All the rancor was resolved that day when Rumi and I talked.


    Of course, this does not mean that Rumi''s worries are gone. He would have to suffer from every problem. Still, Rumi chose his path.


    He swore to me that he would follow me.


    But later, when Serafina, Raviara, and Fleur were all there, he was summoned.


    "Mr. Arsrod, Rumi told me that what you did this time was thoughtless. After all, what were you going to do if Mr. Rumi didn''t listen to you!"


    Serafina seems to have similar feelings, judging from her expression. I guess that''s because my approach was more like a frontal assault.


    "No problem. In that case, I would have had to explain myself to the king. Well, even if I had imprisoned Rumi, the information would have gotten out anyway, and the result would have been the same. Then it would be better to let him go back to King''s Landing without imprisoning him.


    "Master, did you really not take proper precautions ......?"


    Serafina, too, looks disappointed.


    Fleur, on the other hand, was silent and cool. I guess she knew what I was going to do.


    "On the contrary. Rumi is ready to be with me because I told him the truth in a thoughtless way."


    If I don''t love him, this man may be ruined--I win when I make him feel that way.


    Laviala smiled and said, "That''s a foul! Apparently she understood.


    "It''s really ....... How can you be so confident of being loved when you have several wives ......?"


    Pressing her forehead, Serafina sighed deliberately. She seemed to agree with me.


    "I''m sure the regent would have done something like making a pincer attack on the capital by forming an alliance with the former king if he was accused of rebellion. In that case, the capital would have fallen easily. From there, it would be complicated, but I think they could at least overthrow the former king.


    Fleur came to my defense.


    That''s about right.


    It seems that I left everything to Rumi, but the truth is that the odds were stacked against me once I returned to Maust Castle.


    Even if Rumi had accused me of being a traitor, I would have switched sides to support the former king, and we would have continued the war unscathed and driven Hasse out without mercy.


    Of course, that was not my original plan. It is not the best. But not the worst. It''s a path more than worth taking.


    And above all, in the end, I respected Rumi''s wishes.


    All that remains is for me to do everything in my power to make Rumi as happy as my other wives.


    "Now that I think about it again, Arsrod-sama has made it a habit to be reckless even on the battlefield. I can understand if you think that it was only demonstrated outside of the battlefield.


    "Thank you for your understanding, Raviara. I knew it... only a nanny could do that."


    "It''s not a compliment. I''m just a bit disappointed."


    But maybe I''m a bit of a risk taker rather than a too-solid plan.


    However, there is no such thing as a completely safe way in these war-torn times. There was always the danger of death in battle even if we did nothing and stayed in the countryside.


    We need to take a chance somewhere, and the only thing we can do is to increase the probability of winning the battle. We cannot fight a battle after the victory has been determined in advance.


    "As for me, I could have thought that it would have been interesting if she had come down as my wife, but it didn''t work out that way..."


    Serafina said mischievously. I think she meant some of what she said.


    "I hope you wives get along well with each other."


    "I know. I know, but it''s hard to know if the Master will love me or his other wives too much, or if his wife will change her mind again.


    Now Serafina can say whatever she wants.


    "Last night, after you came to my place, you went to Raviara''s place and finally to Fleur''s room. I know you like the color of heroes, but isn''t this too extravagant?"


    Laviala and Fleur blushed at these words. That''s right. It''s not something to talk about in front of people.


    "So you went to Fleur''s place after Laviala. ....... Mr. Arsrod, you''re too cheerful ......."


    "It just so happens that ....... There are days when I get it off my chest and feel like that too. ....... Besides, it''s easier in your own castle than in King''s Landing. ......


    But it was indeed a time when I was in a very high state of excitement.


    It seems that being away from the battlefield, his energy goes to strange places. Even when he was engaged in political affairs, he sometimes felt restless.


    He was a very good man.


    The next day, I invited Kerala to my room again to discuss the specifics of the new direct control.


    My own mobilization was the largest ever. I had to build additional corps.


    Kerala and I also discussed who to assign to these posts. Kerala was the right person for the job, since he was the person between the general and the bailiff.


    "I thought it would be best to appoint a man who had served the Kartis family for a long time. I don''t know how far the subordinates will go if we put someone in charge who had no connection with the Kartis family.


    "Right. I''m sure the people here still carry the Cartesian era with them. I think it''s best to treat the survivors politely.


    Well, I think we''re done here.


    Kerala thought her work was done, but not me.


    "Excuse me, Kerala, but may I ask you to take care of my body as well? ......"


    With a sly grin, Kerala said, "As you wish ......."


    In time, this feeling will subside. .......


    After the matter was finished, Kerala said, with her usual stern expression.


    "And, Regent, about the Northern question..."


    "Oh, we''ll have to talk about that, too. I was going to set up a separate time for that, but - just as well."