While receiving the congratulatory messengers and sending out prayers for safe delivery to temples around the country, the construction of Maust Castle was also progressing quite well.


    It will take some time to build all the facilities, but the main buildings are almost complete.


    In the meantime, we have dealt with the surrounding forces as peacefully as possible so that there will be no unnecessary conflicts. Most of the remaining small independent lords in the province came to celebrate the birth of their children, so I guess they are concerned about it.


    Currently, the most feared faction is the Lentlands in the Nagouri province, but they have had their dependable old general Sivik and others build castles in the areas where the borders meet to deal with them. For the time being, the situation remains peaceful.


    Then a messenger from the province of Olbia, located in the southern part of Fordneria, arrives.


    The province of Olbia is a steep land with mountains all over the province, and because of this, there was no unified power, and each basin had its own separate power. However, it is a land inhabited by a people with a martial spirit, and when it comes to war, they are quite strong.


    The envoys came from two counties, Takhti-gun and Naham, which do not directly border our lands. They are ruled by the Naham family, which shares the same surname as the county.


    The Nerhams'' messenger was a cat-ear beastman. This is not strange, since some of the cat-ear beastmen do not have a permanent residence, but are wandering businessmen. Of course, there are also those who are promoted as warlords or vassals and serve as messengers.


    I have come here to ask if we could form a military alliance between our two countries.


    The messenger was quite imposing. The quality of the messenger was an important issue, because if the messenger was of poor quality, the lord himself would be underestimated.


    "The Nahams are now the lords of two counties, but they are gradually expanding their power by invading other basins. Like Count Fordneria, Brand Nahum, who is only eighteen years old, is in the process of consolidating his power.


    "By the way, your land''s viscount has been doing very well since he took over the reigns at the age of 12."


    I''ve heard of Brand Nahum, too. He is said to be working for the unification of Olbia, a mountainous and difficult province to unify.


    "Probably, Count Fordneria is planning to attack toward the north in the future. This would open the way to the capital, and he could make a name for himself as regent or vizier, for example. Therefore, I assume that he would like to strengthen his southern defenses.


    I didn''t give him a specific answer, but I was chuckling.


    You''re reading this very well.


    The easiest way to reach the capital in the east is to take Nagouri and go from there. I mean, if they take control of Nagouri, the number of mobilized troops will increase rapidly.


    Without a large force, it is impossible to defeat the forces in the vicinity of Wangdu if they try to interfere. The area near the capital is a developed agricultural area, and as a result, it is more populated than the rural areas. This means that they have a large number of troops.


    It is said that if the prefectures adjacent to Wangdu could be unified, one prefecture alone could have an army of over 10,000 men. In reality, they are not united into one force, but if those who have that much power ally with each other, the road to the capital will be closed.


    "Yes, it would be an honor to support the dynasty, but that''s a long shot."


    There is no need to go out of your way to say what you really think, so you say something nice.


    "At the moment, the dynasty is in a state of half-divide. If you unify them, you will be the most distinguished person in the world, and you may even be recommended to become king. This is just my personal opinion.


    Would the royal family be willing to hand over the kingdom to us - that would be great, but no lord has ever succeeded in doing so.


    "I will take that as a compliment. I have no desire for the throne.


    --Don''t lie to me. You said you would be king.


    You said you were going to be king. What''s in your heart and what''s in your mind.


    --I''m sorry. I''m sorry. The High King understands. Besides, circumstances are important in these matters. Even the High King only thought he could help the 13th Shogun, Lord Yoshiteru, when he became the head of the family.


    It''s true that we can''t do anything if the king is wise.


    --I thought that I could make a serious aim for the kingdom only after Lord Yoshiteru was killed and the time came to send his brother to the capital. Even then, he took his time and slowly took away the power of the Shogun. He would never kill a general until he was equal or superior to him in status, even if he had the opportunity to do so, and even planned to install his children as generals even after he had banished them.


    In other words, be careful.


    It is no fun to be envied for doing something unnecessary. Let''s keep our thoughts to our hearts as much as possible and keep them between Laviala and Seraphina at the most.


    I told the messenger that I would consider an alliance and sent him on his way. The south side was not even on my mind, so I was rather secondary to it.


    As a matter of fact, I had a good idea.


    However, I am a little confused to present it.


    I decided to take a short walk and go out into the courtyard to think about it.


    There Serafina and her sister Altia were playing a game called airball.


    It is a game in which players try to hit each other with a wooden racket so as not to drop the ball. There was a net in the middle of the room, and the ball had to go further than the net.


    Just then, Altia jumped in front of the net and dropped the ball into Serafina''s position. It was a good block.


    "You are very strong, Altia," said Serafina.


    "He''s a smart guy. If you hit it where it can only be returned here, the next defense will be better.


    Altia looked a little smug.


    "Oh come on, Serafina, you''ve got kids, don''t be too hard on yourself. ......"


    "I don''t get out much, so I do a little exercise. I''m not bouncing around like you, Altia, so don''t worry."


    Indeed, Serafina is not even sweating. Apparently, she has been playing the game almost without moving from the same spot.


    Altia was sweating, as if she had been very active.


    Althea is looking much better now.


    He is no longer seriously ill and his color is good.


    "Yes, I can''t be a nuisance to you any longer.


    "I never thought you were a nuisance."


    Althea is the only relative I can say I have. I have other relatives, but I can''t say that I really feel at home with them. Relatives are the ones who can take away the title of Count.


    "Because, you know, I''m still with my brother."


    After all, I thought, Altia is the daughter of a lord.


    It''s a good attitude to have, but at the same time I feel lonely.


    Althea put her hand on her chest and said firmly


    "I''m ready to marry somewhere else in a political marriage.