It was late when I entered the capital that day, so I told the king that I would only send a messenger and would visit him later to pay my respects, and decided to relax a little.


    I called Kerala into my room.


    "How can I help you today?"


    Kerala bowed politely. No matter how high up you become, this kind of behavior never changes.


    "One thing I want to ask you today, since you are so good at the truth. Well, take a chair or something. It''s not something you can just stand there and talk about.


    Quietly moving her chair, Kerala takes a seat.


    "Is it permissible for a non-royal to strike down a man who was once a king?"


    Kerala looked up quickly and met my eyes.


    "You mean, you''re going to kill the former king, Paphus VI, aren''t you?"


    "That''s what I mean. As regent, I''m on a mission to defeat those who oppose you. So far I have been a man of insignificant status, but I have not been troubled by that. However, however much he may have tormented His Majesty, the former king was a man of noble birth. Can I, a man from a small clan, avenge him?"


    Excuse me for a moment.


    With a pen, Kerala wrote down the names on a piece of notepaper. It was immediately clear that it was a list of names of slain kings.


    "There have been five instances in the past where kings have been killed in battle. Two of them were at the time of the fall of the dynasty, as they were replaced by the next dynasty. In the other three cases, the vassals did not kill the kings, because they also claimed to be kings in the first place. In addition, there is no case in which a former king was killed.


    Indeed, we have never heard of a former king who was in exile.


    "I see. By the way, is it possible to kill the former king?　If that is not possible, there is nothing else to do but to capture them. Well, His Majesty will probably order his execution once we capture him and bring him to the capital."


    He will seek to eradicate any family that threatens his throne as soon as possible. Given their past conflicts, it is unlikely that he will let them live. At best, he would probably send them to a remote island where they would be unable to make a decent living.


    "There is some doubt if the regent moves his own troops. But the regent is the representative of His Majesty. So in the end, His Majesty will defeat the former king and it won''t be a problem.


    "I see. If His Majesty orders us to avenge the death of the king, it''s fine with me.


    "Yes. Disobedience to the order of His Majesty would be a much bigger problem, and this cannot be considered disloyalty.


    I nodded vigorously. That took one of the sting out of it.


    "Good!　Then we must defeat the rebels in order to establish His Majesty''s reign as soon as possible. This enemy is a big one, but I''ll get him!


    But then Kerala''s face clouded slightly.


    I didn''t miss it.


    "Hmm?　Is there something wrong with what I said?"


    "No, ...... it''s not a big deal."


    "Bullshit. I can easily see you have concerns. Tell me. There''s no one else here anyway. If you want, I can swear to God right here and now."


    Kerala still seemed lost, but eventually she opened her mouth as if she had come to her senses.


    "Is that ...... really your intention to maintain order in the Kingdom of Thirlwil after the unification of the lands ......?"


    The smile faded from my face. I am not angry, however.


    I want to see where this goes carefully.


    "I don''t understand what you mean. The unification of the lands is the restoration of order in the kingdom. It would be more unusual if there were a rebellion in the country."


    "If you, my lord, as regent, destroy the former king and his ilk, there will be no more power in the kingdom to oppose you."


    Kerala said, as if squeezing out the end of it.


    "At that time, your Excellency would be in a position to cede the kingdom to ......."


    Kerala was depressed. For Kerala, she was clearly distraught. This is not the Kerala that is supposed to be so calm and collected.


    "You should have said it more clearly. Are you going to be the usurper of the kingdom?　Isn''t that what you mean?"


    "Ha, yes. ......"


    Kerala''s voice dropped, as if she were talking out of turn.


    "Now, let me ask you the opposite. Do you think I should be king or not?"


    I am under no obligation to answer for my true feelings. Kerala is my vassal. She must obey me.


    Kerala''s face looks down further. She can''t look at me.


    --Hey!　Why are you taking such a risk!


    Oda Nobunaga shouts in his head.


    --What kind of a dangerous test is this?　You''re doing something that I wouldn''t complain about even if you tried to cut me down right here and now!　How dare you touch the heart of the matter!　If this woman has the character to do right by the past order, she''s finished!


    Oda Nobunaga, it is true that Mitsuhide Akechi may have been an old-fashioned guy, and Kerala is not without its elements, but that is not the only reason people would not betray you.


    This is a certainty that I have sensed in my life.


    Even Oda Nobunaga does not believe that Akechi Mitsuhide killed him just to respect the old ways, does he?　People are more selfish. They don''t work for the greater good.


    --That''s true, but it doesn''t change the fact that there''s ...... danger.


    I didn''t want to use kerala with my doubts.


    After all, she''s one of my wives.


    "Kerala, what do you think?　This is an advisory to the vassals. You can tell me what you think. It''s natural to have different opinions."


    Sweat trickled down Kerala''s cheeks.


    "I ...... would be willing to be ...... king for the sake of peace in this world ......."


    Finally, Kerala answered.


    "You''re sure you''re not lying in your answer?"


    "Yes. ......"


    Slowly, Kerala looked up.


    Her eyes looked determined.