Became a Strategist with a 100 Intelligence and 100\% Accuracy-Chapter 209: The Return of the King (3)

Violet arrived at the mansion with Tifa and Francis, only to find that nearly all the key figures had already gathered.

"Brother, you're late."

The one who spoke first was Charlotte, the second daughter, who had been waiting the longest. Francis, the eldest, lowered his head awkwardly and asked,

"What’s going on?"

"They said there's something important to discuss. Lady Luna wishes to speak."

"Lady Luna?"

Charlotte nodded.

Sensing the unusually serious atmosphere, Francis refrained from asking further and simply waited in silence for Luna to arrive.

And then, moments later—

"You've all been waiting, haven't you?"

A soft, measured voice echoed through the hall, accompanied by the sound of approaching footsteps.

Golden hair, bright like custard cream, swayed gently as she walked. Her ruby-red eyes gleamed like strawberries adorning a cake, capturing everyone's attention.

Once, she had been a powerless, nameless vassal who had stepped forward, vowing to save the continent. Now, she was the ruler of Tepello Castle, one of the most crucial strongholds of the Karelia Army, a nation that had solidified its position as a mid-ranking power in the southern region.

Lunarian Iniang had arrived.

"I apologize for the delay. There was something I needed to confirm."

"That doesn’t matter. What’s this about? Why call everyone here?"

The people gathered here could rightfully be called Luna’s faction.

First and foremost, there were those who had stood by her since her days as a ~Nоvеl𝕚ght~ vassal—Tifa and Cain. Then there were the three exceptionally talented siblings, Francis, Charlotte, and Violet, whom Cain had asked her to take in. Additionally, there were several generals from the Karelia Army who had come to deeply admire Luna's character during her time as Tepello's lord.

These people all harbored strong resentment toward Vanessa’s unilateral decisions. Unlike the rest of the Karelia Army, they followed Luna, the only one who had ever dared to oppose Vanessa.

Given that Luna had never once gathered them all in one place before, it was clear that today's meeting was an extraordinarily rare event.

"It is about an important order issued by our ruler, Lady Karelia."

"An order...?"

"War, I assume."

Cain, who had been listening silently, furrowed his brows and asked. Luna met his gaze and nodded slowly.

"Preparations are underway to deploy approximately 93,000 troops to Tepello Castle for an engagement against the Ohana Army. Generals Estin, Gail, and Medeia are expected to join us. And as for the supreme commander... I will be taking the position."

"Which means...?"

One of the generals under Luna’s command asked hesitantly.

"Yes," Luna confirmed with a nod. "You all need to prepare for battle. This will be Karelia’s first large-scale engagement in a long time, so everyone must steel themselves. I also thought it best to discuss the details of the upcoming battle with those present here, which is why I gathered you all."

With that, Luna unfolded a map, carefully spreading it across the table.

It depicted the southern region surrounding Tepello Castle in meticulous detail.

"First, we need to decide which of the three adjacent fortresses we should target first. If anyone has a suggestion, feel free to raise your hand and share your thoughts."

At that moment—just as the discussion was about to begin in a conventional manner, much like a routine pre-battle military council—

"Wait a moment."

The one who raised a hand was none other than Violet, the youngest person in the room yet the sharpest among them, a budding strategist.

It would have been easy to dismiss her, considering she was still in the learning phase, but Luna regarded her with utmost seriousness, as she would any seasoned general.

"Violet, do you have a suggestion?"

"I’m not sure if I would call it a suggestion."

Violet sighed shortly, then raised her head to meet Luna’s gaze directly.

And then—she uttered something that Luna had never even considered.

"Are you really... preparing for battle?"

"...What?"

"I’m asking, Lady Luna, if you truly intend to prepare for war."

Luna tilted her head slightly at Violet’s cryptic words and asked,

"Of course I am. That is the order given by our ruler—"

"Is Lady Karelia truly your ruler?"

"...What?"

Luna froze at the unexpected question. Violet, her eyes unwavering, asked again.

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"Is Lady Karelia truly our ruler? Is it really Lady Luna’s will that we fight to unify the continent under her rule?"

At that moment—

Even Luna, as sharp as she was, could not fail to grasp what Violet was insinuating.

"...What are you saying, Violet?"

"I am asking if following Karelia is truly the right path."

Luna pressed her fingers against her forehead, exhaling deeply before speaking.

"Say what you’re thinking clearly. I will listen."

"Abandon Karelia."

"!!!"

"Over ninety thousand soldiers are practically rolling into our hands. Lady Luna, if the ambitions you’ve always harbored in your heart are anything but small, then I can say with certainty—there will never be a better opportunity than this."

"...Violet."

Luna let out a slow breath.

"I know times are chaotic, but Lady Karelia has been incredibly generous to me. There’s something I haven’t shared with you all—when the decision was made to appoint me as supreme commander, there was considerable opposition within Madralan Castle. Many didn’t want an outsider like me holding such authority. But Lady Karelia put her trust in me regardless. Isn’t it only right that I repay that trust?"

"That is precisely why now is our only chance."

Violet’s voice was unwavering, her logic cutting through Luna’s words like a blade.

"If more than half the capital’s nobles still view you as a threat even now, then there’s no telling when this supreme commander title will be stripped from you. And then there’s Vanessa—Lady Luna, you don’t get along with her at all, do you? And yet, isn’t she the one who truly holds power in this country?"

Violet was the only one who had personally witnessed Luna and Vanessa’s heated exchanges.

She was far too perceptive for her age.

There was no way she had failed to notice the open hostility Vanessa harbored toward Luna. Even Luna herself had long realized that Vanessa was actively working to suppress her influence.

"And so, if Lady Luna truly wishes to reclaim her place as a ruler—this is the best moment to do so. That is why I am telling you—betray Karelia. That is all I wish to say."

Once, Violet had been a shy little girl, wary of strangers.

But now, time had passed, and here she was—uttering such venomous words, spinning such cunning sentences, speaking as if she were a seasoned strategist hardened by years of political maneuvering.

Perhaps Luna had let her read too many military texts.

Violet had fallen silent, but the change in the room was palpable.

The atmosphere had shifted into something strange.

When Luna glanced around, she found no one looking particularly surprised by Violet’s audacious statement.

No—

Something was happening.

"Lady Luna!"

One of the Karelia generals who had come to follow Luna in Tepello, Metz, suddenly dropped to one knee.

"I have always known that you carried great ambition. The people of Karelia are suffering under Vanessa’s tyranny, despite her having the ruler’s backing. If it is truly for the sake of the people, does it truly matter who is the one to bring them salvation?"

"Metz, what are you—!"

"Metz is right, Lady Luna."

Charlotte, standing beside him, bowed her head.

This translation is the intellectual property of Novelight.

"I have heard from my uncle as well—I know you have great ambitions. I may not be as sharp as Violet, but even I can tell—there will never be another opportunity as perfect as this, not while we are still part of the Karelia Army."

More voices followed.

And it became clear—

Everyone in this room—

Truly, sincerely wanted Lunarian Iniang to drive a dagger into Karelia’s back.

"...But..."

How could she?

She was a vassal, even if only temporarily. She had sought refuge here, yes, and she had been waiting for an opportunity, that was true as well.

But she had never intended to seize what she wanted in such an underhanded manner.

And besides—she had seen the letter from Cecil.

The letter that had explained the entire process of how she had been appointed supreme commander.

Lady Karelia had fought against even Vanessa’s objections to give Luna this position. Because she trusted her.

And now, they were telling her to shatter that trust with her own hands?

No matter what—there were things that a person simply could not do.

For the first time in a long while, Luna’s ruby-red eyes trembled.

Until that moment, not once had she seriously considered betrayal.

She had merely been trying to find a way to calm the rising tension in the room.

She had fought alongside these people.

She knew what Vanessa had done.

She understood the unfairness, the grievances, the simmering hatred that had taken root in the hearts of her comrades.

But Karelia herself was innocent, wasn’t she?

She had believed in Luna.

How could Luna betray that?

She had to convince them.

She had to stop this.

And yet—

"Luna."

Among everyone in the room, the person who had been with Luna the longest—

Tifa—

Spoke before Luna could even open her mouth.

"...Huh?"

"I know what you’re thinking."

Tifa sighed, scratching at her head.

"But we can’t just play house under someone else’s rule forever, can we?"

"Tifa, that’s not—"

"I know. I know. You’re right. Betrayal is an ugly thing, no matter how you look at it. And I’ve seen how much Karelia cares about you—I won’t argue with that. You and Lady Karelia are both people who value honor. I get it."

Then—

Tifa’s voice changed.

Gone was the usual teasing tone.

Instead, she spoke with a gravity that sent a chill down Luna’s spine.

"But we made a promise, didn’t we? To him."

"!!!!!!"

A single phrase—

Yet it struck directly at the one thing Luna could not bear to confront.

"We can’t keep wasting time forever, not when he’s waiting for us."

That was right.

Tifa was right.

He—

That man—

"Swen..."

Swen, the strategist who had been taken by the Brans Army in their place.

Swen, the first and the only true military tactician of the Lunarian Army.

Swen, who had always been waiting for them.