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After finishing his schedule in Bismarck, Gilbert left his territory before the end of his leave from Demia Empire Academy.

Of course, he hadn’t wrapped up everything in his territory. There were still matters like officially handing over the heir position to Glenda and extracting information from the man who had ambushed him.

But the issue of the heir wasn’t something he could decide, and due to a gag order, there wasn’t much he could do about the information.

In the end, he needed more time, but with his leave ending soon, Gilbert had no choice but to leave his territory, leaving his regrets behind.

Though he couldn’t shake the feeling of incompleteness, he decided to focus on the fact that he had successfully cleared the Main Scenario.

And above all, there was one pressing matter he had to deal with immediately.

“Why? Did you think about sharing a bed?”

At Brynhild’s cheeky remark, Gilbert slightly shook his head.

Brynhild, despite the successful peace treaty between the Sigurd Tribe Union and the Infractus Empire, had chosen to follow Gilbert instead of returning.

For someone who loved her tribe more than anyone, this was highly unusual. In Tactical Combat, no matter the route, she never left her tribe, making this decision completely out of character.

Curious, Gilbert asked her why she wasn’t returning and why she was heading to the heart of the Empire she so despised. Even though the situation had forced a peace treaty, he assumed her long-held hatred for the Empire hadn’t faded.

To this, Brynhild gave a very clear answer.

“What choice do I have? My husband is from the Empire, so I must follow.”

For Gilbert, it was a jaw-dropping response, but since she was adamant, he had nothing to say.

He could only refute the term “husband,” but her attitude was unwavering.

Pressed for time, Gilbert decided to put convincing Brynhild on the back burner. The more immediate concern was how to handle her presence at Demia Empire Academy.

While the Academy valued talent, it was strictly limited to those from the Empire. Bringing a Sigurdian, whom they had long called barbarians and treated as enemies, would undoubtedly cause a significant stir.

So, Gilbert decided to play his strongest card once again. In fact, it was the only option he had.

“Your Highness, I have a request.”

[Hoh? Another request? I can’t even begin to guess what you might ask. So, what is it you wish to request of me?]

Using a warp magic circle to return to the Academy, he immediately contacted Seraphina. His strongest card was Seraphina, one of the heirs to the throne.

Given her crucial help in forging the peace treaty with the Sigurdians, her assistance was essential in allowing Brynhild to stay at Demia Empire Academy.

“The Grand Warrior of the Sigurd Tribe I mentioned before wishes to come to Demia Empire Academy.”

[The Grand Warrior who once fought you, you say? How strange. Even with the peace treaty, a Grand Warrior of the Sigurd Tribe would harbor deep resentment toward the Empire. Why would they want to come to the heart of the Empire, the Academy?]

Seraphina’s expression, visible through the communication magic, stiffened slightly.

To Gilbert, it seemed Seraphina suspected Brynhild might have hidden motives for infiltrating the Academy.

Objectively, it was a reasonable concern. The position of Grand Warrior wasn’t one achieved merely through strength. Just as the Empire didn’t bestow knight titles lightly, the Sigurd Tribe didn’t grant the title of Grand Warrior to just anyone.

It was a position reserved for those who embodied the tribe’s most cherished beliefs and honor, and who possessed the strength to uphold them.

For such a Grand Warrior to suddenly appear in the heart of the Empire naturally raised suspicions of ulterior motives.

“It’s a bit complicated to explain, but I’ll keep it simple.”

[It seems you know something. Go on, tell me.]

Gilbert hesitated for a moment. He wasn’t sure if he should reveal everything he knew to Seraphina.

He doubted whether Seraphina would believe that Brynhild had come to the Academy in search of a husband.

Even he was skeptical of Brynhild’s intentions, so convincing Seraphina seemed impossible.

After gathering his thoughts, Gilbert decided to tell the truth. There was no point in beating around the bush.

“Brynhild… has apparently been saying for a while that she would marry whoever defeated her.”

[And recently, the one who defeated her… was you.]

“That’s why she’s coming to Demia Empire Academy.”

[…]

Gilbert broke into a cold sweat under Seraphina’s piercing gaze.

Her subtly pressuring stare made him uneasy.

Even though she was just looking at him, her eyes seemed to convey a multitude of meanings, making him feel cornered.

After a few minutes of silence, Seraphina finally spoke.

[This matter requires a more detailed discussion. Come to me at once, Gilbert Lion Heart.]

“Understood.”

As someone once said, the scariest thing is a wife calling you by your full name.

But Seraphina isn’t my wife, is she?

Yet, Gilbert couldn’t bring himself to defy her, driven by the survival instincts honed through countless battles.

***

Gilbert felt his breath catch under Seraphina’s silent stare. The only silver lining was that he hadn’t brought Brynhild with him.

But it wasn’t so much that he chose not to bring her as it was that he couldn’t. Without fully understanding Brynhild’s intentions, introducing her to Seraphina, who was closest to the throne, was too risky.

Though it was unlikely that the Grand Warrior of the newly allied Sigurd Tribe would do anything dishonorable, it was always wise to prepare for the worst.

Still, this feels a bit suffocating.

Gilbert had rushed to Seraphina immediately after her summons, assuming the matter was urgent.

Yet, upon meeting her, Seraphina simply stared at him without a word. Her displeasure was evident, a stark contrast to her usual composed demeanor.

He considered speaking first, but given his recent habit of acting without her approval, he thought it best to stay silent.

His instincts were correct.

Finally breaking the silence, Seraphina began tapping the armrest with her index finger.

“Gilbert Lion Heart.”

This time, instead of calling him “Priest,” she used his full name. Gilbert decided to respond as a knight of the Empire rather than her priest.

“You summoned me, Your Highness.”

“I wish to hear your thoughts.”

“My thoughts, Your Highness?”

The question caught him off guard.

Instead of asking about Brynhild, Seraphina inquired about his intentions.

Gilbert quickly glanced at Seraphina’s face, noting her ruby-like eyes. He wasn’t slow on the uptake and quickly grasped the meaning behind her question.

“As I’ve said before, I am the shield of the Empire.”

“Even if I were to doubt your loyalty?”

Gilbert’s prediction was spot on.

The recent peace treaty with the Sigurd Tribe and Brynhild’s arrival at the Academy had unsettled Seraphina. She even harbored suspicions that Gilbert might betray her.

Indeed, the sudden peace treaty with the long-time enemy Sigurd Tribe felt rushed. Though it was done under Seraphina’s name, it was largely due to Gilbert’s unilateral request.

While Seraphina had always been lenient with Gilbert, such rapid developments naturally raised doubts about his motives. Those in power often had to be cautious.

“Even so, my loyalty remains unchanged. It has always been directed toward the Empire.”

Gilbert firmly declared his stance.

Even before coming to this world, he had been a soldier loyal to his country.

That hadn’t changed here. Though his status and even his identity had shifted, his core remained the same.

Perhaps Gilbert’s firm tone had an effect.

Seraphina’s expression visibly softened. While she might not have completely dismissed her doubts, it seemed she chose to trust Gilbert based on his past actions.

“You always have a way of putting me in a difficult position, Priest.”

Finally, her address returned to “Priest,” and Gilbert secretly sighed in relief. He wasn’t sure how much Seraphina believed him, but at least he had escaped her suspicion.

“I apologize for causing you concern.”

“Enough. The result will still benefit me, regardless of the process. Now, about the Grand Warrior of the Sigurd Tribe wanting to be your partner?”

Just as one hurdle was cleared, another appeared. This was the most troublesome question.

“To be honest, I’m not entirely sure of her intentions. On the surface, it seems that way, but I can’t fully trust her.”

“Is that so… Then let me ask you this: if the Grand Warrior is sincere, what would you do?”

Seraphina’s eyes sharpened once more. Gilbert answered immediately, feeling sweat drip down his back.

“I wouldn’t mind it much. Even if her feelings are genuine, I have no such thoughts.”

“Is that so… Very well. I’ll grant your request. To gauge an enemy’s intentions, keeping them close is best. So, keep her by your side and uncover her motives.”

“Thank you for your consideration.”

“Think nothing of it. I’m merely entrusting you with a task.”

Gilbert bowed and left the room. Fortunately, it seemed he had succeeded in allowing Brynhild to stay at the Academy.

He would need to discuss the details with the headmaster, but with Seraphina’s support, there shouldn’t be any major issues.

***

Seraphina watched the spot where Gilbert had stood for a moment before tapping the armrest again with her index finger. It was a habit of hers when deep in thought.

“Loyalty to the Empire,” she mused.

Seraphina pondered Gilbert’s words.

For someone like her, who aimed to lead the Empire, it was an ideal response. Though she had briefly doubted him, his unwavering gaze had dispelled her suspicions.

From what she had observed, her Priest wasn’t one to change his mind easily. His actions had always been for the Empire, never driven by personal gain.

But as a ruler, Seraphina had a habit of doubting even the smallest things. Eliminating potential threats before they could harm the Empire was her way.

This time, too, her doubts were more about preventing any possible danger rather than questioning his loyalty.

Yet, despite getting the answer she wanted, Seraphina’s mood didn’t improve. She felt a heavy weight in her chest.

This feeling had started when Gilbert mentioned Brynhild, the Grand Warrior of the Sigurd Tribe, who had followed him to the heart of the Empire to marry him.

Though the story seemed far-fetched, hearing it had inexplicably worsened her mood.

Perhaps it was her excessive desire for talent.

The fear of losing Gilbert…

“Maybe I’m overthinking this.”

Seraphina shook her head. She had been so deep in thought that her mind had wandered into strange territory.

She stood up. When her thoughts became too tangled, there was nothing better than wielding her sword.

Seraphina, accompanied by Yanik, headed to the office of her master, Briana.

It seemed like a good time for a duel.

 

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