What I Had Never Asked Anyone
When I arrived at the royal castle, Serpina was not seated upon the throne. She stood waiting to receive me.
"You've come, Swen."
"My lord. I've heard the report. …A rebel army?"
At those words, Serpina's lips curved into a bitter smile.
"Yes. …Our prediction proved correct."
To think another rebellion would break out so soon.
Setting everything else aside — how on earth had Serpina known?
"Was there some rumor that reached your ears?"
"A rumor, you say?"
"Yes. Even after what happened so recently, to raise another rebellion without a shred of fear… from my perspective, it hardly seems efficient. Security would only have been tightened further. If I were the ringleader of a rebel force, I would have postponed the whole thing without question — unless I were clinging to some superstition."
There was no way Serpina hadn't considered the same things I had. She was a capable woman.
In the chaos that followed the empire's collapse — in the thick of the struggle among the imperial princes — rising to that seat and holding it by bloodline alone was not something just anyone could do. Of course, I couldn't deny that the opportunity itself had been handed to her purely by virtue of her lineage. But enduring the weight of the crown was not a burden that fine blood could bear in her place.
That was the limit of ordinary reasoning.
Naturally, I had anticipated the possibility of rebellion. My counsel had been not to advance, after all. But without a cheat ability like mine, Serpina must have had some basis for her judgment — or so I had to assume. Until now, her decisions had always rested on solid grounds.
Serpina listened, then let out a soft laugh.
"I see. A rumor… I'm sorry to have raised your expectations, but I have nothing of the sort to tell you. There was only one basis for my judgment, Swen."
Then she stepped closer and spoke as if whispering into my ear.
"Swen — you were the one who said it. That emptying the northern continent of our soldiers would be unwise. We simply measured your words against everything you have shown Us thus far… and chose to trust you. From among the possibilities, We selected the most likely one."
"…If trust is the basis of your judgment, then aren't there any number of outcomes more probable than a rebellion?"
I asked because I wanted to know whether there was a reason she had pinpointed a rebellion so precisely.
"If one insists on aligning everything with pure logic, yes — one might think as you do. But… you of all people must know that the world does not always turn according to neat and tidy reason."
Serpina smiled faintly as she answered.
"If We must put a finer point on it… We thought of it as the moment a decisive opportunity had arrived. Fate has always shoved Us into the abyss at moments like these. From the day We took the throne, not once has it been otherwise — as though We were cursed by the blood of the dead."
"My lord…"
"Perhaps they are right. Perhaps this is only the beginning… and We are doomed to face such hopeless circumstances again and again — the price of daring to reach for an emperor's seat We should never have coveted. …Is it not rather amusing? A sovereign of a nation, swayed by such absurd superstition."
There was none of her usual crisp strength in Serpina's voice as she spoke.
Had it always been like this?
As if by some cruel jest of fate, every time a decisive opportunity presented itself, something somewhere would seize her by the ankle — and after enough repetitions, she had half resigned herself to it.
To claim it was merely a string of improbable coincidences would have been easy… except that even now, in this very moment, her words had proven true.
A rebellion had broken out. Our decision not to leave the northern continent undefended had been correct. And by the time we suppressed the rebels and hastily assembled an occupation force to re-advance into the central continent, the chaos there would likely have settled to some degree.
In effect, a decisive opportunity had slipped through our fingers. Though, considering how swiftly the northern continent would have plunged into turmoil under a rebel uprising, one had to wonder whether it had truly been an opportunity at all.
"In any case, a rebellion has risen, so We shall simply crush it. There is no reason whatsoever to hand the banner of House Aingart to those who refuse to follow Us and instead chase after the coattails of ghosts."
"Where has the rebellion broken out?"
"Linenheit Castle, in the northwest. The castle's lord, Seline, claims that she — as the practical heir of the true emperor, Sidmid von Aingart — is the one who rightfully ought to sit the throne."
"An heir… Is there any substance to that claim?"
"None whatsoever, beyond the fact that her worthless family's house is one of the seven founding houses of the empire — the Zernst family — which means nothing anymore."
Serpina clicked her tongue.
"That it is a meaningless act… is something that empty little head of hers is simply incapable of grasping."
The words leaving her mouth were harsh, but her eyes looked sorrowful.
What must it feel like, to have those who once followed you keep stabbing you in the back?
Of course, the purging of the imperial princes had apparently involved processes of extreme cruelty that I didn't fully understand… but thinking back on the conversation we'd shared at the graves, it was possible Serpina herself had stood somewhat apart from the heart of that darkness.
She never denied her own sins. And yet, strangely, that thought kept returning to me.
"Well, you needn't worry overmuch. We have already dispatched people. The nearest force stationed in that region will suppress the rebels soon enough."
"The nearest force?"
And then —
A name left her lips that I could not simply let pass.
"Yes. The one stationed closest… is General Airen, at nearby Rose Castle."
"…!!"
Serpina took in my expression and smiled as though she found it delightful.
"My, Swen. For you, that is a rather adorable face."
"I— well…"
"Does Airen concern you so much?"
Faced with a woman who seemed thoroughly entertained by my momentary failure to control my expression, I could only bow my head.
There was no reason to lie, after all.
"At this point, there is something We wish to ask."
"What is it?"
"What does Airen Juliette mean to you?"
"…Pardon?"
At the unexpected question, I lifted my gaze to her face.
There was amusement in her expression, yes… but it did not feel like a question born of mere teasing or idle gossip.
It was distinctly different from how things had been with Yuuri.
"Lady Airen is…"
What was Airen to me?
In truth, it wasn't something that required deep deliberation.
"She is someone exceedingly precious to me. It would not be wrong to say I wish to protect her. Someone I want to take the side of for purely personal reasons, I suppose. Even if the entire world turned its back on Lady Airen, I am prepared to remain at her side."
"…Prepared to remain at her side, even if all others turn away."
Serpina nodded slowly, as if she understood.
"Well. Seeing the two of you change lords twice over — and do so together — We already thought it was no ordinary bond… but looking at that resolute expression of yours, it seems the two of you are bound even more tightly than We imagined."
Having said that, she lowered her gaze toward the floor —
and murmured in a voice so small it was nearly inaudible.
"…How enviable."
"My lord…?"
"We envy General Airen. Even after ascending to the emperor's seat, in a world where not a single soul would stake their life for Us… to receive that pure, unblemished support of yours — it seems We cannot help but covet it."
As she spoke, a slow curve formed at the corner of her mouth.
From the moment Airen's name had entered the conversation, she had maintained a playful tone and expression —
but I could not help noticing the tremor in her golden eyes.
"You needn't worry so much, Swen. It is not only General Airen there — capable officers such as General Irian serve as her adjutants. Considering the scale of the rebel force, We do not believe General Airen will be placed in any real danger. As a commander of sorts, she will not even take the front lines herself."
Hearing Serpina's words, the turmoil in my chest eased a little.
And beyond what she had said — how many times had I urged Airen, before she left, not to overextend herself? To avoid dangerous situations as much as possible? And she had promised she would.
So it would be all right not to worry too much.
"You likely know this better than We do, but is General Airen not a specialist in siege warfare? Considering the legendary feats that red-haired knight performed alongside Brans's finest sword as they tore through the central continent, a place like Linenheit Castle will raise the white flag before long. There will be no need for Us to lead additional forces ourselves — it will be resolved quickly. Do you not agree? Heh heh heh…"
Watching her face as she laughed, I suddenly remembered that she had just asked me a question.
It concerned Lady Airen, of all people. I might as well put it to the test.
Without deploying additional forces, can the existing troops alone take Linenheit Castle?
The answer tumbled out with almost insulting ease.
And it was —
truly, shockingly —
The destiny of continental unification will arrive.
!!!!
What?
It was just the suppression of a single rebel force… Why would the destiny of unification arrive from that?
"Swen?"
"I…"
As I faltered, unable to form words, Serpina asked with a grave expression —
"…Has it come again?"
Only then did I realize I had failed to hide my face.
But there was no point in dancing around it any longer.
Instead of answering, I summoned the same question I had asked before.
Can Serpina von Aingart unify the continent?
She cannot.
Confirming the result, I let out a sigh before I could stop myself.
Truly.
Was this really, as she herself had said, a kind of blood-soaked curse bound around her neck?
Once again, the shadow of death was settling over Serpina's throat.
"What is it? What result did you receive?"
"…"
I looked at her — at the urgency in her face as she pressed me — and sank into thought.
Serpina… had already predicted the nature of my ability with nearly ninety-nine percent accuracy.
She had said she wouldn't dig into it, and she truly hadn't — but she was almost certainly certain. The fact that the sole basis for not moving the army had been my counsel only made that clearer.
Right.
Think first.
As long as the destiny of unification rested with Lady Lunarien, the need to keep Serpina alive remained unchanged.
"My lord. Please wait a moment."
"…Very well."
Serpina asked nothing further. She simply closed her mouth and waited quietly for me to speak.
The first thing I needed to understand was this: why would Airen taking Linenheit Castle lead to an opportunity for unification?
And if that path to unification was certain — why could Serpina not become the unifying sovereign?
The latter was the same as before. She would die. And if she died, of course she could not become the unifying sovereign.
Then why would she die? Because Airen took Linenheit Castle? There was no connection whatsoever — and from that alone, prediction was impossible.
Information… I need more information.
I looked into Serpina's eyes.
Yes.
If it was her — of all people —
If it was the woman who had already nearly perfectly discerned the nature of my ability… then perhaps it was possible.
Gazing into those eyes that looked so unbearably pitiful —
I resolved to cast the dice in my heart —
"My lord."
"Speak."
— and for the first time, carefully, I posed a question in a manner I had never used with anyone.
"Would you be able to ask me a question along the lines of whether leaving the rebellion at Linenheit Castle unresolved and unattended would be the correct course for our army?"