"Thank you for accepting asylum. His Majesty Almus.
　What? I'm doing what I ought to be doing. I will not stand by and watch the rightful king of Roselle be slain.

　I said that to General Balthazar.

　It was February, and after a fierce siege, Milan, the capital of the Roselle Kingdom, had fallen.
　General Balthazar, the prince and his family use the emergency escape route to escape...
　He was exiled to our country under the auspices of the sorcerers of our country.

　Incidentally, the rightful king of Roselle, or the prince and his family, which was raised by General Balthazar, are currently taking a break.
　They must be tired since they escaped from the Kingdom of Roselle at the cost of their lives.

　''By the way I would like to talk about specific politics, if you don't mind.
　I don't mind, but do we need to do that now?

　I asked General Balthazar.
　Well, I certainly didn't help him out of kindness and I really want to discuss the future.

　However, I just defected.
　Wouldn't it be better to wait until things settle down a bit more?

　And I say that as a gesture of kindness.

　The sooner the better.
　Then I don't mind, but what about the prince?
　I have full authority, sir.

　From the way General Balthazar spoke, I'm sure you can guess
　The prince seemed to be a complete puppet.

　Well, maybe the same thing happened to General Kryu.

　Okay. Let's talk about it tomorrow. At least take the rest of the day off. Not if you want to hurry.





　'Let me put it bluntly. We need you to help us reclaim the throne.

　General Balthazar bowed to me and said.

　(You were really being so straightforward...)

　I open my mouth, thinking.

　'If we helped it what's in it for us?

　I want to destroy the Roselle Kingdom while it's still weak from the civil war.
　Of course, the same is true for my country, which is also exhausted, but.....
　Between the Roselle Kingdom, where the war has only been over for a short period of time, and our country, which has recovered its national strength after some time has passed, our country still has the advantage.

　But........that is if it is possible.
　I'm only thirty years old... well, I'll live at least another ten years.

　There are plenty of opportunities.

　The Roselle Kingdom may be able to regain its national strength through General Liu in the future, but our country's strength will recover at a faster rate than that... and then we'll exceed it.
　That is all there is to it.

　Well.........
　So, as far as I'm concerned, it doesn't matter either way.

　That's why it all depends on what General Balthazar can offer.

　'I cede to you the territory of the Adelnian peninsula south of the Fiukorne River. And ... I promise to enter the Romalian Federation.　
　Ho.....

　It's practically ...
　It's like saying we're going to be a province of the Kingdom of Romalia.

　That's a lot of poorly done work.

　Nevertheless.........
　I'm moved by the fact that you're offering me such a big quid pro quo.

　But there are a few conditions.
　Say it.
　'One ... first of all, I demand the highest level of treatment within the Commonwealth of Romalia.

　I mean....
　I don't want to be treated in the same league as Domorgal, Fardham, Gilbed, and other Adelunian countries like the Kingdom of Alva.
　So that's it.

　But well.....
　To begin with, the mainland of the Roselle Kingdom is north of the Fiumicorne River, so even if it lost the area south of the Fiumicorne River, the national power of the Roselle Kingdom would still be strong.
　In other words, the treatment would inevitably be at the top of the list.

　''It's fine.''
　'Thank you. ...One more thing: the Gauls living in the former Kingdom of Roselle, which is now a territory of the Kingdom of Romalia, have the same rights as the rest of the Adelnians.
　Hmmm ... all things being equal, it can't be.

　I said that and then I said...

　As for the Gauls who stood up to us, that is, the Gauls who fought as soldiers of the Cliu School, they will be treated accordingly. ...As for the rest of the Gauls, I can assure you of that.
　That's all right.

　I guess they don't care about the Gauls, who are Crucian from the beginning.
　General Balthazar nodded.

　'Lastly ... about the Gaulish landowners who rule the lands south of the Fiu Corne River.
　Ho.....

　The Kingdom of Gaul, as well as the Kingdom of Romalia...
　There is a ruling class of lords, tycoons and landowners called the nobility, who rule the land.

　'They have the right to rule the land as they always have.
　...hmm.

　I'll think about it for a minute and then I'll...

　''I will not grant them the right of non-entry. I am also going to give the Adelnian peasants who lived within the territory of the Kingdom of Roselle the same rights as the rest of the Adelnians. Hence, it won't be the same as before. If that's okay with you we will only allow it to be for those who cooperated with us in the early stages and a few exceptions.

　Some of the great families in the Kingdom of Roselle have the right to non-importance.
　Also ... the landowners rule over the Adelnians as peasants, tied to the land.

　We do not recognize them.
　In other words ... only treat them as if they were Adelnian landowners in the territory of the Kingdom of Romalia.

　That's what I'm saying.

　"All right, I understand. Very well. But if that's the case the number of Gallic landlords on your side will decrease.
　There's no problem.

　For that, he will gain the support of the Adelnians.
　They are going to take the land away from the rebellious Gallic landowners and distribute it to the Adelnians.

　There is no problem to begin with.

　But... the ceding of the Adelnian peninsula south of the Fiukorne River is a generous offer. What are your intentions, if you don't mind me asking?

　Well....
　Indeed, from the point of view of the Balthazars, who currently do not have a single soldier or a single piece of land worth a copper, they have nothing to lose...
　I understand that it's more of an opportunity to gain various concessions.

　But calling in soldiers from another country to regain the throne is not a commendable act, and in addition, the question arises as to how a general of a country is to cede territory.

　When I asked him about that...

　'It's simple. The Adelnian peninsula south of the Fiu Corne River is 90% Adelnian. If the Kingdom of Romalia insists on liberating the Adelnians and invades it it will be taken either way.

　Well......

　''In addition to that........there is currently a purge going on in the Roselle Kingdom by the nobles of the Cliu School. It would be more profitable for us to have the Romarian Kingdom help us rather than having our land taken away from us.

　Then General Balthazar let out a final sigh and said, "In the first place, the northern Adelian peninsula is as bad as our country's bad debt.

　'In the first place, the Northern Adelian Peninsula is as bad as a bad debt for our country. The expense of controlling it is greater than the tax revenue we get. Besides, our stronghold is the Adelnian peninsula north of the Fiukorne River and Gaul on the other side of the mountain range. We've formed an alliance with the Kingdom of Romalia to break the gloom of the south.
We should focus on the control and management of Gaul. That is my opinion.

　Hmmm....
　It makes sense.

　Or rather, it was a bad debt.

　'Your country is subject to military service for both Adelnians and Cilicians alike, but in our country, only Gauls are subject to military service. And the Adelnians are potential rebels. The truth is that we have our hands full just to keep them down. The fact is ... our country has hardly moved south since we took control of North Adelnia, has it?

　If you ask me, that's what I've been told.
　I thought for sure they would have a hand in controlling the Northern Adelian Peninsula...
　I didn't know that my expenses outweighed my tax revenue.

　Well.....
　Bringing Gaulish soldiers from the mainland and leaving them to rule the northern Adelunian peninsula for a long period of time would certainly require a huge military expenditure, and it is also true that the industrial base in Gaul would be wobbled by being manhandled.

　After all, a multi-ethnic nation is an idea.
　The Kingdom of Romalia is a multi-ethnic state made up of Adelnians and Cilicians, but it is fortunate that Adelnians are in the overwhelming majority.

　Outside the Adelnian peninsula....
　It's probably best to stay out as much as possible.

　Trisichelia, Sandals, and Corus are profitable enough for me.

　Then the war will begin as soon as we are ready. The aim is a short war. And I'm counting on your contacts to help me.
　All I can offer your country is contacts to begin with.

　Then there was a lot of detailed rubbing, with ials and such...
　Officially, our country and General Balthazar have signed a treaty.


　
　The only thing that bothers me a bit is....


　Merlin and Mari Kurosaki were how they would work.