NOVEL WEB Chapter 274
* * *
It wasn’t long after the Lunarien Army, which had made Jeilrant Castle their base of operations, met its end.
Several weeks had passed since Lady Luna trusted the advice of the white-haired strategist who had saved her countless times with miracles, and sought refuge with the southern Karelia Army.
Luna was hard at work in the fields alongside the farmers.
For a commander to be doing fieldwork like the common folk might seem comical, but Luna paid it no mind and gave it her all.
There were many here who eyed her warily.
Though she’d managed to secure the goodwill of the ruler, Karelia, there were still others whose trust she needed if she wanted to stay here peacefully—people other than the lord.
And so, Luna’s method was simple: sheer, unwavering diligence. Nothing more, nothing less.
“It’ll be alright. If I just keep enduring, an opportunity will surely come. That’s what he said…”
With that thought in mind, one day while she was fully immersed in farming, someone approached her and spoke.
“Ho ho, as diligent as ever, aren’t you, Lady Luna?”
“Ah, my Lord!”
The person addressing Luna was none other than the ruler, Karelia. Judging by her attire, it seemed she was on an inspection tour.
“You seem quite skilled at farming.”
“Skilled? Hardly. I’m merely doing my best at what I can do.”
“Not so. Those aren’t idle words. Consider this—if farming didn’t require considerable strength, anyone could do it… Lady Luna, perhaps you’re stronger than you look.”
Karelia laughed heartily at this. Luna knew by now that her ruler liked to make light-hearted jokes with the soldiers she encountered during inspections, so she remained unfazed.
“So, how’s it going?”
“What do you mean, my Lord?”
“How are you adjusting to our army?”
Luna bowed slightly and replied.
“Thanks to your consideration, I’ve been getting along without issue.”
Truthfully, things weren’t going perfectly. Outside the southern continent, few people readily accepted someone from another land, especially one who had once held the rank of vassal. Aside from her ruler Karelia and Cecile, who was closest to her, no one else truly welcomed her.
In reality, Luna felt out of place within the Karelia Army. If she hadn’t lacked ambition, she might have found it frustrating enough to give up.
“I thought it might be tough for you, given that all your friends were transferred to Tevelo Castle.”
“No, everyone here is full of vitality, and my fellow soldiers have been considerate. Once again, thank you for accepting me, despite being an outsider.”
“That’s not true. Regardless of what you did before, if we share the same goal—to overthrow Serpina and bring peace to the continent—we are comrades, are we not?”
Karelia said this, then looked up at the vast sky with her emerald eyes now reflecting a deep azure.
“This Madlen Castle may be peaceful, but the continent is still rife with conflict. Surely you understand that the oppressive rule of the Ainhart Imperial Family can never usher in an era of prosperity?”
“Yes.”
Without hesitation, Luna responded resolutely. The reason she became a vassal despite her insufficient abilities was because she couldn’t hand over the continent’s future to Serpina.
Although things didn’t turn out well, she had never once abandoned her dream of unifying the continent.
“Exactly. Stopping Serpina is key. The color of the flag that covers this continent is secondary. It could be Nabidos Ohana, Seto Roland, Aski Hesna, or even Baranga Yuri Aishias. Lin Brance… well, though I don’t particularly care for his type, I believe he would rule better than that wicked woman.”
Serpina, the notorious tyrant who slaughtered her own kin and innocent citizens, could never be entrusted with the fate of the continent. This was likely a shared sentiment among all the vassals who had raised their banners across the land.
“I think this way: Even if I die and our Karelia Army falls… as long as it’s not at the hands of the Ainhart Imperial Family, there’s still hope. Honestly, I don’t care who conquers my nation as long as it’s not them.”
“Lady…”
Karelia, speaking earnestly, suddenly broke into a hearty laugh and flashed a friendly smile.
“If the strategist heard this, she’d definitely have something to say about it. Lady Luna, I trust you’ll keep this secret.”
“Of course.”
By “strategist,” she must have meant Vanessa Trinity, the national strategist here. She was the person most wary of Luna among everyone in this place. Vanessa strongly argued against accepting her as a subordinate and insisted that if they did, three people should be assigned to monitor her.
Given their roles under the same ruler, there was little chance for personal interaction between them beyond professional courtesy.
“In any case, as long as we share the desire to overthrow Serpina, you and I are comrades beyond mere lord-vassal relations. Don’t worry too much about what others think. They’re just cautious, but none of them are bad people. They simply find it difficult to accept outsiders like you in these troubled times. I wanted to make sure you understood that.”
At last, Luna realized why Karelia had come to see her. It was probably out of concern, and her continued mention in central discussions must have influenced her decision.
Considering that rulers typically don’t deal with such matters personally, it was clear that Karelia truly possessed the kind and compassionate nature rumored of her.
“Thank you for your consideration, my Lord.”
“Not at all. It’s hardly special treatment, so please don’t feel burdened.”
Karelia smiled brightly as she said this and turned her gaze back to Luna.
“Lady Luna, no matter what anyone says, you are a precious comrade to me. Please don’t forget that.”
* * *
And then, I—
“…killed her.”
I killed Makana Karelia. Alongside Vanessa, she vanished like dew on the execution grounds.
To confirm their deaths, Luna had to verify their severed heads. One belonged to Vanessa, and the other… to Karelia.
Even in death, Karelia wore a smile—a fitting end for her.
“…I’m the one who killed her…”
Every time I close my eyes, I see Vanessa pleading for her life. And conversely, Karelia urging me to strike her down. Their hands reach out to me, dragging me into despair.
As I brush away these ‘hallucinations,’ Karelia’s final words echo in my mind.
She warned me not to repeat her mistakes.
So, to avoid making those mistakes—Luna made the ‘logical’ choice. It was reasonable to suspect that Karelia might betray her in the future during the conquest of the southern continent.
This wasn’t about Karelia’s character; it was foolish to expect someone with ambition and dreams to remain subservient.
No, even before that—the proof was myself. No matter what excuses Vanessa might offer, the rebellion was real.
Karelia fell because she failed to eliminate me due to her soft heart. Or rather, too many wrong decisions ultimately rested on her shoulders as the ruler.
Still…
Tears continue to flow endlessly.
The fact that I killed someone who trusted me haunts Luna relentlessly.
“Am I… regretting it?”
“…No.”
I’m not regretting it.
Luna questions herself deeply. The answer comes swiftly.
There’s no way I’d regret it. Even if I could go back in time, I’d make the same choice. I’d cut down Karelia, the one who welcomed me, for my dream. For my ambition?
No… to honor a promise.
“Don’t miss the opportunity when it comes!”
I won’t miss it, Sir Swoen.
For the place where Sir Swoen will return, I absolutely cannot let it slip.
So, I’m not regretting it.
“I am….”
I will save Sir Swoen from Serpina at all costs. To do that, I must become even stronger.
Since he promised to return, until that day comes, I will never let emotions sway me and lose this opportunity.
Sir Swoen sacrificed himself to save me. Now it’s my turn to protect him. Even if it means sacrificing myself—I must!
Therefore, for Sir Swoen, I will….
After crying for a long time, Luna wiped away her tears and slowly opened her eyes.
“I will save Sir Swoen from Serpina at all costs. To do that, I must grow even stronger.”
She erased Karelia’s face from the recesses of her heart.
“Because he promised to return… until that day, I will never let emotions cloud my judgment and miss this opportunity.”
She erased the memory of herself hesitating during Karelia’s execution.
What remains is the ideal ruler, Lunarien Iniyan, who prioritizes efficient choices. The rising star of the southern continent who never lets opportunities slip.
Her ruby eyes, now slightly darker, reflect neither despair nor regret.
They reflect—
“Whether it’s a few or dozens, I will not hesitate to stain my hands with blood.”
Not noble, but damp. Not bright, but dark. Not refreshing, but sticky. What lingers in Luna’s eyes is one purely human emotion.
Obsession.
A crystal-clear obsession for that man.
* * *
“We’ve arrived at Ainhart Castle!”
Time passed—
Finally, the carriage carrying Reika and me arrived at the capital city of Ainhart.
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