The second prince of the Kingdom of Regnier, Cloud Zeff Regnier's life was the life of a shady man.
　When he was born, his father was already not by his side and he spent his time with his mother in a small mansion away from the castle. By the time he found out he was a prince, his older brother, who was always niggling and harassing him, began to interfere with him in some way. Depending on how he felt that day, he was punched, kicked and insulted.
　He couldn't stand to have his mother insulted, let alone insulted himself, but when he tried to punch her, he was seized by his guard knights and his cronies, the sons of noblemen.
　Even though Prince Cloud's mother was from a noble family, she was originally the daughter of a merchant family and was adopted by a baron and his wife, who had no children from the region. Because of this, she has been despised by her brother as a lowly prince by birth.

'Honestly, I wanted to leave a country with a brother like that. But I would not leave my mother. He must have anticipated that. My mother was falsely diagnosed with a disease and quarantined. I was told to stay away because it might be contagious.

　She was used as a shield against her mother, unable to leave the country and used by her brother to do whatever he wanted. Before she knew it, her mother was completely imprisoned and she couldn't even see her anymore.

'She's alive, isn't she?'
'Yes, sir. I have a daughter who is looking after my mother in the place where she is confined. This girl is under the control of a nobleman in my care, and she tells me about my mother in passing.

　But I wouldn't go that far. I don't mean to tell you this, but it looks like you're just jealous of your good brother.

'My brother likes to tease the weak, you know. I suppose the reason he won't let go of me is because he wants to show others how miserable he is. I guess he wanted to say that this time, too, his appointment of me as a messenger to arrange the engagement was just an errand boy for his brother and others.

　It's warped. I've never even met him, but I could hate him just by talking to him.

'That's as far as you're going to go-is King Linier not going to say anything?
My father can't go against his vizier, Waldak. My father can't defy the vizier, and I know that if he rebels in any way, he may be killed. My father's defenders have been driven out of the castle one by one, and now he has few allies.

　The prince's hands were trembling as he answered the duke's question. It's certainly dangerous. I'm sure the Prime Minister wants to quickly replace the king's head with the first prince of his own family's blood. Huh? Wait a minute?

I don't know if this match-up is...
Maybe they want to announce their marriage and hand over the throne.

　Huh, so. Maybe he could have chosen anyone to be engaged to. No, on the contrary, it's possible that he chose Soo as a weakling who could never oppose him. Even though they were husband and wife, there was no way he would allow someone with such a personality to be an equal. If Soo had been married, he would have been abused and then made to die of illness or something like that.

'When I was ordered to be the messenger of this marriage, I thought it was an opportunity to do the opposite. I had heard that Prince Ortlinde was a close friend of King Brunhild, and I thought that I could ask him to meet me. I didn't expect my wish to come true so soon...
So you want me to help you save your mother?
'Yes! By all means!

　Prince Cloud started to get down on his knees again. Hmmm, what to do? Well, I'm sure it would be easy to do with The Gate. It's fine to save her mother, but I wondered if things would get complicated after that.

"I would like to address His Majesty King Brunhild.

　Suddenly the Duke spoke up. 'What? I had a new tone of voice. It might not be a good idea to talk to me in front of a third party, but.

'I think we should call an emergency meeting of the Western Alliance. I think it's best to take into account the opinions of Regulus, Mismid and Leafs as well as Belfast.

　Huh? You're making the story that big! No, well, I'd certainly like to hear other people's opinions, though!

'I am of the opinion that if Prince Cloud is determined, other nations should intervene. I think we should abolish the foolish First Prince and help to put Prince Cloud on the throne.

　Ew! With the Duke grinning, I and Prince Cloud himself couldn't help but roll our eyes in surprise.




''Well.............''

　The leaders of the Western Alliance were gathered in the conference room set up in Brunhild's castle. In addition to the Kingdom of Belfast, the Kingdom of Mismid, Emperor Liefries, and the Regulus Empire, from this time onwards, the Ramish Church State had joined the alliance.
　I'm going to give you a quick explanation and discuss how to deal with this country.

I'm sure that the information we have obtained is of such a nature. The power of the vizier's vizier is even greater than the king's.

　Emperor Regulus let out a murmur.

'I don't have much diplomatic relations with Linie, so I can't say for sure.

　The Beast King of Mismid opens his mouth as he runs his hand over his chin. It's true that Linier seems to have frequent diplomatic relations with Belfast, Leafs and Regulus, but it can be said that it has little to do with Mismid or Lamish. It's the same here in our country.

But I personally resent what the Prime Minister and the First Prince have done. It's the people who should be crying.
'Indeed. From what I've heard, they've been imposing heavy taxes for the last few years to prepare for war with the northern kingdom of Paloof. It's foolish.

　His Holiness the Pope of the Ramish Kingdom sighs as he lightly shakes his head to the side.

''But while it's nice to have Prince Cloud on the throne, will that hold the country together? After all, I don't see how anyone would listen to the prince's words if all the people involved in political affairs are the hipsters of the Prime Minister.

　I can certainly understand what King Liefries is saying. It won't be enough to just change the head of the top brass. We have to change things from the ground up.

''What about that part?''

　When I called out to him, Prince Cloud, who had been stunned, huffed and began to speak in a panic. With Yumina's magical eyes, I can see that Prince Cloud's essence is not a bad person, and even if I lied here, I wouldn't be able to get through to His Holiness the Pope.

''Ha, yes. I'm going to ask for the help of those who have been marginalized by the Prime Minister and removed from the national government. There are many nobles who have been treated coldly and dissatisfied for the past decade or so, and there are some capable people who have been kept away despite their abilities. After all, they're so good that they can't hold office without first handing the vizier an office under their sleeves.

　As the prince spoke in self-mockery, His Majesty the Beast King tsk-tsked his tongue.

''You're rotten. ........I'm sorry, I misspoke. I didn't mean to speak ill of your country.''
No, it's the truth.

　Prince Cloud wipes his sad eyes while smiling bitterly. I'm not sure I'll be a good match for you anymore.

I'm not sure if there are any powerful nobles who would be on our side.
Yes, sir. This is the Marquis de Coupe, the former Prime Minister. He is a man who is trusted by the other noblemen of the provinces and who has supported me at every turn.

　King Belfast's question is instantly answered by Prince Cloud. It's not like he's full of enemies, is it? If he can bring together the nobles and great families who oppose the Prime Minister and all those things on his side, he will be able to function as a country even after Prince Cloud ascends the throne.

''Before that, how is he as Prince Cloud? If it's enough to save your mother, then you could flee the country with it?
''No, I've seen people who have been tormented by the Prime Minister and my brother. Helpless, I have been unable to help them. If there's anything I can do to help them, despite the delay, I'd like to make it happen.
'That would mean turning against the current Linier. Even if the vizier is in real power, it means, as we say, that he's going against his father, the king, too, is that right?
I'm ready.

　You've said it once and for all. Not against the king, but this is close to a coup d'etat. Well, I'm not going to do anything like armed suppression as much as possible.

Then what about the others? In response to Linier's, no, Prince Cloud's offer.

　As I looked around at the heads of state seated at the round table, I asked the question.

Our country supports Prince Cloud. The corruption in Linie's life will not be good for us, I fear.
Likewise.

　King Belfast was the first to raise his hand, followed by King Lefries.

It seems to me that this is not a problem that the Empire can afford to overlook," he said. ''It seems to be a problem that the empire can't afford to overlook,'' he said.

　Saying that, His Majesty the Emperor also opens his mouth. The empire has also been hit by a coup d'état, and the national power hasn't fully recovered yet. I guess they can't do too much.

''Ours doesn't have much to do with it, but I'm not against it. As an ally, I'm for it. I don't like Linier right now.
'And the Church for that matter. I'll let Prince Cloud help you with that.

　So His Majesty the Beast King of Mismid and His Holiness the Pope of Lamish are in favor of it. Now all the countries of the Western Alliance have the backing of Prince Cloud to King Linier. The only thing left to do is to find a way to unseat the viziers.
　If possible, I'd like to avoid war or military control. That's what I'm trying to say.

""That's where, you know, Fuyu-dono will take care of it."

　Wow! You're throwing me under the bus! Well, I was going to rescue Prince Cloud's mother myself!

'Sorry for the inconvenience! Best regards, by all means!
'Yeah, no, well, it's fine...'

　I give Prince Cloud a drawn-out smile as he lowers his head to the point where he's about to get down on his knees again. d*mn, I don't feel like I can beat these people in this kind of place. Does it mean that he hasn't been the head of state for many years in Date? Chutzpah!

'Yes! Then the Western Alliance will support Prince Cloud, and so on. So, I guess we'll just have to 'fellowship' the rest.
Okay?
We've been waiting for you!
"Hmm.

　The King of Belfast's statement causes the kings to leave the conference room in a hurry. What they say about "deepening friendship" is, after all, what they mean by "playing". The destination is the playroom.
　The only people left are me, Prince Cloud, and His Holiness, who doesn't know the playroom.

"Oh dear.... Let's go, Your Highness. I'll have good tea and sweets sent to you. That gentleman is also my favorite.
Well, I'd like to try that one.

　Of course, "He" is God. Since then, I've occasionally brought some sweets made as a gift to the gods. I don't know where they come from, but even the god of love comes along and eats more than half of them.
　When we entered the playroom, they had already found a remarkable frame unit, and everyone was boarding and playing. It looks like they figured out how to do it from Rosetta and Monica, who were maintaining it.
　I mean, you can now play four players at the same time. The four planes on the external monitor are color-coded red, blue, yellow, and purple, but I can't tell who's who. They are all attacking the misguided one, or losing their balance and falling down.

''Your Majesty, this is........''
Well....

　Both Prince Cloud and His Holiness the Pope seem surprised at the variety of things they've never seen before. Well, it will be.

''This is a playroom. Well, it's a room to play in. Once a month, after the Western Alliance meeting, everyone goes home to play.

　These days it's doubtful if we're getting together for a meeting or just to play. At least it was a meaningful meeting this time, I guess.
　But even though the arrival of the Frays isn't yet a certainty, should we still train pilots in other countries?
　In the unlikely event that a ridiculous number of Frays appeared after breaking the world's wards, Brunhild might not be able to handle them alone. Maybe we should lend them a frame unit and be prepared for that. I feel like it would be a bad idea to have only the king of that country be able to ride it.
　While thinking about that, I asked Sheska and Lapis-san to bring a light meal for His Holiness the Pope and Prince Cloud. I've got a lot of things to do. I have a feeling that I'm the busiest king among them.