshments.

Reika said that and forgot her snack.

It looked so cute that I watched it for a bit and then asked a question.

“What’s going on?”

“Ah! that is… … Well, a letter arrived.”

“A letter?”

Nod.

After listening to the story, it seemed like he had a written conversation with Jinor.

It seemed okay up to that point, but it seemed like there was some text that needed to be shown to me.

“To me?”

“Yes. I guess my father… … I thought you wanted to ask Swen a question.”

I wondered if it was about self-talk, but if that was the case, wouldn’t Reika have been embarrassed to make it easier to understand?

“I understand. What kind of question is this?”

“Ah, here… … !”

I accepted the letter she handed me.

Most of the contents of the letter were urging Reika to behave modestly towards Swen, and therefore towards me.

As I skimmed through that part, there was a phrase written at the end that clearly seemed to ask a question to me.

[Is the lord you will serve Serpina?]

‘Hoo.’

Should I say that my intelligence is 99?

Jinor was truly an intelligent old man.