In December, Hercule celebrated his birthday and turned 21, and the New Year began.
　One month after the New Year, in February.

　Hercule was in the northeastern part of the Haloosa Sea with Todoris and Galfis in tow. ......
　They were in the northeastern part of the Haluza Sea.

　The Haluza Sea is a salt lake in the eastern part of the Kingdom of Khayastan.
　It is a salt lake in the eastern part of the Kingdom of Khayastan, although it is not wrong to call it a sea because of its size.

　The Haluza Sea is where caviar is produced.

　In addition to the Kingdom of Khayastan, there are two other countries bordering the Khaluza Sea.
　One is the Kingdom of Fars, a coastal country on the southern side of the Haloza Sea.

　The other is the nomadic nation of Kurotsuki, which is located on the northeast coast of .......

　Hercule visited the northeastern part of the Haloosa Sea at ......
　Erkül visited the northeastern part of the Haloosa Sea in order to meet with Kagan of Kurotsuki.

　The two nations pitched their tents along the coast of the Haloosa Sea.
　The flag of the Lemurian Empire fluttered in the west, while the flag of Kurotsuki fluttered in the east.

　As far as the eye could see, there were meadows and wilderness.
　Hercule, accompanied by Todoris as his interpreter and Galfis as his escort, approaches the eastern tent on horseback.
　On the other hand, Kagan the Kuro-Throated, accompanied by an interpreter and an escort, is approaching the west side on horseback.

　The two sides met at an equal distance from each other.
　Hercule observed Kagan, the first Kuro Thorn he had met.

　His ears were still long and he could tell that he was of Elven blood.
　His eyes are blue, his skin is yellow, and his ...... hair is black.
　His face is neither shallow nor deeply sculpted.

　At the very least, the shape of her face is quite different from that of Hercule and Lunalie.

　"Welcome, King of Lemuria. I am Ikan Kagan. I am Kagan of the Kuro Tongue.

　While still on his horse, he greeted Hercule.
　Hercule did the same.

　"Thank you for inviting me. I am Icankagan. I am Emperor Hercule of the Lemurian Empire.

　Immediately Todoris and ......
　The diplomats from the Kuro Thrust side translate.

　(The following assumes that both sides are going through an interpreter.

　"After all this time, I've heard that you've defeated the Foulds. Congratulations.
　"Thank you. But this was only possible because you were threatening the back of the Fals. It gave us a negotiating advantage.
　It's a win-win.

　The meeting between the two sides began in a friendly mood.
　Each side praised the other's military achievements.

　It became a common topic of conversation that both countries had the Kingdom of Fars as a hypothetical enemy, and both had defeated the Kingdom of Fars before.

　Now, ......
　When the conversation was in full swing, Hercule got down to business.

　As for the marriage of my sister Linasha, ...... we are willing to consider it for the sake of permanent friendship with your country.

　Hercule said. ......
　I'm sure you'll be pleased to know that I'm not the only one.

　Kurotsuki is an elf nation where only the ruling class has become elf brides.
　Therefore, they are regularly taking in Elven blood from abroad.

　And in order to secure the power of his own family, ...... Ihankagan wants the blood of the House of Julianos, the most prestigious of the Long-Eared Elves.

　On the other hand, the Lemurian Empire is looking for a reliable ally to compete with the Kingdom of Phallus. ......
　The interests of both parties were aligned.

　Therefore, the story of political marriage had been going on since the time of the previous emperor Hadrian.

　However, although ...... continued, there was not much progress.
　Hadrian did not want his only daughter to be married to a barbarian, and Ihankagan felt that Hadrian was not strong enough to form an alliance.

　At the very least, he would have to be a strong monarch who could win a proper war to form an alliance.
　That's what Ihsan Kagan thought.

　The nomadic world is a meritocracy, and leaders are expected to be capable of war.
　Emperor Hadrian, a leader who was not good at war, was looked down upon by Ikhankagan, and Ikhankagan was looked down upon by Hadrian.

　Both of them did not share the same temperament.

　But after Hercule's accession to the throne and ......
　But after Hercule's accession to the throne and his victory over the Kingdom of Phallus, the story began to progress rapidly.

　Ihankagan recognized Hercule as a strong monarch.
　And Erkur did not look down on him (at least on the surface).

　The temperaments of both men were compatible.

　In this case, their interests were aligned, and things proceeded quickly.
　As a result, the negotiations between the diplomats reached a climax: ......
　Finally, the sovereigns met each other.

　But ...... there are some conditions.
　"Hmm, what is it?

　Hercule held up a finger.

　One, ...... Linasha is a messianist. While it is important to respect the culture and customs of your country, there are some things that must be observed as a Messianic Christian. I ask you to respect that.
　"Of course. Our country is not concerned with religion. There are many people in our country who believe in Messiah.

　There is no lie in the words of Ikhankagan.
　There are people of various cultures, customs and religions in the tribal federation of Kurotsuki.

　Naturally, there are also messianists and torchbearers.



　"Two ...... I want to send a clergyman to officially minister to my sister. I want you to accept it.
　"Hmm ...... well, that's fine.

　Of course, it is not for my sister's sake, but for the purpose of propagating messianism in Kurotsuki.
　But the country of Kurotsuki does not care much about religion.
　He accepted it easily.

　"Three ......, I want you to make my sister happy.
　Of course I will!

　Ikhankagan smiled.
　And so, a political marriage between the Lemurian Empire and Kurotsuki was consummated. ......

　Linasha was to be married to Kurotsuki.





　One month later, it was March.
　After all the diplomatic formalities, ...... the time for parting finally came.

　"So long, Linasha. Have a good day.
　Though I do go home once every ten years, Your Majesty.

　On the shores of the Haluza Sea, Hercule and Linasha exchanged parting words.
　Behind Linasha, Icahnkagan is waiting for her.

　So, what do you think?　What do you think of the man I've arranged for you to marry? Is it to your liking?
　"Yes, Your Majesty. He's quite nice. He does have a slight body odor.
　He's not in the habit of taking a bath. I'm afraid you'll have to put up with that.

　They laughed at each other.
　Although they had different mothers, Hercule and Linasha were on good terms with each other, even though they were brothers of royalty and nobility.

　I'll see you in ten years. I'll show you my nephew or niece then. Your Majesty.
　"Well, I don't know if I can do it in ten years. Well, let's wait and see.

　Linasha turned on her heel and ran up to Ihankagan.
　The Yulianos family has many beautiful women among the elves, and Linasha is the most beautiful woman in the Lemurian Empire.

　Perhaps that's why Ihankagan has been looking down his nose at her.
　At first glance, they don't seem to be a bad match.

　(Well, it's not like she's going to marry alone.

　Of course, it's not like Linasha is going to ride into the blackout alone.
　As promised to Ihankagan, a clergyman, specifically a monk of the cultivation monastery, will accompany her, as well as many slaves and servants who have been with her for many years.

　There are also about ten half-elven women with her.
　These women were assigned to the black-robed nobles who had no wives.

　As a result, about a hundred of them accompanied Linasha to Kurotsuki.

　That's how the royal family marries.

　(Hmm?)

　For some reason, Ikan Kagan walked up to me.
　I've already said goodbye.
　What's going on?

　What's more curious is that ...... he has another boy with him, besides the interpreter.
　Dark hair, gray eyes, pretty good looking.

　"I'm sorry!　I forgot something important. ...... Your Majesty. Could you please take care of him for me?
　"My name is Jebe, Your Majesty.

　The boy greeted him in fluent Farsi.
　He seems to be reasonably well educated.

　"Hmm, ......, what does that mean?　And what is the position of this boy?　Without knowing that, I cannot answer.

　Hercule replies.
　Hearing Todoris's translation, Icahnkagan nodded.

　Hmm. This is my brother's child ......, which makes him my nephew. But my brother ...... was a bit naughty. He was executed for treason. But this boy was a baby at the time. They couldn't kill a baby, as they should have. But if I let him stay in the country any longer, he'd become a source of strife. So why don't you let me keep him?　You can use him as a servant, an escort, whatever.
　"...... Well, that's fine.

　Hercule nodded.
　It's a good riddance.

　In the event that you have any questions concerning where and how to use the internet, you can contact us at the web site. In many ways, the Lemurian Empire is safe for both Jebe and Icahnkagan.

　Besides, through Jebe, he can make connections to the Lemurian Empire.

　(Also, ...... probably thinks that if he can get my favor as a male prostitute, all the better...)

　Hercule had heard that there was a culture of homos*xuality in Kurotsuki.
　It's not that unusual.

　The Cyrisians of long ago also said, "Love between men is true love because it is not based on instinct. It is wonderful," and left many poems about love between men.



　In ancient Lemuria, love for beautiful boys was not uncommon, and the emperor, grieving over the death of his lover's boy, named a new colonial city after the boy.

　(Incidentally, in ancient Lemuria, it was OK to put a boy in your a**h*le, but it was not OK to be put in your a**h*le. (Incidentally, in ancient Lemuria, it was okay to put it in your a**h*le, but not to be put in your a**h*le. The theory is that a man who is effeminate is unfit to be a politician or a soldier. (Hercule's ancestors were also attacked politically for this theory.

　The warlords of Japan were also generally effeminate.
　In modern Japan, one in thirteen people is said to be LGBT.

　In fact, Jebe is quite a handsome boy.
　When he says he wants to be useful in various ways, there is a high possibility that he has such expectations.

　Hercule himself is not prejudiced against such things.
　He has his own perversions and feels that he is free to do so.

　But at the moment, Hercule does not have such a taste.
　In the first place, homos*xuality is outlawed in Messianism.

　In the Messianic religion, homos*xuality is outlawed, and the suspicion of homos*xuality is enough to disqualify a politician or, in some cases, execute him and confiscate his property.

　Well, I guess he doesn't know anything about that.

　So this time, I'll say goodbye. Please take care of my sister.
　"Of course I will. I'll see you when I get a chance. Brother.

　This time, Hercule parted ways with Igancagan.





　Now, on the way back.
　Hercule thought he'd better tell Jebe: ......

　"Just so you know, I don't have any taste in men. Don't count on it, okay?

　I like it when a beautiful girl asks me to hold her. I love it when a beautiful girl asks me to hold her, but when a beautiful boy asks me to hold him, I'm not so sure. by a beautiful boy.
　If it was a beautiful boy who could be mistaken for a beautiful girl, I might be happy, but even though Jebe is a beautiful boy, he doesn't have a very feminine face.

　"Is that true?

　Jebe asked Hercule.
　Hercule nodded broadly.

　Messianism forbids homos*xuality in the first place.

　So don't do it, because it could become a political issue, okay?
　I reminded him.

　Then Jebe said: ......

　I'm glad to hear that. I'm deeply relieved. ...... I'm not either.
　...... That's really good to hear.

　Being sold off as a male prostitute in a foreign land is not a very hard life.
　It must have been very unsettling.

　Hercule sincerely felt sorry for Jebe.