Chapter 188

“……!”

An unexpected question caught me off guard, leaving me unable to respond properly and resulting in a strike against me.

“Hmph, how intriguing, Swoen.”

“Y-yes…?”

“Just now, I didn’t think the question that made you wear such an expression would be so troubling.”

“……”

After saying that, Serpina looked at me with bright eyes, leaving me momentarily speechless once again.

She was right. In fact, it’s the question every monarch most wants to ask. If a monarch ever senses even a hint of someone’s ability, this is usually the first thing they inquire about.

Since I had already been asked this by Jenis, there was no real need for Serpina’s army to pose it again if I were merely affiliated with her faction—

Still, as the first time my lord tests my abilities, it’s not something I can ignore.

‘Serpina von Einhardt, can she become the Unified Monarch?’

The response came rolling in just as expected.

[No.]

‘The issue isn’t the answer…’

It’s about how to phrase it.

At first glance, the solution seems simple: lie about it. “I cannot determine who will become the Unified Monarch,” or something similar, should suffice without causing any trouble for Lady Serpina. Given her personality, she likely wouldn’t press further. Moreover, there are genuinely undeterminable questions, so this answer would seem credible.

There’s no need to explain the mechanics behind my ability. A vague excuse like “my condition isn’t good today” or “the flow of the stars makes it difficult to discern” would convince her since everything hinges on her firm belief in my infallible predictive powers.

But is that really okay?

This question wasn’t about Serpina herself. It was about the person answering—me.

‘Is it alright for me to tell a lie?’

If the one asking had been Yuri or Lin, I’d have easily responded with “there’s no result for that question.” They mean nothing significant to me, though they are certainly my lords. There was no point in forming attachments to a temporary nest I’d eventually leave anyway, especially when neither nation nor their leaders held much emotional pull for me.

But…

Serpina is different.

She keeps insisting she wants me. Not through coercion but by listening to me and carefully avoiding my displeasure—an unusually sincere approach for an absolute ruler.

She treats people precious to me, like Iren, well. Her attitude toward her country and subordinates speaks volumes to me.

The only similarity between her and the others is that Serpina’s group, too, is a temporary stop before departure—but…

Why can’t I make a simple decision here?

Why does my heart feel so heated up?

In life, moments like these often arise. Moments where you’re shaken by strong intuition at a crossroads.

The best way to avoid regret when reflecting on this moment later is…

To follow what your heart tells you.

“My Lord…”

Looking into Serpina’s gleaming golden eyes, I slowly and cautiously spoke:

“You cannot become the monarch destined to unify the continent.”

I delivered the ‘truth’ of her fate.

“…You chose honesty.”

I understood that being straightforward might not yield good results. But I didn’t want to deceive Serpina with lies. Perhaps deep down, I hoped she’d accept her destiny. I believed accepting her fate might save her. The more she reached for the impossible, the more my admiration for her turned into concern for her safety.

“So?”

“That’s correct. You cannot become the Unified Monarch… That’s the result.”

Serpina’s expression remained calm.

Yet, there was no sense of peace in her demeanor. How could I describe it?

After a few minutes of silence, her response finally came, somewhat deflating:

“I see.”

“Aren’t you concerned?”

Surprisingly composed, but upon reflection, her reaction wasn’t odd. While I’ve relied on my experiences and knowledge of the world to firmly believe in the infallibility of my words, from Serpina’s perspective, I offered no concrete evidence beyond my claims. Despite her serious treatment of me and her awareness of the concept akin to my ability—”Mind’s Eye”—it wouldn’t suit her logical nature to crumble at a statement like “you can’t become the Unified Monarch.”

Had this been the Serpina I know, she might’ve said something like, “If that’s my fate, then I’ll simply twist it,” followed by a sly chuckle.

However…

Her reply was something I hadn’t anticipated.

“No. On the contrary, I’m somewhat relieved it aligns with my expectations.”

“…What?”

“I thought as much. I anticipated that the opportunity wouldn’t come to me.”

Serpina’s shocking revelation left me more surprised than her.

“Did you truly think that?”

With a bitter smile, she replied,

“Didn’t I say so? Even while walking the streets, sitting on the throne, and even now… Every breath feels filled with hostility towards me. Whenever an opportunity arose, it seemed to fade away instantly. Most of my actions during what I thought were perfect timings ended in failure.”

“Our state hasn’t collapsed. Given our imperial foundation and lack of unnecessary disputes over the throne, sudden collapse would’ve been unusual. Still, those moments… Reflecting on them, it felt as if the entire world hated me. It led me to think…”

“Perhaps I am not destined to become the monarch of the Unified Empire.”

“My Lord…”

“Swoen, haven’t you wondered? Why, despite controlling all of the Northern Continent and possessing immense power, has our nation failed to rebuild the former glory of the Unified Empire for so long? Why do rebellions occur so frequently? And why… every time an opportune moment arises, we always get tripped up?”

I couldn’t respond, bowing my head. Inputting ‘why’ into my mind would only output [Unknown].

“But thanks to your ‘Mind’s Eye,’ everything becomes clear. I… was not born with the destiny to achieve it. What flows through me is not the fate to build the Unified Empire, but merely the last lineage of the Einhardt Empire. If the karma of the Einhardt family, which has survived by consuming so much blood, is holding me back, then perhaps…”

She looked at me with a bitter smile.

That same fragile expression, teetering on the brink of breaking.

“―Perhaps I myself am the final obstacle to this nation.”

Her words only reinforced my certainty.

Serpina truly possessed insight.

Based solely on the premise “I cannot become the Unified Monarch,” she deduced that her death would bring unity to the nation.

Even with her superior knowledge of the country compared to mine, very few people could view themselves so objectively.

Yes.

She is not incompetent.

It’s just… as long as she lives, the goddess of fate favors Lady Luna instead of her.

That’s all.

Why, though?

Once again, my unpredictable whims began to take control of me.

“This is merely the result up until now.”

“…What?”

“At this exact moment, the answer to whether My Lord can unify the continent remains negative. However, the predictions of the Mind’s Eye are valid only at that specific point. Situations can change, leading to entirely different answers.”

My words weren’t lies.

They represent the current outcome; there’s no unchangeable inevitability forcing this result.

Just look at how she evaded her fated death twice already. Her continued existence before my eyes proves it.

“Therefore, I believe it’s a bit premature to think this way. Focusing on governing the nation and striving for the best possible outcomes might be a better course of action.”

After speaking, I was astonished by my own words.

If I were solely acting as Lady Luna’s strategist, there’d be no need for such statements. I wouldn’t have thought telling her the truth would lead to regrets, and vague equivocations like “I don’t know” would’ve been ideal. After all, shaking her unnecessarily might disrupt Lady Luna’s destined path to becoming the Unified Monarch. Isn’t my reason for gritting my teeth to save Lady Serpina rooted in keeping Lady Luna’s promise?

Yet, here I am.

Not thinking about who will become the emperor of the Unified Empire…

But hoping solely that Lady Serpina doesn’t fall.

Wishing she wouldn’t be sad. Wishing she wouldn’t let superstitions like bad karma discourage her.

Such an emotional judgment—it can’t be helped. Why? What is she to me?

“Swoen…”

Hearing my words, Serpina paused briefly before—

“…Ahaha.”

Bursting into laughter.

For the first time, she laughed so joyfully.

At that moment,

The sunlight streaming through the window illuminated her flowing golden hair and radiant white cheeks.

“Thank you, Swoen.”

“……!!”

“Indeed, following your advice, seizing opportunities will require the help of your ‘Mind’s Eye.'”

Serpina extended her hand toward me.

The Absolute Ruler.

Reaching forward with her pristine hand while ruling over her subjects exudes an elegance fitting of her commanding presence. I’ve often felt her charisma as her subordinate when observing the tyrant of the Northern Continent.

But in this moment,

Serpina extending her hand wasn’t as an overlord looking down on me—

But as a companion walking side by side.

“I look forward to working together, Swoen.”

Thump.

Thump.

Against the vivid rhythm of my pounding heart, there was nothing I could do.