"I have it on good authority that ...... the Kingdom of Cerda is planning to break the treaty and invade in three years. Your Majesty.

　"Is that true, Todris?　Where's your source?　Has King Chelda lost her mind?

　Todoris nodded in response to Hercule's question.
　Then he told Hercule about the source of the information.

　"There have been several similar reports. The palace of the kingdom of Cerda is also in turmoil. ......
　"Well, that's confusing. I'm confused too. I'm confused too. ...... People make some incredible decisions sometimes.

　The character of Hilderic II, as Hercule knew him, would never have made such a decision.
　It's reasonable to assume that someone put the idea in his head. ......
　It is said that almost all of Hilderic II's vassals secretly oppose it.

　In other words, it is the sole decision of King Hilderic II.

　"What shall we do?　Your Majesty.
　"What can we do or not do?　But three years,......, that's a lot of time, and the defenses are not yet in place. Well, ...... if it's a defensive war, we'll have a huge advantage.

　It's easy to win.
　And you can blame us for breaking the treaty and impose even stricter conditions on us.

　"Well, there's no need to be hasty. You'll continue to monitor the movements of the Kingdom of Chelda.
　"Yes, Your Majesty.

　Todoris nodded.





　It was a month after that report.
　On that day, Hercule was hunting with Cecilia and Nia in the woods near Nova Lemuria.

"How is it, Cecilia?
"Yes, it's very tasty.

　Cecilia said as she ate the meat of the wild bird that Hercule had killed.
　It's very simple, just salt and pepper.
　The fact that she was out in the open, eating meat that had just been processed, was a seasoning that made it taste even better to Cecilia.

"Your Majesty. Would you please eat the rabbit I killed?

　It was Nia who approached Hercule, saying so.

"No, thank you.

　Hercule opened his mouth.
　Then Nia carefully placed the rabbit meat on the skewer into Hercule's mouth.

"How is it?
"It's good.

　Hercule replied, and Nia smiled happily.
　Inwardly, Hercule thought that the taste of the rabbit would not change just because you killed it.　But he didn't say it out loud.

　Hercule was a man who could read the air.

"Um, Mr. Hercule?
"Hmm, what's the matter, Cecilia. Do you want me to eat meat too?
Yes!　...... No, that's not it. Can I ask you something about the kingdom of Cerda?

　The reason Hercule brought Cecilia hunting was not just for a date.
　It was for a secret meeting.

　Surprisingly, the forest is a good place to talk in secret.

"Oh, good. Now, where do I start?

　Hercule told Cecilia what he knew about the current situation in the Kingdom of Cerda.

"...... three years later?
"Yes. King Chelda seems to be in desperation. His retainers are trying to stop him, but it doesn't seem to be working. At this rate, a coup d'état is likely.

　Hercule said, remembering an event that happened in the Kingdom of Foulds a long time ago.
　At that time, two of the generals of the Kingdom of Foulds, Coward and Shaheen, forcibly detained Yazdegild, who was acting as the king's representative at the time.

　More ......
　In the case of the Kingdom of Fars, it was the prince, while in the case of the Kingdom of Cerda, it was the king himself.

　It would not be so easy to imprison him.
　Even if the current King Cerda, or King Hilderic II, is detained, ......
　There is no one who can be used as a replacement king.

　If King Hilderick II had a child, he could be enthroned as king, but King Hilderick II and Sonia have not even been married yet.

　In the first place, it is doubtful that there is anyone in the Kingdom of Cerda who has the courage to stage a coup.

But thanks to this, more and more people are trying to come to our side, which is a big help.
...... It's a terrible thing.
I can't help it. No one likes to be on a mud boat.

　Not a few of the nobles of the Kingdom of Cerda thought, "This country is doomed" when they saw King Hilderick II's turmoil.
　They have been divulging information about the inside of the Kingdom of Chelda to the Lemurian Empire in case Chelda is invaded by the Lemurian Empire.

　However, this is only an insurance policy for them.
　If by some miracle the Kingdom of Chellda should rise again, they will try to cut ties with the Lemurian Empire.

"Well, if they break the peace and attack us three years later, we'll just have to meet them. If we change our minds, we can wipe out the rebels in one fell swoop.



　Three years from now, there will still be many warbeasts flying the banner of anti-Lemuria.
　Therefore, they will rebel at the same time as the Kingdom of Cerda invades.

　This is quite troublesome for the Lemurian Empire. ......
　But it's only a nuisance.

　Hercule was confident that he could take care of all of them at once.

Cecilia, I'm counting on you and the Messianic Church to help us.
"Yes, of course. Yes, of course. It is also our mission to lead them to the correct teachings.

　It would be in Hercule's interest and Cecilia's interest to convert the Western Messianic Church in the former Chelda Kingdom to the orthodox Princess Priestess (Medium) Messianic Church.

"Once Chellda is taken care of, Edelna. At the very least, let's go get Lemuria City back. The day when we can go back to ...... is near, okay?

　In fact, Hercule has little intention of taking direct control of the Kingdom of Edelna.
　In fact, Hercule has little desire to take direct control of the Kingdom of Edelna, since it is too busy swallowing up the Kingdom of Chellda. 　
　Therefore, he is thinking of establishing a pro-Lemurian puppet government as before.

　But Lemuria City is a different story.

I will take the head off that self-proclaimed "Pope." I'll take the head off that self-proclaimed 'Pope'. ...... You messed with my Cecilia.
...... I say "my", but she wasn't yours then, was she, Hercule?
So I guess I can assume that she belongs to me now?

　Then Hercule put his hand on Cecilia's chin.
　Cecilia's cheeks flushed and she looked away.

"Well, well, ...... in the sense that I am under your protection, I suppose. But still, I am a Himemiko. I'm your equal!

"I see, I see.

　Hercule patted Cecilia's head.
　Cecilia puffed out her cheeks.

Cecilia puffed her cheeks. "You're making fun of me!　I'm going to make you squeal, I promise!

"Geez!

　Then Nia, who had been watching the exchange between Hercule and Cecilia with a sour expression, said with a smirk on her face.
　Cecilia glared at Nia.

Cecilia glared at Nia, "Why are you telling me this?
"I hope I can make you say it.
What do you mean?
What do you mean?

　Cecilia and Nia begin to bicker.

　What Hercule, Nia, and Cecilia didn't know yet...
　Something terrible was happening in the Kingdom of Chellda.





　It was in the evening of that day that the three of them returned to Nova Lemuria City.
　After dropping Cecilia off at the mansion they had given her, Hercule and Nia returned to Nova Lemuria Castle without a care in the world.

"Your Majesty!　You can't go out at a time like this without telling me!
"Your Majesty, you're back!
...... What have you been up to?

　They were greeted by Carolina, Scheherazade and Lunalie.
　You'll be able to find a lot more information on the web.

　Nia had a smug look of superiority on her face, and as a result the blue streaks on their foreheads increased.

"What's going on?
'You do that again!　It's all part of your plan, isn't it?　Don't play dumb with me.

　Karolina ran up to Hercule and angrily slapped him lightly on the chest.
　Hercule tilted his head.

"What about ......?
"Isn't that your plan, by any chance?

　It was Scheherazade who asked.
　Scheherazade, who was not known for her suspicions, began to think that Hercule really did not know what was going on.

"Don't be fooled, Scheherazade. He's always been like that. You know?　Your Majesty.
"...... No, I don't know what you're referring to.

　Hercule tilted his head, wondering if he had been exposed to something he shouldn't have been.
　I don't know, I have too many ideas.

Maybe you've planned so many evil things that you don't know which ones have come to fruition.
"That's a terrible thing to say, Luna.

　Lunalie looked at Hercule with a frown.
　I'm not sure what you mean by that.

So, what is it?　Tell me now. If it's something I know and I really forgot, I'll apologize. If it's something I really don't remember, you'll have to give me a sincere apology, okay?

　Hercule's words frightened Carolina and Scheherazade slightly.
　But Lunalie replied with a slight flush on her face.

The kingdom of Cerda has surrendered to us without us having done anything. Your Majesty is playing a trick on us, isn't it?

　Hercule replied to Lunalie's words.






'...... I really don't know anything about this, what do you mean?　Why would the kingdom of Cerda roll over on its own?





""......?"