After returning to Romalia first, I waited for Raimondo and Ial's return while I took care of my business and prepared to receive Behrouz, who was to be stationed in Romalia as ambassador.

　It was about two weeks later that Ial and Raimondo returned with Behrouz.

　I called out to both Ial and Raimondo.

　'Do you have anyone suitable to be the ambassador stationed in Persis?

　I asked them both.
　We've sent noblemen of modest rank as ambassadors to countries like Domorgar and others.

　This time it's Persis, a great power.
　We can't afford to send a bad person.

　However, I can't find a good-looking person.

　Ial and Raimondo already have positions, and if the two of them leave, a fatal problem will arise in the management of the national government.
　Bartolo is a soldier and a goner, and he's the key to national defense in the first place. We can't afford to miss him.
　Ron, Rosward, and Gram have a strong military background and are not well versed in diplomacy or domestic politics.

　There are a lot of nobles in the Senate, and while they're not exactly incompetent...
　It's not enough to leave Persis to deal with.

　There's a wide range of military personnel available...
　The Home Secretary....

　We have all the brains, Ial and Raimondo, and the bureaucrats, who are the brains and the limbs, but the one that hits in between....can I say neck?
　There are no number three or four.

　That's a problem.

　'Enough people to not be put off by that Persis it's hard to find.
　If I had two bodies...

　Raimondo, Ial and I say the names of every human being we can think of to each other.
　

　Or, at the very least, it would have to be someone who knows at least a little bit about international affairs....

　Which means....

　What about Lord Ains?

　Ial said as he muttered to himself.
　

　But.........hmmm, Ains.......
　He's a merchant, after all. He's a.....

　No lack of ability. Besides, me and Ains have known each other for quite some time and I can trust you. But will you take the job?

　He's got his own business to run, doesn't he?

　Why don't you ask her once?
　'Hmmm ... yeah. Let's hear it.







　I understand. Let's take off some skin for His Majesty.

　Easier than I imagined, Ains took it on.
　According to Ains, he has plenty of time to spare as he can leave it to his subordinates when it comes to business.

　''Are you sure?　You don't have any good feelings for Persis, do you?

　Ains' hometown is Alto, a city-state in Cilicia.
　I heard that his commercial base was Rezad and Clarice - but either way, Ains is still a Cilician.

　Cilicia was invaded by Persis.

　To Ains, Persis is supposed to be the avenger of his homeland.

　''Well it's true that I hate Persis. However, my whereabouts were only in Rezad, and my current hometown is Romalia. Originally, we've been at war with Persis for many years, and it doesn't seem like there's any extreme oppression going on....

　Apparently, it's not that I don't like Persis that much.
　To be honest, I don't understand the race of Cilician people very well.

　It seems to me that they have a strong sense of kinship, but they are rather bland.
　They can be united all of a sudden.

　At least when I was invading the Cilician countries in the south, they kept pulling each other down.

　''If anything, I hate Pofenia more for turning to Persis and stealing our business, even though they were playing the friendly game.

　

　First of all, the point that Persis has a fairly conciliatory rule over Cilicia.
　This was something I felt the last time I visited Cilicia.
　At least, that Emperor Xerxes is not the kind of person who discriminates against humans by ethnicity.

　Emperor Xerxes is not an exploiting ruler, but a ruling ruler.

　In fact, it seems that Ains is still making money by the way he carries and sells the rock salt from the Adelian peninsula to Cilicia.
　Persis has not restricted the commercial activities of the Cilician people.

　Pophenia, on the other hand, forbids Cilician commercial activities in their territory.
　They have also imposed an unequal treaty on our country, a regional power in Adelnia.
　They are probably even more arrogant with the Cilician people who have lost their country.


　In other words, the Cilician people........

　Only when the practical benefits are affected will the ethnic sentiment be ignited.
　And that's about it.

　Well, anyway....

　So, Ains. I'm assigning you to the position of Ambassador to Persis. Your role is to bridge the gap between our country and Persis but of course that is not the only thing you are to do. You will be required to submit periodic reports on the affairs of the East.

　Our country has absolutely no knowledge of the Persis Empire.
　This is because not long ago we were a landlocked country and didn't care about anything outside the Adelian Peninsula.

　But now it's different.

　So we need information.

　"Persis' culture, history, political system. Its power structure. Its territory. And much more.
　I understand.
　'And also the promotion of the importation of books and the protection of the Romalians ... that is, Cilicianians with Romalian citizenship who went out to trade.'
　I see.

　I carefully explain the job description to Ains, one by one.
　After I finished explaining everything, I asked Ains if he had any questions.

　'When will I be able to come back to Romalia?'
　'Hmmm, honestly, I don't have anyone else for you. You'll be posted for at least ten years. You'll be furloughed once every two years to report back, though.

　Ains then ponders just a little bit, and then opens his mouth.

　'I actually have a son, but I'd like to find his wife before I'm posted...'
　Hmm?　I thought you were unmarried?

　At least I don't have an Ains wife in my memory.
　Well, Cilicia is a culture that keeps women out of the house, so maybe I just don't know...

　'No, I'm adopted. You see, I have an older brother named Nikolaos, right?
　You are, you know, the genius astronomer who predicted the eclipse. Well, from my brother....

　Nikolaos is not very rich.
　Ains, on the other hand, is extraordinarily rich.

　Ains, who has no children, is grateful for the adoption, and Nikolaos has no complaints if his children can take over the Ains' trade association.
　For Nikolaos' children, they get a larger share of the inheritance, and the adopted one can take over from Ains.

　It's a win-win, isn't it?

　'Well, I could introduce them to you but how old are they?　What's your name?
　My name is Krol. I'm ten years old now.

　Ten years old....
　Given that the ideal couple's age difference in the Adelian Peninsula is husband's age - wife's age = 0-9....

　You're going to be looking for a one to ten year old.

　'Hmm I have a few ideas. You'll have to come here another day.





　That night...

　'So, I don't know.　Tetra.

　I asked as I held my index finger in Sophia's hand as she slept soothingly in Tetra's arms.
　Giggling, the way she grabbed our fingers is very cute.

　''You're.......Lord Ains' adopted son.
　'Yeah. The difference in years would be nine years, but with a difference of nine years or so, it wouldn't matter that much, would it?

　At least in the Adelunian Peninsula, it's not unusual.
　There's even a twenty or even thirty year age difference between them.

　What kind of political agenda do you have?
　'If I had to guess, I'd say it's the Cilician's nostalgia.　And Ains' financial resources are not ridiculous. .........but let me tell you, I'm thinking about Sofia's happiness as well.　Ains is an aristocrat who is part of the Senate and, above all, a wealthy merchant.

　I'm at a loss for words when it comes to family history, but....
　It's not that I'll be happy if I marry into a family with a good family background.

　''I see.......it sounds better than marrying into a bad aristocrat.
　Right?

　Ains' adopted child will remain in Romalia... or, in effect, Nikolaos will continue to take care of him as before, so they won't be separated for ten years.

　'Well, the official decision is still to be made. We don't know what's in store for us in ten years.

　However, if Tetra is good, then it's not a problem.
　Later, I'll let Ains know, and if he says yes, we're engaged.

　'By the way, Alms. How's that Anx's wife?
　Hmm, are you sure you're ready?

　However, Anx is still very young.
　It wouldn't be an imminent matter.

　''It's quite troublesome to think about finding the main room, not to mention the side room.
　Why aren't you looking for me?
　I know.

　But Anx is a would-be flag-bearer for the As clan.
　You'll have to be careful how you look for him.

　Be that as it may....

　Fiona's asleep, so why don't we have another baby?
　Okay.

　The two lips met.







　'Oh no, I never thought I'd be able to marry into the royal family...'

　Ains watches the crescent moon floating in the wine.
　Little by little, this crescent moon is getting closer to the full moon.

　It's like it's hinting at my future. I wish I could shine as brightly as this moon.

　Ains gulped down the grape wine.


　Ains Licinius Crassus.
　The founder of a distinguished family of the knightly class (Equites) that produced a man who would later become the richest man in Romalia and lead the first three-headed government.

　Due to the trust of Almus, his natural business acumen, his political power, and his numerous fortunes....
　He will rise.

_______________________________.

Earlier, the teacher said, "During the Rosais dynasty after the emperor Almus and Marcus, the Rosais clan, led by the Rosaius Julius family, and the Fabius clan (the ancestor Rosward), the Pompeius clan (the ancestor Bartolo), the Claudius clan (the ancestor), and the Claudius clan (the ancestor), who were taken over by the Almus emperor and rose through the ranks with great achievements. Ial), the suzerainty of the Cornelius clan (our ancestor Alexios) led the politics", he said.
　Then that's the problem.
　The clans that were not able to succeed to the governorship and became a branch of the clan, and the As and Dibel clans that had a history of rebellion against the Almus emperor.
　And the Cilicians, who were a small minority and therefore had a narrow shoulders.
　The As Julius family, which was a branch of the Julius family and had no claim to the throne.
　What happened to them?

　That will be a major theme for the next class, so come home and think about it.
　That's it for today's class!'

　-At a high school.