Became a Strategist with a 100 Intelligence and 100\% Accuracy-Chapter 199: Fate’s Night (4)

I spent several minutes in silence by her side.

Before I realized it, Serpina had stopped crying. She turned her head and spoke.

"...I showed you something disgraceful."

Her face, as red as a beet, made that statement all the more ironic.

And, rather disrespectfully, I found myself thinking that she looked rather cute.

"I was the same. Besides, I don’t think it was disgraceful at all."

"..."

I could feel how swollen my own eyes were.

Just a moment ago, Serpina and I had cried together. Each of us in our own way, shedding tears of sorrow.

Perhaps because of that, my mind felt clearer than it had at any moment before. I could only hope that she, too, had found some clarity.

Breaking the silence, I cautiously changed the subject.

"That aside... I have heard some of the details from General Airen, but I would like to hear from you directly. What exactly happened?"

"If you've heard the story, then this will be quick. That’s all there is to it."

"The one who attempted the assassination was...?"

"..."

Serpina slowly closed her eyes.

Just recalling the event seemed to be a difficult ordeal for her.

The one who had aimed for her life was none other than Reni, the de facto leader of the knights she trusted above all else.

I was familiar with him as well.

We had never spoken, but he was always there, accompanying her.

He carried the weight of a seasoned knight who had weathered countless battles. And yet, I had no recollection of him in my memories.

I did not press her for an answer. I simply waited patiently.

How much time passed?

At last, she carefully parted her lips to speak.

"Guarding me was Reni's final career."

I remained silent and listened.

"Reni had led the knights since the Empire’s golden days... He was a man I could trust. When I first ascended the throne—when my rule was still unsteady—he said to me, 'I will be your shield.' Even now, I still remember those words. In those days, when I had no one I could truly rely on, Reni was one of the very few I trusted."

And yet, this Reni... had finally turned his hidden blade against her.

"And Shura, the woman who appeared to have conspired with him, was also someone Reni recommended. She was a rough, but exceptionally skilled woman. She despised her lowly origins, so I told her over and over again that the blood in her veins did not matter to me."

I had seen Shura a few times.

Like Reni, we had never spoken. But failing to notice the faint, lingering bloodlust in her eyes... That was my mistake.

"When you placed Airen as my knight, I already suspected there might be an assassination attempt. Saying that it was because you wanted to see Airen up close... You were never very good at lying, Swen."

"..."

"But even then, I couldn’t bring myself to doubt him. Reni... I never once imagined that he would turn his sword against me. I suppose you must think me terribly naïve."

"No. If anything... I should have been more vigilant."

I berated myself for not considering the possibility of betrayal from the knights.

But predicting such things was beyond the realm of human foresight—it was the realm of the divine.

It was an ordeal that had been too cruel, both for Serpina and for me.

In that regard, General Airen’s response had been near perfection.

Before Reni could even attempt anything, he had been completely neutralized.

The real issue had been Shura.

Based on the circumstances, it seemed that Shura had targeted Airen, while Reni had gone for Serpina. Had it been anyone else in Airen’s position—someone who hadn’t been expecting an assassination attempt—they would have been caught off guard and lost their life without ever understanding what had happened.

Perhaps...

If Serpina had not thrown herself into the fray, Airen...

Without realizing it, I clenched my fists.

Shura had been executed on the spot, and Reni... They said he had lost both his legs, rendering him as good as dead.

And yet, I found myself hoping he was still alive.

Whoever was behind him, whoever had orchestrated this betrayal—

If I didn’t make them pay, I knew I would never be able to rest.

At that moment—

"How absurd," Serpina murmured with a bitter scoff.

"In the end, all I’ve done is be reminded once more that I am alone. And yet... why does it hurt so much? These things have happened before, time and time again, and yet... Why does it feel so much more painful this time?

"Do I even have the right to grieve...?

"Maybe... I was never meant to be the ruler of a unified empire."

"That’s not... true."

I chose my words carefully, making sure not to touch her wounded heart.

"As I said before, it all depends on the situation—"

"..."

Serpina slowly opened her eyes.

And then, she looked at me.

"Then, what about now?"

"...Pardon?"

"Has my fate changed? Am I still destined to become the sovereign of a unified empire?"

When I could not easily answer, she turned away again.

Then, as if realizing she had spoken out of turn, she cautiously muttered,

"...I apologize. I was being childish."

"You don’t need to apologize."

"If I let something this trivial shake me, I would have no right to face those who bore the name of Eingart and perished before me."

Being nearly /N_o_v_e_l_i_g_h_t/ assassinated could hardly be called trivial.

And yet, if this was how she found the strength to carry on, I could not thoughtlessly throw out empty words of comfort.

At times like these, the best thing to do was simply stand beside her.

I carefully reached out and clasped her hand.

"I believe in you, Lady Serpina."

"..."

"I told you earlier, didn’t I? I believe in every word you say."

This chapt𝙚r is updated by freeωebnovēl.c૦m.

She gazed at me for a long moment before—

Puffing out her cheeks slightly, as if sulking.

...Adorable.

"...You won’t even call me 'Lord.'"

"..."

Beyond her cuteness, my heart ached once again.

She already knew.

That one day, I would leave her side.

She had suspected it for some time.

And since she had said as much, I could not simply pretend to be ignorant any longer.

But...

Now was not the time.

This translation is the intellectual property of Novelight.

She had already suffered too much—both physically and emotionally.

So, once again, I put on the mask of the cold, unshakable strategist.

"...Does a title matter, my lord? The only one I serve is you."

"This feels like being forced to bow when I’m the one kneeling."

I watched as she slowly turned her head toward me.

Her golden eyes, now clear after shedding all her tears, shimmered like a galaxy.

"Still... it’s fine. I was prepared for this."

"Prepared?"

"Yes. No matter when the day comes that you leave my side... I won’t resent you. I made that decision a long time ago."

Serpina smiled as she said that.

It was strange.

Not too long ago, her smile had seemed so fragile, as if it would shatter at any moment. But now, it had become much stronger.

She was a strong person—Serpina.

"And besides... I haven’t lost my chance just yet."

With those words—

Thump.

She grabbed my wrist.

I did not resist. I let her take hold of it.

"Swen, the fact that you cried with me—that is proof, is it not?"

"..."

"No matter what, it seems I have managed to steal at least a small part of your heart, haven’t I? Fufu..."

She laughed like the sunlight itself, and I deliberately turned my head away.

...This is bad.

If this keeps up, I might truly—no, certainly—lose the ability to make a choice.

My heart. My gaze. Every compass guiding my thoughts—

All of them were pointing relentlessly toward Serpina.

Thump, thump.

Thump, thump.

Without realizing it, I glanced at her.

Her pale shoulders... came into view once more.

Though they were partially covered by bandages, they did little to hide the overwhelming curve of her chest.

As a man, I felt an instinctual reaction stir within me—and I quickly turned my head away.

"Swen."

Serpina’s voice, laced with amusement, made me realize immediately—

I’d been caught.

"Are you... interested?"

"...What?"

"I asked if my body interests you enough to capture your attention."

Her voice trembled slightly at the end.

And when I looked at her expression... she looked as though she was about to burst from sheer embarrassment.

The overwhelming charisma of an absolute ruler—nowhere to be seen.

Instead, she reminded me so much of Airen that it was almost unfair.

"You’re being unreasonable, my lord."

"I suppose that means I’m not very attractive to you."

"That’s not it... But how could I possibly dare to entertain such improper thoughts?"

"Is that so?"

At that moment—

Serpina tightened her grip on my wrist.

"...Ah."

Thud.

With almost laughable ease, I lost my balance and fell onto the bed where she lay.

And right before my eyes—

Serpina was lying beneath me.

"...Even now?"

"...!!!!"

"Even now, you feel nothing?"

My entire field of vision was consumed by her.

Her golden hair.

The gentle citrus scent of yuzu that surrounded her.

And beneath her pale shoulders, barely hidden by the bandages—her massive, undeniable curves.

Suddenly.

Far too suddenly, the memory of our first kiss surfaced in my mind.

No—more than just remembering it, the sensations returned in startling vividness.

The softness of her tongue. The slick warmth of her saliva. The intoxicating scent of yuzu that filled my mouth and nose.

And just like that, I felt—

Like a machine that had suddenly been unplugged, unable to function.

"Se...rpina."

Not Serpina-nim.

Not My lord.

Just Serpina.

And yet, she showed no sign of minding.

Instead, she gazed up at me, her face flushed—

"...Swen. I’m... okay."

A woman, looking up at the man she longed for—

"Swen, if it’s you... you can do whatever you want... it’s fine..."

I—

―――Knock, knock, knock.

"...!!!!"

Startled, I immediately bolted upright from the bed.

Serpina, too, flinched and quickly moved slightly away from me.

What just happened?

No—more importantly... that sound.

Someone was knocking on the door.

Haa...

...Thank God.

Truly, thank God.

I had nearly made a terrible mistake.

The last thing I could afford was to act in a way that might lead Serpina to misunderstand my intentions.

Serpina also seemed to snap back to reality. After clearing her throat a few times, she wrapped herself in the blanket and spoke.

"...Answer it."

"..."

I took a deep breath, composing myself as though nothing had happened.

Then, I opened the door.

And—

"...Huh?"

"Ah, u-um... H-Hello, Sir Swen...!!"

The person standing at the door was Reika.

And for some reason, her eyes were burning with determination.

"T-That is, um... I... I have something I need to say...!!"

"Something you need to say?"

"Y-Yes! If... If it’s not too much trouble... would you please listen to me...?!"