A tense air enveloped the room.
　This is a room in the Imperial Palace in the Galdio Empire. This room is soundproofed with my [Silence], and no voice ever leaks outside.
　I'm sitting on a chair in the corner of the room, and on one side of the central sofa are the Colonel, Lieutenant, and Sergeant, the surviving vassals of the Lave Kingdom, and on the other side are the Emperor of the Galdio Empire, Falcyon Rig Galdio, Queen Astiria, and the Emperor's bosom vizier, Lanslow Alcott.
　This Vizier Lanslow was the first aide to find Prince Lefredin, the prince of the Rave Kingdom, among the rubble of the battlefield.
　That was the reason why Prince Lefredin of the kingdom became Prince Lucretion of the Empire. That made things complicated, but I don't think it would have ever been better if the prince had died there.

''I didn't expect to meet the knight from that time again....... Those eyes were the same as back then...?
It was on the battlefield. I have no hard feelings about that. I'm just glad there's life.

　Enemies who once fought for their lives face off against each other. What is going through their minds? I don't know. Both of them just look and sound calm.

I see..... But I must apologize to you guys.

　The emperor bowed deeply and expressed his apologies to the three of them. The queen also bowed her head in the same way.

''I'm sorry. I am sorry for destroying your homeland, for not being able to stop my father and for depriving you of that child, the prince of Leve, all because of my weakness. Forgive me.....
Forgiveness?

　A sergeant with clenched fists stands up and glares at the emperors with their heads down.

''You can't possibly forgive me!　You have stolen our home!　You killed the people you love!　They took away my pride, my hope, my happiness, my everything!
'I'm sorry I know I can't forgive you. But I still want to apologize. I'm sorry. If only I had had a little more courage I would have had the courage to stop my father, even if it was by force.

　Apologies won't be delivered. No matter what I say, the fact that our country was lost for selfish reasons will not disappear. What should I do then?
　At that moment, Prime Minister Langslow, who was sitting beside me, opened his mouth.

''The Empire is ready to liberate the lands of the former Rêve Kingdom and make them independent.
What...?
What the hell...

　The sergeant and the lieutenant widened their eyes. The colonel only raised one eyebrow slightly.
　Independence means you can re-establish the Lave Kingdom with the Empire behind you, like Brunhild?
　The Colonel turns to Vizier Lanslow.

'Will the heavyweights of the Empire silently admit it?　It's funny for us to say this, but that place is a treasure trove of underground resources, isn't it?
"Ever since His Majesty the Emperor went into hiding, the land has been under His Majesty's direct control. The underground resources mined by His Majesty have been used by His Majesty for the sole benefit of the land of Leve. Now no one can interfere with your will. Unfortunately, we can't transfer the land near the Azure Ruins ruled by Isengard, but...

　What Isengard has taken is the land near the 'Blue Ruins', but it is less than 10% of the total. The inhabitants have also been unable to endure Isengard's oppression in the past decade, and most of them have fled to the Imperial side.

''Will Reve........get it back......?

　While the lieutenant was muttering in dismay, the colonel got to the heart of this discussion to Emperor Galdio.

'I am grateful for the reestablishment of the Kingdom of Rêve. But we are servants of the Rêve Kingdom, not superiors. We serve only one man, Prince Lefredin.
It's...

　The queen chokes on her voice. Is this implying that you want the prince back?　I'm sure that's not something the Empire can easily agree to, but.......

''I mean, isn't it wrong to proceed with a discussion without his consent?　It's like that's a decision for the prince himself...
'Why would I refuse to rebuild my country? The only king of Lave is Prince Lufreddin. It would be strange for a prince to inherit an empire without the blood of an emperor.

　The lieutenant cut off my interrupted words, and Emperor Galdio turned his attention to Vizier Langslow.

''Bring that boy to me. Everything...let her decide.
But, Your Majesty....
Good. It's his life. We shouldn't have been the ones making the decisions in the first place.

　The vizier, who still wanted to say something, stood up from his seat while averting the emperor's gaze.
　A short while later, the prince accompanied by the vizier appeared from the back door. He seemed a little surprised to see us, but he walked straight towards us.
　The colonel and the others looking at it were also looking at the prince with great emotion. Perhaps they were recognizing the deceased whom they had served.

Father. Mother," he said. Do you have something important to tell me?
... hmmm. Yes, it's important to talk about.

　The emperor stood up and kneeled in front of the prince, making eye contact with him. He placed his hand on the prince's shoulder and slowly opened his mouth.

''What I'm about to tell you will have a great impact on your life, and it's all true. Listen carefully.''
Yes.

　From there, His Majesty the Emperor began to tell the prince everything without hiding it. About ten years ago, about the Rave Kingdom, about Isengard, about the Prior Emperor, and about the Prince's real parents....
　All of that he just listened quietly. In contrast, I thought, gosh, I felt that he was too calm.
　I think the content of the story is pretty shocking, but he was calmly and firmly listening to everything. Even though he was told that he wasn't his parents' child. This could be.........
　After hearing everything, the prince slowly opens his mouth to His Majesty the Emperor who nods.

''........I knew everything. I also knew that I am not the son of your father and mother. On top of that, I also know that the two of you think of me as if I were your own son.
What the hell...
'Oh no, Lucretion, you...'

　The emperor and the queen were astonished at the fact. No, Vizier Langslow and the colonels were also surprised.
　I knew it. I thought he was too calm but he knew the secret of his own birth. But where did he find out?

Father, look at this.

　Swoosh, the prince showed me the golden bracelet that glowed on his wrist. That's a 'sealing bracelet', right? The one that has the effect of suppressing the demon eye.
　That bracelet that the prince showed her had a small crack in it. Hmm?　Is it broken?

This is....
'A year ago, during sword training, I took a blow to my wrist and broke it. I was told it was important and I couldn't tell my fathers that it was broken, but then I began to see strange things.

　According to Prince Lucretion's story, after he broke the bracelet, he would sometimes see visions of the past when he touched an object. Apparently, the effect was mixed, as once he touched an object that he had seen once, he couldn't see it again, and even objects that hadn't reacted could be seen unexpectedly.
　Eventually he realized it was the power of the evil eye. A magical eye that can see into the past. It seemed to be a power that he couldn't control at will, but that couldn't be helped. It's because the prince's magic eye wasn't that strong to begin with. Still, it seems to be strong enough to see the events of ten years ago.

''Matter-sensing ability 《psychometry》........ A demon eye that can detect residual human thoughts that remain in objects, right?

　Could it be called the "Magic Eye of Remembrance"? In the case of the prince, though, it seemed to have been triggered by a sudden impulse. However, it made the prince know his secret. When he took the sword of his father, the Emperor, in secret, with a childlike admiration for it.

'It was very sad to know that I was not your two biological children. I didn't want to believe it. But at the same time, I knew that they loved me very much. There was no way I could deny that. I may not be a real child. But I was happy to be your child.
Lucretion..........!

　Raggedly crying, His Majesty the Emperor hugged the child in front of him. His Imperial Highness also clung to the prince and wept.

''Father. I am not of the blood of the Galdio imperial family. It is a betrayal to the emperor's people for me to become the emperor. Please hand over the position of the next emperor to someone else.
Yeah, well...

　With still wet eyes, the Emperor nodded quietly. Fortunately?　It seems that the Emperor has many sisters and sisters, so many of them will have the right to succeed to the throne. So.

''So the prince will inherit the throne of the re-emerging Rave Kingdom?''

　The prince gave a small shake of his head at the words I threw at him. Huh?
　The colonels looked impatient at his reaction.

I don't remember any of this, but I am grateful to my parents for giving birth to me. However, I am sorry to them, but it was this Galdio Empire that raised me. I will live as a Lucretion, an Imperial citizen. My father and mother are now my father and mother, no matter what anyone says, they are both of them.
Oh no...!　Then what about the people of Rêve!　Everyone is waiting for the Prince!
I'm sorry, but I can't live up to your expectations. I want you to choose a new leader from among you. One who will become the cornerstone of the new Levee.

　Prince Lucretion replied to the lieutenant's words with sad eyes.
　This child has already started walking his own path. No one will be able to stop it.

''Lucretion........
'Yes, sir. You don't have to be an emperor to support the empire. I will be a man who will not be ashamed of being a child of the two of you.
'You're strong ... you're ...'

　His Majesty the Emperor turned over with a face like he was crying or laughing....... In contrast, the prince smiled confidently.
　The colonel approached that prince and kneeled down and looked straight into his eyes. Then, he huffed and gave a gentle smile.

''You are stubborn and stubborn, and once you decide, you don't bend your beliefs, you just work diligently and hard....... He's just like your father. They say that blood cannot be fought over........
...Were Leve's father and mother wonderful people?
Yes. Very. They were vassal-minded, cheerful and unquestioning. So ... please think of your Rave parents as well.
Yeah, I guess. .........I'm sorry.......

　The prince looks down at the colonel's words. Even if he doesn't remember it, there is no doubt that they loved him. It's sad to dismiss it as irrelevant.
　Now, if that's how the prince feels, then what will the people of Lave do.......
　As I was thinking about such things in the corner of the room, suddenly a few bird-wings-like objects pierced through the window pane and stuck under the feet of the Prince, His Majesty the Emperor, and the colonels.
　It was immediately apparent that they were metal...no, they were "like" feathers made of some other substance, but when the colonel saw them, his eyes widened, and he pushed the prince, who was nearby, away and shouted loudly, "Get down!

'Get down!'

　Immediately after those words, a loud explosion sound echoed throughout the room only due to the [Silent] effect.