Chapter : 23
“Your Majesty, what you just saw was…”
“Is ignoring my warnings a hereditary trait in your family?”
“…”
“Or was my warning not clear enough?”
At Cassielope’s words, Seren lowered her head deeply.
“Let’s put aside what just happened for now. First… how are the preparations coming along?”
“Preparations…?” Seren asked cautiously, trying to gauge the situation. The Empress had suddenly appeared and was now asking about preparations. She had no idea what was going on.
Seeing her puzzled look, Cassielope placed a thick stack of documents in front of her.
“It seems you haven’t heard from the Marquis yet. Your father has informed me that you will be taking part in the upcoming war with the Kingdom of Belmoria.”
“…What?”
The words hit Seren like a blow to the head.
I’m… going to war?
But her father told her yesterday that everything with the Empress had been settled peacefully.
Her fingertips trembled. She wanted to believe that the Empress was lying to her, but she couldn’t bring herself to.
“I gave the Marquis another choice,” Cassielope continued calmly. “He could have sent his eldest son—who, as I hear, is skilled with the sword—in your place.”
“…No way.”
“Yet, despite that, your father insisted on sending you to the battlefield.”
“Th–that can’t be…”
Could it…?
Seren’s denial scattered into pieces in the air. She couldn’t bring herself to say it’s not true out loud.
It was common knowledge throughout the Empire that Marquis Lothess adored his eldest son, Eirban, above all else. And no one knew that better than Seren.
From the day she was born, she had never once been chosen over her brother.
The best food, the finest silks, even the jewelry—everything had always gone to the eldest son first.
It had been unfair, yes, but Seren had come to accept it. She told herself it didn’t matter. Her father’s love for her brother was excessive, that was all. It didn’t mean he loved her any less.
That was what she had always believed.
But now, that fragile illusion shattered completely. She had never realized it before, but given the choice between the two, her father would always—always—choose Eirban.
No… it can’t be…
She tried to deny it, but the seed of doubt had already sprouted in her heart.
If only one of them could survive, she knew without question her father would choose her brother.
“Don’t worry, Seren. I’ve spoken well with Her Majesty.”
She remembered his words now. His expression then had seemed… off. The way he’d looked past her, staring at the wall behind her, now made perfect sense. He had been avoiding her eyes.
“Haha…”
A hollow laugh escaped Seren’s lips.
She had done everything she could for her family. Even though she had once vowed to marry for love, she agreed to become the Emperor’s concubine—for her father’s sake.
No noble daughter ever believed she could surpass the Empress and win the Emperor’s favor.
She knew full well that being branded the Emperor’s woman meant a life of loneliness and disgrace.
She could never be royalty—only a concubine, trapped forever in a shameful position.
But still, she had accepted it. Because that was what her father wanted. A noblewoman’s only worth, after all, was in marrying for the good of her house.
And now, that sacrifice had led her here—to the battlefield.
She had never even held a sword before. When she once asked to learn, her father scolded her, saying a noble lady had no business with weapons.
If she went to war like this, she would surely die a meaningless death. And her father knew that.
He knew—and still sent her.
It meant only one thing: she was to die in her brother’s place.
Seren clenched her fists tightly. The hem of her dress crumpled under the strain. Her eyes gleamed with suppressed rage.
“Your Majesty, I…”
“I think you’ve forgotten something, Lady Seren.”
“…What do you mean?”
“I told you before, didn’t I? That the choice is yours.”
Cassielope flipped over one of the papers on the table.
The line for the participating family read House of Lothess, but the space beside it—where the name of the representative should go—was blank.
The Empress lightly tapped the empty space with her finger.
“You just have to write the name of whoever will represent the Lothess family in battle.”
“…Are you asking me to betray my father?”
“I’m merely offering you a choice. Write your father’s name, your brother’s name… or your own. The decision is entirely yours.”
“…”
“Whichever you choose, it won’t change the outcome. The result will be the same either way.”
Her violet eyes glimmered dangerously, like those of a predator moments before it strikes.
Seren suddenly understood. No matter who goes, the end is death.
“Let me add one more thing,” Cassielope said smoothly. “It doesn’t have to be just one name. Two, three—however many you wish. As long as they belong to House Lothess.”
At her signal, Julia took out a quill from her breast pocket and handed it to Seren.
“In this life, victory belongs to the one who strikes first—even if the opponent is family.”
“…”
“I learned that lesson too late. You still have time.”
Seren’s gaze sharpened. The false smile that had masked her pain vanished.
“You don’t have to write anything,” Cassielope added. “But if you don’t… someone else will. And the name written might be yours.”
Seren reached for the quill. Her hand trembled at first, but her expression soon steadied.
Then, without hesitation, she began to write.
The first name: her father, Marquis Mirreon Lothess.
The second: her brother, Eirban Lothess.
And the last name…
“…The Marchioness?” Cassielope asked, glancing at the paper.
“If Father and my brother both leave,” Seren said quietly, “Mother won’t be able to bear it anyway.”
Cassielope chuckled darkly.
“How considerate—such a kind form of filial defiance.”
“…”
“For your reference, the troops depart in exactly ten days. Three days before that, there will be a banquet to pray for victory. The list of those going to war will be announced then.”
With a cold smile, she added, “I look forward to seeing your father’s face that day,” and stood up to leave.
Just before exiting the sitting room, Cassielope turned back as if recalling something.
“Oh, right. Those two girls from earlier—I’ll be taking them with me.”
“…The maids? Why…?”
“Think of them as the price for your life. Seems fair, doesn’t it?”
The noble Lady of House Lothess spared in exchange for two mere maids—normally, Seren would have been furious at such an insult.
But now, she had no energy left to care.
The Empress hadn’t asked for permission anyway. She was simply informing her. Nothing Seren said could change that.
She gave a faint nod, and Cassielope left the room.
Heading toward where the maids were gathered, the Empress approached the young girl who had knelt before her earlier.
“What’s your name?”
“…Lena, Your Majesty.”
“Good. Lena, take Joanne and come with me.”
“…Pardon? What do you mean—?”
“Come with me.”
“Where to…?”
“Home.”
Cassielope smiled gently and extended her hand once more.
This time, Lena didn’t hesitate. She took it.
