Chapter 105

* * *

“Lord Serpina will arrive shortly; please wait here.”

Following the soldier’s guidance, I arrived at the audience chamber of the royal palace and took a casual stance, standing there while observing my surroundings.

The furnishings inside the castle… are they just the bare minimum to make things presentable?

Of course, since this isn’t the capital of Serpina’s army, there’s no real need for extravagant decorations anyway.

Just as I was having these rather unproductive thoughts…

The soldier who brought me turned to me with a guarded expression and said:

“What are you doing? Show proper etiquette as an envoy.”

“Etiquette, you say?”

“Kneel.”

Oh great.

Isn’t it enough to kneel once Serpina arrives? I wanted to voice that thought but—this is enemy territory after all. There’s no point in stirring up trouble before negotiations even begin.

So, I obediently knelt down.

“Yes, yes, understood…” I swallowed those words back.

Frankly, being nitpicked by a soldier wasn’t something that bothered me too much.

What really struck me was how every single soldier seemed brimming with some kind of toxic energy. Their pride in serving what they believe to be the ultimate authority was palpable, dripping off them like sweat.

I wondered: Is this truly “Serpina’s army”?

Since reincarnating into this world, one thing has become painfully clear: the characters I knew from data are far more complex in reality, each possessing their own vivid personalities. Even Irene and Reika, who came with me, have proven to be vastly different from what I expected.

And then there’s Serpina herself—a ruler known as a tyrant, bearing the resentment of countless people. Would she live up to her reputation? Was she really the same person I knew only through data?

Thinking about this reminded me of the events before my reincarnation.

After hearing Jinoru’s 99% accurate prophecy, I had come here as an envoy seeking an alliance with Serpina’s forces, only to get imprisoned and eventually executed.

And now, here I was again, acting as an envoy to Serpina’s domain.

…

I swallowed hard.

Surely nothing bad will happen… right?

Though I wouldn’t have come if my Divinity 100 brain hadn’t insisted this was the right move. Based on the incident at the northern fortress where a meteor fell, risking my life wasn’t part of the plan labeled “most efficient.” Still, the phrase “it depends on the will of heaven” kept nagging at me.

Why does everything hinge on my choice?

As an envoy, how much influence do I even have?

While lost in these scattered thoughts…

Creak—

The heavy door opened, and the sound of footsteps approached clearly.

I kept my head bowed, waiting for the steps to stop.

One step, two steps…

Finally, the voice of the absolute ruler, feared across the land as a tyrant, echoed through the room.

“Raise your head.”

That voice startled me slightly.

For someone called a tyrant, it was surprisingly delicate and beautiful—but tinged with a subtle fragility. It carried undeniable charisma, yet it felt like one wrong move might shatter it completely.

Slowly, I lifted my head to look at her.

“…Huh?”

If I were my usual self, I would’ve probably thought:

She’s beautiful.

Incredibly beautiful.

Among the women I’ve met so far, only three could rival her beauty: Lunarien Iniyan, Iren Julieat, and Reika Nightharte. They’re undeniably stunning, acknowledged even by those who dislike them. But…

This woman before me transcends norms.

Her radiance makes the others seem modest in comparison. She embodies the word ‘beauty’ itself.

Her dazzling golden hair shines blindingly. Her features, accentuated by tasteful accessories, maintain perfect balance. Her pink lips command attention effortlessly.

Beautiful. My vocabulary can’t fully describe how breathtaking she is.

Looking lower…

She wore attire reminiscent of a commander heading into battle. Though quite distinct from the traditional garb of other monarchs I’ve encountered, her regal presence was unmistakable. No one would mistake her for anyone but a leader.

And honestly…

Her bust was impressive. Smaller than Irene’s legendary proportions but comparable to Reika’s. Considering Irene’s unparalleled size, this still qualifies as generously proportioned.

Personally, I prefer larger chests, and from that perspective, she was certainly attractive.

So yeah…

Under normal circumstances, I’d be utterly captivated by her unexpected beauty, contradicting her reputation as a cruel tyrant. Lost in admiration, perhaps.

But…

There was something else that caught my attention.

I had seen her face before.

“In dreams…?”

It hit me. The woman standing before me was identical to the figure in my recurring dreams since arriving in this world.

In those dreams, I’d happily converse with a golden-haired woman, though the content remained vague. We’d drift apart, and I’d desperately reach out, calling her name upon waking—her identity always forgotten until now.

Each variation of the dream ended similarly: me helplessly calling out her name.

Serpina…

We stared silently at each other for what felt like ages.

Gradually, my shock subsided, and rational thoughts returned.

‘Alright. Clearly, something unusual is happening here… but without knowing exactly what, there’s not much I can do.’

Factually speaking, the only certainty thus far is that this woman from my dreams is indeed Serpina. Given her position and my growing fame post-meteor incident, it’s plausible she knows my name.

Let’s focus on the task at hand.

Clearing my throat, I broke the silence.

“I’ve come today to deliver a message from our ruler, Lady Yuri.”

With a bow, I transitioned to business.

From across the room, Serpina paused briefly before responding in her usual tone.

“Speak.”

I cautiously observed her demeanor. The earlier flustered expression had faded, replaced by calmness. Whatever troubled her earlier, we’d address later. Time to negotiate.

“Anima Ingram is invaluable to us. We humbly plead for leniency.”

“Are you requesting prisoner release?”

“Yes.”

“What are your terms?”

“Obviously, we don’t expect favors without compensation.”

Raising my head, I locked eyes with hers. Despite her commanding aura, I couldn’t afford to back down.

“Seven thousand nine hundred gold pieces. This represents our utmost respect regarding the matter. We trust Your Excellency will demonstrate wisdom worthy of a great nation.”

“Hmm. Seven thousand nine hundred gold…”

Certainly excessive. Typically, prisoner ransoms range between two to three thousand gold, exceptional commanders around five to six thousand. Anima isn’t particularly remarkable, so this offer should suffice according to our assessment.

While compliant as an envoy, I personally disagreed with this decision. If I were Serpina…

“I’m sorry, but that won’t secure Anima’s release.”

“Meaning…?”

“Raclaine Castle.”

Serpina gazed steadily at me.

“Handing over Raclaine Castle is non-negotiable. A mere sum of gold doesn’t balance the books.”

Indeed, if I were Serpina, I’d likely demand the same. She must recognize Anima’s strategic importance beyond mere skill. Thus, the most realistic prize she could extract from us would be Raclaine Castle. Even without Jinoru’s advice, maintaining three territories against a major power like hers would strain our resources. Losing the castle outright might prove advantageous.

If this proposal stemmed from Serpina’s own judgment, it proves she earned her seat through merit, not bloodline. Her reasoning aligns closely with mine.

However, surrendering the castle isn’t an option for us. Such a decision isn’t within my authority as a mere envoy either. Should I retreat empty-handed?

Yet why did the heavens deem this the most efficient path?

Then…

Serpina’s tightly shut lips moved again.

“…That was the original plan.”

“Pardon?”

“To be honest, I intended to start negotiations demanding Raclaine Castle. But now… it no longer matters.”

Serpina looked directly into my eyes. Her golden gaze burned intensely, like a sun consumed within.

“Asking for Anima’s release? Not impossible. But there’s a condition.”

Her next words began to clarify why the outcome depended on “heaven’s will.”

“Swen. If you come to me…”

“…”

“Exactly as stated. Swen.”

She smiled faintly, the first crack in her otherwise stoic expression.

“I want you.”