Why?
After leaving the royal castle, Zinor found himself replaying everything that had just taken place.
That woman, Lunarien... is she truly the one destined to seize the world?
Swen had said that the lord he served would one day grasp the world in her hands. And as the letter had made clear—that person was none other than the woman he had just met: Lunarien Iniang.
Honestly, based on first impressions alone, she had seemed extraordinarily fragile. During their conversation—especially whenever the subject turned to Swen—she was so pure-hearted that she couldn't conceal a single emotion. She was the kind of woman whose heart was so transparent that one could tell, within mere moments, that she lost her composure simply by discussing a particular topic.
To be even more frank—if Zinor were to consider the threshold of a person worth staking his life on after a lifetime of experience, Lunarien was someone who struggled to clear that bar.
Being swayed by people was fine. He knew that someone capable of loving others ascending to an emperor's throne was better than a cold-blooded tyrant. In the end he had cut ties at the last moment, but he had once placed his hopes in Yuuri precisely because she was someone who could hold other people in her heart while also drawing exceptional talent to her side.
But Luna was different. Circumstances aside, she had ultimately stabbed Karelia—famous for her popularity—in the back. She had no throng of renowned generals around her, and her present situation was far from favorable. If asked, with no basis whatsoever, whether Lunarien Iniang seemed likely to become the unifier of the continent, Zinor would have shaken his head without a second thought.
But Zinor had a basis. The testimony of that man who somehow seemed to see the future—Swen. One might feel it insufficient as grounds, yet considering everything Zinor had experienced and the footprints Swen had left behind, his testimony was something that absolutely could not be dismissed lightly.
It was true that he still harbored doubts about whether that woman would truly seize the world—but since Swen himself had guaranteed it, Zinor knew well that doubting here would only be a loss.
A man who can see the future would never spout nonsense.
What he needed to do now was help her achieve the great enterprise. Luna had also asked why Swen hadn't come to find them, so Swen would likely arrive here soon enough.
Come to think of it—suddenly, the news that "that man" had declared support for Lunarien's uprising came to mind.
While I'm thinking of it, I should go meet that man after so long... Kyle.
A connection from the days when he had served as prime minister of the old empire. A man who lived a rather idle life, a few steps removed from the central political struggles. Perhaps that was precisely why he had survived this situation. In any case, Zinor was intensely curious why someone who had seemed so uninterested had issued a statement supporting Lunarien. Besides that, if Kyle von Aingart was truly alive, there would certainly be quite a few things to discuss with him.
Well then, shall I go?
Zinor set off at a leisurely pace to meet Kyle. Perhaps because he was going to share stories that had piled up over the years, waiting for someone to unfold them—his steps were lighter than usual.
After parting with Zinor, Luna remained alone, continuously turning over in her mind the situation of Swen having gone over to the Serpina Army.
Naturally, the scenario of Swen working for Serpina under her command was impossible in Luna's mind—so only one conclusion emerged.
Swen is currently... locked in the Serpina Army's underground dungeon.
Why they had imprisoned him, she didn't know. But wasn't the result what mattered? Zinor had also suggested that Swen might be detained. Even if it wasn't a dungeon, it was certain that Swen's freedom of movement was being restricted. After all, if that weren't the case, there would be no reason for him not to have come here by now.
Now that I know Swen is imprisoned, I can't keep waiting for him forever.
She had waited to ask him the most efficient path in the current situation, but if he was locked up, she could waste no more time. Even if it was a little frightening, she had to start moving soon. If she continued to spend time like this, the one laughing at the end would be Karelia.
Yes. I'll move little by little. Even without Swen, I have to make it work somehow. Because Swen is, even now...
In that moment, tears welled in Luna's ruby-red eyes.
Even at this very moment... he must be groaning in agony under the violence of that witch Serpina...!
What cruel fate had led him to be dragged to the Brans Army to protect them—and of all people, to fall into the hands of a woman like Yuuri, only to ultimately be sold to Serpina? Thinking of him made her heart ache so terribly.
We were able to spend relatively peaceful time on the southern continent. While we reclaimed our daily lives and moved forward, you alone had shouldered everything and walked the path of hardship.
Luna cried for a long while after that... then she shook her head and fiercely wiped her tears with her sleeve as she spoke.
Don't worry, Swen. I'll save you. From the clutches of that cruel Serpina who toys with you for no reason... I swear it...!!!
And so, once again composing her heart, she realized. Under this sky—Serpina von Aingart, and Baranga Yuuri Asius. With those two women alone, she could never coexist.
After that day, along with investigating matters related to the mage, there was one more thing she had ordered Violet to look into.
"A young man with white hair, you say?"
"Yes. You were investigating the Serpina Army anyway, weren't you?"
"That's true, but..."
"Any news at all is fine. If you hear anything related, please be sure to tell me."
Violet was slightly taken aback by Luna's unusually firm demeanor. But whatever the case, it was an order from her lord. Having spent quite a long time together in the same mansion, Violet knew that Luna was not someone who would issue a meaningless command.
"Understood."
How many days passed after that? At last, Violet reported the results of her brief investigation.
"So consecutive use of magic is impossible?"
"It's only at the speculation stage, but that does seem to be the case. After suppressing the rebels with magic, that female mage's whereabouts became unclear. She seems to be doing something inside Aingart Castle, but she doesn't appear in public. Moreover..."
"If she could use that power without any restrictions, I would have ordered the conquest of the central continent without a second thought—yet the Serpina Army remains quiet with no particular movements."
"I think that makes sense."
"And..."
Violet, who hadn't been tense at all when discussing the mage, now carefully moved her lips with visible nervousness.
"Regarding the other keyword you mentioned... the young man with white hair."
Even Luna's voice trembled as she listened. Anyone could see they were discussing something far more important than a topic like mages.
"Is there... something you've heard?"
"Would that man's name happen to be Swen—the one known as the white-haired mage?"
"...That's right."
"I see..."
"How is he? Is he in the Serpina Army's underground dungeon? Or was he exiled to a small island in the northern continent...?"
"...Excuse me?"
At Luna's question, Violet failed for the first time to hide her bewildered expression. At that look, Luna sensed a strange chill.
"I... don't quite understand where the underground dungeon talk is coming from, but... well."
"...?"
"Do you remember the story about the pink-haired mage?"
"I do, but..."
"There's someone who was seen by her side, apparently assisting her..."
"?"
"That person was said to be a young man with white hair."
"!!!"
Luna looked at Violet with eyes gone pure white and asked.
"Is that... true?"
"...Yes. That young white-haired man... appears to be the same person as Swen—the man rumored to have dropped boulders from the sky."
Wait a moment. Then... Swen is part of the Serpina Army? Not imprisoned in an underground dungeon, not detained... he's working under her... as a subordinate general...???
"...If you don't mind, may I ask about this man named Swen...? What kind of person is he that..."
Pressed by Luna's unprecedented expression, Violet posed the question with the care of handling a glass that might shatter at a single touch—but instead of answering, Luna ignored the words entirely and asked about the point that troubled her. For someone who normally valued others' opinions over her own, this was quite unusual behavior. Even so—now that it was nearly certain Swen was under Serpina—there was something Luna had to confirm above all else.
"...He helped her?"
"Pardon?"
"Is it true that that man... helped the female mage of the Serpina Army?"
"What do you mean by that...?"
"I mean... whether that man was truly there...? Or whether his name simply came up because magic was used—since he was previously known as a mage... that sort of thing..."
Yes. It couldn't be. There was no way Swen would voluntarily work for that devil Serpina under her command. And the claim that he had helped suppress rebels was even more unbelievable. You know, don't you? Swen knows full well how cruel Serpina is.
And the answer that came was, for Luna, more shocking than any news.
"I can only relay the rumors I've heard and cannot confirm with certainty, but... he is already said to be achieving various merits as a member of the Serpina Army. And this part has been cross-verified."
"...What?"
What? Swen is... truly working as a member of the Serpina Army? ...Why?
"According to the rumors—in the process of—the rebellion—the lord's favor—"
After that, Violet continued explaining something... but her voice no longer reached Luna's ears, drowned out by unwanted noise. Her mind grew complicated. The things before her eyes gradually disappeared. Her ruby-red eyes grew emptier with each passing moment.
Why?
Swen wasn't sold off? Well, she already knew that Yuuri had sold Swen. But if it was Swen, he would naturally have refused to work for her. She had heard that Serpina was the one who first proposed such a deal to Yuuri. There was no way he would work for Serpina, who had toyed with him like that.
So of course. Of course... of course! Of course he would have been locked in an underground dungeon. Of course his freedom would have been restricted. Because there was no way Swen would work for the likes of her!
And yet. Her strategist and no one else's, her Swen alone... the one who should have done exactly that—why, of all people, under that hateful woman—
—was he working for Serpina von Aingart, under her command?