"Your Majesty.
　Oh, my God, Alicia. What's wrong?

　The day after the tea party with Sonia, Alicia visited Hercule in his office.
　The next day, Alicia visited Hercule's office.

　I heard that you humiliated me in order to convince my people and my vassals. Is that true?
　"Who told you that?　You and Sonia are not exactly on speaking terms.

　Karolina and Scheherazade have been in contact with Sonia.
　Cecilia is also trying to convert Sonia to Orthodox Messianism out of the kindness of her heart.

　However, Lunalie and Alicia are avoiding each other, probably because of their bad impressions from their first meeting.

　Incidentally, Nia and Sonia still seem to agitate each other whenever they see each other.

　"The servants are talking about it.
　"I see. ...... Well, yes. Half of it is true.

　In fact, anti-Bulgarian sentiment within the Lemurian Empire was very high.
　There were many who argued that we should not help the Chromes because we could have won even if we had not helped them and continued the economic blockade.

　In particular, Alicia was the one who killed many Lemurian soldiers in a surprise attack that broke the truce, and she also tried to kill the Emperor Hercule.

　If Hercule had said yes and spared Alicia and the Chromes, there would have been a lot of discontent among the people and their vassals.
　In that sense, it is not wrong that he humiliated Alicia in public in order to relieve ...... that dissatisfaction.

　...... half, huh?
　Yes. The other half is my feelings. If I don't, my people and my vassals may forgive me, but I won't.
　"...... haha.

　Alicia smiled vaguely, unsure of what to say.
　Hercule reached out to Alicia.
　I'm not sure what to say.

　It's over. Don't worry about it, I've already made up my mind about what you did.
　"......, you bullied me last night about it.
　That's all in the past.

　Hercule shrugged.
　Alicia let out a sigh.

　Gradually, Alicia began to understand what kind of person Hercule was.
　Hercule is a kind of joker.

　It is better not to take his words and actions too seriously.

　By the way, what are you doing now?　You seem to be very busy lately.
　"Stabilizing the region of Teriportania. We're going to make the occupation a fact. ...... We're halfway there. It's just a matter of time.

　The first thing Hercule did was to wipe out the rebellious forces in the region of Teriportania.
　The first thing he did was to wipe out the rebellion in the region of Teriportania. In other words, he suppressed by force the warbeast villages that refused to accept his rule.
　At the same time, he issued the name ......, guaranteeing land, property, and life to those who accepted his rule early on.

　In fact, only a few of the warbeasts rebelled violently, and many of them accepted the rule of the Lemurian Empire, albeit reluctantly.

　They were guaranteed land and property. ......
　But more than that, many of the privileges of the time of Raus I (the previous king) were abolished by Hilderic II (the current king).

　There were also a number of warbeasts who were dissatisfied with King Hilderic II.

　They felt that they had no obligation to follow the Lemurian Empire, but they also felt that they had no obligation to risk their lives for Hilderic II.

　Therefore, he readily accepted the rule of the Lemurian Empire.

　Those who resisted were the warbeasts of Hilderic II's faction, who had won the previous civil war and gained a lot of land through merit, as well as a small number of humans. ......

　They were wiped out by the Lemurian army led by Oskar, Stefan, Darius and Galfis.

　The next thing Hercule did was to settle the Tundan soldiers.
　In exchange for the withdrawal of the standing army, he recruited a large number of colonists and settled them one after another.

　Many of the warbeasts who defied the Lemurian Empire were those who had vested interests: ......
　In other words, many of them had vast private lands, so there was no shortage of land for them to settle on.

　In the areas where the rebellion existed, Hercule settled the Tunda soldiers who would become the wedge of control.

　There was not much to be done now. 　
　All that was left was to set up a governance structure.

　Hercule treated the leading figures of the human and warbeast races who had turned to the Lemurian Empire, and incorporated them into the governing structure.

　He also gave back some of the territories of the warbeast nobles who had previously defected to the Lemurian Empire, and placed them above the local leaders.

　They were well versed in the geography of the region, and also had the know-how to rule it.
　Since they were originally of the Priorists, they were not badly received by the local remnants of the Priorists.

　And he is a bit more trustworthy than those who turned to Lemuria with a reluctant attitude. ......


　Naturally, we have sent many bureaucrats from the center.
　In another five years, the region of Teriportania will be completely integrated into the bureaucratic centralized system of the Lemurian Empire.

　In addition, the military postal system and ......
　Erkur was planning various measures for his future rule, such as raising funds for public works such as flood control and irrigation to restore farmland devastated by the war.

　As for the peace negotiations, Todoris is working on them right now, but they're already in the final stages.

　"Has the Kingdom of Chellda accepted the abandonment of the region of Teriportania?

　It's not so much that they've accepted it as they've been forced to. Well, they haven't admitted it yet, but ...... we're going to make sure they do.

　The Lemurian Empire intends to keep the region under its control, whether or not the Kingdom of Cerda declares that it will abandon or cede the region. ......
　This has already been reported to the Kingdom of Cerda.

　According to Todoris, the court of the Kingdom of Chelda seems to be in a state of resignation.
　However,......, there are a few viziers who have a base of support in the region of Teriportania who are showing resistance, but it is only a matter of time.

　The ransom is being negotiated now. Princess Sonia has been priced at a high price.

　It's not that kind of commodity. ...... By the way, since you're negotiating, whose ransom are you struggling with now?　General Iason?



　No, no. They're just soldiers.

　The Lemurian Empire has captured over a hundred thousand prisoners.
　Hercule has demanded a small ransom, which he will hand over to the Kingdom of Chelda. ......
　The Kingdom of Chelda is refusing to pay and is trying to bargain.

　This is because even though the amount of money for each person is low, if the number of people reaches 100,000, it will be enough to put the treasury of the Kingdom of Chelda on fire.

　I see. ...... The kingdom of Cerda is in dire straits, and may not be able to pay.

　You'll be able to't pay for reparations, too. ...... They're complaining that if you're going to demand such a high ransom, you should reduce the amount of compensation. If you care about the soldiers, you should pay the ransom, no matter how high it is.

　That's not the words of a ransom demander.

　Hercule cowered at Alicia's words.

　And what do you intend to do with it?

　I'm not sure what to do, but I'm going to try. I'm going to explain to the ...... soldiers that the kingdom of Cerda is going to be stingy with the ransom and abandon you. I'm going to explain to the soldiers that the Kingdom of Cerda is going to be stingy and abandon you.

　That's a terrible thing to do, no matter what. ......

　The prisoners of war, who are under the generous protection of the Lemurian Empire, are already leaning pro-Lemurian.
　If Hercule were to tell them that ......
　If Hercule tells them that, their hearts will turn away from the Kingdom of Cerda and closer to the Lemurian Empire.

　But if ...... the ransom negotiations are terminated, does that mean that they will be released for free?
　"No, the ransom will be paid by you. Those who can't pay will be given labor.

　Incidentally, Hercule is planning to charge half the ransom to individual soldiers.
　By doing so, he hopes to make the soldiers think, "The Kingdom of Chellda is so reluctant to pay even this much that they abandoned us? The reason for this is to make the soldiers think, "The Kingdom of Chelda is reluctant to pay us even this much!

　I'm going to let them choose whether they want to return to the Kingdom of Chellda or stay in the Lemurian Empire. Some of them may be having relations with Lemurian women, and some of them may be from the region of Teriportania.

　Whether they return or stay, ......
　It doesn't really matter if they return or stay, their feelings will be pro-Lemuria by then.

　By the way, since the peace talks ...... are underway, when will you invade next?
　"What, you want a war so badly? You're more belligerent than I thought.
　You are the one who said that ...... the kingdom of Cerda will be destroyed.

　I'm not sure what to make of that.

　I'm not sure what to make of that. So it will be five years at the earliest. By then, the pro-Lemurian Princess Sonia will have become queen.

　The kingdom of Cerda is split in half between the anti-Lemurian king's faction and the pro-Lemurian queen's faction. ......
　I'm not sure if you've seen this before, but I'm sure you've.

　I'm sure that's why you're so busy having tea parties with Princess Sonia.
　What did you think it was for?
　I thought it was just a bad habit of yours. ......

　When Alicia said this, Hercule stood up.
　He grabbed Alicia's hand and drove her up against the wall.

　"What is it?
　"......

　Hercule did not answer Alicia's question, but put his lips to hers in reply.

　What's the use of hitting on another woman when you have such a beautiful one?
　......

　Alicia blushed and looked away.
　They kissed a few times.

　Then Hercule said.

　It's not that I don't want to hold every woman I see. If that's what you think, then you're prejudiced.

　Currently, Hercule is satisfied with his s*xual partners, both in terms of quantity and quality.
　He had no plans to add any more mistresses, lovers, or wives.

　I'm sure you'll be happy to hear that.　If you mess with that, you'll get in trouble. I'm going to return her to her country in a clean slate.

　...... I was also the fiancée of the crown prince of the Bulgaron Kingdom.

　I'm sorry.　I'm sorry, I forgot about that part.

　I'm not sure what to do, but I'm going to do it.
　Of course, Hercule hadn't forgotten.

　It's the same thing, this is the same thing," she said.


　"At any rate, we'll be friends for five years, okay?　With the Kingdom of Chellda. So, I won't do anything that will worsen our relationship, at least for the next five years. The tea party with Princess Sonia is also for the sake of friendship between the two countries. ...... It's just a temporary friendship for the next five years.

　I've heard from the servants that you seem to be actively courting her for that ...... reason.　The relationship between His Majesty and Princess Sonia is already known throughout the Nova Lemuria Palace, and even in Nova Lemuria there are rumors. Are you sure you're not trying to seduce her?

　Alicia asked, and Hercule cowered.

　That's just who I am. When I'm talking to a beautiful woman, I just naturally start hitting on her.
　......

　When Alicia heard Hercule's reply, she let out a sigh for the umpteenth time.