Now, a week has passed since the two sides stared each other down.
　Coincidentally, both King Ludwig I and Hercule were shouting together.

"Hurry up and admit defeat!　You stubborn bastard!






　At the same time.
　The capital of the Kingdom of Frarling, Luthiery.

　In a certain mansion there, an important person was invited.

"Is this situation ...... as expected?　Your Holiness.
No way. It's just one of the possibilities I've been considering.

　Cecilia replied to Archbishop Cronus of Lemuria's question while sipping her tea elegantly.

　Currently, the war between the Lemurian Empire and the Fulling Kingdom was a battle of "who will break first".

　First of all, the Fulling Kingdom could not continue the war for a long period of time due to logistics and other problems.
　However, the Lemurian Empire is the Lemurian Empire, and with the Kingdom of Farus behind it, it cannot continue the war.

　Therefore, the situation is like a chicken race.

If it's the Lemurian army and the Fulling army, well, I'm not a military expert, but I would expect the Lemurian army to be more powerful. The Lemurian army is more powerful than the Fulling army. ...... The quality and quantity of weapons and soldiers are different, as well as the commanders. And ...... diplomatically, the Lemurian Empire is at a huge disadvantage when it comes to having enemies behind them.

　Cecilia explains her analysis in a simple manner.
　This is a characteristic of the country as a "nation," without the capabilities of Hercule or Ludwig I.
　The Kingdom of Frarling is economically inferior, which inevitably changes the amount of capital spent on the military. This is not something that can be reversed by the efforts of King Ludwig I.
　The fact that the Lemurian Empire is a perpetual diplomatic challenge, that it is a crossroads of civilizations, that it is easily surrounded by great powers in all directions, and that the Kingdom of Phallus exists behind it, is also not something that can be overturned by the efforts of Hercule.

However, ...... the fact that King Ludwig I can move the Kingdom of Phallus is something that Hercule I could not have predicted, right?

　Kronos questioned, but ...... Cecilia shook her head left and right.

No, I think that Hercule I could have predicted this. In the event that you have any questions concerning where and how to use the internet, you can call us at the web site. ...... But Ludwig I had a stronger connection to Sasan VIII than Hercule had assumed. That's all I'm saying.

　What Cecilia could assume, but Hercule could not, was the difference in the amount of information.
　The Church of Messiah is a kind of bureaucracy, and it exists all over the world.

　Cecilia's information network extended not only to the Kingdom of Fullerling, but also to the Kingdom of False.

　Cecilia does not give all of her information to Hercule.
　Some important information was kept on hand as cards.

As a result, the Kingdom of False began to show suspicious movements earlier than Hercule had expected. Up to this point, Hercule had not expected this. And from here on, it's not what King Ludwig I expected.

"Ludwig I's?

I think he underestimated the Lemurian Empire's total mobilization and military power. He probably thought that the Lemurian army would have retreated by now. But they haven't. This is because the Lemurian Empire has a strong defense line centered on the Tondabei. And they can still squeeze more troops out of both Bulgalon and Chelda, or worse, from Hayastan. Therefore, the Kingdom of Fars can't invade carelessly, and it's because they know they can't invade carelessly that Lord Hercule has been able to continue staring at each other for a week.

　There's no way that Hercule is going to attack another country with his own country empty.
　It is because he is confident that he can hold out for a while even if they mess with him a little, and because he is confident that he can fight even if the worst comes to the worst, even if it is a two-front operation, that he started the war.

　Sasan VIII is probably wagging his finger right now.

I guess we both hate to lose. I guess they don't want to back down. As a result, both sides are playing the Thousand Days Move. That's why it's our turn to play.

　With that, Cecilia stood up.
　At that moment, the door opened.

　Just in time, a knight from the kingdom of Fulling arrived.

We are the only ones who can end this war. ...... I have already spoken with Todoris Todorianus, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Lemurian Empire. All we have to do is talk to Lord Namo of the Fullerling Kingdom, and then convince the monarchs of both countries, and we're done.

　Cecilia's face was filled with a smile of ......
　The smile on Cecilia's face was one of triumph.




　Now, another week later.
　Cecilia went to Hercule, that is, to the Kingdom of Edelna.

"Good day, Your Majesty, Hercule. How are you?
"Well, do I look like I'm doing well to you?

　Hercule's expression was ...... very unhappy.
　Cecilia's suggestion must have already made its way to Hercule through Todoris.

　And that's what's making him uncomfortable.

Yes, of course. We're almost at the end of the ...... war.
"...... Oh.

　In response to Cecilia's words, Hercule smiled and made a small gesture.
　In spite of his facial expression, Hercule's mood is plummeting.

　The crowd, noticing this, cringed.

"Are you asking me to admit defeat to Lemuria?

　Hercule asked in a low voice.
　There was a hint of anger in his voice.
　A normal person would have been taken aback by this, and would have looked horrified.

　Cecilia, however, trembled inwardly, but did not show it on her face and replied stoutly.

No, not at all.　What I have proposed is only a draft of the terms of the peace. If you don't like them, you can discuss them with King Ludwig I.



　Then Cecilia gave a small wink.

I'm proud to be the only one who can set the scene. Because, isn't that right?　If Hercule-sama sends the peace envoy first, it will be thought that Hercule-sama is weak. And vice versa.

　Both Hercule and King Ludwig I knew that they could not continue the war any longer.
　Both Ercole and Ludwig I knew that they could not continue the war any longer, and they wanted to make peace.

　But the stumbling block was who would propose peace first, that is, who would propose to come to the table.

　If they made a bad move, they would be perceived as weak and would be asked to negotiate on their own terms.
　Therefore, both sides had no choice but to stare each other down.

The son of God is God, and the emperor's is the emperor's. I am far from secular power. I'm the most neutral of them all.

"How dare you speak so bluntly? Who do you think you are?

Who do you think it is?

　Who do you think it is?" Cecilia laughed mischievously, and Hercule scowled disapprovingly.

"Well, let's say for a moment that I want you to be my intermediary. Would King Ludwig I approve of your mediation?　It's obvious that you and I are close?

"Of course, Master Hercule.

　Cecilia nodded.

The Papacy's momentum is now greatly diminished. It's obvious that it will be replaced by the High Priestesses. It's about time that King Ludwig I began to want to ingratiate himself with me, or even switch sides.

"...... Who do you think helped you get this far?

Of course, it was me. I was the one who got the support from Hercule. Didn't you?

"You really ...... have become brazen.

　Then Hercule sighed heavily.
　Then he bowed his ...... little head.

"High Priestess, please ...... mediate peace.
"Your Highness. Your Majesty.





　After that, Cecilia went to King Ludwig I and ...... made some kind of negotiations and got his consent to come to the peace table.

　As a prelude to the negotiations, there was an exchange of prisoners of war between the two sides.
　This was completed without any confusion or treaty-breaking, under the supervision of the Orthodox Messianic Church's Princess Priestess Faction.

　Thus, Nia and Bradamante returned to their respective sovereigns.

　And the next day.
　Just as the two armies were about to meet, a simple tent was pitched in the middle.

　And while Cecilia watched, ......

"It's been a long time since we've met in person. Hercule.
"Yes, it has. It's been a long time. Your Majesty Ludwig.

　Hercule and King Ludwig I shook hands.
　Then they sat down at the table and ......

　They stared at each other.

　Cecilia declared in a voice that was disproportionately cheerful in the apparently tense atmosphere.

Then ...... let's get down to business. Let's talk and end this war peacefully.
"Hmm ......