Chapter 283

Lucy ‍​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌‍Eurasia.

Damian's ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍mother and Eurasia's First Queen.

She ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍was a woman Killian had never met outside of formal occasions.

"Come ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍in."

At ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍his permission, a simply dressed woman who resembled Damian entered.

In ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍a different sense from Cali Eurasia, who suited a knight's uniform so well, she was modestly dressed. Compared to Emma Eurasia, who favored dresses, her attire gave the impression of simplicity.

The lines beside her nose made her expression appear even sharper.

"What brings you here?"

Killian asked somewhat stiffly.

"It seems you were resting. I thought we might have a cup of tea."

"Let us do that."

Killian led her to the reception room of the Fourth Prince.

Whenever he had to receive guests after the war with Brussels, he had used the office of the commander of the Extermination Squad.

The large reception room beside the Fourth Prince's bedroom was a space assigned to him, but it felt unfamiliar because it had essentially gone untouched.

When one of Killian's attendants moved to prepare refreshments.

"There is no need for you to prepare anything."

The attendant who had accompanied the Queen gave the others a look.

From the tea set and tea leaves to simple food.

As they prepared everything swiftly, the once-ownerless reception room recovered its warmth in an instant.

"Please understand. I travel often, so I always carry food prepared in advance like this."

‘Is she wary of poisoning? She is thorough.’

Killian knew that the travel she spoke of was not ordinary travel.

He had heard that the Meyer Family, Damian's maternal family, had deep political connections and had received a count's title from the Empire long ago despite being located on the eastern frontier.

From the Empire's perspective, they must have granted the title considering them little more than frontier lords.

But one day, the atmosphere changed drastically when the Meyer Family entered into a marriage alliance with Eurasia.

It was difficult to rank the three maternal families' respective contributions to Eurasia's rapid growth on the eastern frontier, but one thing was certain: if even one of the three had been lacking, Eurasia could not have developed so greatly in Simon's generation.

"I told you several times to come visit, yet you have made me come to you in the end."

During the time when Eurasia was a family, she had tried to draw Killian to her side, just as the other family mothers had.

But in the end, the meeting had not taken place.

To Killian, the Extermination Squad's affairs had always come first.

He was not someone who often met with Cali Eurasia, Fian's birth mother, either. It was only because Emma Eurasia came to him repeatedly without regard for appearances that he had made several ‘deals’ with her.

"Did I not judge that each of us doing the work entrusted to us would benefit Eurasia?"

"That is true, but it is not pleasant to hear."

"Now, I have no position, so I do not have the power to help Brother Damian, either."

"That is why I came."

"……"

"Seeking someone only when they have power is the sort of behavior Emma Eurasia engages in."

She criticized Emma Eurasia.

"You are blunt."

"I simply cannot get along with her."

It was the sort of remark that would have made Emma Eurasia flare up and raise her voice if she had heard it.

It did not seem likely that there had never been a quarrel between the two women.

"As you said, if you were still serving as commander of the Extermination Squad, we would both be busy, and it would have been awkward for me to visit for such a private purpose."

"His Majesty……"

"His Majesty would not want the kingdom's wheel to stop over pointless matters."

The kingdom's wheel.

It likely meant Eurasia's grand plan.

Through the organization called the Extermination Squad, Killian had tirelessly traveled across the continent and every frontier.

She said that she wanted its benefits to be devoted to the kingdom, not to the princes' competition for the throne.

"You seem to have been spending your days idly lately?"

There was no hesitation in her question.

Even as she lifted her teacup, her sharp gaze watched Killian's reaction.

"Is helping train the knight orders not a path for the kingdom's sake?"

"Why have you not taken Damian's hand?"

"Taken his hand?"

"If you had taken Damian's hand, the competition for the throne would have ended long ago. The kingdom could have devoted all its strength to turning the wheel as His Majesty wishes."

"It seems to be doing more than enough already."

"If you had aided Damian, you would not have lost your position as commander of the Extermination Squad even after making a choice like this one."

Lucy Eurasia narrowed her eyes.

"But before that, you would not have made such a rash decision in the first place."

She meant that she could have assisted the Extermination Squad commander's decision-making.

"You are arrogant."

"That sounds disrespectful to say to a kingdom's Queen."

"As someone who was once the commander of a kingdom's Extermination Squad, I feel much the same."

"I am still the Queen, while you are now merely a knight who happens to be a prince. I am not the sort of person who would watch my words enough to beat around the bush with a commander of the Extermination Squad who has lost his power."

‘The queens all have entirely different personalities.’

Lucy Eurasia did not hesitate in the slightest to say what Cali Eurasia or Emma Eurasia could not.

It was likely because she was well aware of the position she held within the kingdom.

"I judged and acted, and His Majesty made his decision. You are not going to speak of responsibility now, are you?"

Lucy Eurasia lifted her teacup.

"I should have met you sooner and told you how the continent's situation is unfolding."

Unlike before, there was a touch of regret in her voice.

"Did it begin with the Kurt Mountain Range Subjugation?"

She began to speak.

The dwarves of Aden Mine.

The direct descendants of the Kingdom of Cornelia.

The Pope and Saintess of the Holy Nation, and the high priests of its temples.

The Queen and High Elves of Elvenheim.

The Information Guild and Night Walker of the eastern and western frontiers.

"And now, I hear you have even built connections with the Temple of the Sea and the royal family of the Current Nations."

"That is Brother Julian's achievement."

"Julian may have taken the credit, but what matters is that you are at its core."

‘Her words cut to the bone.’

It was an obvious fact that everyone except Julian likely knew.

"Since the subject has come up, let us speak a little of the past."

"I am listening."

"For a long time, the Meyer Family served as observers of the eastern frontier."

She said that their ancestor, who had settled on the frontier long ago, had been granted a title through his connection to a high-ranking Imperial noble, and that from then on they had served as a link between the frontier families and the center.

"It was only a nominal count's title, but the Empire's prestige was so great that it alone allowed us to form advantageous relationships with the surrounding families."

Simon Eurasia, who had been competing for the family headship, had also learned of that fact.

She said that Simon Eurasia had gone alone to the Meyer Family, defeated its knights, won the Meyer Family Head's favor, and stated his intention to marry Lucy Meyer.

"The Meyer Family Head must have been angry."

"No, the Family Head had a sure eye for people."

The Meyer Family Head had not doubted that Simon would become the Eurasia Family Head and revive the family.

He believed that if he could make the head of a sword family his son-in-law, it would only be a matter of time before he became the true ruler of the eastern frontier.

"What he failed to see was that His Majesty's capacity was greater than Father's expectations."

Simon was already a knight who had reached Superhuman on his own.

Backed by the Meyer Family, Simon swiftly ended the competition for the family headship.

Then he entered into marriage engagements with the Vaskia Family and the Sepia Merchant Company as well.

"This time, the Family Head must have been angry."

Simon had profited from marrying his daughter, then broken his promise.

It was a situation that could reasonably be considered deeply disrespectful.

"Did I not tell you? The Family Head had a sure eye for people."

"……?"

"Rather, he admired His Majesty's foresight in dreaming of a kingdom. He even said first that the Meyer Family would take on the role of a core family."

"……"

After Simon became Family Head, when the Empire first tried to bring down Eurasia.

"The Empire tried to win over the Meyer Family."

It said it would forgive their marriage into a family that harbored disloyal thoughts toward the Empire; if they faithfully provided reports, it would not only preserve their title but eventually recognize the Meyer Family as the king ruling all the territory Eurasia had taken.

"Did you refuse?"

"We accepted."

"……"

"It was not a bad deal if we could learn the Empire's movements through plausible information."

Pour.

Lucy Eurasia personally refilled the empty teacup.

"Do not worry. His Majesty at the time also agreed to it."

‘There was a reason they were called a Political Family.’

At the Meyer Family Head's action, which went beyond common sense, Killian let out a hollow laugh.

‘Well, if he had recognized Damian's intelligence, perhaps he thought it did not matter that the kingdom's name was not Meyer.’

The other maternal families seemed to have thought the same.

Vaskia. Sepia.

They had established positions of their own on the eastern frontier and supported Simon.

Thinking that, in the kingdom Simon built, the bloodline born of their daughters would become the next king.

After decades of preparation, the Eurasia of today was established.

"And then you appeared."

The illegitimate child of a Family Head whose maternal family was unknown.

Killian Eurasia, who had not even properly held a sword until he was twenty, had posed no problem at all.

He became a problem only after he nearly died and became a completely different person.

"You alone earned His Majesty's trust and became a pillar of the kingdom."

Unlike the other princes in the competition, he had neither slowly built up achievements nor received aid from his maternal family.

"But a pillar is only a pillar. You have no background that can seat you on the throne."

At her gesture, an attendant approached, laid down several documents, and withdrew.

"They are Sepia's account books. I see you have received a substantial number of shares in the merchant company."

"Your information is considerable. It seems that the Queen suits the commander of the Extermination Squad's role better than I do."

He had said it half in earnest, but.

"Are you planning to swallow Sepia and become king?"

"……"

The Queen cast her bait and observed Killian's reaction.

The Meyer Family Head of the past had failed to see through all of Simon's thoughts.

It conveyed the feeling that she did not intend to make the same mistake.

She was trying to grasp all of Killian's thoughts.

"Even if you swallow Sepia, Vaskia and Meyer will not remain still."

It was a warning not to dream vain dreams.

"I do not know whether you intend to win me over or threaten me."

"At first, I intended to promise you the position of Commander of the Knights, or honor equivalent to it."

It was the proposal Cali Eurasia had actually made.

The Second Queen had wanted Killian to aid Fian and become the sword that protected Eurasia, which had become a kingdom.

"But watching your path, you did not seem like someone preoccupied with such things. And through this incident, I became certain."

Bold enough to enter the estate of an Imperial duke for a subordinate's sake and light the fuse of war.

"Killian Eurasia acts from a sense of mission to restore Eurasia, rather than for his own personal advancement."

And then.

"A man like that can never become someone like Escardo Schtenberg. That is my judgment."

"Then are you considering getting rid of me?"

"How could I get rid of you when you are said to have already surpassed even Sir Escardo?"

It sounded as though she would consider it if there were a way.

"As the Queen of the kingdom, I merely intend to make you a new proposal."

"I can only hope it is a proposal to my liking."

"I have information regarding the Monster Lord."

"……"

Perhaps satisfied with Killian's response, a faint smile formed on the lips of the woman who had emptied her teacup.

"Fourth Prince, will you not make a deal with me, staking both my fate and the kingdom’s upon it?”