Before the Schism
The capital of the Asius Army, Valharat Castle.
"The Brans Army has split?"
"That's right. From what I can tell, it's been carved into three pieces."
"How is that even possible… Why?"
Yuuri's voice carried the disbelief she felt. Anima shook her head slowly as she answered.
"I can't say for certain, but according to our spies, Lin Brans's reputation among her own officers and soldiers has fallen far from what it once was."
"Even so, there was never any real sign of rebellion, was there? And from her brothers, of all people—men who never seemed to care much for politics."
"People change with their circumstances, so that part isn't so strange… But if I had to name the decisive factor, I'd say allying with Serpina was what finally tore them apart."
"You think so?"
"Yes. The moment Lin Brans's standing went into freefall lines up almost perfectly with the day she announced that grand alliance. You remember, don't you, Yuuri? How she went all the way up to Aingart Castle and made a spectacle of joining hands with Serpina for the whole continent to see."
"I do. I thought at the time it was a little excessive, being dragged around like that."
"The other party wasn't just anyone—it was Serpina herself. Lin got off lightly. That woman would have done far worse without batting an eye if the situation had allowed it."
"…"
Yuuri fell silent, recalling the events of only a short while ago.
That strange proposal: hand over Swen, and Anima would be released.
At the time, her mind had been filled with nothing but the need to save Anima—who might be executed at any moment under the tyrant Serpina. Looking back now, though, she couldn't help wondering why Serpina had made that demand in the first place.
At first she had assumed Serpina simply harbored a grudge against Swen and wanted him in her grasp no matter what. After all, the man who had worked miracles across the northern continent had done so against Serpina's army; that alone would have been reason enough for hatred.
But the more she thought about it, the stranger it seemed. If Serpina truly hated Swen, he would have known it… and yet he had volunteered with his own mouth to go as the envoy.
Yuuri hadn't chosen him. Swen had asked to be chosen.
How many people would be reckless enough to walk straight into the hands of a woman who hated them?
Swen—though Yuuri herself had never seriously employed him—had always possessed a sharp enough insight. After the negotiations with Serpina's army, her own territory had enjoyed a stretch of peaceful internal rule without any major external threats.
Would a man like that knowingly throw himself into enemy territory, fully aware he might die?
And take Irene with him, no less?
Considering that Swen had once abandoned his own lord for Irene's sake, the whole affair made less and less sense.
One by one, the questions that had been buried beneath her desperation to save Anima began circling through Yuuri's mind—
…No.
All of that was already in the past.
There was nothing she could do about it now, and Zinor himself had advised her that there was no need to cling forever to what had already happened.
What they needed to think about now was only the future of the Asius Army.
Yuuri took up a quill and divided the Brans territories marked on the map into three sections.
"So what do we do now?"
"The alliance with Serpina's army only covers the territory Lin still controls. It almost certainly doesn't extend to the Brans forces under Kalintz or Chel… From Serpina's perspective, to strike either of them she'd have to punch through Brans land first. Even if she seized it, she couldn't maintain a continuous front—it would become an exclave. Once the alliance ends, holding it would be a nightmare. So I doubt they'll move."
Anima took the quill from Yuuri's hand and tapped the spot where Valharat Castle stood.
"The Brans Army has been split three ways. On the surface, that looks like a golden opportunity to push into their territory. But… I have my doubts about whether Serpina's army would simply sit still if we made a move."
"You're right. They'd almost certainly act. …To them, we're the biggest thorn in their side."
Aside from the southern nations whose borders they had not yet reached, and setting aside the currently allied Brans Army, the only direction Serpina's forces could expand was into Asius territory.
They had poured every resource into defense and managed to hold the line so far… but the moment they moved their army to enlarge their domain, Serpina would almost certainly respond.
"But Yuuri—do you really think we're the only ones thinking this way?"
"Hm?"
"The Brans Army has fractured, so we should gather our forces at once and strike while they're in chaos. Is that really an idea only we could come up with?"
"…Honestly, no."
"Exactly."
Anima drew a circle around the southern nations.
"They'll be thinking the same thing. And they have an advantage we don't: they don't share a border with Serpina's army. Of course they'll want to sink their teeth into the Brans Army while they can. For them, the long-dreamed advance into the central continent has suddenly become real."
"Weren't they already at war?"
"They were. Everyone thought their fangs had been pulled, but it hasn't been that easy—they're stuck in a stalemate. Still, now that they believe they can actually produce results, they'll keep throwing themselves at it. So what we should aim for is to quietly build our strength and wait for the right moment. And the moment we should wait for is—"
Anima pointed firmly at the southern continent.
"—when they move."
"In other words—"
"Yes. We don't go north. We go south."
"The Brans Army has fractured?"
"Yes, my lady."
Serpina received Jena's report with an expression of genuine amusement.
"They're making a move like that now? Chel and Kalintz?"
"Well… according to our intelligence, a great many people were unhappy about the alliance with our army."
"…!!"
For an instant Serpina's pupils widened, and a slow curve formed at the corner of her mouth.
Yes.
Once again, he had been right!
Swen… so this is the "efficient outcome" you spoke of?
The Brans Army had been their only true rival. Even after losing part of their central-continent holdings, they remained the most dangerous power on the continent by any measure.
And now that same Brans Army had been torn not into two pieces, but three. What better result could their own side possibly hope for?
As expected.
Swen kept saying the right things. Sometimes his words seemed to come from nowhere, yet in the end they always proved correct—a strategist who asked nothing for himself and worked solely for her sake.
The more she came to know him… the less she could understand how Yuuri had failed to make proper use of such a man and simply handed him over.
Not that Serpina was complaining. She was simply grateful.
"My lady, what will you do?"
"About what?"
"Will you remain still?"
"…"
At Jena's question, Serpina sank into thought.
Movement is restricted during the alliance period… Is it more advantageous simply to watch this chaos unfold, or should I intervene actively and seize everything I can?
Neither option looked particularly bad. After a moment she stopped deliberating.
After all, she had a man at her side more reliable than anyone—someone with whom she could discuss the situation.
"I will need a little time to think."
"Understood. …My lady."
"What is it?"
"May I ask one thing?"
"?"
Jena wore an expression Serpina had never seen before. Serpina answered with a silent look.
"There are… certain stories circulating that have begun to concern me."
"Is someone plotting rebellion again?"
"No. It's more about… you, my lady. Whether to call it gossip or baseless rumor…"
"Jena, this is unlike you—beating around the bush. Speak plainly."
Jena hesitated a moment longer, then continued in a careful tone.
"People are saying… that you may be keeping the man named Swen a little too close."
"The substance?"
"Because he is a general who dramatically defected from an enemy nation, all sorts of talk has arisen. And… well…"
"I asked you for the substance, Jena."
"…Because he is a young man of exceptional looks, some wonder whether he might be clouding my lady's judgment."
"Ha!"
Serpina gave a short, scornful laugh and fixed Jena with her gaze.
"Jena. You aren't taking that talk seriously, are you?"
"Of course I am not. However… a considerable number of officers appear to harbor no small dissatisfaction with the favor you have shown Swen and Irene, who have only recently joined us. What I mean is that rather than debating whether the rumors are true—"
"I should watch my own back. Is that it?"
"Watch your back? I would never dare suggest such a thing to my lady…"
Jena bowed deeply.
"I merely believe that nothing is more important in governance than maintaining a sense of balance. Please do not take offense, and simply give the matter some thought."
"…"
Honestly speaking, even though the Serpina Army possessed relatively strong royal authority, Serpina herself was well aware that her position was not as solid as she might wish.
She had watched more than once as officers who claimed to revere her as the sole legitimate emperor of the empire rose in rebellion.
Even those who outwardly acknowledged her as the last surviving member of the Aingart line and served her as their sovereign… she could no longer pretend not to know that their loyalty was incomplete.
The chaotic age had already proven through countless lords that even a sovereign who ignored her officers, soldiers, and people could never fully enjoy her power.
And most decisively—
She did not want Swen or Irene to come to harm because of her own actions.
"Do not worry, Jena. I can take care of myself."
"Once again, I did not mean to imply that you cannot."
"I know."
Of course, she had no intention of distancing herself from Swen now.
The surest way for them to win recognition from every officer in the army was still military merit.
I may need to start making preparations soon.
Irene and Swen would have no trouble earning glory. Once they did, no one would dare treat them lightly.
That, Serpina was certain, was the cleanest way to protect them.
Both the Serpina Army and the Asius Army—
began to stir, little by little, with the fracture of the Brans Army as their starting point.
The "dream" of the Brans Army, shattered so easily, was breaking into fragments—and from those fragments, the dreams of every other power were beginning to bloom.
So today is finally the day.
At last that morning arrived—the morning of the day I was to move into Lady Irene's mansion.