[This was clearly an extremely risky statement.]
[You had to know that when Boudica was first captured, the Queen of Britannia had reprimanded Nero in an extremely vicious tone.]
[Now, to turn around and ask Nero to release her—that was an impossible thing to do, no matter how you looked at it.]
[And Nero's reaction was exactly as expected.]
"Teacher, what kind of joke are you making?!"
Nero, who was being held like a kitten by Ian, seemed very agitated.
"Why should I release that Britannia rebel—no matter how you look at it, it doesn't align with my principles, does it?"
"Wait a minute."
Nero suddenly thought of something, and her green eyes sharpened with the realization of a wicked scheme.
"I know."
"Teacher, you haven't, by any chance, fallen for Boudica, have you—is that why you want to release her? Is that it?"
"Damn it, what did I not do well enough to satisfy you, Teacher! You just met that big-chested woman, and you've already changed your heart?"
"I'm going to kill her right now and burn her body to ashes!"
"No."
Ian stopped the extremely jealous Nero. He found her both cute and comically funny.
"How could I have fallen for Boudica?"
"Nero, have you forgotten—I said I would only ever love you in this lifetime."
"Are you trying to deny that vow now? Or do you think Teacher is a man without credit?"
"..."
Hearing this, a faint blush appeared on Nero's cheeks, and her tone softened a lot.
"I'm certainly not denying Teacher's loyalty—I just can't understand the reason for doing this."
"Boudica is a great enemy of mine and Teacher's. That can't be changed, no matter what, can it?"
"Logically, that's true."
"But—"
Ian looked down at Nero in his arms.
"I think this time, we might have to consider things from a different perspective."
"A different perspective?" Nero was a little curious.
"Yes." Ian nodded and continued his analysis.
"Nero, let's assume we actually kill Boudica—then Britannia would lose its queen."
"Following this line of thought, we would have to send a trustworthy person to guard the place, and he would also have to be able to resist the people who are angry because of Boudica's death—do you think we have a suitable person for that right now?"
"..."
Nero thought for a while and found that the situation was indeed like this.
After so many things, the only person she still trusted was her teacher.
Ian also understood this, and he quickly continued.
"It seems you already understand what I mean—so now, let's think from a different perspective. What would happen if Boudica didn't die and she no longer opposed us?"
"..."
"Then wouldn't things go back to how they were before?" Nero quickly gave the answer.
"Exactly." Ian affirmed this answer. "That is the most beneficial outcome."
"If we can get Boudica to completely surrender to us, everything can continue to operate as it did before."
"And letting her go is the prerequisite for achieving this."
"I understand what you mean." Nero nodded thoughtfully. "But what if Boudica rebels again after we let her go?"
"Then it will be time to show your strength."
Ian touched Nero's proud chest and began to fondle it quite skillfully, causing the young woman to tremble slightly.
"If my empress can perform so well in bed—then she must be just as good militarily, right?"
"Of course!"
A comfortable Nero answered with great confidence.
"I won't lose to that so-called queen—no matter how many times she comes, I will definitely defeat her!"
"That's right."
Ian breathed a sigh of relief, realizing that Nero had agreed to his idea.
"Then I'll start making arrangements in a few days—we must completely take over Britannia!"
"Hmm! I think so too!"
"But for now—"
Nero, who was excited again, began to rub against the symbol of a lion's majesty.
"Shouldn't Teacher finish what's left with me first?"
"Isn't that obvious—Teacher has been waiting for a long time."
[You and Nero spent a wild and stormy night—this was already the norm for your lives.]
[As per the agreement, you were ready to release Boudica.]
[You came to the prison where she was being held.]
"You... you're here again?"
Looking at Ian, Boudica was a little confused about what this guy was thinking.
"Don't you want to see me?"
Ian opened the door to the cell and walked in.
"I think my last visit shouldn't have made you so disgusted, right?"
"..."
That was actually true.
Even though he was an enemy, Ian's actions last time had earned him a little bit of Boudica's goodwill.
This made her temper herself a bit.
"So what do you want with me—are you here to tell me when I'll be executed?"
"No." Ian smiled and shook his head. "I'm here to tell you some good news."
"Starting today—you are free again."
"What?" Boudica couldn't believe what she had just heard. "Seneca, what do you mean by this?"
"I'm letting you go." Ian replied very calmly. "And I'm letting you go now."
"Are you serious?" Boudica asked again.
"Of course, I'm serious." Ian invited the Queen of Britannia in front of him. "Come on, I'll take you out of the city."
"..."
Although she felt that something was strange, Boudica didn't say anything more.
She knew she needed a chance to make these Romans regret what they were doing.
[The plan you proposed to Nero has officially begun.]
[As per the agreement, you let Boudica go.]
[The anger in the Queen of Britannia's heart did not weaken at all.]
[She used her reputation to rally the remaining Britannia soldiers near Verulamium and some Britannia people who were willing to rise up.]
[In less than half a month, Boudica once again laid siege to the city of Verulamium.]
[You were a little surprised by her rallying power among the Britannia people.]
[But at the same time, you also felt sorry for her judgment that was clouded by anger.]
[This was a defeated army. How could it possibly have the ability to fight against the Roman elite infantry who had already defeated them?]
[Without any surprise, Boudica was once again defeated by Nero.]
Inside the prison.
"We meet again, Queen Boudica—I didn't expect you to bring your army back to fight again so quickly."
"..."
Boudica didn't respond, but Ian had already expected this.
"You seem very unconvinced."
"Of course, I am! I was just careless this time. If I had prepared properly, I definitely wouldn't have lost to you!"
"Alright, then."
Ian once again untied Boudica's ropes.
"You can go—go and make the preparations you want."
"But His Majesty will crush it once more."
[Boudica left once again.]
[Learning from her last experience, this time she chose to retreat to her own territory for now.]
[She recruited warriors in Britannia and actively trained them.]
[Having been defeated twice, she swore to have her revenge!]
[However—]
[Boudica had overestimated Britannia and underestimated Rome.]
[While she was training her warriors, you were also making the preparations you needed to, and you were doing more and better.]
[This was the military power suppression of Rome.]
[The ever-growing gap in power led to Boudica being defeated by the Roman army once again.]
[She was once again captured by you personally.]
Inside the prison.
"We meet again—Queen Boudica."
"Your warriors left a deep impression on me, but unfortunately, they don't seem to be a match for the Roman army."
"That's not true!"
Boudica refuted Ian's evaluation.
"It's because you Romans have taken too much land that doesn't belong to you that led to this defeat!"
"Queen Boudica, you think the problem is a difference in numbers, right?"
"Of course!"
"I see—you can go. In half a month, I will capture you again." Ian remained neither humble nor arrogant.
"This time, I won't even need to use a single Roman soldier."
[Boudica was let go by you once more.]
[Thinking about her previous three failures, this time she was clearly much more cautious.]
[She prepared for her next counterattack in a state of highest alert, fearing that she would make some kind of mistake during the process.]
[However, what Boudica didn't know was—this was exactly what you wanted to see.]
[Complete caution and absolute vigilance would eventually lead to endless internal pressure.]
[Boudica unintentionally oppressed her own people.]
[Taking this opportunity, you sent people to spread the news in Britannia that the queen planned to fight Rome to the death.]
[This information, in a high-pressure environment, quickly turned into a terrifying rumor that Boudica wanted to gamble the entire Britannia on this one attack.]
[On top of this, you further added the news that handing over Boudica would allow them to be spared from the war.]
[This was a gospel-like relief for the Britannia people, who had been defeated again and again.]
[As expected, a rebellion broke out within Britannia.]
[Before even half the agreed-upon time had passed, you once again captured Boudica.]
"A little earlier than I expected."
Ian looked at the Boudica in front of him, who was so familiar to him. His tone was still neither humble nor arrogant.
"Queen Boudica, I did it."
"..."
Boudica turned her face away.
She had imagined many ways of losing and had dreamed of the day she would win.
But she had never expected that the Britannia people, who were supposed to be her solid support, would betray her at a time like this.
Ian saw through this and quickly continued;
"Being betrayed doesn't feel good, does it—His Majesty and I also experienced something like that back then, so I completely understand what you're thinking right now."
"No, you don't understand!"
Boudica refuted Ian's words.
"They... were just afraid that I wasn't capable enough to save Britannia, and that's different from your despicable actions!"
"I can understand why they would do something like that!"
"..."
Ian was silent for a moment and then replied with a smile.
"Queen Boudica, you truly love your people—even at a time like this, you are still thinking of defending them."
"It is an extremely fortunate thing for Britannia to have a leader like you."
"Are you praising yourself and that tyrant in a roundabout way?"
Boudica stared at the man in front of her.
"That only makes me sick."
"No, I don't need to praise my empress." Ian said. "Her greatness doesn't need my praise at all. Everyone on Roman soil already knows about it."
"But—"
The man looked at Boudica in front of him.
"You still seem unconvinced."
"Of course, I am—!" Boudica said without hesitation. "What does her having to do with this victory?"
"I see."
Ian untied Boudica's ropes again and then took out a bag of gold coins and placed it in her hand.
"In that case, go and prepare the weapons you want—His Majesty will have a one-on-one duel with you."
"Are you serious?"
"Of course, I'm serious—Romans never go back on their word."
[Boudica once again began to prepare.]
[This was the time she felt most hopeful—after all, this was a one-on-one duel, and she didn't have to worry about all sorts of irrelevant things.]
[Boudica prepared a sharp sword, a sturdy shield, and solid armor.]
[Even though she had been betrayed by the people of Britannia, she was still willing to fight for this land one more time.]
[She prayed to the goddess Andraste, hoping to receive her blessing.]
[With everything ready, Boudica began her duel with Nero.]
[However—]
[The Queen of Britannia quickly realized that things were completely different from what she had imagined.]
[Nero was not the kind of emperor who would only run away. Her swordsmanship was in no way inferior to that of an elite Roman soldier, not to mention her almost miraculous power to control flames.]
["Burn! Aestus Estus (Original Fire)!"]
[As a magnificent flame flew across the dueling arena, Boudica was met with her fifth defeat.]
[And this time, it was a victory that Nero had earned all by herself.]
[Boudica's stubborn will began to crumble.]
[You realized that the time had come.]
"Queen Boudica."
Ian looked at Boudica in the cell, his tone still humble.
"These few defeats should be enough to prove how powerful the Rome that His Majesty rules is, right?"
"His Majesty herself has extremely outstanding talent—this is the reason why the Roman citizens chose to follow her. I think you should understand that by now, too, right?"
"..."
Boudica really wanted to refute Ian's words, but she couldn't find anything to say.
Because things were indeed as Ian said. Nero, who symbolized Rome, had completely crushed her, who represented Britannia, in every aspect.
Was... was all of this fated?
Boudica looked up but didn't know what to say. But at this moment, she saw something she didn't expect.
Ian suddenly clutched his chest tightly and then knelt on the ground with a thump.
What's wrong with him?!