When the height of summer had passed,.


    I returned home to my family''s birthplace, Navre County in Fordonia.


    I was disappointed to find that the castle of Navre was much shabbier than I had imagined.


    "Hey, Raviara, is our stronghold this small?"


    "Raviara feels poor too. ....... I thought it was a bigger castle. ......"


    "I thought it would be more nostalgic, but it''s not even that."


    "That''s not surprising. Because Mr. Arsrod was the lord of this castle for not so long. The memories are rather in the smaller house, aren''t they?


    Raviara''s words made me think that was true too.


    "Would you like to stop by there, too?"


    "No, thanks. I''m going to pay a visit to my family''s tomb.


    Kerala complimented me in a nonchalant tone, saying, "It''s admirable how you cherish your homeland. Her face was happy.


    "Yeah, I thought I''d do something that would make someone like Kerala happy. I''ve gone a little too far."


    People don''t like it when people jump out of line. The stakes are high. I''ll have plenty of enemies.


    So I''ve come to at least show you that I''m not neglecting my hometown.


    "Don''t bother telling me that, that''s fine. Besides, the Regent seems to be enjoying himself.


    Kerala seems to see right through me.


    I looked at the castles of the small lords of the counties and wept with wonder.


    "How could you come from a place like this to rule the country? No, you started from a worse place.


    Few people from this county are in my army anymore. Most of them came in afterwards, when they became more powerful. In other words, there are no vassals from the same family. There should be few who feel nostalgia for this place.


    For some reason, I heard a cry.


    "Kerala, why are you crying too?


    The always calm and collected Kerala was shedding tears like a courtesan.


    "I wonder why. Is it because I can feel the regent''s feelings? It must have been a long and hard battle."


    Some others are crying. It is embarrassing when someone other than myself cries.


    I turned my body to my retainers and said


    "I thank you all from the bottom of my heart for serving me all these years. I never thought I would rise from a place like this to the position of regent. When I was holed up in that little fortress on the verge of falling, I thought I was going to die easily."


    The sun shines just right. I felt more peaceful than I had in years, partly because of the weather.


    "After surviving somehow, I fought hard to be strong. I did everything I could, and I did my dirty work. But it seems to have finally paid off. It''s all thanks to you, to all those who have supported me. I couldn''t have made it this far on my own."


    I bowed slowly, which was unusual for a regent.


    "Thank you. And thank you for your continued support."


    "My pleasure!" and then a few more like it.


    I know I am a selfish man, but I would like to fight alongside my vassals if I could.


    The next day, we went to the cemetery of the Nevre family.


    The graves are well kept, but none of them are very large. The family status of the lords did not allow them to build such a grand tomb. They are common graves with a semicircle. During the expedition, we passed by the tombs many times, and we often saw graves of small lords similar to this one.


    This time, since we are visiting the tomb, not only the vassals but also their wives are staying near the tomb.


    Especially Rumi, who is a full-fledged wife, was allowed to come right next to me. Serafina and Fleur are on the other side.


    "My family, I have reached the position of regent. How many generations have you had? Sixteenth? And I will do my best to see my house grow from my generation onward.


    As I say my words, the people around me are praying.


    For a while, there was silence and no sound.


    "Well, the grave could be more magnificent, couldn''t it be?"


    Rumi asked. For someone from royalty, a tomb like this must be unbelievable.


    "Can''t we at least make the tombstones long enough to be engraved?　That way, we can honor the House of Navre for a long time."


    "No, this is fine, Rumi. They say it''s bad luck to decorate a grave too much."


    I shook my head and turned down the offer.


    "Besides, I have better things to do first. There is a famine in the west. It wouldn''t be good to be extravagant with it.


    The time before harvest is when food supplies are at their lowest. Especially recently, famines have been frequent.


    "But that''s outside the Regent''s domain. It is within the domain of those who are in league with the former king.


    "The regent has to look after the whole state. That''s what a regent is."


    Rumi lets out a "Oh, ......" sound.


    "That''s my girl, the Regent. You know your job very well."


    Serafina leaned in toward me.


    "Yes. This isn''t your breakthrough. You have to aim higher. You can start thinking about the cemetery then.


    "Well, that''s what I mean, but you don''t have to say much ......"


    I''ll deal with ancestral graves when I become king.