The next day, Madeline and Almond contacted again asking for ti. Not today, not right now. They said they would be happy if they could find so ti within the next two or three days.
I asked Minsi, the chief of the guest house, again, and she told that Madeline was showing signs of fatigue. I told them to get so rest and set the date for the eting for the afternoon of the next day.
Afterwards, I talked to Rico about this.
"Yes. ......"
In front of the desk in the office, she crossed her arms and swept her gaze in an unexpected direction. Her eyes moved slowly from side to side. Rico's brain is trying to find the best solution. Eventually, her eyes turned to again.
"Speaking of countries, this is a great opportunity for us to talk.
"......"
"Linos, your child, the child of your blood, will be the Lord of the Lamaronian Empire. This ans that Agartha will annex Lamaron without effort. Agartha can expand her territory without fighting. This is a rare occurrence.
"Yeah. Yes, I know."
"It's just that ...... as a father and a mother, it pains to see young Falco in another country. I am in the sa position ....... I would also suffer if I were asked to adopt Idea.
"I'm sure you're right."
"And it's dangerous, after all. As Llinos said, there is no doubt that Lamaron will be a divided country. Perhaps even an uprising of any size. Even if it is settled, there will still be smoldering embers within the kingdom.
"Yes, that's right. That's the point, Rico. That's what I'm most concerned about. Almond's probably going to do a thorough purge of the disaffected. Even if he succeeds, won't he ultimately turn his hatred against Falco? If that happens, I think we will have a big crisis in the future."
"That's right. That's exactly what we have to do. If we fail, we risk turning our hatred against Agartha. If that happens, there is a possibility that Lamaron will beco an enemy of Agartha.
"To prevent that from happening, I still think we should turn this down."
"But if you do ......, you will be criticized dostically. Why don't you accept such a good offer? ......
"Do you think we'll get that kind of criticism?"
That's true. But I don't think there are many people who would criticize it openly. I'm sure my brother at Heedata would have a sarcastic comnt or two: ......."
"Say ......?"
I'm talking about His Majesty. I'm sure you have a strategy for to go even further, don't you? I might say sothing like that. I could go on saying that for a while .......
As I'm thinking about this, I notice that Rico keeps looking at . I straighten my posture and turn to her.
"I want to hear what you have to say."
"I think we should give Falco to Lamaron."
"......"
I knew it. It is natural to think about it on a national level. However, I still have a feeling that I can't make up my mind. If you say I'm naive, that's the end of it.
However..."
Rico continues. There is a sharp light behind his eyes.
"There is one condition," he says.
"Condition?"
Falco will not go to the Lamaron Kingdom until he cos of age.
"I see. Basically, we'll raise them with us, and in the anti, we'll make sure that the kingdom is quiet ......."
"And what's more, he'll marry Falco to the current emperor's daughter."
"Engagent ......?"
"Then, although it may be difficult for the army, we will be able to win the support of the people. The emperor's daughter marries Falco: ....... And if the bride has the sa imperial blood ......, she will feel secure."
"Well, sure, sure."
"The people who need the most attention are the people who live in the imperial kingdom. Even so, the people have suffered greatly during the recent invasion of Agartha. I don't think that the feelings toward the Imperial Army are good. Then, if there is another rebellion, the people may rise up this ti. If that happens, the army will have nothing to lose.
"I see. I see. I've been thinking only about the military uprising, but I should be thinking about the people who live there, shouldn't I? That's Rico. Thank you. You've made sense in my mind."
"I'm glad."
Rico smiled kindly.
After she left the room, I looked out of the window and sat for a while in a daze, pondering. I wonder how long I stayed in that position. Suddenly, a knock at the door jolts back to reality.
When I asked to enter the room, Matkal was standing there.
"...... Mat, what's wrong?"
"I was sent here by Master Rico."
"I see. That's just like Rico."
With a wry smile on my face, I called her over to and told her about the conversation we had just had.
"...... I see."
"I'm not sure I agree with Mato on this one, though."
"No, that's not true. No, it's not. It's a good story for Falco. It's a promise of a future. You don't beco the king of a country just because you want to. He must have a lot of luck."
"I see. ....... I hope Falco doesn't mind. After all, the master was a man who hated to be restrained. I hope he doesn't either."
"Yeah, I guess so."
We exchange a smile. After a while, Matkal's expression turned serious and he slowly opened his mouth.
"I have a favor to ask you."
"Yes?"
"When Falco goes to the Imperial Kingdom, please allow to go with him."
"Mato ......"
"At that ti, I will resign my position in the Agartha army. Do not worry. I will train the young n for that ti.
"No, you don't have to go that far. ......"
"No, you should be careful. You are marrying an imperial princess, are you not? Then you are subject to the interference of the palace. Those who reside there are truly a thousand and one won. They think nothing of killing anyone they don't like.
"mato......"
"Even though I have imperial blood in my veins, I am Falco's mother. The won in the inner palace did not recognize as a mber of the emperor's family. Because of my mother's low status. That's how they are. It is obvious that they will oppose Falco's entry into the imperial family."
"......"
"Almond will take care of the military," he said, "and I'm sure he will. But as for the palace, it is out of his power. Naturally, Pri Minister Madril and the others do not have that power either. That is why I must go.
"You've been through a lot, haven't you?"
"Royalty is like that. But this is a good opportunity for the kingdom.
"Is that so?"
"Up until now, that country has tried many tis to reform itself, but all of them have been blocked by the military and the rear court. If we succeed this ti, we will at least be able to dramatically reform the military. Now, if we can reform the remaining rear courts, the country will be able to achieve true developnt under the new emperor.
"I see. ....... In the anti, I'll tell Pri Minister Madrin and the others what we talked about today. They are free to accept it or not. There is a possibility that they will refuse. Besides, even if they accept it, it will still be more than ten years before Falco goes to the Imperial Kingdom. I'm sure we can take various asures in the anti.
Matkal nodded slowly at my words.
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