Became a Strategist with a 100 Intelligence and 100\% Accuracy-Chapter 194: Her True Feelings (1)

Since that day,

I had been spending so much time with Serpina that it wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say I was practically her personal attendant.

Wherever she went, I naturally followed.

Serpina had asked me to become her husband.

In other words—a proposal.

She had, in essence, asked me to marry her.

Of course, it wasn’t as if she had forced the issue afterward, or threatened to kill me if I refused, leading to some nightmarish scenario—

but still, whenever our eyes happened to meet during our conversations...

"......♥"

Serpina’s smile would make my heart race for no reason, making it hard to focus on work.

Thinking about it,

if she had been just a little more forceful in her approach, I probably would have felt the urge to distance myself from her.

But Serpina maintained that delicate 'line' with astonishing precision.

It was as if she deliberately hovered on the edge, creating a sense of urgency in the other person—

a strategy that, if I were to analyze it objectively, was nothing short of impressive.

A breathtakingly beautiful blonde woman, with those shimmering golden eyes filled with sincerity, telling me she wanted to have my child...

Even so, I felt like I deserved some credit for maintaining this level of composure.

Whenever we left the royal castle or her mansion, we were always accompanied by her four personal knights.

Among them was someone particularly dear to me—Airen.

She was the only one who knew that Serpina might be assassinated.

Technically speaking, acting as a bodyguard for a ruler was a task unbefitting a vice-commander of the occupying forces,

but after realizing that it was my intention, she accepted it without complaint and carried out the role dutifully.

Not that it mattered much—

Airen had originally been trained to serve as Lyn’s personal bodyguard.

It was only through sheer ability that she had risen to the rank of general and earned the title of "Siege Specialist."

So, rather than considering this assignment as a demotion, it was simply a continuation of what she had been raised to do.

It made sense that she had no particular resistance to it.

I regularly shared updates with Airen.

"What do you think so far?"

Airen lowered her voice and spoke cautiously.

"I haven't sensed anything unusual. There aren’t any particular rumors circulating either."

I had assumed that if an assassination attempt was in the works, there would be some kind of sign.

That was why I had been discussing the matter with Airen more frequently as of late.

And according to her, there was no indication of anything amiss.

If there was even the slightest hint of danger, she had been instructed to report it to me immediately.

Yet, so far, she had remained silent and simply focused on her duties.

"But the possibility of something happening is still extremely high."

"I know. If it were anyone else saying this, I might have doubts—but it’s you, Swen. Since you believe it’s likely, I’ll keep a close watch.

The other knights are all highly skilled as well, so there’s no need to worry too much."

Hearing her say that made me realize something.

At some point,

she had stopped asking me for proof.

Even now, she simply accepted my warning—

[Your lord is in danger]—

and followed my instructions without hesitation, doing everything she could to assist me.

Serpina was the same.

Once she had come to understand my ability, my [Insight], she had stopped questioning my reasoning and simply followed my advice.

Airen... Serpina...

Both of them placed great trust in me, ever since they realized that my predictions had always been correct.

And the moment I acknowledged that trust, a certain someone came to mind.

A ruler with ruby-red eyes—

who had believed in me unconditionally, even before I had proven anything.

"......."

"Swen?"

"It’s nothing. My mind just got a bit tangled for a moment."

"If something’s bothering you, you can talk to me. I’ll listen."

"Thank you."

After wrapping up my conversation with Airen, it was time for another session of advising Serpina on the overall governance of the nation.

"As you suggested, I have sent Lude to Roze Castle."

"You made the right choice."

The optimal result would probably follow, as expected.

I still didn’t understand exactly how this phenomenon worked, but I had grown accustomed to seeing events unfold in our favor.

Even though I lacked an official title, I was effectively serving as the kingdom’s chief strategist.

For now, it was fine, since Jenna was still traveling across the continent assessing the risk of rebellion.

But once she returned—

how would I maintain my current position?

This translation is the intellectual property of Novelight.

It was obvious that taking her place would cause a major upheaval.

There could even be another rebellion.

And even if it didn’t come to that, there were bound to be many who resented my sudden arrival.

Irian and Airen would undoubtedly stand by my side, but to some of the other officers, I was still the enemy who had led the siege of Kelstein Castle— a mere opportunist who had already served under three different rulers.

And, as expected. Now that she had come to understand my ability to some extent, she repeated the same question she had been asking for some time.

"Swen. I, Serpina von Eingart, will I be able to seize this world as the ruler of a unified continent?"

Her eyes as she asked that question were not those of a ruler, but rather those of a curious young girl.

As if she were saying, "I've worked this hard, surely by now I'm qualified, don’t you think?"

Of course, my answer to that question had never changed.

"Not yet, it seems."

"I see. So that’s how it is."

Hearing the same rejection over and over again should have been disheartening at least once, but Serpina only responded with a confident expression, completely unfazed.

"It seems I still lack devotion... and ability."

"My lord..."

"But, it does not concern me at all. After all, I have you. The white-haired magician who approached me as if by fate... you remain by my side, do you not?"

As Serpina spoke, her ✧ NоvеIight ✧ (Original source) pale hand traced along my cheek.

I was mildly surprised to realize that I didn’t find her touch unpleasant.

"Swen. As long as you continue to stay with me... I will surely claim the world. Rebuilding the once-glorious empire will no longer be a mere dream if you are by my side."

I gave no reply, but she didn’t seem to mind.

She simply continued looking at me and spoke again.

"So, continue to teach me many things. Illuminate the path ahead, Swen. Until then, you are to stay by my side for the rest of your life. Fufufu... ♥"

Updat𝓮d from frёewebnoѵēl.com.

Serpina’s face flushed red as she gazed at me, as if she was going mad with love.

I could hear the thickening sweetness in her voice. Her eyes, filled with desire, became increasingly blatant over time.

If there was any other change in her, it was that she no longer looked as fragile as before.

It seemed that having me, someone perceived as always right, constantly by her side and aiding her, was serving as a strong anchor for her mental stability.

She believed my words—

that "predictions change depending on the situation"—

and she seemed to have embraced the idea that if she continued to persist, eventually a path would open.

So of course, she wanted to keep me by her side.

A ruler’s obsession with a capable retainer was nothing unusual.

And so, the next day, and the day after that, I continued to say, "My lord cannot yet become the ruler of a unified empire."

Yet Serpina never wavered.

She continued to rely on me, leading the nation with unwavering determination.

To me, it felt like she was resisting the enormous weight of sin pressing down on her shoulders—

fighting against the malice that sought to trample her at every turn.

...

And the more time I spent with her, the heavier the weight pressing down on my heart became—

like a massive stone burdening my chest.

But in the long run, this was not just for Serpina’s sake, but for Luna’s as well.

Luna’s path to unification required Serpina’s survival.

And in a situation where an assassination attempt was imminent, staying close to Serpina was the best way to ensure she remained alive.

...So then,

why did it feel so suffocating?

Without finding an answer to the turmoil within me, the days continued to slip away, one after another.

***

Several days had passed like that.

That day, the sky was an unusually deep blue.

Standing atop the outer walls surrounding Eingart’s domain, I accompanied Serpina.

As soon as we left the royal castle, Airen and the other three knights followed her like shadows.

For the past few days, I had constantly been thinking about my promise to Luna.

Was it because Serpina had been pleading with me more than ever not to leave her side?

Or because of the way she sometimes smiled at me, her golden eyes shimmering?

Or was it because... if I didn’t force myself to think of Luna, I felt like even I would start to forget her?

Even as I followed behind Serpina, my mind shamelessly wandered to another ruler.

...No. Not now. I shouldn't be thinking about this.

I quickly suppressed my thoughts and turned my gaze forward, briefly wondering why Serpina had chosen to come here.

And then, just as I was about to ask, she pointed beyond the walls and spoke.

"Swen. Do you know where that is?"

"That would be Utiner Castle."

Utiner Castle.

A small domain located closest to Eingart Castle.

Despite its size, it had a proper royal castle and was strategically significant due to its proximity to Eingart’s capital.

And then—

she made a bombshell declaration.

"Yes, that place. That is the land I have decided to grant to you."

"...Excuse me?"

She was granting me a domain?

Every territory was directly managed by the ruler. Even though there were lords overseeing them, the empire had moved toward centralized governance after its fragmentation, rather than operating under a feudal system where vassals were granted land and paid taxes in return.

So the phrase "granting a domain" sounded quite strange. In fact, this game didn’t even have such a mechanic.

Of course, the empire in its prime had functioned slightly differently. If one thought of Serpina as an emperor rather than a mere ruler, then bestowing land wouldn’t have been that unusual.

If I hadn’t idly read those history books in the Eingart Grand Library, I probably wouldn’t have understood the meaning behind her words.

In short— this was essentially a declaration that she intended to keep me by her side until the day she rebuilt a unified empire.

"Swen, as long as I have you, this Serpina’s army will unify the continent and restore the great Eingart Empire to its former glory. When that time comes, I shall grant you a noble title."

Serpina spoke with conviction before turning to face me once more. Her golden hair, illuminated by the sunlight, gleamed like a gemstone.

And in those golden eyes, unwavering as she declared she would bestow me a title— there was not a trace of deception. Only sincerity.

Serpina—who needed me more desperately than anyone. And Luna—who had entrusted me with unwavering faith, without asking for anything in return.

I could do nothing but lower my head, close my eyes, and sigh.

—How did things end up like this?