Chapter 61

“Shall we sleep together?”

When I asked her, Iren turned bright red and started stammering in shock.

Her face had been flushed since we were cleaning, but now it was as red as a red bean.

“A-ah… no…! It’s not like that! Uh… it’s just… bedtime…! So…”

“…”

Even though she was the one who brought it up, I wondered what she expected me to do when she gets this embarrassed.

Still, an involuntary smile spread across my face.

That’s right. This is the Iren Julieat I know.

I glanced at the bed.

Hm?

This… The blanket is spread wide, but upon closer inspection, it looks like two single beds pushed together.

“Iren.”

“Eep! Y-yes?!”

“This bed. We can split it like this…”

I said while separating the bed, which easily divided into two singles.

“So, there’s no need to be so embarrassed.”

“A… ah… maybe…”

Iren muttered something quietly with her head bowed. It was too soft to make out.

After a moment, she seemed to gather herself and spoke more clearly.

“…Yes. That’s right. Okay. Got it. Swoen, let’s sleep then.”

“Alright.”

Sleeping together in a double bed wouldn’t be unpleasant from my perspective as a man.

But from her perspective as a woman, it would be quite embarrassing.

We’re not even married yet – it would be quite burdensome for her.

‘Marriage…’

Since things have come this far…

Why not make Iren my first wife?

To be honest, I like her. I don’t know how she feels about me, but if given the chance to marry her, I wouldn’t hesitate.

She’s pretty, has a nice figure, a strong pelvis for childbirth, and considerable martial ability.

Though those aren’t the only things that make her valuable. Her convictions, pride, and consideration for others despite her high rank are also very appealing.

What man could turn her down?

In the game, to propose you would keep talking to her, give gifts, complete requests, fight alongside her in battle to raise affection, until it felt like “Now’s the time to pop the question.”

Here in reality, without visible ‘affection points,’ I have to be more cautious.

The most important thing is…

If a proposal fails in this game, not only do the affection points reset to zero, but it becomes extremely awkward to even speak to her.

If certain triggers weren’t met or there was bad luck leading to a failed proposal, reloading a save file was usually necessary, as marrying that female general became nearly impossible otherwise.

I believe our affection has risen quite a bit, and I sense a stronger bond with her than ever before…

But I definitely want to avoid making things awkward between us until I safely deliver her to the Lunarien army.

If our relationship sours here, all I’ll have done is help Yuri.

Perhaps the best timing will be after Lunarien’s uprising.

Once under the Lunarien army’s command, proposing should go smoothly.

Even if rejected, our working relationship would remain unchanged.

Though it would hurt, continuing to get along well would raise affection and increase success chances.

Even without joining Lunarien first, the right moment might naturally arise as we spend time together.

There’s no need to rush and ruin things.

“Well then, good night, Lady Iren.”

“Yep… Sleep well, Swoen.”

With that, she extinguished the lantern, bringing our long day to an end.

*

Upon arriving at our new home with Swoen and seeing the double bed, Iren’s thoughts were surprisingly simple.

They were laughably about her first time.

Iren had spent her life wielding a sword, growing up knowing little of men and pledging loyalty to a female monarch.

While many men approached her due to her appearance, she turned them all away in service of her duties.

And after word spread that Lin Brance disliked her, no one approached anymore.

No matter how beautiful she was described as, no one was willing to defy their lord for her sake.

The first person to extend a hand to her,

and share the stigma of betrayal,

was the man beside her – Swoen.

It was obvious to Iren that he left Brance entirely for her sake.

Even waiting for Lunarien’s uprising was more convenient than working adequately in a nation the size of Brance compared to this small country.

Knowing he gave up that convenience for her, wasn’t it only natural she swore to wield her sword for him?

So… if Swoen were to request sharing the bed…

She would accept.

Though worried she might inconvenience him through her inexperience.

Would her exceptionally large chest seem dull to him compared to other women?

New concerns arose in her mind – not as a warrior, but as a woman in love.

Thus, her bath took longer than usual today.

Lowering her head, she inspected her body.

A warrior’s body far from the ideal smooth, white skin she imagined for a perfect lady.

Rather rough, firm rather than soft, with occasional muscles and scars.

A physique that had always been a source of pride now seemed unappealing to her today.

“Swoen… Would he… like this body…?”

Even an unappealing body would be fine if he praised it.

With her racing heart barely calmed,

as bedtime approached… just as she was bracing herself,

“Let’s split this bed like this…”

At hearing that, she exhaled a half sigh of relief –

but there was also a part of her that felt half disappointed.

Unconsciously, she voiced her true feelings in a small voice.

“It’s disappointing…”

After speaking, she panicked and checked his reaction,

but fortunately Swoen didn’t seem to notice.

So they lay down on separate beds.

Iren gazed at Swoen’s sleeping form and thought.

“Swoen… If you wish… I…”

She suddenly felt a tickling sensation in her stomach.

As before, in front of him she felt aspects of herself she’d never known.

An emotion she’d never felt for any other man.

Naturally, Iren couldn’t fall asleep for a long time.

***

At Anel Castle’s royal palace.

Parphale knelt deeply before Lin, apologizing profusely.

“I’m sorry. If I had come directly to Anel Castle instead of going south, I might have noticed something was off sooner.”

Iren Julieat surrendered with over 30,000 troops to the Aishias army.

This wasn’t simply losing soldiers and commanders.

It meant losing mobile reserve forces stationed away from the border.

A devastating blow for the Brance army already weakened by Kalintz’s mistakes costing 20,000 men.

Especially since their main obstacle in quickly securing central control against northern and southern fronts was the Aishias army.

Not to mention Iren was an exceptionally skilled commander. If her blade turns against us…

Lin remained silent, maintaining a seemingly calm expression while twirling her hair,

but Parphale, who had served her for quite some time, could tell:

She was barely suppressing her rage.

The strongest anger Parphale had ever seen from her.

Which made it all the more terrifying.

Any misstep could result in losing his own head.

So he pressed his forehead to the ground, pleading for his life.

“My judgment was wrong, please forgive me. I’ll gladly accept any punishment.”

“…”

Honestly,

Parphale understood better than anyone how Lin treated the loyal general Iren.

So when Iren betrayed them, he thought “Well, this was bound to happen.”

He had never understood how she stayed by Lin’s side, trying so hard to gain recognition despite everything.

However,

Swoen’s betrayal shocked even him.

Especially the cunning move of sending a letter to separate him from Lin.

He had never considered Swoen capable of betrayal.

Unlike Iren, Swoen had no apparent reason to betray.

He had already proven his worth and was on track to compete for Parphale’s position as national strategist.

Even Parphale thought if Swoen continued producing miraculous advice, losing his position would be unavoidable.

Unless…

Adding “one assumption,” Swoen’s reason for betrayal was embarrassingly simple.

“To save Iren Julieat?”

Though the memory was faint now,

On Swoen’s first day, he lived at Iren’s house per the ruler Lin’s orders.

It wasn’t unusual for young men and women living together to develop feelings.

Strangely, adding “to save Iren Julieat” explained everything about his actions at the northern fortress.

His desperate defense until the end because she was there.

Protecting her with his life.

Without Swoen’s miracles, Iren would have certainly died at Serpina’s hands.

His reasons about preserving Kalintz’s honor were obviously excuses after the betrayal.

Thus…

Lin had lost both Iren and Swoen by being needlessly hostile toward Iren.

And ironically, Lin herself provided the decisive connection between the two.

Later investigations revealed this deployment decision came after Swoen advised against putting Iren in a dangerous frontline position.

So Lin had essentially tried to kill Iren, only to be betrayed instead.

Swoen skillfully used that “intent to kill.”

“The inevitable happened.”

Clever Parphale realized it was all Lin’s fault.

But being clever meant he absolutely couldn’t voice that realization,

lest his own head roll.

Then,

Lin, who had remained silent, slowly spoke.

“Parphale.”

“Y-yes?”

“What do you think?”

“Wh-what do you mean…?”

While Parphale trembled in fear,

Lin’s attitude was extremely cold and calculating.

“It’s Iren’s fault, isn’t it?”

“Y-yes…?”

“She seduced him, didn’t she? With her vulgar and lewd body.”

“???”

“How else could this situation… be explained? Swoen just wanted fame and fortune, right? He said he’d give me the world. So why… would he betray me? Why would Swoen, whom I personally brought in, betray me?”

“B-but, that…”

Initially, the “fame and fortune” was just a smokescreen.

Swoen likely planned everything from the start to extract Iren.

Evidence lies in him first suggesting not sending Iren.

Though Parphale couldn’t bring himself to say it.

Lin couldn’t accept it.

That Swoen, whom she personally chose, would reject her.

She could choose well, but couldn’t accept being rejected.

So once again, she blames hated Iren.

It’s easier to accept that way.

While this wasn’t a great habit,

from the perspective of a leader who must maintain mental fortitude in any situation,

it could be seen as a useful character trait.

“That Iren Julieat… She betrayed me in the end. I saw it coming. That woman’s attitude always irritated me. Born into privilege serving me, yet so arrogant… Don’t you agree?”

“…”

“She went to the Aishias army, right?”

“Y-yes.”

“Good. I’ll show her then. I’ll make Swoen truly mine right before her eyes… Don’t you think?”

“…”

“I’ll quickly settle the west. We’ll be busy for a while. Insults must be repaid, right? Don’t you think, Parphale?”

Again, Parphale couldn’t respond.

He could only hope this storm would pass quickly…

And that when she regains composure, she might realize her mistake, though unlikely.

He still believed Lin Brance had the potential to be an excellent ruler outside matters involving Iren.

After Parphale somehow withdrew,

Alone in the royal palace…

Lin abruptly stood and threw the decorative sword nearby.

“AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHH!!!”

Clang!

The thrown sword struck the floor with a harsh noise, leaving marks.

Only after throwing everything within reach did she gradually calm down.

Betrayal.

To be betrayed.

Especially by Iren Julieat.

The woman she despised endlessly, wishing dead…

Who now took Swoen, whom she personally brought in…

‘Iren Julieat… I will never forgive you… NEVER!!!’

Furiously biting her lower lip.

Tasting blood, she suddenly began giggling.

Her laughter was chillingly cold and sharp, like being pierced by icicles.

“Haha… Heh. Yes. Right before your eyes, I’ll take away what you hold most dear… Again.”

Resitting on the throne, Lin chuckled darkly.

Her lifeless eyes reflected pure madness.

‘…Wait… Swoen. I’ll snap you out of this haze caused by stupid Iren…♥’

Seeing she had no intention of reconsidering no matter what anyone said,

Parphale’s decision not to advise further was undeniably wise for preserving his life.