"I thought you were ...... thinking that the royal family, etc., should be destroyed. ......"


    I wasn''t particularly surprised. It''s what I''ve been thinking all along. I am sure that many of the King''s vassals are concerned about it, and I am sure that many of them have the King''s ear.


    The fact that I am the greatest military power in the land is unshakable. That means that if I betray you, the kingdom will not remain as it is.


    There is an old man who keeps tigers. As long as the tiger looks out, the old man is safe. But if the tiger attacks the old man, he will be in serious trouble.


    The problem was that Rumi was the first to mention it to me.


    I love my wife and I want to make her happy. There is nothing wrong with that.


    But if Rumi, the king''s sister, wants to keep the royal family alive, that is not compatible with my purpose at all.


    I''ve known this for a long time. I knew it from the moment the marriage was arranged. At the time, I didn''t feel guilty because I thought I could at best take advantage of the little girl.


    But as the months went by, I fell deeply in love with Rumi, and I''m sure she did too.


    There is no answer in the world where everything fits together happily from the beginning.


    Either way, I''ve taken on too strong a position as regent. Even if I served the king with all my heart, I could still be considered dangerous. Such is the nature of number two.


    Even if I live out my days, my children''s generation may suffer the slaughter.


    There''s no turning back now.


    I pull Rumi close to me with my hand.


    They are so focused on the ritual and the music that they can''t hear our conversation.


    "Don''t say that too often. I''m doing what I have to do as regent. You know that. And I''ve never tried to take away your right to bear arms.


    "Yes, you have served your brother faithfully. I have never doubted that.


    Rumi''s voice was shaky.


    "But I''m so afraid ...... to imagine that deep down inside of you, you wish the royal family were destroyed. ....... What am I to do ......?"


    "Rumi, being too depressed is bad for the baby. Think of something more cheerful."


    "I''m sorry ......"


    After that, Rumi was silent. We''ll have to have a serious talk about this once.


    Rumi would be much more uncomfortable in King''s Landing now. I think we should take this opportunity and return to Maust until Rumi gives birth.


    "Rumi, the climate is better in Maust than in King''s Landing. Let''s go back there for a while. I''ll go with you."


    "But I''m sure you have your own political duties as regent ......."


    "If I stay here as regent, Rumi will get anxious again. So I''ll take some time off and stay with you."


    Rumi pressed his face against my chest and cried.


    "I''m sorry. I''m sorry for the trouble I''ve caused you. ......"


    "Don''t worry about it. I''m sorry I wasn''t there for you in your time of need."


    "I know that this is your love for me. I have never doubted that you love me. That''s why ...... I, as a daughter of a royal family, am afraid ...... to tell you."


    I wondered what would be the best thing to do if I were in Rumi''s shoes.


    The answer was hard to come by.


    I couldn''t come up with an answer.


    I talked to Serafina about it that night.


    "You are a sinner, Master.


    Serafina giggled. Perhaps it is the effect of my profession, but her appearance has not changed at all since she married me. Perhaps it is the effect of my occupation, but her appearance has not changed at all since she was married to me.


    "It can''t be helped. It''s a turbulent time. Women cry. I''ve cried too.


    Serafina''s family had just been destroyed. That is why I came to ask Serafina about it, but she acted cheerful as if it was someone else''s problem.


    "There''s nothing to cry about yet, is there? Men don''t cry, they get beheaded.


    Serafina is a realist, I thought again.


    "That''s true, but you don''t want to make your wife cry anyway, do you? Rumi isn''t a tree stone, and neither am I."


    "The Master loves her too much. He should have left her more easily."


    Serafina used harsh expressions on purpose. Serafina often said provocative things like this.


    "Well, I can understand why you would want to love her when she becomes so beautiful.


    "When you say it like that, I can''t say anything. I shouldn''t have asked you. ......"


    I was serious, but he made a complete fool of me. It doesn''t make me angry, though, because it often makes me feel better. Serafina and I have known each other for a long time.


    "You have already decided to go back to Maust, haven''t you?　Then I have nothing to say about it. And I''m sure she will one day see her family destroyed. The fact that she said that to you makes it seem like she''s not the only one who knew."


    "Well, I guess that''s the way it is."


    I know for a fact that we have to separate the two somewhere. In the end, it is only a matter of feelings.


    "But maybe it''s not a bad idea to go back to Maust now.


    There Serafina''s expression turned a little hard.


    "Do you have a plan?"


    "Let''s make the Master more valuable here. Let''s show them that you think he wants to be king. Show them that this country can do nothing without Regent Arsrod, and they will bow down and ask the Master to come back."