I walked down the corridor with Hakuya. Looking through the window, I can see it was already completely dark outside. The ti is, around eight PM by my guess, and I recalled the situation at the banquet hall. If such a perfect situation happened at this kind of hour wed have been going to be up all night tonight. I wouldve had to send the perforrs back early to rest. Otherwise, if they had to perform all night and collapse during the show I dont even want to think about it.
As I walked along with such thoughts in my head, I finally reached my destination. Hakuya smoothly gave way for before the door to the room, standing with his back by the window across from the door. This was where he intended to wait. Though its not as if he was prohibited from entering, but he refrained. He then clasped his hands in front of himself and gave a respectful bow.
The Black Cats are already standing guard. Please take your ti and have a pleasant discussion
Sure
I nodded as I opened the door and let myself in. It beca dark again as soon I shut it back. Inside the candle-lit dark room I could see a king-size bed and beyond that, a terrace, lit by the blue-white light of the moon. Seated at the glass table by that window were the people I was looking for, having tea. As I drew close, they put down their cups and swiftly stood up.
My, Lord Soma. It has been a while
Long ti no see, Your Highness
I then returned the greetings back to the pair.
Indeed it has, Lord Alberto, Lady Elisha
The people waiting for were Liscias parents, the forr king, Lord Alberto and his queen, Lady Elisha.
Please
Thank you very much
Once I took the tea I was offered, the forr Queen Elisha gave a wide smile. She had Liscias calm deanor, and more ladylike, a coquettish-looking lady. I wonder if Liscias going to turn out like this. Ill be looking forward to the days to co.
We were now sitting around the glass table with seated across Lord Alberto. Lady Elisha silently stood behind Lord Alberto, having finished offering us tea. Looks like she intended to play the waitress through and through tonight. now that I think about it, I never really had a talk with her, huh. Even though shes my mother-in-law, she always spoke sparingly, preferring to stay next to Alberto with a warm smile. According to Liscia, she was always the quiet, taciturn type.
We welco you and thank you for coming tonight
My thoughts were interrupted by Lord Alberto.
Also, congratulations on the war and rger with the Principality. Youve done so much after only having the crown for half a year. You sure have lived up to the title of Great King
Im not really too fond of that title but I suppose I can finally et with you now
We apologize for making you wait
The forr king Alberto said that with a bow of his head. I have asked to et with Lord Alberto ti and ti again until now. When it was I dont know anything, I was looking for cooperation in order to get the Three Dukes to cooperate and to persuade Castor who was worried with the sudden abdication. When it was I have made judgent on everything, I asked to see him again and again to seek his explanation.
But the answer he gave back then, was always This country is yours now, Its not my place to appear and say anything for the forr, and I will tell you everything one of these days, please wait until then for the latter. Since he said hell tell everything soon, I could do nothing but wait until then. After all, Id never know if hed tell the truth if I brought him for questioning.
And then tonight, he said hell tell everything, so here I am.
So youll answer everything now?
If you want us to
Will you please tell clearly already. Just what in the world are you thinking
Since he said hell tell everything, I asked from the beginning.
There are three things I want to ask you. Firstly, about handing the throne to . It was the first ti eting for the both of us when you summoned , and yet you handed the throne after just hearing myrich country strong armyplan. You even made Liscia my fiance. Its true that I could act freely because of that, but its unnatural. It was your first eting with , soone so young, and I was even bluffing back then so that I didnt get swallowed by the flow so I thought I acted a bit rude. How could you hand the throne over so easily to such a guy?
Secondly, about Georgs loyalty. He plotted a simultaneous kill with those that look like they would beco my enemies by putting everything about the forr General Georg Carmine through the mud. Seeing how it turned out, it seed like he had it all planned, even though theres also those letters from Liscia. This is also weird. I never even saw Georg face to face until it was all over. He literally put his life on the line for this. He would never have done it if it werent for trust and loyalty.
But Ive never t with Georg, and you dont put faith on soone you never t with before. So Georg acted out of loyalty, but to whom? Theres no other answer but the forr King, you. Before I executed him, I asked Georg about it, and he said, you will hear it from the persons own mouth when the ti cos'
I paused there and took a sip from my tea.
and lastly. Why didnt you let see you until now? If you were waiting for everything to settle you couldve seen when the Amidonian war ended or the rger concluded. Why were you waiting until now to let et with you? I want to know that too.
and thats everything, is it?
Alberto nodded and began talking.
Firstly, we would like to say that all those things are linked together by one thing
One thing?
We will answer the third question before we get into that. We were waiting and seeing, whether to tell you the answer, or whether we should keep things as they were and not tell you anything
however, our heart is not so strong as to keep the sin we had commited bottled inside our chest
Sin he had commited? Whats he talking about?
Lord Soma have you ever thought about wanting to do your life over?
Lord Alberto asked the question. Albeit suspicious, I still answered.
I have. I always have
Speaking of just the things since I received the throne, Ive always thought whether I couldve done things another way, whether I couldve done it better, and whether I couldve saved even more lives. Its always been said that dead souls go to heaven, so I wondered if I couldve reached an understanding with an enemy I slew dead in battle, even though I knew it was impossible.
But, whats that got to do with this?
let tell you a story, about a certain kingdom in a certain world, about a certain fool of a king
And with that prologue, Alberto began telling the story.
There once was a King of a certain Kingdom. The King wasnt wise, though neither was he a fool. He did not govern well, though nor did he govern badly for he was the very model of diocrity. Were the kingdom running on its tracks, he wouldve been said to be an unblemishedly good King. However, the world was in a state of war between n and demons. The flas of war had yet to reach the kingdom, but food and economic troubles were slowly bringing it to ruin. The diocre King was unable to put up any effective act to counter those problems.
Then one day ca an appeal from a great country in the west, that the kingdom perform a Summoning of a Hero. An appeal though it was, it was not one they were given an option to refuse. The diocre King perford the ceremony as was asked of him. The ceremony was a success, and a young man was summoned from another world as a Hero. The King was going to deliver the young man to the great country in the west, but then the young man said,
If youre going to fight the demons you should first have a rich country and strong army
I think Ive heard that one before or rather, thats obviously about , right? I thought about it and considered asking, but the plot that followed differed from the one I knew.
Having listened to the young mans story, the King felt a talent in him that he didnt have, and put him as his countrys pri minister. The young man worked hard with all he had to et the Kings expectations, conducting various innovations. Because of his efforts, the country began to show the signs of recovering from the food and economic problems. However, there are so who looked unfavorably towards the young man.
They were the nobles of the country, the ones among them with ill repute. They could not stomach a young man from heaven knows where suddenly becoming pri minister, but what angered them most of all was the young mans reforms. In order to raise funds, the young man exposed their corruptions and even threatened to demote them from the upper rungs of society. Because of that he had earned their ire. They ca over again and again to the King to persuade him that the young man brings harm, to try to overthrow him.
However, the young man also had an ally. He was the General of the countrys Army. The honest General recognized the genuineness of the boys capabilities and beca his backer. However, this was also seen unfavorably by the unjust nobles, slandering him even more strongly. The slander that kept coming day after day gradually made the King feel uneasy.
The young mans talent was indeed fascinating, but he had too many enemies. This may end up splitting the country. Thinking so, the King naturally made a decision he should never have made. He dismissed the young man from his post as Pri Minister. The young man, released from his responsibilities, fled in disgrace under the roof of the Generals castle.It may be unfortunate for the young man, but this way the country would stay whole. This way the young mans life would surely be safe,rationalized the King to himself.
But matters did not end there. The unjust nobles were more obstinate than the King thought. Rather, considering their covert connections, it should probably be better said that they could not overlook the young man. That year, the neighboring country that had long nursed their grudge on the country brought their troops to cross the borders. The General sent his n to ambush and square off against them.
It happened at that ti. As if they had been waiting for that mont, the nobles staged an uprising, striking at the Generals castle in Randell. considering the timing, the nobles might have had connections with the neighboring country. Since the Generals land used to belong to the neighboring country, their scheming would have been easy, and to the neighboring country, it was an act so as to cut down the young man that might one day beco their enemy. Even though it was the town where the Army Generals castle was at, most of the Army itself had been dispatched to the border, leaving less than five hundred as guards to oppose the nobles armies that numbered over ten thousand.
The Army General was also in town and staked his life on the towns defense but the enemy was too many and he was defeated in the end. The town his castle was in went up in flas, and the young man turned into scattered ashes amidst the flas. It only took a few days since the nobles armies were raised, the King could not do anything.
Having lost the General, the Army could not hold itself facing the neighboring countrys army and was routed. The nobles army t up with the neighboring countrys army and used their montum to march up to the capital. Seeing this developnt the King rushedly tried to gather the army to face them but was unable to do so. He did end up leaving the General and the young man to die, so the army officers and n resisted and returned to their own lands. The Air Force and Navy also turned their backs on the King to defend their own territories.
As a last resort, he tried to raise partisans from the citizenry, but it also ca to naught. The young mans reforms gained the ire of the nobles but the people had been saved by those reforms. For the people, the young man was their benefactor, who saw them through hard tis. The people had no love for the King who had dismissed the young man. Thus the King ended up just like the young man, isolated and friendless, surrounded by a large army. He would soon surely be killed just like the young man was, the only difference being that the King did not have soone like the General who would risk his life for him.
This was surely his just desserts. For believing the false charges of his enemies, and for disgracing those who actually had their hearts for the country.
I was struck dumb by the story Alberto told. The story describes anotherreality. Back when I was just summoned into this world, I ntioned the rich country strong army proposal to avoid getting extradited into the Empire (I didnt know the truth of the matter back then). I thought, if I could be left with the position of Pri Minister or Finance Minister, I could raise funds and deliver the support money the Empire wanted.
But if I had beco a Pri Minister instead of a King at that ti, I wouldve t with this fate, the future that was different from my here and now. There were lots of points of this story I could recognize, feeling strange real and not at all a pipe dream. I thought it was a rather accurate simulation. in that case, this may be a little impolite, but Alberto was a diocre person and not soone who could concoct such an accurate simulation.
You sound like youve actually seen it happen
Indeed we have seen it happen. Ah, we suppose we should say it wasshownto us
Shown?
Yes. Through the power our wife possesses
His wifes power? I instinctively looked towards Lady Elisha, who was smiling.
You know that our wife is a user of dark attribute magic just like you, right?
Ive heard of it, but Liscia didnt seem like she knew the details.
This is highly restricted information, so please dont ntion it to anyone. Her power is to plant mories on a target in the past'
Then Alberto proceeded to tell the continuation of his earlier story.
The King, having lost everything and even his days numbered by the nobles, fell into deep regret. Why did he dismiss the young man. Why didnt he regard him more highly. If he hadnt believed the nobles slanders, if he had joined hands with the young man and the General, continuing the countrys restoration, at the least he wouldnt have t with such distress.
Soone of worse character would, at this point, have been blinded of their own faults and blad everything on the acts of the summoned young man, that none of this wouldve happened if he hadnt co. However, though the King was weak, he was at his core a soft-hearted person, such an idea did not co to him.
What he did think was that he shouldve given the young man more freedom to move. For starters, he shouldve been given the throne instead of just the Pri Ministers seat. That way he mightve managed the country way better than himself did. That way his daughter
The King sunk in despair. Seeing him in such a state, the Queen said:
[You have made mistakes, my dear, and brought an end to our lives. But with the use of my power, you could convey this failure to your past self]
The Queen had a mysterious power. One that could tell her past self of her current experience. Her past self that received her mories would experience the senders mories, it was like rewinding ti itself. By the use of this power, the Queen had survived the quagmire that was the power struggle (strictly speaking, sending back her mories before she died and thusly avoided danger)
Then the Queen apologized to the King.
She had also used this power when she chose her spouse, but for so reason, no matter how brave the man she chose, and no matter how learned, the country was always fated to fall to ruin. There were various causes, such as foreign invasion, the demon war, nobles insurrection, citizens uprising, the capital would always end up in flas. Only the current, diocre King, though he could not make the country grow, he could at least make it survive. She even only managed to bear a child to this King alone.
[There is no way to change our fates now, but there is a way to lead our past selves to a future different to ournow. My dear now that our lives are forfeit anyway, wont you build this future as your final act?]
The King made up his mind. He will convey his failures to his past self, and his past self would turn the throne over to the young man. This might have been just an act of self-satisfaction, but it was to sowhat atone for those who have felt loss due to his actions. Thus the King and the Queen let their past selves inherit their current mories.
The mont they received the mories was the mont the young man was summoned, when they listened to him talk about his rich country strong army plan.
In other words, we were the King who received those mories
As I listened to the King, I beca shocked to the core. Is this a ti slip? no, a ti leap? Magic can even do things like that? ah, but it only takes back mories, not the persons consciousness themselves. Still, being able to bring back mories to the past is supposed to cause a ti paradox. The King who sent back the mories shouldnt have had received the sent back mories after all. Which ans the Queens power probably intervenes with sothing like an alternate dinsion.
Which ans that from the point of view of the senders world, this one is not the past but a what-if world. but even so, I dont think the King and Queen would understand. The concept of an alternate dinsion doesnt exist to begin with (even I only knew what I knew from SF stories). Aaaah, dammit, this isnt a simple sword-and-magic world isnt it?
While I was confused, the King sipped on his tea and took a breath.
Really, the senders have it bad but we who received the ssage are troubled too. As feeling goes, its like we spent the life where we made you pri minister, did sothing foolish, and turned back ti. If we hadnt heard Elishas explanation on the other side we wouldve thought it was as simple as turning back ti. We havent done a thing ourselves but it doesnt change the fact that a wrongdoing had been done to you. So in place of the other , we apologize. We are very sorry
The King bowed his head deeply as he said that.
Uhh, even if you apologize I dont really rember anything about it so
We know it is just for our self-satisfaction. We wanted to apologize, please allow us
if you put it that way, I guess
If they wanted to apologize, then I should probably let them. Of course, since things flew way over my head, I cant really emphatize with him.
So, in order to keep things from going like how it went in those mories, we turned the throne over to you. I suppose this answers your first and third questions
The first question was why did you give the throne to soone you just t, and the answer is that it wasnt our first eting from the Kings point of view (even though it technicallywasour first, this is complicated). The answer for the third, why wont you et with until now, is that he was considering whether to tell about this power or not. Also, to make sure that the future went a different way.
And the second, about Georgs loyalty
Huh! No way, did you tell Georg about this!?
We are a weak man. We are not strong enough to keep such a thing bottled down by ourself.
Alberto gazed outside the window. The moon had gone behind a cloud at so point, making the sky gloomy.
We didnt think it was possible for us to bring about a different future on our own. We bared everything to the countrys most trustworthy man, Army General Georg Carmine, and asked for his cooperation. Then we ca up with a plan to eradicate the unjust nobles who were going to beco your enemies. Castors being suspicious was an oversight of ours, but the plan had already gone underway, so we could not divulge the plan and caused you anguish. We beg your pardon
So thats that about Georgs rebellion drama, in order to round up all my would-be enemies in one place and eliminate them along with himself. Coupled with Hakuyas and my plan to hold down the Amidonians, it really beca a really big stage, huh. Roroa also played her own script. Really a stage with many scriptwriters (, Hakuya, Georg, Roroa, and also Lord Alberto thats a lot).
I tried to make people dance but I was dancing on strings all along. I thought I was clearing a path for myself but I was running on safe rails. this is, well
Sohow I feel like losing confidence
Not at all. Practically speaking, you managed to reach a different future from then. You rged Amidonia and rebuilt this dying country into the Kingdom of Friedonia. I feel that I did the right thing in handing you the throne
Im happy that you said so but, where did it the future actually start to change?
From the start. This ti around, Liscia was by your side from the start
Liscia?
Well sure, Liscia was supporting by my side from the start, but why is her na coming up now? Then, Albertos face looked a little sad.
In the future where you were Pri Minister, Liscia was also by your side. She was Georgs secretary, so you knew each other through him. That worlds Liscia also recognized your talent and fell for you. Even after you were discharged, she would co right to to ask to recant your dismissal. However the of that ti did not listen to Liscias advice, and she sorrowfully returned to Randell where you were. To Randell that went up in flas because of the nobles. Probably in the end
Liscia died together with . He did ntion that he lost everything earlier. So he ant losing his beloved daughter by that.
And what about the other allies I promoted?
They werent there. You didnt use the Royal Broadcast in that world. We followed the advice of those who wanted to keep with tradition and didnt let you use it. Therefore the personnel gathering and your broadcast program thing never happened
I see now that I think back to it. Most of our mbers ca from the personnel gathering using the Royal Broadcast. Without it I wouldve never t with Aisha, Hakuya, Tomoe, and Poncho. Also, as a Pri Minister Excel wouldve never sent Juna, and I wouldnt have t with Ludwin, Halberd, and Kaede in the military, either. Which ans that it was a huge turning point.
And the strongest backing for using the Royal Broadcast was the throne I was given and the engagent with Liscia that provided legitimacy for it. If it werent for those, I probably wouldnt have been able to silence those who oppose the use of the Royal Broadcast. Thinking about it that way
Holy. Liscias starting to sound like the goddess of victory here
Please do cherish her
Of course I would
The goddess who wont abandon even in adversity. If I didnt cherish her Id have brought divine wrath upon myself. Lord Alberto then stood up.
Now then, weve told you everything we know. With this, our role is truly over. The rest is now up to all of you
As he said so, Lord Alberto stood next to Lady Elisha and wrapped his arm around her shoulders.
We are thinking of leaving this castle and live a quiet life in our old territory
What! Why?
Having the forr King around is going to invite unnecessary trouble. This is also sothing we have decided from the start, to step off the stage after making sure the future had changed
What I saw there was not the face of an unreliable King, but one of a loving father watching over his children. Is that face ant for ?
I suppose youve already made your decision
We believe we could leave Liscia and the country in your hands. Both Elisha and ourself. Well be counting on you, our son'
I stood up and thumped my fist on my chest.
Understood, Lord Father
We nodded to each other. Lady Elisha watched over everything with a smile. I went to leave the room but stopped and looked back as I was about to approach the door.
There is one last thing I wanted to ask
What is it?
Um, in the world where I was Pri Minister, did you ever find Liscias and my body?
no, we did say that you beca ashes scattered in the wind, did we not? Not a single speck remained
I see. So they never found my body. In that case
Then it could be possible that Liscia and I might have survived
What!?
I wouldve died if I were on my own, but Liscia was there with , right? If the over there cared for Liscia as much as I do here, then I would never have let Liscia die without doing anything about it. Though disgraceful, I wouldve taken Liscia and ran away. Its possible that we might have been attacked by enemy troops while doing so, but in that case then theyd surely have our bodies. Since they didnt, that ans we might have managed to escape.
Its also possible that Georg used himself as bait in order to buy us ti to do that well, thats like believing in so Yoshitsune survival theory. But isnt it alright? If it ant easing this father in law of mines guilt a little bit.
Thank you, son
Those words reached as I stepped out of the room.
What do you think youre doing all the way out here?
I was on the governnt office terrace, watching the castle towns night scene, when Liscia ca to with a blanket.
You found out, huh
Hakuya told . Everyones busy preparing for the singing contest you know?
sorry. Let stay here for a little longer please
Mou then at least dress yourself a little warr
As she was saying that, Liscia put the blanket she brought over and slipped herself inside. The warmth of her body coming in contact with felt really good.
Phew Yeah, its really cold outside this late
Well of course, its winter
Ah, its snowing
Woah, it really is
When I realized, snow had already began falling from the heavy clouds. Powdery at first, then gradually turning into large flittering flakes of snow. The snow falling in the darkness and the lights from the castle town was a wondrous sight to see.
Its beautiful
Liscia muttered beside . I watched her face in profile as she stood there enraptured. Unable to hold myself, I got out from the blanket and drew her into my embrace, blanket and all.
Wha, Soma!?
actually
I shouldve been cold, but my face, my body, for so strange reason, felt warm.
Actually theres sothing I have to say to you before Aisha, before Juna, before Roroa
Liscia I love you. Will you marry ?
Really. After all this ti
As she said that, Liscia smiled, embarrased, like she was ticklish. She then gently pushed away from my embrace and put her hands on my chest, slowly bringing her face close.
Yes. I love you too, Soma
Our lips t together. It was right at midnight, the 32nd day of the 12th month (New Years eve).
We remained that way for a while, listening to the coming of the new year.
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