Three days after the formation of the Alliance against Gaul, three days later.
　The peace negotiations with the Kingdom of Roselle took place.

　The location was the city closest to the border between the Kingdom of Roselle and King Domorgal's country.

　The kings of each country from the Adelnian side, and Mari and General Kryu from the Roselle Kingdom.



　Amidst the heavy atmosphere, the first one to open his mouth was Muzio, King of Equus.

　''The reason we, the Equus tribe, have gone to war is to repay our debt to King Almus. Therefore, we don't need reparations or territory from the Kingdom of Roselle.''

　After saying this, Muzio stared hard at Mari.

　'But your country's sorcerer has caused chaos in our country. For that, I demand an apology and compensation.

　(Hmmm, you say that here. I thought you were going to hide it as an embarrassment to the country. (Does this mean I'm pretty angry?)

　Mari observes Muzio.
　By looking at Muzio's hands, which are trembling slightly, she can see the extent of his anger.


　'Do you have any proof?
　The rebellion was joined by a Gaulish sorcerer.

　Mari smiles.

　'There are Adelnian sorcerers in our country as well. Just because it happened to be a Gaul who joined the rebellion doesn't mean that it was our country's inter-intelligence, I suppose?

　Yes, there is no proof.
　All of the interpellations released to foreign countries are cloaked in a powerful spell to prevent information leakage.

　I'm not sure how many people can preach that spell, even in the Roselle Kingdom, which is an advanced country in the art of witchcraft.

　You will be able to see that there are spellcasters in the Adelnian nation who can break the spell?

　But contrary to Mari's expectations, Muzio said.

　'He testified in person. That he had disrupted our country by order of the Kingdom of Roselle.'
　...Heh.

　I haven't lived more than five hundred years in Italy.
　You can tell if they are telling a lie by the look on their face.

　Mari understood that Muzio was telling the truth.

　But just in case, I'll confirm it.

　''We'll have to bring that person to you.

　Muzio gives the guards a look.
　After a while, a woman with her hands tied behind her back...............................Lydia appears.

　Her face is hidden by her hair, so her expression cannot be checked.
　But her shoulders were trembling finely.

　''Let me see your face.''

　The guard grabbed Lydia's hair and gave Mari a look at her face.
　Her expression was bright blue, and she had tears in her eyes.

　Mari sighed quietly.
　Then she turned to Muzio.

　''I don't know him. 'Who?'　I don't want you to say the right thing.
　How dare you suggest...

　It doesn't matter how much evidence you have, if the Roselle Kingdom doesn't recognize it, it's useless.
　And there was no way the Roselle Kingdom would admit it.

　No matter how much evidence was laid out, all they had to do was claim that it was something you guys made up.

　In the first place, every country does things like sending inter-intelligence.
　What's the point now?

　If they apologize, they will lose the authority of the Roselle Kingdom.
　It was impossible to admit fault.

　This is not a trial, this is diplomacy.

　If the Equus hadn't told the other Adelian countries about this and had lodged their own objections with the Roselle Kingdom, there was a possibility that they would be able to make restitution, if not an apology.

　It was because the Kingdom of Roselle would have to pay hush money.
　Granted, it would not be called an amnesty in the name of celebratory money for the new king's inauguration, but it wouldn't be called an amnesty even if it was a mouthful.

　But Muzio has made the matter public to the rest of the world.
　It's too late now.

　If he wanted reparations, he should have done so through secret diplomacy with the Kingdom of Roselle.
　This was a diplomatic failure on Muzio's part.


　Of course, the Roselle Kingdom would rather be accused by its neighbors than pay a huge amount of money to keep quiet through secret diplomacy.
　If King Roselle's credibility was questioned, it would arouse the suspicion of the country's lords and ladies, and the country would fall apart.

　In terms of revenge against the Kingdom of Roselle, this is a great success.
　I have no choice but to withdraw my consent.

　Well, good. "Well, now you know exactly what kind of country you are. The whole world will know about it.
　I don't care what anyone says, the truth is the truth.

　Lydia is asked to leave, leaving her with a very pale face.

　Thus ends the preliminaries of the negotiations.
　The next step is the start of the full-scale peace negotiations.


　On behalf of the kings of the Adelnian nations, Almus reads out the terms that have been prepared for him.

　'Our demands are the following seven.

　One, to recognize the territory we have gained.

　Two, to return the original territory to the country of King Fardham and the country of King Gilbed.

　Three, to pay five hundred tarangs (13,000 kilos of silver) to each of the countries of Fardham, Gilbed, and Domorgal, and one thousand tarangs (26,000 kilos of silver) to the country of King Rosais. (Total, two thousand five hundred tarangs.)

　Four, to hand Prince Aldo over to King Domorgal's country.

　Fifth, to recognize Prince Carlo's accession to the throne of Domorgal.

　Sixth, to release the Adelian prisoners of war.

　Seventh, to sign a three-year truce.

　Almus finishes reading.

　Kryu and Mari snickered.

　'That's not a good story,'
　Totally.

　The two men shook their heads widely.
　Then General Clieu stood up and stepped forward.

　'I will consent to the first, fourth, fifth and sixth. Other than that, I can't consent to anything else. Are you kidding me?

　Kryu has a look of anger on his face.
　It's a strong statement.

　There is tension between the two sides.

　'Since you seem to be mistaken, let me tell you one thing. We are not defeated by you. I want you to bear in mind that we can take back our territory as soon as we are ready.

　Mari glares at the Adelnians.
　But the Adelnians are not to be outdone.

　King Gilbed stands up and argues back.

　'Ho. You have a lot of nerve. If you've got a mind to do it, we won't show any mercy.　After all, our nation's soldiers are vengeful.

　It is a lie.
　The great families of King Gilbed's country wanted the war to stop soon.

　For the first time in decades, they were able to get a territory from the Kingdom of Roselle and form an alliance.
　They didn't want any more adventures.
　That's what the great families of King Gilbed's country think.

　That's how much they fear the Kingdom of Roselle.

　In other words, they are bluffing.

　''Don't you and Lord Merlin and Lord Cru have circumstances that require you to return?　It seems that your backyard is on fire. I think you'd better get out of there as soon as possible to put it out.

　Almus implies about the Germanis and the Gauls in the northeast.
　Incidentally, Almus has no knowledge of the Germanic and northeastern Gaulish rebellion.

　The information itself, that it is a disturbing situation, is coming towards us by hawk flight and fast horse, but it has not yet arrived.

　However, it is my expectation after seeing the hurried retreat of the Roselle Kingdom.
　That and some hope are included.

　''Backyard?　Now, what are you talking about ... my backyard?　I have a lot of beautiful flowers (poisonous plants) growing in my backyard. I hope we haven't had any fires or anything like that.

　Mari is appropriately shielded.
　There's no sign of agitation on her face.


　(.........Don't tell me King Almus knows about the rebellion?　But anyone can speculate. (Are you just hanging a scythe?)

　(I don't see the upset...isn't that really happening?　(But there was definitely a flurry of activity during the withdrawal...)

　The two men stare at each other in silence.



　The negotiations show a disturbing cloud of uncertainty.
　But one thing is certain.

　Both countries want peace.
　If they didn't, someone would have stood up.


　This is where the negotiations begin.
　I don't expect Adelnia to accept the terms of peace.

　This is where the negotiations begin.

　This is where the negotiations begin.


　"We cannot accept the return of our lands to King Faldum's country and Gilbet's country.

　Mari turns her gaze to the two kings.

　'But as for reparations, we believe there is room for negotiation.

　Territory, I can see it in the eyes of the eye.
　When their territory is reduced, the Australians are not happy, and their distrust of the king grows.
　The dissatisfaction of the targeted Australians is especially great.

　But the reparations would be invisible.
　The king's wealth will disappear.

　It is neither painful nor itchy for the big families.

　Compared to the Adelunian kingdoms, the Roselle Kingdom is a much more centralized country.
　But even so, the support of the big families is important.
　It is the fate of a feudal state.


　But two thousand five hundred tarrant is too much money. But 2,500 tarrant is too large an amount of money, and I don't think it's something I can agree to.
　...how much is your country willing to pay for it?
　"One thousand five hundred tarrant.
　It's ridiculous.


　In the end, the negotiations of the day ended in parallel on both sides.