"'Wow!'

　Cheers reverberate in the imperial capital.
　It was directed at Mercurio's forces advancing through the imperial capital.
　cheers for Mercurio and Fritzione as Mercurio's army
　It was Mercurio who called for this triumphal parade, but it was Peche, the prime minister, who made such a flashy preparation.
　Normally, since what happened this time was a civil war, a triumphal parade cannot be held.
　Mercurio was considered a rebel, and the army led by the rebel defeated the punitive force sent by the country.
　For Pesche, the triumphal parade was originally prepared for the Kabazid and Shurus-led punitive forces.
　His lord, Trajist, the emperor of the Vestian Empire, couldn't help laughing at the results beyond his expectations, and he laughed loudly during the audience.
　Although it is a civil war, this battle is more likely to be fought to determine the next heir to the throne.
　No, it's a fight that was only triggered to decide it.
　That's why we were preparing to hold a triumphal parade so that whoever won would be fine.

(Even so, I don't think it's good to be so calm about the act of a person dying... father)

　As he rode down the main street to the castle, Mercurio waved to the people without revealing his true feelings.
　People get excited when they wave to them.
　Many people are cheering loudly, asking them to wave their hands too.

"Did Theorem, brother Schulz, and other expeditionaries enter the imperial capital safely?"

　Waving a smile at the people around him, he asks the Theorem near him.

"Yes. Everyone came in at the north gate."
"...yes,"

　The imperial capital is large and has many gates around it.
　like the largest main gate, the aristocratic gate near the main gate
　However, there were some other special gates.
　One of them is the gate to the north of the imperial capital.
　The gate to enter the imperial capital was a secret existence that could not be made public, and the punitive force that was defeated in this civil war was supposed to enter the imperial capital from there.
　Here, adventurers, mercenaries, and volunteers who took part in the civil war will immediately pay the fine, and those who do not currently have the money will be asked where they live, and will pay at a later date.
　Of course, if you do so, some people will mislead you, but if you think about paying a few silver coins and the inability to work in and around the imperial capital, you will usually pay.
　Also, some aristocrats paid fines because they had hired them, but there were very few such aristocrats.
　In the first place, this fine comes from the fact that some sort of punishment must be imposed on opponents who are formally hostile.
　Most of those who get paid in advance don't have trouble paying.
　It was also possible to offset the inability to use up advance payments with the price of several days of work.
　It's also true that some people still don't want to pay.
　Many people have excessive confidence in their strength, insisting that they have lost in the civil war but never lost.
　What they follow is whether they will be caught by soldiers and pay a larger fine, or escape from this imperial capital.
　However, the only way to escape is in the countryside.
　We don't have to send a large number of pursuers for a few silver coins, but if we were to find out that for some reason we escaped without paying a fine, we would be fined more heavily... if we were not good enough, we would be caught.
　In other words, it is necessary to seclude oneself in the countryside beyond the reach of the country.
　If you really don't like the countryside, you might want to leave the Empire of Bestia.
　But if you think of some people who don't like to pay for a few silver coins... they don't, if not all, often do.

"I need my brother Schles to help me." I'll ask you to lay the groundwork for that."
"Yes. I'm sending my hand under Prince Schles."
"Yes, that's good," Also, the aristocrats who participated in the punitive force..."
"There's nothing wrong with you,"

　That was the way they spoke, but Mercurio and Teorem were waving to the people with smiles.
　Another cheered figure, Fritzione, is waving from the carriage window to the people with a smile.

"And? What happened over there?"
"Well, you know... Your Highness Fritzione is interested in these things."

　As Fritzione's caretaker, the maid in the carriage with him retorted unexpectedly.
　But Fritzione nods, waving her hands to the people watching the triumphal parade.

"For a woman in a castle, other people's love affairs can't be more of an entertainment." It's the same even if you're in a different position. whether maid, aristocrat or royal."
"I certainly don't deny it, either,"
"Then tell me," Besides, since the matter relates to the White Rose Knights, I suppose it has nothing to do with me."
"Well, you can't say so, you know? No, but..."

　a maid who hesitates at Fritzione's point

"Well, tell me. You've seen it, haven't you?"
"... I see. However, princesses should be interested in not only other people's love but also their own love. Being single at that age doesn't taste good enough, though the great nobles of the Vestian Empire, the royal families of the neighboring states, and even the kingdom of Milliana, have spoken of marriage."
"What are you talking about? It's not funny because a love affair is someone else's business. Come on, come on."

　The maid breathes a sigh of resignation at the words she does not think she is waving her hand at the people with a smile.

"Justina was talking to the gatekeeper. At first, we had a lot of communication when we left the imperial capital, but as we talked, we gradually opened up to each other. But as far as Justina was concerned, there was no such atmosphere at all."
"Well, then you'll have to work a little harder." But since you went out of your way to the aristocratic gate, don't you think you have nothing in mind?"

　Speaking to the maid, Fritzione's mind came to mind as she escaped from the imperial capital.
　As a member of the White Rose Knights, Justina had had a near-fightful interaction with the man who was the gatekeeper for the nobility.
　It seems that the two of them now had a somewhat good atmosphere about what kind of course of thinking they followed.

"But she comes from a noble family, I suppose, and the other person needs a suitable position... but is it from a noble family that she was in a noble family?"
"Yes, but since he is the third son of Baron Ashdan, there may be some problems in terms of status."
"...yes. If anything happens, make sure you can help me."
"Isn't Baron Ashdan a good face?"

　It is not strange to think of a political marriage in order to develop a family, even if it is the lowest baron among the lords. ...or, in this case, being a lowly nobleman, they are greedy for a higher position.
　In addition, there is a knighthood as a noble who has no territory, but this is a one-time peerage and can be obtained when commoners achieve some achievement. Knights are also knights, not knights of military significance, but knights of peerage.
　A knightly man becomes a baron if he makes more achievements, but the difficulty of becoming a knight from commoner to commoner to baron is greatly different.

"Baron Ashdan, too, but Justina's father is too eager to succeed." And that's why Justina joined the White Rose Knights?"

　Fritzione's impression was that although Justina was not skilled enough to be a captain, her mind was never bad.
　The bad guys, however, are usually played before they join the White Rose Knights.

"Anyway, the White Rose Knights don't meet very often, so let's support Justina's meeting. while, of course, we should all be able to grasp the situation properly.""...well, aren't you looking forward to it?"

　Pretending not to hear the maid's dubious words, Fritzione waves from the carriage window to the people.
　He must have judged it useless to say anything more. The maid suddenly changes the subject.

"More importantly, Your Highness Fritzione," This civil war has decided that Her Royal Highness Mercurio will be the next heir to the throne, but is that all right with Her Royal Highness Fritzione?"
"What, I wonder?"
"If Prince Fritzione had wanted to do so a little more, he might have been the next heir to the throne instead of Prince Mercurio."
"...I don't think so." When Ray was over there in the first place, there was nothing we could do. That's as long as you don't even have noise. Besides... I used to wish for the throne, too. But now I think my purpose will be fulfilled enough in the form of Mercurio's assistant."
"Are you all happy?"
"I won't go that far," In fact, many people have died in this civil war. I can't say that we can all be happy. But... I still want to make as many people as possible happy. To do so, it is necessary to build friendly relations with the Kingdom of Miliana, not hostile to it."

　Of course Fritzione knows that it is not so easy to establish friendly relations with the Kingdom of Milliana.
　But it is no exaggeration to say that the Westian Empire is inland and surrounded by mountains.
　Up until now, they have aimed at the sea in a way that takes over the kingdom of Mileana with greater national power and strength than the kingdom of Mileana.
　Of course, it's not just the sea.
　The Kingdom of Milliana is not as great as the Empire of Bestia, but it is just enough to call it a great power.
　It shows that after many years of antagonism to the Empire of Bestia, it still survives as the kingdom of Milliana.
　I can't imagine how much it would benefit the Westian Empire if the country could be annexed.
　In the past, they have tried to make friends with the Kingdom of Milliana, which they have broken.
　Because of their past, the present-day Westian Empire was trying to occupy and annex the kingdom of Milliana.

"But... if we fight and force the annexation, it will certainly be a source of fire." Especially now, there is Ray in the kingdom of Milliana, and perhaps Vihela is likely to help out in the event of war. Ray, who beat Rank S noise, and Vihela, who beat Rank A digma. And... the bear also hints at the departure of the Vestian Empire. I don't think I can do anything against the kingdom of Mileana."

　While smiling, Fritzione's muttering had a melancholy contrast to her smile.





"Wow... That's great, Captain Ray."

　a position close to the rear of the Mercurio army
　Then one of the shortstop members exclaims at the people cheering at them.
　It's probably because I've never been treated like this before. After a while of surprise, the eye gradually shows a look of excitement.

"Well, I certainly didn't think it was this well prepared."

　For Ray, this battle was a civil war, and it was them who had won the battle, but if they were not good enough, they might be attacked the moment they entered the imperial capital.
　But it was not soldiers, but cheering people who greeted Mercurio's army as they entered the imperial capital.

"There must be a lot of groundwork, political issues, etc.
"Glu?"

　Seto, with Ray on his back, turns back and tilts his head to the murmur.

"No, it's nothing. Anyway, it's time to end this triumphal parade."

　Pressed on the back of Seto's neck, Ray pulls down the dragon lobe hood at Theoreum's request and takes part in the triumphal parade unfamiliarly.
　Those who know of the competition cheer loudly at Ray's appearance, and they can't help but sigh at Ray's face, which is so well-organized that they can understand whether he is a woman or a non-knowing moguri.
　...though the latter included admiration for the set on which Ray was riding.