Chapter 220

The elderly man introduced himself as Jinoru, but Luna couldn’t readily respond.

To be precise, she was frozen in place—unable to comprehend why the person who had come for her wasn’t Swoen.

“……Why…?”

“?”

Jinoru noticed the odd look Luna was giving him.

Though he’d made an unexpected request for office, even so, this felt like seeing someone completely unforeseen.

First things first—he should mention Swoen, the one who had introduced him here. Jinoru cleared his throat a few times before speaking.

“Lady Lunarien, I’ve heard much about you from Sir Swoen.”

“!!!!”

Luna, stiff as a board, began muttering something softly under her breath before finally taking notice of the old man in front of her.

“Sir Swoen?! You… You know Sir Swoen?!”

“L-Lady Luna. Please calm down.”

Violet tried to stop her from the side, but there was no way someone as frail as her could hold back Luna after all the books she’d read.

Jinoru, despite having both of Luna’s hands gripping his shoulders and her staring at him with urgency, surprisingly maintained a calm tone as he explained the situation.

“We worked together in the same place. There were quite a lot of events back then. If I go into detail, it might take some time, but…”

“It doesn’t matter. If it’s not too much trouble, please tell me what happened…”

“Before that, I would appreciate your response to my earlier proposal. It wouldn’t be wise to explain everything in such a public setting.”

Only then did Luna realize how she had been acting and blushed while bowing.

While waiting for Swoen, she hadn’t entirely avoided disappointment—but still, the offer of help was deeply appreciated.

“Aah… Excuse me. That is… Jinoru-sama, right?”

“That’s correct.”

“If you’re here to assist me, I see no reason to decline. However, our fledgling nation has just started, and frankly, our situation isn’t good. Though I’m truly grateful for your willingness to join us, I may not be able to provide treatment worthy of someone who once served as prime minister of the empire… Is that alright?”

“I didn’t come to dwell on the past but to look toward the future, so it doesn’t matter.”

“…”

Luna nodded and extended her hand to him.

“You may rise, Jinoru-sama. Though I am unworthy, I hope we can work well together.”

“It’s my honor to serve you, my lord.”

After bowing respectfully, Jinoru added the words Luna most wanted to hear.

“So, forgive the impertinence, my lord… Would you care to listen to an old man’s tale?”

“…I humbly request it.”

With Violet watching anxiously from behind, Luna moved alongside Jinoru.

* * *

They relocated to a small room near the Audience Chamber.

Seated at a multi-purpose table, Luna asked the question uppermost in her mind.

“Jinoru-sama…”

“You may speak freely, my lord.”

“…Jinoru-dono, did you come here at the request of Sir Swoen?”

Jinoru slowly nodded.

“That’s right.”

“Is it okay if I ask how you know Sir Swoen?”

“Of course. We once served the same ruler.”

“The same ruler…?”

“Surely you’ve heard of the Aishias Army?”

“…As expected.”

Just as the rumors suggested, he had been with the Aishias Army, not the Brance Army.

This realization led to an unavoidable follow-up question.

“From what you say, Sir Swoen must have told you about me… Is that correct?”

“Yes. The reason I came here is because of his recommendation.”

Hearing this, a lump formed in her throat again.

Even when left alone, Sir Swoen had undoubtedly been thinking about us, about our army’s future.

That’s right. Sir Swoen surely intended to keep his promise. Jinoru’s presence here was the best proof of that.

But…

Luna couldn’t continue feeling gratitude; a far more pressing issue remained.

“But… Why didn’t you come with Sir Swoen? Why did you come alone?”

“…”

If he and Swoen had worked under the same banner, wouldn’t it make sense for them to come together?

Yet Jinoru had arrived alone.

Unable to hide her growing unease, Luna pressed further. Jinoru paused for a moment, organizing his thoughts, then slowly opened his lips.

“There were… many events… but…”

“It’s fine to take your time.”

“To cut to the conclusion: I couldn’t accompany him because he is no longer part of the Aishias Army.”

“…Huh? I don’t fully understand yet…”

And then,

Jinoru explained the events involving “him” in a dry, emotionless tone.

“Lord Yuri sold Swoen to the Serpina Army.”

“!!!”

With a jolt!

Seeing Luna abruptly stand up, Jinoru fell silent again.

“Ah… I apologize. What you said… I… I understand…”

“There was an incident where one of our commanders was taken hostage by the Serpina Army. In the process… instead of the hostage, the envoy Swoen ended up being handed over to the Serpina Army.”

“Eh…?”

So…

Could it be that those absurd rumors were true?

Was it really the case that an envoy had been sold—not just idle talk from the Serpina Army but an actual event?

Luna clenched her fists tightly.

Rather, without realizing it, she had put immense force into her grip.

Rage.

A rage so overwhelming it defied description began to consume her.

It was an anger so intense she had never felt such fury toward anyone in her life.

‘How… How could someone do such a thing… Selling their own envoy just to get a hostage released.’

‘Especially…’

‘Not just anyone but MY Sir Swoen…!!!!!!!’

Though she desperately wanted to vent this seething frustration—

There was something she absolutely needed to clarify first.

“…Jinoru-dono, I have one question…”

“Yes, my lord?”

“Why… Why did Lord Yuri sell Sir Swoen?”

This was incomprehensible by Luna’s standards.

Thus, she refused to believe it. Until she saw it with her own eyes, accepting mere rumors would be ridiculous.

However, if it were true, there must be a reason, right?

Perhaps Lord Yuri had been threatened by Serpina. After all, that wicked witch was capable of any treachery.

Still, selling Sir Swoen would remain unforgivable.

Jinoru nodded solemnly, understanding Luna’s sentiments.

“Because the hostage captured by the enemy was someone very precious to Lord Yuri.”

“Eh? So… it wasn’t due to coercion or anything…”

Nod.

“Lord Yuri willingly handed Sir Swoen over to Serpina. Though the suggestion initially came from the Serpina Army…”

“…Someone precious…”

Luna collapsed onto the spot, all strength leaving her body.

For the sake of someone precious to her…

She sold Sir Swoen?

For such a reason… Sir Swoen…

My invaluable strategist… treated this way?

Her blood ran cold.

Her mind became sharper than ever before.

This sensation. It was the first time since losing her only sister to Serpina that she felt this way.

Until now, she had one sworn enemy.

Serpina von Einhardt.

The tyrant who deserved to be banished from the continent.

The worst dictator who had personally wiped out the entire imperial family to become emperor.

Her sister had died miserably at the hands of that woman simply because she was associated with the imperial family. Her remains were never found.

It was precisely because she couldn’t allow such a cruel woman to rule the world that she had raised her banner, even without resources!

But…

From this moment forward, her enemies were no longer limited to Serpina alone.

Baranga Yuri Aishias.

The brilliant female ruler who loved her comrades and led the Aishias Army—no, none of that mattered anymore.

She was the one who sold Sir Swoen to the witch Serpina.

Luna repeated her name over three times in her mind.

She was sure she would never forget it.

More hateful than Lin, who had tried to take Sir Swoen away from her, was this woman who dared to trade Sir Swoen for just a hostage.

Whoever the hostage was, it wasn’t important to Luna.

To Luna, Sir Swoen was more important than anyone.

Absolutely…

Absolutely unforgivable…!!!!

At this very moment.

Another name was engraved in Luna’s heart.

One more woman whose sins must be washed away in blood.

* * *

‘Looks like I stirred up a hornet’s nest.’

Though Jinoru briefly regretted bringing up the topic, he knew it was something that had to be discussed.

All he could do now was wait until she calmed down.

Considering this was the ruler personally recommended by Swoen, he trusted she would quickly return to rational judgment.

And, as expected,

Once Luna regained her composure, she bowed deeply to Jinoru.

“I apologize…”

At this gesture, Jinoru immediately stood and returned the bow.

“No, there’s nothing to apologize for, my lord. There’s no need for you to bow before a servant.”

“…”

After this brief storm passed,

“What a story… It seems you’ve gone through quite a lot.”

In a composed tone, Jinoru acknowledged her pain, prompting Luna to nod humbly.

“That’s right.”

“Well, my lord has your reasons, just as I have mine for coming here. You don’t need to share everything with me.”

Hearing this, Luna managed to steady her emotions.

Even though she wanted to maintain her peace of mind… Whenever Sir Swoen was mentioned, she inevitably lost her composure.

She could never forget the day he sacrificed himself against the Brance Army’s flag to save them.

Regardless…

Now was the moment to hear more from this man.

—No matter how shocking the truth might be.

“So… Where is Sir Swoen now…?”