NOVEL NEXT Chapter 288
“Huh? Lady Luna? Out of the blue?”
“Yep.”
Given the sudden topic and looking at her expression, this didn’t seem like one of those casual conversations to pass the time.
I moved seats with her, settling under the shade of a solitary tree nearby. We crouched side by side as I carefully opened the conversation.
“Could you explain why?”
“Wasn’t the real lord you served Lady Luna?”
“…Yes.”
There was a brief hesitation, but no intention to deny the fact.
“I’m curious about what kind of person made you, Swoen, so confident that she would become the unifying ruler.”
It didn’t feel like my question revealed everything about her thoughts, but still, it’s only polite to answer after someone shares a story.
“She was a good person. Always trusted me completely. Even when I made outrageous claims, she accepted everything without demanding proof.”
Thinking back now, it probably worked because her country was so small. But even so, I didn’t want to belittle the fact that she fully believed in me.
Her territory was small—just like how I was back then: just another wandering rock with no reputation as a white-haired mage.
“She naturally had the qualities that made the people follow her willingly. I consider her someone rare who truly felt the pain of her subjects as her own.”
“Like Lady Serpina earlier?”
…Ah.
I finally realized why she brought up this topic.
“Could it be…you’re worried about Lady Serpina?”
“…”
Reika gave a start upon hearing my words before letting out a wry smile.
“It seems I can’t hide anything from you, Swoen.”
Publicly known as a tyrant, yet undeterred by such titles, she followed her path. Even if no one acknowledged her efforts, even if she gained nothing, she would still step forward to save lives, willingly bearing the disgrace.
That was exactly what happened just now.
Seeing her attitude toward the villagers who surely cursed her not long ago made me wonder why she earned the title of tyrant.
Iren likely thought similarly, questioning the conclusion that ‘despite all this, Lady Serpina cannot become the unifying ruler.’
“Just…I was curious. How exceptional must Lady Luna have been for Lady Serpina…to not be able to become the unifying ruler?”
If it weren’t for my Divinity 100 prediction, I wouldn’t have been certain either.
But here, my predictions are immutable laws.
As long as Lady Serpina is the ruler, Serpina Army cannot defeat Lunarien Army nor change their fates.
We remained silent for a moment.
I could guess what she was thinking, so I patiently waited for her to gather her thoughts.
“…Swoen.”
“Yes, milady?”
“Let me say this beforehand—I’m always on your side. No matter what happens, I’ll stay by you.”
“Yes, milady.”
“My body will be your shield, and my conviction your sword. If you choose an unworthy path, I’ll gladly take the brunt of any filth meant for you.”
“Thank you.”
“So, whatever decision you make, I won’t argue. Still…”
“Still…Lady Serpina does worry me a bit.”
Iren said this while hugging her knees and burying her head into them.
The ruler who first recognized her longing for acknowledgment.
The woman who threw herself to save her life.
Even though Serpina’s life would’ve been in danger without Iren, her actions weren’t necessarily expected. In fact, I’ve never heard of a ruler throwing themselves for a bodyguard.
Nothing would’ve happened anyway.
Even if Iren died protecting Serpina, no one would’ve blamed Serpina, nor added this incident to her already tarnished reputation. It was just expected that bodyguards die for their noble rulers—it was even considered honorable.
Yet, Serpina threw herself in.
To protect Iren…and perhaps to avoid my hatred.
“No matter how much I think about it…I don’t want to abandon Lady Serpina. Swoen, remember when you and Reika went to the relief camp?”
Hearing “relief camp” reminded me of kissing Reika, which momentarily dried my mouth, but I managed to keep my composure.
“I took your place and stayed close to Lady Serpina during that time. At first, without you or Reika, I felt incredibly lonely…but now, looking back, I realize Lady Serpina filled that void for me. She treated me, just a bodyguard, sincerely.”
“The more I got to know her, the more I understood how lonely and isolated her life has been. Though outwardly, Lady Serpina doesn’t appear weak…to me, she seemed fragile, like she might collapse at any moment.”
“Sometimes, seeing the lord staring out the window reminded me of my past self.”
Perhaps only because it was Iren noticing these things. Both shared the commonality of being disliked by Brance Army and the world.
“When we leave…will the lord be alright? Not just me, but Lord Serpina relies heavily on you…”
I looked up at the sky briefly.
Through the lush cherry blossoms, patches of blue sky with clouds could be seen.
…Maybe it’s okay to hint at something.
Watching the petals and clouds drift with the wind, I cautiously shared my thoughts.
“It’s the same for me.”
“…Really?”
“Why else would I still be here?”
Of course, it wasn’t solely for that reason—a mix of complex factors were involved.
After pondering for a while, Iren hesitantly asked, her trembling voice matching the shimmer in her violet eyes.
“Is there…a way?”
“The Lady Luna I faced hated Lady Serpina. She declared rebellion saying she couldn’t entrust the world to her. That moment alone made it clear—these two cannot coexist.”
“In this situation, is there a way where both Lady Serpina and Lady Luna can end up happy?”
“…”
Searching ‘Can Serpina von Einhardt and Lunarien Iniyan coexist’ wouldn’t yield results, obviously. And even if it did, I wasn’t planning to search right now.
“Lady Iren, do you remember? The battle at the northern fortress.”
“Of course I remember. How could I forget when you saved me…when everyone abandoned me, you reached out your hand.”
“That time too, despite all the ‘no’s, somehow we pulled through, right? Who am I? The guy who summoned a meteor!”
That moment often reappears in my dreams—the turning point that changed my fate. Initially intending to just blend in, I met Iren, Reika, changed rulers three times, and eventually met Serpina.
“So trust me. This will all come together into a bigger picture. You’ll be surprised again later, maybe saying something like ‘Swoen, did you really know everything?'”
At my absurd statement, Iren finally smiled amusedly.
“…You’re right. After all, Swoen, you always knew everything…”
“Exactly. Isn’t that fact best known by Lady Iren? You’ve been by my side the longest and closest since our time together at Anel Castle.”
“…”
Her slightly flushed cheeks made her look exceptionally youthful.
After taking a deep breath, Iren turned to face me and asked,
“If you know everything, can you tell what I’m planning to do next?”
“What are you thinking, Lady Iren?”
“Yeah. Swoen, you know everything, right?”
Knowing everything refers to strategies, battles, and matters related to nations—not personal thoughts…
Still, swept up in the mood of falling petals, I racked my brain for the most plausible response.
“Um…are you thinking about the evening tea?”
“Wrong.”
“Then, not tea, maybe somethi—”
My sentence was cut off.
For a moment, I wondered what was happening.
My vision darkened. More accurately, it was filled with a single face.
A knight with red hair, eyes closed, leaning close to me.
The soft sensation on my lips.
This feeling was somewhat familiar—I’d experienced it twice before.
What flavor is this? Not yuzu, not cake sweetness. This is…Iren’s taste.
……
KISSING SOUND…
An overwhelming sound stimulating all five senses.
The world goes blank as tongues and mouths mingle.
Too…intense. Several times stickier than anyone else.
Stronger than fleeting yuzu fragrance or subtle sweetness, something far more potent invades my mouth.
“……”
The seemingly endless moment finally ends—slowly.
Very slowly, she pulls away.
Iren’s features, flushed red, finally come into view.
Where has the reliable knight gone? Her panting face looks like a female desperately craving this male.
Her oppressive cleavage, impossible to hide with armor, pushes me further into confusion.
The beautiful scene is adorned by the wind, her crimson hair swaying gently to the side, and pink petals drifting down.
“Iren…milady…?”
“…”
We stare at each other silently for a long while.
…My heart feels like it’s about to explode.
Honestly speaking, among all the kisses I’ve ever experienced, this one stirred me the strongest.
Unlike the relatively quick realizations with Lady Serpina or Reika, I stood there dumbfounded, unable to form a coherent sentence.
The silence was broken first by her.
“Did you expect it?”
“No, yo—”
“…Did you dislike it?”
Shake shake.
Unable to answer that question, I foolishly shook my head.
“Yeah.”
Iren smiles, like sunlight.
The smile she showed after escaping loneliness at the fortress. The first smile that made me want to protect her.
“Then…I’m glad.”
Iren slowly stood up.
“Let’s go.”
“…Ah…er…yes.”
No matter how cool or stylish lines I could’ve delivered—it didn’t happen.
I merely mumbled a clumsy reply, shakily following her back to where everyone was, returning to reality.
—Every day adding unforgettable memories.
I was growing more fond of this place.