Serpina gazed at with her usual composed expression and spoke first.
"I apologize for making you travel such a long way every ti."
"It’s nothing. I don’t have any particular assignnts at the mont, after all."
Eingart Castle’s administrative system was running smoothly without any issues.
That, in all likelihood, ant that my low administrative stats had been recognized, and there was no need to force into a position where I wouldn’t be of much help.
"Besides, it is the command of my lord. Even if I had work to do, it would be only proper in a lord-subject relationship to abandon everything and co at once, would it not?"
"I don’t particularly enjoy blatant flattery, but today, I shall allow it."
She spoke with a slight curve of her lips, her eyes fixed on .
She was beautiful.
Every feature on her face seed to have been perfectly placed, as if designed solely to embody beauty itself.
What did it an for Serpina to live in an era like this?
Would she be grateful that she was being recognized for her abilities, rather than just [N O V E L I G H T] her looks?
It was a foolish thought, but—she was so stunning that it made think that way.
In a peaceful world, her beauty alone would have overshadowed everything else about her.
And yet, despite the subtle, unsettling aura she carried—
At so point, I had begun exchanging lighthearted banter with her.
Thinking back now, it was almost difficult to understand how she had gained a reputation as a tyrant.
Out of all the rulers I had encountered, she was the most rational.
She treated her subordinates with genuine sincerity.
Of course, she was severe when it ca to rewarding rit and punishing failure.
She was utterly unforgiving toward traitors.
I had also heard rumors about her brutality during the unification of the North, but...
Compared to Lyn Brans, who was so stubborn that she ruined everything herself, or Baranga Yuri Aishus, who was so attached to her founding retainers that she let them control her—
Serpina’s flaws hardly even seed like flaws.
The nations I had worked for before were all hopeless cases.
It wasn’t hard to believe my prediction that none of them could achieve unification.
But why was Serpina destined to fail?
Why was it that Lunarian Iniang was the one fated to unify the continent?
If I had more ti, I would have liked to ponder that question further.
But Serpina, as if refusing to give the luxury of reflection, imdiately got to the point.
"An envoy has arrived."
"Another alliance negotiation?"
"Yes."
Alright. Who is it this ti?
It had to be one of the usual suspects—Ohana, Hesna, or Roland.
Let’s just get to the terms already.
And then—
"How amusing."
"...Pardon?"
"Your expression."
Serpina smiled leisurely, maintaining her composure as she spoke.
"I can see it clearly—your boredom, knowing you’ll be asked the sa question once again."
"...My lord, you are quite perceptive."
"One who cannot read people this quickly would never be able to bear the weight of a crown."
She then slowly erased her playful smile, her voice adopting a serious tone.
"It is from the Brans Army."
"...What?"
"The Brans Army has requested an alliance with us."
The Brans Army??
'...What the hell...'
If I purely looked at the strategic situation—
It actually made sense.
If they could hold off our army, they would be able to defend against the southern forces far more easily, even if they lost so territory.
The problem was...
'Is Lyn Brans the type of person who can make a purely logical decision?'
The Lyn Brans I knew was an uncompromisingly prideful woman.
Her imnse pride and self-confidence often led to arrogance.
And that arrogance caused her to make emotion-driven decisions.
It was a fatal flaw for a ruler.
She had once been hailed as the only force on the continent that could match Serpina.
She had relentlessly sought to conquer the North.
And then she collapsed—losing multiple territories to Serpina.
And now, after all that, she wanted an alliance?
'...What’s going on here?'
Had she changed?
People weren’t static ga characters.
Their thoughts could change.
Even my own predictions weren’t set in stone—
The sa question could yield different results at different tis, depending on the circumstances.
Since Lyn herself was the one making decisions, and since power in the Brans Army was completely concentrated in her hands—
'She might have co to her senses.'
Brans had plumted to near destruction after making the worst possible decision—abandoning Airen.
But once upon a ti, Brans had been the only army considered an equal to Serpina’s.
If she had truly co to her senses, then underestimating her would be dangerous.
'A Lyn Brans who abandons pride for pragmatism is not soone to take lightly.'
Still...
There was one crucial thing I hadn’t heard yet.
"What are their terms?"
This translation is the intellectual property of Novelight.
"A ceasefire and a six-month alliance. They are offering 12,800 gold."
"Hmm..."
It wasn’t a massively overpaying offer, but it also wasn’t particularly enticing.
Perhaps they could have offered more, but had decided against fully surrendering their pride—
Or perhaps, their financial situation wasn’t as strong as expected.
'Regardless, there's no reason to accept it.'
I had already rejected better offers three tis.
I considered dismissing it outright—but decided to check my prediction first.
"Would forming an alliance with the Brans Army be beneficial to our forces?"
And then—
The damn prediction rolled straight into my face like a runaway boulder.
[This alliance presents a major opportunity for our forces.]
"...???????"
What?
This... is the correct choice?
I had ignored the Holy Sword Rashtar.
I had ignored tens of thousands of gold.
And this—this alliance—was the right move?
And of all things, an alliance with the Brans Army?
Why the hell is this the answer?!
What, was the universe itself supporting this alliance now?
Sothing like:
[The Constellation ‘Armchair Strategy Ga Troll’ approves of your decision to throw away your advantage.]
[The Constellation ‘Fantasy Novel Forum Trickster’ uses their divine authority to bless the Serpina Army.]
[The Constellation ‘Guardian of Balance’ donates 500 coins to Serpina’s forces.]
If ssages like that had appeared, at least it would make so sense.
But without that, there was no logical way to justify why this alliance was the most beneficial.
And yet—
If this was the correct choice—then I had to convince Serpina to take it.
.
I had to convince the most rational and skeptical ruler I had ever t—
Without any clear evidence.
There wasn’t even ti to reverse-engineer an explanation!
What was I supposed to say?
"Uh, my lord, I believe we should accept this offer. Because... well... just trust on this one."
That would make sound like a spy from Brans or Aishus who had infiltrated her army and was selling them out.
'Should I just reject it outright again?'
Yeah.
I wasn’t a god.
Even if I failed to see why this alliance was a good idea, no one would bla .
Serpina was an intelligent woman.
She wouldn’t accuse of deliberate deception just because I couldn’t see what she couldn’t see either.
And just as I was reeling in shock—
Serpina’s gaze sharpened.
"Aha...♡"
A lilting, coquettish voice whispered into my ear.
I had a bad feeling about this.
Slowly, I lifted my head—and as expected—
"You've co down, Swen?"
"...Pardon?"
"I asked if that mont has co to you again...!"
Serpina’s piercing gaze locked onto .
In her eyes, I saw my reflection—twice over.
And in both of those reflections, I could see it clearly—
Shock.
"Uh... what exactly do you an...?"
Serpina gently stroked her own cheeks with both hands.
It was such a dumb thought, but—her beauty was so srizing that my eyes were drawn to her against my will.
"Your expression changed. Swen, your expression... Those brilliant, gleaming eyes, as if you’ve realized sothing extraordinary... Do you know?"
She leaned in closer—
"That expression is incredibly captivating... It pulls in...!"
...My expression changed?
Did I... react when I saw the prediction?
No, I had made sure to control my face... or so I thought.
"This mont... this intense instant where you seem to grasp sothing beyond normal comprehension—!"
She stood up from her seat and stepped toward , her strides slow yet deliberate.
Before I even realized it, she was closer than she had ever been.
Her ample chest pressed against mine.
She leaned in, almost lding against —without the slightest hesitation.
"...!!"
Wait—hold on.
I needed to think, but—
Her citrusy yuzu scent was overwhelming.
My mind—fogged.
Her body—soft.
My thoughts were filled with nothing but the sensation of her warmth.
I couldn’t deny it—
So primal part of was reacting to her presence.
"Swen. May I ask you sothing?"
"T-that... w-what is..."
"This alliance with the Brans Army... You believe it presents an opportunity for our forces, do you not?"
!!!
How—
"Ah, that face... You're wondering how I knew, aren't you?"
She let out a soft, playful laugh, tilting her head in amusent.
"How... adorable, Swen."
She smiled—
Like a pure, innocent maiden receiving a lifelong vow from the only man she had ever loved.
...Why the hell was that the exact image that popped into my mind?
I had no idea.
But my emotions—without a shred of doubt—were screaming the sa thing.
"It wasn’t difficult to notice."
She brushed her pale fingers against my cheek.
Warm.
I could feel the pulse of life flowing through her.
"The shift in your eyes, your expression, the slight movent of your brow... and, of course, the change in the atmosphere itself."
No.
No, that is not normal.
Most people wouldn’t be able to detect that—much less so precisely.
"Do not mistake , Swen. My instincts are nothing compared to your true insight—your ‘inner eye’."
...Again.
That word.
‘Inner eye.’
Serpina had ntioned it before.
So had Jinor.
What the hell did it an?
But now wasn’t the ti to think about it.
She leaned even closer.
"Now, answer ."
Her whisper curled into my ear.
"What do you think? This alliance—should we accept it, or reject it?"
The mont she asked, the storm in my head settled.
Yes.
I had to answer.
And I couldn’t lie.
She had already seen through .
Whether it was through reading my expressions, or so other thod, Serpina had already grasped my thoughts.
If I tried to deceive her, it would be a fool’s move.
Just a few days ago, she had asked that question—
"Am I truly in your heart?"
I was already under suspicion among her officers.
And now—she held the truth in her hands.
If one option was clearly a bad move, then my decision was already made for .
"...That is correct."
I lowered my head—
Then, forcing myself to remain composed, I spoke.
I clung tightly to the only weapon I had—
My perfect predictions.
"The alliance with the Brans Army presents a significant opportunity for us. My lord, I suggest that you accept it."
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