Kana!　I'll definitely bring you back to your world!'

'I wonder what that was all about...'

　This is inside the Imperial Castle of the Regalian Empire. I'm lying on the bed in the room I've prepared for myself, I'm just lying there with nothing much to do right now.

　It's been two months since the war with the Kingdom of Nanor. Gargante-san saved us, and we were able to escape with our lives.

　Ijuin-kun and the others, who were quite seriously injured and wandering between life and death, were also saved by my recovery magic. I'm sure that if it weren't for the Healer, they wouldn't have regenerated their arms and legs either.

　I think less than 3,000 Regalia's army was able to escape to the imperial capital. The Nanor Army was approaching from behind. We had no choice but to flee against the allied forces that appeared from many places on our left and right.

　His Majesty was furious when he saw us returning in vain, but he had no time for that now, and the Prime Minister interceded for us, so we were sent back to the front lines without blame.

　However, the Allied attack was tremendous, and a third of the Regalian Empire was occupied. At that point, they managed to suppress the invasion, but the Prime Minister said that if they fought any longer, not only the rest of the territory, but the entire Regalia Empire would be in danger.

　His Majesty the Emperor's face was blue past red in anger, but he decided on a truce. The war between the Regalia Empire and the Kingdom of Nanor had become the Regalia Empire versus the United Forces of the Five Nations, but the war ended with the defeat of the Regalia Empire.

　The war was over, but now it became reparations for the defeated nations. It seems that the representatives of each country came to the imperial capital to discuss it.

　As a result, they ended up reparations to the Kingdom of Ciria, the Kingdom of Forestfalia, and the Lanwalker Frontier Domain, while the Worvest Kingdom, the Pope's Kingdom of Arcadia, and the Kingdom of Nanor ceded the occupied land as it was.

　This caused the national strength of the Regalian Empire to drop considerably from before the war.

　General Gregorius and his men were executed for taking the blame for the defeat of the war against the Kingdom of Nanor. We were trembling as if we too might be, but we didn't want our strength to decline any further, and our brave group was not blamed.

　Even now, two months have passed since such an incredibly intense day, and I still can't forget those words.

　The silver-haired boy I met in the Kingdom of Nanor. I believe that was the first time we met. But the boy seemed to know me.

　To be honest, other than Cousin Hayato, I wasn't interested in any other men. And I hadn't been blown away by my feelings. It's just that I kept it in the back of my mind because of the war.

　But I couldn't stop thinking about the boy. I can't help but be reminded of that boy. I don't know why.... His last words. His last words have stayed in my mind. We were strangers, but his voice worried about me.

"Huh, I don't get it.

　As I'm thinking about this, there's a knock on the door. I get up out of bed and open the door.

Mari.

　Mari was standing in the hallway. What was going on?

'Canamin. The emperor is calling everyone.

　The emperor did this to everyone?　I haven't been called upon to do much except report on the war since that war. What's that?

All right. Let's go then.

Yes.

　Mari and I walk side by side. But we don't say a word. It's not that we don't get along. After such an experience, both Mari and I are emotionally exhausted.

　If I say this, the soldiers will probably be angry with me. But we originally come from a world without war. That experience left more invisible scars on us than we thought.

　We came to the audience room in silence like that. The soldiers urged us in, and when we walked in, we found that all of the brave groups were there except us.

　And each of the princes and princesses. Prince Clift and Lucy, who shouldn't have been there, were also there. Unusual. But Lucy's expression is somewhat gloomy...is it just my imagination?

　We also kneel behind the brave group. I make sure we're all here and let the Emperor come inside. And.

Heads up.

　We look up at those words. The Emperor is sitting on the throne, but he wasn't as supreme as before.

'Here you are, my brave men. We have called you here because a messenger from Nanor came to us about the last war.

　A messenger from the Kingdom of Nanor. What has happened?

It seems that the rest of the brave men captured by Nanor, Jin Madarame, Tadashi Sato, Susum Tanaka and Kai Shimizu, are being sent to the mine as criminal slaves. The only thing that has changed is that Kai Shimizu is now being sold to a brothel.

　We were crestfallen at that statement. I'm happy to report that they weren't killed, but a mine.... Shimizu-kun is in the brothel. If we had been caught, we would be in the brothel too.... When I think of that, I can't stop shaking.

''And, dammit, it seems that all of the land ceded from the empire is to be made the royal domain of the Nanor Kingdom. It seems that the other Arcadia and Warbestos have declined. They have also sent the first princess of the Kingdom of Nanor, Alexia Nanor, as a deputy.

Wouldn't it be possible to get the land back?

　A general speaks up at the remarks of His Majesty the Emperor. But at his words, His Majesty the Emperor shakes his head.

''That will be difficult. Right now, Nanor's army is still on the border of the current Regalia Empire and the land that became Nanor's royal domain. Besides, the border between Warbestos and Arcadia is also within that royal domain. If we attacked, those two countries would immediately send in reinforcements. If that happens, we won't be able to just cede this time.

　The general is silenced by the Emperor's words.

'And the problem with that is that its deputy, Princess Alexia, is engaged to be married.

　....?　What's the problem with Princess Alexia being engaged?　I'm not sure I'm listening.

'That fiancée is the boy Gargante informed me about, the one called the Thunder Emperor. It is truly abominable. He bears the same emperor as me.

'Perhaps, but the declining of the cession was also discussed between the three countries. To give the land to its betrothed.

I suppose. The boy seems to be engaged to the First Princess of the War Vests and the First Princess of Arcadia.

　...it's like some kind of novel. My cousin had one like it in one of his novels. But I could tell from the word "boy" and the thunder that it was a boy. I knew it was the boy I'd met.

　That tremendous magic and the overwhelming sense of intimidation. I couldn't stop shaking just standing in front of him. And when I asked Mari, who is good at magic, about that magic, she said she didn't understand.

''It's truly an abomination, but he's a man that Gargante would fear. With our current national power, it would be best not to antagonize him. I'd take him in if I could.

I'm sure three countries won't stand for it. I'm sure the three nations will not tolerate this. I hear you are a son of a Lanwalker frontier lord.

After all, it's the only way not to antagonize them.

I'll have to do it.

　Unbeknownst to us, the story of His Majesty the Emperor and the Prime Minister goes on. And.

"The Second Princess, Luciana Regalia, come forward.

... haha.

　At the voice of the vizier, Lucie comes up to the Emperor's Majesty. And kneeling before His Majesty the Emperor.

"Luciana. I will marry you to Leyvelt Lanwalker of the Kingdom of Nanor. This is for the good of the country.

Of course.

Nah!

　We are surprised by the Emperor's words too much. And the one who is most surprised among us is of course Takumi. No wonder he was engaged to Lucie.

You'll find that Nanor doesn't want to take matters into their own hands right now. I'm sure they won't say no to this. We will send a messenger to Nanor. Luciana is to be ready to go at any time.

Yes, sir.

　And then the Emperor left. All I could do was look at Takumi-kun, who was holding my hand to the point of bleeding.

　◇ ◇ ◇ ◇.

Hey, that old bastard. It's not worth it.

It's no use. That's a pretty bad opponent. Besides, Nanor has a swordsman, too.

You didn't have to make that call. I'll keep my eyes open. So you're going to assassinate your brother?

I'm ready to go. I'm ready to go.

All right. Christ, I wish he'd died in the war. You made it easy on him. I'll use Takumi Kaido, Luciana's fiancé, just in time. I think he'd break off the engagement and then hold a grudge against the Imperial family for using Luciana for politics. If we go to him...