Chapter 184

Upon arriving at the Royal Palace, Lady Serpina wasn’t seated on the throne but stood up to greet me.

“You’ve arrived, Swoen.”

“My Lord. I’ve heard the story… are they the Rebel Forces?”

At hearing this, Serpina gave a wry smile and replied,

“Indeed… it seems your predictions have hit the mark once again.”

How could she have known another rebellion would arise? Setting everything aside, how did Serpina figure this out?

“Was there any rumor you heard?”

“Hmm… rumors?”

“Yes. The fact that they dare to rise in rebellion again so soon after the last incident without any fear leaves me feeling it’s rather inefficient from my perspective. Even if I were the leader of the rebels, unless I believed in some sort of superstition, I’d definitely delay such an action… considering the obvious increase in vigilance…”

There was no way Serpina hadn’t considered what I was thinking. She was competent after all.

After the empire fell, during the chaotic power struggle among Crown Princes, maintaining her position solely on lineage is not something just anyone could achieve. While it’s undeniable her opportunity arose purely due to ‘lineage,’ enduring the weight of the crown thus far isn’t something even a brilliant bloodline could handle for her.

This is the extent of ‘reasonable thought.’

Of course, I had anticipated the possibility of rebellion — though my advice was against moving forward. But given Serpina lacks my kind of cheat abilities, I couldn’t help but speculate she must have had some basis for her judgment. Her decisions until now were always rooted in solid evidence.

Serpina, upon hearing my words, smiled faintly and said,

“I see. So, about stories… while I appreciate your curiosity, I regret to say I have none to share. My judgment rested on one reason alone, Swoen.”

Then she approached me and whispered,

“Swoen, didn’t you yourself say it wasn’t wise to leave the Northern Continent unguarded with troops? Reflecting on your words and everything you’ve shown me so far, I simply trusted you. From there, I filtered out the most likely scenarios.”

“…If trust is the basis of your judgment, aren’t there more probable events than rebellion?”

True, I was probing whether there was a specific reason behind her certainty of the uprising.

“Perhaps logically, you’re right. But… the world doesn’t always align perfectly with logic, don’t you think?”

Serpina responded to my question with a slight smile.

“To be precise… I saw this as a decisive moment. Fate has always thrown me into deep pits whenever crucial opportunities arose. Since sitting on the throne, not a single moment has passed without it feeling like I’m cursed by the blood of the dead.”

“My Lord…”

“Maybe their words hold some truth. Perhaps this is only the beginning, and I will continue to face these desperate situations as the price for daring to covet the Emperor’s seat. How absurd is it that the ruler of a nation succumbs to such nonsensical superstitions?”

Her voice lacked its usual clarity.

Has it been like this all along?

As if fate played tricks, whenever a critical moment came, something would trip her up, and this cycle repeated itself… leading her to accept it half-heartedly. Though claiming it’s merely a low-probability event occurring coincidentally—given her prediction turned out correct this time—it felt otherwise.

Regardless, since the rebellion happened, our decision not to leave the Northern Continent defenseless was right. After suppressing the rebellion, hastily reorganizing occupying forces to advance toward the Central Continent meant the situation might stabilize by then.

It was as if the crucial opportunity slipped away. Even though capturing it would’ve led to chaos in the North due to the rebellion, it still felt debatable if it truly counted as an opportunity.

“Anyway, since the rebellion has occurred, we shall suppress it. There’s no reason to hand over the Einhardt family banner to those who abandon me and chase after shadows.”

“Where exactly did the act of treason occur?”

“At Linenhait Castle in the Northwest. Its lord, Selene, declared herself the rightful successor to the true emperor, Sidemid von Einhardt.”

“Successor… is there any basis for that claim?”

“The only grounds are that her insignificant family, the Jernst clan, was one of the seven original founding families, which holds no real meaning anymore.”

Serpina clicked her tongue and continued,

“She must be utterly oblivious to how meaningless her actions truly are.”

Though her words were harsh, her eyes betrayed sadness.

What must it feel like to keep having those loyal to her turn against her?

While I’m unaware of the brutal process involved in clearing out the Crown Princes… recalling our conversation near the graves last time, perhaps Serpina might have been somewhat distanced from the heart of the matter.

Despite her not denying her own misdeeds, strangely, I kept getting this impression.

“Well, there’s no need to worry too much. I’ve already sent reinforcements. The nearest unit will swiftly quell the rebellion.”

“The nearest unit?”

At that moment, a name slipped out from her lips that was hard to overlook.

“That’s right. The closest stationed commander is General Iren from Roze Castle nearby.”

“…!!”

Serpina noticed my expression and grinned amusedly.

“My goodness, Swoen. For someone usually composed, you sure make an adorable face.”

“That… I…”

“Does General Iren bother you so much?”

Caught off guard by my failure to mask my expression, she seemed delighted as I merely bowed without further comment—there was no real need for lies anyway.

“Now that I think about it, there’s something I’d like to ask.”

“What is it?”

“What does Iren Julieat mean to you?”

“…Huh?”

Surprisingly, her tone felt genuine—not mere playful gossip or idle curiosity. It was distinctly different from before when Yuri asked similar questions.

“Lady Iren…?”

What does Lady Iren mean to me?

Frankly, it wasn’t something requiring deep contemplation.

“To me, she is someone very precious. Saying I want to protect her wouldn’t be far-fetched. If I may put it personally, she’s someone whose side I wish to take, regardless of external circumstances. Even if the entire world turns its back on her, I am prepared to stand by her side.”

“Even if everyone else abandons her, you’re ready to remain by her side?”

Serpina slowly nodded, understanding.

“Ah, indeed. Considering you’ve served two rulers, both of whom you helped change together, I suspected your relationship wasn’t ordinary… yet seeing your resolute expression, it appears the bond between the two of you is even stronger than I imagined.”

She then lowered her head, speaking softly,

“…I envy her.”

“My Lord…?”

“I envy General Iren. Despite sitting on the Emperor’s throne, I lack even one person willing to stake their life for me… whereas she receives your unwavering support. Such devotion is quite tempting, isn’t it?”

With that, she slowly formed a gentle smile.

Since mentioning Iren, despite maintaining a playful tone and expression,

I caught the tremble in her golden eyes.

“There’s no need to worry excessively, Swoen. Not only General Iren, but capable commanders like General Irian and assistants are also present. Given the scale of the rebellion, it doesn’t seem General Iren will be in danger. As a commander, she won’t be directly engaging in frontline combat.”

Hearing her words calmed my increasingly complex feelings.

Moreover, she reminded me of the many times Iren warned me before leaving.

Never push myself too hard, avoid dangerous situations, and she assured me she’d follow through accordingly.

Thus, there was no need for excessive concern.

“Surely you know better than me, but isn’t General Iren renowned as a specialist in siege warfare? Recalling the legendary feats of the red-haired knight and Brance’s top swordsman who wreaked havoc across the Central Continent, it’s likely Linenhait Castle will surrender soon. There’s no need for me to dispatch additional troops; the situation will resolve quickly. What do you think? Hehehe…”

As I stared at her chuckling face, I suddenly remembered the question she posed earlier.

Since it concerned Lady Iren, why not give it a try?

‘Is it possible to seize control of Linenhait Castle with the current forces without sending additional reinforcements?’

The answer rolled out effortlessly.

And it was…

Truly shocking.

[The unification of the continent’s destiny is approaching.]

‘!!!!’

What?!

Just handling a minor rebellion… why does the destiny of unification come into play?

“Swoen?”

“I…”

Interrupted by her serious inquiry,

“…Did it appear again?”

Realizing I failed to conceal my expression, there was no point in further discussion.

Instead of answering, I recalled the same method I used before.

‘Serpina von Einhardt, can she unify the continent?’

[No.]

Confirming the result, I let out an involuntary sigh.

This really was, as she said, a curse bound by her blood—a “curse” marked by death.

Once again, the shadow of death loomed over Serpina.

“What is it? What result did you obtain?”

“…”

In response to her urgent query, I paused, pondering deeply.

Serpina almost certainly understood 99% of my ability.

Though she never pressed for specifics, it was clear she had her suspicions, especially given that all military movements relied solely on my advice.

Alright.

Let’s think this through.

Given the unification destiny lies with Lady Lunarien, ensuring her survival remains paramount.

“My Lord, please allow me a moment.”

“Understood.”

Without further questioning, Serpina remained silent, patiently awaiting my words.

First, why does ‘General Iren seizing Linenhait Castle’ lead to an opportunity for unification?

And why, despite this opportunity, can Serpina not become the unifying ruler?

The latter remains consistent: her death. Naturally, she cannot unify the continent if she dies.

So why must she die? Is it because Iren takes Linenhait Castle? There’s no apparent connection here, making any prediction impossible.

“Information… more information is needed.”

I looked into Serpina’s eyes.

Yes.

No one else but her.

Someone who almost perfectly discerns my abilities… perhaps, it’s possible?

Gazing into those pitiful eyes…

Resolved to roll the dice within my heart—

“My Lord.”

“Speak.”

For the first time, cautiously, I posed a question I’d never dared ask anyone before.

“Could you perhaps phrase a question for me in the vein of: ‘Would it be correct for our army to leave the rebellion at Linenhait Castle unresolved?'”