Inside the royal palace of Madralan Castle.
Sovereign Karelia and her chief strategist, Vanessa, were having an unusually peaceful tea ti—so much so that it seed as if they were deliberately ignoring the dire situation at hand.
The quiet clinking of porcelain was the only sound filling the audience chamber.
Vanessa, with practiced hands, poured tea with asured precision.
――But both Vanessa and Karelia knew the truth.
The battle was about to begin.
And no matter what they did—
Karelia’s forces could not win against Lunarian’s army.
Their remaining troops numbered only 33,000.
Against a massive occupation force of over 100,000.
Even though they were defending a fortress, their soldiers' morale had already hit rock bottom.
Day after day, all they heard were reports of defeat.
Ever since the mont their 200,000-strong army had been crushed...
This outco had been inevitable.
"It has been quite so ti since I’ve had the chance to enjoy such a peaceful mont with you, Vanessa."
"..."
"To think that the great Vanessa Trinity herself would be personally serving tea... Perhaps being a sovereign has its benefits after all."
Karelia spoke lightly, her expression casual.
But Vanessa remained silent, rely placing a teacup in front of her ruler.
"Please, drink."
The two of them drank their tea in silence.
After a while, Karelia finally spoke again, her voice steady, as if she had made her decision.
"I know what you are about to say, but... I am sorry, Vanessa. I will not run."
She spoke with unwavering resolve.
"My lord, you must flee. Staying here and fighting a hopeless battle will only lead to your death."
"That is of no consequence. If that is the case, then it simply ans the heavens have chosen Lady Luna over ."
"My lord, this is my final plea. Do not be stubborn over aningless pride. Every mont we waste is a mont lost! Once your life is taken, your cause will die with you. Surely you understand that!"
"No matter how many tis you say it, my answer will not change!"
Karelia’s voice rose as she spoke to Vanessa.
No—it was more than just speaking.
She was nearly shouting.
Seeing Vanessa’s gaze waver for the first ti, Karelia continued, her voice trembling.
"I... I will never run. How could I? Abandon you? Abandon my soldiers? Abandon the retainers who have placed their faith in to the very end...? Even if I were to survive alone, what aning would there be in that?"
Vanessa watched her ruler, who was now on the verge of tears.
With a quiet sigh, she lowered her head.
"My lord. You are a symbol.
All of us—everyone here—followed you because we believed in Makana Karelia.
Unlike the other lords, you valued loyalty above all else.
You always walked the path of righteousness.
To us, your footsteps were a beacon of hope, a path to a better future."
"Vanessa... It is rare to hear you speak so highly of .
But I am rely one of many lords.
In the end, I was just soone who happened to claim my place in a fragile balance I was never strong enough to break.
Lady Luna, on the other hand, is different.
She shattered that balance with her own hands.
And now, she stands at the gates of Madralan Castle.
If peace is the end result, then does it truly matter who stands above us?
I believe that Lady Luna... will rule with compassion and justice."
"Lunarian Iniang betrayed you.
She committed treason.
How can you believe that she will now govern with righteousness?"
"Because it was my failure, not hers.
No one is to bla.
Not even you, Vanessa.
In the end, it is only I who was lacking."
"My lord..."
If only Karelia had blad her instead.
If she had yelled at her, scolded her, cursed her—Vanessa might have found so sense of relief.
But instead, Karelia was trying to shoulder everything alone.
The betrayal? Her fault.
Sade’s death? Her fault.
The fall of the nation? Her fault.
"Vanessa... You are a talented woman.
This translation is the intellectual property of Novelight.
I know there is much history between you and Lady Luna...
But she is not the kind of ruler who would let personal grudges cloud her judgnt.
I have no doubt she will recognize your brilliance.
It is not too late.
Surrender and continue serving as a strategist."
"..."
"From this mont forward... consider Lady Luna to be .
The na 'Karelia' ends here.
I will carry the burden of our past so that you may stand by her side, defeat Serpina, and bring peace to the continent."
Vanessa did not answer.
She simply lowered her head—staring into the empty teacup before her.
Yes.
The teacup.
Karelia’s teacup was empty.
And now...
It was about ti for its effects to take hold.
"My lord... As your strategist, allow to offer you one final piece of advice."
"Vanessa...?"
"When you wake, go into hiding and gather your strength.
Near the western border of Brans Army’s territory, there are treacherous mountains.
They would serve as the perfect refuge for you to preserve your life.
And when the ti is right—
Establish yourself in the western continent.
Brans Army’s forces there are a re shadow of their forr glory.
In ti, they will lose control of the region."
"...What are you saying?"
Karelia’s eyes widened in horror as she stared at Vanessa.
But Vanessa continued speaking in a calm, asured tone.
"Please, cherish the na of Karelia.
Your ideals and your legacy—
They are your greatest assets, ones that no other lord can claim.
You will have no trouble rallying supporters to your cause.
Just as you did here in the south."
"Vanessa... What are you saying...?"
Karelia’s voice faltered.
In the next mont—
She slumped back into her chair, her body collapsing like a puppet with its strings cut.
"Wh... w-what..."
Suddenly, her entire body felt impossibly heavy, as if it had been drenched in water.
She could feel the floor beneath her—
Yet at the sa ti, she felt as though she was sinking.
Falling into an abyss.
Sothing unseen was pulling her down.
Wait a mont.
"When you wake up"...?
"Y-you... don’t tell ..."
Only now did Karelia finally realize what Vanessa had done.
...She had put a sedative in the tea.
"And finally, allow to say one last thing."
Vanessa slowly lifted her head.
She... smiled.
A soft, gentle smile.
For the first and last ti in this lifeti—
She smiled at the only sovereign she had ever truly served.
"To have been born in this world and to have had the honor of serving soone like you, Lord Karelia... It has been the greatest privilege of my life. I will never forget it."
"Vanessa..."
――Thud.
Not long after Karelia lost consciousness, a woman stepped into the room.
"You’ve arrived, Lady Cecil."
"..."
The woman—Cecil—stared at Vanessa’s face in silence.
"As I explained, please escort our lord safely to the western continent. Use the confusion of the siege to slip out through the northern gate. I will assign a hundred elite soldiers to accompany you. I would send more, but any larger force would increase the risk of exposure. I hope you understand."
"Chief Strategist... Is this really the end?"
Cecil’s voice trembled slightly, as if pleading.
"The current lord needs you more than anyone. If you are not there, Karelia’s army... we..."
But Vanessa remained firm.
"My role in this story ends here, Lady Cecil.
The rebellion began because of in the first place.
If Lord Karelia is to rise again and surpass even Lunarian... then I must disappear."
As long as she remained, the people would never fully rally behind Karelia.
Vanessa understood that truth more clearly than anyone.
"That’s..."
"Do not concern yourself with .
Lord Karelia was kind enough to extend my life a little longer—this is simply the natural conclusion."
Vanessa stood from her seat.
"You ntioned that you have relatives in the west, correct?"
"Yes. That territory is currently under Brans Army, but it should be safe enough for the ti being."
"I see. That is good to hear."
Vanessa turned to face Cecil.
Cecil had never been particularly fond of her.
Even back then, she had chosen to side with Lunarian instead.
But that did not matter.
So long as Cecil bore the na Rosenkross, she was the most reliable person to entrust Karelia to.
Vanessa bent at the waist, bowing deeply at a perfect ninety-degree angle.
"Please... Take care of our lord, Lady Cecil."
"..."
Cecil did not respond imdiately.
But after a mont, she gave a firm nod—then turned, leaving the room with a handful of soldiers, carrying the unconscious Karelia out of the palace.
Looking back—
The Battle of Tepello Castle had been nothing short of a testant to how much the world itself seed to ◆ Nоvеlіgһt ◆ (Only on Nоvеlіgһt) favor Lunarian.
Two rcenary groups had suddenly appeared to aid her.
A magician had miraculously awakened to fight by her side.
It was as if every force in existence had been moving solely for her benefit.
And yet—
At the start of it all, she had been nothing but a failed lord, seeking refuge within Karelia’s army.
She had bided her ti, waiting for the right opportunity.
If Lunarian had been able to do it...
Why couldn’t Karelia?
"Lord Karelia... I pray that you escape safely."
One final wish—
That the world would grant Karelia the sa chance it had given Lunarian.
Holding onto that foolish hope—
Vanessa turned her attention to the coming battle.
The final battle of her life.
***
――And a few hours later.
The army beneath the green banners surged forward.
Charging toward Madralan Castle.
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