Chapter 152

* * *

After sending Lin in alone, Parphale regained her composure and began to recap the absurd situation that had just occurred.

“Why is Iren Julieat here…??”

Why had she defected to the Aishias Army when she was supposed to belong to Serpina’s forces?

An unbelievable fact had plunged her into a momentary panic, but now a strange rumor she’d heard recently came to mind.

<'There's a rumor that Baranga Yuri Aishias exchanged one of her own vassals, a white-haired mage, for the return of her country's prisoners, handing him over to Serpina.'>

It was true that there was a white-haired mage within the Aishias Army – undoubtedly the man who had once been part of our own forces.

But the notion of any monarch trading away their own vassal as a condition for prisoner exchange was so absurd that Parphale naturally assumed it was a false rumor spread by Serpina’s side to discredit Yuri and shake the loyalty of her commanders.

It was odd that the supposedly astute Serpina would resort to such an outlandish rumor.

But…

Upon reflection – Iren hadn’t come alone.

She had brought with her Swen, the white-haired mage who had worked miracles at the Northern Fortress.

Given their previous collaboration, Iren being here under Serpina’s command meant…

“Could it be… that the rumor is true?”

That a ruler would sell out her own vassal for prisoner repatriation?

What kind of ridiculous story was this that offered no gain whatsoever and should never happen?

But if it were true…

Parphale easily envisioned the worst-case scenario for Lin.

The truth was, what troubled Lin most wasn’t losing Iren.

It was losing Swen that weighed heaviest on her heart.

Because losing Iren ultimately meant losing Swen, which was why Iren kept coming up in conversation. After returning from prison and staying by Lin’s side, Parphale quickly realized this.

When they encountered Iren, Lin seemed to hold up somehow.

But what if she were to face Swen?

“Miss Lin!”

Please.

If there truly is a deity watching over us Bran’s Army…

Do not place any more trials upon our lord.

With the authority of religion lost in these chaotic times, there was nothing else Parphale could do but pray.

* * *

“I shall serve Miss Lin from here on.”

“My modest talents have been graciously recognized by Miss Lin, allowing me to join Bran’s Army. This place seems like an excellent stage to realize my dreams. My dream is not to rule the world myself, but to assist someone who will.”

“My goal is personal advancement. I desire nothing special. Fulfill my wishes, and I shall fulfill yours.”

“Please grant me wings, my lord.”

These moments remained vivid in Lin’s memory.

The man she believed would always remain by her side.

After suffering defeat against the Aishias Army…

Continuously losing territory to Serpina’s forces…

Imprisoning Parphale for acting without orders while being unable to take any action herself, Lin thought of Swen more than anyone else during those trying times.

From the moment they met, he had been extraordinary.

Even as a lowly envoy, his spirit had momentarily overshadowed hers during their private meeting, sparking her interest.

Lin personally rose from her seat to command a battle, destroying an entire nation just to obtain him.

Afterward, he never ceased offering his counsel.

He had said they were ready to expand into the Northern Continent.

He clearly distinguished between winnable and unwinnable battles.

He performed miracles through communication with the heavens.

Why…

Why did I lose him?

Even if he was deceived by Iren… if only I hadn’t treated Iren so poorly, he would surely still be by my side.

If only I hadn’t abandoned Iren…

Then Iren would have protected me. Lin now understood that even if she personally stabbed Iren, she would never have betrayed her.

If only I hadn’t let my pride get in the way…

If only I had followed Swen’s advice and not sent Iren to the Eastern Fortress…

Thus, Lin wasted time with such thoughts.

During this period, our forces effectively lost their commander due to Chel’s injuries and fell into disarray.

But she lacked the energy to do anything. Having lost her compass discovered from a minor nation, she could no longer trust her own decisions.

It took a long time to even consider listening to Parphale’s words.

Though reinstating Parphale helped stabilize the situation up to today, far too much time was wasted before reaching that realization.

If only I hadn’t hated Iren…

No, even if I hated her, things wouldn’t have escalated this far if I hadn’t publicly oppressed her.

Even after Parphale’s return, forgetting Swen proved nearly impossible.

Especially since Parphale herself acknowledged his remarkable talent, which we failed to fully utilize before losing him to the Aishias Army.

This continued to gnaw at her like a sharp tooth piercing her heart.

Still, she had to move forward to take responsibility…

Even enduring humiliation and dancing to Serpina’s tune…

Honestly, I could have overcome Iren.

It wasn’t rational thinking so much as her inherent nature.

While Lin did feel guilt for pushing Iren away, decades-old resentment doesn’t vanish overnight.

Subconsciously, she could brush it aside. With Iren.

But…

The man she personally recruited.

The man who said he would work for her if given the chance to advance…

“Swen…”

Trembling, Lin looked at Swen as he approached with documents.

But Swen’s gaze passed right over her, landing only on the blonde female warlord beside her.

“Regarding last night’s discussion?”

Serpina asked, to which Swen nodded and replied.

“I’ve incorporated everything you mentioned.”

“You truly are tireless. Hoho…”

Serpina regarded Swen with obvious affection.

To which Swen responded with the same loyal expression he once gave Lin.

“It is an honor to assist my lord.”

Not me…

Another woman…

The sound of glass shattering interrupted the seemingly peaceful banquet hall.

A goblet slipped from Lin’s trembling hand, drawing Serpina’s attention.

“Dear Lin, are you alright? Someone, bring a new goblet.”

Sending a soldier off, Serpina feigned concern.

“Are you feeling dizzy?”

“Swen…”

Serpina’s voice barely registered in Lin’s ears.

Only the man she lost haunted her vision.

“Swen… why… why, why…?”

“…”

Swen remained silent, glancing briefly at Serpina.

Who then stepped forward, understanding the situation.

“Do you have business with one of our generals?”

“How… how can you be here…?”

Lin struggled forward, her voice trembling.

“Why… didn’t you say you’d stay by my side…? We… we shared the same dream!”

But…

Iren intervened, preventing her advance.

“This is inappropriate, Lord Lin.”

Her former bodyguard stopping her…

Her former strategist pleading desperately before another warlord…

“Swen! Why… why did you… leave me back then? I wanted to give you wings… I…”

None of this made sense.

Why?

Why were Iren and Swen…

Why were the people who worked for me now serving…

Serving tyrant Serpina as her bodyguard…

Calling him “my Swen”…

The weight of reality became too much…

“…Thud.”

Lin collapsed unconscious before hearing Swen’s reply.

Unfazed, Serpina ordered a nearby soldier.

“Bring the Brance envoy. It seems they need rest. We’ll continue negotiations after Lord Lin regains consciousness.”

“Y-Yes, my lady!”

* * *

After the soldier hurried off, I observed the unconscious Lin and Serpina’s cold gaze upon her.

Serpina’s eyes regarding the fallen Lin were colder than anything I’d ever seen.

‘If this was all calculated…’

There was no denying Serpina’s brilliance in many ways.

While I felt a bit sorry for the broken Lin…

‘She tried to kill Lady Iren.’

Just that fact alone erased any sympathy I might have felt.

All the insults, sending courtesans, not valuing me as a servant – none of that mattered.

Hadn’t I never truly served her as my lord anyway?

But she drove Iren, who so desperately sought her approval, to the brink of death.

Through deception and betrayal, I saved Iren’s life.

I’ve never regretted betraying her for Iren’s sake, not even once.

Even if faced with the same situation a hundred times…

I would betray her again to save Iren.

‘This is karma.’

There was no better word to describe Lin’s current state.

* * *