Then there was a knock at the door. The knocking gave away most of who it was.


    "Sorry, Raviara. It''s still a good time for someone to come in from work.


    Raviara quickly untied herself. She looked a little disgruntled, though.


    When he opened the door, Kerala was standing there.


    "I have brought you the draft of the plan for the northern campaign," she said.


    "That''s very kind of you, but it''s not something you bring on an expedition, is it?"


    Raviara looked frustrated, so I told her so.


    "I was told to bring it to you as soon as it was completed."


    "Right. I''m sorry. Give it to me. Raviara''s here, too, so that''s good. Let''s talk about it for a minute."


    The proposal is, to put it bluntly, a plan to subjugate the Northern lords who have not yet flirted with us. Of course, on the surface, we would be subjugating the lords who have not yet flirted with the king.


    Currently, there are two main areas where the king''s power does not extend.


    One is the west. This is the land from which the previous king, Paphus VI, fled, so it is a strong enemy that we must continue to fight against. However, the west is not monolithic. There are several powerful lords fighting for supremacy.


    On the other hand, the north is too far from the capital and tends to be a culturally backward area. Perhaps because of this, small forces are gathering like ants swarming around a candy cane before they are integrated into a few powerful princes.


    "The plan is to defeat the Ortolans, who are relatively powerful in the north. I don''t know whether they will surrender quickly or fight us off thoroughly. Still, if we destroy this house, the other weaker lords will give up and surrender.


    "Not a bad plan, I think."


    Kerala said, not smiling at all. People often talk about me behind my back for being unfriendly, but it''s true that Shomuchu doesn''t laugh.


    "Well, ...... I have a fundamental question. ...... is it OK?"


    Laviala raises her hand.


    "In order, shouldn''t we attack the strongest enemies in the west?　If anything, the northern lords are far away, and we don''t have any other kings. ......"


    "Yes . I understand what you say, Mr. Raviara. The threat is in the west, no matter how you look at it."


    Raviara did not like Kerala''s calm demeanor again, and she looked a little uncomfortable. This is a matter of compatibility. Kerala is a female military officer who looks like she is from King''s Landing.


    "By the looks on your face, you know everything, don''t you, Raviara? Oh, Raviara always seems to be left behind.


    That''s not true. You are a great person and I am sure the regent loves you very much. More than me, at least.


    There was something about the end of that sentence that stuck with me. I don''t remember talking about it.


    "Oh, I see. ....... I do think that Mr. Arsrod visits Raviara''s room much more often than I do. ......


    Don''t try to mount up there. It''s very, very difficult!


    "Yes, I wish I could ...... talk to the regent a little more at night too. I''m not very sociable, so perhaps that''s why he keeps me away.


    Kerala is modest, but there is a definite spike in her words. Funny, I didn''t think Kerala had the personality to worry about such things. .......


    "Hey, Kerala, that''s the first I''ve heard of that."


    "It''s not something I''m going to bother to tell you. Let''s continue with the plan. May I speak first?　If there are any errors, please correct them."


    "Okay. Please explain ......."


    Kerala unfolded the map she had brought with her and indicated it with a stick.


    "This is how we will advance our forces from the castle of Maust, the regent''s stronghold."


    "Of course. There''s nothing strange about the route we''re taking. But that doesn''t answer Raviara''s question, does it?


    Yes, the reason for attacking the northern lords remains unanswered.


    So Kerala moved the stick to the area of the lords near the castle of Maust.


    "There is a possibility that Seraphina''s father, Eirs Kartis, and the regent''s sister-in-law, Brand Nahum, will take this opportunity to raise an army.


    "No way, really ......?"


    Raviara''s face turns grim. He had told her that such a battle might happen someday, but I don''t think Raviara had thought about when exactly.


    "That''s what I meant. The real enemies are those who are relatively close to my stronghold, those who are not fully subjugated to my heart''s content. They think they can destroy me at will. After all, they consider me an ally, but they don''t want to work for me."


    "So, you would rather attack the north first and have those people jump out than have a big rebellion while you are attacking the west?　It''s safer that way, given the scale of the war."


    Laviala is smart after all. He can assess a situation quickly.


    "Of course, this is based on a plan, or rather a <>. I''ll be glad if the regent''s relatives don''t revolt.


    "No one steals gold coins from a table with impunity when it is swarming with people looking at him. But if there is no one else around, there are those who would snatch it. In a word, I''m testing my relatives. If you''re going to kill me, now''s the time."


    I can tell from the information from the bugle that it is almost certain that he does not take kindly to me.


    But that doesn''t mean he will revolt. Most lords do not enjoy the complete trust of their subordinates. They may not like you, but they may serve you more often than not.


    So you will never know unless you try.


    "I understand what you mean. But killing Mr. Arsrod now would wreak havoc on the surrounding lands. I don''t see much of a benefit."


    "Well, not everyone lives that far into the future."


    I''m going to create a new era, but even those who don''t have the guts to do so can at least try to sabotage it.