Chapter 213

Under Mets’ orders, with their hands bound, they arrived at the Audience Chamber—

“General…!”

“You’ve come, General Hutton…”

“Seria…? Even Lord Muegeldorf…”

All the generals who had led troops were there in pajamas, their hands bound as they knelt.

Hutton instinctively realized the empty space among them was his spot. He moved to sit down before turning his head to look at Mets.

“What is the meaning of this, Mets?”

“Look around you. The situation should become clear.”

Only then did Hutton glance about—

Soldiers from Tevelo Castle were glaring at them.

This atmosphere. Those eyes staring at them.

“Of course…!”

Right at that moment—

From afar, Lady Lunarien slowly approached.

“You’re all gathered now.”

“Lady Luna! What is the meaning of this?!”

With an icy gaze, Luna looked down at them and spoke.

“General Hutton, General Seria, and General Muegeldorf—I apologize deeply, but for the time being, I must ask you to remain quiet. If you cooperate, your lives will not be harmed. Please calm yourselves.”

“No, suddenly binding us and now demanding cooperation is absurd!”

At that moment.

Realization struck Hutton, and he trembled as he stared at Luna’s face.

“Could it be… Lady Luna, are you planning a rebellion?”

“…”

“Speak! Despite being an outsider, you’ve always been trusted without bias. Could you truly stab our lord in the back? Of everyone, shouldn’t you be the one who doesn’t betray Lord Karelia?!”

Luna remained silent.

Her ruby-red eyes were unusually cold today.

“Lord Karelia… Lady Makana Karelia isn’t fit to bring order to this Era of Chaos. To plant the roots of true peace, her methods won’t suffice. That’s all.”

“To say such things!! And from you of all people…!”

Hutton shouted furiously.

“Strategist Vanessa was right! You weren’t trustworthy after all!”

“Hold your tongue, General Hutton! Vanessa—Lady Luna—”

“Mets.”

At Luna’s words, Mets immediately closed his mouth, clearly understanding she didn’t want him bringing up his own earlier predicament.

“Francis. Help Mets escort these men to the underground prison until matters settle.”

“Yes!”

“This can’t be happening! Lady Luna, you’ll regret this! This rebellion will never succeed—”

Thud!

Mets struck Hutton hard on the neck, silencing him instantly.

Sighing briefly, Mets turned to Seria and Muegeldorf.

“He’s just unconscious. If you cooperate, we don’t need to resort to violence. Once everything is sorted out, you’ll be released. For now, please stay quiet.”

“…”

Seria and Muegeldorf said nothing. In this situation, there was nothing they could do.

Thus, under Mets’ supervision, the three generals were escorted to the dungeon. Alone with Francis, Luna approached seriously.

“How are the captains who followed the generals?”

“They’re all currently being detained, but couldn’t some be persuaded to follow us?”

No. Anyone stationed outside Tevelo Castle should be locked up. A rebellion has little chance of success, so only those we fully trust should be relied upon.”

Though deciding might take thought, once decided, absolute coldness was necessary. Impressed by Luna’s resolve, Francis bowed his head.

“I understand. I was shortsighted.”

Relaxing slightly, Luna smiled wryly.

“Not at all. The rest… I’ll leave to Francis. Can you handle it?”

Flushing slightly, Francis responded loudly and confidently.

“Yes! All will be imprisoned responsibly. Don’t worry; I’ll take care of it.”

After Francis left with his troops, Luna let out a long sigh in the now quiet Audience Chamber. She had been trembling since earlier.

It felt like her legs might give out at any moment. When Hutton glared at her like he wanted to devour her, she didn’t know how to respond because what he said was true. Even if Vanessa had planned something, it was still only a plan—

And what Luna was doing now, to anyone watching, was morally wrong.

Luna wasn’t bold. She was rather timid. Not cunning either. More like prey than predator. Yet, despite knowing nothing about rebellion, she had someone to guide her—a short-lived companion who always remained calm, her opposite in every way.

“If Sir Swoen were here… he’d say this.”

Sir Swoen was her compass. Whether deciding not to rebel or deciding to rebel, she followed answers derived from “What would Sir Swoen do?” It was why she judged internal personnel safer for the rebellion.

Even though she hadn’t worked closely with Swoen for long and he was ultimately a stranger, imagining his thoughts made her fearless. Though his body wasn’t present, his spirit seemed ever-present.

Because Sir Swoen is here, I’m not afraid. Because Sir Swoen is here, I can do anything.

Sir Swoen made it possible for the cautious Luna to command this dire situation with clinical precision.

“I can do this. I must. I absolutely cannot miss this opportunity.”

Throwing herself into the chaos of the era, she willingly plunged her pristine hands into murky waters—all to keep her promise to Swoen.

By this point, Swoen loomed larger in her heart than when he was physically present.

* * *

Once the situation stabilized…

In the late-night Audience Chamber, everyone in the “Lunarien faction” stood on either side of Luna, who sat in the seat of authority.

Soon after—

Two men entered, kneeling.

“We have returned, Lady Luna.”

“All have been securely imprisoned.”

Luna bowed her head to Mets and Francis, who acted first.

“You both have my deepest gratitude.”

Then Violet, standing nearby, carefully spoke.

“Lady Luna, you’ve forgotten an important order.”

“An order?”

“Regarding how to handle prisoners who resist and plot to overturn the situation.”

“…”

Understanding Violet’s implication, Luna hung her head. Knowing there was no turning back…

Facing the responsibilities resting on her shoulders was difficult.

“Make your decision, Lady Luna.”

Indeed.

There was no room for hesitation now. For the sake of staying true to Sir Swoen, she had to take full responsibility here.

“Mets, you’re overseeing the dungeons, correct?”

“Yes.”

“If any prisoner shows suspicious behavior or unrelenting defiance, I grant you the authority to execute them on the spot. I will bear all responsibility.”

At Luna’s words, Mets bowed deeply and replied loudly.

“Yes!”

Having committed to this path, showing weakness in any aspect was unacceptable. Otherwise, they’d surely be consumed.

Finally making her decision, Luna slowly rose from her seat.

She looked at those who followed her.

Her childhood friend Tifa.

Cain, who had helped her nation.

The three young ones Cain brought and raised—Francis, Charlotte, and Violet.

Including Mets, the generals who joined from the Karelia Army.

“Everyone.”

Luna imprinted each of their faces into her memory. And again, she recalled the face of the man who would one day become her strategist, even though he wasn’t present now.

“I intend to establish a new nation here at Tevelo Castle, separate from the Karelia Army. Will you leave Karelia and follow me as your ruler?”

“Yes!”

After deeply engraving their resolute voices in her mind—

She drew the sword at her waist and extended it forward.

I can’t entrust the world to Serpina or Lin.

And… I can’t entrust it to Makana Karelia either.

Still holding onto that belief—

She cautiously spoke.

“I, Lunarien Iniyan, hereby proclaim the establishment of the New Lunarien Army starting today! Our capital is this very Tevelo Castle. Help me. I vow to end this Era of Chaos and usher in an age of peace for all those suffering!”

The Lunarien Army, which once proclaimed its ideals at Jeilrant Castle but faded away so tragically from history’s stage, re-emerged after a long time on the Southern Continent.