Afterwards, Rosais' army surrounded Gehenna and told him unilaterally.

　'Hold an election within a week and choose a representative. Only with that representative, King Almus will negotiate.

　There was some confusion, but Gehenna duly elected a representative and sent him to us.
　The man chosen seems to be a politician who is distantly related to Abraham.

　If we assume that the Abraham side is right-wing and the anti-Abraham side is left-wing, then center-left...I guess that's about right.

　He seemed to have successfully gained support from both the Abraham and anti-Abraham factions.

　''I can't apologize for this, Your Majesty. Your Majesty King Almus.

　At the opening, the representative sent by Gehenna bowed to me.
　I jumped the head of the ringleader's man, so my anger is about to subside.

　So no need to apologize........but I greeted his apology with a sullen attitude.
　For now, it would be better to pretend to still be angry.

　'I've always considered Gehenna a valued friend, and I'm truly sorry to hear that.
　I'm very sorry.

　He bows his head again.
　.........Hmm, your ability as a diplomat is inferior to Ial's.

　I look down at the representative who bows his head earnestly.
　He must be so scared of me, his hands are shaking.

　Well, Gehenna was run entirely by Abraham.
　I guess the politicians haven't grown up.

　'To be honest, the stomach bug hasn't gone away. But fortunately, Yulia isn't dead, and the ringleader killed her with his own hands. It would be appropriate for a civilized person to cure the sword in this area. ........if you show some sincerity.

　I stared at the representative of Gehenna.
　The representative replied in a trembling voice.

　''Ha, yes we would like to offer our utmost apologies.

　Gehenna's representative came with a frightened look on his face and offered terms.

　Gehenna was to be annexed to the kingdom of King Loseys on the condition that it be treated as an allied city.
　Gehenna's interest in all of Gehenna's gold mines would be transferred to King Loseys.
　Gehenna was to have no army in the future
　The sons of Gehenna's leading politicians are sent to study in King Loseys' country.
　And I will establish an embassy between the two countries.

　...that's not bad.
　Or better yet, it's more than I expected.

　Diplomatic negotiations usually offer terms that are initially assumed to be unacceptable.
　In other words, this representative must feel that I won't accept these terms.

　Does he think that all the citizens of Gehenna are going to be killed?
　That was rude.

　"Give me the municipality's treatment. I'll give you 500 Tarrant for an immediate payment and 1,000 Tarrant for 10 years.
　Well, thank you for your generous treatment!

　Don't thank the invaders.






　"Do it, Your Majesty. What will happen to me?
　That's up to Tetra.

　I answer Abraham's question.

　Julia probably doesn't care that much. In fact, there was no harm done.

　So the question is whether or not Tetra will forgive her.

　As a matter of fact, the biggest victim in this case is Tetra.
　Because of the outburst of the As clan's extremists, Tetra's position was much worse than before.

　Tetra is quite concerned about this.

　''At least I don't intend to kill you, but that doesn't mean I don't want to actively help you either. That's why I'll help Tetra if she begs me for my life. On the other hand, if Tetra tells me it doesn't matter to you, I'll have its head cut off.

　''Ha... well, then let's hope for the warmth of my granddaughter.





　What do you think?　Tetra.

　I called Tetra and asked.
　Julia is also a party, so she's present.

　''What do you mean ... what do you mean by ...?''
　"Killing it is an option to make it pay. Or you can choose to keep it for Gehenna. Well, neither of those options will have much of an effect on me. So I'm just curious to know if Tetra wants to help the man.

　Tetra ponders for a moment, then opens her mouth.

　'The victim is Yulia. It should be Julia's decision.'
　'I don't care either way. I wasn't actually killed, and I don't hold a grudge. But that doesn't mean I'm going to actively save his life. Because if it was a bad idea, he would have been killed, and this was because of that person's lack of control, right?　....If Tetra wants to help, I respect that opinion. If Tetra won't allow it, then I'd better execute him.

　Julia is only a victim, not the one who almost became a victim.
　Julia's position has not wavered.

　On the other hand, Tetra's political position has deteriorated because of this.
　I'm not trying to pick on Tetra, but...

　If it weren't for me, this is a case that would have gotten me divorced.
　It would be a nuisance from Tetra's point of view.

　"...I need to talk to that guy. Okay?







　"...Hello. Grandfather.
　Princess Tetra?

　Tetra met Abraham in a room set up in the basement of the royal palace.
　Abraham's gaze naturally went to Tetra's large, swollen belly.

　'Would you like to touch it?'
　Are you sure you're ready for this, Princess Tetra?
　Tetra.

　Abraham fearfully touched Tetra's belly.

　'....You've moved. When is it due to be born?'
　November.
　Less than two months to go?

　Abraham looks somewhat distant.

　'I met you ... about four years ago?　When you and His Majesty King Almus visited Gehenna. I couldn't believe my eyes. Helen I wondered if our estranged daughter had appeared to you through time.
　I never would have known unless you had told me. ...Your mother and your grandfather are nothing alike.

　Abraham chuckles at Tetra's honesty.

　'I get that a lot. Really, she was nothing like me at all. Unlike me, she was a good, sweet girl.
　...rounding up?

　Tetra tilted her head.
　Abraham in Tetra's memory was a more ambitious figure.
　His grandson and great-grandson - trying to use Tetra and Anx to interfere in the internal affairs of King Rosais' country.

　That's the kind of man he would have been.
　In fact, until a few years ago, Tetra had sensed such ambitions of Abraham.
　Now, however, he didn't feel the same supremacy he had before.

　'Maybe so. 'At first I thought I would use you and Prince Anx to turn King Rosais' kingdom upside down. To secure Gehenna's interests. But at some point in time, the purpose of the project shifted from securing Gehenna's interests to ensuring Gehenna's survival. Before I knew it, I had lost the desire to interfere in Gehenna's internal affairs.

　Abraham sighed.
　Then he looked somewhat distant.

　'I became a Pretender ... when I was thirty-five. It was exactly when Helena was fifteen, wasn't it?　I was full of ambition back then. After conquering Gehenna, I was going to conquer Rezad and Nemeth. After that, I wanted to conquer the Cilician cities in southern Cilicia. After that, I was seriously thinking of taking over the whole island of Trisichelia, and from there, taking control of Pofenia and the cities of mainland Cilicia as well as the Teutonic Sea.

　Abraham speaks nostalgically, but sadly.
　All Abraham could do was rule Gehenna until he was able to do so, and that's where Abraham's dreams were foiled.

　'Tetra's husband I thought about using him when I saw His Majesty Almus. He's still a young, inexperienced man, after all. To be sure, His Majesty Almus was an inexperienced young man. But a young man was a young lion, even if he was a young man, he was an old lion.

　Almus quickly expanded his control and raised the international status of his country.
　He was repeatedly interfered in the internal affairs of the country by foreign powers, mainly Abraham, and at one point he even refused to allow the commoners to serve in the army, but he used this to the contrary to bring domestic opinion into agreement.

　He then annexed Rezad and Nemeth, and finally even crushed Pofenia.
　What Abraham had failed to do, Almus had easily accomplished.

　'Of course, it is significant that the groundwork is different. Even before his Majesty's accession to the throne, the foundations of national power were already well established in the land of King Rosais. The land of Lossies was unusually plain and fertile for the Adelunian Peninsula, and centralization of power was progressing, albeit slowly. It had some excellent generals like General Bartolo.

　But that's an excuse.
　Even Gehenna had the groundwork for a degree of defeat ... no, more than that.

　"My mistake would have been to execute and exile those who rebelled. That's how I ran out of talent. At that time, anyone who disagreed with me, anyone who rebelled, was seen as an enemy. And when someone better than me was under my command, I couldn't help but wonder what I would do if they betrayed me.
　That's the difference between us and Alms.

　Tetra proudly puffed out her chest.
　Abraham smiled bitterly.

　Although, Almus has been purged too, though.

　'Watching His Majesty Almus' breakthroughs, I've come to realize my age and my limitations. I knew I was no match for this young man. From that moment on, I guess I went from being a cunning politician to just an old man.

　Did old age begin when you thought you couldn't beat Almus?
　Did the old age begin when he assumed he couldn't beat Almus?

　I don't know which came first.
　But what is certain is that Abraham will not be able to defeat Almus forever from then on.

　''Haha I don't want to get old.
　Yes.

　Tetra and Abraham smiled at each other.

　'Tetra, can I ask you about Helen?　Also, that guy who took Helen away from me, Laddow or something like that. ...You don't have to tell me if it's hard for you, but....
　It's okay. It's a long time ago. I got even. Besides, your grandfather has a right to know.

　Tetra said and began to talk about her feelings for her parents.
　It was more than ten years ago and Tetra doesn't remember exactly what happened. But she reminisces and talks to Abraham about Helena before she died.

　Then the conversation turned to her encounter with Almus.
　Seventy percent of the story is about his love affair with Almus, but Abraham listens to it with amusement.

　'His Majesty Almus seems to have made Tetra happy, thank goodness.
　'Of course. I'm the one who likes Almus the most.

　Abraham smiled vaguely.
　Then he straightened his posture and lowered his head deeply.

　'I'm sorry. I almost ruined Tetra's happiness. It was my fault.'
　It's okay. It was an attempt. Don't worry about it. .........I'd rather you see two great-grandchildren to my grandfather Abraham, not Gehenna's Pretender, but my grandfather Abraham. I want you to see my husband in all his splendor. So lift up your head.

　As Tetra said this, Abraham slowly raised his head.
　With a very sunny look on his face, Abraham told Tetra.

　'Thank you, Tetra.'

　They embraced each other.







　After Tetra left, Abraham sighed.

　'I'm a piece of human garbage. Tetra wouldn't have killed me. You knew that even before I apologized...

　There's no way I can be forgiven.　
　You cannot be forgiven for your mistakes.

　Gehenna was conquered because of my failure to govern. My granddaughter is in a bad political position. And you want to live on that?　You want me to keep dragging my grandson and her husband down by setting a precedent of having allowed my people to be compassionate and forgiven, and to keep bothering the people of Gehenna as hostages to Gehenna?

　Such a thing cannot be allowed to happen.
　Above all, Abraham himself would not allow it.

　"When you die, die gracefully and quietly. Do not cling to your miserable lives.

　Abraham removed the gemstone from the ring that was on his finger.
　He took out a small pill he had hidden under the jewel.

　'You were right to have it ready,'

　Abraham swallowed the pill.