The war came to an end with the capture of Brand Nahum. Other members of the Naham family gave up their resistance and offered to surrender.


    After inspecting the surrendered generals and performing other duties, I went to one of the commanders'' quarters at night.


    I went to one of the rooms where soldiers were guarding the rooms.


    When the soldiers saw me, they greeted me with the highest salute.


    "Good job on your mission. Everything is as it should be?"


    "Ha!　There is nothing wrong with me!


    I could see the soldiers'' faces were tense. They were in a position to lose their heads if anything unusual happened. No wonder they were nervous.


    Or maybe my expression was just that horrified. At least I''m not smiling. At least they weren''t smiling. If anything, I was not sure what to look like.


    When I entered the room, I found Laviala and Altia talking.


    Altia''s two children, her daughters, were playing in the corner of the room.


    Altia immediately looked me in the face. She had probably expected me to come, but she seemed to be unsure of what expression to put on her face.


    Slowly Altia got up from her chair and bowed to me, bending her body politely.


    "Your Highness the Regent...... thank you so much for saving my life and the lives of my daughters."


    There is nothing wrong with the manner. Since she married into the Naham family, it is only natural that Altia should act as a member of the Naham family.


    But I must confess that I''m not very happy about it.


    The two daughters were staring at me in a somewhat frightened way. To them, I was the avenger of their father''s death, so it was understandable.


    Laviala didn''t speak, but she put her hand in front of her chest and looked at me as if she were praying.


    "Altia, you can treat me as your sister now. It''s just you, me, my daughter and Raviara here."


    "Yes, I guess so."


    Altia raised her head. Her expression was still the same.


    I slowly approach her and put my hand on her shoulder. I felt something like a solid core, much more solid than the old Altia. I wonder if this is the strength that comes from being a mother.


    "Do you resent me?　No, it''s not fair to talk like this. Whatever the reason, I''m the one who overthrew your husband. Hate me all you want."


    This is the way of the Hundred Year Rebellion. Murdering children and parents is not uncommon.


    I believe some priest once told me that the inability of lords to escape the hatred between kinsmen is the result of their inability to fulfill their duty to protect their people.


    It is true that killing each other''s kin is better than killing among the lords. But I don''t know that I would have wanted to be born as a citizen. There are many sufferings there.


    Altia looks up at me.


    She looks troubled.


    "I don''t know. I don''t know how I should feel about my brother. Should I be angry first, or should I apologize first?"


    It was a strange conversation, but I was glad to be able to talk with Altia for the first time in a while, even though it might have been out of place.


    I guess she was angry because she was the wife of the head of the Nahum family, and apologetic because she was the sister of Arsrod Naevre, who was married to the head of the Nahum family. From the latter point of view, Altia could not stop her husband''s rebellion.


    But there is no clear answer to this question. That is why political marriages have caused so many tragedies since ancient times. If there were a right answer, there would be no need to worry. You just have to act mechanically.


    "There is only one command I give. Don''t ever try to kill yourself."


    As her brother, I will protect Altia. It''s my duty.


    You have a duty to raise our daughter. So live. I don''t care how much you hate me. Just keep that safe. Those two girls are my nieces too. I''ll protect them.


    "Yeah, okay. Thank you."


    Squeezing me, Altia grabbed the clothes around my belly.


    "My husband is going to be killed, isn''t he ......?"


    Altia says, trying to show as little emotion as possible.


    "Whoever tried to kill me will not be allowed to live."


    That''s what I said.


    No lord survives the fall of his castle. The only distinction left is how he dies.


    Please don''t crucify him. Please, let it be in the form of a death sentence for the regent''s vassal''s crime. ......"


    If it is crucifixion, you have clearly executed a sinner. If he committed suicide, he would have been blamed for the crime, but this is not the same as treating him as a sinner.


    "I will hear your wish."


    "Will you let me see my husband before he dies?"


    I agreed to that, too."


    Althea seemed relieved that her wish, which she had probably originally planned, had been granted, but her eyes were filled with tears instead.


    Gently, Althea jumped into my chest.


    I let her cry on my chest.


    That''s difficult, Oda Nobunaga.


    --I wonder how it came to be that you were the one to talk to me...


    I''ve done what I had to do to become the High King. I don''t think I did anything wrong this time.


    --Of course. Anyone who bows to the regent, much less rebels, must be crushed. You''re the one who will be killed if left alone.


    But as a brother you can''t make your sister happy. It''s difficult to make everyone happy.


    --Unless you''re ready to make someone else unhappy... don''t aim to be the High King. But I understand your feelings. But it''s not all about the other people. I truly understand. I made Oichi cry too.


    I know... You''re a child of turbulent times too.


    --Let''s drink alone on a free night. I''ll join you. I''ll join you.


    You haven''t learned your lesson at all. .......


    --I''m not the only one guilty of making my sister cry... but the one who betrayed us as well. I won''t forgive them!


    Yeah, well, I feel a little better.