Chapter 54

* * *

A few hours earlier.

Inside the royal palace, before Kalintz’s group had arrived.

“…….”

Lin sat on the throne, repeatedly reading the letter from Parphale that the messenger had handed her.

To summarize its contents:

[Swoen’s predictions have all come true. The Charan Army was colluding with the Aishias Army all along to stab us in the back. We’ve also received news of a rebellion breaking out. Everything he said has proven correct. His abilities are extraordinary. Though his advice may not always align with mine, it seems trustworthy.]

Parphale wasn’t an arrogant person, but she also wasn’t one to feign humility about her considerable talents. Confident and self-assured, she rarely listened to others’ opinions and disliked having her own revised by anyone. Yet now, for the first time, she was telling her lord: “Even if his views don’t match mine, they’re worth trusting.”

At this point, Lin’s mind was in turmoil. Clearly, they had acquired an extraordinary talent… yet she couldn’t feel at ease.

How could his predictions be so consistently accurate, defying reality itself? With such an infallible commander around… why did she feel not reassurance or reliability, but fear?

Lin fundamentally didn’t trust others. That was the main reason she’d been chosen as heir—because she relied on no one. Her father, Orlando Brance, had selected her over Chel and Kalintz precisely because of her nature of never depending on or trusting anyone—a fact well-known among the three siblings.

Honestly, while Parphale was considered one of the smartest strategists in the Central Continent, Lin knew she wasn’t exceptionally brilliant compared to other nations’ strategists. But that’s why Lin could use her freely—because she believed she could control her. She valued Parphale, but never fully trusted her.

Gathering hidden talents from small countries was part of this strategy. Instead of fully trusting one person, Lin collected as many advisors as possible to maximize her options.

But Swoen was disrupting this comfortable plan.

She had recruited him herself, impressed by his intelligence despite being from a minor nation. Occasional spine-chilling insights were all she expected from him—advice on continental politics, discussions on strategy. That’s all.

But he kept making absurd claims that turned out to be eerily accurate. Not only that, he disobeyed orders to stay at the fortress, performing impossible rituals to summon stone blocks from the sky during a battle they were sure to lose…

Lin realized something crucial:

Swoen wasn’t someone she could control.

That’s why he terrified her—a subordinate who always seemed right, beyond her influence as the monarch.

At first, she tried to hide her fear. After all, Swoen’s master was her. If he showed any signs of slipping out of her grasp, she believed she could deal with him somehow.

Even when he entered the audience chamber with Kalintz, she wasn’t particularly shaken. It’ll be fine, she thought. Until the moment they began their private conversation…

But as they talked, her fear returned. No matter what tricks she tried, she felt increasingly certain she couldn’t manipulate him as she wished.

Her voice started trembling involuntarily. Goosebumps ran down her arms.

Though she was technically the ruler, with the power to imprison or execute him without reason…

Still, Swoen’s presence—calmly kneeling and muttering about reading stars and predicting human actions—filled her with dread.

“Swoen… what exactly are you?”

Struggling to ask, barely managing to utter the question:

What are you?

How much do you know?

Do you even realize I’m afraid of you?

As these words slipped out unconsciously, Swoen slowly smiled and replied:

“Lord Lin, there’s nothing to worry about.”

“Nothing to worry about…?”

“My talents belong solely to you, my lady. There’s no need for concern.”

…

Of course. He had seen through her fear.

Yet simultaneously…

He remained bowed deeply, almost pleading with her.

“Use me as your compass, my lady. I will gladly serve.”

…

Confused by his sudden submissive attitude, Lin regained her composure and asked:

“…What do you mean…?”

“Exactly what I said, my lord.”

Swoen looked up respectfully.

“Though my abilities may be modest, they earned me a place in the Brance Army thanks to your recognition. This is an excellent stage to fulfill my dreams. My ambition isn’t to rule the world myself, but to assist someone who will.”

“To rule the world…?”

“Yes.”

With confidence, Swoen addressed the slightly trembling Lin:

“I speak of you, Lord Lin.”

“…”

“My goal is personal advancement. Nothing more. Fulfill what I desire, and I will fulfill what you desire.”

After saying this…

He bowed even deeper.

“My lord, please grant me wings.”

*

Once Swoen had left.

Finally alone in the audience chamber, Lin calmed herself after some time. Regaining her rationality, she began reflecting on Swoen’s words.

“Let me use you as my compass…?”

In essence, he was asking to be appointed as the nation’s strategist, or at least to be utilized significantly. He claimed his ambition was merely personal advancement, and that she, Lin Brance, was destined to rule the world—not someone else.

So in summary: he was telling her not to fear him, but to use him.

Honestly…

When he mentioned personal advancement, she initially felt let down. With those capabilities, how could his ambitions be so limited?

Moreover, calling her the one destined to rule the world—it sounded like flattery to gain favor.

She couldn’t shake off the feeling that he was just trying to impress her.

“Have I overestimated him too much?”

She massaged her temples. Clearly, Swoen had noticed her fear of him and tried to reassure her. So why was he now bowing so deeply, offering to use his abilities for her?

This made her thoughts even more tangled.

Thinking about it brought her back to their first meeting. He had said his previous lord, Lunarien Iniyan, suspected him of betraying them to collude with the Brance Army. Apparently, even Lunarien had feared his abilities and dealt with him accordingly. What kind of petty ruler would do such a thing?

Considering that experience, choosing personal advancement over grand ambitions seemed understandable.

“Maybe I’ve overestimated Swoen the person, focusing too much on his remarkable abilities.”

Ability and greatness don’t necessarily go hand in hand.

Reflecting on it, his reasons for insubordination were rather simple—seeking credit. Perhaps he was trying to align himself with Kalintz instead of her, given the difficulty of forming connections with established figures like Parphale surrounding her. The fact that he stayed at the fortress against orders to establish merit didn’t seem fake considering this perspective.

Though there might have been another reason for staying at the fortress that Lin wasn’t aware of…

“In a way, this level of ambition is perfect. Someone with clear desires is…”

Lin smirked faintly.

Great. Using him while not fully trusting him, extracting what she needed—that might actually create a win-win situation between them.

If Swoen’s ultimate goal truly was personal advancement, she was confident she could provide that. Once he became dependent on and loyal to her…

There was nothing easier to handle than someone with clearly defined desires.

“Hmph.”

Her quiet laughter filled the empty audience chamber.

No need to be afraid. She was still the absolute ruler.

“Swoen… shall we see how well you can prove your worth? If you do, I’ll make sure you become someone who can’t survive without me…”

She continued twirling her hair with her fingers, stopping only thirty minutes later.

* * *

After the audience ended and we exited the castle, Iren was waiting outside.

“Swoen.”

“You should have gone home earlier.”

“How could I leave you behind? We’re heading to the same place anyway.”

Then she suddenly bowed slightly and, blushing while looking up at me…

“I just… wanted to enter together since it’s been a while since I’ve been home.”

“That’s good. I feel the same.”

My response made her smile warmly. Recently, I’d been seeing her smile more often.

“Good.”

On our way from the royal palace to our home, she asked me a few questions.

“Did everything go well with the lord?”

“Yes.”

“What did you talk about?”

“Oh, nothing much. Just planted some illusions.”

“Huh? Illusions?”

I grinned.

“I gave her confidence that she might be able to control me after all.”

“Confidence… Why would you do that?”

“People tend to fall for those they think they can handle rather than those they fear.”

“Fear… And what do you mean by ‘fall for’?”

“It’s time for us to leave soon.”

“!!”

Iren’s pupils contracted sharply at my words.

“Before leaving, we need to secure everything we can.”

She glanced around cautiously before quietly asking:

“If it’s time to leave…”

“Yes. Please prepare yourself, Lady Iren. We’ll soon be seeking a new master.”

That’s right.

For Iren’s safety if nothing else,

We needed to leave this place quickly.

Upon hearing this, Iren fell silent for a moment before smiling faintly.

“…Alright. Swoen, wherever you go, I will follow.”

“That works.”

We exchanged smiles. The bond between us felt stronger than ever.

“Shall we return home then? To our home.”

“Our… home…”

Iren repeated the word several times before smiling brightly at me. Her face, bathed in sunlight, seemed especially radiant.

“Yes. Let’s go home, Sween. Together. To our home.”

Back to where our story began.

It was time to return to East Anel Street 32.