After preparing ourselves, the three of us entered the royal audience chamber.
Over Kalinz's shoulder, I could see Lynn, the absolute ruler of the Brands family.
Normally, Lynn's default posture was to sit on the throne in a bored manner—resting her chin on her hand or twirling her hair with her fingers. But now, she was watching us with a dignified posture, without any of her usual scattered demeanor.
Irene and I walked forward in step with Kalinz, and when he knelt, we simultaneously knelt before Lynn.
"...Kalinz Brands, I have just returned to Anel Castle from Kelstein Castle."
"Irene Juliet, I have also just returned."
"Swen, I have returned to see my lord."
"..."
If I were to describe her usual demeanor...
Rather than possessing the dignity of a ruler, she had more of a playful air about her.
Of course, that's not to say she lacked dignity or the aura of a ruler, but Lynn certainly had a somewhat unruly side that made it difficult to call her a "ruler" in the traditional sense.
But at this moment.
She was looking down at us with an extremely serious and cold face, without a hint of a smile.
"...Brother Kalinz."
"Yes, my lady."
"I heard what happened. You escaped safely? That's fortunate. Thanks to that, we were able to save the resources and capabilities of our army that would have been spent bringing you back through negotiations. We couldn't just let a man of the Brands family die. So I suppose you did accomplish something at the last moment. Congratulations."
At Lynn's openly sarcastic words, Kalinz bowed his head even deeper and said:
"...I am ashamed, my lord. I will accept any punishment."
"No. What fault could the smart and successful Brother Kalinz possibly have? It must all be my fault as your ruler. It's because I'm unworthy that I couldn't stop you from making such a strange decision, right?"
At Lynn's sharp words, Kalinz could only bow his head in silence.
"Still, I am grateful that you've proven something to me through this opportunity."
"What do you mean...?"
"That our father was right."
Lynn said this and let out a small laugh.
"When I became the successor, many couldn't understand it, right? I still vividly remember someone who self-immolated because they couldn't accept it. But I'm grateful that you've proven that decision was correct. Isn't that right, brother?"
"..."
Wow.
Her wording is incredibly harsh.
I could see Kalinz trembling as he kept his head bowed.
Though he's a bit unlikable, I feel somewhat sorry seeing him being torn apart by his own sister.
Moreover, he was essentially being humiliated in front of his subordinates—me and Irene.
That must be the ultimate humiliation.
Of course, he brought it upon himself.
No matter how many times I think about it, all the blame for this incident lies with Kalinz's unilateral actions.
"Anyway, I'd appreciate it if you could keep a low profile for a while. I'd like to give you a chance to make up for your mistake right away, as you're our reliable second brother, but there are too many eyes watching. You wouldn't want to serve a lord who gives you too much leeway just because you're family, right?"
She said this and then smiled, adding:
"Though I suppose you're already enjoying enough benefits of the Brands family, considering your head is still attached to your shoulders."
Then she laughed gleefully.
Her laughter slowly spread throughout the empty audience chamber.
Kalinz remained silent for a while before finally parting his heavy lips.
"...I will obey your command."
"Good. Go home and cool your head. Visit brothels and buy women like you did when you were young, or meditate under a waterfall. I'll call for you again someday when the situation allows."
"..."
What?
Despite his handsome face, it seems he was quite the playboy in his youth.
Well, I didn't care about his private life.
"What are you doing? Why aren't you leaving?"
At Lynn's cold words, Kalinz bowed his head deeply again and said:
"...I will reflect on my actions until your command, my lord. I apologize once more."
"Yes, yes. Now go. I'm busy."
After Kalinz withdrew, Lynn's gaze fell on Irene.
"...Irene."
"Yes, my lord."
"You worked hard. You must have suffered."
Lynn spoke in a more benevolent tone than she had used with Kalinz.
But I could tell that her words still concealed a blade.
"But what can we do? That fortress was only built because Kalinz insisted on it, and now it had to be completely destroyed because it was causing various problems. All your hard work has become useless. I'm sorry?"
Despite Lynn's openly sarcastic tone, Irene responded with dignified composure.
"Not at all, my lord. I, Irene Juliet, am greatly honored to have been able to fulfill your command."
"Is that so? Then that's good."
The old Irene would have swallowed her humiliation at this moment.
But now she appeared remarkably serene.
It made sense. She no longer expected anything from Lynn Brands.
Someone who expects nothing cannot be affected by how they are treated.
"Next time, work hard for me like this again. Understood?"
"Yes!"
Lynn smiled brightly and gestured toward Irene.
"Good. You may go too."
As Irene rose and turned to leave, our eyes briefly met.
Her gaze seemed to say, "Do well and come back," which helped me relax a bit.
So I'm the only one left.
I kept my head bowed and waited for her words.
"...Swen."
"Yes."
She spoke in a calm tone without any hint of playfulness.
It was different from how she had spoken to Kalinz, and different from how she had spoken to Irene.
"The first thing I want to ask is... why didn't you follow the order to return to Anel Castle?"
She let out a deep sigh.
"Do you have anything to say?"
I calmly analyzed her voice.
It seemed she wasn't particularly angry.
Alright.
This is where it begins.
I slowly began to deliver the lines I had practiced in my head countless times on my way back here.
"I apologize. It was absolutely not my intention to disrespect your orders, Lady Lynn. However, I wanted to show and prove something."
"Show and prove?"
"Yes. From the moment the sun of Brands entered my heart, my only goal has been to achieve success and recognition. I wanted to accomplish something worthy of recognition from many people, to secure a key position in the Brands army. I thought that if I succeeded in protecting Lord Kalinz's fortress, I could ask for your forgiveness."
"Even if it meant disobeying orders?"
"I apologize. I only ask that you consider my sincerity."
"..."
She said nothing.
With my head bowed to the floor, I couldn't see her face... but there was no change in the atmosphere.
After some time of silence, Lynn finally spoke.
"...I've heard everything. You set up an altar to communicate with the heavens and made rocks fall?"
"That's correct."
"How did you do it? Are you perhaps a magician?"
"Of course not. I, Swen, merely have a modest talent for reading the movements of the stars in the sky."
"Reading the movements of the stars?"
"Yes. After studying the principles of the heavens and communicating in the right way, it's not so difficult to adjust where rocks will fall, even if creating them directly is impossible."
I was prepared to add some embellishment to the explanation I gave Irene if she asked for details.
Fortunately, she didn't seem interested in asking about the principles behind it.
That was fortunate for me, but it was a bit strange.
Normally, when someone pulls off something like this, wouldn't it be natural to ask how they did it?
"..."
Lynn, who seemed to be listening well, fell silent again.
After a brief silence, she broke it once more.
"Then... did you also learn through reading the stars that the Allepel army was conspiring with the Aishers army to deceive us?"
"...Ah."
Come to think of it, I had made such a claim during my one-on-one debate with Farfalle.
I had completely forgotten about it while busy defending the northern fortress.
Excluding the troops sent to us, they must have sent the rest of their forces in that direction.
Rather than reading the stars, I had simply made that inference based on my game knowledge.
It seems things had unfolded exactly as I had said.
I should give a plausible answer here.
"I didn't read the stars, I merely read the reasons behind their actions. If 'certain actions' are taken, 'certain results' inevitably follow."
I gave a somewhat plausible answer.
I was prepared to give similarly plausible answers to whatever she might ask next, but silence followed again.
"What's going on?"
From just a moment ago, I could sense that normal conversation with Lynn wasn't flowing.
Very cautiously, while keeping my head bowed, I raised my gaze slightly to observe her.
That's when I noticed.
Her pupils... were constantly trembling.
Yes.
She was trembling right now.
As if she were facing an absolute being she dared not touch.
It was a truly strange scene.
I was the one kneeling and bowing my head, and she was the one who could command me to do anything as my superior.
Yet I remained detached, while she was the one trembling intensely.
And then she—
No longer hiding the tremor in her voice, she spoke to me:
"What about that time? When you came for the armistice. How did you know that the Serphina army would attack our forces?"
"That was—"
I was about to explain, but my words were cut off by Lynn.
"No. And this time too. How did you know we needed to send troops to the north? How did you know there would be a rebellion in the Allepel army in the first place? How... how do you know all of this?!"
"My lord...?"
"Answer me! Now!"
To answer her sharp demand, I slowly raised my head.
And finally—
My eyes met Lynn's as she stared at me, pale as a sheet.
And that's when I realized.
Why it felt like our conversation wasn't connecting.
The trembling voice that now flowed without any attempt to hide it.
Her pale face. Her wide, frightened eyes.
Putting it all together, only one conclusion could be drawn.
She... was afraid of me.
"Well, well."
It seemed that because I had correctly predicted everything as if by divine inspiration, she had moved beyond amazement to fear.
Of course everything was correct. My intelligence stat was 100. I don't know why everything I said turned out to be right, but it just was.
From an outsider's perspective, it must seem incredible. No, beyond incredible—frightening. As if I were possessed by some divine power.
Thinking about it, Lunarienne, who believed in and supported my abilities, was an unusual case. For an ordinary ruler, while they might feel awe at my abilities, they would generally find them very burdensome.
In the midst of chaotic times, there was no guarantee that the edge of that ability wouldn't be turned against them.
"Swen... what exactly are you...?"
Without me answering, she asked another question.
Oh dear.
Inspiring fear in the somewhat emotional Lynn Brands was not a good situation.
If her feelings moved beyond awe of my abilities to fear, she might decide to "deal with" me.
It seemed I had revealed too much of my abilities.
I don't regret it since it helped save Irene, but still.
"I'm thinking more and more that I can't stay with the Brands army for long."
And at that moment.
"Huh?"
Wait a minute.
A brilliant "Brands army exit plan" quickly flashed through my mind.
This situation where she fears me...
If I play it right, couldn't I use it to my advantage?
My mind began working faster than ever before.
I had to leave her side anyway. Irene was in danger.
The essential condition was to escape safely with her.
Then perhaps I could proceed with the feeling of securing the compensation that Irene rightfully deserved but had never received.
It was time to put my silver tongue to use again.
"Lady Lynn. It's alright."
"Alright...?"
With the kindest smile I could muster,
I spoke in the most trustworthy tone I could produce:
"My talent is entirely yours, Lady Lynn. There is no need to fear."
"...!!!"
She looked at me in shock once again.
As if wondering how I had read her mind.
It seemed she was more affected than I had thought.
Now's the time.
Like driving in a wedge, I bowed so deeply before her that my head nearly touched the floor, and said:
"Use me as your compass, Lady Lynn. I will gladly comply."