Arestia Empire'S World Domination
Chapter 15: Rationality of the Ruon

...—Capital of Latva, Kingdom Forbrenne—...

...—27 July 1238—...

Why?!

Why did this happen?!

I thought, by firing those giant stones, agent Gardom who was inside the rebel army would at least run away!

I never thought that the killer was also a spy!

Goddamnit!

Wading through the darkness of the room, Ruon stepped up, towards one point and immediately returned to the starting point, looking extremely agitated.

With Felipe killed with indications of poisoning, even though he did not show any visible symptoms all over his body, Ruon never expected that he would be once again fooled.

Previously, Ruon had thought that the Third Prince's killer was an intruder, who would immediately escape right after his mission was completed because he saw the body of his sister who had a stab wound and a dagger that stuck on his chest.

However, Ruon did not expect that the assassin—Gale— would disguise himself as a servant or knight and continue his mission to kill Felipe.

Right after hearing the news that Felipe had been poisoned to death, he checked and immediately executed every servant and knight who looked suspicious.

Research is getting tougher. In fact, Ruon was now acting very wary even to her trusted knight who had served her since childhood.

Moreover, with the unrequited bird letter he sent to the First Prince, whether he was alive or not, Ruon concluded that he was dead, beside Ruon who thought that his half-brother did not deserve the title "King" because he had left the capital just to save himself.

Now, despite being extremely wary, Ruon had no other choice but to trust the 10 knights and 2 maids that had been with her since childhood, the, for the sake of secrecy the existence of him as the only remaining member of the Forbrenne Royal Family.

Of course, in order to maintain the high morale of the capital's population who had just won the siege war, Ruon remained silent about the news of the First Prince's run and the deaths of his two half-brothers. In fact, Ruon would execute at the place of a subordinate who accidentally spread the word.

"Your Majesty." One of the knights who had previously guarded the door called out, the look on his face was worried.

"If you're suggesting that I take a break, I've scheduled for that. Don't worry." Ruon warned, her legs still stepping, turning from the previous place because of her increasingly agitated feelings.

The knight decided to close his lips tightly. Judging that Ruon did not have peace of mind, talking to her would only end in a pointless debate.

"I'll serve you a warm meal for An—" An old lady maid with black bobbed hair made a very worried face, trying to calm Ruon down with everything she could do.

"No." Ruon now no longer trusted anyone, even though the old servant had been taking care of her since she was born.

Shifting his face, Ruon found Lara—the old lady's servant— very worried. The regret for rejecting him arises in the heart.

Even so, Ruon also did not want to die like her half-sister, "Sorry... I'll cook myself later, even though I know the taste of my cooking is not good."

"Good..." Lara again painted a smile, understanding Ruon's concern over her safety, "I understand."

As a result of the interaction with Lara, somehow Ruon's feelings had become a little calmer.

Approaching the window that displayed the darkening of the sky that was slowly turning blue, Ruon realized that she had been awake all night.

"Actually, I've been thinking about it since the last few days..." Ruon expressed her worry.

"May we know, Your Majesty?" The question of all listeners is represented by Lara.

"Rethinking Felipe's opinion.I feel that the party behind this incident is not Queen Florentia." Ruon's words caused the eyebrows of almost everyone who heard her to wrinkle.

"Do you mean empire?" Referring to Arestia, Lara's question was immediately responded to with a light nod of Ruon.

"If you think about it carefully, in order to control the stability of the country, the empire is required to conquer Forbrenne as a whole which is a pristine territory for them." Ruon turned around, looking back at her subordinates seriously.

"Geographically, our region as a whole borders directly with the empire as well as the Mana Kingdom that has joined them" Ruon continued.

"May I know something you mean, Your Majesty? Sorry, we don't understand what you're saying." Lara could only look down, regretting not being able to digest Ruon's words.

"Something I mean is. It is likely that the Forbrenne Region will be the gathering place for the intelligence of Alven and Renacles." Ruon expressed her opinion with a very serious face, "I will not deny the possibility that the 'Inquisitors' of the church will also make our country a base of operations for them."

Silent.

The knights as well as the two servants were unable to retaliate. Ruon's words were an extremely likely picture for the Forbrenne Kingdom in the future.

Against the reaction of his subordinates, Ruon painted a faint smile, "If that is the truth of the reason for this event.. doesn't that mean I'm finished?"

"I can't possibly escape, I have the responsibility and burden of the royal family's name on my shoulders... Even if I live, I will live in the shadow of the intelligence of other countries. If I just keep quiet, I will also definitely die.." Ruon continued with a faint smile back, involuntarily shedding a single tear.

"I no longer have a brother. My mother and the other queens no longer had a clear existence after deciding to return to their original family territory..." For a moment, Ruon stopped her voice.

Although he did not want to admit it, even though he assumed that if one of them might just be someone who would kill him one day, Ruon did not refuse, the twelve people before him were the last group that would definitely lend a hand to him, "I have no one left but you..."

A warm embrace enveloped Ruon who had now cried out in tears. No one thought the 21-year-old would have such a heavy burden on both shoulders.

Hugging Ruon, whom she had cared for since childhood, Lara was silent, even though she violated the code of ethics and the norms of politeness, Lara did not really care about her.

If Ruon would punish him for his actions, Lara had willingly accepted him.

"Do you know..what should I do?" Ruon's question made her subordinates glance at each other, making a deal in silence, vowing to continue following her no matter what path she would choose.

"You are yourself. Do whatever you think is best for this country. If you decide to fight back, if you decide to give up. or even just stay silent in this place..." Lara's words that left the norm of decency warmed the atmosphere of the room, "Because we."

The knights and another old male servant could only be silent, showing a similar attitude to the old lady's servant.

A faint smile, immense gratitude and happiness instantly filled the feelings of Ruon, who momentarily lowered her head slightly after Lara let go of her embrace, "Thank you very much..."

Ruon's subordinates immediately had a difficult expression, feeling it was inappropriate to be given a thank you because it had become their promise when appointed as a knight.

Even so, they only fell silent, they knew that it was Ruon's form of expression and for the satisfaction of her heart. Ruon turned back around, staring at the sight that featured a bird flying at her.

Looking expectantly at the bird, Ruon could only murmur, "Although I know that this is impossible, but... even if it's just a minute."

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