"<> has not yet come to an end. The number of people who have lost their lives to war and hunger during that time is too great to count. We must no longer think in terms of names, but in terms of numbers.


    A somber melancholy crept over Kerala''s face.


    "Indeed, it would be strange to put all the blame on the royal family. If all the lords of the country had worked together to strengthen the royal family, at least war would not have broken out. Nevertheless, it is the king''s duty to leave the throne if he cannot rule ...... the country. ....... So it is written in the < 300 years ago."


    I have never heard of the book, but it must be well known to intellectuals like Kerala.


    "Originally, I had hoped that the current royal family would rule again. That is the natural thing for a servant of the royal family.


    "But then again, there are limits, aren''t there?


    Kerala nods slowly.


    "When His Majesty Hasse unifies the nation, he will certainly not leave His Regent ...... Lord Arsrod alone. That is how strong and impregnable his power has become. The honeymoon will fall apart no matter how Lord Arsrod feels about it. ......"


    The fact that Kerala went to the trouble of calling my name is a sign of her determination. Most of my subjects call me regent or lord. Only my childhood friend Raviara calls me by name.


    "And without you, Mr. Alsrud, ...... whatever your status, without the personality of Mr. Alsrud, the nation would once again be in shambles. ......"


    "Then it would be better if I were king."


    It would have been pitiful to let Kerala speak her own conclusion, so I told her.


    All Kerala had to do was nod.


    "But remember, this is only for the sake of the world."


    As if to nail her down, Kerala said.


    "I am a little different from a loyal retainer like you, Raviara. If I were to judge that you are trying to disturb the world, I might even pull back my bow."


    Slightly, Kerala''s voice faltered. She would not have spoken these words if she had not been prepared for them. But even so, it would be difficult to remain calm.


    I got up from my seat and slowly walked behind Kerala.


    I put my hands on her shoulders.


    "I''m going to make the world a better place!"


    I thought it was all I could do right now, and the best I could do with my mouth.


    Of course, I couldn''t see Kerala''s face because I was behind her. Even so, I knew that Kerala''s feelings would be conveyed to me.


    One of Kerala''s tears fell on the table.


    "Yes. ....... Please don''t make me betray you. ......"


    With her left hand, Kerala quickly wiped her eyes.


    "Lately I''ve been afraid of myself. In my dreams, I am in an inn somewhere, and I am sending my soldiers to avenge Lord Arsrod. ....... I''ve been having more and more of these dreams, and sometimes I get so scared that I can''t stop ......."


    "I''m sure it''s because of your profession. Was it the profession of akechimitsuhide?"


    Kerala''s occupation is said to be the name of the vassal who once killed Oda Nobunaga. It is not surprising that this has had an unwitting influence on Kerala''s mind.


    "If you are afraid, I think it would be better for you to kill me.


    Kerala must really mean it, because she is a serious person.


    "I may seem honest, but somewhere inside of me lurks a kind of doomsday desire ...... that I feel every time I have a spooky dream. I''m sure that the unification project of Arsrod-sama will not be hindered by my absence, and ......"


    I slowly put my arm around Kerala from behind.


    "A man like you who can''t use a good general is not fit to be a regent or a king anyway. I''ll ride you like a horse, no matter what kind of a horse you are.


    "I understand. But I said what I had to say. If you want to make a decision, you can do so at ......."


    "I''d rather hold you now."


    I spoke frankly about my desires.


    "After all this talk ......?"


    "I told you I could ride you. And pleasure is a good cure for melancholy. I''m not joking, I''m telling the truth.


    Slowly, Kerala untied my arm and stood up.


    She leaned toward me and asked for my lips.


    From there we moved around and enjoyed our meeting. More than enjoying the encounter, Kerala was also desperately seeking me, as if she were trying to drown out my anxiety.


    After a rather heated exchange, we were lying side by side on the same bed.


    "At this rate, you could be assassinated at any moment.


    "No way. I would only do this with someone I could trust. If you''re in the wrong, you''ll have to be more afraid of assassins than His Majesty.


    I shook Kerala''s hand in bed.


    For some reason, I knew unconditionally that this hand would never strike me down.


    After all, we are dating in the nude. I would not have to hide my dissatisfaction and stick a knife into it now. If you have a grievance, just tell me.


    "I, Kerala Hilala, will work hard for His Excellency Regent Arsrod.


    I looked at Kerala''s profile on the bed and was convinced.


    Kerala loves me, and she loves me right. This story is just another way of saying that.


    This thought made me feel very much in love with Kerala.


    "Kerala, one more time."


    "I''m tired of ......"


    You''re going to work harder than ever, aren''t you?


    I hugged Kerala''s brown skin again.


    I was more content than ever to have such an upright-hearted vassal in my life.


    And I knew that this country would not last long with a man named Hasse as its king, the man who had given me this vassal.


    I would have to be king.


    That''s what''s best for the country.