At last, we had ford a six-month alliance with the Brans Army.
I was deeply curious about what had transpired within the Brans Army during that ti, but... judging by Lyn, who now seed like a completely broken human being, it was evident that they had failed to make proper use of this opportunity and would inevitably crumble.
Would the southern nations take their place instead?
If the continent were to be reorganized in such a manner, it would work to Luna’s advantage in terms of balance. However, Luna had yet to raise her army and was still biding her ti sowhere.
Since it was her, I wasn’t too worried—but to be honest, I couldn’t help but wonder if she was doing well.
Now that I thought about it, what had beco of Jinor?
Was he still part of the Aishus Army?
Back when we spent ti together, he had always been difficult to read... But if he had received my letter and made his decision, he might have gone to serve under Luna.
Or perhaps he had chosen to live as a wanderer for a while—there were plenty of possibilities.
"I really can’t predict what’s ahead."
If only I could freely input questions into my mind at will.
If only there were no restrictions on the scope of those questions.
Considering that the world I had possessed was fundantally designed in a way that required soone else to ask questions for to provide advice, I supposed it made sense as a form of historical accuracy.
But in a situation where this had beco my reality, what use was accuracy?
Of course, I had benefited greatly from that sa accuracy more tis than I could count, so I had no right to complain.
I had no idea how things would unfold from here—not a single thing.
Yet, one fact remained certain.
"I must protect Serpina’s life at all costs."
For Serpina’s forces—no, for this country—to beco a unified nation, the condition was simple.
Serpina had to step down from the throne.
However, she was a young and highly capable ruler with imnse trust from her people.
She was far too healthy for anyone to count on an illness, and a revolution was unlikely, given the overwhelming support she had among her vassals and commanders.
There were ongoing, intermittent rebellions, but they were all remnants of the past crown prince succession struggle. The fact that they were carried out in complete secrecy only proved that no one could openly oppose her without borrowing the legitimacy of past conflicts.
At that mont, a fundantal question arose in my mind.
"How does she die?"
If I had gone directly to the Brans Army, she would have died.
This was a conclusion derived from my 100% accurate predictions, so I could be sure of it.
Assassination within the Brans Army?
That was unlikely. She wouldn’t have gone to Arnel Castle alone, and given that we held the advantage in negotiations, she had no reason to go there in the first place.
Yet, the existence of a result implied there must have been a process leading up to it.
"Why was Serpina supposed to die?"
Since it was now an event that would never happen, there was no need to dwell on it.
Even so, I couldn’t help but be curious about the reason.
***
The last person to see off the Brans Army’s delegation was Airen.
Lyn, after fainting and losing consciousness, never spoke another word to .
Or rather, to be precise, she didn’t say anything at all.
She simply walked away lifelessly, her complexion pale as if she were a terminally ill patient.
The two eyes that had refused to acknowledge were now hollow, devoid of ambition.
"......."
After seeing off Parfalle, who was looking at with a complicated expression while tending to her master,
Airen slowly made her way back to where Serpina was to deliver her report.
"Lord. The Brans Army delegation has just departed from Eingart Castle."
"I see. You've done well, Airen."
"......."
Airen carefully observed Serpina’s expression.
Her face was cold.
Yet, strangely, that cold expression carried a hint of human warmth.
Why had she—
Why had she gone out of her way to parade Swen and before Lyn like that?
Just then.
"What is on your mind?"
"Ah... No, it’s nothing, my lord."
Airen quickly lowered her head with an apologetic look.
Serpina, however, rely closed her eyes slightly, as if to say it didn’t matter.
"You seem to be struggling to understand my actions."
"I would never dare to say that I do not understand your decisions, my lord."
"A vassal is free to have thoughts about their sovereign. I don’t mind such glances. In fact, if soone were to look at how I tornted Lyn, they might think I was ruthless."
"That’s not—"
"But."
Serpina slowly opened her eyes and looked at Airen.
"I’ll admit it—I acted out of personal sentint."
"Personal sentint, my lord?"
"Yes. I... cannot forgive Lyn for the choice she made."
Forgiveness?
I had thought there was no personal grudge between them beyond being leaders of opposing nations.
Was there sothing I didn’t know about?
"What choice are you referring to...?"
I cautiously asked the question.
This translation is the intellectual property of Novelight.
Serpina responded as if she had been waiting for it, locking eyes with Airen’s violet gaze.
"The choice to abandon you."
"......!"
"She cast you into the jaws of death and even tried to take your life. Soone like her deserves to fully understand the consequences of her decisions. As a bonus, she has also lost the miracle-working magician who once held back our army with their incredible power. That must be a heavy loss for her. However—"
Serpina clenched her fist slightly.
Her voice, dry and cold, filled the space that held only the two of them.
"I could never forgive her. Not once did she consider how you must have felt, Airen. And yet she shalessly continues to live as if none of it mattered. That is why I called you and Swen here—to etch into her soul the reality that her foolish decisions have led to an irreversible outco."
"My lord..."
Airen... felt nothing but pure gratitude.
Serpina was furious at Lyn.
Not the customary anger of a ruler toward an enemy nation, but sothing far more personal.
And the reason for that anger... was herself.
"I... truly, truly despise those who abandon the people who swear loyalty to them."
Serpina sighed briefly after saying this, her face once again devoid of any emotion, before adding curtly:
"I spoke too much. Regardless, thank you for playing along. Seeing your forr master could not have been a pleasant experience."
"It was nothing, my lord. ...Thank you for your consideration."
Airen bowed her head.
If there was one thing that hadn’t changed since she left Lyn, it was her unwavering devotion to Swen.
But... deep within her heart, she now carried a clear sense of gratitude toward Serpina.
Perhaps, if Swen had not been there, she would have pledged herself to Serpina instead.
And yet, ironically, if not for Swen, she would never have t Serpina in the first place.
After all, Serpina was a ruthless tyrant.
A cunning witch who threatened the peace of the continent.
"......."
Serpina fell into thought.
Had she helped ❀ Nоvеlігht ❀ (Don’t copy, read here) Airen out of pure kindness?
Was it truly for Airen’s sake alone?
...That would be a lie.
Not entirely, of course—her fury toward Lyn Brans for what she had done to Airen was real.
However—
If that was all there was to it, she wouldn’t have gone to such lengths to utterly crush Lyn.
A bitter smile crossed Serpina’s lips as she considered her own hypocrisy.
Then, she thought of the one person she truly wanted to have in her grasp.
Swen.
The silver-haired magician who had appeared in her dreams countless tis.
The man suspected of possessing the power of Insight.
A man who carried an inexplicable pull.
Just as Swen seed to hold Airen in high regard, it was only natural that Serpina, too, would co to see Airen as soone significant.
"Swen. I am sincere. If I could have you in my hands, there is nothing I wouldn’t do."
For now, he unconsciously referred to her as "Lady Serpina."
But one day—
If she could drive out the naless figure lingering in his heart and beco his sole sovereign...
For a woman who had lived only for the unification of the continent, she had now found herself with another goal.
***
On the Road Back After the Alliance
Parfalle cautiously approached the soldier driving the carriage and asked:
"How is our lord’s condition?"
"The sa. She hasn’t spoken a word... nor has she eaten. She’s only been drinking the bare minimum of water."
"I see..."
Since collapsing after crying out Swen’s na, Lyn had fallen into silence, spending her days in eerie stillness.
No matter how much anyone spoke to her, she gave no response.
Even when her soldiers sought orders, she remained silent.
The once vibrant light in her eyes had long since dulled.
As such, it had fallen to Parfalle, the state strategist, to coordinate the return journey and direct the delegation.
Fortunately, she was well respected within the Brans Army, and her orders were received without resistance.
"She’s just in shock. She was devastated over losing Swen. But... once we return and achieve tangible results, she’ll surely return to the Lyn Brans we know."
All Parfalle could do was maintain a positive outlook and prepare for the future.
And so, as she pondered ways to counter the Hesna forces, continuing their march day and night—
One day, a soldier cautiously approached her.
"Lady Parfalle. We need to change our route."
"Is there a reason?"
The soldier hesitated, a troubled expression crossing his face, before reporting what was now an undeniable fact.
"It appears... a landslide has blocked the gorge along the shortest path. The road is completely obstructed by boulders... I’m afraid we’ll have to take a detour."
"...I see."
Why now, of all tis?
Returning to Arnel Castle as soon as possible to reorganize the southern front was crucial, but... there was no way to undo what had already happened.
"...Understood. We’ll adjust our route accordingly."
"Yes, my lady."
And so, the Brans Army took a longer path ho, dragging along the empty shell that was once Lyn Brans.
The landslide-blocked pass—
To the Brans Army, this fact was nothing more than an inconvenient delay.
*
However.
Elsewhere, in a different camp—
That fact had begun to take on an entirely different aning.
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