Became a Strategist with a 100 Intelligence and 100\% Accuracy-Chapter 212: The Return of the King (6)

With just a single command from Luna, everyone was once again gathered in the audience chamber.

However, this time, the atmosphere was entirely different.

Previously, only a handful—including Violet—had actively urged her to betray Karelia.

Now, every single person in the room, having grasped the situation, was ◈ Nоvеlіgһт ◈ (Continue reading) urging Luna to make a decision.

"I, Metz, will gladly become the justification for your cause, Lady Luna."

"......"

"We as well, Lady Luna. Please, make your decision!"

Luna closed her eyes and sorted through the situation.

There was no denying it—

A justification had practically rolled into her lap.

From what Metz had said, if she had chosen mere pragmatism just moments ago, she would never have gained such a clear justification.

However.

From a purely rational standpoint... there was a chance that this justification wouldn’t hold.

Her opponent was none other than Vanessa.

No matter how much Metz proclaimed the truth, Vanessa had the power to crush it whenever she wished.

She held the absolute trust of Karelia—manipulating public opinion would be effortless for someone like her.

This scheme? It wasn’t something Karelia herself would have devised.

It was almost certainly Vanessa.

A decision made entirely on her own, without the approval of her lord.

In the end, even if Luna raised an outcry about the injustice, all the stigma of being a traitor would still fall squarely on her shoulders.

Luna’s original plan had been to wait for an opportunity that was even more certain.

But if things continued like this, she might not live long enough for such an opportunity to come.

And at this point, there was no guarantee that an ideal moment would ever fall into her lap.

Even if she managed to survive and somehow step down from her position within Karelia’s army,

Could she truly find another nation where she could once again secure land, troops, and supplies of this scale?

But in the end, all of that was just an excuse.

No matter what angle she looked at it from, the choice remained the same—

Betrayal.

Maybe it would make things easier on her conscience.

She could tell herself that Vanessa had struck first, that it was self-defense.

She could justify it with that reason.

But even so, in the end, wouldn’t choosing betrayal prove that Vanessa’s actions had been correct all along?

At this moment, the best course of action might be to summon Karelia and tell her the truth.

As she had already considered before, Karelia was unlikely to have orchestrated this herself—

Surely, she would take Luna’s side.

Yes.

That was the extent of Luna’s judgment.

Even now, after all this, she still wouldn’t betray them.

She would go to Karelia, tell her the truth, and resolve the situation.

If she were left to make this decision alone, without considering anyone else’s opinions,

That was the choice she would have made.

No.

If she were truly being honest—Luna would have forgiven Vanessa.

She would have shouldered the entire burden alone, sacrificing herself for the sake of Karelia, the one who had trusted her.

It was foolish. Naive. Others would surely call her an idiot for it...

But just like Karelia, Lunarian was someone who valued loyalty above all else.

However, Luna no longer made decisions alone.

Beyond her own thoughts—

There was always him, lingering like a shadow.

"It’s all right, Lady Luna. Please trust me. I will definitely come back for you."

That was what he had said.

That he would come back for her.

"My lord! Stay strong! And when the opportunity comes, do not hesitate! I will return to your side!"

That was what he had said.

That if the opportunity came, she must not let it slip away.

Was he not still waiting for her?

And so, in a moment when even justification had naturally fallen into her hands—

She could no longer afford to cling to her ideals alone.

"Even now... what am I still hesitating for?"

To strike Karelia from behind?

Even if she had justification, it would still be dishonorable for a vassal.

Vanessa was the one responsible for this situation.

The Karelia that Luna knew would never overlook such a thing, no matter how much she trusted Vanessa.

The reason Karelia had entrusted Luna with this position—

Was because she trusted her deeply.

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Even when it meant rejecting Vanessa’s counsel, Karelia had still chosen Luna.

For Luna to betray that trust now—

Perhaps she would no longer have the right to condemn Serpina.

However.

"Swen threw himself into danger for my sake..."

And yet, here she was, still hesitating—

Clinging to justification, waiting and waiting while he had acted.

When Brans’ army had crushed Zeilant Castle like a candle in the wind—

He had thrown himself into the fire to save her and her comrades.

He had sacrificed everything.

At this point, Luna had to seize this opportunity.

The opportunity Swen had so desperately spoken of.

Hadn’t she promised?

That she would never let it slip away?

"A ruler must sometimes reach into filth. There are times when one must stain their hands with blood."

"That’s right. After everything that’s happened, I can’t just sit here preaching empty righteousness anymore...!!"

Cecil had said it before, too.

That Karelia was too kind-hearted.

That at times, it was worrisome.

Even now, Luna knew—

If she was to surpass Karelia, to be an even greater ruler than her—

She had to adopt Karelia’s virtues while discarding her flaws.

She must never allow herself to be controlled by a single subordinate.

And at the same time—she must hold on to her ideals, even at the very end.

Even if, no matter how much she insisted on her innocence, the label of traitor was inevitable—

Even if she would forever be remembered as a cowardly woman who stabbed her own lord in the back—

It was a burden Luna herself would have to bear.

Just as Swen had sacrificed himself for them.

After all—

Could she, of all people, dare to lament something as trivial as reputation—

In front of a man who had been willing to throw away his very life?

And at last—she realized.

At every moment of choice, she had hidden behind the words:

"The most righteous and efficient path."

She had used them as a shield.

And yet...

Perhaps there truly was such a path.

Perhaps such an option did exist.

But Luna was not Swen.

No matter how much she thought she knew what he would say—

That would never be the same as hearing it directly from him.

And so, at the very least—

She could not make him wait any longer.

Whether he was still in Brans’ army,

Or, as the rumors said, with Aishus’ forces—

Or now, within Serpina’s army—

Or somewhere else entirely—

He was still waiting for her.

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And with that final thought—

The once-chaotic storm in her mind finally settled.

Her trembling body stilled.

Swen.

I have always been in your debt.

At moments when I had to decide, at times when I had to endure day by day—

I was able to come this far, all thanks to you.

So.

I can’t make you wait any longer.

I can’t break my promise to you.

I want to see you again as soon as possible.

I want to have important conversations with you.

Just like back then, I want to open my heart and talk about everything.

Not just matters of governance, but other things, too.

I want to dream of the future with you once more.

If you are by my side, I truly believe I can build the nation I have envisioned—a place where everyone can be happy.

You, my one and only strategist—my Swen.

I will keep waiting.

I will keep waiting, so—

"Everyone."

The moment her voice rang out—

A little lower than usual—

Tifa, who had been by her side for a long time, realized it immediately.

Luna had finally steeled herself.

"I will first secure as many supplies as possible for our lord. If we frame it as preparation for war, they won’t refuse. We can gather enough. Once the troops have arrived, I will summon you all here again.

And... please make sure that today's discussion never leaves this room."

"Lady Luna. Does this mean—?"

"Yes."

At Cain’s question, Luna nodded.

"Once the troops are stationed within the castle, once we have stockpiled as many supplies as possible, and once the order for invasion is given—"

Her ruby-red eyes burned as if they had swallowed the sun itself.

Within them lay a will strong enough to endure disgrace and become the sovereign who would unify the land.

Conviction.

And an undeniable, consuming longing for someone.

"I, Lunarian, shall once again raise the banner of the Lunarian Army."

You must, without fail, return to my side.

The vow she had endured and suppressed for months—

The vow soaked in obsession—

It was now driving her to move forward, no matter what she had to endure.

* * *

After that day, the first thing Luna did was demand supplies.

She justified it by stating that, since she would be facing multiple territories alone, she required an ample stockpile of resources.

It was a reasonable argument.

As such, Karelia, without any suspicion, continued to send gold and provisions in large quantities to Tepello Castle.

Resources that had been stored away during the long years without war.

An overwhelming amount—enough to sustain a massive army for months of battle.

And then, several weeks later—

At last, as scheduled, the 90,000-strong army arrived at Tepello Castle, accompanied by several generals.

"Gail Arend, reporting to the lord."

"Seria Jail, reporting to the lord."

"My apologies for the delay. Mugendorf, reporting to the lord."

Luna rose from her seat and warmly welcomed the three generals who had arrived.

"Welcome, General Gail. General Seria. General Mugendorf. You have traveled a long way. You have my deepest gratitude.

I may be lacking as the supreme commander in the upcoming war, but I ask for your cooperation nonetheless."

"There's no need to say such things. On the battlefield, we shall fight under your command as our sovereign. Simply give us the orders, and we shall win."

"Your words are most reassuring."

Luna smiled brightly before turning to the side and asking—

"Metz. Is the banquet prepared?"

"It is ready."

"A banquet? There was no need for such a thing..."

At Gail’s hesitant remark, Luna smiled even more radiantly as she replied—

"You have all traveled a long way, have you not?

Before a battle, it is crucial to relieve the fatigue of one's body.

The soldiers must be tense as well—so please, rest well tonight."

"If you insist..."

It was true. While a general like himself might not mind, maintaining the morale of the troops was vital.

For Karelia’s army, this would be their first real battle in a long time.

"Now, now. Please, all three of you, come this way."

And so, the three generals followed Metz toward the banquet hall.

The moment they departed, Francis quietly approached Luna and asked—

"Lady Luna. Should we proceed as planned?"

"...Please do."

Hearing Luna’s firm voice, Francis felt it again.

The weight of the irreversible path they were about to walk.