Just as I was getting used to life in the annex, Serpina visited my room for the first ti in a while.
"Welco, my lord."
Serpina didn’t respond imdiately. Instead, she looked at and spoke.
"Follow ."
"Right now?"
"Yes."
She gave a slow nod.
Her striking appearance, coupled with the deep citrus fragrance that lingered with her every movent, nearly made lose focus for a mont. I forced myself to regain composure.
"I'm about to make my next move. So, I thought it wouldn’t be a bad ti to test you."
"In that case…."
"We're resuming the invasion."
So soon?
She was already preparing for an aggressive campaign.
"Didn’t the Battle of Zelstrom Castle deplete our available forces? Are you planning to enlist rcenaries?"
"Yes. On top of that, reinforcents are expected to arrive soon."
Ah.
I quickly understood and nodded.
Of course—this was Serpina’s army, the greatest power on the northern continent after its conquests.
Even after expanding the frontlines this far, they still had the manpower to continue their campaigns?
But… was further conquest really the right move here?
Even just among the neighboring forces, they still had to contend with Brans Army and Aishus Army.
I hadn’t run a full prediction yet, but from a strategic standpoint, continuing the war didn’t seem like the best choice.
"What’s the matter?"
Serpina turned her head slightly as she walked, questioning my montary silence.
"Ah, it’s nothing. I’ll follow you."
I’d find out once we reached the royal castle.
For now, I simply followed behind her in silence.
*
One distinct feature of the royal castle in Hisphil was that about a quarter of it remained in ruins.
It seed to have ended up this way during the Brans Army’s conquest of the territory.
Renovations were currently underway, making the place sowhat chaotic, but despite that, the castle was still functional.
Upon arriving, I took a mont to observe the officers of Serpina’s army stationed in Hisphil.
Aside from Irian al Kasky, whom I encountered shortly after entering, I didn’t recognize a single face.
Serpina’s army had only one notable weakness in this ga—there were barely any S-rank generals.
The faction’s foundational strength was already so overwhelming that if they had too many elite officers capable of single-handedly turning the tide of battle, it would have broken the balance.
I understood the reasoning behind it, but I didn’t expect to see only unremarkable officers that I hadn’t even bothered rembering.
If I didn’t commit their nas to mory, it ant they were just filler units ant to bolster numbers.
One man, Yuan, who appeared to be the lord of the castle, seed vaguely familiar.
I probably ran into him a few tis in past battles while cycling through my playthroughs as a random ruler.
Then—
"Swen."
A soft voice called from behind .
"Lady Airen."
She smiled brightly upon seeing .
"You were summoned by our lord as well?"
"That’s right. And you, Lady Airen?"
She nodded.
"It seems she’s preparing for battle."
It was reassuring that both Airen and I weren’t being left to sit idle after being recruited.
Just as I was thinking that, the rhythmic sound of approaching footsteps echoed across the hall.
The sound of boots striking the ground.
A golden-haired sovereign walked toward us, each step exuding elegance.
Though graceful, there was a distinct contrast—the sound of her steps wasn’t the refined click of noble shoes but the heavy thud of military boots.
""Your Majesty.""
The mont Serpina reached the throne, the assembled officers all lowered their heads in unison, greeting her in a manner befitting a monarch.
The interesting part?
They referred to her as "Your Majesty" rather than my lord.
It seed Serpina von Eingart’s forces saw themselves as a higher order of governance, not just another warlord faction.
With a simple motion—raising her hand slightly—Serpina commanded silence.
"Listen well, all of you."
From her elevated position, she gazed down at us.
Even in a gesture as minor as this, the difference in status between us and her felt tangible.
"Before we move forward with our plans, I wish to hear your opinions. Speak freely on what you believe we should do next."
As soon as she finished speaking, a voice rang out.
This translation is the intellectual property of Novelight.
A young man’s voice—one I had heard before.
"I have sothing to say, my lord."
So here, they do use ‘my lord’ instead.
It made sense. Having observed Serpina for a few days, I got the impression that she wasn’t particularly fixated on formalities or honorifics.
"Speak."
The one who had spoken—Irian al Kasky—clenched his fist over his chest and declared,
"We must attack Zelstrom Castle once more."
"Zelstrom Castle?"
"Yes."
Zelstrom Castle had already repelled Serpina’s forces once before.
Epinnel and Emma had successfully defended it, a testant to their exceptional military prowess.
That had been a significant stroke of luck for Yuri.
Though that luck was now beginning to fade.
"Attacking a place we’ve already failed to conquer… I’m curious about your reasoning."
Well, in reality, if they had to continue their military campaigns, Zelstrom Castle was the only viable target.
"If we must continue our invasion, that is the only logical option."
Oh.
So he actually had a functioning brain.
I had assud he was insignificant since I didn’t recall his na, but maybe I had underestimated him.
"And why do you believe that?"
"Invading Brans Army’s territory is not an option—we’ve already determined that leaving them alone is the more efficient approach. Attacking Laccline Castle would only increase the number of enemy states bordering us. While we may be able to handle them one by one in isolated battles, the risk increases significantly if they decide to form an alliance.
Therefore, if we must seize new territory, Zelstrom Castle is the best choice."
His reasoning was exactly the sa as mine.
If we could obtain a castle without shedding blood—through negotiation, an exchange involving Anima, or so other ans—then targeting Laccline Castle might be preferable.
But since we were preparing for war, the answer changed.
If we were to continue our military campaign while avoiding direct confrontation with Brans Army, then Zelstrom Castle was the clear target.
Serpina then asked,
"Then—do you believe we can win?"
Right.
The problem was that, objectively speaking, we didn’t have the ans to break through Zelstrom Castle.
If we gathered every available soldier and launched a full-scale assault, it might be possible.
But would Brans Army simply sit back and watch while we made such a bold move?
Lyn Brans might be emotional, but she wasn’t stupid.
Even if we deployed rcenaries, if we couldn’t guarantee an overwhelming advantage, we would only be setting ourselves up for another failure.
At this point, I was curious to see what kind of strategy Irian had in mind.
So, I kept my mouth shut and waited.
But—
His response was beyond disappointing.
"I can do it, my lord."
Irian spoke with burning determination.
"I have lived my life solely to achieve military rit. I know this is a demanding request, but if you grant a sufficient force, I will reclaim the castle and bring you victory."
I had seen his type before.
Carlints had been exactly the sa.
The only difference was that Carlints had overestimated his actual abilities, whereas Irian…
Perhaps it was just his youth, but his confidence felt more like the product of montum rather than actual competence.
‘For soone who's still young myself, I sure sound arrogant thinking this.’
As I was mulling over my thoughts, Serpina spoke in a cold tone.
"Irian al Kasky. If you lose, then what?"
She continued,
"You do realize that if this battle ends in another defeat, we won’t be expanding our frontlines—we’ll have to contract them instead."
"Yes, but that doesn’t matter."
"You’re saying you have a foolproof way to win?"
"I will prove that Eingart’s soldiers never suffer defeat."
Irian’s voice was brimming with enthusiasm—
But the response that ca back was freezing cold.
"I did not ask for sothing that simply sounds good to your ears."
"…I apologize."
Serpina’s voice remained unwavering.
"Let ask again. What exactly is your guaranteed way to win?"
"……."
When Irian failed to answer, Serpina shifted her approach.
"Then let phrase it differently—if you lose, how will you take responsibility?"
"Then…"
Irian hesitated for a mont before steeling himself again and declaring—
"You may take my head."
"Is that so?"
Serpina’s lips curled slightly into a smirk.
I understood why.
That smile wasn’t one of approval toward his loyalty.
No, it carried sothing different—a distinct coldness.
"And what exactly do I gain from taking your head?"
"Th-That is…"
"Executing a failed commander might serve as a ans of personal venting. It could even be justified as an act of maintaining discipline.
But practically speaking, what would I actually gain?
I can already think of what I would lose, but I fail to see what I’d gain in return.
Surely you’re not about to argue that your execution holds more value than an entire territory, are you?"
"……."
A heavy silence fell over the chamber.
In truth, Luna was the outlier—anyone who gave it a little thought would realize Serpina was absolutely right.
Life was an important asset, but if one wished for their life to hold value, then they shouldn’t have been born into an era of chaos.
Serpina turned her gaze across the room.
"Let us hear from others. Speak freely."
Several opinions followed.
So suggested catching Brans Army off guard with an unexpected attack, but—
As had already been established, there was no need to take that proposal seriously.
Even so, Serpina listened attentively, responding to each suggestion with logical counterargunts just as she had done with Irian.
Even the most foolish ideas were not outright dismissed.
Observing this, I began to understand what she ant when she said she wanted to test .
‘Since I’ve joined her ranks, she wants to see how I act when given the freedom to move.’
In that case, perhaps it was ti to share my thoughts.
I wasn’t answering a direct question, nor was I running a prediction.
But if it were making the call, I had a fairly good idea of what should be done.
"Does anyone else have anything to add?"
At that mont, I slowly spoke up.
"My lord."
"Hm."
She turned her gaze toward .
The unfamiliarity of my presence in this chamber drew subtle glances from others, but I paid them no mind.
What mattered to wasn’t them—
It was Serpina’s gaze.
Unlike others, she didn’t offer any special treatnt.
Her eyes were cold, indifferent.
And if I wanted to change that—if I wanted to make those eyes acknowledge —
I needed to prove my worth.
"May I share my thoughts?"
"You need not ask. Speak freely."
If I were in Serpina’s position, I would simply—
"Halt our expansion into the central continent for now."
Her eyes narrowed slightly.
"What do you an?"
I nodded before answering.
"We should return to Eingart Castle and focus on internal affairs."
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