I called up representatives from Ains and Gehenna and proceeded to discuss specifics regarding the post-war process.
　First, the territory, which went smoothly.


　Briefly, the southern region is Rezad and Gehenna. The northern and central regions were the country of King Rosais.
　This was the case.

　This reflects the power relations, geography and political situation of each country.
　First of all, our country is more powerful than both Rezad and Gehenna.

　When I write this, it may sound like I was threatening, but in fact I wasn't.
　It's the opposite. It was Rezad and Gehenna who forced me to do it.

　It's axiomatic that the more territory expands, the more we have to devote to defense.
　Rezad and Gehenna are a small country, so they can't afford that defense force. Therefore, the majority of their territory will be reaped by our country.

　Also, the special population ratio and political system of King Belvedil's country has a lot to do with it.
　First of all, as a basic premise, King Belvedil, who rules his country, is an Adelian.

　His country was originally an alliance between the Belvedere clan and a number of influential clans, and over time, the Belvedere clan became so prominent in the alliance that they came to call themselves kings. Well, our country is the same.

　In other words, it's a country mainly made up of Adelnians.

　But the Cilician people began to establish many colonies in the southern part of the Adelian peninsula, where the climate is mild and rich.
　The number of Cilician immigrants increased rapidly, and more and more people moved to the country of the Belvedere kings.　
　Successive Belvedere kings had encouraged Cilician immigration in order to gain access to the technological and economic power of the Cilician people.
　The Cilician immigrants then married Adelnians, and the mixture of people grew.

　Thus, in the central region of Belvedere's kingdom, there were a number of autonomous cities with mainly Cilician Adelnians.

　As the next generation descended and the power of the king's country grew, it gradually started to invade the Cilician colonies.

　However, the invasion was only to force an alliance.
　Whether you make an alliance with a leading city-state such as Rezad or an alliance with King Belvedil, the conditions are not that different.

　That's why there are many Cilician city-states in the southern region of King Belvedil's country.

　In summary, the northern part of the country is a powerful Adelian family. The central part is an autonomous city of Cilician Adelnians. The southern part of the region is dominated by Cilician city-states that formed a sovereign alliance with King Belvedere.



　From the point of view of Rezad and Gehenna, it is not that difficult to absorb the southern region. All they had to do was make the treaty they had made with King Belvedere rejoin them.

　On the other hand, it would be more troublesome in the central and northern regions.

　The city groups in the central region are self-governing, but they are only self-governing in accordance with the king's policies to the extent that the king, King Belvedere, allows it.
　There are many people who don't know what to do without the king as their guide.......

　So should Rezad and Gehenna lead them?　But that's not the case. They are half-heartedly proud and don't like to look up to the same mere man as Lord. It has to be the King.

　Not to mention the northern regions. Since it is paid by a rich Adelian family, it should be paid by an Adelian king.


　And so our country decided to annex the northern and central regions.
　On the way, there was a dispute between Rezad and Gehenna over their share of the southern region, but the division of the territory was decided for the time being.



　The question was what terms they would put to King Belvedere's kingdom.

　What terms does King Losais have in mind?
　All the major mines under our direct control will be seized by us. All walls and forts are to be removed except for the walls of the royal city. All armaments are forbidden. War is forbidden without the permission of King Rothais's country. All cities and wealthy families that were allied with King Belvedere are now allowed to join forces with King Loseys. King Belvedil's wife and children are to remain in the custody of King Rothais' kingdom for ten years.

　I vexingly state the conditions I've been thinking about.
　The representatives of Ains and Gehenna give me a surprising look.

　'That's a tough one, isn't it? But you won't claim compensation?
　'I can't afford to pay much anyway. Then it's better not to claim it. Don't think it's smarter to make sure you can't go against them again than to claim compensation.

　I would have added a ban on alliances with anyone other than King Rosyth's country and all that stuff, but with Rezad and Gehenna in the mix...

　But the problem is the prohibition of armaments and the prohibition of war. Will you obey?
　We must obey. After all, King Belvedere's country will be surrounded by our allies.

　The capital of King Belvedere's kingdom will be in the north. Since I will be the one to seize all the big families in the north and all the cities in the central part of the country, the land of King Belvedil will naturally be located inside my country.

　It would mean that King Belvedere's country would be unable to wage war with anyone but my country.
　So it's not such a big deal. In fact, it is a natural course of action.

　And so is the ban on rearmament.

　We're not going to take the money, so you're going to have to swallow this one.

　And it's not a bad deal.
　Because this treaty, paradoxically, would mean that all of the defense would be paid for by King Rosais' country.

　King Belvedere would be able to redirect his defense spending to domestic affairs.
　It's a bargain against a defeated country.

　Well, that's assuming that King Loseys country abides by the terms of the treaty.
　At least I have no intention of destroying King Belvedil's country unless he makes some dubious move.

　In case you're wondering, I've included a hostage clause to tell you that.
　If I'm the most outrageous person who would attack after witnessing the elimination of the army, there's no need to take hostages.
　A ten-year hostage means that we're going to turn around and monitor them for ten years, and we have plans to keep them alive for ten years.

　Well, if you read too much into it, this is also a ploy of the treacherous Almus as Rosais.


　
　Me too, sir.

　The representatives of Ains and Gehenna said with a troubled face.
　That means I must order the payment of compensation to Rezad and Gehenna, but....

　How long?
　"At any rate, I'm told to go back and get two to three times as much as we've spent on this war...

　Gehenna seems to be the same.
　It will amount to thousands of gold coins I'm sure the country of King Belvedil can't pay for it.

　Must it be a quick decision?
　No, I don't mind if it's in installments. But I can't wait more than five years to pay it off.

　Hmmm, I don't want to harden my attitude by charging too poorly...
　I don't know what to do.

　Well, I'll tell you what. My country will pay the reparations. King Belvedere will begin to repay our country within three years and pay it off within ten years. What do you think?
　No, we don't mind at all, but is that all right with you, King Rosais?

　Isn't it financially bankrupt, Ains asks.
　That's the internal affairs of our country but I'm not going to propose it if it goes bankrupt.

　I'll deal with it. No, we'll make it happen.


　It's just that in three years they're going to start coming back and...

　I don't take into account the risk of King Belvedere stepping over them at all. If you can, try to overthrow him. Then it will be time for your country to fall.

　"So let's get it all together...

　I wrote out the contents of the treaty on a piece of paper.


　1 King Belvedere will disarm all arms and open the castle.
　2 King Belvedere shall henceforth forbid all armaments.
　3 All walls and fortresses, except the walls of the royal city, shall be destroyed.　
　4 The armies of Rezad and Gehenna will remain in the land of King Belvedil until 3 is accomplished. The cost of their stay will be paid by King Belvedil's country.
　5 King Belvedil forbids King Rosais to make war without the permission of his kingdom.
　6 The King of Belvedere shall allow the great families and cities of the northern and central regions to join the dominions of King Loseys.
　7 King Belvedil shall allow the cities of the southern regions to become allies of Rezad and Gehenna.
　8 The wives and children of King Belvedil's kingdom shall live in the royal city of King Rosais's kingdom for ten years.
　9 The approval of King Rosais, Rezad, and Gehenna shall be required for those of the House of Belbedil to marry.
　10 King Belvedil shall pay two thousand gold coins to both Rezad and Gehenna within five years.
　11 If payment is not possible, the country of King Rosais will pay for it. King Belvedil's kingdom shall begin to repay King Losais' kingdom within three years, and shall be paid in full within ten years. (Negotiations may be allowed depending on the financial situation of King Belvedere's kingdom.
　13 The territory of King Belbedil's country shall be limited to the territory directly under his control before the war.
　14 The mines (salt, gold, silver, copper, iron, lead, tin, and curse stones) in the territory of King Belbedir's kingdom shall be owned by King Rosais.
　15 While the above is being fulfilled, the Kingdom of King Rosais, Rezad and Gehenna shall recognize the independence of the Kingdom of King Belbedil.





　'King Belvedere. It is a pleasure to meet you. My name is Ainsworth, representative of Rezad.

　Ains addressed King Belvedil in his customary manner.
　Then he begins a long speech about the beauty of peace.

　To sum up Ains' long speech succinctly, they want peace for themselves. If King Belvedil's country wants it, the war will end. That's what he says.

　Then, smiling, he presented his terms to King Belvedere.


　"This is...
　King Belvedil frowned.
　This condition is practically like asking to become a vassal of King Rosais' country.

　The only saving grace would be the inclusion of Rezad and Gehenna in between. The freedom of diplomacy is allowed.
　But it's Rezad and Gehenna's fault that we've been driven to this point.

　But it's not a bad deal under the circumstances that the capital is under siege.

　It's not bad to remain hopeful in a situation where it wouldn't be surprising if the country was crushed and the Belvedere clan was cut off.
　The territory would be cut down significantly, but the land under direct control would not be cut down.
　Originally, the majority of the territory of King Belvedil's country belonged to the great families and autonomous cities, so it's not like there will be a big change.

　It would be a shame to lose the upper taxes from the great families and autonomous cities, but that will be balanced by the reduction in military spending.

　It's a very favorable condition for a country on the verge of defeat.

　The problem is.....

　There's still King Evil's country...

　If the siege continued, perhaps King Rosais's country would be destroyed by Evil or Roselle.
　Then Belvedil could also gain the territory of King Rosais' country.

　Choose high risk and high return or low risk and low return...

　King Belvedil meditates for a while and concludes.　

　'Let us accept it.'
　I thought King Belvedere would say so.

　Ains smiled and showed him a smile.
　King Belvedil also saw this and gave a self-deprecating smile.

　(It's probably a treaty, considering my cowardly nature, anyway.)

　King Belvedil sighed.
　King Belvedil had never wanted to be king. But the position had come about because the brothers had both fallen in an intriguing battle.

　King Belvedere realized his lack of talent. That's why he hadn't been in the game until now.
　But a messenger from Roselle had convinced him to do so.

　'You can certainly win now,'

　Roselle's messenger said so. King Belvedil also thought that if he was surrounded by Roselle Evil Belvedil Equus, the quintessential King Rosais would be defeated.
　Besides, King Rosais's ambition was clear to see. I'll do it before I'm attacked. That's the rule of the world.

　Originally, he had been called a coward and had a complex about it.
　Hence, I thought I was in for the great game of a lifetime....


　'Huh I guess I've stepped on a gryphon's tail.

　King Belvedil sighed.

　(But thank goodness I won't be the last in my line of succession. Well, it's not a done deal but ha, I'll go down in history as a dark lord. A stepping stone for the young king.

　Later on, King Belvedere increased his income dramatically by pouring his floating military budget into domestic administration and successfully paid off his debts to the country of King Rosais.

　In the history books of later times, Belvedil was depicted as a great monarch who made a "wise decision" to prevent bloodshed due to the bloodless opening of the capital....

　I wonder what King Belvedere would look like if he knew that....