The Female Lead Became a Traitor (2)

Screeech—crash!

My adjutant, Biensen, leading the elite soldiers of Valerian, threw open the castle gates from the inside, their bodies drenched in blood.

Through the gap, Sabre's main army began to pour in, the morning sun at their backs.

But there was no need to swing a weapon.

The regular soldiers of Europia inside the castle had already lost all will to fight. They threw their spears and shields to the ground, kneeling in the mud and trembling.

For they had already witnessed the two figures walking out from the inner palace.

Step, step.

I walked out first.

In one of my hands, I held a dripping, bloody trophy.

The roughly severed head of an old man.

It was the head of King Ades, the ruler of Europia.

And right beside me...

Stained with her father's blood, the princess—Yuno, who had briefly become the Queen of Europia—stumbled forward, tightly clutching her unconscious younger sister, Ceres.

"...Your Majesty. Ah, Your Majesty..."

"Europia is... finished."

The severed head of the king they had served.

And the First Princess, walking submissively alongside the enemy commander.

Witnessing these undeniable ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠symbols of defeat with their own eyes, the soldiers of Europia finally pressed their foreheads to the ground.

None of them dared to pick up their weapons again.

Europia accepted its defeat swiftly.

Snort.

Sabre's horse blocked our path.

Sabre dismounted, looking back and forth between King Ades's head and Yuno.

"Lasen, in the end..."

Yuno adjusted her grip on Ceres with one arm and reached into her robes with her free hand.

She pulled out something covered in dried blood and held it up before Sabre's eyes.

The symbol of Europia's monarch.

It was the Royal Seal of the Europia Kingdom.

"As the ruler of Europia... representing Europia... I formally surrender to the Valerian Kingdom."

Yuno steadied her trembling voice.

"The head of King Ades... was taken by my own hand."

Even the Valerian army held its breath for a moment.

A princess who had decapitated her own father to declare surrender.

Even Sabre's eyes shook at a display of resolve that few men could muster.

With a trembling, blood-stained hand, Yuno handed the seal to Sabre.

"I offer you the king's head and this seal. In return, I beg of you to halt all slaughter and pillaging of Europia's innocent citizens and soldiers. That is the sole condition of this surrender."

Sabre took the seal and nodded solemnly.

"...As the Commander-in-Chief of Valerian... I accept your surrender."

Sabre raised the golden seal high into the sky.

"Uwooooah!"

The cheers of the Valerian soldiers shook the skies of Eurosola.

Immediately after, the flag of Europia, which had fluttered atop the highest spire of Eurosola's royal castle for hundreds of years, was torn down. In its place, the banner of Valerian began to flap in the wind.

Sabre immediately ordered a report to be drafted for the Valerian royal court.

That evening.

A grand banquet celebrating the victory was held at the very table in the Eurosola royal palace where King Ades had once sat to savor his power.

In attendance were the victor, Sabre, along with his lieutenants, the fierce generals of Valerian, and the ones who had achieved the greatest merit—myself and Biensen.

Finally, Yuno, who had fallen overnight from the princess of a defeated nation to a captive and a queen in name only, was also present.

"Drink, men! To the great victory of Valerian, and to our brothers who shed their blood!"

"Long live Grand Duke Sabre! Long live General Lasen!"

The Valerian knights raised their cups, laughing boisterously in their drunken joy.

Delicacies brought out from the royal vaults of Europia and red wine flowed like rivers across the table.

Yet, in the midst of this raucous celebration, Yuno remained silent.

Faint traces of blood, which she hadn't managed to wash away completely, still stained her neck and the cuffs of her sleeves.

Ultimately, she did not touch her fork to the feast laid out before her even once.

She simply stared with hollow eyes at the rippling surface of the wine in her glass.

"...May I excuse myself first?"

After a few rounds of toasts, Yuno quietly rose from her seat.

"I am deeply worried about Ceres, who has not yet woken up since she collapsed. I simply do not have the peace of mind to enjoy this banquet. I apologize for casting a pall over this celebration of your victory... but I ask for your understanding."

Yuno bowed to Sabre, maintaining the formal etiquette expected of a defeated captive.

Sabre, his expression grim, nodded silently to grant her permission to ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠leave.

As she dragged the hem of her dress out of the banquet hall, Yuno's retreating figure looked incredibly fragile and precarious.

Is ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠it really safe to leave her alone?

But then, the memory of the venomous resolve hidden behind that fragile back flashed through my mind.

The image of the romance-fantasy female lead who had killed her own father and spoken the words of surrender with her own mouth.

Over the next few days, Eurosola was a whirlwind of activity.

Letters regarding post-war management constantly flew back and forth between the Valerian royal court and Sabre, the newly appointed temporary Grand Duke.

Troublesome administrative tasks, such as the integration of territory, tax rates, and the treatment of the nobility, piled up like mountains.

While the Valerian knights, who only knew how to swing swords, were scratching their heads over the complex paperwork, an unexpected savior stepped forward.

It was none other than Yuno.

In between nursing her sister Ceres, she visited Sabre's temporary office to organize and hand over the complex administrative figures, geography, and noble factions of the occupied Europian territory.

"The wheat production in this region has decreased by thirty percent compared to last year, so you must lower the tax collection immediately to prevent riots. Furthermore, the eastern lords are prideful. Rather than using coercive force, it will be faster to control them by exploiting the weaknesses listed in this document."

She was helping the enemy general facilitate the colonial rule of her own country.

If the other surviving Europians had seen this, they would have pointed fingers and called her a spineless traitor.

But Yuno's eyes were desperate.

Even if she had to endure the humiliation of acting as the hands and feet of the enemy general as a royal of a defeated nation...

She had to ensure that her people in the territory could return to their daily lives as quickly as possible, spared from unnecessary looting and harm by the Valerian army.

Watching Yuno return to work in such an abnormal state, I clicked my tongue inwardly.

As expected of the female lead of the original novel. She killed her father with her own hands, and her mother died because of it. It must be hard for her to even stay sane...

She was on a completely different level from a fake traitor like me.

While Yuno laid the administrative groundwork, Sabre called me to his office to finalize the military rewards.

"Lasen. Take a look at this list as well."

The document Sabre handed over was packed with the names of the generals who had distinguished themselves in this war, along with their rewards and the land distribution plan.

I casually scanned the top of the list, only for my eyes to widen.

Right below Sabre's own name as Commander-in-Chief.

My name was proudly stamped in the most glorious yet dangerous position: the second-class meritorious contributor.

And next to it, the name of the granted territory was written.

"C-Commander! I cannot possibly accept this list!"

I slammed the document down on the desk and cried out in panic.

"Please place my adjutant, Biensen, in the second-class spot instead of me! He was the one who personally threw open the gates of Eurosola, and his contributions at the vanguard were immense. I merely commanded from the rear!"

At my desperate refusal, Sabre's thick eyebrows twitched in confusion.

"Your humility is excessive, Lasen. Was it not you who discovered Eurosola's waterway and drove a blade into the heart of the city? Furthermore, I intended to grant you the Kalsten territory. Though it has been ravaged by war, it is Europia's finest granary and can be easily restored. Above all, it is the ancestral land of my Kalista family. Do you truly not understand my desire to entrust that land to a friend I trust as much as you?"

I do! I understand, and that's exactly why I hate it, you bastard!

Sabre's goodwill was appreciated, but this was practically asking me to hand over my life.

To the public, I was the primary contributor who had sold out Europia lock, stock, and barrel, and even decapitated their king.

I held the title of the number one traitor.

And yet, I was supposed to take office as the lord of Kalsten, where the vast majority of the population consisted of Europian refugees?

Even if I filtered out the refugees and kept only my close associates nearby, there would be a limit.

It was obvious that my food would be poisoned day in and day out, and assassins would drop from the ceiling every time I tried to sleep.

I didn't want to be a war hero; I just wanted to grow old comfortably as a wealthy country bumpkin.

"I have absolutely no talent for managing territory," I excused myself as best as I could.

"Collecting taxes and tending to a fief are clothes that do not fit me. I would rather you grant me a small, quiet house near the capital of Valerian, where I can spend the rest of my days in peace."

"...So, you mean to say you refuse to endure the shame of ruling over the people you struck down, enjoying wealth and glory on the soil of the motherland you destroyed."

Sabre sighed and nodded.

Once again, useless pity and respect shimmered in his eyes.

That's not it!

"...Very well. If you truly do not wish to govern a territory, I will not force you. If that is the conviction you wish to uphold, I shall respect it."

I didn't have anything resembling conviction.

My mindset was purely stuck on self-preservation.

"However!"

Sabre slammed the table, drawing a firm line.

"I will absolutely not distort or diminish your achievements below Biensen's in the official report to the royal court. My honor will not allow it. Even if you refuse to rule a territory, I will make sure you receive a reward fitting of your exploits."

If I pushed any further, I wouldn't be able to break Sabre's stubbornness and would only arouse unnecessary suspicion.

In the end, I had no choice but to acquiesce.

"...Thank you for your consideration, Commander. I understand."

As the conversation about rewards drew to a close, I casually shifted the topic to change the mood.

"By the way... what will happen to Princess Yuno? No, the Queen of the defeated nation?"

"Ah, Yuno?"

Sabre rubbed the bridge of his nose, looking troubled.

"Along with the victory report I am sending to the capital, Queen Yuno is scheduled to be escorted to Valerium, the capital of Valerian."

"To the capital?"

I tilted my head in confusion.

Originally, for Sabre to stably rule this Europian land as a temporary Grand Duke, he needed a focal point nearby to appease the discontent of the Europian people.

In other words, a direct bloodline of the Europian royal family had to remain in this land to establish a mandate for governance.

The only surviving bloodlines now were Yuno and ten-year-old Ceres.

Naturally, the logical step was to place the adult Yuno in Eurosola as a figurehead.

"I wanted to keep Yuno here as well. But... she strongly opposed it," Sabre said, smacking his lips bitterly.

"The Valerian royal court will surely demand a royal captive as proof of surrender. However, she claimed she could not send ten-year-old Ceres alone. Thus, she requested that Ceres remain by my side, while she volunteered to go to the capital as Valerian's captive."

Yuno was going to the capital.

The capital...

For now, my destination hadn't been decided.

Sabre wanted to keep me by his side.

But if I remained here in Eurosola...

Who knew when Sabre might change his mind and dump a troublesome Europian territory on me?

Moreover, my surroundings would be filled with Europian refugees targeting me.

I would be plagued by threats of assassination day and night.

It's dangerous here. I have to leave Sabre's side and flee to the capital, where the royal family's security forces can protect me.

"...Is that so?"

I spoke, putting on the most solemn expression I could muster.

"I shall go to the capital with Queen Yuno."

"W-what? You?"

"Although Eurosola has fallen, remnants of Europia's forces may still be hiding along the road to the capital. There is a high risk that they might try to seize the Queen and use her as a focal point for rebellion once more. I will personally take charge of the escort and guard her to the capital."

Sabre seemed to find my argument reasonable, but...

"Your intentions are noble, but... to be honest, I do not wish to send you to the capital."

His reluctance was clear.

Sabre warned me in a heavy voice.

"The merit you have accumulated is too heavy. If a war hero who cut out the heart of Europia enters the middle of the Valerian capital, the royal court will guard against you. They might use any excuse to hold you hostage and place ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠you under house arrest, never allowing you to leave the capital again! Do you not realize how dangerous that is?"

I do! I'm going precisely because I know that! House arrest? Please, do it! House arrest in the capital where I can eat and play for the rest of my life! That is my dream!

I replied calmly, adopting a self-sacrificing tone.

"That is why I requested to place Biensen's name ahead of mine in the rewards earlier."

I recycled my excuse for refusing the territory.

"It was my intention to disperse and lower my achievements to avoid the royal court's wariness. I will simply use the escort mission as an excuse to quietly enter the capital and spend the remainder of my days. That is the reward I desire for my service."

Sabre's jaw dropped at my self-sacrificing lie.

He fell into deep thought for a moment, then finally nodded.

"...Your will. I shall not forget it."

Sabre gripped my shoulder tightly.

"Very well. I shall appoint you as the head of Yuno's escort, and at the same time, I will provide you with a place to stay in the capital."

"A place to stay...?"

"In the capital, Valerium, lies the main estate of the Kalista family... where my wife and family reside."

Sabre's expression darkened bitterly.

"Once I assume the position of temporary Grand Duke of this Europian land, the Valerian royal court will surely try to keep my power in check. Until Europia stabilizes, the troops are recalled to the center, and my formal appointment is made, my family in the capital must remain there as hostages to keep me bound."

Sabre sighed and looked straight at me.

"If you truly wish to avoid territories and achievements to spend a peaceful retirement... stay at my estate. There will be surveillance from the central government, but no one would dare enter the Kalista main house to harm you."

There was no better offer for me.

I had just secured a strong, safe shield: the main estate of Sabre, who now held the greatest power in Valerian.

And then...

"If you stay with my family, it will be an immense comfort to me. In return..."

Sabre smiled faintly and promised me an extraordinary reward.

"My wife will contact the high nobility of the capital to arrange a marriage for you. I will write a letter to match you with a beautiful and wise young lady. Since you adamantly refused to accept a territory, let this be the reward for your achievements."

"...Excuse me?!"

My eyes went wide.

A marriage? And with a high noble lady of the capital?

I was startled for a moment, but...

Eating and sleeping for free in the estate of the most powerful man, protected yet monitored by the royal family.

On top of that, marrying a wealthy, powerful noble lady and living the rest of my life under the shade of her family's fortune without ever worrying about money?

"What do you think? Is it not a reward that aligns with your wishes?"

Sabre laughed heartily and patted my back.

"...Commander. Thank you so much!"

I bowed ninety degrees, shouting with absolute sincerity.

Perfect! I can lay low in the capital and live a sweet, easy life!

I shouldn't have had such naive thoughts.

At the time, I had completely forgotten that the person accompanying me to the capital was Yuno—the romance-fantasy female lead who had killed her own father.