Chapter 234

“……Ah.”

The sunlight hitting my eyelids slowly brings me back to consciousness.

A bed. I… was lying in a bed.

This scene feels oddly familiar somehow.

“Have you awakened?”

Thanks to Serpina’s voice reaching my ears, it wasn’t hard to grasp the situation…

…Looks like I fell asleep after taking off my outer clothes.

The last thing I remember is continuously drinking alcohol with her, so it isn’t difficult to guess how we ended up like this.

After all, this isn’t the first time… it’s already happened twice.

This place is also familiar.

It’s her bedroom, right?

Looking around as I get up, sure enough…

Serpina is wearing something quite fitting for a bedroom setting.

Even though she always wears military uniforms like those of officers instead of long dresses as a ruler… in her bedroom, she wears such a feminine negligee.

“Forgive me, my lord. It seems I’ve incurred your favor once again.”

“Hohoho…”

“?!”

As I tilt my head at Serpina laughing happily while looking at me who had just woken up…

“Back when you first came here, you were greatly flustered and claimed responsibility, but now you talk about it so nonchalantly. Swen, even you have become worn out.”

“…Well, I haven’t done anything that requires responsibility, have I?”

“And if you did?”

“It would be a lie.”

No matter how much my memory is hazy, I can roughly figure out what happened from the state of our clothing and the bed situation.

She laughs again as if amused by my reaction. What could possibly be so funny?

“Well, if there’s anything I need to take responsibility for, I will naturally do so… but…”

“Don’t worry, it’s fine. You simply fell into a deep sleep.”

“Did my lord help me to bed?”

“That’s right. Just like last time.”

“…Huh.”

Maybe I’m weaker against alcohol than I thought.

Or perhaps that sweet-tasting alcohol has a higher alcohol content than expected.

Actually, I only started drinking regularly after meeting Serpina. When I was with Iren, I drank more tea than alcohol.

“Swen.”

“What is it, my lord?”

“If you’re mingling with me despite being weak against alcohol… next time, you don’t have to push yourself.”

I was initially confused by what she meant, but then realized it makes perfect sense.

This is already the second time I’ve lost consciousness and spent time in her bedroom.

“No, it’s fine. If anything, I apologize. It feels like I’m stepping somewhere I shouldn’t…”

“Of course, it’s a place no one should enter…”

Serpina brought her pristine fingertips to her lips.

“But since it’s you, it’s not somewhere you shouldn’t step into.”

“…”

Upon hearing that, I felt an unusual warmth in my face and instinctively averted my gaze.

“So what?”

“What exactly are you saying?”

“The life of a man who wakes up to see a woman’s face…”

“…”

Serpina smiles brightly as if enjoying every moment of this situation.

I can’t help but think it’s very much like her to say such things so confidently without changing expression.

“Perhaps, it’s quite embarrassing. Though it’s funny coming directly from me, I’ve heard countless ridiculous comments about my beauty since I was young.”

“You mean comments?”

“About my appearance… utterly absurd ones.”

Ah, I understand now. She was beautiful, after all. Honestly, any aesthete would find it impossible to just pass by such a face.

Her golden hair resembles a field of wheat captured perfectly, her golden eyes shine brighter than any heart, her features are perfectly proportioned, and her large chest and hips evoke the image of a curvaceous woman.

Even compared to Iren, she’s no less impressive. Her negligee struggles to fully cover her generous curves. Maybe she’s slightly larger than Miss Reika.

For someone more sensitive to body proportions than breast size, they might prefer Serpina over Lady Iren.

As for me… I think bigger is better.

If I may use this expression, it feels like looking at a beautifully sculpted modern figurine. A 1:1 scale one, with the added softness of realistic skin texture.

“I may say this, but I have confidence in my face. I’ve heard it repeatedly since I was young. The maids all praised my appearance. It’s impossible not to realize how beautiful I was born, unless one is truly foolish.”

With that, she approached me with a mysterious smile.

“What do you think, Swen? Aren’t you regretful for not making a move? If you just took one step forward… you might be able to hold this body. Any man would naturally be tempted. Go ahead and speak freely. Don’t you want to come over?”

As she slowly walks toward me, her chest sways slightly… Could she not be wearing a bra? Such an irreverent thought crosses my mind.

If I were someone who didn’t know anything about her, I might have been mesmerized by her beauty and unable to utter a word.

“Well, Serpina certainly is beautiful…”

Without much deliberation…

I simply voiced what came to mind.

“If I were to fall for Serpina, I don’t think it would be because of her beauty.”

“…?”

“Wouldn’t I rather think that I want to protect Serpina?”

“What…?”

My response seemed unexpected, and her previously composed expression wavered slightly.

“Serpina carries too many burdens while living her life. So if I were to fall for her… I’d likely want to share her burdens more than anything else.”

What I most vividly realized after joining the Serpina Army was―

That there was no one by Serpina’s side.

Outwardly, she appeared to be the ruler and tyrant of Serpina Army, inheriting the legacy of the former Unified Empire and commanding the northern continent.

Someone so warlike that she couldn’t tolerate anyone above her, someone who enjoyed solitude.

However, the Serpina I observed wasn’t someone who enjoyed solitude at all.

Perhaps because she was so desperately lonely, she could open her arms to outsiders.

Perhaps because she was so desperately lonely… she could extend trust to people like Lady Iren or myself.

To her, it didn’t matter how long someone had served.

It always felt like there wouldn’t be anyone left by her side in the end.

The relationship between ruler and vassal where the latter could turn their blade against her at any moment.

Therefore, if…

I ever considered crossing the line with Serpina, I would definitely want to share her burdens somehow.

Serpina stared silently into my eyes for a while with a slightly surprised expression before finally turning her face away and speaking.

“You… are like that.”

“Huh?”

“You’re someone who stirs people’s hearts without showing any emotion. That’s what you are.”

Then she briefly met my gaze again.

Is it just me, or does her face seem slightly flushed?

“Did you say similar things to Iren?”

“…Eh?”

“All of a sudden?”

“That’s the only way to explain the look in Iren’s eyes when she looks at you. You must have whispered sweet nothings to her too, right? You’re quite shameless, aren’t you Swen?”

“…I’m not entirely sure what the main point of this conversation is.”

“…”

She seems to have something she wants to say, but doesn’t open her mouth.

I didn’t press her either. After all, it’s absurd for a subordinate to rush their ruler.

After some time passed in silence where we cautiously observed each other…

“…I should leave soon. If both of us are absent for too long, rumors will spread and cause various troubles.”

“Rumors? Well, haven’t they already spread as much as they can? What matters is the truth.”

At my words, she smiles again.

“That’s right… I think the same way, Swen. Still, I don’t want to upset Iren.”

Once again, the topic turned to Iren.

Does Lady Iren hold quite significant meaning even for Lady Serpina?

Anyway,

Waking up to the sound of birds, smelling the yuzu fragrance in this room, seeing Serpina in her slightly revealing negligee upon waking, and having such meaningless small talk with her… all of it felt quite pleasant.

“Go ahead. I’ll follow shortly.”

“Understood.”

I lightly gathered my clothes and exited her room.

Even as I walked through the corridor, I could still feel the lingering yuzu fragrance from her.

* * *

“…”

After Swen left the bedroom,

Serpina remained seated motionlessly, doing nothing but lowering her head and staring at the floor, despite claiming she would prepare to leave.

“Swen…”

Thump, thump.

Her heart was pounding as if it would burst.

Serpina placed her hand on her forehead. It was hot. Her cheeks were burning too. Unbeknownst to her, her face had turned redder than a red bean.

” Why can you say such things without changing your expression…?”

She could have mocked him, trying to shake his heart with her confident beauty.

But the one whose heart was relentlessly shaken was herself.

At first, she was interested because he was a man from her dreams.

Later, she was captivated by his godlike advice.

When she gained the ability of ‘Mind’s Eye’, she wanted him more than ever. Even if not 100%, his heart was likely closer to that of a ruler.

But somehow, she found herself genuinely envying Iren, who was merely her subordinate…

And now, just talking to a man made her feel like she might explode at any moment.

She was unbearably lonely.

Carrying burdens she couldn’t confide in anyone, becoming a tyrant by her own will.

Every time those she trusted glared at her and pointed their blades, the faces of Sidemid and Algord who had died flashed before her eyes.

Still, she couldn’t express her loneliness. Because she had decided to live the life of Serpina von Einhardt, not just Serpina.

And then, she realizes.

When she’s with Swen, she wants to be nothing but pure Serpina more than ever.

She wants to stay by his side without any titles like ruler or the name Einhardt, just as herself.

This feeling.

Though inefficient for a ruler who should lead a nation…

“…”

Serpina takes the pillow Swen had slept on, spreading her arms wide to tightly embrace it.

She can smell his scent. It feels wonderful, as if he’s right beside her.

She wishes he would invade her world just a little longer. She still hopes he would take one more step closer to her.

Only then does she realize.

The reason she desires him so intensely isn’t just because he’s a strategist with the ‘Mind’s Eye’ ability…

Perhaps that reason isn’t even that important.

Until now, her life had been solely focused on the goal of becoming the ruler who would unify the continent, constantly moving forward.

But now, she plants a slightly different dream in her heart.

I want to stand by Swen’s side.

No matter what happens, I find myself wanting to do just that…

* * *

And a few days later.

The Aishias Army finally began its major movements.