A woman approached as Luna toiled away in the fields, encouraging the farrs.
"Luna, there you are."
"Oh! Good day, Lady Cecil."
Cecil Lohengrin.
One of the founding contributors to the Karelia Army, she had been so captivated by the ruler Karelia’s virtues that she had donated her entire fortune. As the sole heiress of the wealthy Lohengrin family, she had long upheld her lineage’s prosperity.
Her light brown bob-cut hair gave her a refined elegance, and the monocle she wore only emphasized her ticulous nature. Like her liege, she possessed a gentle and approachable deanor, making her highly respected within the Karelia Army.
She had also been one of the people who advocated for taking in Luna and her group when they were wandering without a ho. Over ti, their relationship had grown beyond re political alliance into a genuine bond.
"How’s everything? Is the work going well?"
"Well… I believe the farrs are all doing their best, but the weather has been rather uncooperative. I’m not sure if we’ll be able to et the seasonal quota."
Even in an era of advanced technology and improved agricultural yields, the weather remained an unpredictable force.
Farming, in the end, was still at the rcy of the heavens.
"Everyone sees how hard you’re working, Luna. There’s no need to worry too much."
"That’s very kind of you to say."
Luna bowed slightly in gratitude before hesitating for a mont.
"Did you have a reason for looking for ?"
Cecil had been assigned a special task by Karelia this quarter, making it unlikely that she would have the ti to visit. It wasn’t difficult to deduce that her appearance here ant sothing significant.
"The ruler requests your presence."
"The ruler?"
Cecil nodded.
Luna didn’t know why she was being summoned, but as a subject, she had no choice but to respond.
"I understand. I will head to the royal castle imdiately."
"Let’s do that. I’d love to sit down and chat with you after so long, but we’re both quite busy… Let’s talk properly when we have the chance."
"I’d be delighted, Lady Cecil."
After parting with a smile, Luna turned to the farrs she had been working alongside.
"Everyone, the ruler has summoned , so I’ll have to stop here for today. Please feel free to head ho as well. I’ll make sure to finish up when I return."
"There’s no need for that, Lady Lunarian! Leave the rest to us! You don’t have to co back today!"
"No, it’s fine. I don’t want to leave the—"
"Please, allow us the honor of working for you!"
"……Everyone…."
Luna was montarily overwheld by emotion before bowing deeply.
"Then I’ll leave it to you. Thank you for your hard work today. Please don’t push yourselves too hard, and be safe on your way ho."
"Have a safe trip!"
Despite not needing to, Luna always expressed her gratitude and apologies to them, and this had quietly beco a topic of discussion among the castle’s farrs.
*
Madralan Castle lacked the grandeur expected of a royal capital. Its design was purely practical, built with functionality in mind rather than opulence.
This was partly due to its original construction plan, which aid to fulfill only the bare minimum requirents for a royal stronghold, but it also reflected the personal philosophy of Makana Karelia—a ruler who had no interest in aningless extravagance.
Luna, now familiar with the castle’s layout, walked through its halls until she reached the audience chamber.
Upon arrival—
"Oh, Lady Luna. Welco."
Karelia greeted her with a warm smile.
Her deep green hair, elegantly tied up and secured with a simple ornant, exuded effortless grace. Her eyes, a shade slightly darker than her hair—like black ink mixed with a drop of green—radiated kindness and generosity.
Her garnts bore no embellishnts, yet the sheer dignity of her presence made even the plain fabric seem regal.
She carried the unmistakable aura of a ruler—one not defined by domination and authority, but by an encompassing, gentle leadership.
Standing beside her was Vanessa Trinity, a woman with short brown hair and a sowhat cold expression.
She was Karelia’s chief strategist—the perfect complent to the ruler’s more lenient nature.
"Lunarian Iniang, I have arrived at your summons."
Luna knelt and bowed in formal greeting.
Karelia gestured for her to rise.
"Please, be at ease. I believe I entrusted you with overseeing the agricultural efforts. How are things progressing?"
"I have been doing my best, but… I fear I may not be able to et the quota due to my lack of ability."
Karelia tilted her head slightly at Luna’s response.
"Lack of ability? You don’t need to say that. I’m well aware that the weather has been uncooperative these past few days. Don’t be too hard on yourself."
"But still…."
"No, no. Let’s leave it at that. I didn’t call you here to discuss this at length."
Karelia’s tone grew more serious as she continued.
"Today, I have a request for you, Lady Luna."
"A request?"
"It concerns Tepello Castle. I trust you are familiar with it?"
Vanessa flinched slightly at the ntion of the castle, though Luna failed to notice.
"Tepello Castle… you an the fortress near the border with Ohana’s forces?"
"That’s right. And your friends, Lady Tifa and Lord Cain, are stationed there."
Back when Luna had defected to Karelia’s Army, bringing 3,000 soldiers with her, she had been assigned to the capital, Madralan Castle. Cain and Tifa, however, had been sent to Tepello, separating them.
Since then, their respective duties had kept them so occupied that they hadn’t t even once.
There had been no war, but the knowledge that her comrades were stationed at the border while she remained in the safety of the capital had never sat well with her.
"Yes, well… the castle’s lord, Carlos, has grown old and weary. For health reasons, he has expressed his desire to step down from his position. Given his years of dedication to our cause, I want to honor his wishes. As a result, Tepello Castle is currently without a lord."
"I see…"
"What are your thoughts?"
"Well… I suppose Lord Carlos must have endured quite a lot over the years… That’s what I think."
"And?"
"And…? I’m terribly sorry, but I’m not sure what else to say…"
Karelia chuckled, clearly amused by Luna’s reaction.
"You truly are an earnest soul, Lady Luna. I imagine it’s easier to be direct with soone like you."
"…?"
"Luna, as of this mont, I appoint you as the lord of Tepello Castle."
Luna’s eyes widened in shock, her breath catching in her throat.
"J-Just a mont, my liege! Appointing as a castle lord out of nowhere… That’s far too great an honor—"
"I apologize for interrupting, but my decision is final. I want you to experience a larger stage, Lady Luna. I will not let your potential wither away in the capital."
"But…"
Just as she was about to co up with another excuse to refuse, a voice—one she could never forget—flashed through her mind.
"My liege! Stay strong! And if an opportunity presents itself, never let it slip away! I swear, I will return to your side!"
"…Ah."
Swen.
The first strategist she had ever trusted—the one she had buried deep in her heart yet could never forget.
"If you trust , I will place the world in your hands."
Why was his voice echoing in her head now?
Becoming one of the Karelia Army’s lords… This could be an opportunity.
A lord governed a territory, and one who ruled well could naturally win the people’s loyalty.
And in the unlikely event that she needed to… if circumstances aligned, she would be in a position to raise an army of her own.
It was far easier to lead a rebellion from an established stronghold than from nothing.
Was this not an opportunity?
And yet, she felt uneasy.
‘Raising an army’ sounded strategic in theory, but in practice, it would an betraying Karelia—the ruler who had taken her in.
Luna had no desire to do that. She wanted to grasp the world, yes, but not by turning her back on soone who had placed their trust in her.
But then…
She recalled why she had lost her nation in the first place.
"No… I must remain rational. I already let Swen sacrifice himself because of my hesitation… I cannot keep running from responsibility!"
Yes.
Even without betraying Karelia, this was still an opportunity.
She had sworn to seize every chance that ca her way.
So she would not hesitate.
She straightened her back and nodded.
"…I accept your command, my liege."
"Oho. I’m grateful. I trust you will not disappoint ."
Karelia stood from her seat, extending a hand toward Luna.
"Lunarian Iniang, from this mont forth, you are the lord of Tepello Castle. Cease all other duties at once and depart imdiately to assu your new post."
"I will obey, my liege. I will do my utmost to ensure I do not bring disgrace upon you."
The position of lord of Tepello Castle.
Whether it was a golden opportunity or a poisoned chalice, she could not yet know.
But she would no longer hesitate.
For the sake of the one strategist who had asked her to never let an opportunity slip away—
She seized this mont with all her might.
Everything she did was for the man who had once believed in her… and the man she, in turn, had believed in.
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