episode_0210

* * *

This memory is a piece of time that Luna always cherishes deep in her heart.

One day during the brief period of peace, I met Swen at Zeeland Castle, achieved some things that seemed impossible, and stayed with him.

“Swen!”

Passing through the throne room and going to the office on one side of the small royal castle, Swen, a handsome young white-haired man who was the first outsider to be recruited and the only intellect in the Lunarien army who took on the role of de facto national strategist, was holding a quill and drawing something.

“Are you here, my lord?”

“What were you doing now?”

“I was drawing a map.”

After hearing that, I slowly approached and took a look, and a map depicting the terrain around Zeeland Castle in quite detail caught my eye.

“Wow… … Swen, did you originally make maps?”

“It’s not like that, I just wandered around a lot.”

Although he had fairly clear skin for having traveled all over the continent, Luna never questioned his words.

I trust Swen.

Who would believe him, the only one who chose him, but himself?

In fact, after he came, Lunarien County began to become more vibrant.

Even so, Kane, who suddenly entrusted himself to my childhood friend Tifa, was a general who only did what he was told in a dazed manner the whole time… … As Swen continued to produce very convincing results, he seemed to have become quite motivated and was working more actively on internal affairs.

Honestly, the only thing that changed was Luna.

It was a very happy thing to be fortunate enough to occupy a small territory and display my own flag, but I was constantly faced with the harsh reality and was just waiting for the day to be conquered by the Brans army like the surrounding weak countries… … When he came, there was hope, because I felt like I might actually be able to do it.

All of this happened with the appearance of Swen.

So, Luna had no choice but to say that again.

“Swen is amazing, really.”

“… … .”

After hearing those words, Swen let go of the quill he was holding for a moment, then looked towards where Luna was and sighed briefly.

It may have been an inappropriate gesture for someone with a long life to make in front of the monarch of a country, but Luna was not the type of person to pay attention to such things.

“Master. I told you this last time, but… … Wouldn’t it be better to use informal language rather than formal language when you’re with me?”

“But I find it more comfortable this way.”

“It is important that the lord is comfortable, but in order to become the future monarch of a unified continent, it is necessary to show dignity to all subordinates. I am a subordinate general who is always used by Luna. It doesn’t look good to use polite language in front of me.”

“I know what you’re saying, but… … Our country is still small. When the time comes, I will try to speak informally as you said!”

“… … .”

Swen looks at Luna for a moment, then turns his head again.

Looking at that, a question suddenly came to mind.

“Swen. Is it okay if I ask you just one question?”

“Please speak, my lord.”

“Can I really become the monarch who will unify the continent?”

At those words, Swen’s hand gestures stopped again.

Then, he slowly turned his head and asked.

“What do you mean?”

“So, Swen always tells me, ‘You must have the dignity of a unified monarch,’ and ‘If you are a monarch who will unify the continent in the future, you should not be like this.’ That, that… … It’s a bit embarrassing for me to say it with my own mouth… … .”

Luna clinked her fingers together, lowered her head, and blushed.

“That… … In fact, from my perspective, our country has too many shortcomings to be considered a country capable of unifying the continent… … He is currently leading Zeeland Castle well, and he has continued to repel the Brans army… … Somehow, it seems like Swen is confident in those words.”

“Of course, as it is what Swen said, and as it is my wish, it does not mean that I do not believe in the will and possibility, but… … Something… … uh… … Ahaha, I can’t organize the words in my head… … .”

Luna herself knew it.

At least the fact that I am immature.

How many times did Tifa nag him that he was too soft-hearted to be a monarch?

but.

Swen continued to give instructions with the intention of becoming a ‘unification monarch’.

Although everything he had said so far was ultimately correct, Luna herself couldn’t help but wonder why she could trust her so much.

Especially for Luna, who has a sincere personality towards everyone.

When Swen heard those words, he looked beyond for a moment and then-

Soon he made eye contact with Luna and said.

“Well, there are certainly conditions for Luna to become a unified monarch.”

“What are the conditions?”

“I will be happy to tell you if you promise not to laugh after hearing it.”

Luna, who heard those words, waved her hands with a surprised expression and said.

“You’re laughing at me… … ! I-I… … No matter what Swen says, he never laughs… … !”

Swen looked serious for a moment as if preparing for something.

Soon, out of my mouth… …

“You can unconditionally follow what I say.”

Called.

“… … Yes?”

“So, just follow everything I tell you. Don’t question anything I ask you to do, and just do everything I tell you to do. Then, before you know it, you will naturally become a unified monarch.”

Luna stood blankly for a moment after hearing Swen’s very serious words… …

Soon, he smiles little by little.

“… … okay. As expected, I asked a very pointless question… … Of course, we have to follow Swen’s words and work hard. Me too. These questions are meaningless at all, but they are what the monarch said… … Did you answer appropriately? sorry. I was too short-thinking.”

“No. I don’t think I answered appropriately. I am very serious.”

“Swen, indeed. lol… … Still, I think I know what I did wrong.”

of course.

If you suddenly say, ‘You just have to follow everything I say,’ it will only sound like a joke to the listener.

So why was he joking?

From Luna’s perspective, if you think about it a little, you can easily figure it out.

To Swen, Luna’s question was like a completely meaningless question.

The question ‘Can I really do it?’ was ultimately no different from a foolish question.

So maybe Swen gave an appropriate answer to his own stupid question.

In the end, I had to realize that it was wrong to ask this question.

If you think about it, even at the moment when we first met, Swen had asked me to promise to give him infinite trust.

When I think about it, I felt like it made sense that he answered like that.

How much time has passed?

Swen sighed briefly again and said.

“I think you definitely need to be a little more cool-headed. A monarch of a country must be able to get his hands into dirty places. Sometimes you have to get dirty blood on your hands. Because noble ideals are not what make a monarch.”

“I… … Can you do it?”

” It’s not a matter of whether you can do it, it’s that you must be able to do it.”

“… … That’s kind of a difficult thing to say… … As expected, I thought again that it might be too much for me, so I feel sorry for no reason.”

As Luna looked sullen, Swen took a breather for a moment and then-

“… … But anyway, the master’s strength is his will that no matter what he does, he will not lose his noble ideals. If you do not change your mind, you will definitely be able to create the future of the continent you have dreamed of.”

“Swen… … .”

Luna, who heard what Swen said, lowered her head and blushed.

Sometimes, it feels like that person appeared before my eyes to fill me…

For some reason, I felt weird thinking that he was telling me something I really wanted to hear and something I really needed.

Swen didn’t say anything else, but turned his head again and scratched his head with his quill.

And then, with a passing remark-

“Don’t worry too much, my lord. There is no need to be impatient. No matter how poor and difficult the situation is now, if we get to the end, we will win.”

“… … !!”

In the end we win.

Strangely enough… … That sentence envelops Luna’s body like magic from a legend.

It even felt sacred, as if what he said would come true.

“So, don’t be discouraged. If nothing else happens, I will be by Luna’s side.”

That confidence full of confidence.

I feel a piece that did not exist in Lunarien County, but was absolutely necessary to realize my dream, twinkling before my eyes.

Luna responds with a bright smile to the man who now feels like he has become her trickster to the point where he can’t even think of anyone else.

“… … Yes!”

* * *

“I remember you saying that you have infinite trust in me. Was it really a lie?”

that’s right.

“I am not trying to be a scapegoat. As your subject, I simply chose the best move. You will definitely survive. And we will definitely meet again.”

Swen is waiting.

fateful day.

The very day he shouldered and sacrificed everything for us.

My trickster, the white-haired man who said he would put the world in my hands, saved himself and gave his body to Brans, who was alone, and gave his life just to protect himself.

“Lunarien. If you trust me, I will put the world in your hands in return.”

Beyond the realm of faith –

There wasn’t a single moment when Luna didn’t think about that man.

――And now.

‘wait for a sec… … .’

Only after listening to Tifa’s words was Luna able to recall the fundamental reason why she was in this position and objectively grasp the current situation.

A one-sided trust over Karelia’s opposition. A very high position: commander-in-chief of the invasion force.

As long as this position was in place, the Runarien were able to redeploy their forces as they pleased.

It was even possible to bring in additional supplies. Since the Commander-in-Chief is giving orders for war, it would be okay to not go up to the monarch line.

Of course, considering that Vanessa, who had a very strong influence within the country, was constantly keeping herself in check, there was a high possibility that even this authority would be fleeting.

okay.

Luna slowly spreads her hands and looks at them.

If only he made the decision to ‘hit after Karelia, who believed in him’――

――The fact that in these hands, an extremely well-located territory called Tepelo Castle, 93,000 troops, and supplies will be delivered.

Are you going to abandon faith and pursue practicality?

Or, will you never be the first to betray that trust even in difficult times?

Luna had a hunch.

No matter what decision you make, this choice is-

That it might change everything in the future.