Having safely completed the truce agreement with Lynn and left the royal castle, I glanced around, confirmed no one was nearby, and let out a short sigh.
'I survived...'
I could feel the cold sweat trickling down my back.
I had confidence in my prediction.
Now that the result of a "truce agreement" had been derived, I knew it would be signed no matter what.
Even so, in the moment when the blade was at my neck, I was terrified.
There was a big difference between imagining a situation where death was right before you and actually facing it.
Still, I couldn't let my composure break.
If I lost my edge, I would lose the upper hand in the agreement.
Having already placed my bet, I had to hold on to my composure with a do-or-die mentality, and it seemed that worked out reasonably well.
'Envoys carry out their duties under far more intense pressure than I thought.'
In the game, diplomacy was just a simple click of a diplomacy button - execute button mechanism.
But each and every envoy is like a player from the away team thrown into the home team's field all alone.
Especially an envoy from a hostile nation during wartime—how much more pressure must they face? Just like now.
At that moment, a soldier approached me.
"Are you the envoy from the Lunarian Army?"
"I am."
The soldier handed me the pouch in his hand.
From its weight, it wasn't hard to guess that this was the three thousand gold.
"Normally, it would be transported by carriage... but since both of us need to deliver news quickly, would you mind riding on horseback instead?"
"Not at all. I'd actually prefer it."
I had to get back as soon as possible anyway.
"Then follow me. We're departing immediately."
I followed the soldier.
'Everyone, just wait a little longer. I'll be there soon.'
Now was the time to end the war.
* * *
Zeilant Castle.
In front of the eastern gate, Tifa and Irene were locked in a bloody duel.
At this point, the victor was already clear.
"Huff... huff..."
Tifa stood on the ground, leaning desperately on the axe she had planted in the dirt, bleeding from various parts of her body.
She had already fallen from her horse. It would have been fine if she had retreated, recognizing she wasn't seriously injured, but she stubbornly insisted on fighting Irene to the end.
Of course, Irene did not show her any mercy.
Fighting from atop her horse, she held a clear advantage.
In both skill and environment, Irene held the upper hand.
Looking down at Tifa from her saddle, Irene spoke.
"I'm saying this for your sake, but if you don't want to die, it might be time to give up."
"...Shut up... you bitch!"
Tifa spat curses, but Irene didn't seem the least bit upset.
She simply shook her head gently and responded.
"Recklessness isn't courage, my friend. It's a shame. If you were on our side, I could've taught you much more."
Tifa exhaled roughly, tried to steady her breath—
Then spat out blood and barely steadied herself, pointing her axe at Irene with a strained voice.
"Why... so talkative? Come at me, you bastard!"
Irene looked around.
Arrows were still raining from the enemy walls, and although one catapult had been destroyed—
It seemed most of the soldiers who came to intercept alongside Tifa had already been dealt with.
'We're winning this battle.'
Even if she spent time on this duel, it didn't seem like the Lunarian Army could turn the tide.
In that case, demoralizing the enemy by killing their commander would be worthwhile.
Thinking so, Irene looked at Tifa with a serious tone.
"...I'll fight you with all I have until the end."
"Come on!"
Just as Tifa was about to charge—
Sensing a presence, Irene quickly turned her horse and blocked the incoming attack.
Clang!
'...Strong!'
Just from the clash of blades, she could tell.
This person was strong.
Stronger than Tifa, who she'd just been fighting.
Irene quickly assessed her new opponent.
Before her stood—
A girl with short, cream-colored hair and striking ruby-red eyes.
The lord of Zeilant Castle, and ruler of the small nation Lunarian Army—
Luna sat atop her horse, aiming her blade at Irene.
Irene instantly realized this was Luna.
She'd heard the rumors, but seeing those brilliant ruby eyes in person made it real.
"You must be Lady Lunarian Iniang."
"Lu...na..."
"...Tifa, retreat inside the castle. Sorry I'm late. I wanted to come sooner, but couldn't."
"B-but—"
"That's an order! Now!"
"..."
After sending Tifa away, Luna slowly turned her head to face Irene.
Irene looked at Luna and said, "I am Irene Juliette. Lady Luna, you're a ruler too, so you understand. There comes a time when, to prevent greater harm, one must lower the flag. Do you really want to go down in history as the incompetent ruler who let Zeilant Castle burn in war?"
"Zeilant Castle will not fall. You will not defeat us."
"Ho. I can respect a leader's groundless bravado. But isn't now the time to consider another virtue seriously?"
Irene spoke earnestly.
"Surrender to us. Then your people will suffer less. If you are a true leader, make the call."
A call for surrender.
It was Irene's genuine suggestion, with no hint of mockery.
She wasn't the type of general who delighted in crushing already defeated enemies.
She didn't enjoy tormenting the weak either.
That's why she genuinely hoped Luna would surrender now. Continuing the fight would only cause more casualties, and the result—Zeilant Castle's fall and Lunarian's demise—would not change.
She was pushing for what she believed was the rational choice.
But—
"Lady Irene, I appreciate your words, but I cannot surrender."
"May I ask why?"
Luna answered with a very grave expression.
"...Because I believe Serpina von Aingart cannot be entrusted with the world."
"Ho."
"And."
Luna met Irene's gaze directly.
"I also believe Lynn Brance must not be given the world."
Irene flinched in surprise.
From this small frame—an overwhelming aura similar to spirit or willpower radiated.
Something only seasoned warriors could detect—a sovereign's presence.
The same aura her own ruler Lynn Brance had—
'It exists in this small nation's ruler too?'
"The same goes for everyone else. I can entrust this world to no one. I will bring peace to the continent. And that... is something I must do."
It was strange.
The woman before her, while clearly powerful despite her size—
Was still just a leader of a minor nation making a final stand in a losing battle.
But for some reason.
There was no arrogance in her words.
It was as if she was saying her conquest of the continent and rule over the world was already determined—
And she spoke with such confidence that it felt natural.
Irene was nearly overwhelmed by her presence.
But quickly shook it off, drew her sword, and aimed it at Luna.
"...I commend your spirit. But the world belongs to our liege, Lynn Brance. It's not something for you to worry about."
"..."
A short pause.
Then Irene charged at her, sword pointed forward.
Clang!
Their blades clashed once.
Just as the real battle was about to begin—
"Lady Irene!!!!!!"
From afar, a mounted soldier raced toward Irene.
"It's dangerous here! Fall back!"
Despite her shout, the soldier didn't retreat.
A more brutal general might've punished the soldier for disobedience.
But instead, Irene wondered if something had happened that forced this breach of command.
Enemy numbers had clearly dwindled.
They'd taken losses too, but they still held a clear advantage.
'We're winning. Just a little longer, and Zeilant Castle will be ours.'
So why?
Why was this soldier rushing toward her so desperately?
"What is it?!"
As soon as he arrived, the pale-faced soldier shouted.
"Retreat, General! The entire army must retreat!"
"...What did you say?"
"Retreat!"
'Retreat' – both Irene and Luna widened their eyes in shock and looked at the soldier.
The gazes from the two women might have been burdensome, but for the soldier who had rushed from Anel Castle to deliver crucial news, he had to report the newly issued command as quickly as possible.
"Orders from our liege! All hostilities with the Lunarian Army are to cease immediately! Troops must be redeployed to Kelstein Castle in the north without delay!"
"Kelstein Castle?"
Was Kelstein Castle under threat?
'No way...'
Irene instantly grasped the entire situation with just that one line.
There was only one nation bordering Kelstein Castle.
'Has the Serpina Army... made their move?!'
"General! Issue the retreat order immediately!"
'Damn it!'
Just a few more days.
No, even just one more day, and the castle would have been theirs!
But with trouble erupting in the north, she knew better than to waste time here any longer.
Irene turned to Luna and said,
"...Lady Luna, seems fortune is on your side."
Without waiting for a reply, Irene turned her horse.
It wasn't long before the Brance Army's relentless onslaught, which seemed unstoppable, ground to a sudden halt.
Luna dismounted and slowly assessed the situation.
"Is it over?"
"Looks like the Brance bastards are running away."
Soldiers of the Luna Army murmured and pointed as they noticed changes all around.
And then the words the Brance soldier had delivered echoed in her mind.
'Wait. If the war is called off...'
At that moment.
From the same direction the soldier had come, a man on horseback approached.
A white-haired man in ragged clothes.
The very one who had first responded to her recruitment request, which no one else would.
The man who had begged her to endure because he would put an end to this war – Swen – was now riding toward her.
"Lord Swen!"
Swen dismounted in front of Luna and approached her.
With a solemn expression, he spoke to her.
"My liege, there is no need to send pursuit troops. Please allow them to retreat unchallenged. They will not touch us again."
"L-Lord Swen... you mean..."
"Yes."
Swen nodded.
Then, with a proud smile, he said, "We succeeded in establishing a ceasefire."
"..."
"Did I not say it? That I would stop this war no matter what, so please endure just a bit longer."
Hearing those words, tears streamed down from Luna's eyes.
Then—
She threw herself into Swen's arms with all her might.
"...Thank you... thank you, Lord Swen... truly, thank you..."
"..."
Perhaps being a leader had never truly suited her.
Even so, she still wished to bring peace to the continent. She resolved to stand her ground and never turn away from the task she had been given.
That was what Luna believed.
But still, she needed someone to lean on.
Whether he understood her circumstances or simply pitied her—
Swen said nothing.
He simply looked down at the woman clinging to him, then slowly placed a hand on her back.
"This is our victory, Lady Luna."