Chapter 137

Somewhere in her demeanor, a faint sense of loneliness could be felt, and Luna simply gazed at her silently without uttering a word.

After a moment of silence, Cecile slowly opened her mouth once again.

“Our lord, Lady Karelia, cherishes the people of her territory with all her heart and treats each soldier with utmost sincerity. Naturally, she found it overwhelming to even wield the power that came into her hands. Believing everyone should cherish their subjects equally, she questioned how only she could possess such special authority.”

The reason why Makana Karelia managed to amass such influence…

It lay in her kind and righteous nature. Once merely the daughter of a fallen noble family during the old empire, she became one of the final four to establish her own nation on the opportunity-filled land of the Southern Continent, home to countless potential warlords. It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say this was thanks to the many commanders who gathered, inspired by her character.

“Currently, as you know, Lady Luna, all authority within our army is centralized under Lady Karelia. Given that she is our sovereign, this is quite natural. However, it wasn’t always like this.”

Luna listened quietly to Cecile’s words without responding.

“The commanders drawn to Lady Karelia’s character were united by nothing more than that commonality. Beyond that, they differed greatly—each having strong personalities, like oil and water unable to mix. Lady Karelia, by her very nature, struggled to speak harshly to others, leaving us inevitably falling into chaos and division.”

“…!”

Struggling to speak harshly to others…

Hearing those words made her reflect on herself anew.

“Could Sir Swoen’s constant advice that a ruler must adopt the mindset of leadership have stemmed from situations like these…?”

“It was Lady Vanessa who firmly established a solid power structure. She set systems in place, punished dissent among the commanders decisively, and clarified ranks so that no one but Lady Karelia could hold a superior position. All power within the state was concentrated solely in Lady Karelia, and once the system was established, efficiency skyrocketed remarkably.”

Cecile took a light sip of tea after finishing her explanation.

“And as you know, this led to great success, allowing us to become one of the four surviving nations in the Southern Continent. To be honest, if not for Lady Vanessa, it’s highly likely our army would never have coalesced as one. The green flag might have faded into history’s dust.”

“That’s right…”

In other words, the person who contributed most to building this nation was Vanessa.

Lady Karelia was well aware of this.

“Of course… If we objectively consider whether our lord has always made rational decisions, it’s highly likely that wasn’t the case. No matter how brilliant a commander may be, if they don’t align with her vision of governance, she firmly refuses to cooperate. In such turbulent times, this could hardly be called the decision of a wise ruler.”

Luna understood that statement too.

In such an era, it’s not the idealistic figures with noble intentions who thrive, but rather cunning warlords. When survival depends on being stronger than others, dwelling on morality is nothing but foolishness.

“So, I’m not entirely against my lord trusting Vanessa to handle what she cannot…”

Cecile trembled slightly after saying this.

Was it anger? Fear? Or perhaps shame at doubting her lord’s judgment?

“…Is this truly the right path? As a vassal, I find myself questioning whether my lord’s choices are correct. I’ve never felt this way before…”

“Cecile…”

Luna gently placed a hand on Cecile’s shoulder as if to comfort her. The loyal retainer’s eyes, which had always been resolute in serving her, now flickered uncertainly, like a storm brewing in the teacup just moments ago.

And then—

A somewhat audacious thought crossed Luna’s mind.

“Maybe… Maybe the opportunity Sir Swoen spoke of will come?”

He once said, “Seize every opportunity when it comes.” There was a strange certainty behind his words. Though Swoen often spoke with conviction, considering how everything he predicted so far has come true…

“Come to think of it, it was Sir Swoen who suggested we ally ourselves with the Karelia Army.”

His words always carried meaning upon reflection.

Just like when Tifa discovered the treasure chest and decided sharing it with everyone was best. Ultimately, things went smoothly because they followed his advice.

Then should I… prepare my heart for whatever comes next?

She hesitated briefly but dismissed the thought. Such worries can wait until the time is right. There’s no doubt opportunities will arise eventually, as promised.

But if this truly is my chance…

“I won’t let it slip through my fingers…!”

She reaffirmed her promise to him once more.

—

Back inside the carriage heading toward Tevelo Castle…

“I’m glad we managed to acquire the military texts you wanted.”

“Yes, thank you.”

Violet nodded while speaking in a fairly serious tone, her cheeks slightly flushed. It was evident excitement over new knowledge bubbled within her.

To notice that so easily…

I guess I’ve spent quite some time with these kids, realizing anew.

“I’m sorry I couldn’t accompany you to the market. It took longer than expected…”

“Not at all. I’m old enough to take care of myself now. I can explore the market alone.”

“But didn’t you get lost until I came looking for you?”

“…”

Lowering her head without reply, Violet remained silent. Seeing this, Luna naturally smiled and said,

“Don’t worry about it. No matter where you are, I’ll always find you.”

“Thank… you.”

Even though she was nearing her late teens, in Luna’s eyes, she was still just a young girl. Still, teasing her too much might hurt her feelings, so Luna shifted the topic appropriately.

“How was the marketplace in the Capital City? Did it differ much from Tevelo Castle?”

“Yes, there were plenty of books I’d never seen before. Moreover, the variety of bookstores amazed me. I could spend days exploring without getting bored.”

“I see. If only we had more time, it would’ve been wonderful. Oh, by the way, there’s a really delicious restaurant in the northeast corner of the plaza. They specialize in seafood dishes, and I’m confident you’d enjoy them.”

“Is that so? …If only I hadn’t wandered off, we might’ve had time for lunch… I apologize.”

“Nonsense. We’ll definitely go together again.”

“Really?!”

Realizing she sounded overly excited, Violet quickly covered her mouth, blushing furiously.

“Of course. Next time, we’ll take it slower and share a meal together. Let’s invite Charlotte and Francis too. It’ll be fun.”

“Ah, yes… Well, if that’s the case…”

Luna lightly ruffled Violet’s hair with her hand. The fact that she didn’t resist showed she had begun to trust her, making Luna feel accomplished.

“Did anything else interesting happen? Being the capital, I imagine there were plenty of shops that caught your eye.”

This was just casual small talk intended to deepen their bond.

However…

Her response was something Violet had never considered before.

“In fact… I heard a strange rumor.”

“A rumor?”

“Yes. Do you know of the Aishias Army, Lady Luna?”

“The Aishias Army… Yes, the nation in the eastern part of the continent, correct?”

“There’s a story circulating that they sold one of their own subordinates to the Serpina Army.”

“What? Selling a subordinate…?”

When asked for further details, Violet began explaining earnestly.

“I only overheard this, so it’s not certain… But apparently, the Serpina Army demanded the transfer of a subordinate as part of negotiations for prisoner release. And they agreed to it.”

“Is that so…?”

It was hard to believe.

Baranga Yuri Aishias, the ruler of the Aishias Army, was known as a wise leader who deeply cared for their subordinates. Their reputation for loving their followers was widely celebrated.

Could this be an attempt by Serpina to tarnish the Aishias Army’s reputation through misinformation? After all, Serpina was notorious for such tactics.

…And then.

With an utterly casual tone, Violet mentioned ‘that word.’

“The person sold to the Serpina Army was reportedly a white-haired mage.”

“…”

What…?

What exactly did she just say??

“Haven’t we always regarded tales of mages as mere fables? That’s what I thought too, so I was curious about this…”

“…”

“…Lady Luna…?”

The question hung awkwardly in the air.

White-haired mage.

She had heard those words before.

“‘A young man with white hair… He performed a ritual towards the heavens.’”

“Yes, that’s the story I’m referring to. Indeed, it was a white-haired man. They say he conducted a ritual to the heavens…”

“Afterward, the sky darkened dramatically, and a massive stone, akin to divine punishment, fell directly onto the Serpina Army…”

‘Sir Swoen…???’

Why…

Why in the Aishias Army…???