Chapters are getting longer-nyaaaa! And the author's writing style feels like it's getting even more convoluted…so if there's a better way to word things, please tell me… -_-

Maa, at the very least it seems like things are gonna start picking up from here on out! Hope you enjoy the chapter~

I narrowed my eyes at the sunlight that shone in from the window.

"Ahh……my head hurts."

As I muttered to myself, I covered my head with my hand and looked downwards.

The cause was obvious……it was a hangover.

Taking the water pitcher that was placed on the bed's side table and pouring water into a cup, I drank it all in one gulp.

And then when I changed my clothes, I exited the guestroom at a more relaxed pace than usual.

"Mornin', Gazelle."

"Ahh, morning."

When I arrived at the parlour, Romel was already there.

"Your complexion is quite bad……is it 'cause the great hero can't win against age?"

"I return those exact words back at you. Your complexion is also quite bad, you know?"

At my words, Romel responded with a bitter smile instead of words.

"……around now, Mellice has probably come here and is being worked hard by your wife."

"Yeah. She's pretty amazing, ya know? Her mental strength is quite strong."

I was also affected by Romel's unusually prideful smile and grinned myself.

"Just by the fact that she's continuing to grip on your reins, I can imagine."

"Hahaha……that's true too. Well, if it's Melly-chan, then I'm sure she'll be able to keep up with her teachings."

"Hmph……of course."

As I agreed with him in a slightly prideful manner, I sunk into the sofa and gazed upwards.

As my head was aching again, I reflexively grimaced.

The servant on standby near the wall brought a cup of water and left it on the desk.

For him to leave water and not tea, he was probably taking our physical condition into consideration.

"Retire for a bit."

At Romel's order, the servant lowered his head and exited the room.

"Thanks for this~"

Smiling in a tired manner, I waved a hand while maintain my lax posture at the servant whose face was only peeking out from the door.

At my words, the servant stopped walking, once again lowered his head, and then finally left the room.

"……now, then. Let's leave the jokes at that, and start talking seriously."

Saying that, Romel's eyes became sharper and the light atmosphere from earlier was completely blown away.

"It's about Wiel, isn't it?"

"……yeah, it's about your younger brother."

"Has he made any movements since then?"

"For now he's been quite quiet. Well in other words, he hasn't made any particular movements."

"Is that so……"

"Your little brother's been doing quite well. We're trying to grasp traces of the ores and the investigation is still continuing, but unfortunately even now we still don't have any definite evidence."

"……I see."

"Next, about the mercenaries. For now we've finished confirming that there are no traces of them going to other territories."

"How have you confirmed that?"

"The mercenary groups that drifted to this country, generally speaking, either work as guards or they register with an odd-jobs mediator and accept jobs from there. We've received confirmation in secret from those contractors that they registered with. The number of personnel hasn't increased."

The mediators were created as a result of the increased number of mercenaries that were brought in during the war with Towair.

After the war, various places had a lot of reconstruction work that lacked the personnel to do it. As such, they were constantly seeking out workers, and as those running the mercenary groups needed work to acquire their daily provisions, they entered the country while looking for work.

Eventually, in order to make efficient use of the increase in mercenaries, those mediators were created.

"Hmm……"

"Also, we've confirmed the materials that have been going through the checking stations of various places. Well, as a result, we've caught onto some suspicious points regarding the flow of people……in addition, we requested an investigation of the distribution of goods and their prices from each territory's merchant guild and received confirmation but……the amount of goods flowing into the marketplace hasn't changed, and we didn't find a rise in the price of goods. In other words, it means the amount of goods being consumed hasn't changed. If the number of people increased, then that shouldn't be the case, right?"

"……you've investigated all of that?"

After hearing the contents of the investigation, I reflexively asked that.

No matter who you ask, I'm sure they'd have the same question……because just from listening, I could imagine the sheer volume of doc.u.ments that he'd have to go confirm.

"I feel bad for shattering your expectations, but it was Rui…….I kinda had another matter to settle."

"Rui-dono did it!?"

At his answer that differed from my expectations, I reflexively raised my voice loudly.

In that instant, my headache due to my hangover worsened and I drank my water in one gulp.

"Yeah. Of course, he knows the reason for the investigation as well, and I've also scanned through the investigation report. Rui took command and gave orders for all the investigations that he thought would be necessary."

After saying that, Romel made a bitter smile.

"At such a young age……that's…quite amazing."

I also made a dry smile.

"Leaving that aside, all that's left is to exclude the possibility of them being hidden in a remote area……but if we're to investigate that, we'll have to dispatch people to each place. Of course, we'll dispatch them for a different reason officially, but that'll probably take time."

"……no doubt."

"In addition to that, I've tried thinking about the motive for your younger brother's actions…….originally, your brother was supposed to become the Marquis House's next head, right?"

"……yeah, that's right."

"Meaning that the most probable reason is a problem with the family heads.h.i.+p. The reason why he's gathering mercenaries is probably to cause internal discord in the Anderson territory. In other words, there is a high chance that the mercenaries are concealed within the Anderson territory……in summary."

"……previously, you said that you were thinking about the possibility that I was conspiring together with my brother, right? What did you mean by that?"

"……that was ultimately just a guess, you know? The influence you have on the country as a hero……in particular, you have a considerable amount of clout with the army. That's why, well……if I am to be blunt, I was being cautious about your estrangement with the royal family. Even though the influx of mercenaries to other territories had decreased, only the Anderson Marquis House's territory was unnatural in that it was slowly gathering them after all."

"I see……"

"Leaving that aside, well……I'm sure that you want to settle the problems in your territory by yourself, but……we don't want to lose you. We'll continue investigating."

"I'm in your debt."

"But well……it won't be good to continue allowing Wiel to swim freely like this. If you're not going to move……if you allow us to send troops over there, we can kill him."

Abandoning the jaunty atmosphere from moments ago, a Romel wearing his Prime Minister's mask appeared.

"That's……!"

I unconsciously raised my head in opposition and glared.

A strained feeling of tension filled the room.

"……why are you trying to protect him? He's the one who killed your wife, and attempted to harm your daughter and son, is he not?"

The moment Romel asked that while sighing, the sense of pressure softened somewhat.

Even so, his tone was still like one he used while in palace, meaning that he still hadn't removed his Prime Minister's mask.

"……I-I'm not trying to protect him……"

"You know, right? Whether it be through your authority as the territory's lord, a.s.sa.s.sination, or your overwhelming military might……any method is fine. If you were to kill him, then things will be fast."

Having had that pointed out, I trembled all over while holding my head with my shaking hands.

"……at the present time, Wiel is suspected of instigating and a.s.sisting in the murder of the madam of the Anderson Marquis House, instigating the murder of the Anderson House's son and daughter, as well as a.s.sisting in the serial kidnappings in the Capital. Like I showed you, we've found proof of his instigation of the murder of the Anderson House's madam and children but……for now since his modus operandi was rather clever, there is only circ.u.mstantial evidence for the Capital's serial kidnapping incidents."

"That is why it will be difficult to judge him using the country's national law?"

"No, other than for the Capital's serial kidnapping incidents, it's possible to a.s.semble a case for trial…….but I am prioritizing the protection of your prestige. Once this case comes to light, the name of the Anderson Marquis House being hurt is a matter of course, but even your name as a hero will be affected as well."

"……ha. My reputation is more important than the law?"

"Laugh as much as you want. But it's true that we can't just continue leaving him alone, right? Before he causes internal discord within your Marquis' territory, we should settle him quickly. And you should care about your reputation a bit more."

"I don't care about something like my rep-……"

"……no matter what, could you not say that it does not matter to you?"

Narrowing his eyes, Romel scowled at me with a sharp gaze.

"Do you get it? I've told you before, but your name alone has become a restraint for other countries…….the wounds of this country received by the war with Towair still have not healed. Do you understand, they haven't healed completely! That is precisely why we cannot show any openings to other countries, but despite that……there are plenty of idiots who haven't comprehended that situation. They feel envy at your t.i.tle of hero, and try to plot against you, watching for an opportunity to take you down! In that sort of situation, if you have internal strife in your territory……there's no way they would permit you to fight against the country's judgement!"

Bam, Romel struck the table.

Rather than being irritated at my half-heartedness……it seemed that it hurt his heart more at the truth that the wounds that this country received during the war against Towair still hadn't healed.

Because in reality, it was when he spoke those words that his brows knit even tighter.

"……why are you making such a regretful face?"

Having realized that, I unintentionally opened my mouth and asked thus.

……Romel immediately perceived my meaning, and his mouth warped in self-derision.

"Isn't it obvious? My role is to protect the country…….it is my duty to make it so that the people can live stable lives. In other words, I cannot allow war to occur…….despite that, I was not able to stop it from happening. My goodness, this is what you call an incompetent Prime Minister."

"That……is something that cannot be helped, right? No matter who it is, there is no one who can foresee everything."

"Can't be helped? The amount of blood that was shed is not so little that it can be washed away just by saying that it couldn't be helped. At that time, I was unable to fulfill my duty…….that is why I cannot forget it. The sacrifices of that time. By not forgetting it, I will no longer allow the same thing to happen again!"

Romel had a bloodcurdling amount of spirit.

Just from that, even if I didn't want to, I see the seriousness of his feelings.

Losing to the force of his spirit, I once again hung my head.

While using both hands to curb the faint trembling of my body.

"……I wonder why."

After a few moments of silence, I let out a small mutter.

"I……thought that I wanted to send all the b.a.s.t.a.r.ds that were involved in Melilda's death straight to h.e.l.l without any exceptions. That was my purpose in life. Naturally, that was also the case for the one you say was pulling the strings from behind."

Every time I piled on more and more words, the trembling of my body became more and more visible.

I wonder why my body is trembling so?

Such a question pa.s.sed through my mind.

"I do hate Wiel. To the point where I want to kill him! Because he is the prime culprit that stole Melilda away from me……!"

Romel was looking at me with an inexplicable expression.

Pity was reflected in his eyes.

"Do you understand it!? That fear of the memories of your beloved woman fading away with time! Her smiling face, her gentle voice……! Even though I remembered it all so vividly……even though I loved her so much……time is relentlessly stealing those memories away from me……! Despite that, the memory of her bloodstained self remains even if I hate it……the fact that I was unable to protect her constantly tortures me!"

……ahh, I see.

Realizing my own feelings, the calm part of my mind scoffed at myself.

"Despite that……the acc.u.mulated memories with Wiel that remain within me, the emotions, those cause me to hesitate……! No matter what he thinks, to me he was an important family member……!"

It is because he was important.

……to me, even with what he did, he was still an important family member.

Even if I hated him from the bottom of my heart.

……even with things having reached this point, I didn't want to believe in that hatred.

However, there's no way that Romel was saying falsehoods.

Though we've had a short relations.h.i.+p, I know how much he has thought of this country while making moves.

His sense of responsibility caused even me to have a feeling of respect towards it.

And on top of that, did he not say earlier himself that I could not simply ignore this matter?

……that is why I couldn't possibly imagine him lying about it.

To begin with, the fact that our relations.h.i.+p has ama.s.sed to the point where I completely believed that he would not do such a thing to me played a large role.

"You too, if you wanna laugh, then laugh. Even though I spoke so pa.s.sionately about taking revenge……when it comes down to it, I've ended up showing such a shameful appearance."

As I rebuked myself, Romel's eyes strangely calmed down.

"……how could I laugh?"

And he quietly muttered.

At those words, I involuntarily twitched as my body momentarily gave a large shake.

"I……am constantly making decisions in a corner of my mind. Whenever I make a judgment, I choose whichever has a lower risk a.s.sociated with it……as such, I must choose what to give up on and what to take up for that sake. While I believe that being able to take everything into hand would be ideal, in reality that is impossible. I am always calculating in a corner of my mind which line will see this through. Even though thinking that in itself means that I must give up on something……even if that is a memory that I thought was so very precious, if it is necessary then I will easily cast it away."

When I lifted my gaze, Romel's eyes were like that of a young, lost child……such confusion and bewilderment was reflected in his eyes.

By no means was Romel's current state something to condemn.

In order to fulfill his duty as Prime Minister, he has probably been made to make a number of decisions.

Amongst them there were probably limited options, as well as extremely troubling choices.

And every time that occurred, he probably made a choice.

As he shed tears in his heart, he still put on a cold-hearted mask and chose to help the majority, while cutting away the minority.

……even if something "precious" was amongst that minority.

"Just how many things have I cast away? Of course, I have never regretted that. I haven't, but……at times I think about it. If I hadn't given that up, then what might have happened? I'm sure that if I were in your position, I would have chosen to give up early on……but, you didn't give up. You didn't cast it away easily. You felt that it was important, and even cherished your past memories. As such, you can laugh the way you are."

A single pillar of faith stood inside of Romel.

In front of that pillar, important things themselves can change to appear as falsities.

At times, his affection could be deep, but if necessary he could cruelly and ruthlessly cast it away.

That was just how absolute that pillar inside him was.

……good grief, how different our circ.u.mstances were.

His own state was a result of the choices he made, and I'm sure that Romel did not regret that.

However, right now Romel's words and atmosphere made it seem as if he envied me……I awkwardly narrowed my eyes.

"……well, it was originally a problem with your relatives. For now I'll leave this matter to you."

Suddenly, Romel continued speaking while exhaling.

His earlier tone of voice used in court crumbled and became casual.

"But……the next time I sense even the slightest movement from him, I will move my private troops without hesitation. If you don't make a move within a reasonable amount of time, then at that time too, I will do as I please."

"……alright. My bad."

I couldn't say anything more than that and lowered my head.

……it was because I understood that Romel was compromising for me to an unbelievable extent.

"I will definitely resolve things……no matter what form that resolution takes."

And then, even while my heart still wavered, I resolved myself.