Arche, the royal capital of the Garlist Kingdom.

　This city, which has recovered from the fall of the demons and is about to rise again, is filled with cheering today.

　The men were drinking and carrying their goods, and the girls were welcoming them with bouquets of flowers. Music echoed in the streets, and painters raced to pick up their brushes.

　Today is the triumphant return of Princess Philos and the advance troops led by the hero Lugis.

　The entire city was the site of a grand celebration. People gathered like a haze, rejoicing in the signs of a new era.

　The once crushed kingdom of the Gharaists had now regained its glory and completed its expedition to the east. The hero slayed the great demon beneath his blade, and the princess made the avenging Borvat army her ally on favorable terms.

　If this is not a success, what is it?

　Princess Philos, still dressed in her black military uniform, proceeded down the street to the cheers of the people. Unlike ordinary royalty, she responded to the people not from a carriage, but by riding.

　She seemed to assert that she was not a decoration.

　A breath escaped her lips.

A breath escaped her lips, "Well, at last, Princess.

　The saint Mattia, who was leading her horse a little behind Philos, said in a clear voice. A little shouting would be inaudible amidst the cheers. It was much easier to talk than in a room where there might be secret agents.

"Yeah, finally, really.

　The word "finally" was filled with strong emotion.

　Enshrined as a concubine princess by the lord of a city, Philos had always been on the Sand Throne.

　With a foothold that could collapse at any moment, he had to desperately keep the nobles and surrounding forces in check, and there was no time to even catch his breath.

　But with this, Philos has achieved one thing. From an unproven little girl, he has become someone who has fulfilled his duty as a monarch.

But there's still a lot of work to be done. The people don't like you for your glory alone. There must be peace and food.

"...... Yes. I know.

　Philos didn't tell the saint Mattia's advice that you're part of the trouble.

　Even though she was a strong vixen, Philos couldn't afford to lose Mattia now. His gaze lingered on her ring for a moment, and his lips pursed.

　The task at hand for Philos was to create a new system.

　Now that Lugis has returned, Philos will be crowned. He will become the nominal and actual lord of this kingdom. The Garleist will welcome the new kingdom.

　The coronation will separate the new kingdom from the old.

　To do this, it is imperative that a new political system be established.

　But there was one problem that Philos had to worry about.

　--Whose hand would the scepter fall into?

　After the triumphal return ceremony and the celebration ceremony, Philos snarled his lips in front of a literal mountain of parchment in his office.

　As long as we call ourselves a new kingdom, reorganizing the military is a must. It's not something that can be done on a temporary basis in an emergency, as it has been in the past.

　The Commander-in-Chief is at the top of the nation's military. If you put a bad person in charge, that alone will shake the nation.

　This was now the realm of politics. It was not an easy decision to make.

Excuse me, Princess. It's about the date of the coronation.

　One of the candidates was this man with a magnificent beard.

　The nobleman's chieftain, Biondor Gagari.

　He was the quickest to carry Philos and the first to launch the assault in the battle to retake the capital.

　He has a tendency to make decisions too quickly, but there is no doubt that he is capable.

　Even now, he is the one who plays a part in political affairs.

"Biomondole. What would you have done if I had died on that expedition?

　Biormondor moved his beard almost without thinking.

"I would have stayed in my estate and waited to see if the time was right again. If the princess had gone into hiding, there would have been no legitimate heir to rule King's Landing. And in the midst of the chaos, King's Landing would be worthless.

　Holding out a new piece of parchment, he replied without even a hint of thinking.

　In other words, he had already thought through what would happen if that happened.

　A selfish, pragmatic man. And a man who says what he means.

　In the new kingdom, Biondor is the head of the nobility. With him as marshal, it's easy to win over the nobility.

　But that would be tantamount to allowing the noble faction to expand its influence.

　The other candidate was Richard Permiris, a male of the old Garleist army. Many of the new kingdom's Garleist army's commanders and soldiers are also from the old Garleist army.

　Richard is still well-liked by them, and if he becomes marshal, the soldiers will be even more loyal to their new monarch.

　But that was why Philos saw Richard as the most dangerous.

　While Biormondor only cared about profit, Richard measured his sovereign.

　If he feels he is not worthy to serve, he will easily turn his hand. It was hard for Philos to believe that he had any sense of loyalty.

　After thinking that much, a smile naturally broke out on his face.

　How could I ever stop trusting people?

　When I was just a lord of a city, I tried to trust my people and my vassals. I believed that if I showed myself to be right, they would surely serve me right.

　This is the result.

　The man who taught Philos to doubt and resent others was also one of the candidates for marshal.

　--Lugis. The hero who killed Vriligant. The symbol of the realm is now one.



　It is the heraldry that will be happy to see him take the sceptre.

　The connection between the Kingdom of Garryst and the heraldry will be strengthened, and the vixen will further her plans to control the power.

　Philos put his glasses back on and said to himself.

This is politics, politics. It's like a balance.

　From now on, Philos would be queen. The hands of the three main powers: the noble faction, the old Garristo army, and the heraldry. She must hold the reins and balance the three main forces.

　No personal feelings should be allowed to get in the way. We must be cool, calm, and absolute in our decisions.

...... Bruder. I know you're here, Bruder.

　A voice calls out to Bruder, who is on loan from Lugis as an escort.

　He says you're his favorite bodyguard. He would not betray her.

　In fact, she was very good. There were a few times when someone who looked like a spy sniffed around Philos, but they were all pierced to death by needles.

　Perhaps she was also gathering information around Philos. She was always in the vicinity of the voices.

"Hey. What is it, princess? Are you hungry?

No, you idiot. Listen, you can eat whatever you want later.

　Bruder's voice sounded very unhappy. It seems that he's very annoyed that he can't go to Lugis when he's back.

　However, work is work, and he is a mercenary at heart.

For example... How would you feel if your employer, Lugis, asked you to be his marshal? Would you hate it or would you be happy?

　Bruder said, his brown hair hanging down from the ceiling.

You'd hate it. You'd hate it. You'd say I'm not cut out for it, that I can't take on that kind of responsibility. That's the way it's always been.

　Philos nodded with a small tug of his chin. Yes, Lugis will not like it. She will reject it. It was obvious that he would try to get rid of the role somehow.

　Somehow he wanted to keep the glory away. It would not be in his best interest to promote him to marshal.

　Then, Philos narrowed his eyes.

　--I'll make sure he gets the staff.

　Philos's cheeks twisted wide. The whites of his eyes narrowed like crescents as he thought.

　Lugis. You brought me to the throne. You took a small girl from a weak noble family and made her a princess for your own use.

　And finally, I will be crowned just to be used by you.

　Philos knew that Lugis felt unspeakable guilt about this. It was bound to grow as Philos progressed on his path to becoming a champion.

　The path of a champion is not always a pretty one. You have to keep stepping on thorns and be prepared to have your head chopped off eventually.

　That's the path you must take, Lugis said. Philos smiles broadly.

　Very well. I'll walk the bloody path if that's what you want. I'll give you glory and walk with you.

　And when it's all over, I'll tell you this.

　--Thanks to the bloodbath and throwing away even the smallest happiness to be used by you, I've successfully become a splendid queen. Thank you. For ruining my life.

　I wonder what he'll look like when he says that.

　I'm sure he'll have a scar that will never go away. My scars will torment him until the day he dies.

　Such was the certainty of Philos.

"Ha-ha-ha-ha!　You're right, he won't like it. But you'll have to do your duty.

　Princess Philos took the pen and signed it. The parchment was inscribed with the name of the person to whom she was to give the marshal's staff.