episode_0224

* * *

While I was on my way to the royal castle after carrying out Serpina’s orders, I was slowly sorting out my complicated thoughts.

The Lunarien army raised an army.

Luna, whom I had been waiting for so long, has once again appeared on the continent.

Since I promised her, of course I had to go back to her… … I couldn’t stop taking steps.

… … I couldn’t possibly tell Serpina that it was time to leave this place.

Serpina has been relying on me a lot lately. If you suddenly say to her, ‘I’ll just leave’… … There was a high possibility that it would cause significant damage to her mentality.

If I leave her side in this situation.

If I cruelly leave the side of the person who saved Irene, whom I cherish more than anything… … The shock she would receive might not be in the range I could have imagined.

Perhaps, he will arbitrarily hand over the throne to someone else… … In the worst case, there was a high possibility of making an extreme choice.

If Serpina steps down from the throne, the fate of the unified empire will belong solely to the person who inherits the throne. Since it has been verified twice, it is safe to say that this is an unquestionable fact.

After the assassination attempt occurred, it was not difficult to feel that she was relying heavily on me.

Not only did he call me more frequently, but he also seemed to maintain a fairly close relationship with the escort driver, Irene, even though it was a temporary job.

okay. There is one more thing that cannot be left out.

My leaving also meant that Iren and Reika, whose status within the country was rising these days, would also leave.

What I learned while staying in Serpina County –

In this place, there weren’t as many people on her side as she thought.

It wasn’t long ago that he was almost assassinated by a guard he had trusted so much in the first place.

Even if it is for Luna-sama’s sake, there is someone who truly wants to protect Serphina-sama’s life… … I thought that maybe I, an outsider, was the only one there.

For me, her survival was also a way to keep my promise to Luna.

Of course, there was also a way to leave without saying anything to her.

If I tell you that the most effective way is to prepare for war by deploying myself, Irene, and Miss Reika to the lower border, Serpina will probably listen to me without any doubt.

Then, I will be able to leisurely cross the border without any risk and return to Luna.

but.

Aside from everything else, as a human being, I couldn’t possibly choose that method.

Serpina, aside from being kind to me, was Irene’s lifesaver. How could he be so heartless when he couldn’t even repay him appropriately?

I didn’t want to do something cowardly in front of her. If you have to leave, wouldn’t it be the humane thing to do to tell her that you will leave?

There was a good reason for abandoning Rin. She continually attempted to end Iren’s life, and Irene was much more important to me than Rin.

In Yuuri’s case, it goes without saying. I didn’t abandon her, she unilaterally abandoned me. It was she, not me, who made the unprecedented decision to sell the Reaper. Well, I was planning on abandoning her someday anyway, so I didn’t really feel sorry for her.

And Serpina… … It was different from Lin. It was different from Yuuri too. She was the most outstanding and wise monarch I have ever met since Luna. He was a gentle and warm-hearted person who carried so much on his shoulders while wearing the armor of a tyrant.

You might say that morality is of no use in these difficult times, but I was too much a human being with modern sensibilities to casually abandon the woman who trusted and relied on me so much.

Even if it’s not necessarily a moral aspect, if you think about the shock Serpina will receive when I leave and the aftermath that shock will bring –

Rather, shouldn’t I leave this place, even for Luna’s sake?

no. In other words, isn’t this the way for Luna to take over the world?

Besides, if there are no problems, Jinor will come to Luna’s side. Perhaps Jinor would be more likely to be of help to her than me, who could only know the correct outcome.

So even without me… … Wouldn’t you be able to do well for a while?

It would be efficient if you could use your brain with 100 intelligence, but-

Aside from having to be asked questions, what kind of questions should be asked?

And even if the question was asked, it was unclear whether an answer would be given.

‘… … okay. Let’s stay here for the time being and observe the situation. At the very least, you should at least get some military service done before you leave. That would be the duty towards Serpina.’

At least that’s what I thought now.

* * *

“Thank you for your hard work today, Swen.”

As always, I bowed my head and answered Serpina’s words to me after she had finished her report.

The person I received from her today was carrying out the task of receiving reports and organizing the activities of the occupation forces spread across the northern continent, including Irian.

“I just did what I had to do, my lord.”

“… … .”

Serpina remained silent for a moment, then asked me in a cautious tone.

“Your face looks worried.”

“… … .”

“Well, it’s not my place to say anything to you.”

That was indeed the case.

On that day, after Kyle von Eingart announced to the public that he was alive… … Although the situation in the country has become a little chaotic.

Of course, that side was definitely a subsidiary, and Serpina was still the one with the noblest lineage… … Going from a ‘unique and noble being’ to ‘the most noble being among dogs’ was something that could not help but be a negative thing for her.

“What do you think?”

“… … Are you referring to Prince Kyle’s country?”

“Okay. Lunarien-kun.”

“… … .”

I close my eyes.

okay. Lunarien army. A nation founded by Luna, where I once worked, and destined to unify the continent.

From what I heard, it seemed like he was betraying the Karelia army he had been a part of.

Due to her experience ruling as a feudal lord in the first place, it seems that she was not completely without justification… … In any case, it must have been quite difficult for her with a strong and upright personality to make the decision to betray.

I answered as if nothing had happened.

“I still only have one territory. Even if Kyle von Eyngart is on that side, it is also the southern tip of the continent… … How about just watching for the time being?”

“Well, there is nothing I can do at leisure right now.”

It wasn’t our role to touch her.

It was the job of the surrounding Karelia County, Ohana County, Roland County, or Hesna County.

the problem is… … Since she was born with the destiny of unifying the continent, she probably won’t be destroyed because of those countries.

It’s probably going to be a success. It was not difficult, at least for me, to imagine her country overcoming seemingly impossible situations.

“Swen.”

“Please speak, my lord.”

“Can you tell me your story now?”

“Are you talking about me?”

“Didn’t you say it earlier? It seems like he has a face that looks worried.”

“Ah… … .”

“Tell her. If it is a problem that can be solved, I will take responsibility and solve it.”

I felt strangely comforted by those words, so I smiled and nodded.

“If it is something that you cannot solve, what are your intentions?”

“You’re saying that with a smile in front of a woman. Hehe… … Leave those worries aside. Because there is nothing that cannot be achieved in leisure.”

No matter how many times she heard me say, ‘My lord cannot become a unified monarch,’ from my own mouth, which I believed to be ‘absolutely telling the truth,’ she would say it with such a confident face.

He was a strong person. Serpina. I don’t know what you think.

“However, there is something I would like to ask of you.”

“What is it?”

Serpina opens her mouth in a very gentle tone, her golden eyes twinkling at me.

“Be your husband, Swen.”

“… … Yes?”

When I was surprised to hear something unexpected in a serious situation, she blushed as if it was funny.

The foolish thought that he looks like a childhood friend who enjoys joking around with me rather than a monarch of a country permeates me along with the scent of citron.

“Give yourself to her, Swen. If you do that, I will do everything for you. Your worries, anything else… … Everything.”

“… … My lord. That’s-”

“I won’t listen to your answer. I know I will be rejected anyway. I’m not the type of person to keep fighting unfavorable battles.”

After saying that, he smiled again as if it was fun.

“Still, I have no choice but to keep talking. I just feel so frustrated without expressing these feelings. I would be grateful if you thought of me as a childish fanatic of a woman who is sincere to you.”

He is such a lovely person even when he says such shameless things. she is.

However, I shouldn’t be taken in by the story just because it’s adorable.

Because I am someone who will leave someday.

“It is better not to give too much affection to a lowly person like me.”

“Is that advice from a strategist?”

“You can say so.”

Serpina stared at me, then slowly nodded.

“You are such a kind person, Swen.”

I tilt my head slightly at the unexpected words.

“Yes… … ?”

“Because I feel over and over again that you don’t want to hurt me.”

He doesn’t answer, just lowers his head.

My heart aches.

Hearing things like that… … Strangely, it stirs my heart.

“It’s okay.”

“… … ?”

“If you can be by my side in any form… … That’s enough.”

“So.”

“It’s okay if you don’t have to marry a woman.”

“If only I could stay by your side… … .”

The moment I heard you ask me to stay by your side.

Her sincerity comes to me.

The various appearances she shows pass by the corner of my eyes.

The moment when he took me to my brothers and sisters’ graves and worshiped with me, the emotions he felt when he opened his heart to me for the first time, and even the delicate expression on his face as he cried at me while lying on the bed… …

This feeling.

I felt like I knew how I felt now.

I am… … Serpina.

That woman who looks as if she could collapse at any moment, is left alone with everything, and despite knowing that she is destined to fail, she does not give up and struggles forward with hope.

… … I didn’t want to leave Serpina von Eyngart here alone and leave her side.

In addition to keeping my promise to Luna, I wanted to save that woman.

It was the first thought that occurred to me since I wanted to save Irene, who was living a lonely life without being recognized by anyone.

Anyway I-

Neither Luna nor Serpina could be abandoned.

And only then do you become fully aware of the current situation.

If nothing else happened, I was planning on going back to Luna at any time, but–

――Something out of the ordinary happened.