"What did you just say?"
Lynn looked at Swen with a shocked expression.
'You're not giving us gold... you're taking it?'
"Hey. What did you just say?"
Lynn's voice was low and heavy—
But Swen, unfazed, opened his mouth with the same confident demeanor he had shown until now.
"I said, if you give us three thousand gold, we promise not to pursue the Brance Army withdrawing under the ceasefire agreement."
"You... do you even know who you're trying to con right now?"
Upon hearing that, Swen bowed his head and said, "Con, you say? Absolutely not, Lady Lynn. I came here solely for diplomacy."
"Then why are you asking me for money?!"
Lynn lost her composure and shouted.
Her voice leaked out past the audience chamber doors, likely causing unrest among her waiting generals outside—but at that moment, Lynn couldn't be bothered to care.
"Didn't I explain it already? The ceasefire deal where we would offer thirteen hundred gold was rejected by you, Lady Lynn. I asked you several times, did I not? But now, the situation has changed. Just moments ago, maybe our side had more to gain, but now, the Brance Army stands to gain much more from this ceasefire. Naturally, it's only logical that we receive compensation."
"You're ridiculous. Even without bringing in the Zeilant Invasion Army, I still have enough troops to block fifty thousand soldiers."
"Is that so? Well, that's good to hear... though it doesn't quite look that way."
"Ha!"
Lynn scoffed.
She knew it was all bravado—but without it, she wouldn't be able to keep her sanity.
Because, frankly, he was right.
Ironically, the ceasefire now benefited the Brance Army.
Fleeing soldiers were inevitably weaker than those in formation.
From the Brance Army's perspective, preserving their forces was critical, and the presence or absence of pursuing troops could make a far greater difference than one might think.
'And this man... had been acting all along as if he knew this was going to happen.
As if he had predicted Serpina's invasion—or rather, as if he was certain of Serpina's invasion.'
In front of such a man, if she didn't put on a show—even if it was just bravado—she couldn't protect her pride after being one-upped by a nobody from a minor nation.
"And what if I say I won't agree to the ceasefire?"
"What could a lowly man like me possibly do? It would be the same as before. The opportunity simply won't come again. That's all."
At that moment—
Lynn Brance took the ornamental sword next to the throne and stepped toward the kneeling Swen, her steps echoing, thump, thump.
And then—
Shiiing—came the sound of the blade being drawn from its sheath.
By the time she came to her senses, the silver blade in Lynn's hand was resting right at Swen's neck.
Though ornamental, it was a real sword with a sharp edge.
"..."
Swen said nothing. He simply looked up at Lynn.
His expression showed neither fear nor surprise.
So composed, so serene—Lynn was the one who felt fear.
'What is this guy?!'
She bit her lower lip hard.
And then, letting killing intent drip from her voice, she said, "I think you're misunderstanding something. Yeah, I'll admit it. Taking a diplomatic envoy hostage? Only tyrants like Serpina would do something like that. And killing one? The moment word gets out, I'll lose the ability to negotiate with any noble. People will call me a bloodthirsty maniac. Even my own retainers will be greatly disappointed. Some of the upright ones might even leave me."
She pushed the sword in a little deeper.
"But you know what? I'm not the most patient person. I don't know what scheme you've pulled, but I am the kind of person who would kill someone acting all high and mighty in front of me, just to shut them up. Ceasefire or not, I might just kill you right here. Sure, the aftermath will be messy, but I can handle it. The damage will be big, but manageable. But you? You'll lose your life by my hand. Got that? That is the difference between you and me."
Her voice was cold—so cold, it carried a murderous sincerity.
She gripped the sword tighter.
"Keep talking if you want. If your life means nothing to you. I can kill off envoys from a minor nation like yours again and again. Reputation? Who cares."
She pressed the blade in just a bit more.
Close enough that just a brush would draw blood.
She had pushed this far.
So by now, he should be backing down—but, Swen, without showing the slightest fear, looked up at her and quietly spoke.
"Then go ahead."
"...What?"
"Kill me."
Lynn tried to sound proud—but she couldn't hide the trembling in her pupils.
"You're serious?"
"What can I do? If you, Lady Lynn, are the type of person who would kill a diplomatic envoy just because you're a little angry, then it's clear to everyone that no reasonable ceasefire could ever be made with you. What more could I possibly do? However..."
Swen began calmly—
But his voice was deliberate, like hammering into her ears.
"What you would lose by killing me isn't just your reputation among nobles or the loyalty of your subordinates. With no spare troops to pull from, you will inevitably lose Kelstein Castle. You'll lose the bridgehead needed to push from the north into the central regions. Your plans to conquer the central continent and advance south will be dust. Once the north is exposed, Serpina's army will continue invading without end."
"..."
"And that's not all. If the Brance Army is so preoccupied with holding off Serpina's northern forces, do you think you'll have the capacity to deal with the southern nobles or others? From that moment on, your army becomes the shield for the rest. For Aishas Army, which has been unable to grow due to being blocked by yours, this would be cause for celebration. The one true threat to their nation becomes their guardian instead."
'Th-this man... what is he saying right now?'
Lynn was truly shocked.
Why... does this nameless envoy from a minor nation know so much about the continent's power dynamics?
"I imagine the southern nobles will all sing your praises. While you hold off Serpina, they'll grow and establish their own order. When that day comes, what kind of standing will the Brance Army have, scrambling just to block Serpina's offensives? Aren't you curious?"
"Th-that..."
"You may kill me, Lady Lynn. The ceasefire will be nullified and then, to protect Kelstein Castle, all twenty thousand troops currently in retreat will be relentlessly pursued. The famed Raven and Chilein Mercenaries will chase your soldiers to the bitter end, striking at their vulnerable rear. My liege, Lady Luna, shares this intention."
Swen stared straight into Lynn's trembling eyes.
It was true she held the sword.
It was true she had the upper hand in this situation—
But the one controlling this conversation was no longer her. It was Swen.
"Of course, we won't gain anything from this either. We won't be able to kill all twenty thousand. We may even take more losses ourselves. But for us, a minor nation, that just means losing troops. But for the Brance Army? What if they lose key reinforcements during the chase and can't defend when needed? What if they lose Kelstein Castle before reinforcements arrive from other borders?"
Lynn's eyes went wide.
By now, she had no semblance of royal dignity left.
She was consumed by an emotion she had never felt before.
It was—fear.
The primal fear that no matter what she said, she could not win against this man in a battle of words.
"...Lady Lynn. Didn't you say it yourself? That you could still recover from this, even if I died. But that's only half true."
Swen spoke slowly—
His voice now like that of a predator ready to devour her.
"It's true that I would lose my life. But you, Lady Lynn, in exchange for my death... would lose the world."
"..."
"A mere envoy of a minor nation like myself holds no value compared to the world that the Brance Army may one day conquer. Don't you agree?"
Swen spoke with a faint smile.
"Will you guard your pride and lose the world, or will you set your pride aside and continue seeking a chance to take it? As a ruler, the path you choose is yours alone, Lady Lynn."
Lynn froze in place.
As if time itself had stopped.
Will she take this man's life and lose the world?
Or quickly sign the ceasefire and plan for the future?
Lynn Brance was the one who had proven herself and risen to the very top of the Brance Army.
What she would choose was all too obvious.
Crash!
Lynn hurled the sword she had been gripping in frustration far across the room.
Her face flushed red, her eyes grew wet. She desperately held back the tears that welled up in her fury.
And then, staring at Swen, who still hadn't moved an inch, she opened her mouth with a trembling voice.
"You… What was your name again?"
"I am called Swen."
"Right. Swen. Swen..."
She repeated the name "Swen" several times over.
Then, finally, in a slightly calmer tone, she said, "I'll never forget you. Swen."
Then—
She called out to a guard who had been standing silently behind her, managing his expression.
"Hey, you!"
"Y-Yes, ma'am!"
"Prepare three thousand gold. Right now."
"Three thousand gold... ma'am?"
Lynn snapped back at the soldier who asked again.
"What are you doing? Hurry up and get it ready!"
"R-Right away!"
"..."
Lynn let out a long sigh.
She forced herself to swallow the tears rising inside.
Then, turning slowly, she looked straight into Swen's eyes and said, "...I'll have it ready outside the castle."
Only then did Swen nod and slowly rise to his feet.
"Lady Lynn, thank you for your wise decision. On behalf of my liege, Lady Lunarian, I thank you. As promised, we shall not lay a single finger on the retreating Brance Army. Farewell."
After he walked calmly out of the audience chamber—
Lynn dragged herself back to the throne and collapsed into the seat.
"Swen... Swen. So that was Swen..."
Swen.
A name she had never heard before.
At least until today, it was a name that had never once appeared in the pages of history.
And yet, an unknown subordinate of a minor nation—
Had completely humiliated the ruler of the Brance Army.
"So that kind of man was part of the Lunarian Army..."
The puzzle pieces began to fall into place in Lynn's mind.
The surprise attack from an unexpected mercenary group.
The recent actions of the Lunarian Army.
It was clear to her now that behind them all... stood this man, Swen.
And though she had no idea how he came to know—
It was beyond certain that Swen had already known Serpina's forces would invade the Brance Army.
Only then did his unwavering confidence make sense.
She didn't know how the unimpressive ruler Lunarian had found such a man—
But in a way, she was relieved.
That a man of such caliber was serving someone as lowly as Lunarian Iniang.
'Swen.'
The Brance Army had expanded its power in the central continent in several ways.
Certainly, one was their overwhelming background which allowed them to absorb nearby minor nations.
But above all, they made a point to secure minor nations that held exceptional talent first—before anyone else could snatch them away.
That formed a key pillar of the state.
Gurupa, once part of the Walnut Army, had been one such top-priority recruitment target.
Although they failed to obtain Gurupa, she could instinctively tell—
That compared to this man Swen, Gurupa was nothing more than a mediocre commoner.
Lynn recalled how Swen had stared at her so clearly even with a sword at his neck.
The certainty in the eyes of that handsome, striking man.
At the time, all she could feel was shock and fear—
But looking back on it now, there was no man more appetizing than him.
That expression... she wanted to repaint it in her own color.
'Swen. Just what kind of face will you make once you're under me... hmm? Fufu... ♥
Yes.
The conquest of Zeilant Castle could wait.
First, she would defend Kelstein Castle, clean up trouble elsewhere—
And then deal with Zeilant Castle... no.'
What she truly wanted was not a meaningless piece of land like Zeilant Castle.
What Lynn truly wanted to conquer... was a man named Swen.
'I'll make sure you crawl beneath me like a dog, Swen... ♥'
Her cheeks flushed red once more.
But this time—it was a little different.
It wasn't rage or hatred.
It was something deeper, stickier.
A desire to stand atop the head of the one who bested her.
This was obsession.