Chapter 194

The day after.

I practically became an exclusive attendant to Serpina, spending so much time close to her that it could be said as much.

Wherever she went, I naturally followed—no questions asked.

Then one day, Serpina told me to become her husband.

In other words—*a proposal*. She essentially asked me to marry her.

Of course, there was no ensuing horror story of forced marriage or death threats if I refused—but whenever our gazes accidentally met during conversations…

“……♥”

Because of Serpina’s coy little smiles, I’d get all flustered and couldn’t focus on my work properly.

Thinking about it now, if she had pushed herself onto me even more aggressively, I would’ve probably started wanting to distance myself from her. But Serpina was surprisingly good at maintaining that perfect “line”—hovering just close enough to make me anxious but not too much. It was almost like a brilliant strategy in itself.

Even when this stunning blonde beauty with dazzling golden eyes earnestly declared she wanted my child…

…I somehow managed to keep my composure, which I guess is pretty impressive.

Whenever we ventured outside the Royal Palace or manor, four bodyguards—including me—were always by her side.

Among them was someone incredibly precious to me—Iren. She was the only one who knew about the possibility of Serpina being assassinated.

Though protecting a monarch isn’t exactly fitting for the deputy commander of an occupying force, I didn’t mind because it was what I wanted. Besides, Lin had been trained since childhood to serve as a bodyguard, and despite rising to become a general known as “the specialist in siege warfare,” this task suited her perfectly.

I frequently exchanged information with Iren.

“Something seems off, doesn’t it?”

Iren lowered her tone slightly before cautiously speaking up.

“I don’t sense any strange signs. There’s no unusual rumors going around either.”

Believing that an assassination attempt would have clear warning signs, I’ve been discussing things regularly with Iren lately. Based on her words, nothing seemed particularly suspicious at the moment. Still, I asked her to inform me immediately if anything felt out of place, and she remained focused on her duties.

“But the chances of something happening are still extremely high.”

“I know that. Especially since you’re saying it, Swoen. I’ll continue keeping an eye out. The rest of the bodyguards are also highly skilled, so there’s no need to worry too much.”

Watching Iren say this reminded me of something.

Come to think of it…

She no longer demands concrete reasons from me. Even now, she simply trusts my words—”Lord, you’re in danger”—and quietly carries out whatever tasks I assign her without question.

After learning about my ability called the “Mind’s Eye,” Serpina stopped questioning my decisions as well.

Both Iren and Serpina… After realizing how often my predictions turned out to be correct, they began placing immense trust in me. This thought made me suddenly recall another person—a ruler with ruby-colored eyes who believed in me unconditionally, even though I hadn’t shown them anything yet.

“…”

“Swoen?”

“No, it’s just…my head feels a bit cluttered.”

“If anything’s bothering you, feel free to talk about it. I’ll help however I can.”

“Thank you.”

After having such conversations with Lady Iren…

It was time again to give advice on national affairs to Serpina.

“Following your orders, Lord Rud has been dispatched to Roze Castle.”

“Well done.”

Once again, the best possible outcome will likely roll in. Though I’m not entirely sure how everything works, it’s becoming familiar that our army benefits from these results.

Without the official title, I’m effectively functioning as the Nation’s Strategist. Right now, it’s fine since Jena is traveling across the continent investigating potential rebellions, but how will this relationship hold up when she returns? If I were to forcefully take over her position, it would undoubtedly cause significant problems. There might even be another rebellion, and many people wouldn’t appreciate the sudden appearance of someone like me. Despite having allies like Irian and Iren, certain commanders may still see me as the enemy from the Kelshtain Castle occupation or as a fickle opportunist who replaced three rulers.

And as usual…

After roughly understanding my abilities, she brought up the same question once again.

“Swoen, can Serpina von Einhardt truly become the ruler of a unified continent and seize control of this world?”

When asking this question, her gaze wasn’t that of a leader but rather a curious young girl. It was almost as if she was saying, “I’ve worked so hard already; shouldn’t I qualify by now?”

Of course…

The answer to that question has never changed.

“Not yet, it seems.”

“Hmm? So that’s the case, huh.”

After hearing the same negative response repeatedly, anyone might feel disappointed, but she maintained a confident smile without missing a beat.

“It appears my sincerity and capabilities are still lacking.”

“Milady…”

“But I don’t care at all. Because I have you, Swoen. The white-haired mage who came to me like fate itself…aren’t you right here by my side?”

Saying this, Serpina gently brushed my cheek with her pale hand. I was surprised by how much I didn’t dislike her touch.

“Swoen, if you continue to stay by my side…I am certain I can achieve dominion over the world. With you, rebuilding the glorious empire is no longer a mere dream. I firmly believe that.”

Even though I didn’t respond, she kept talking to me with unwavering confidence.

“Therefore, please continue teaching me various things. Illuminate the path forward for me, Swoen. Until that day comes, you will remain by my side forever. Hehehe…♥”

Serpina looked at me with flushed cheeks, her expression filled with affection. Her voice grew sticky, and her gaze became increasingly intense with desire. Beyond those changes, perhaps the frequency of her appearing fragile has decreased somewhat.

It seems that having me constantly support her, perceived as someone who always speaks the truth, positively impacts her mental health. She seems to trust my words—”predictions change depending on the situation”—and believes that persistence will eventually lead to success. Naturally, she wants to keep me close. The ruler’s attachment to a capable vassal isn’t unusual.

As each following day passed…

Despite continuously telling her, “Your Majesty cannot become the Monarch of the Unified Empire,” Serpina continued leading the nation while relying on me without faltering.

To me, it felt like carrying an enormous burden, resisting the overwhelming evil intent trying to crush her.

“…”

The more time I spent with her, the heavier the stone pressing down on my heart became. However, in the long run, isn’t this not only for Lady Serpina but also for Lady Luna? Luna’s unification conditions required Serpina’s survival, and continuing contact with her under assassination risks was the best way to protect her.

But why does it feel so suffocating?

Without reaching any conclusions about the turmoil in my heart, days slipped by one after another.

* * *

Several days had passed since then.

That day, the sky was unusually blue.

On the outer wall surrounding the Einhardt territory, I was accompanying Serpina. Along with Iren, four bodyguards shadowed her closely ever since leaving the Royal Palace.

For the past few days, I’ve been thinking about my promise to Lady Luna. Could it be due to Lady Serpina recently asking me not to leave her side? Or maybe because of her occasional coy smiles directed at me? Or perhaps, I fear forgetting Lady Luna altogether unless I consciously bring her to mind?

While following behind her, I shamelessly found myself thinking about another ruler.

“…No. Let’s not think about that now.”

After roughly organizing my thoughts, I glanced around curiously, wondering why we had come here specifically, and followed her silently for a moment. Then she pointed ahead and asked me:

“Swoen, do you know where that place is?”

“That’s Uyteneur Castle.”

Uyteneur Castle—the closest small territory to Einhardt Castle. Although small in scale, it had its own royal palace and was strategically crucial due to its proximity to the capital, Einhardt.

And then…

She dropped a bombshell.

“Yes, that’s it. That’s the territory I’ve decided to grant to you.”

“…Pardon?”

Granting a territory?

All territories were directly managed by the monarch. While there were castle lords, since the empire split, centralized governance prevailed instead of granting fiefs and collecting taxes. Thus, the phrase “granting a territory” sounded quite strange.

Indeed, this game didn’t feature such functionality.

Back in the days of the empire, however, different systems were used. For an emperor, granting territories wasn’t unusual. If I hadn’t read historical books out of boredom at the Einhardt Grand Library, I might not have understood what she meant.

In short…

This was essentially a declaration that she intended to keep me by her side until the moment the Unified Empire was reborn.

“Swoen, with you by my side, this Serpina Army will soon unify the continent and revive the once-great Einhardt Empire. When that day comes, I shall bestow upon you a noble title.”

Serpina said this confidently, then turned her head to look at me. Her sunlit golden hair shimmered like jewels.

Her sincere gold eyes, promising to bestow a noble title, contained not a trace of deceit.

The Serpina before me, who needed me more than anyone else…

And Lady Luna, who firmly believed in our agreement without expecting anything in return…

I couldn’t help but lower my head, close my eyes, and sigh.

――Why has it come to this?

—