episode_0334

* * *

“How is it? Are you ready?”

“… … .”

Without answering, I grabbed her wrist as she reached for the wine glass on the table.

A subordinate general who dared to grab the wrist of the one who became the monarch, it would not have been strange if his head was blown off at any moment-

Instead of punishing me, Serpina just looked at me as if I were a drowning rat.

“No. Alcohol. We need to handle the situation first.”

“I know. I know, but… …I can’t make up my mind.”

After that, without me even asking, he started telling me his story very fluently.

“The name Eingart… … is too heavy. For the sake of those who rushed at the sight of this name, for the sake of those who entrusted their will and lives to this name, I absolutely must not break down… … At this rate, I am afraid that all the precious people around me, and eventually even I, will be eaten up by the name Eingart… … .”

――I don’t know what to do, Swen.

She had finally put everything down and was coming at me with only herself inside her.

Neither the princess of Eingart, nor the monarch of the Serpina army, nor the witch and tyrant feared by all, but Serpina herself.

… … Okay. Let’s admit it. This is what I wanted.

I wish she hadn’t had to carry everything alone. I wish she had shared some of the burden with me.

You must never push her away when she finally reaches out to you.

“Don’t worry.”

I spoke with deliberate force in my shoulders.

If I can be a pillar for her to lean on, even if it’s just a little bravado, I can brag about it as much as I want.

“Did you forget? I have the power of the mind’s eye. Even though the world has turned its back on Serpina so far, it can no longer turn its back on Serpina because I am here. You know that, don’t you?”

“Your mind can’t know everything… … .”

“But I know what I have to do to live and what I have to do to die. So, I will never die. And Serpina will never die.”

That’s a lie.

If I had been able to know what would kill me and what would save me, I wouldn’t have suffered this much.

But anyway, in the end, I guess I’ve chosen the right path to live somehow… … so I guess there’s no need to feel too guilty.

“… … Really?”

“Yes.”

“Swen, you won’t die? You won’t disappear from my side…?”

Although she may seem quite emotional now, Serpina was fundamentally a very rational woman.

Even though he may think he is just acting, humans are not capable of acting if their basic foundation is not firmly established.

To drive a wedge here, you can’t just say yes or no.

“Serpina.”

It seemed like the first time.

It’s so embarrassing to reveal my inner plans to someone else like this.

Still, it had to be that way now.

“The monarch I serve is not Serpina.”

“… … !!!”

“Still.”

I said, placing my hand on Serpina’s shoulder.

“I will not leave Serpina’s side. And I will not let Serpina be consumed by the name of Eingart. Only this is the truth.”

I had absolutely no intention of returning to the Lunalian Army unless Serpina’s safety was guaranteed.

“So, please believe me for now. If you believe me… …I will not leave Serpina-sama’s side no matter what happens.”

The moment I said those words, old memories came to mind.

The promise I made with Luna in the empty castle of Zeilant――If you believe me, I will give you the world.

Since it was a statement made after seeing the results, the promise may still be valid, but… … In the end, when I think about the fact that I cannot promise to give the world to Lady Serpina, I once again feel the fear of the fate predicted by the 100-year intelligence.

Serpina didn’t answer for a long time, just staring into my eyes like a child chasing clouds…

“… … Okay.”

――I’ll trust you, Swen. I trust you.

“Thank you.”

“Yeah… … .”

I held Serpina in my arms again and stroked her head and back.

It was not hard to feel that her trembling had stopped.

Taking a moment to catch her breath, she quickly assessed her current situation.

Still, it must have been quite shocking to see Jenna’s death, seeing her, who had been so strong, fall apart like this.

In fact, she consciously avoided mentioning other subordinate generals, but she often talked about Jenna. Was Jenna the one person among the few who would not betray her trust?

If I think about it, the fact that the inauguration ceremony was held for the former bookkeeper, Jenna, was not for me, but as a courtesy to her. I guess that means she is someone who cares and takes care of people.

It’s not that I don’t want to praise her for just standing there like that… … but she was in a position where she shouldn’t be.

“How about it? Can you do it? Serphina as a monarch… …in front of everyone, just like you have always done.”

Serpina took a deep breath without answering-

“With Swen’s help, I can do it. No, I will do it.”

“Okay. Then you will be my lord.”

I held Serpina’s hand tightly.

She didn’t refuse.

If others knew, they would be horrified. If they saw her speaking rudely to the monarch, grabbing his wrist tightly, and giving him orders that were almost like commands, her reputation would plummet from that of a cruel witch to that of a foolish tyrant who was controlled by one man.

Of course I had no intention of getting caught―but to be honest, I wouldn’t mind if I got caught.

At that time, all you had to do was show it.

――What does it mean to be manipulated by the will of a man with 100 IQ?

Whose choice was right will become clear in the future.

* * *

“You have come, my lord!”

As I climbed up the walls of the castle of Balharat, I was able to meet Iren, who was giving various orders from the control tower.

“Irene. You’ve worked hard. Please report the situation.”

“Ouch!”

Serpina had returned to her usual cold and indifferent tyrant self, Serpina von Eingart, as if her previous appearance of collapse had been a lie.

They say that everyone has their own mask, but it seems that it is inevitable to be surprised once again.

“It appears that eight warriors, including the lord Jenna, were killed. It seems that Mary was the one who led everything, and scouts have been dispatched to the surrounding territories. It was a decision I made on my own in a hurry, but-”

“That’s okay, Irene. Rather, I’d like to express my gratitude. If you’ve taken power while I’m away, I’d consider your will to be the same as hers. ”

“… … Yes, I understand.”

“What about the surrounding territories? Are there any territories that have joined?”

Irene shook her head at my words.

“Fortunately, it doesn’t seem to be happening yet… …We can’t rule out the possibility of them invading with soldiers. Even if we sortie now, it will definitely take a long time to lead soldiers from Valharat Castle to Eingart Castle.”

They didn’t have that many troops in the northern continent.

A situation where the rebels cannot gather a large number of troops, but can invade with a small number of troops if they wish.

If they were to forcibly conscript the people there, it would be a hassle in many ways.

“I… …and.”

at that time.

As Irene spoke with a serious expression, a blond handsome man with a pale expression was approaching from a distance.

It wasn’t hard to tell that the person was Irian. The problem was, had Irian ever made such a desperate expression?

“Irian. What’s wrong? You don’t look so good.”

Irian couldn’t even raise his head, and soon fell to his knees and banged his head on the floor.

“… … Please kill me, my lord.”

“I think it would be more helpful to calmly explain what’s going on rather than just saying something like that out of the blue.”

“… … .”

The one who continued the explanation was Irene, who was next to Irian.

“Based on the monarch the rebels enthroned, we can infer the force that led the rebellion.”

“Who is that?”

“This is Nathan Al Kaskey.”

……uh?

Nathan Al Kaski… … started a rebellion in the Al Kaski family?

Hearing that story, I felt like I knew why the rebellion had broken out at Eingart Castle, and why it had proceeded so smoothly.

And why is the Irian in front of me bowing his head like that and begging to be killed?

“They can no longer sit by and watch the reign of the false successor, Serpina, as the only remaining noble family.”

“Please explain the situation in detail.”

“Yes!”

From what Irene explains, it turns out that the one who started the rebellion was Nathan Al Kaski.

It seemed that he was the younger brother of Irian’s father, the current head of the Al Kaski family, and thus his uncle.

It seems that he had been living a leisurely life, taking care of only the necessities, but while his master, Irian, was away on a military expedition, he quickly seized hegemony, and after that, he quickly took over Eingart Castle based on the abilities of the Al Kaski family.

“Excuse me, Irian. I have a question.”

This time, it was me who opened my mouth.

“Please speak, sir.”

“If General Irene’s words are true, how on earth did my uncle seize control of the hegemony within the family? If you listen to the story, it seems like he’s more like an old man in the back room. Even if General Irian, the head of the family, were to leave, would the entire mansion be able to operate according to that man’s will?”

That wasn’t the only question.

Let’s say you somehow managed to get your hands on the family. But does that mean you’re going to start a rebellion?

No matter how many times I thought about it, it was a stupid decision. The asymmetrical power wizards were here, and the elite soldiers were all gathered here. If a rebellion was going to be suppressed no matter what, what could be more stupid than carrying it out?

“… … That is-”

Before Irian could finish speaking, a woman with a familiar face walked over from beyond.

A woman who could probably answer all my questions.

“Is it okay if I explain it to you?”