Mind's Eye (1)
"The position of State Strategist, you say?"
"Indeed."
It was, without question, an extraordinary offer.
If ability alone were the measure, elevating me was the obvious choice. Had I been playing this game as Serpina myself, I would have appointed Swen—Intelligence 100—as State Strategist the moment I recruited him.
In the game, if someone simply outranked you in Intelligence, you would yield with a clean, "With someone of your caliber, I can entrust the affairs of state without reservation."
But in reality, people rarely accepted with open eyes the sight of power slipping from their own hands. No matter how brilliant a successor might be, few could step aside without a fight.
Anima and Zinor were proof enough. Even though Zinor—who had served as the final prime minister of the old empire—was far better suited to the role of State Strategist than Anima, who had merely been the sharpest mind among the founding heroes of the Acius Army, the nation had still been thrown into turmoil over the matter.
"I ask only to be certain—what is the generals' opinion of Lady Jena?"
"There is no need to go as far as the generals. When I had just finished killing everyone and assumed the imperial succession, it was she who swiftly restored order to a chaotic court and secured power firmly in my hands. In other words, she is someone to whom I myself am deeply indebted."
And if, under those circumstances, I pushed Jena aside and elevated myself?
I was not Irene. At least Irene had proven herself on the front lines. Everything I had done here was the sort of work no one else would even notice—handling Serpina behind closed doors, or helping Jennis prevent the annihilation of the Al Kaski family.
Serpina and Irian might feel grateful to me, but from the outside looking in, I had done nothing for this nation. And Serpina and I were already tangled in unsavory rumors.
A young female sovereign kept summoning a young male officer of roughly her own age for private audiences—and then, suddenly, that same officer was appointed State Strategist, a position second only to the sovereign herself…
Even I, as a third party, would have seen it as nothing more than a woman handing a post to her lover.
Someone as sharp as Serpina could not possibly be unaware of that.
Which was why I looked straight into her eyes and asked,
"And even so, you would elevate me—a stone that has only just rolled in?"
Serpina looked at me as though the question itself were absurd.
"But even you must admit it is the rational choice, no?"
"I cannot agree. With ominous rumors already circulating about the two of us, such a move would almost certainly unsettle the generals."
"You believe one must mind appearances when appointing a more capable person to a fitting post?"
"In this case, my lord, I find myself unable to ignore the importance of humility—something you yourself once spoke of."
My roundabout way of speaking seemed to amuse her; she let out a soft laugh.
"You refuse to yield a single word. And before me, no less. Fufufu…♥"
State Strategist.
Was it truly right for me to climb over Jena and take that seat?
No—more than that… I would have to leave her someday. Was it right to accept such a high office knowing that?
Of course, becoming strategist would make it safer to leave her side. The office itself, the deep trust I had already built, and the bait of the Mind's Eye—I had already succeeded in creating a situation where she could not easily refuse my words.
If I became strategist, offered a string of suitably accurate predictions, and then, when the Lunarien Army reappeared, told her, "At this point, you must let me go," I could take Irene and Reika and return safely to Lady Luna's side without any real danger.
But if I did that—
I would be using Lady Serpina.
At least for now, the desire not to use her won out. I quietly shook my head.
"It is a position far too great for me. I believe Lady Jena would serve far better than someone like me, who can only lean on the Mind's Eye."
Serpina studied my face for a moment, then turned her gaze forward once more.
"If that is your will, I will not press the matter to the end. But I would have you remember one thing."
She parted her lips again.
"Swen. If you desire it, We shall give you the strategist's seat. And not only that. Whatever you wish for—whatever it may be—We shall grant it. So if that heart of yours should change even a little… We would have you speak honestly to Us."
"…"
If that heart of mine should change even a little, she said.
As expected, Serpina seemed to have some vague sense that I served another lord. It was not only this remark; she had spoken with that same undertone several times before—that she did not care who else was in my heart, that she did not mind being second…
Lady Luna…
I remembered those ruby eyes, trembling as they looked at me in the shabby royal hall of Zeiland Castle.
When I turned my head, golden eyes filled my vision—radiantly beautiful, yet unable to hide the loneliness seeping from within.
I…
What was I supposed to do?
Lunarien Iniang and Serpina von Aingart… whom should I follow?
It was a question I had never posed, so of course no answer emerged. Even if I had asked it, the predicted reply would simply have been "Unknown."
All I could do was offer a bitter smile.
This was a problem I had to decide for myself. An Intelligence stat meant nothing before a question like this. And whatever choice I made, every last bit of the responsibility would rest on me.
The hour of that ultimate decision was drawing steadily closer… and I could not afford to run from it.
And so I spent the rest of the journey in the carriage with Serpina, the scent of citron seeping deep into my body and heart alike.
After we returned to Aingart Castle, one thing became certain.
Whatever had threatened her life, it had not been a natural disaster. Nothing of note had occurred while we were away, and even after several days had passed, no unusual reports arrived. Everything remained quiet.
Which meant—
Assassination was the most likely possibility.
Judging by the present situation, the most reasonable conclusion was that she had escaped an attempt on her life. Nothing in this world could be known with absolute certainty, so I could not swear to it—but under the circumstances, treating it as fact was the rational choice.
We had managed to dodge this particular fate somehow, but there was no guarantee another attempt would not follow. I needed to confirm, beyond doubt, whether she had truly stepped free of death's shadow.
So to Irene, who had returned with me, I began a conversation designed to draw out that question.
"You mean Lady Luna?"
"Yes. Exactly."
"…I have not forgotten what you said. That one day you would return to Lady Luna's side."
"Do you also remember why?"
"Well… because you believe Lady Luna, the lord you originally served, is the sovereign destined to claim the world, is it not?"
Good.
At last I could receive that question again. With a faintly tense heart, I entered it.
Is Lunarien Iniang destined to become the monarch who unifies the continent?
I had wondered what I would do if the answer came back negative—but fortunately, my plans had not twisted themselves into knots quite that badly.
[TRUE]
Hah…
I let out a breath of relief.
Still the same.
If Lady Luna was to become the unifying sovereign, that meant Lady Serpina would not die—she would survive. In effect, I had once again swept aside the shadow of death hanging over her.
"I am glad you remember it so well."
"Swen…"
Irene hesitated a moment, then spoke in a careful tone.
"I have said it many times, but Swen—no matter what happens, I will stand on your side. Whatever choice you make, I will remain at your side, so you need not trouble yourself over it."
I wondered briefly why she would bring that up so suddenly. But of course—raising the subject of Lady Luna in a situation like this must have left her with a great deal to think about as well.
Grateful for her concern, I answered with a smile.
"Thank you. I feel the same way, Lady Irene."
"…Mm."
With that, my conversation with Irene came to an end.
And when I met Serpina, safely returned to the royal castle, the first thing I proposed was—
"A personal guard knight, you say?"
"Yes."
Even if she had escaped her fate this once, there was no guarantee another assassination attempt would not come. I could not pose the perfect question for every situation as it arose, so thorough precautions were necessary.
"I already travel with four or more armed officers wherever it matters."
"Which is why… I would like you to place General Irene among them."
Irene was the only one I had confided in about the possibility of Serpina's assassination. And among the officers, there was no one else I could speak to this openly.
"Hmm…"
"She may hold the post of deputy commander of the occupation forces, but we have yet to begin any occupation campaigns. And the role of personal guard is relatively idle compared to that of a deputy commander, so there should be little concern about appearances of favoritism."
"And your reason?"
"…"
If I came right out and said, "Someone appears to be trying to assassinate my lord," I would only throw her into confusion again. As much as possible, I wanted to protect her without shaking her heart.
But I had no confidence I could argue her down with some elaborate explanation. If I tried to face her with words alone in earnest, I might well lose.
So here, I would simply take the direct approach.
"I would like to see General Irene more often."
"Oh?"
Since joining Serpina's army, the thing I had done most was deal with Serpina herself as sovereign. Naturally I had accompanied her as an adjutant wherever she went, and after our return to Aingart Castle my duties had become so closely bound to her that they were scarcely different from those of her personal guards.
If Irene became a guard knight, our paths would cross far more often. Serpina already knew how highly I valued Irene, and she tended to accommodate my convenience whenever she could—so she would likely accept.
"If it is not too much to ask, I would be grateful for your permission."
Serpina covered her mouth and laughed, clearly entertained.
"How bold of you, Swen. To think you would interfere in a sovereign's personnel decisions simply because you wish to see someone more often."
"…"
"And what of General Irene's own opinion? She would of course obey whatever We command, but a woman who commands so many as deputy commander will hardly be pleased to be suddenly reassigned as Our personal guard."
"You need not worry on that account."
Irene was not the sort of person who clung to titles, rank, or status. She only wanted her usefulness and worth to be recognized—she was not someone who lived to climb higher.
If she had been, she would have despaired long ago when Lin kept demoting her in succession. Instead she had never given up, burning her flame for Lin until the very end. I knew that well.
Besides, she had originally been raised as a personal guard knight of the Brans family—of Lin herself—so she would feel no particular resistance. That was the sense in which I had spoken.
Serpina, however, seemed to take it differently, and giggled again with evident amusement.
"So you are confident she would never refuse if it is your wish? You are one thing for thinking so—but General Irene has quite the girlish side to her as well."
…Honestly, she was right. I could not easily picture Irene refusing a request from me. She would almost certainly accept it gladly. And it was precisely because she was that kind of person that I wanted all the more to protect her.
When I offered no reply, Serpina nodded.
"Very well. We shall do as you wish. For the time being the occupation forces will serve as little more than a garrison for the northern continent anyway. Until the date of our continental advance is fixed, We shall make her Our personal guard."
"Thank you."
"There is no need for thanks. Is it not We who stand to lose more? Setting aside the bond of sovereign and subject, We are merely a woman who wishes to look well in your eyes—how could We refuse such a person's request? But… having granted your wish, it would hardly balance the ledger if We did not claim something in return."
"If it is something within my power, I will of course do it."
Hearing that, Serpina left a satisfied smile upon her face, stepped closer, flushed slightly, and spoke in a clear, distinct tone.
"Swen. You will have to dedicate yourself to this body even more completely…♥"
From that day on—
just as she had said when she approached me with shining eyes—
I found myself "dedicating" myself to Serpina more and more completely.