After the meeting with King Rosais, Julia was waiting for me when I left the room.

　'Long time no see. Have you come to a conclusion?'
　I'm sorry. I'm still working on it. I'll get you an answer by the deadline.

　I looked straight into Julia's eyes and replied.
　Julia's cheeks relax.

　'Yes. Please. As soon as you can. By the way why don't we have a little chat?

　Julia said and tugged on my hand.




　'You're not in a good position to snuggle with me.
　But I have to do this so I can talk to you.

　I'm taken in by Julia.
　It was like her private room.

　

　I look at Julia's room.
　There were various furnishings, spellcasting tools, and other items on the floor, and a strange, medicinal smell.

　There were also books present, albeit a few of them.

　At least it's not a girly room as seen in modern Japan.
　However, I wonder if this is the standard room for princesses on the Adelunian peninsula, or if it's a Yulia-only room... probably the latter.

　Incidentally, Tetra's room is littered with six prototype wands, as well as materials for making wands, magic circles, magic stones for writing magic circles, and a large amount of paper.
　He says it's organized, but it's a lie to see how he's looking for something every time.

　Suddenly, a white flowering plant catches my eye.
　'Is this a poppy?'
　You know your stuff. What did you use it for?
　I've never used it. But I've seen them growing in the woods.

　By the way, Master Gryphon told me that it is a medicine.
　The poppy is a very good medicinal herb because of its analgesic properties.

　It is also often used as a medium for hallucinogenic spells. This is what I mixed with black powder.

　By the way, it is also very good as a drug. How good is it? It can trip a sleeping lion.

　"Is this a female hemp plant?
　Well. But is the poppy better as a medicine?　It's not very hallucinogenic, so it doesn't have a lot of spellcraft value. Well, I guess it's for entertainment I don't want to smoke it. And I can live without it.

　In short, it's marijuana.
　It is often smoked in the Adelunian Peninsula........or rather in the west.

　It's probably because it's easy to grow and because it's not that addictive.
　I think it's up to other people to smoke it as they please, but I don't want the people closest to me to smoke it.

　'This flower is ... beautiful, but I don't know. Is this another drug?'
　'Yes, yes!　It comes from the east. I heard from the Cilician that it has an amazing hallucinogenic effect. I heard it is called "Morning Glory". The first thing I tried was to use a rat, but it was so frightening to watch.

　It's a morning glory and a hallucinogenic effect.
　I know.
　That's a butterfly morning glory.
　We've got one of those in this world. Datura.

　If there's poppy and marijuana, of course there is.
　Julia you can experiment on animals all you want, but please don't ever experiment on your own body, okay?

　'Actually. I wanted to experiment on a human........I already know it's a dog and a good spellcasting medium. So all that's left is to get some data on people...
　Julia puts a butterfly morning glory in my hand.

　'Could you try using it in the upcoming war?　How. I'll just powder it up and scatter it around and curse it.
　Well, that's fine, but...

　It's probably more effective than poppy.
　I heard that hallucination spells were key in the territorial disputes, and if you just want to be sure, it's not a problem.

　But if the direction of the wind changes suddenly, though, it won't be fashionable.

　Suddenly, a purple-red flower pops into my eyes.
　It's almost the same color as Julia's hair.

　But the shape of the flower suggests it's not lavender.

　When I picked it up and looked at it, it smelled sweet.
　What is this.........

　It's a new species of poisonous plant. It's a new species of poisonous plant. Recently collected in Adelunia. I heard people got addicted after eating it, so I'm growing it. We're going to test its efficacy once it's back up. See if it can be turned into a herb or a poisonous plant or a drug or something else don't you think it'll be fun?

　I don't think so.

　'Hmm, is my senses funny?　I get so excited and excited when I'm researching these things and stuff like that.
　That's not because it's getting into your body in very small amounts or something, is it?
　Just be sure that Julia is a pervert. Please.

　"Hey, when the war starts, will you try it?　Then I'd like to know the difference in effectiveness between it and the poppy.
　Julia said, closing the distance suddenly.
　'Well, fine. That's about it.'

　I said, and Julia shook my hand.
　'Thank you. Let me hear the effects straight from your mouth.
　You don't have to tell me.


　When I say that, Yulia puts her lips to my face.
　........I couldn't refuse it and accepted it as it was.

　Yulia immediately pulls away from me.
　''Good luck.''
　I know.

　I said goodbye to Julia and left the palace.






　'Hey, Alms. Didn't you kiss Julia?
　I'm sorry.

　I apologized honestly.
　But how could I know?　A woman's intuition is amazing.

　I'm not angry. I'm not diminished.
　Tetra said matter-of-factly.　
　I've known Tetra for a long time but he's still a strange guy. I don't understand him at times.

　Isn't this the kind of thing that usually makes you angry?
　If you don't get angry, I'm going to start cheating and doing the same thing again.

　'If you're going to marry Yulia, you're going to make a baby anyway, so it doesn't matter how much you kiss her. If you choose not to marry her, you can give poor, poor Yulia a kiss or two. I'm very generous.

　For me, I'd like to see a little more jealousy. You used to interrupt me and Yulia when we were in a good mood, didn't you?
　What kind of windfall is that?

　'Because I've already earned my place as the best in Almus. No matter what happens in the future, I will remain steadfast in being wife number one.

　So you're married and you can afford it.
　Is that the way it is?　

　'By the way which way is the needle swinging now?　Do you want to get married?　Don't you want to?
　I'd like to make it six to four, but that's too big...

　My relationship with Rigal Dibel has deteriorated considerably after this incident.　
　If this continues, as King Rosais said, I can well imagine a future where Rigal will be purged after he becomes king....
　No, that's an excuse.

　As soon as Julia and I kissed and cuddled each other, I really wanted it.
　Yes, I suppose I'm looking for an excuse now.

　"I don't think it's so bad that you're going to be king. Maybe that's what Ron and the others say.
　I know. That's why you can't talk to me about it.

　They'll never be against it. They would welcome it.
　And I'm sure they'd be willing to die for me to be happy.

　That's why I can't talk to them.
　I don't want them to die.

　Besides I'm afraid there's something else that bothers me.


　"If you're the king, you'll save a lot of people. Isn't that why?
　'It's overrated. My hands aren't that wide.

　I say and sigh.
　Tomorrow it will be July.

　







　'Master Rigal. Gilbert should be punished. We can't show the other vassals that we're not going to be able to do this!
　Vermette shouted aloud.
　Rigal responded to that.

　'Wait, wait, wait, you only lost once. Can't we let you off the hook this time?
　'We were outnumbered twice as much as we were, and we lost.　This battle was a battle that should not be lost. With this defeat, the majority of the great clans that were neutral factions have become the As faction. Even within our faction, there are many who have converted to the As faction or are trying to do so. We must make them take responsibility for this!

　At present, one third of all the great families are As and two thirds are Dibelites.
　In the past, the As faction was not so united, and some of them were neutralists who could turn to the Dibel faction at any time, or were just neutrals in the skin of the As faction, but with the victory of Almus As, the unity of the As faction has been solidified at once.
　The Adelnian peninsula is at war, and the problem for the great families is how to protect their own interests.

　Of course, the fact that Almus As had broken the law was a fact, but it was nothing compared to the intensity of the war.
　Moreover, the reason for breaking the law was in the name of protecting the oppressed people.

　By comparison, Rigal Dibel oppressed his people and was defeated despite being outnumbered twice as much.
　If they had won, the fact that they had oppressed their people wouldn't have been a big problem... but now that they had lost, it was a big problem.

　Currently, some people are even questioning Rigal Dibel's succession to the throne.

　This is a big problem for Rigal, who wants to be king.

　But Gilberto is my cousin. Can't we forgive him this time?
　Hearing those words, Vermette clenched his fists tightly.

　Rigal is very lenient with his relatives.
　Even those with no significant accomplishments are easily given key positions if they are relatives, and he doesn't blame them if they make a big mistake.

　On the contrary, he is strict with non-relatives, never giving them key positions and punishing them immediately for even the smallest mistakes.

　Currently, the only non-family member who holds a key position is Belmet, and all non-family vassals are recommended by Belmet.
　This does not motivate the vassals to make achievements.

　Belmet wants to somehow chip away at his kin's power before Rigal becomes king.
　It's a big loss this time, but he should use it to the contrary to strengthen his camp.

　That's why Vermette is fiercely denouncing Gilberto with that in mind.
　After Gilberto's downfall, he intends to install a competent non-family member in his place.

　But that's not going to happen with Rigal covering for him.

　''In the first place, though, isn't there a problem with Lord Vermette for setting up such a plan?
　A relative's retainer made that statement.
　Some people seemed to agree with that statement.

　It was true that Vermette's operation was a bit dangerous and had many disadvantages.
　But if he hadn't made that strategy, Rigal would have broken the law fairly and squarely.

　If he had lost on top of that, it would have been no laughing matter.
　Hence, Vermette is not to blame.

　But it didn't matter to his relatives.

　''Well, well, let's call it a share of the pain this time.
　Rigal said, quieting his relatives.

　Before he knew it, Vermette was in the wrong too.
　Rigal doesn't have any bad intentions. He was just really trying to appease them and chose the wrong words.

　But he didn't even notice the mistake, and he didn't realize it was because he was led to it by his relatives.
　Vermette sighed loudly in his mind.