Became a Strategist with a 100 Intelligence and 100\% Accuracy-Chapter 152: An Unexpected Reunion (4)

Parfalle, after sending Lyn in alone, forced herself to regain her composure and began replaying the absurd situation that had just unfolded in her mind.

'Airen Juliet... why is she here?'

Why was the woman who had betrayed Aishus Army, defecting despite the risks, now standing among Serpina's forces?

As disbelief gripped her, a strange rumor she had heard not long ago flashed through her thoughts.

'There was a rumor that Baranga Yuri Aishus handed over her subordinate—the white-haired magician—in exchange for the return of her captured soldiers.'

It was true that a white-haired magician had been with Aishus Army.

After all, that man had originally been part of their army.

But the idea of a ruler trading one of her own retainers as a condition for a prisoner exchange? That was an impossible scenario—something no leader would even consider.

Naturally, Parfalle had dismissed it as a lie.

Surely, it was just another one of Serpina’s schemes, meant to tarnish Yuri’s reputation and shake the loyalty of her generals.

If anything, it was baffling that someone as shrewd as Serpina would bother spreading such an absurd rumor in the first place.

And yet.

Looking at Airen now, it was clear that she had not come here alone.

She had brought someone with her.

The white-haired magician.

The man who had performed miracles on the northern front.

Swen.

If Airen was here, standing under Serpina’s banner—

Then what about him?

'No way... Was the rumor true?'

A ruler... selling off one of their own subordinates?

It was unthinkable.

There was no benefit to be gained. No justification for it.

And yet, if it was true—

Parfalle could immediately picture the worst possible outcome for Lyn.

The truth was, losing Airen had not been Lyn’s greatest sorrow.

Lyn had suffered most from losing Swen.

Parfalle, who had been by Lyn’s side ever since her release from prison, understood this better than anyone.

It was because losing Airen had led to losing Swen that Airen was brought up so frequently.

When Lyn had faced Airen again today, she had somehow managed to hold herself together.

But if—

If she were to see Swen?

'Lyn...!'

Please.

If the gods truly exist—

If they still have even the slightest mercy left for Brans Army—

Do not let her suffer more than this.

In these chaotic times, when the very authority of religion had crumbled, there was nothing else Parfalle could do but pray.

***

"I will serve you, Lady Lyn."

"My talents are insignificant, but thanks to your appreciation, I was allowed into Brans Army. I believe this place is the perfect stage for me to realize my ambitions."

"My goal is not to seize the world with my own hands. My goal is to serve the one who will."

"My purpose is to achieve success and renown. I have no particular desires. Grant me what I seek, and I will grant you what you desire."

"Lend me wings, my lord."

Even now, those moments remained vivid in Lyn’s mind.

The man she had believed would always stand beneath her, no matter what she did.

After their crushing defeat against Aishus Army—

After losing land after land to Serpina—

After imprisoning Parfalle for defying her orders, leaving herself unable to make a single meaningful decision—

The person she had thought of most during that time had been none other than Swen.

The man who had been extraordinary from the very first moment they met.

Even though he had only been a mere envoy of a minor nation, his presence alone had been enough to suppress her for a fleeting moment.

She had found that intriguing.

So much so that she had personally taken command, led an assault, and annihilated an entire nation just to obtain him.

And after that, he had always given her his advice.

He had told her that it was time to advance into the northern continent.

He had known which battles could be won and which could not.

He had achieved miracles, as if he were speaking to the heavens themselves.

Why?

Why had she let him slip away?

Even if he had been deceived by Airen...

If she had simply treated Airen differently—

If she had not abandoned Airen—

Then Airen would have protected her.

Lyn knew that now.

Even if Lyn herself had put a blade to Airen’s throat, that woman would never have betrayed her.

If Airen had remained her shield,

Then Swen would have stayed by her side as well.

If only she hadn’t been so stupidly proud.

If only—

In that final moment—

She had listened to Swen’s advice and not sent Airen to die at the eastern fortress...

These thoughts had haunted her.

While she wasted time consumed by regret,

Her army—already leaderless after Chel’s injury—had fallen into complete disarray.

She had lacked even the energy to act.

Without the compass she had uncovered from that minor nation,

She had no direction.

She had even lost faith in her own decisions.

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It had taken her an unbearably long time to even think to listen to Parfalle.

And by the time she finally realized her mistake—

By the time she reinstated Parfalle and began to salvage what she could—

It was already too late.

If only she had not hated Airen.

No.

Even if she had hated her—

If only she had not made it so obvious.

If only she had not suppressed her so openly.

None of this would have happened.

Even after Parfalle’s return, forgetting Swen had been impossible.

Even Parfalle had acknowledged his brilliance.

And Lyn had not even been able to use him properly—

Only to lose him to Aishus Army.

That fact alone gnawed at her.

Like fangs.

Gnashing.

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Scraping against her heart.

And yet, she had to move forward.

To take responsibility.

So she had swallowed her pride.

She had danced to Serpina’s tune.

Honestly—

She could endure seeing Airen again.

It wasn’t a matter of logic.

It was something closer to instinct.

After all, she had been the one to cast Airen aside.

She felt guilt, yes.

But a resentment that had festered for over a decade does not disappear overnight.

It was something she could force herself to overlook.

Airen—she could endure.

But—

The man she had personally won with her own hands.

The man who had said he would serve her, so long as she helped him rise.

Swen—

'Swen...?'

Lyn stared at Swen as he approached with the documents, her eyes trembling.

But Swen—

He did not see her.

His gaze was locked solely on the golden-haired sovereign beside her.

"The details we discussed last night—what of them?"

At Serpina’s words, Swen nodded in acknowledgment.

"I have reflected all of your requests in the final version."

"You’ve done well. Fufu..."

Serpina looked at Swen with an adoring expression—

And Swen, the man who had once shown that same devoted look to her, responded with unwavering loyalty.

"I am glad to be of service, my lord."

Not to her.

Not to Lyn Brans.

But to another woman.

To someone else, he spoke the words, "my lord."

CRASH!

The glass in Lyn’s hand slipped from her fingers and shattered against the floor, sending ripples of unease through the once-peaceful banquet hall.

Serpina slowly approached her with an exaggeratedly concerned expression.

"My, Lady Lyn. Are you alright? Bring her a new glass."

After sending a soldier to retrieve it, Serpina tilted her head, as if observing Lyn with genuine curiosity.

"Are you feeling faint?"

"Swen...?"

Serpina’s voice did not reach her.

Lyn could only see him.

The man she had lost.

The man she could never regain.

"Swen... why...? Why... why...?"

"......."

Swen did not answer.

Instead, he turned his eyes toward Serpina.

As if waiting for her approval.

And Serpina, understanding him completely, stepped in between them and spoke.

"Do you have business with my general?"

"Why... why are you here...?"

Lyn forced herself to take one unsteady step after another, closing the distance between them.

"Why...? You... you said you would stay by my side...! We... we shared the same dream...!!!"

But—

Her movement was halted.

By none other than Airen.

The knight who had once been her shield now barred her path.

"You are causing a disturbance, Lady Lyn."

Restrained by her former bodyguard—

Begging, like a desperate fool, before the strategist who had once knelt at her feet—

Lyn cried out.

"Swen...! Why... why did you... why did you leave me?!"

She clutched her chest, barely able to breathe.

"I... I wanted to give you wings. I—I—!!!"

None of this made sense.

Why?

Why were Airen and Swen—

The people who had once fought for her—

Now standing beside her mortal enemy?

Why was Airen guarding Serpina?

Why was Serpina calling him, "my Swen"?

The weight of it crushed her.

The reality she had run from—

The reality she had convinced herself she could overcome—

Struck her down.

—Thud.

Lyn collapsed.

She never even got to hear his response.

Serpina, unbothered, glanced at one of her soldiers.

"Escort the Brans delegation here. It seems Lady Lyn needs rest. The negotiations will resume once she regains consciousness."

"Ah—y-yes, my lady!"

***

After the soldier hurriedly left to summon the Brans delegation,

I looked down at Lyn, unconscious on the floor.

And then at Serpina, who gazed at her with an utterly frigid expression.

There was no warmth in her eyes.

Only the cold, merciless gaze of a ruler who had already won.

'If this was all part of her calculations...'

Then I could only acknowledge how formidable Serpina truly «N.o.v.e.l.i.g.h.t» was.

Honestly, I felt a slight twinge of pity for Lyn.

But—

'She’s the woman who tried to kill Lady Airen.'

And that was enough for that pity to fade.

I didn’t care that she had once tried to humiliate me.

I didn’t care that she never valued me highly.

After all, I had never truly served her as my lord, either.

But—

She had cast Airen aside.

She had thrown away the woman who only ever wanted her approval.

I had deceived Lyn.

I had betrayed her.

And because of that, I had saved Airen.

I had never once regretted it.

Even if I were given the chance to relive that moment a hundred times over—

I would make the same choice.

I would betray Lyn.

I would save Airen.

This—

This was simply consequence.

And there was no better word to describe the fallen ruler before me.

Karma.