Chapter 150

* * *

“SLOW! Pick up the pace!”

“Four!”

“You can’t just rely on your allies’ backs. It’s best to assume no one will protect you on the battlefield. If you want to depend on someone, first you must become someone others can depend on. Understand?”

“Yes, ma’am!”

At Einhardt Castle’s barracks.

Iren, now the deputy commander of the occupying forces, was training her soldiers.

Though Iren’s training standards were quite high, not a single soldier among them fell behind in keeping up with her curriculum.

Of course, as the occupying force, everyone gathered here was already part of Serpina Army’s elite troops. Having quelled the rebellion in the Northern Continent and expanded into the Central Continent, they had gained ample battle experience, allowing them to handle her rigorous training without issue.

And…

There was someone watching all this from afar.

Serpina, the blonde-haired monarch with a unique hairpin, along with her confidant and Nation’s Strategist Jena.

“Any thoughts?”

“I’m astonished. After conducting mock battles for comparison, it seems the soldiers’ combat power has increased nearly twofold.”

“Hmm? I thought a general who achieved glory at the frontlines might be unfamiliar with rear-guard training… but it seems I was mistaken.”

What they didn’t know was that before joining Serpina’s army, Iren spent most of her time training soldiers.

In the early days of Brance Army, while expanding territories endlessly alongside Chel Brance, she actually spent more time stationed at the barracks assigning less important officers than leading grand campaigns. They never imagined such a thing.

Moreover, her being assigned to the barracks was entirely her own request.

Since there wasn’t much for the occupying force to do yet, she suggested helping out with training if needed.

‘A truly remarkable woman, even beyond her reputation.’

“Alright, understood. You have plenty of duties, so feel free to leave.”

“Milady…”

“What is it?”

After looking like she wanted to say something, Jena bowed deeply.

“…Nothing. Then I shall take my leave.”

Serpina didn’t press her further. She figured Jena would speak when she felt ready.

After dismissing Jena, she waited patiently until Iren’s training session ended.

When time passed and the training concluded—

“Milady…?”

She met eyes with Iren, who was wiping sweat and heading to change clothes.

“You’ve worked hard, Iren.”

“No, it’s merely my duty. But… what brings you here?”

“I have business with you.”

“With me…? Could it be… there’s a rebellion somewhere?”

“Not exactly. If we’re being precise… it’s more related to you than me.”

Confused, Iren tilted her head slightly, causing Serpina to chuckle.

“You’re surprisingly feminine despite appearances.”

“Huh…?”

“Nah, don’t worry about idle chatter.”

With a blank expression, Iren looked at Serpina and thought two things:

First, she looks beautiful when she smiles.

Second, Lady Serpina likes making jokes more than expected.

Then…

Without warning, Serpina dove straight into the main topic.

“We’re planning to form an alliance with Brance Army.”

“…!!”

Brance Army.

The nation where Iren once served wholeheartedly, staking everything.

While hoping Lin would recognize her efforts, she endured hardships and injustices—but Lin never acknowledged her till the end.

Ultimately, if not for Swoen, she might not even be alive today.

“So sentimental, Iren.”

“…!!”

Realizing her inner thoughts had been exposed, Iren quickly bowed apologetically.

“I apologize. It’s just—”

“There’s nothing to apologize for. Speak freely.”

Bowing her head, Iren replied solemnly.

“As a member of Serpina Army, I’ll follow whatever Milady decides.”

“Well, I didn’t come here just to tell you about the alliance.”

“Then…?”

Smiling mischievously, Serpina approached Iren.

A citrusy scent tickled Iren’s nose.

“She will be coming here.”

“…?”

“The woman… the one who abandoned you, Lin Brance.”

“!!!”

Lin Brance—

That woman… is coming here?

“May I ask why?”

“It was my condition for the alliance. She’ll arrive here, abandoning all pride, to shake hands with me—the despised tyrant, Serpina von Einhardt, whom everyone across the continent considers worthy of hatred.”

Upon hearing this, Iren easily grasped Serpina’s intentions.

‘So Milady plans to isolate Lin using her image as a tyrant…’

Even Iren herself initially held a poor impression of Serpina before meeting her directly. From an uninformed third party’s perspective, witnessing this scene would likely make them rethink their opinion of Lin.

Then…

“Seren.”

“Yes?”

“You mentioned before… how Lin Brance abandoned you, right?”

“…Yes.”

“Would you mind telling me more about it?”

After hesitating briefly, Iren nodded and recounted her story concisely: starting from being demoted after establishing military merit, enduring constant rejection until meeting Swoen, and eventually defecting to join Aishias Army together.

Serpina listened silently throughout.

Once the story ended,

Serpina spoke first.

“This is a good opportunity, Iren. How about showing yourself to Lin this time?”

“Me…?”

“Yes.”

Serpina smiled contentedly.

“She needs to fully understand what she did wrong. Don’t you think? Hehehe…”

“…”

Iren recalled her former lord—the woman who drove her into despair despite her unwavering loyalty.

Though it felt strange, considering it was now irrelevant old news, she still wanted to accommodate her current ruler Serpina.

“Just stay by my side. That alone will make her reflect deeply… whether she can rise above or not depends solely on her. And…”

Serpina said seriously.

“One who betrayed a subordinate under my command so cruelly cannot go unpunished. I simply cannot let this slide.”

“Milady…”

Serpina’s sincerity was evident.

There was no denying it.

Among all the lords she’d encountered, Serpina cared for Iren the most.

“I understand. I’ll do as Milady wishes.”

“Good. Oh, and one more thing.”

Serpina casually placed her hand on Iren’s shoulder and dropped a name effortlessly.

“Swoen… what does he mean to you?”

“…Excuse me?”

As soon as Swoen’s name was mentioned, Iren’s eyes began trembling violently.

Seeing this, Serpina internally mused how easy it was to read her thoughts before asking again.

“To be exact, what role does Swoen play in your life?”

“Swoen… well, he… he’s my comrade…”

“A comrade, huh?”

“Yes.”

“…”

Serpina remained silent for a moment, then placed her hand on Iren’s shoulder again.

“Iren, I believe we can become great comrades.”

Leaving those words behind, she gradually faded from sight.

Iren stared blankly at Serpina’s retreating back before reflecting on their conversation.

‘Honestly, I never thought I’d meet her again…’

Closing her eyes, Iren remembered her former lord.

Despite their hurried departure, ultimately she never got to properly bid farewell.

‘Thinking of it as a final goodbye wouldn’t be bad…’

Iren no longer harbored any lingering feelings for Lin.

Because someone else had already filled her heart.

So, this would truly be the last time.

Thinking this, she headed toward her quarters to wash off her sweat-soaked body.

…Though Serpina’s comment about becoming “good comrades” lingered in her mind somewhat—

she chose not to dwell on it too much.

* * *

For Lin, traveling to Einhardt Castle was far from a pleasant experience.

Not only had she rarely ventured such long distances since becoming monarch,

but every time she passed through territories once belonging to Brance Army but now lost, an indescribable sense of regret welled up deep within her chest.

This feeling was strongest when passing Kelshtain Castle, formerly a gateway to the north.

Seeing the towering spires of Kelshtain Castle adorned not with Brance Army’s blue flag but Serpina Army’s yellow banner felt like torture to Lin.

All these misfortunes stemmed from her stubbornness.

If only she hadn’t decided to kill Iren back then…

‘How agonizing…’

Whenever night fell and sleep eluded her, Parphale would approach to comfort her.

“Milady, steel your resolve. Showing weakness isn’t allowed. Though we seek an alliance now, patience will bring opportunities.”

“I know…”

Still, she pressed onward toward the northern continent.

How had it come to this?

She came here to plant her army’s banner, believing victory was within reach…

Had she only heeded Swoen’s advice, perhaps they could’ve advanced north successfully.

Her own poor decisions cost her the opportunity before her very eyes.

Eventually, the once proud rival of Serpina Army and dominant force in the central continent, Brance Army, became reduced to having its territories seized by Hesna Army.

Although she admitted all this was her fault, revisiting these mistakes visually was incredibly taxing on her mental health.

If Serpina had anticipated all this when inviting her here…

‘Miserable wretch…!’

Clamping down on her lips until blood pooled in her mouth, Lin kept thinking, reconsidering.

Though enduring this humiliation now for the sake of Brance Army’s national interests…

One day, when fortune favors Brance Army again, then…

‘Serpina von Einhardt… I’ll personally sever your head with these hands…!’

After several more days of travel,

“Milady, we’ve arrived.”

Finally reaching Einhardt Castle, a soldier from Serpina Army approached immediately.

“Are you Lin Brance of Brance Army?”

Clearly, this was a visiting foreign monarch seeking an alliance.

Yet the soldier showed no courtesy.

Power disparity.

The leisure of those who know full well the other side’s desperation.

Swallowing the boiling rage within her, Lin forced a smile onto her face and responded calmly.

“…Yeah, that’s me. Where’s Serpina?”

“Please wait. We need to conduct a body search before entry.”

“What? What nonsense are you—!”

Just as an armed Brance soldier behind her couldn’t hold back any longer and prepared to protest,

Parphale extended a firm hand to stop him.

“Restrain yourself. Do you wish to undo all Milady’s efforts?”

“…Grrr…”

Nodding, Lin quietly submitted to the soldier’s body search.

Several minutes later,

“Is the inspection complete?”

From afar, a woman’s voice rang out.

“Affirmative!”

“…Huh?”

Having finished the body search, Lin froze upon hearing an oddly familiar female voice.

“This voice… I know it somehow…”

Beyond the soldiers, a woman walked forward.

A red-haired knight wearing a silver circlet.

Her armor bore the crest of House Einhardt.

In her violet eyes, unwavering loyalty shone brightly.

“!!!!!”

And…

Lin instantly recognized the voice and face.

“Could… could it be?”

“How is this possible…!”

It wasn’t just Lin.

Even Parphale and the other armed personnel accompanying Brance Army stiffened upon seeing the approaching knight.

“I-Iren…!!!”

The red-haired knight, Iren.

The one who vowed lifelong devotion to her…

Now stood clad in armor bearing the crest of House Einhardt, gazing at her.