episode_0234

*

“… … Ah.”

With the sunlight hitting my eyes, I slowly regain my senses.

It’s a bed. I am… … was lying in bed.

This scene feels vaguely familiar.

“Are you awake?”

By hearing Serpina’s voice in my ears, I was able to understand the situation without difficulty.

… … It looks like he took off his coat and fell asleep.

The last thing I remembered was the scene where I continued to drink alcohol with her, so it was not difficult to guess why this situation had come about.

Well, it’s not the first time, it’s the second time.

This place also looks familiar.

It was the bedroom where she sleeps.

I got up and looked around, and sure enough.

Serpina was indeed wearing clothes appropriate for the bedroom space.

For a monarch, she never wears flashy dresses and always wears military uniforms that officers would wear, but… … In the bedroom, such a feminine negligee is worn.

“I’m sorry, my lord. I’ve lost my debt again.”

“Hehehe… … .”

“?”

I tilted my head towards Serpina, who was smiling as if she was happy when she saw me who had just woken up.

“When he first came here, he was very embarrassed and said he would take responsibility, but now he talks casually. Swen, you too are worn out.”

“… … Well, didn’t you do something that deserves responsibility?”

“If you did?”

“It’s probably a lie.”

Even if the film is cut off, you can roughly tell what happened based on my clothes, her clothes, the situation on the bed, etc.

She laughs again, as if she finds my reaction amusing. What is so enjoyable?

“Well, if I did something I should be responsible for, of course I would take responsibility… … .”

“It’s okay, you don’t have to worry. Because you quietly fell asleep.”

“Did your lord help me?”

“That’s right. It was like that that day too.”

“… … .”

I might be weaker at alcohol than I thought.

Or maybe that sweet alcohol has a higher alcohol content than you think.

Actually, it wasn’t until I met Serpina that I started drinking a little, and when I was staying with Irene, I drank more tea than alcohol.

“Swen.”

“Please speak, my lord.”

“If you’re not good at drinking and you’re hanging out with a woman… … From next time, it’s okay not to overdo it.”

I suddenly wondered what was going on, but soon realized that it was a story worth telling.

This is already the second time I’ve passed out and spent time in her bedroom.

“No. it’s okay. Rather, I just feel sorry. I feel like I keep stepping into places I shouldn’t… … .”

“Oh my. Of course, it is a space where no one should enter… … .”

Serpina put the tip of her white finger to her lips.

“If it’s you, it’s not a place you shouldn’t set foot in.”

“… … .”

As soon as I heard those words, I felt my face getting hot for no reason, so I looked away and looked the other way.

“So what do you think?”

“What are you talking about?”

“The life of a man who faces a woman’s face as soon as he wakes up..”

“… … .”

Serpina smiles brightly as if this whole situation is fun.

I feel like a fool for being able to say something like that so brazenly without even changing her expression, which is very characteristic of her.

“It’s probably a very sad thing. It’s funny to say it directly from a woman’s mouth, but there’s something I’ve heard so many times since I was a child.”

“Are you talking about what I heard?”

“These are ridiculous stories about the color off-white.”

iced coffee.

I understood. Because she was pretty. Honestly, it was clear that no aesthetic person would be able to ignore that face.

Golden hair that looks like it was made out of a wheat field, golden eyes that shine brighter than the heart, facial features that are exactly where they should be without anything missing, and even large breasts and pelvis that remind one of a woman who has given birth easily.

Because I usually stayed with Irene, she was also a formidable size. So much so that the negligee cannot cover it all. Probably slightly taller than Reika.

I thought that people who are more sensitive to body proportions than to big breasts would prefer Serpina over Irene.

Which one am I… … I was of the opinion that the bigger the better.

I don’t know if this expression is correct, but to modern people’s senses, it feels like looking at a well-sculpted figure of a beautiful girl. It’s also 1:1, with the added softness that truly replicates the feel of skin.

“Even though I look like this, I am confident in my face. Because I’ve been sick of hearing it since I was young. Even the maids used to praise my appearance. Unless you’re a fool, you can’t help but know that I was born beautiful to some extent.”

She said that and approached me with an alluring smile.

“What do you think, Swen? Isn’t it a pity that you didn’t have an accident? If you muster the courage to take just one step… … As a man, I would naturally be moved by the thought that I might be able to embrace this body. It’s okay to be honest, so tell it. Don’t you want to come over?”

Just as she walks slowly, my heart shakes a little… … A completely blasphemous thought crosses my mind: “Maybe I’m not wearing a bra?”

If I didn’t know anything about her, I might have been so entranced by that off-white color that I wouldn’t have said anything.

“Well, Serpina is definitely beautiful.”

Without even worrying about what to say.

I just brought up the story that came into my head.

“If I had fallen for Serpina, I don’t think I would have fallen for Serpina’s pale face.”

“… … ?”

“Maybe you thought you wanted to protect Serpina by her side?”

“What… … ?”

Perhaps because my answer was unexpected, her expression, which had always seemed relaxed, wavered slightly.

“Serpina, you are carrying so many things on your shoulders. So, if I had fallen for Serpina… … I think I would like to share that burden more than anything else.”

What I felt most desperately after coming to Serpina County was-

The point was that no one existed next to Serpina.

On the outside, she was the absolute ruler and tyrant of Serpina County, the successor state that ruled the northern continent and continued the legacy of the former unified empire.

A warlike person who cannot place anyone over him, and who rather enjoys solitude.

However, rather than enjoying solitude, Serpina, whom I observed, was an extremely lonely person.

Perhaps it was because I was extremely lonely that I was able to share that embrace with outsiders.

Because I was extremely lonely… … I think it could have given people like Iren and me faith.

No matter how long someone has worked, those things mean nothing to her. In the end, it felt like there was no one who would remain by her side until the end.

A relationship between a monarch and a subject, where the sword can be pointed at oneself at any time.

So, if.

If I wanted to cross the line with Serpina, I would definitely have wanted to share her burden somehow.

Serpina looked into my eyes in silence for a while, slightly surprised –

Then he turns his face slightly to the side and speaks.

“You… … I see.”

“?”

“You are the kind of person who shakes people’s hearts with an expression that seems like nothing is wrong. You.”

After saying that, he slightly makes eye contact with me.

Is it because of my mood? My face seems to be slightly red.

“Did you talk to Irene that way too?”

“… … Yes?”

Suddenly?

“Otherwise, I wouldn’t be able to explain the way Irene’s eyes looked at you. You must have whispered sweet words like that, right? You’re quite shameless, too, Swen.”

“… … I don’t really understand the point of the conversation.”

“… … .”

It looks like he wants to say something, but doesn’t open his mouth.

I didn’t bother to urge her either. In the first place, it was ridiculous for a subject to urge the monarch.

After a while, we just looked at each other in silence.

“… … I guess I should leave soon. If we stay too long and a rumor spreads that you and I were gone at the same time, we’ll be in a lot of trouble.”

“If it’s a rumor, isn’t it already out there? What matters is the truth.”

She smiles again at my words.

“Okay… … I think so too, Swen. Still, I don’t want to upset Iren.”

Irene’s story came up again.

Surprisingly, Iren’s existence means quite a lot to Serpina, right?

anyway.

Waking up to the sound of birds, smelling the scent of citron wafting through this room, seeing Serpina in a slightly see-through negligee as soon as I wake up, and having this nonsense chat with her… … I quite liked it.

“Go out first. I will follow you slowly.”

“Okay.”

I lightly packed my clothes and left her room.

Even as I walked down the hallway, I could feel the citron scent from her body continuing to follow me.

* * *

“… … .”

After Swen left the bedroom.

Serpina sat down to the point where her words that she would get ready and leave were meaningless, and did nothing, just lowered her head and looked at the floor.

‘Swen… … .’

Excited, Excited.

My heart was beating like it was going to burst.

Serpina smoothed her forehead with her hand. It was hot. Both cheeks are also very hot. She didn’t know it, but her face was already redder than blush.

“Serpina, you are carrying so many things on your shoulders. So, if I had fallen for Serpina… … I think I would like to share that burden more than anything else.”

‘Why are you… … You can say that without even changing your expression… … ?’

You might laugh at me, but I was confident in my appearance, so I wanted to shake Swen’s heart somehow.

In fact, it was she herself whose heart was constantly shaken.

At first, I was interested in the fact that he was the man in my dreams.

Later, I was captivated by his amazing advice.

When I had the power of ‘mind’s eye’, I wanted him more than ever. It may not be 100% true, but his feelings would have been closer to those of a monarch anyway.

However, at some point, he found himself truly envious of Irene, a woman who was merely his subject-

And just by talking to the man… … I feel confident that I will explode at any moment.

I felt terribly lonely.

Although it was his own will, not someone else’s, that he willingly decided to become a tyrant, carrying a yoke that he could not tell anyone about.

The faces of the dead Sidmid and Argot came to mind again and again as the people he had trusted so much turned to stare at him one by one and pointed the tips of their swords.

Still, I couldn’t say that I was lonely. Because I decided to live the life of Serpina von Eingart, not Serpina.

And then I realize.

When I was in front of Swen… … More than at any other moment, I wanted to become Serpina herself.

The name of the monarch or Eingart. I wanted to stay by his side as my complete self, removing everything else.

This feeling.

It was not a very efficient emotion for a monarch who was supposed to lead a country to have.

‘… … .’

Serpina takes the pillow that Swen was lying on, opens her arms and hugs it tightly.

I can feel his scent. It was nice to feel like he was next to me.

Just a little longer, I wanted him to invade my world. I am still hoping that you will come one step closer to me.

Only then did I realize it.

The reason I want him so intensely is not only because he is a magician with the mind’s eye, but also-

Maybe the reason isn’t that important.

Her life so far has been one of continuously running forward with the only goal being to become a king who can unify the continent.

However, she has a slightly different dream there.

I want to stand side by side with Swen.

No matter what happens, I want to do that… … It was something to think about.

* * *

And after a few days.

Aceers-kun has finally begun to move in earnest.