episode_0221

“I am guessing that he is probably in Serpina County now… … I, too, have been living in seclusion recently, so I don’t know much about the details. In fact, they were sold as prisoners of war, so it is most likely that they are being held captive. I’m just sorry that I couldn’t be of help to you, my lord.”

Jinor deliberately said that Swen was being held captive by Serphina, so as not to irritate Luna.

I’m not sure, but for some reason I felt like I had to say that in front of Luna.

Luna, who had no idea what he meant, slowly nodded and composed her mind.

“No. Just that… … That’s enough.”

It was enough to know where Swen was now.

I see

Now, Swen-sama, Serpina-kun… … You are being detained.

In that case, I thought that the story Violet told might not have been nothing more than a rumor.

It was unclear what purpose she had exchanged Swen for the hostage.

But isn’t it obvious what a tyrant does?

It might be a momentary entertainment, a terrible and dirty hobby, or it might be that he covets Swen’s abilities and acts as he pleases.

Whatever it was, it was satisfying to know that he was still alive.

At that point, another question occurred to me.

Why was Swen in Acoustic County?

“I… … Do you mind if I ask you a few more questions?”

“Of course, my lord.”

“Swen, why… … Did you go to Aceers County? I definitely thought Swen would be in Brans County… … .”

Jinor smoothed his beard for a moment.

“I don’t know the situation completely, but… … .”

“I guess it’s okay. As I said, it’s okay to tell me as much as you know.”

“He betrayed the Brans army and defected to our army.”

“… … yes? Betrayal?”

“Yes.”

Swen betrayed you?

why?

No, in the first place, Swen’s betrayal would be different from his own betrayal of Karelia.

An arrogant woman like Lin didn’t have the ability to treat Swen seriously, and the fact that Swen was in Brans County in the first place was like taking Swen from my side by force in the first place.

However, was there a reason why you had to go to the extent of betrayal and go over to the Aishous army?

Strangely enough.

Strangely enough, I was very curious about ‘the reason why Swen betrayed’.

Was this the monarch’s intuition, or else――

“Perhaps… … Do you know why?”

――Was it a woman’s intuition?

“Yura Lee… … I’m not sure why Lord Swen himself betrayed me. Because he did not take refuge alone. To put it bluntly, it would be more accurate to say that I followed the person who betrayed me.”

“Yes? The words that followed… … ?”

“There was a female knight who took refuge with him.”

“… … Yes?”

When Luna heard that she was a female knight, her eyes began to turn cold again.

“As expected, I think he may have followed her. The two seemed to have a very special relationship.”

“… … ???”

uh?

A special relationship?

To the extent of even betraying them together?

The reason why I left Brans County and even betrayed myself to go to Aceus County… … Was it something like that?

Luna’s fingertips are getting cold.

Of course, it is not a story that is difficult to accept mentally.

Since it was done by Master Swen and not by anyone else, there must be a reason for it, and he also knew that he had no authority to say anything about whatever Swen did after he fell to the Brans Army.

Besides, wouldn’t betraying Brans be the same as saying that he would come back to me someday?

It didn’t matter who he met along the way.

That’s right, isn’t the relationship between Swen and himself like that of a warlord?

So, if you think about it rationally, it shouldn’t be such a shocking story… …

But why?

I am… … Why do I feel so depressed?

This was a different feeling from when I found out that Yuuri had sold out Swen.

For example, if the previous emotion was pure anger, what you feel now… … Rather than anger, it is a slightly deeper and more intimate emotion.

Although Luna herself did not notice what that feeling was, it was an extremely human feeling that anyone could easily pinpoint if they knew what she was focusing on the most.

That moment.

The woman’s senses began to send signals to her more fiercely than ever.

“I… … What is the female knight’s name?”

“He is a famous general. Your lord, you probably know Irene Juliette, who is known as a siege specialist, right?”

“!!!!!!”

Irene Juliette.

of course.

Of course I knew the name.

The moment when, with the fate of Zeeland Castle at stake, Swen went to negotiate diplomatic talks with Lin.

Because Irene was the leader of the Brans army that invaded our army.

however.

A female knight who seems to be very special to Swen.

The person who wanted to follow her even to the point of betrayal, why did it happen to be Irene who attacked our army?

There were a lot of things I didn’t understand, from start to finish, but there was one thing that bothered me the most.

Why… … Is it a girl?

why?

At this moment, it was her female self that was asserting itself more strongly than ever.

* * *

And, likewise.

Jinor, who sat across from her and told her the story and watched her changing attitude from moment to moment, was also able to make a decision close to 100% at this point.

Her expression and current attitude change every time she brings up the story about Swen.

When you put it all together, there is only one conclusion.

This person named Luna… … I have a special regard for Swen.

A monarch who cares about his subjects, more than that.

That’s probably why I was more agitated than necessary by his news and couldn’t hide my emotions like that in front of someone I was meeting for the first time.

‘… … I guess this isn’t the time to explain things straight.’

I don’t know what happened to them in the past, but there’s no need to scratch them and make a mess.

Jinor cleared his throat a few times and then carefully opened his mouth.

Let’s try to calm her down here first.

“But, it’s all just this old man’s guess, my lord.”

“Guess… … Are you talking about it?”

“That’s right. The only truth is that the two took refuge together. The rest is all speculation, so it would be better to think that unless you hear the story from him directly, you have no choice but to know what is the truth.”

Everything is just your guess –

That was the best Jinor could do.

In the first place, this woman… … The lord continued to refer to Swen as ‘Swen-sama.’

Rather than the feeling of a monarch calling a subject, it felt like a woman calling her husband.

I don’t know the details, but the story of women being jealous of their husband’s other wife wasn’t all that surprising.

Just in case, the correct answer was to bring up Iren’s story first instead of Reika’s.

Initially.

To gain her trust, he thought about hinting that Swen might become his son-in-law.

However, I was convinced by that reaction. Bringing up that story now would never be a good decision in terms of the military-lord relationship with her.

In the first place, it was just a situation where it might happen and nothing was confirmed, so there was nothing strange about not saying anything.

There is no need to provoke her here, so there is no need to mention that female… … There is no need to say more about Irene.

especially.

Something like the expression on Swen’s face when she looked at Irene… … I thought it would be best to hide it for life if possible.

As Jinor is a smart person, he understood the key points quite well.

Meanwhile, Luna’s ruby eyes shook after hearing Jinor’s words.

‘guess… … guess.’

okay.

If it’s just a guess.

No, even if it wasn’t a guess in the first place… … Isn’t that such an important story?

Since Master Swen’s words were always ultimately correct, there was a high possibility that there was something hidden in the story that he did not know about.

I guess you all have thoughts. It must all have a meaning… … Thinking like that, I was finally able to control my emotions.

Luna finally calmed down her trembling body, then lowered her head again and spoke.

“Ah, I… … sorry. Looking very disheveled… … I saw it.”

“No. As I said before, that’s okay, but… … Is it okay if this old man also presumptuously asks my lord a question?”

“Please tell me.”

“How did you meet Lord Swen?”

“Swen… … .”

Luna lowered her head and recalled the first time she met him.

He came to my side only after five visits, and whenever it was crucial, he always gave advice that no one else could think of, leading our military to the optimal path.

To Luna, Swen was a guide, a national advisor for our military, a reliable partner in state affairs, and a confidant she could trust more than anyone else… … and.

“… … Swen, you are the savior of my life.”

“A lifesaver?”

“That’s right. You may not know, but… … At one time, I was also one of the feudal lords who led a weak country in the western continent. If Swen wasn’t there… … There is a high possibility that I lost my life at the hands of Lin Brans.”

Jinor nodded without saying a word.

And then, finally, I realized why Swen had sent me here.

‘Then, Lord Swen’s final destination was this place.’

It is commonly known that Brans County, where he first distinguished himself, was his first commission.

Even before serving Rin, he was already serving the woman in front of him – Runarien.

That thought probably didn’t change even when I was a member of the Acious Army and even after my new recruit was handed over to Serpina.

After the story has come to an end to some extent.

“Then, let’s go first. Please call me anytime when it is time to give an order.”

“Okay. Thank you for choosing our military. … … And, thank you for telling us your story today.”

At those words, Jinor bowed down, looked directly into Luna’s eyes, and said.

“No. Please take care of me in the future, my lord.

In this way, Jinor appeared on the continent once again by being commissioned into the new Lunarien Army.

As she traveled around the continent, the plates that Swen had laid down slowly began to gather around her.