episode_0212

*

With just one word from Luna, everyone gathered in the throne room again.

However, this time the atmosphere was quite different.

Unlike when only a few people, including Violet, actively encouraged betrayal, this time everyone who understood the situation began to urge Luna to make a decision.

“Metz, I will gladly become Luna’s cause.”

“… … .”

“Same goes for us. Luna. Please make a decision!”

Luna closed her eyes and took stock of the current situation.

Clearly, it was a situation where justification came into play.

If you think about what Mets said, it is a clear justification that he would never have been able to get if he had just chosen ‘Sili’.

However.

When you look at it objectively… … Even if one claimed this as a justification, there was a possibility that it would not work.

The other person was none other than Vanessa. Perhaps, no matter how much the Mets insisted on the truth, he was the kind of person who had the power to crush it at any time.

Since Karelia has a lot of trust, manipulating public opinion would be much simpler.

This plan is not what Karelia plans to come up with.

Probably Vanessa. It was highly likely that he acted alone and without the approval of the monarch.

In conclusion, even if you stand up now and say it was unfair, in the end, you will have no choice but to bear the blame of being a traitor.

Luna’s plan was to wait for ‘an opportunity that seemed more certain.’

However, if things continued like this, there was a possibility that his life would be in danger before any further opportunity came.

Isn’t there any guarantee that such an ideal plan will come to fruition in the first place?

Even if I survive and somehow have to resign from the Karelian army, will I be able to secure this level of territory, troops, and supplies in another country?

However, in the end, it’s all just an excuse.

In the end, the option of betrayal does not change.

You might feel a little more at ease. There was also a plausible reason that since Vanessa had targeted him first, I would also betray him in self-defense.

Even so, doesn’t ultimately deciding to betray prove that Vanessa’s actions so far have been correct?

Here, the right answer might be to call the lord and talk honestly about the current situation.

As I thought before, Karelia couldn’t have come up with it herself, so I thought she would definitely take her side.

okay.

That was Luna’s decision.

Even in this situation, he did not betray, but honestly told Karelia about the current situation and resolved the problem.

If you didn’t ask for anyone’s opinion, you would probably have made this decision yourself.

no.

To be honest, Luna―― probably forgave Vanessa.

And, he must have taken on everything and sacrificed himself for Karelia, who believed in him. Not for yourself, but only for Karelia.

Other people might say I’m stupid and clueless, but… … Just like Karelia, Runarien was also a person who valued trust the most.

But Luna no longer thinks alone.

Beyond her thoughts, that man always followed like a shadow.

“It’s okay. Luna. Please trust me. I will definitely come back to see Luna again.”

He said.

I will definitely come to see you.

“Master! Be healthy! And, if the opportunity comes, don’t miss it! I will definitely return to your side!”

He said.

If an opportunity comes, never miss it.

Isn’t that man waiting for me?

So, in a situation where a justification was naturally thrown in, he couldn’t just stick to his own beliefs.

‘What on earth am I even thinking about now… … !’

Strike after Karelia?

Although there was a justification, it was not the duty of a subject.

It was Vanessa who created this situation. It was clear that if it was the Karelia he knew, he would not just let her go, no matter how much he trusted Vanessa.

The reason Karelia handed over this position to me was because she trusted me so much.

This was even more so considering that she had even rejected the advice of her favorite, Vanessa.

Since he was betraying that trust, he might not even have the right to point a finger at Serpina anymore.

but.

‘Swen sacrificed himself for me… … .’

What is the use of just waiting and continuing to argue for a cause in front of someone who has put it into practice?

When Brans’s military uniform was like a candle in the wind as it attacked Zeeland Castle.

He saved his own life and the lives of his colleagues, taking on everything and sacrificing himself.

At this point, Luna had to seize this opportunity.

This is the opportunity that Swen spoke of so much.

You promised you would never miss it.

“The monarch of a country must be able to stretch his hands into dirty places. Sometimes you have to get dirty blood on your hands.”

‘okay. After going through something like this, the answer is not to just keep saying the right things… … !!’

Cecil was like that too.

Karelia’s temperament was so kind and gentle that sometimes it made me worry.

In order to become a better monarch than the woman he currently serves, he had to take advantage of her strengths but exclude her weaknesses.

Do not be overly swayed by one subordinate general.

And keep meaningful and high ideals in your heart until the last moment.

In the process, no matter how much she claimed her innocence, she would eventually have to face the stigma of being called a ‘cowardly woman who stabbed her lord who firmly believed in her’ – something Luna herself had to endure.

Just like Swen sacrificed herself for us.

In the first place, how could someone else’s reputation be so carelessly put on display in front of someone who willingly gave up his own life?

Only then did I realize it.

The fact that at the moment of choice, you may have run away hiding behind the words ‘the right and most efficient way.’

Such a method may definitely exist. But Luna was not Swen. What you expect him to say is bound to be different from what he actually says.

Well, at least I shouldn’t have made him wait any longer.

In Brans County, or as rumored, in Aceas County, and now in Serpina County, maybe somewhere else… … The one who continues to wait for him.

After thinking about that, I felt like my confused mind and slightly trembling body had calmed down.

Mr. Swen.

I am always indebted to you.

Even when you have to make a decision, even when you have to overcome each day, everything… … Thanks to you, I was able to come this far.

therefore.

I can’t make you wait any longer.

I can’t break my promise to you.

I want to meet you again as soon as possible.

I want to share important stories. Like those days, I wish we could talk openly about many things.

Not just about running the government, but other things as well. Once again, I want to dream and create a future with you.

I believe that if you stay by my side, I will be able to build the country I dreamed of, where everyone is happy.

My one and only bookkeeper in this world, my Swen.

I’ll keep waiting. Because I’ll be waiting…

“Everyone.”

By hearing her voice slightly lower than her usual tone –

Although others may not know, Tifa, who had been with her for a long time, could sense it intuitively.

Luna finally made a sort of ‘resolution’.

“First of all, I will try to bring as much supplies as possible to my lord. If you are of the opinion that it is for war, you will be able to gather enough people without rejecting them. As soon as the soldiers arrive, we will summon you all again, so I would appreciate it if you could all gather here. and… … Please be careful to ensure that what we talked about today never leaks out of this place.”

“Luna. Those words couldn’t be… … ?”

“Yes.”

In response to Kane’s question, Luna nodded and said.

“After the troops are deployed to the castle, after stockpiling as much supplies as possible, when the invasion order is given.”

Luna’s red ruby eyes began to burn brightly, as if swallowing the sun.

What is contained within it is the will to become a unified monarch even if it means being covered with a dirty stigma. belief. And, a deep longing and sticky feeling for someone.

“I, Lunarien, will raise the flag of the Lunarien army once more.”

――Do you really have to come back to me?

Her obsessive vow, which she endured over and over again for several months… …

It was making her endure everything and move.

* * *

After that day.

The first thing Luna did after making up her mind was to ask for supplies. Since he would be dealing with multiple territories alone at the same time, the logic was that he needed sufficient resources.

Because the logic was not that strange, Karelia was sending plenty of gold and military supplies to Tepelo Castle without any suspicion.

Materials stored up during the long period of time without war.

It was a huge amount, enough to fight with such a large army for several months.

And again a few weeks later.

Finally, as planned, about 90,000 troops along with several generals entered Tepelo Castle.

“Gail Arend, meet the Holy Lord.”

“Seria Jail, meet the Lord of Seong.”

“Sorry for being late. Müggendorf, meet the Lord of the Castle.”

Luna stood up and welcomed the three generals who arrived together.

“Welcome, General Gail. General Seria. General Mugendorf. Thank you for your hard work on the long road. In the future war, I may have some shortcomings as commander-in-chief, but I ask for your help.”

“Would it be possible? On the battlefield, I will fight thinking that the Lord of Seong is my lord. Just give instructions. I will definitely win.”

“It is very reassuring to hear you say that.”

Luna smiled brightly, then turned her head to the side and asked.

“Mets. Is the banquet I mentioned ready?”

“Ready.”

“It’s a banquet, so you don’t have to prepare anything like that… … .”

Luna answered Gail’s words with a smile.

“You guys came a long way, right? It is very important to relieve body fatigue before going to war. The soldiers must have all been nervous, so I hope you get some rest today.”

“If that’s what you say… … .”

Certainly, as a general, it would have been more important to give the soldiers a day off in order to maintain their morale rather than just making a fuss.

For the Karelian military, it was the first real battle in a very long time.

“Now, now. All three of you, please come this way.”

So, after the three generals followed Metz to the banquet hall-

Francis came quietly next to her and asked.

“Luna. Can we proceed as planned?”

“… … Please do me a favor.”

Hearing Luna’s firm voice, Francis felt it again.

Now something really, irreversible is about to happen.