Chapter 55: C239: Prelude To The Disappearance

Chapter 239:  Prelude To The Disappearance

John Rigen's perspective

Four months have passed since the previous war. We had retook Veta successfully, and managed to win the voting. According to Warsaw's laws, when a Lord loses his land, that land will have to be re-voted after getting retaken once again. The one who has the most achievements and the King's trust will be able to claim the land's possession.

However, thanks to the mass purge on the government's spies of His Majesty, my power was restored. Right immediately I was appointed to claim back Veta, despite the Commander who commanded and retook the castle wasn't me but a Warsaw Lord. 

King Hoster only has me to be the most trustworthy. That's why I reclaimed my land right immediately as Veta was retaken by Warsaw military.

And we're now living in our old home happily now... my wife and I plan to have a child in the future. Our plan has been conducted for two weeks, but hasn't shown a "green light" progress at all. 

My wife hasn't got pregnant yet, and maybe... I quite hurry for it. We intend to "re-intercourse" tonight, and wait till my wife informs me that she gets pregnant.

That's about my family... maybe I should say about other affairs about the country and Rivia's group.

Let's start with Attenta Kingdom and its vassal states. After the war, Attenta seemed to have... been broken from the inside. Their King and their Empress, died in an assassination, committed by my Spec Ops unit: Swift Predators.

All operatives died in the assassination, despite it being a successful assassination. Shortly after the rulers' deaths, the war ended with more panic come from Attenta's side. Queen Stella Foss (The daughter of Attenta's King) also died in Warsaw.

Losing their rulers, and the only child of the King... the Kingdom has no heir who owns his blood. Turned out... that was just a prelude to the Kingdom's future downfall. 

Currently, Attenta is an unbalanced state which has coups occurring quite frequently. Since everyone in power wants to have power, they don't want to share it with anyone, but themselves. Maybe... this Kingdom will turn into anarchy after a month or so. So do its vassal states, some are going to propose to be the new secession states which have no alliance with Attenta.

At first we were worried that they would return to invade us after this. However... seeing them killing themselves, Warsaw must use that moment to rise up to be a strong Kingdom in the north. 

That's all I can brief about Attenta and its vassal states. Now return to Rivia's Knight Ranger squad. After escorting us back to the Palace's backyard, they went away 

Before parting with us, Lieutenant Rivia said that her group would be always in Zaira village. That means her Knight Ranger team will be always waiting for our arrival in the village. With the date to be in effect for 4 years... or I should say still has 3 years.

This time, we're also planning to run away together. The plan will be conducted in the next week since that's the day when King Hoster will be visiting a southern Kingdom. Warsaw's planning to widen its allies and expand its trade markets. 

Because of that, the King himself will have to present before that Kingdom's Monarch, to make the trade agreement for both sides. 

I'm not worried about the escape plan's preparation at all... it has no mistake at all. My wife - Shera and Reimi have also agreed to escape with me. Their anxiety keeps growing, they are concerned about King Hoster's sanity. 

However, my wife wants to visit her brother for the last time 3 days later. I'll escort my wife there, later will pretend to speak to Hoster as if both of us are planning to have a vacation together. 

When the King goes away from the Kingdom for business, we'll run to Zaira village together.

Maybe now I should return to the present... alright.

I'm on my way back to my private room to re-sleep with my dear wife. Somehow I woke up during my sleep, and found out that it was 5:49 AM already... was already early morning. Thinking I must've faced something that made me wake up in my sleep, I decided to head to the kitchen to grab some water.

Now I'm going to head back to my room. Maybe I'll use my subordinates' hands once again today to solve for us Veta's daily paperwork. Otherwise... am I just becoming so lazy? But I don't want to trouble my wife. 

Maybe... Reimi will go out today for the land's surveillance. She'll write the reports and send them to me under forms of paper sheets, which are the affairs of Veta region's paperwork that need to be solved daily. 

About my wife and myself... maybe we'll give our subordinates a break for today. We'll solve the daily work ourselves, I think so. After finishing those task papers, my wife and I will be resting together.

Alright... now I'm standing before my private room's front door. Reimi's sleeping next door to us... she's keeping a distance from me after the tragic incident that I committed 4 months ago.

I will try my best to make up with Reimi. Now I must get inside my room to wake up my wife, today's gonna be busy with the paperwork. Then I grab the door's handle, and... wait a bit. I see someone coming out from the next room's door... that's Reimi.

Reimi walks out of her room with her fully armed with an armor and weapons. She sees me when she comes out, then she bows before me slightly.

"Morning, Reimi". - I greeted Reimi, trying to approach her slowly, not letting her know my movement

"I hope you'll have a good day today, my Lord". - Reimi now calls me "my Lord" instead of "Lord Rigen or John", it shows me how much distant she is from me now.  "I'll be waking up Lady Sarah...". - Then Reimi turned to Sarah's room and walked in there 

"Wait, R-". - Before I could finish, she came into the room 

Hmmm... I'll try again another time. Now I must return to my wife at once.

Then I open the door and step inside, slowly closing the door. My wife seems to have woken up when I wasn't in my room or something. However, she's looking at the bedside where I always sleep with her... and Shera seems to be confused.

"John... where are you...?". - My wife crawled to that bedside, figuring out why I wasn't around her

"I'm here, Shera". - I called my wife, later approached her.  "Oh... what's wrong?". - Then she suddenly hugged me, seemed to be sobbing lowly

"Sobs... sobs... sobs...". - Shera kept sobbing while hugging me, I only knew to headpat her to comfort her.  "John... I'm scared... please stay with me". - She hugged me tighter

"Yeah yeah, I will". - Then both of us returned and sat on the bed.  "What's wrong? Nightmare or something?". - My wife kept sobbing despite having my headpats.  "Tell me what you dreamt of, Shera". - The reason she woke up with this kind of confusion, a nightmare could be the answer that led to this incident 

"Kiss...".  "Calm down, hmm...". - Seeing my wife still confused, I kissed her to calm her down.  "Don't worry... I'm here with you".  "Alright...?". - I hugged my wife by one hand, still headpatting her while pulling her closer to me

"Sorry for disturbing you, my Lord". - All of sudden, a woman's figure came in.  "Oh... you awake?". - Turned out that was Ilis - my only private maid in Veta castle.  "From the depth of my heart, I hope you two have a day of bliss blessed by the Goddess". - She bowed to us and prayed, holding the Star pendant of her necklace - Katiaism

This private maid, she was ordered to evacuate at the beginning of the war. After the war, she returned here to work once again. And she seems to be... skinnier when she returned to the castle.

"We need privacy right now". - Then I hugged my wife tighter.  "Prepare breakfast for us, we'll eat later". - I glanced at Ilis, ordering her

"Understood, my Lord". - Then the woman got out and closed the door silently 

When the room only has the two of us, I start cuddling my wife's face. Shera seems to have calmed down right now. However, I keep headpatting my wife just in case. Because she can be confused and afraid... waking up after seeing a nightmare is painful.

"John...". - Shera hugged me, tilting her face to my chest.  "It's bad... I wish I could return there". - Then she breathed her hot breathe to my neck, trying to calm down

"What?".

"I had a dream... I woke up...".  "And saw my mom... my dad... everyone". - She looked at far away, recollecting.  "I was a kid in that dream... I saw my mom die in front of me...". - Then she pressed her face on my chest.  "Sobs! Sobs! Sob!".  "If I was faster, if I hadn't thought that was just the dream... I could've... saved...". - My wife couldn't describe that feeling through her words 

"Alright... alright". - I kept patting her head.  "Shera, hear me...". - Now what should I say to not make my wife sadder? 

"I understand that".  "And... you shouldn't regret that...". - Then I felt my wife's warmth.  "That was just a dream... even if you could save your parents, that would be just a dream after all". - I kept headpatting her, trying to get closer to my wife.  "Everything had happened, and we cannot change it".  "Don't worry... I'm here to protect you".  "Kiss...". - I kissed my wife sweetly once again.  "You should be happy, you're about to become a mother... and your parents up there should be very happy". - Then I looked at the roof.  "They're up there... watching you and protecting you... they'll be happy... to have a future grandchild". 

"Really...?". - My wife asked me, staring at me cutely

"Yeah". - Shortly, both of us returned to lie on the bed together

"I know you're sad... I'm here with you". - Then, I intentionally touched my wife's tits... should I relieve her to fade away her sadness?

"Come here, Shera". - Later I came closer to my wife

My little boy isn't fully healed yet, he's still tired since the "last night's work" with my wife. However... sniffing her hair's scent can turn me on... I should relieve my wife now.

"Kiss...". - My wife and I kissed once again.  "We'll keep making babies, shall we...?". - Maybe both of us will stay in the bed for a little longer... it's for making my wife get pregnant, it's also to relieve her out of her sadness 

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Alright... after relieving my wife to fade away her sadness, we went to the living room to eat. It would be more people such as maids and clean keepers eating in there... the kitchen wasn't my choice. Instead, the living would be more free. We're sitting at the table, using our breakfast together, and peacefully.

The table which is used for breakfast, has a lot of dishes placed on it. From my sight, Sarah is sitting on the right, eating... like usual, very much. About Reimi... she's sitting on the left. She's eating carefully, doesn't look at me at all.

Hatano isn't here this time. Because this subordinate is in Spera region - the land which she's controlling. When Shera and I spent our day making babies, my subordinates would solve Veta's paperwork for me instead.

Sarah would go around my land to surveillance the living conditions of people. Then she would report it back to me under paper sheets, also had to solve the paper herself. Hatano would also do that part like Sarah. But she would be the one to send her soldiers to collect daily reports and send them back to my castle for Sarah.

"Hey, Reimi...". - I was sitting on a long couch which also had a seat for my wife. Instead, I chose to sit on Reimi's side, trying to make up with her

"Nod". - She nodded, but kept eating without replying to me

She doesn't react to me at all although I'm sitting next to her... very near to her hand. Cannot do anything to make Reimi talk with me, I slowly reach my hand to hers. Alright... I must do it slowly... I'll ask for her forgiveness.

"I've finished". - Reimi spoke up to us, she put the meal bowl on the table.  "Lady Sarah, please rest for today". - She left her hand off mine.  "I'll do the surveillance today, till night comes". - Then she walked around the table, grabbing some slices of bread to put in her handbag 

"You finished so soon?". - Sarah was eating, and she was surprised.  "Eat more, Reimi...". - She stared at the way Reimi was putting the slices of bread in her handbag.  "Those are old breads... you may get your stomach upset, ya know?".

Reimi doesn't reply anything, but keeps filling her handbag with bread slices. Done filling her handbag, she bows to both of us and walks to the door, attempting to get out. My feet immediately rush to Reimi, and I hold her hand tightly. Reimi glances at me... she doesn't glare or make an unpleasant in her face at all.

However... I can sense that she hates me. Or she feels bad when she has to be with me... but I must do something to make up with Reimi.

"Return to eat, Reimi... fill your stomach first". - I held her hand, begging her to stay.  "Here... just take a seat". - Then she didn't resist anything, I gently led her back to her previous seat.  "Wai-". - However, Reimi slipped her hand off me at the last moment

"You shouldn't do that to your wife, my Lord". - Reimi bowed slightly, as if to apologize.  "Thank you for caring about me... now I should...". - She stopped her words.  "I'll fill my stomach in some tavern, so please don't be worried". - Then she headed to the door, immediately got out 

"Commander...". - Sarah called me from behind, with a boring voice.  "That was your fault to make her be like this... please don't distur-".

"Shut the hell up and keep eating...". - I made my voice cold while looking at Sarah

"I think... you should not be that too close to her, John". - Then she bit some vegetables.  "Chews! Chews! Instead... chews! Give her some break".  "Swallows...". - Sarah swallowed the food.  "You keep making Reimi see you a troublesome... please stop it".

"She's right, Johnny". - Stop speaking, Advisor! I'm not in a good mood

"Leave her alone for a bit...".  "Avoid talking about making up with her". - Stop it! Hearing you speak only makes me more frustrated.  "Just leave her alone... maybe a week, ya know?".  "Then open to talk with her again, slowly and step by step".  "Then... wait till she's normal to you again, then speak about making up".  "It's easy, Johnny... just need to be pati-". - Shut the fuck up!

Feeling disappointed in myself, I tiredly return to my dining seat. I lower my face, trying to find the best ways to make up with Reimi. However... how can I reach her when she just needs to avoid me when she sees me approach her?

I must... find the way to approach Reimi first. Then find the way to make her stay to talk with me, later will be the way to make up with her. However... what should I do to achieve it?

"Commander... don't be sad". - Sarah tried to comfort me

I look up to see the dining table... many dishes are placed over here. However, I haven't chosen to eat anything yet. Because I want to wait for my wife's arrival. She's now in the kitchen, making for me a "beloved special meal". 

"Ah?". - I was a bit surprised when Reimi returned here.  "Reimi, w-". - Later I stopped talking, because behind Reimi was my wife

Reimi approaches me and then bows, as if to apologize. She shortly sits back in her previous seat. Meanwhile, because... my wife's here so I'm thinking about which seat should I choose to sit on.

I try to neglect my wife. Then I look at Reimi, and see she's returning to eat her meal. Maybe... I should sit with her, although my wife can get jealous if I do that.

"Hey, Reimi". - I approached Reimi.  "Huh?". - However, my hand seemed to be pulled back by someone.  "Shera?". - My wife put me back in my seat, and put the meal plate on the table 

"John...". - My wife called me, while putting down my special meal bowl on my seat.  "You shouldn't disrupt her... please let both of you have time to calm down...". - Then my wife sat next to me, she held my hands and came closer to me 

However, Shera's eyes tell me the opposite. My wife's jealousy is a bit high after seeing me trying to sit with Reimi. Knowing I should not make my wife mad, I hold her hand gently. Then... everything goes well as I always expected.

"Please let her have time to forgive you, John". - My wife whispered to me.  "You must be hungry while waiting for me... I'm sorry for the lateness". - Then Shera showed me the breakfast bowl that she specially made for me

"Ahhh...". - My wife moaned a little bit while hugging me.  "Let's eat together...". - She also grabbed her "special meal bowl" from that plate out to eat with me

I grab my meal bowl, and start to eat. Wait... did Reimi just glare at my wife while eating breads? Did she just... get jealous or something?

"R-". - Hadn't finished my words but my wife tapped my shoulder

Reimi also looks away and keeps eating. I feel disappointed in myself when I cannot do anything to make up with her. However... now I must eat my meal bowl.

"Ahhh...". - My wife moaned in a low tone while drinking.  "Slurp... slurp... slurp... slurp!". - Now she was drinking the soup water, seemed to be very enjoying.  "Chews! Chews! Chews! Chews! Chews!".  "Swallows...". - She swallowed the food, and glanced at me... seemed to be quite thirsty for love 

"Please eat...". 

Maybe I've known my today's "special meal". The meal bowl in my hands, its ingredients are my wife's body parts, such as her strands of hair, her "below hairs", and her... body's liquid? Shit. 

From my view when I look at the bowl closely. The butter is well made... but her hair strands are mixed in there. About the soup water... that's her body liquid. What's else? Inside these breads must've been filled with some of my wife's hairs... so terrible!

Should I... refuse to eat these kinds of things?

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I used to eat things like these from my dear wife before I discovered how she made them completely. Before discovering its sick ingredients, my mouth kept praising this kind of meal. Myself also wished to eat more things like these cooked by my wife. 

Then... now I just feel afraid every time I eat this kind of meal bowl. Holding it in my hand, I peek at my wife a few times... I just want to put this shit on the table, I swear!

"What's wrong, John?". - My wife asked me, she came closer.  "Are you unwell...?". - Then she glanced at other dishes on the dining table.  "I'm really sorry... I know you cannot take it". - Then she grabbed another hot dish and put it on my seat.  "This one looks more tasty... please eat".

"I'm alright, Shera". 

Alright, I should say it honestly at once. My wife's kind, to me she's the one I want to be together with till the end of my life... only her. However, my wife's truly a crazy, the one who has many problems in her head. 

However... why do I have to complain about my wife when I love her? I think I shouldn't. I mean... in our marriage, I'm the only one who goes to roam around the place to find girls, and it's terrible. As a result... my wife does blame me, does hates me sometimes. But till the end, she still loves me and never thinks about leaving me.

She's a Princess. She doesn't need me and she can still be alive with her social status, but my wife doesn't dump me. She only... loves me... and if she has some ambition for me, then I cannot know if she has it or not.

But should I suspect my wife to be the one who's not faithful to me? That suspicion makes sense. Because I used to cheat on my wife... and she can take that reason as if to revenge for what I did to her. But... would my wife do this... and if my first child... isn't mine? But hers and another man?

No! That's not possible. When the war ended, I had withdrawn all WCA men soldier units out of the castle. Only kept women soldiers, from servants to soldiers in the castle. However, I still kept military men agents on the streets. And... my wife may have the chance to cheat on me when she's... shopping? 

"Stop it, Johnny".  "Your mind keeps thinking nonsensically! Stop suspecting your wife". 

"John, what's wrong?". - Shera cuddled my face.  "You don't want to eat this, right...?". - She sadly put the "special meal bowl" away from me.  "Sobs... nothing, I know you cannot take it". - My wife looked at me, trying to understand my feelings 

"I'm fine". - I re-grabbed the special meal bowl, later kept eating it

"John... thanks". - My wife felt so happy after seeing this.  "Please don't push yourself too hard, John". - She sat closer to me, enjoying her special meal as well

"I cannot eat this thing regularly...". - Done saying, I kept eating.  "Chews! Chews! Chews! Chews!".  "Swallows!". 

"Nod". - My wife kept eating, and nodded to me that she understood my feelings 

"You two are so odd...".  "Yawn...". - Sarah had finished eating so she yawned.  "Sorry... last night wasn't enough". - Then she got out of the breakfast.  "Okay... here here and here". - She grabbed 3 slices of bread from the table

"What are you doing?". - I asked her, then returned to eat normally

"Reimi said she would take my place today".  "So...". - Sarah smiled at me while filling her handbag.  "May I visit Stansa a little bit today, Commander?".  "Okay...". - Done filling her handbag, she shook it a few times as if to make sure it wouldn't fall the food out 

"What for?". 

"I want to visit those kids". - She said happily.  "The school's been reopened, so I want to see how much improvement the school when I wasn't there".  "Also...". - She looked out the window.  "My old house, I want to visit it as well".

"Safe travel". 

" 'Cause we ran out of ammo?". - Somehow her words fit my previous line

"Hmmm".  "You can borrow my horse".

"Thanks, Commander". - Then she moved to the door.  "Bye everyone". - She got outside 

The room only has the three of us right now. My wife keeps eating her meal in happiness while sitting next to me. About Reimi... she's still eating without glancing at me, even a little bit. Maybe I should continue to eat my meal.

"I hope you're pleased with the meal, John". - My wife was worried about me.  "Here... eat more for more energy". - She grabbed more dishes for me, hoping I would eat 'em

I think I should stop suspecting my wife... I tend to think much, so tend to have annoying paranoia sometimes. We're all about to defect from Warsaw to Zaira village in the next week. 

Maybe my wife will get pregnant during that process. That'll be good news.

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"Urgh?". - Did I just fall asleep?

"Oh, John". - My wife's voice called me.  "I found you dozed, but didn't want to disturb your sleep at all". - She tapped my back a few times, checking on me

I can see myself now sitting on the worktable. We're in the workroom of the castle, solving daily paperwork. Maybe... I fell asleep because I was exhausted. That was not good... I must do something.

After having breakfast, we left the living room there to let the maids clean up the things we ate. Then, just like usual, we headed to the workroom to solve papers. Sarah and Hatano will have a break today. Sarah's now freely traveling to Stansa, while Hatano's still in her land, working daily affairs.

"Please go to bed if you feel unwell, John". - My wife stopped jotting down the papers, she gazed at me.  "Well... last night must be too much for you".  "Don't worry, I can solve it myself". - Then she started solving the papers once again.  "I'll send you the finished ones, will let you recheck on 'em later".

"I'm fine, Shera". - I grabbed a nearby pen, and started picking up a paper sheet on the pile on the unfinished side to solve it

Both of us keep jotting down the papers and later putting them on the finished paper pile. Then repeat the process, solving the task papers till every one of them are done solved completely. While solving the paperwork, I barely spot Reimi slowly approaching us from the left side. So I stop solving papers.

"Oh, Reimi". - My wife saw her servant's appearance, she also stopped writing

Shera's perspective

I was aiding my husband to solve the paperwork, and Reimi showed up. By glancing at her slightly, I can say that she's about to go outside. Today she'll be going around the region to surveillance, later report to us. That means she'll have to do the job till the night comes... she must've been well prepared for it.

"I'm going to work on the surveillance, my Lord, my Highness". - Reimi informed us, she also bowed to us

"Stay here for a more while, Reimi". - John dropped his pen, he got off his chair.  "Don't go, just st-". - Before my husband could finish his line, I grabbed his hand

"John, please listen to me...". - I whispered to him.  "Please let me solve this... you're making her be farther from you, please stop it...". - Then I stopped whispering, letting the choice be decided by my husband

John doesn't reply to anything, only lowers his face and stays deeply silent. I gaze at my husband, asking him to trust me before heading to Reimi. 

"Hey...". - I slowly stared into her eyes.  "Do you have a moment before going?".

"Yes, my Highness". - Reimi replied to me

"Come here...". - We later moved to the castle's front doors, standing there

Later I see John walking back to his seat. He sits down, dragging out the papers to solve although his eyes keep glancing at us when he's working. My husband cannot stay focus just because of Reimi... I must do something to solve this issue.

The site we're standing on has two WCA women soldiers who are there to guard the front doors. I can easily dismiss 'em, asking them to move to another area to guard but I won't do that. Alright... now I must speak with Reimi. I grab her shoulders, and gaze into her eyes without blinking.

"Remember to return here when noon comes, Reimi".

"I can feed a little in some tavern, my Highness".  "Thanks for yo-".

"No". - I rejected her option.  "Remember to return here, and eat together with us". - Done saying, I only saw Reimi's silence

"Nod...". - Good. She finally nodded to accept my command

"I know you still hate him...". - I talked to her while peeking at my husband, to check if he was eavesdropping on us or not.  "But please... try to forgive him... at least talk to him even just a little". - Then I held her hand, convincing her

"Isn't... that's what you always want... my Highness?". - Reimi lowered her voice.  "No more rivals... no more... people to aim at your husband...". - What was that kind of stupid thought?!

"Nod". - Of course, I want to be peaceful with my husband only, wishing to have no rivals around us.  "But you're misunderstanding... you can be a friend of his instead". - Then I came closer to her.  "Please... you can become his good friend and...". - What should I say now? I must do something.  "You can become his friend and part of our family... like a sister, Reimi".  "But you're becoming more distant from him... please don't be like that anymore".

"My Highness... please give me more time". - She said to me.  "I don't want to hate him... but he doesn't let me have a break...". - Reimi peeked behind to see my husband.  "Please... give me more time". - Then she got out of me, heading to the door

Reimi opened the door and got outside before I could talk more to her. Then I hold my face, exhaustedly return to my husband and sit with him. In front of us are still bunches of unfinished piles of task papers... they'll take us a long time to solve 'em all.

"Don't worry, John". - I tapped my husband's shoulder.  "Everything will be fine, she'll forgive you soon". - Then I returned to work on the paperwork

John doesn't say anything but only replies to me with a slow nod. Both of us keep solving the paperwork like usual, focusing on our work without talking to each other. 

However... later I spot someone odd. That's a WCA woman soldier... she comes in here through the castle's front doors, and is approaching us. My husband and I spot the woman soldier. We immediately stop solving our current work and glance at her... she seems to have come here to report to us, I think.

"My Lord, Your Highness". - That woman soldier bowed to us slightly.  "A messenger from Keris had just come here hereby". - She pulled out a fur scroll from her handbag.  "His Majesty got a message for you, my Lord". - She handed the scroll to my husband 

John takes the scroll and reads its details. He seems to be a little bit cautious or so. Then my husband hands me the scroll, I take it and open it out. Hmmm... that's a summoning order letter from the King... my brother asks John to head to the Palace.

He asks my husband to arrive in the morning - near the noontime 11:00 AM. However, the purpose of this summoning order is not clearly written in the scroll. The following says "You're invited to join a feast".

"It's odd". - I closed the scroll and looked at my husband.  "Shouldn't it be written to be an "invitation" instead of a "summoning order"?".

"Also...". - I opened the scroll once again, letting my husband re-look at the details.  "It's just a feast, but he only invited you instead of all of us, John".

"Maybe it's a feast of the Lords and officials, Shera". - My husband took the scroll and closed it.  "Maybe the feast is just a curtain, inside it is about political discussions". 

"Huh?". - I had no idea what was my husband talking about

"Maybe they're... thinking about declaring a war against Attenta". - John put the scroll on the table, opening it again to re-read.  "That Kingdom is unstable, every Kingdom around it wants to grab some lands".  "We either, no difference from 'em at all".

"But why did he not... say it straight to be a war meeting?".

"More secret, more secure...". - John opened a cabinet of the worktable, grabbing out the border map of Warsaw and other Kingdoms.  "You know, Shera, we lack allies". - Then he grabbed out a copy of "Warsaw-Elves-Beastmen alliance paper".  "In this alliance pact, it has the following". - He pointed to the following line, letting me see it.  "If Warsaw aggressively declares war on Attenta and its allies, the alliance will be immediately ended".

"So...?". - Maybe I got it a little bit now

Our Warsaw is running to seek allies. Maybe we'll be invading Attenta and its vassal states when their governments are unstable. We might be cutting those states' territories for ours and our allies too. And this is a good opportunity to make an invasion toward Attenta.

"Maybe this meeting will have more than one discussion to be solved". - John later used his entire right hand to cover 3 Elven Kingdoms and Beastmen Kingdom.  "We'll cut off the alliance with them, because they'll automatically leave us if we declare war on that Kingdom". - Then John pointed his index finger to Kingdoms around Attenta.  "We'll ally with these, or will be alone invading Attenta and other states".  "In the end... maybe we'll get in more conflicts with those who come with our same purpose...".

"Wars don't bring any good... why do men keep warring?". - I complained to my husband

"No need to be concerned, Shera". - John closed those things and stored them in the drawer.  "We're going to defect after all... I'll join the feast just to fit the number".

I know we're going to defect from our homeland. However, my homeland's future that my husband drew out wasn't seemed to be very positive. We luckily protected our Kingdom against the previous invasion. 

It has just been 4 months since the war passed... we'll surely be doomed if we declare war. Because... even if we could invade Attenta and its vassal states easily, we would surely face dangers. Kingdoms around us are the strong ones, while we're just very weak one. If we had a conflict with one of those Kingdoms, we would likely be invaded instead of invading their lands.

"John... may we delay our escape?".

"Why?". - My husband asked me in his surprise.  "I'm now afraid that the invasion would come before we defected from here". - He gazed at me.  "I intend to shorter our defection to be 4 days left, for our safety".

"What's about my homeland?". - I don't want to see my homeland being ruined.  "Please, John... please remind my brother...". - Then I got to my husband, holding his hands and begged him.  "Our plan won't change anything... but please remind him".  "Please ask my brother to watch his step, John... I don't want to see my parentsland to be ruined".

"Shera...". - Then John hugged me, kept me closer to him.  "Alright, alright... I understand ". - He kissed my hair, comforting me to get out of my nervousness

"I'll surely give your brother some advice".  "Don't worry...".

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