Became a Strategist with a 100 Intelligence and 100% Accuracy
Chapter 318: Making Someone Join Your Side

At the very moment when war between the Roland Army and the Lunarian Army in the southern continent was about to erupt in full—

Swen had departed for the Aishus Army's territory with Ioline, for the purpose of intelligence gathering.

It was one of the rare days when Serpina found herself without Swen at her side.

She sat at her fortress office near the frontlines, catching up on delayed administrative work.

‘Once I deal with the Aishus Army and seize Raklein Castle... I’ll finally share a border with the southern continent.’

Before her was a detailed continental map—drawn by Swen himself.

He was incredibly multi-talented, but even if he’d done nothing else, his skill in cartography alone was good enough to make a living. It was that precise.

‘The first nation I’ll face will be the Hesna Army.’

Beside the Aski Hesna-led Hesna Army stood the Roland Army, led by Setta Roland.

Both were names she'd heard in her youth. Roland had been a rising star in the Imperial Knight Order, a young prodigy who vanished around the time the 3rd Order got entangled in Sidmid von Eingart’s purge.

As for Hesna, she’d originally been the lord of a southern territory. Serpina remembered her seceding during the mass wave of independence sparked by Orland Brans.

Below them was the Ohana Army. Other than the fact it had been founded by a bandit group, there wasn’t much information.

And next to that... the rebel army that swallowed Karelia and was now shaking the once peaceful southern continent.

‘...Lunarian Iniang.’

Serpina mouthed the name “Iniang” over and over.

The woman once known as Aria Iniang—her image remained burned into Serpina’s memory.

Even after losing both legs, she had remained calm to the end, begging her to bring peace to the continent. How could Serpina forget those ruby-colored eyes?

Aria had once said she had a younger sister—around Serpina’s age.

‘If Lunarian is Aria’s younger sister...’

Had Kyle von Eingart, who approached her back then, known about Aria Iniang, who was merely Algott von Eingart’s lover in secret?

What had he seen in her? Was the appearance of a mage within her country mere coincidence?

Ever since she unwillingly ascended to the position of imperial heir and spent so long as a sovereign, Serpina had begun to develop what could only be called a ruler’s intuition.

And that intuition now whispered to her—

The Lunarian Army was not a force to be underestimated.

It was a sense she had never once felt before—not even when the Brans Army was at its peak, nor when the Aishus Army declared war.

And she had noticed it clearly—when they spoke of the Lunarian Army, Airen’s eyes had slightly trembled.

‘I still don’t know enough, it seems.’

Finishing her thoughts, Serpina completed her backlog of paperwork and summoned a soldier sent from Eingart Castle.

"You’ve waited long."

"Not at all, my lady!"

"Take this. Deliver it to Jenna."

"Yes, understood!"

"While I’ve been away, is there any other news I should be aware of?"

"Ah, now that you mention it... The strategist—no, Lady Jenna asked me to deliver this to you."

Serpina accepted the letter the soldier handed over and nodded her thanks.

"Good work. I’ve already prepared a separate envoy to return to Eingart Castle.

You may return to the nearest territory and rest well."

"I am truly grateful for your kindness, my lady!"

After the soldier departed, Serpina opened the letter from Jenna and began reading.

Beyond the formal pleasantries and expressions of loyalty, the core message was this:

A troubling atmosphere was spreading in the northwestern territories.

It seemed a rumor was once again circulating among the people—that the plague sweeping the central continent had been caused by none other than Serpina herself.

A bizarre claim first raised by Yuri that had quickly died down... now reemerging in the northwest, in whispers.

A rumor that incited fear—fear that they, too, could be targeted next.

Serpina sighed briefly.

‘It’s beyond my control...’

A rumor once spread was almost impossible to completely extinguish—

And no one understood that better than her.

‘There’s no sign of rebellion yet... but I’ll remain cautious.’

Jenna, the acting lord of Eingart Castle, had been entrusted with the internal affairs of the northern continent.

The only reason Serpina could stay out on the front for so long as commander-in-chief was entirely thanks to her.

‘......’

She recalled the conversation she’d had with Jenna the night before leaving for the front.

***

"You mean the lordship of the castle?"

"Yes. Jenna, I never once considered entrusting Eingart Castle to anyone other than you."

Jenna bowed her head deeply at Serpina’s words spoken from the throne.

"I am undeserving. There are many in Serpina’s army who have served the empire far longer and are more capable than I."

"...May I be honest with you, Jenna?"

Serpina gave a bitter smile and lowered her golden eyes.

"Those who served my family since the old empire... I find myself unable to trust them."

"My lady..."

Jenna remained silent, gazing at Serpina as she lowered her head.

All of the major rebellions—including Lahelven’s—had begun with those who had sworn loyalty to the empire, and outwardly pledged allegiance to Serpina as its heir.

Jenna had known this better than anyone.

"Jenna. You were someone originally buried in obscurity, weren’t you?"

Jenna had only joined Serpina’s army after Serpina had ascended the throne.

In terms of time served, she wasn’t even considered a veteran.

"Yes, I was."

"If it weren’t for you, I would’ve been crushed by the weight of the old retainers in my early reign.

I’ve never forgotten that it was thanks to you I’ve held on to my position."

"That’s kind of you to say—but even then and even now, the only true legitimacy of the Eingart Empire lies with you.

If you were to fall, we would’ve lost our central pillar and fragmented. That much is certain."

"Kyle von Eingart might have resurfaced."

"It seems unlikely. He was a branch member of the family, nothing more."

"You never concede even a single point.

It’s part of why I’ve trusted you so deeply."

Serpina chuckled, then asked with a serious tone:

"I’ve been curious about something."

"Please, ask anything."

"Why did you join me? At the time, our army was in complete chaos.

All heirs—Algott, Sidmid—were dead.

Imperial loyalists across the land rose in revolt, refusing to recognize me.

You could’ve walked an easier path."

This translation is the intellectual property of Novelight.

Jenna hesitated for a moment, then answered in a completely casual tone:

"May I speak frankly?"

"Say whatever you wish."

"I believed that if someone could conceal their ambition until the end, dirty their hands, and finally seize what they wanted...

Then that person could truly reshape the world."

"Oh? So you disliked the old world?"

"The high nobles were corrupt.

The people suffered under suffocating taxes.

Even if we live in chaos now, isn’t it worth it just to no longer hear endless talk of ‘noble bloodlines’?"

The class system hadn’t vanished entirely.

There were still invisible walls between social ranks.

But the very idea of ‘nobility’ and ‘titles’ had lost its power.

This was an era when skill alone could elevate someone.

And in a world where rulers changed constantly, who still cared about the values of a bygone era?

Besides, most of the old noble families had been slaughtered during the conflict between Algott and Sidmid.

The few that remained—like the al Kasky family—held much less sway than before.

"That’s why I followed you.

I wanted to be part of the transformation you were leading.

Whatever others may think, I’ve always waited for someone like you ✧ NоvеIight ✧ (Original source) to appear."

Serpina said nothing.

She could never admit to Jenna that she, too, had merely been swept along by the current.

Whether Jenna knew what Serpina was thinking or not, she suddenly changed the subject.

"My lady. You’ve said you couldn’t trust those who served the empire long ago, haven’t you?"

"I did."

"I won’t say something naïve like ‘you should trust them anyway.’

But I will say this:

It’s time to start building people who will stand by you—no matter what."

"People who will stand by me?"

"Yes.

Even now, there are still those clinging to past glory, plotting rebellion.

You can’t carry all of Eingart on your own.

You need someone who will share that burden—someone who will be your ally at all times, in all places."

"...What are you getting at, Jenna?"

"It’s simple."

And then it happened.

Jenna bowed deeper than she ever had before.

"My lady.

You must marry.

Create someone who will stand by you—and carry on your legacy.

It is a necessary step to solidify the legitimacy of Serpina as a ruler."

"......!!!"

Marriage?

The word hit Serpina so suddenly, her eyes went wide in shock.

"Marriage... but I’m just about to head to war..."

"That’s fine.

There’s no need to search far.

You already have someone perfectly suited nearby."

"What...?"

Jenna raised her head and looked directly into Serpina’s golden eyes.

Her cheeks were faintly flushed as she delivered the advice of a lifetime.

"Marry Lord Swen—

And grant him the name of Eingart.

The strategist must not slip from our grasp."

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