<strong>Chapter 105: Encounter (3)</strong>
—
“Shortly, Lady Serpina will arrive, so please wait here.”
Guided by the soldier to the audience chamber of the castle, I found a spot to stand and took the opportunity to look around.
The interior of the castle was… modestly furnished, to say the least.
Of course, since this wasn’t the capital of Serpina’s domain, perhaps there was no need for lavish decorations.
While engaged in these unproductive thoughts,
The soldier who had brought me here eyed me warily and said,
“What are you doing? If you’re an envoy, you should behave with decorum.”
“Decorum, you say?”
“Kneel,” he demanded.
Really now.
Couldn’t I just kneel when Serpina arrives, I thought, resisting the urge to retort—
But considering I was deep within enemy territory and negotiations hadn’t even started, it seemed pointless to provoke an argument.
So, I complied and knelt.
“Good. If you’re an envoy, wait with proper decorum.”
Yes, yes, keep quiet, I thought, swallowing any comeback.
It wasn’t so much the soldier’s command that irked me; rather, it was the realization that everyone here seemed to carry a certain venomous edge, likely stemming from pride in serving under an absolute ruler with overwhelming legitimacy.
It made me wonder about Serpina.
Since my arrival in this world, I’ve acutely felt that characters known from data couldn’t fully encapsulate the living, breathing individuals with distinct personalities I’ve encountered here. Airen and Reika, whom I had brought with me, were prime examples, their characters far from what I had anticipated.
Known as a “tyrant” and bearing the animosity of many, I was curious if Serpina truly matched her reputation.
Recalling my initial transference into this world, I remembered being executed by her after being captured while acting as an envoy, following Jinor’s almost prophetic advice.
And here I was, once again an envoy in Serpina’s domain.
I swallowed nervously. Though I feared what might happen, surely it wouldn’t be too bad? After all, my brain, with its 100 IQ, insisted this was the most logical course of action. Considering the events at the northern fortress, it wouldn’t have deemed my life in jeopardy as “efficient” otherwise.
The only lingering question was why my choice was deemed “up to the heavens.”
As an envoy, what could I possibly decide?
Lost in these thoughts, the creaking door and approaching footsteps snapped me back to reality.
I waited with bowed head for the footsteps to cease.
One step, two steps…
Then, the voice of the tyrant, feared and loathed by many, reached me.
“Lift your head.”
Her voice, surprisingly delicate and beautiful for a tyrant, contained an underlying fragility, as if too harsh a touch might shatter it.
I looked up slowly to meet her gaze.
“…Oh?”
Normally, I might have been captivated by her beauty, unable to articulate just how stunning she was beyond my vocabulary’s limits.
But more importantly, I recognized her face from my dreams.
“The woman from my dreams…?”
It was clear.
Serpina before me was identical to the woman in my dreams, where I enjoyed conversations filled with laughter, though the topics remained unclear.
Despite the different scenarios, the dreams always ended with me desperately calling out a name as she drifted away.
Serpina’s face wasn’t new to me, though my prior knowledge was limited to crude game graphics.
That I hadn’t connected her with the woman from my dreams until now surprised me.
I recalled those troubling dreams.
Though the details varied, the outcome was always the same: me, calling out Serpina’s name in desperation.
And then, in that moment,
“…Swen…?”
“!!!
Her startled gaze met mine, trembling visibly.
Why had she called my name, despite me not having introduced myself?
And for some reason—
I briefly envisioned her crying, which puzzled me further.
Why did such an image exist in my memory?
“Ah…”
“…”
We stared at each other silently for what seemed like minutes.
As my initial shock subsided, my thoughts began to clear.
“Right. There seems to be something here… but without knowing exactly what, there’s not much I can do now.”
Realizing she had seen me in her dreams didn’t change the immediate situation.
Though she knew my name, perhaps due to my growing reputation since the meteorite incident, it didn’t necessarily mean anything significant.
“Let’s focus on the task at hand.”
With that resolve, I broke the silence.
“…I’ve come today to convey a message from our lord, Yuri.”
Bowing my head, I finally addressed the purpose of my visit.
Serpina, regaining her composure, responded after a pause,
“…Speak.”
I glanced at her cautiously, noting her tranquil demeanor.
Her initial surprise at seeing me was curious, but negotiations were the priority.
“Anima Ingram is indispensable to our army. We beseech you for her release.”
“You’re requesting the prisoner’s release?”
“Yes.”
“And your terms?”
“We’re not making this request lightly.”
I met her gaze firmly, feeling her overwhelming presence.
“Seven thousand nine hundred gold. We believe this to be a generous compensation for Anima’s release. We hope for a wise decision, reflective of a great nation’s dignity.”
“Seven thousand nine hundred gold, you say?”
The amount was certainly an overpayment.
Given that Anima, despite her skills, wasn’t irreplaceable, I hoped Serpina would find the offer satisfactory.
“I’m afraid that’s insufficient for Anima’s release.”
“What do you propose, then?”
“Racline Castle.”
Serpina’s unwavering gaze met mine.
“Without Racline Castle, it’s a no-go. Gold alone doesn’t balance the scales.”
If I were Serpina, I’d have demanded the same, considering Anima’s importance to our army.
Yet, we couldn’t simply hand over a castle, especially not based on a decision from a mere envoy like myself.
Was this a dead end? But then, why was this considered the most efficient choice?
Serpina spoke again, altering the course of our discussion.
“…That was my initial intention.”
“Excuse me?”
“Honestly, I planned to start negotiations with the demand for Racline Castle. However, my mind has changed. Racline Castle or not, it doesn’t matter anymore.”
Looking directly at me, her eyes burned with an intensity I hadn’t noticed before.
“You wish for Anima Ingram’s release? Well, it’s not impossible. But there’s a condition.”
Her next words hinted at why “up to the heavens” had been suggested.
“Swen. If you come to me.”
“…What?”
“Exactly as I said, Swen.”
She smiled faintly, the first shift in her expression since our encounter began.
“I want you.”
