Chapter 199

For several minutes, I just spent time silently by her side.

Before I knew it, Serpina, having stopped crying, turned her head and spoke.

“……You must think this is quite the unsightly scene.”

Her face was as red as a red bean, clearly visible even from where I stood—so much so that, in what can only be described as an act of utmost disrespect, I found myself thinking how utterly cute she looked.

“That goes for me too. And I don’t think it’s an unsightly scene at all.”

“……”

I could feel my eyes puffing up. Just moments ago, Serpina and I had both been shedding tears: she in her way, and me in mine.

That’s why right now, my mind felt clearer than ever. If only hers had reached the same clarity…

I broke the silence and cautiously changed the subject.

“By the way… I did hear some of the story from General Iren, but could you tell me exactly what happened?”

“If you’ve heard the story, then the explanation will be quick. It was just about that extent.”

“The assassination attempt…?”

“……”

Serpina slowly closed her eyes. Recalling the facts seemed to be quite difficult for her.

The one who had targeted her life… was Reni, the de facto leader of her bodyguards, someone she trusted above all others.

I knew him well too. Though we’d never spoken, he was always present whenever she moved about. A man with the weight of many experiences carried in his demeanor, yet someone absent from my memory entirely.

Without pressing her further, I waited patiently.

After what felt like ages, she finally parted her lips carefully.

“It was Reni’s last real career move. Escorting her.”

I listened quietly as she continued.

“Reni, who led the knights even when the empire was intact… was a reliable man. Not long after ascending to the ruler’s position, before things were fully settled… he said he could easily serve as a shield. Even back then, and especially in a situation where there truly wasn’t anyone trustworthy around, Reni was one of the most dependable commanders.”

And yet, it seems Reni eventually turned his hidden blade on himself.

“The woman Shura, who appeared to have joined forces with him, was also recommended by Reni. She was a rough but talented woman. She seemed ashamed of her humble origins, so I told her many times not to worry about the blood running through her veins.”

Shura was another face I’d seen a few times. Though she and Reni never spoke to me, I should’ve noticed the faint glimmer of malice in her eyes. That oversight stung.

“You suspected there might be an assassination attempt when you assigned Iren as her bodyguard. Wanting to keep Iren close… wasn’t that a rather clumsy lie, Swoen?”

“…”

“But I couldn’t doubt him. I never once thought Reni would raise a sword against me. Truly, I was far too complacent, wasn’t I?”

“Not at all. I should’ve… paid closer attention to detail.”

Why hadn’t I suspected the bodyguards?

Predicting such events is surely within the realm of gods, not humans. It was an unreasonably harsh expectation placed on both Serpina and myself.

In that sense, Lady Iren’s response was nearly perfect. She managed to preemptively block Reni’s actions before he could even make a move.

The problem was the woman Shura. Judging from the circumstances, it seemed Shura targeted Iren while Reni aimed for Serpina. Given that Iren had kept the possibility of an assassination attempt in mind, if it had been anyone else, they likely wouldn’t have survived without knowing why.

Perhaps…

If Lady Serpina hadn’t thrown herself into harm’s way, Lady Iren might have…

Unconsciously, I clenched my fists. The woman called Shura was summarily executed on the spot, and Reni reportedly lost the use of both his legs. Naturally, I hoped he was still alive. Whoever was behind this, including Reni…

There was no way I could rest easy without addressing this.

At that moment.

“Truly laughable, isn’t it?”

Serpina sighed lightly and gave a bitter smile.

“Ultimately, I’ve realized once again that there’s no one left by her side… and yet, why does my heart ache so much? All that has happened thus far is merely repeating itself… so why does it feel so unbearably sorrowful? Do I even have the right to feel this way at this point…? I simply… don’t know anymore.”

“Perhaps… I’m destined to never become the Empress of the Unified Empire…”

“That’s not true.”

As gently as possible…

“As I mentioned earlier, these things change depending on the situation at hand—”

“…”

Serpina slowly opened her eyes and looked directly at me.

“And what about now?”

“Excuse me?”

“Has my fate changed? Can I become the unified ruler?”

Seeing me hesitate to answer, Serpina turned her head away again and cautiously added,

“…Sorry. I’m acting childish towards you.”

“Not at all.”

“To break down over something so trivial would mean I have no face to meet those who bore the name of Einhardt and fell before me… I am fully aware of that.”

An assassination attempt is anything but trivial.

Still, considering this was her way of finding strength, throwing words of comfort carelessly would be inappropriate.

So perhaps the best course of action is simply to support her from the side.

Carefully, I took her hand in mine and said,

“I believe you, Lady Serpina.”

“…”

“Didn’t I say it before? I believe every word you say.”

Serpina stared deeply into my eyes for a long moment before puffing her cheeks slightly with a hint of irritation.

…She’s adorable.

“…You don’t call me ‘Lord,’ do you.”

“…”

Through her seemingly adorable exterior, my heart aches again. She anticipated it.

The day I would leave her side.

Having broached the topic to this extent, I couldn’t pretend ignorance any longer.

But…

Now is not the time.

Given her current state—both physically and emotionally—it wasn’t appropriate to delve into my inner thoughts. So once more, I put on the mask of the strategist with the Mind’s Eye.

“…Does the title matter, Lord? After all, I currently serve no one but you.”

“It feels like bowing in reverence.”

She said that, then slowly turned her head toward me. Her golden eyes, which had shed countless tears and grown clear, sparkled like a galaxy.

“Even so, it’s fine. I’ve prepared myself.”

“Prepared yourself?”

“Yes. No matter the day you leave my side… I’ve resolved not to blame you.”

Serpina smiled as she said this.

It was strange.

Just moments ago, her smile seemed fragile, ready to shatter at any second… but now it felt much stronger.

She is truly strong. Lady Serpina.

“And still… my chance hasn’t disappeared.”

With that, she grabbed my wrist.

I didn’t resist, allowing her to hold onto me.

“Swoen, isn’t your willingness to cry with me proof enough?”

“…”

“Seems like I’ve managed to steal a little of your heart from some nameless monarch. Hehehe…”

Her radiant smile made me instinctively look away.

…This is bad.

If things continue like this, I might truly lose all choice in the matter. My heart, my gaze, every compass in my mind… all of them were fiercely pointing toward Serpina.

Thump, thump.

Thump, thump.

Unconsciously, I glanced at her out of the corner of my eye. Her snow-white shoulders caught my attention again.

Though covered by bandages, the massive curves beneath couldn’t be concealed.

I felt a primal instinct stir and quickly turned my head away.

“Swoen.”

Hearing the playful tone in Serpina’s voice, I immediately knew my inner thoughts had been exposed.

“Are you… interested?”

“Excuse me?”

“Am I captivating enough to pique your interest?”

Her voice trembled slightly at the end.

Judging by her expression, it seemed like she was about to burst from the multiple layers of meaning. The charisma of an absolute ruler was nowhere to be found; instead, she reminded me of Lady Iren, embarrassed by her own words.

“That’s going too far, Lord.”

“You don’t find me attractive, do you?”

“How could I possibly entertain such disrespectful thoughts?”

“Do you?”

At that moment,

Serpina tightened her grip on my wrist—

“—Ah.”

Plummet.

Before I knew it, I collapsed onto the bed where she lay.

Right in front of me.

Serpina was lying there.

“Even now?”

“!!!!”

“Even now… do you feel nothing?”

My vision filled with Serpina.

Her golden hair.

The yuzu fragrance wafting from her.

Beneath the white shoulder wrapped in bandages, the undeniable presence of two enormous bosoms.

Suddenly.

A vivid memory of our first kiss surfaced.

It wasn’t just a memory. The image became strikingly vivid.

Her soft tongue. Sticky saliva. The stimulating scent of yuzu permeating her mouth and nose.

I froze, my compass lost, like a machine whose plug had been pulled, unable to think.

“Se…rpina.”

Not Lady Serpina or Lord, just Serpina—

And she, for her part, showed no concern about such formalities, her face flushed red as she gazed at me—

“…Swoen… I’m… fine.”

A woman looking at the man she adores—

“Swoen, if it’s you… you can… do whatever you want… it’s fine…”

‘I AM…!!!!!’

—Knock, knock, knock.

“!!!”

Startled, I immediately sat up from the bed. Serpina, equally startled, distanced herself from me.

What just happened? No, more importantly… what was that sound?

Someone was knocking on the door.

“Phew…”

…Thank goodness.

It was truly fortunate. I almost committed a grave error that could have caused Serpina to misunderstand.

Serpina seemed to regain her composure as well, clearing her throat a few times before pulling the blanket around her and speaking.

“…Open it.”

“…”

Standing up as if nothing had happened, I sighed briefly and opened the door.

And—

“…Huh?”

“U-Um, hello, Sir Swoen…!!”

The person knocking was Reika.

And for some reason, her eyes burned with fervent enthusiasm—

“It’s that… um… I… I have something I want to say…!”

“Something you want to say?”

“Yes! Um… if it’s alright… could you please hear me out…!!!”