Gilding (1)
"You're in quite a hurry this morning."
"My lord has summoned me."
As I prepared to leave, Irene watched me with a worried expression.
"Ah, Swen. Come to think of it, there's something I've been hearing."
"Something?"
"I know you well enough to be certain it isn't true, of course… but Swen, word is circulating that you and Lady Serpina have… grown rather improperly close."
"…Excuse me?"
I nearly dismissed it as nonsense, but the moment I applied Irene's own situation to it, the logic clicked into place.
Right. She wasn't the only one being quietly kept in check.
Just as plenty of people — Jennis among them — resented that Irene, barely arrived from another nation, had been appointed deputy commander of the occupation force, it was hardly strange that some would also resent me: the man constantly summoned to Serpina's side, forever whispering counsel in her ear.
And I happened to be a man. Compared to Irene, who was the same sex as our lord, it was only natural that far uglier rumors would cling to me more easily.
"Of course, I don't believe any of it myself. I've even reprimanded those who spread such talk. But I know well enough how hard it becomes when a foul reputation keeps spreading through a nation…"
Irene let out a small sigh as she spoke.
She, of all people, understood better than anyone what it felt like to be buried under ugly rumors within a group. Under Lin Brans, she had earned merit only to become everyone's target — left so isolated that no one would even associate with her.
I answered with a bright, unbothered smile.
"Don't worry, Lady Irene. Do I look like the sort of man who'd be shaken by gossip like this? If it really bothers me, I'll just bring Reika along and lob a few fireballs around."
Irene laughed at the joke.
"True. If that's the case, then all is well… Ah, Swen. May I ask you one more thing?"
"What is it?"
She hesitated a moment, then spoke in a carefully measured tone.
"I was curious what sorts of conversations you usually have when Lady Serpina summons you."
"Well, mostly talk about the continental situation going forward… that sort of thing. I am serving as her strategist, after all."
Honestly, I felt closer to a prophet than a strategist — but in this game, the high-Intelligence characters had always been the strategists, so the title fit well enough.
"Is that so? Nothing else of particular note, then?"
"No."
For a fleeting instant, the yuzu fragrance I'd tasted when my lips met Serpina's lingered on my tongue — but I simply answered, "No."
"I see. That's a relief."
"Why were you curious about that, though?"
"Hm? Well… Swen, you and I are both outsiders who came here together. I wondered if perhaps you were being put through some kind of test. Not that I think our lord would do such a thing…"
"She's treating me quite well, so you don't need to worry so much."
"Yes. You're right. Ah, and one last thing—"
Irene hesitated once more before speaking.
"When Lady Lunarien founds her nation… will we leave at once?"
"…"
Strange.
Why hadn't the answer come immediately?
The very moment I thought I ought to simply say yes without a second thought — that was when I became aware of the thought I had already entertained.
Of course we would go to Luna once she established her nation. That had been the promise. Whether under the Brans Army or the Aingart Army, that conviction had never wavered.
And yet — why did Serpina's face, looking as though she might collapse at any moment, rise so sorrowfully in my mind?
"…Yes. I believe that's how it will be."
I didn't want to lie to her, so I was left with that ambiguous answer — but Irene simply smiled, as if she understood, and nodded.
"Whatever you decide, Swen, I will remain at your side and protect you."
"Thank you."
After exchanging farewells with her, I left the mansion under the maids' send-off and thought to myself.
Would I truly be able to leave Serpina's side so cleanly?
…Don't dwell on things that haven't happened yet.
Right now, I needed to deal with what stood directly in front of me.
Irene stared blankly at the door Swen had left through — and only then realized what she had just asked him.
What the two of them talked about when Lady Serpina summoned him.
Why… did I ask something like that?
Swen was a strategist. Of course they would discuss military strategy. What else would a sovereign and her strategist talk about when they met?
Was it truly out of concern for him? She already knew perfectly well that Serpina would never treat Swen coldly — not when she treated even Irene this kindly, and Swen was the very person she had originally wanted to bring into her service.
What had shaken her was the strange rumor.
The absurd scandal claiming that Swen was using his charm to seize hold of Lady Serpina and manipulate her.
A tall, handsome young man. A sovereign who was a young woman at the height of her beauty. And on top of that, her constant, almost protective favoritism toward Swen — of course such talk would arise. Irene understood all of that perfectly well.
And yet.
Somehow, the fact that he kept spending time alone with Serpina… bothered her far too much.
…I need to calm down.
Swen was someone she was meant to protect.
Not someone she was meant to bind.
Being with him brought her such joy that her heart might sway — but forgetting her duty as a knight was out of the question.
Even if that rumor were true — even if Swen truly intended to seduce Serpina — what Irene ought to do was not obsess over it, but stand guard over Serpina as the woman Swen had chosen.
If she was to avoid showing an unsightly side of herself to Swen, a man who was practically her benefactor, then self-discipline was what she needed most right now.
Just then—
"Um… Lady Irene?"
From further inside, Reika emerged rubbing her eyes, still in her nightclothes.
"Hm? Good morning, Miss Reika. You're up early today."
"Ah, yes. I just… woke up a little early this morning."
Reika settled near Irene and asked,
"Where is Lord Swen?"
"He headed for the royal palace."
"What? Why?"
"A summons from our lord, apparently."
"Ah…"
Reika nodded slowly.
"Master has it so hard… Maybe I should prepare something sweet for him when he gets back."
"…"
Watching Reika casually consider what she could do — so unlike herself — Irene came to a fresh realization.
Yes.
If she had resolved to stand by his side no matter what choice he made—
Then now was the time for her to do what she ought to do as well.
"In that case, I should prepare some suitable tea."
"Oh, really? But Lady Irene, aren't you going to training today?"
"I'll only need to stop by briefly this afternoon."
"Is that so? Ehehe… That's good. Being alone in this big mansion would have felt lonely, so I'm glad you'll be here."
"You'll have plenty of days alone from now on, you know."
"Well, I'll just… think about that when the time comes, right?"
Watching Reika grin as she said it, Irene smiled and thought to herself.
How peaceful this is.
When we finally reach Lady Lunarien's side, I hope we can live like this too.
"Swen, answering my lord's summons, has just arrived."
I knelt and offered my greeting. Serpina, dressed as always in her officer's uniform, welcomed me with a smile.
"You've come, Swen."
"What is the matter today, my lord?"
"Must there always be some matter before I may see you?"
…
I looked at her as she provoked me with that alluring expression, and thought:
—My lord. Strange rumors are already circulating. Perhaps it would be wise to refrain from stoking them further.
The advice I could not speak aloud sank deep into my chest.
"It is nothing else — I have heard that the Brans Army has split into three."
"…Pardon?"
"Exactly as I said. Word arrived only today. Chel Brans and Kalintz Brans simultaneously raised rebellions from separate castles."
"Is that truly so?"
"Indeed. What would I gain by lying to you?"
Chel and Kalintz both rebelled?
I had never spoken with Chel, so I couldn't say — but Kalintz? That man didn't have the backbone for something like this.
If even Kalintz had chosen rebellion… was the cause, after all, how drastically Lin's condition had deteriorated after the alliance?
Serpina seemed to share a similar thought. She spoke with a pleased smile.
"Naturally, there cannot be many people foolish enough to sincerely serve a lord who wears an expression like that."
When the alliance was signed—
Lin had looked like a puppet with all its strings cut. In those dead eyes as she signed the alliance documents, I had been able to read neither life nor vitality of any kind.
"Swen. You understand what this means, do you not?"
"…"
"That she has fallen so low can fairly be attributed to her alliance with our army. In other words — once again, you were right. The Brans Army has been carved into three pieces, and now no force on this continent remains that can stand against the Serpina Army. Just as you said, a truly magnificent opportunity has arrived for us."
If the result of allying with the Brans Army was the Brans Army splitting into three, then yes — my prediction had been correct again.
It wasn't particularly surprising to me. After all, my words were always right.
The problem was—
That those "always-right words" of mine also included the fact that she would never achieve the great feat of unifying the continent.
With the Brans Army in three pieces, the Serpina Army had become the single greatest balance-breaker on the continent — a disaster that would feel like a tsunami to every other nation. And yet she was still fated never to unify it.
"And so I believe the time has come to move. Swen, I am curious as to your thoughts. What do you say? Do you not agree that now is precisely when our army should resume its southward advance?"
Serpina put the question to me in a confident tone.
Ordinarily I would have answered, I too believe there is no better time than the present. I strongly recommend that you prepare for an immediate campaign.
But this time, I could discern the exact correct answer to her question.
Is resuming conquest by marching south as we are the optimal choice for our army?
As always, questions of military strategy produced an answer with uncanny speed.
[That is not the case.]
Ha.
I knew it.
Anyone could see that the chance for unification lay right before her — and the fact that she was fated never to achieve it meant precisely this: that the present situation could not become an opportunity for us.
I raised my head once more, met Serpina's glittering golden eyes…
And prepared to gild the destiny she could never escape.
"My lord."
"Speak."
Hoping, as always, that I could steer this safely through…
"I speak with the utmost reverence — but the present moment does not appear to be an appropriate time to march south."