When they returned to the house, dinner was already finished and Mei and her family were taking a bath. Peris asks me if I want him to cook dinner for us, but I politely decline because I am full of curry.
Gon, Ferris, and the others tell me about what happened that day, and it seems that it is my turn to take a bath. It's the first time in a while that I'm alone in the bathtub, stretching out my arms and legs. At times like this, I naturally start humming a tune.
When I entered the bedroom, I found Riko who had just put Eril to bed. Eryl is sleeping in her crib next to the bed. She is a very graceful sleeper.
Riko gets into the bed to go to sleep, but for some reason, Riko does not come into the bed.
Rico, what's wrong?
"...today, Loni gave me his permission."
"Permission?"
Rico smiled at me and silently took off his pajamas, leaving me in a state of complete disarray.
"I hear you can go back to your normal life now."
"You look beautiful, Rico..."
"You still have... a belly, don't you? It's embarrassing."
With that, she gets into bed. And I hugged Riko madly.
Riko's breasts are much fuller than they were before she had the baby. And her post-baby figure seems to have returned to its original state. Her fine skin, of which she is very proud, does not seem to have lost any of its beauty, and it seems to be even more polished after the birth of her child. As I was hugging Riko with these thoughts in my mind, something hit my face.
"I'm sorry... I'm sorry..."
"Yeah? What is it?"
"I've given Eril enough to drink... but still..."
"Oh, come on. It's a sign of good health. I'm relieved."
I stare at Rico's face.
"Rico... I need you to do something for me."
What is it?
"Will you have another baby?"
"Of course. Next time, we'll have a boy. So please continue to love me as much as you can.
"I love you, Rico..."
I hugged Riko tightly again.
At the same time, Empress Dowager Lacis was spending a sleepless night in the palace of the Imperial Capital of Ramallon. In the early afternoon, she received the news that Garbee had fallen and ordered General Callies to attack Garbee immediately. At this moment, there is still no report that Callies is heading for Garbee. Although I have authorized the incorporation of a defense force for the Imperial capital, it is not possible for the entire army to go into battle, and a minimum number of troops must be left behind. I was told that you were working on that formation, but why don't you launch the attack soon? If we attacked now, it would be an effective night attack. We might be able to recapture Garvey sooner than expected.... While she was thinking of these things, the Empress Dowager fell into a sleep for a while.
How long had she slept? She woke up in the middle of the night. The Empress Dowager, feeling uneasy, calls for her chambermaid. But there is no answer. She wanders around the large room, calling the names of the courtesans. At that moment, the door to the room is slowly opened.
What are you doing? Suhana? Are you Laien? I need you to..."
The Empress Dowager was in raptures. There stood several knights in armor and with swords, who would never have entered this room.
Who are you? Who in the world gave you permission to come into this room! You're so rude!"
The Empress Dowager said in a dignified voice. In response, one of the cavalrymen takes off his helmet and slowly approaches. The Empress Dowager's eyes widen as the figure comes into view in the darkness.
"Ca... caries..."
The man was General Callies of the Ramallon Imperial Guard. He slowly stands in front of the Empress Dowager and opens his mouth in a calm voice.
"The great demon king.... I will defeat him.
"What are you talking about? Have you lost your mind, General? Somebody! Somebody! It's treason! It's treason! General Caries has rebelled! Somebody! Somebody!"
The Empress Dowager is screaming as she walks around the room. General Caries slowly draws his sword as he watches.
"Don't do anything foolish! Who do you think you are? Empress Dowager, Lamaron Crowe Lacis! Do you know what you are doing! Stop it! Stop it! Stay away from me! Get away from me! Your Majesty! Your Majesty~!"
A desperate scream rises. There was the sight of a sword thrust deeply into the Empress Dowager's back. As if in slow motion, the Empress Dowager's body crumples to the ground. Caries exhales slowly.
Madeline, the Prime Minister, has been placed under house arrest by soldiers in her room in the palace of the capital. There is no answer to any of his questions, and all he can do now is wander around the room. At that moment, the door to the room opened and a soldier entered.
"Prime Minister, General Caries wants to see you. Please come with me."
Madolyn nodded silently and followed the soldier.
They walked through the corridors of the large palace. It was a familiar corridor, but for some reason it seemed farther away today. They were led to the room where the emperor's throne was located. When I entered the room, a man's weeping echoed through the room.
"Mother! Mother~! Mother! Please open your eyes! Please open your eyes! Frejns, Frejns, Frejns! Please wake up! Mother~!"
Clinging shamelessly to the head of an old woman on a luxurious desk, the Emperor of Lamarone is screaming. He was already in his prime, but his behavior was that of a boy.
And right behind the head stood General Caries. Madolyn quickly approaches the general.
"General! This is! I don't understand.
"I have defeated the Great Demon King."
"What?"
Hearing this, the emperor, not even bothering to wipe away the tears that were welling up in his eyes, threw words at General Callies.
"Callies! How dare you! You are the only one I will not forgive! I am not the one who..."
"Empress Dowager, wow. !!!!"
A loud voice emanated from Caries, drowning out the emperor's words. The emperor is rendered speechless by the swordplay.
"Her Majesty the Dowager Empress has already been dismissed..."
"What? Your mother had already been dismissed...?
"As you wish. Your Majesty. This is the Great Demon King transforming into Empress Dowager. Please see... The cloth that used to wrap his neck has turned black with blood. It was red when I brought it here..."
What are you... what are you...
Bring him to me.
The emotionless voice of General Caries. At his command, the soldiers took the weeping emperor by the arm and led him out of the room.
"General, what are you going to do with His Majesty?
"Your Majesty has been strongly influenced by the Great Demon King who has disguised himself as the Empress Dowager, so I'm going to ask you to rest for a while. Therefore, I would like to leave the rest of your official duties to you, Prime Minister.
"I... I do?"
I'd like to ask you for a favor. And I will continue to look after the Imperial Army. Together we will rebuild this country.
Caries stares at Madeline's face. Then he nods slowly.
"I understand."
"Please."
After such a brief exchange, Caries and the soldiers took the Empress Dowager's head and walked out of the room. Madeline was left alone, staring at the two empty thrones.
Caries walked swiftly down the hallway of the palace. He came to a balcony at the end of the hall. At that moment, two soldiers standing by open the door. The square below was crowded with soldiers from Lamarron's army. Caries holds up the head of the Empress Dowager and calls out to the soldiers in a loud voice.
"Right now, Caries Sima, Commander-in-Chief of the Kingdom of Ramallon! The Great Demon King has been vanquished!
After a pause, the soldiers cheer loudly. The history of the Lamarong Empire had just been greatly changed.