Chapter 109

* * *

Down in the underground prison of Anel Castle, the capital of the Brance Army…

“Here’s your food for today.”

For a warden handing out meals to prisoners, this voice was unusually polite.

But there was a reason for that.

Because the person imprisoned here was none other than…

“Thank you.”

…the former Nation’s Strategist, Parphale.

“Is there anything else you need?”

“No, I’m quite comfortable thanks to all the accommodations. Thank you very much.”

“It’s only proper service.”

“My Lord…?”

“There hasn’t been any word yet… But General Chel said to ask you to please wait a little longer while he tries to persuade.”

“I see.”

Parphale nodded before replying with a resolute tone:

“I truly appreciate all the favors shown to me. I will never forget this kindness.”

“Not at all. Then, excuse me.”

The warden gave a light salute to Parphale before stepping back.

As his footsteps faded away, her thoughts became clearer.

Imprisonment.

Parphale’s crime: disobeying orders and abusing authority.

Despite being ordered to fight against the Aishias Army, she acted on her own judgment, leading troops near the capital Anel Castle – and now bore responsibility for it.

Her independent actions enraged Lin, who yelled about “disobeying orders being tantamount to treason, and traitors must be executed.” Only the surrounding ministers managed to calm her down enough to settle for imprisonment.

Though solitary confinement, it wasn’t particularly uncomfortable.

Meals arrived regularly, books were provided, there was even a personal bathroom and a simple bed – all specially arranged after Parphale’s imprisonment. Even Lin, as ruler, didn’t nitpick about these details.

Perhaps Lin also realized that this approach was ultimately correct after calming down.

That was Parphale’s guess.

“My Lord…”

Even in this state, Parphale hadn’t severed ties with Lin.

True, Lin could be overly self-reliant, arrogant, and unheeding of others’ advice. But if things improved and nothing disrupted her heart, she was an exceptionally capable ruler who could move forward without hesitation.

Though some called Lin a tyrant, she wasn’t someone who carried bloodshed like Serpina from the north.

From Parphale’s perspective, believing the world needed a ruler’s charisma, Lin was the only one worth serving.

Besides, if Lin were truly beyond redemption, her head wouldn’t still be attached to her shoulders.

Parphale let out a short sigh.

Miss Iren Julieat’s issue was already out of our hands.

Now was the time to strengthen our base at Anel Castle once more.

If Lin decided to seek counsel now, Parphale would rush to her side anytime.

“For heaven’s sake, open your eyes, my Lord!”

Until then, she had to survive.

Parphale ate every last bit of the food given to her, forcing it down.

To continue this stubborn life.

* * *

Meanwhile, at the royal palace of Anel Castle…

General Chel knelt before Lin.

“My Lord. It’s been several weeks since Parphale was imprisoned.”

“…”

“Please reconsider now. Her decisions were made out of loyalty. Moreover, she still has much to do for you. With the precarious situation against the Serpina Army, we must forgive her sins and reinstate her importance.”

Chel spoke frankly.

In truth, he was the only one who could speak freely to Lin, the absolute authority of this nation. Not only because of their familial bond but also due to countless merits earned, unlike Kalintz.

Lin understood this too.

She knew her dignity couldn’t last forever in these chaotic times. Objectively, the Brance Army had lost over half its territory. She was well aware that commanders’ loyalty towards her had somewhat diminished due to recent events.

But even so…

She couldn’t afford to give in completely here.

The moment a ruler shows weakness is when they’re most vulnerable to attack. This was something her father had repeatedly warned her about.

“Big Brother. Isn’t it strange?”

“What is it?”

“If Parphale’s assessment was right, the Serpina Army should’ve attacked our territory by now… Yet, there’s been no significant movement. Because we’ve openly shown signs of losing morale, the lords and soldiers guarding the border feel abandoned, causing further chaos. They’re focusing on defending the capital for your sake, but I can’t keep holding them back much longer.”

“That’s…”

Indeed.

If following Parphale’s reasoning, all the castles around Anel should’ve fallen to the Serpina Army by now.

They would keep advancing, and we wouldn’t be able to stop them, making it necessary to withdraw our forces – that was Parphale’s opinion.

However, the Serpina Army had halted their advance sometime ago.

This prolonged abandonment had caused accumulated discontent among the border soldiers and commanders.

“…I think it’s just a matter of time.”

“No. Maybe Parphale’s judgment was wrong?”

“My Lord…”

Lin sighed deeply at Chel’s words.

“I know, Big Brother.”

I know Parphale’s judgment wasn’t absurd… She muttered while lowering her head.

Lin couldn’t maintain a strong front anymore.

Typically, she’d have shouted multiple times at even her older brother Chel… But she couldn’t do that now.

She too was cornered.

“…Big Brother. Listen.”

“…”

Chel silently focused on Lin’s words.

“If… If Swoen were here.”

Swoen.

The white-haired man who summoned miracles.

The commander who betrayed us, following Miss Iren Julieat to the Aishias Army.

“If Swoen were here, what would he say? What would he suggest…”

Her voice began trembling.

Her blue eyes started shaking violently.

“After all… Looking back, everything he said was right… He… He fell for Iren’s deception… Is that why… Is that why things turned out this way? So… Me…”

She covered her face with both hands.

The woman who once maintained high charisma was now breaking down right before her subordinate commander.

Chel had seen this side of her before. Before she became ruler, this weaker side often showed only to him, her blood relative.

“I… I should’ve acknowledged Iren, shouldn’t I?”

“…”

“Since childhood, despite being born solely for our family, hearing that she surpassed me in every aspect… By not acknowledging her, did this happen…?”

Silence.

Adding more words now would only make things worse, and Chel knew this all too well.

“No. I couldn’t acknowledge her. I should’ve killed Iren earlier. I should’ve cut off her head sooner. Then… Swoen…”

He always said the right things.

He pledged loyalty to me.

Yet he fell for Iren’s deception. He betrayed me.

“There’s no way MY Swoen would fall for her!!!”

“MY LORD, CALM DOWN!”

Chel rushed to restrain her as she clawed at her own hair.

“Let go! Let me go!”

“LIN! Calm down!”

“!!!”

Startled by someone calling her name, Lin looked up at Chel with wide eyes.

Standing before her wasn’t a national general but her older brother.

An expression she hadn’t seen since childhood.

“Calm down, Lin. There’s nothing we can change now.”

“Big Brother… I…”

“Take your time to think. We can rebuild from scratch. You’re the ruler. You can’t waver now. The fate of this country rests on your shoulders… Understand?”

Without waiting for a response, Lin lowered her head.

Chel didn’t expect one anyway, slowly moving away before bowing deeply.

“I earnestly implore you to make the right decision.”

Then he quietly left the royal palace.

Alone in the royal palace, Lin finally began realizing…

The unreasonable ‘choice’ made based on emotions and what consequences it brought.

* * *

At Falahart Royal Palace…

“A messenger from the Serpina Army?”

“Yes.”

“Why? Our envoy hasn’t arrived yet, right? Did they pass each other along the way?”

Even if they did pass each other, it seemed far too much time had passed.

They should’ve arrived long ago.

Upon hearing Yuuri’s question, the messenger delivering the news replied with a troubled expression.

“I apologize, but I don’t fully understand the situation either…”

“Alright.”

It was slightly concerning, but surely nothing serious, right?

“Let them in.”

“Understood.”

Soon after, a messenger knelt before Yuuri.

“Greetings, Lady Yuuri, ruler of the Aishias Army.”

“Skip the formalities. Get straight to the point.”

“We’ve come to discuss the treatment of prisoner Anima Ingram.”

Hearing this, Yuuri immediately stood up in surprise.

“Anima… ?”

Isn’t this something Swen, our envoy, should handle?

Why send a separate messenger directly to us?

“…Alright, speak.”

“Our lord, Lady Serpina, intends to release prisoner Anima Ingram.”

“If she intends to release her, why create such a farce?”

Feeling frustrated, Yuuri’s tone became somewhat aggressive, but the messenger maintained composure while replying politely.

“There is a condition.”

“Didn’t we already send 7900 gold? Is that not enough?”

“It isn’t.”

Apparently, they’ve recognized how important Commander Anima is to our army.

Yuuri shivered internally.

‘What a slippery woman…!’

What exactly are they demanding?

Surely not… Raclaine Castle or Jestrom Castle?

Within Yuuri’s understanding, those would be the maximum demands Serpina could make.

If they asked for a castle…

Honestly, it could be handed over.

There would definitely be complaints about overpaying, but since those castles were likely to be taken anyway, ensuring Anima’s safety would be the better choice.

Jinoru had previously stated that maintaining the three border castles would be strategically disadvantageous in the long term for our army.

“Fine. What do they want?”

But…

What came out of the messenger’s mouth was something Yuuri had never considered.

“One man sent as our envoy.”

“Swen? What about Swen?”

“Hand him over to us.”

“!!!”

Wha…?

With an expression of disbelief, Yuuri listened as the messenger calmly continued…

Placing the ‘ultimate choice’ upon the ruler of the Aishias Army.

“Hand Swen over to our army. In return, we’ll release Anima Ingram.”