"My life would have ended much sooner if it weren''t for my brother. So I want to live up to your feelings."


    It was too early to be relieved. Althea''s words were not finished.


    "But if my husband still tries to disobey your brother, ...... then I will make my own decision. I am a woman of the House of Nahum.


    Firmly Althea is looking into my eyes.


    She looks as if she is insisting that her words have nothing to do with anything she says.


    I couldn''t help but laugh out loud.


    "Oh my God!　Brother, it''s not right to laugh there."


    Althea thought I was making fun of her, and she was mortified. No wonder.


    "Sorry, sorry. That''s my sister. Blood is blood. I wish my brother had had a little more of this spirit."


    You won''t back down an inch in the face of me, the regent.


    And as a man who married into another family, that is the correct response. Otherwise, it would look as if you were saying something inappropriate.


    "Artia, let me make it clear to you. I will unify this country. I will unify this country and within a year I will create an era in which there will be no conflict anywhere in the country.


    "It''s like a dream."


    "It''s a dream come true that I''m a regent, isn''t it?"


    Althea nodded her head in approval.


    "For that we need to get the lords of this area to follow us," he said. I won''t make it worse. At least I''ve never treated anyone poorly who came along for me. Brand is my brother-in-law. I''ll give you three provinces if you serve me. So--"


    I put my hand on my chest and said.


    "Make sure my husband follows me. I will continue to do my best so that you will believe it. Ten years from now, I will be standing at the top of the world.


    Altia got up from her seat.


    "Thank you, Regent, for your hospitality today. It is a great honor for me, Altia.


    Althea said this in a formal tone, but immediately laughed aloud.


    "Your brother has not changed at all. He is selfish as usual, violent as usual, but the fact that he became the regent means that the history of this country wanted him to be like that.


    Althea approached me and kissed me lightly on the cheek.


    It was a normal skinship between relatives.


    "My brother, you will be king... I don''t know what my position will be then, or if I will even be alive, but I think you should be king. You''ll be in a tight spot no matter who you''re under."


    "Yeah, okay."


    I stood up and hugged Altia.


    What a crazy sibling talk! It seems that ordinary stories are no match for them.


    You are my pride and joy, my brother. There''s only one problem with that.


    "What''s the problem?"


    "He''s quick with the ladies."


    It''s pretty powerful when your sister says it to you. .......


    "That''s because ...... you see, I''m in a bad position if I don''t have an heir. ....... It doesn''t mean that I''m a good-looking person. ......"


    "It''s not quite the same thing as being a sissy, but if I see a woman who''s capable, I''m immediately attracted to her."


    I wonder how much is known about this: .......


    "Kerala is sure, and I can also tell by the way she looks at the men she brings with her. I had something with a guy named Jahnhahn."


    "Do you really know what you''re talking about?　Are you using some kind of counterintelligence?"


    "I know your brother well. I just wasn''t in a position to court him in the past. Now that he''s regent, he has no mercy."


    My sister''s eyes are too sharp.


    "I''ll be careful from now on. ......"


    I don''t know if I can do it, but I''ll have to say so.


    "Oh, brother, I have one more favor to ask you."


    "What?　Don''t be afraid to say whatever you want. I''m sure you don''t have to be so modest now."


    "I''d like to talk to Ms. Raviara, too. She was like a big sister to me."


    I see. You make a good point.


    "Actually, I''ve already asked him to come here as my escort."


    The wardrobe in the room creaked open.


    There stood Laviala, teary-eyed.


    "Althea, it''s been a long time!　You have become so beautiful!"


    And immediately Laviala hugged Altia tightly. She hugged Altia with great strength.


    "Laviala, please continue to watch over your brother."


    "Of course, of course!　Laviala, I will devote my whole life to Mr. Arsrod!"


    It''s a strange feeling to be listening to this from the side.


    "Maybe your brother will have more wives in the future, but you''ll have to be patient."


    "Yes, I''ve given up on ...... that part."


    What do you mean "give up"? .......


    "Hey, how about we open a bottle of booze?　It''s a good day for it."


    After that, the three of us had a long talk. In that room, everything seemed to go back to the old days.


    I''m sure we''ll never have a time like this again. It would be impossible for all of us to gather together happily for another ten or twenty years, unless something miraculous happens again and again.


    We spent the time happily, as if we could forget such a thing.


    Let''s all go back to ten years ago for now.