NOVEL NEXT Chapter 285
That night.
Serpina, lying in her bedroom, spent a long time sleepless, spending the night awake and agonizing. The fact that she wasn’t wearing her usual uniform but instead a slightly revealing sleepwear had an effect of making her current anguish seem more like the worry of a woman rather than the dignified ruler she was—and it was indeed so.
“Swen…”
Right now, Swen was the only man occupying her thoughts.
Hugging her pillow tightly, Serpina buried her face in it, cursing herself while recalling all the lives lost under her command. The former subordinate generals she betrayed because they couldn’t die under her banner. The rebels who once loyally served the imperial family but now cursed her with eyes full of resentment. Not a single soul among them had offered their life to her.
She seemed to have everything but was merely standing on a castle of sand—a ruler whose power was not truly acknowledged by anyone, a tyrant who deserved to die, a wicked woman plunging the continent into chaos.
Even amidst this, Serpina didn’t stop trusting. Every new commander she treated sincerely, hoping to make them her own. She enforced rewards and punishments strictly yet fairly, prioritizing ability over background or lineage, believing that if she recognized someone, they would eventually recognize her.
But betrayal came repeatedly from those she trusted, loved, and relied upon. She never wanted to let go of that bond—not even once when dealing with rebels across the land. She believed she had to show results. Carrying the cross of Einhardt on her back, she thought there was no other way to atone for her sins but to unify the continent.
Her collapse came during the failed assassination attempt not long ago. The experience of nearly being killed by the very man she trusted most shook her foundation profoundly.
Fortunately, Iren, who was practically a stranger, and Reika with her healing magic were there to save her from serious harm… But even Reika’s magic couldn’t heal the deep scars left in Serpina’s heart.
The unchanging answers she got after questioning Swen’s “Mind’s Eye” countless times: “Lady Serpina cannot unify.” Swen’s troubled expression as he kept saying it…
―Maybe I really am someone who can’t be a monarch…
Facing him, her confidence as a ruler, which had never wavered before, began to crumble after the assassination attempt. Though she tried not to show it, most of her subordinates didn’t know how much she had already half-abandoned the idea of building a unified empire. After all, without a single vassal willing to die for her, how could she achieve such a great cause?
After realizing this, an intense loneliness and solitude crept in, and she found herself clinging to Swen more and more. Somewhere along the line, she needed Swen himself more than his abilities with the Mind’s Eye. She just wanted to forget everything by being held in his arms.
She knew well that thinking this way wouldn’t lead to anything good, but still, she wanted to escape—before Swen disappeared, even for just a moment, to forget this loneliness.
If merging bodies could make her forget everything…
At some point, Swen said something to her.
To die together.
“To die with me?”
It was the first time. He was the first person to willingly entrust his life to her, despite everyone else rejecting her—whether as a vassal, comrade, or even just a friend. It was the first time someone staked themselves on her.
And yet…
Swen’s true lord wasn’t her.
The person in his heart… isn’t me.
Because of this, she couldn’t hold onto Swen. Even though she wished he’d stay by her side for just a little longer, she didn’t dare hope he’d remain forever. She believed that someday she’d have to let Swen go.
At first, sure. At first, she wanted to do anything to stay with him. It was true that she considered tying him to her side under any condition.
But now, Swen had become far too precious to her. A strategist with the Mind’s Eye, the man she yearned for, one of the few people she could trust—all these titles referred to one person.
Of course, she couldn’t act childish anymore. Just being embraced by him for a moment was enough to make her feel fine.
And she believed that someday she’d have to let Swen go.
I clearly decided that I would let you go.
If I bring up that topic again…
“No…”
Tears began streaming down her eyes. Serpina, who never cried freely in front of anyone, was soaking her pillow alone in the dark bedroom.
She didn’t want to let him go.
She wanted to look toward the future with him.
She didn’t want to lose him, in any form. She wanted to be connected to him.
…I don’t want it.
Swen, I don’t want to let you go…
If you could just stay by my side, then I—
—maybe the unification of the continent doesn’t matter, right?
For the first time since ascending the throne,
Serpina intensely desired something other than unification.
* * *
Sometime later.
The formation of the occupying forces aimed at invading the Chel Army began.
Before the departure ceremony, Serpina separately summoned Iren to commend her efforts.
“Iren. Thank you for enduring the hardship of guarding the rear while continuing as deputy commander. I will never forget all that you’ve done.”
“Not at all, my lord. If it weren’t for you, I would have died long ago. Serving you is an honor I’ll cherish forever. I will repay the debt I owe to you by achieving great feats.”
Upon hearing this, Serpina smiled and looked at Iren.
“No, you’ve already done what you needed to do… You don’t need to feel indebted to me anymore.”
“…!”
“Therefore, whatever decision you make in the future… I will bless your path.”
Iren easily grasped the meaning behind Serpina’s words: that she wouldn’t resent her even if she left her side someday.
Could Lady Serpina have noticed that Swen and I might leave someday?
Though unclear how she reached that conclusion, Iren quickly accepted it, knowing how perceptive Serpina was from her experience as a bodyguard.
I can’t lie.
I’ll follow Swen whenever the time comes.
Still, out of genuine gratitude toward her—
“As long as I serve, I will be an unwavering beacon for you, my lord.”
Closing her eyes, Iren pledged her loyalty to her lord, the first since Lin.
“…Very well. I trust you, Iren.”
Thus ended their brief conversation.
Not long after, Jenis Al Caskey arrived at the Einhardt Castle to meet Serpina.
“Jenis Al Caskey has arrived at Einhardt Imperial City upon receiving your summons, my lord.”
“Indeed, Jenis. Are you aware of the details through the envoy?”
Bowing deeply, Jenis replied,
“Though I did not participate, I have never forgotten the grace like that of heaven for forgiving me when I almost strayed. Though I may not measure up to my brother Irian, I will do my utmost to serve you faithfully.”
“The past is the past. There’s no need to dwell on it further. You’ve already paid your dues.”
“My lord…!”
Moved, Jenis choked up momentarily before wiping away tears and speaking.
“I will do my utmost…!”
With Jenis newly appointed as a royal guard, the afternoon saw the official departure ceremony take place.
This mobilization ceremony wasn’t particularly grand.
Had Serpina, the supreme commander, not been present, they would have made it as splendid as possible to boost morale—but given the ruler herself was leading, extravagance would have been inappropriate.
Nevertheless, the ceremony proceeded with dignity due to her presence.
Atop a raised platform stood Serpina, flanked by the new national strategist Swen. Before them were the capable leaders guiding the current Serpina Army, followed by countless soldiers lined up neatly.
Serpina stretched out her white hand while addressing them.
“My brave warriors! We are about to advance into the central continent once more. Despite many trials and setbacks, we must take this step to root peace into the continent and continue the legacy of the Einhardt Empire!”
Among the large crowd, Serpina’s voice reigned supreme without any noise interrupting it. All eyes naturally turned to her, captivated by her graceful gestures and compelling tone.
“In this expedition, I myself will lead you as your commander. This may prove to be a tough battle. No matter how advantageous our situation, battles can turn on a single misstep. Sacrifice-free one-sided battles are impossible; many may fall.”
“But! I will not sit idly by watching you die for the empire! I too will die for the empire and for each of you! For the Einhardt Empire! For me, Serpina! I will die for you!!”
Swen’s pupils flickered at Serpina’s declaration of dying for them, but she didn’t notice as she continued her speech.
“No matter what happens, I swear here today to stand with you! Follow me! Let’s eradicate the remnants of Orlando Brance, who first rebelled against the Einhardt House! Raise the flag of the empire once more in the central continent, clear away the incompetent Brance clan’s legacy that pushes territorial people into despair, and bring true peace to the central continent!”
After Serpina clenched her fist and finished shouting, thunderous cheers erupted. The passionate response from those emblazoned with the crest of Einhardt echoed loudly.
Immediately following the speech,
the large-scale occupying force marched toward the territory of the Chel Army.
Once again, war had begun.