A woman was approaching her as she diligently plowed the field, encouraging the farmers.
"Luna. So you were here."
"Ah! Hello, Cecile."
Cecile Lohengrin.
She was the only daughter of the wealthy Lohengrin family, who had accumulated fortune for generations. As one of the founding contributors of the Karelia Army, she had donated all her wealth to Karelia after being captivated by the ruler's character.
With her modest, shoulder-length light brown hair and monocle that seemed to prove her meticulousness, she was extremely well-respected within the Karelia Army for her gentle personality, as kind as their lord.
She was also one of the people who had advocated that "it would be fine to accept" Lunarienne's wandering group.
As such, she had grown quite close to Lunarienne beyond just a business relationship.
"How is it going? Is the work progressing well?"
"Well... I believe all the farmers are doing their best... but the weather hasn't been cooperative, so I'm not sure if we can achieve our quarterly target."
Even in this era where various technologies had developed and agricultural productivity had increased dramatically.
If the most important factor—the weather—didn't cooperate, there was bound to be trouble.
There was a saying that the year's harvest depended entirely on the heavens.
"Everyone sees how hard you're working, Luna. I don't think you need to worry too much."
"I'm humbled by your kind words."
Luna bowed politely, then carefully asked.
"But may I ask why you were looking for me...?"
Luna knew that Cecile had been given a special assignment from Karelia, their ruler, this quarter, so she shouldn't have had time to come here.
It wasn't difficult to deduce that if she had appeared, there must be a reason.
"Our lord is looking for you."
"Our lord?"
A nod.
Though she didn't know why she was being summoned, as a subject, she couldn't refuse a call from her lord.
"I understand. I'll go to the royal castle right away."
"Let's do that. As much as I'd love to catch up with you, we're both busy right now... Let's talk again when we have the chance."
"You're always welcome, Cecile."
After parting with Cecile with a smile, Luna turned to the farmers she had been working with.
"Everyone. Since our lord has summoned me, I think we'll end today's work here. You may all return home. I'll finish up when I come back."
"You don't need to come back, Lady Lunarienne! Leave the rest to us! You don't need to return today!"
"No, it's fine. You don't have to push yourselves—"
"Please allow us to work for Lady Lunarienne!"
"...Everyone..."
Luna hesitated for a moment, moved by the farmers' words, then bowed at a 90-degree angle and said.
"...Then I'll leave it to you. I'll be counting on you tomorrow as well. Please don't overwork yourselves and get home safely."
"Have a good trip!"
The fact that there was a leader who apologized to them even when there was no need to do so.
She was completely unaware that this fact had become a small topic of conversation among the farmers of this castle.
*
Madlan Castle was a rather practical space, lacking the splendor typical of a royal castle in a major city.
This was partly because the castle itself was planned and built to serve only minimal functions from the beginning, and partly reflected the current ruler Makana Karelia's preference against meaningless luxury.
Luna walked through the now-familiar corridors of the royal castle toward the audience hall in the center.
When she arrived at the audience hall—
"Oh. Lady Luna. Welcome."
Karelia greeted her with a smiling face.
Her long, dark green hair was beautifully tied up and secured with simple accessories.
Her eyes, slightly darker than her hair color—like black ink with a drop of green mixed in—were filled with something akin to compassion and generosity.
Though without elaborate decorations, the plain, unadorned clothes she wore seemed extremely dignified simply because she was wearing them.
She definitely possessed the aura of a ruler.
Not the charisma that proved itself through coercion and dominance, but the aura of warm leadership that embraced everyone.
Standing beside her was Vanessa Trinity, with short brown hair and a somewhat cold expression as she looked this way.
She was the national strategist of the Karelia Army, perfectly filling in the areas where Karelia was lacking.
"Lunarienne Iniang has arrived just now at my lord's summons."
Karelia gestured to Luna, who was kneeling in respect, and said.
"You may be at ease. Yes, I believe I assigned agriculture to you. How is the work going?"
"I'm working hard... but due to my lack of ability, I don't think I'll be able to achieve the target."
Hearing this, Karelia tilted her head.
"Lack of ability? You don't need to say that. I'm well aware that the weather hasn't been cooperative these past few days. I hope you won't blame yourself too much."
"But..."
"No, no. Let's put that aside. I didn't call you here today to discuss this at length."
After saying that, she continued in a somewhat serious tone.
"Today, I have a favor to ask of Lady Luna."
"A favor?"
"It's about Tepelo Castle. Luna, you're familiar with it, right?"
Vanessa flinched slightly at those words, but Luna failed to notice.
"Tepelo Castle... you mean the castle adjacent to the border with Ohana Army?"
"You know it well. Lady Luna, your friends Lady Tifa and Lord Kein are stationed there as well."
When Luna had pledged allegiance to the Karelia Army with 3,000 troops.
Luna was assigned to Madlan Castle, the capital, while Kein and Tifa who came with her were assigned to Tepelo Castle, separating them.
Since then, they had been too busy to meet even once.
Although no war had broken out, Luna honestly felt uneasy about sending her comrades to the border while she remained in the capital.
"Yes. Recently, the castle lord Carlos expressed his wish to step down due to old age and health reasons. I want to respect his dedication to our army even at his age. Therefore, the position of lord of Tepelo Castle is currently vacant."
"Is that so...?"
"What do you think?"
"Um... I think Lord Carlos must have worked very hard..."
"And?"
"And what? I... I'm very sorry, but I don't know what else to say..."
"...Heh."
Karelia laughed several times, apparently finding Luna's reaction amusing.
"Lady Luna, you are truly an innocent person. I think it would be easier for someone like you if I speak directly."
"...?"
"Lady Luna. As of this moment, I want you to become the lord of Tepelo Castle."
Only then did Luna realize why she had been summoned, and she turned pale with shock.
"M-my lord. Suddenly offering me the position of castle lord is too much—"
"I apologize for interrupting, but my mind is made up. I want Lady Lunarienne to swim in deeper waters. I don't want to waste your abilities here in the capital."
"However..."
Just as she was about to politely decline the position of castle lord again.
A voice she could never forget quickly flashed through Luna's mind.
"My lord! Stay healthy! And if an opportunity comes, never miss it! I will definitely return to your side!"
'Ah...'
Swen.
Her first strategist, buried deep in her heart, whom she could never forget.
Why did the voice of that man who had said, 'If you trust me, I will place the world in your hands,' flash through my mind right now?
Becoming one of the castle lords of the Karelia Army.
This could perhaps be an opportunity.
Being a castle lord meant managing a territory, albeit a small one, and someone who manages a territory well could inevitably win the hearts of the people.
And, in the unlikely event... depending on the situation, one could raise an army in rebellion.
Wasn't that much easier than raising an army in an empty space with no one?
Then wasn't this an opportunity?
But even so, her heart was not at ease.
Fine words like "easy rebellion through treason" ultimately meant stabbing Karelia in the back after she had taken her in.
Luna absolutely did not want to do that. It was true that she wanted to hold the world in her hands, but she couldn't betray someone who trusted her like this—
Only after thinking this far did she realize again why she had lost her country.
'No... I need to be rational... After sacrificing Swen with an emotional decision... I can't run away from responsibility anymore...!'
Yes.
Even without betrayal, this was still an opportunity.
She had sworn to him that she would seize any opportunity that came. So, without hesitation, Luna nodded and said.
"...I accept my lord's command."
"Oh. Thank you. I'll be counting on you."
Karelia rose from her seat, extended her hand, and said.
"Lunarienne Iniang. As of today, you are the lord of Tepelo Castle. Stop all your current duties immediately and go to Tepelo Castle to fulfill your duties as castle lord."
"I accept your command and will do my best not to disappoint you, Lady Karelia."
The position of lord of Tepelo Castle.
Whether this was an opportunity or a poisoned chalice, she did not know.
But she no longer hesitated.
Even if only to fulfill what her one and only strategist had asked of her when they parted...
She fiercely grasped the opportunity that had come to her.
All for the strategist who had believed in her, and whom she had believed in.