The empire’s national flag, the lion.
In reference to it, the emperor’s bloodline is also known as the “Lion Clan.”
The dispute over the throne between the new emperor and his sister, the imperial princess, ended in an unusual way compared to previous wars.
The conflict, which would later be known as the “Lion War,” came to be remembered as a battle where no soldiers bled.
That was the rumor that reached us.
The princess’s side won the battle, yet the throne remained with the new emperor.
In the end, it was practically a draw, perhaps even a fortunate compromise.
There was a chance to kill the emperor on that battlefield, but it wasn’t in my nature to do so.
“Make the princess the emperor!”—I’m not suited for that.
I’d mulled over the possibility of killing the emperor many times.
After the imperial army withdrew with the emperor and the kingdom’s forces pulled back, Kasugal and I stayed there for a while.
We wanted to wait for Nia and the others to escort Renatishia and the children back to the kingdom, and there were many things to discuss.
I think we reminisced, talking as if it were the old days, until Arnella and Noel came to pick us up.
In the end, Kasugal didn’t return to the empire.
Though no harm was done to him directly, he was effectively forced to fight in the war while his wife and children were practically under house arrest.
“If I saw him now, I’d probably punch him in the face.”
That’s what Kasugal said.
And if Kasugal truly threw a punch, it might spark another imperial succession battle. Just as things were calming down—that would be a problem.
Well, if he’d been able to stand his ground with the emperor in the first place, it wouldn’t have come to this. But with his poor negotiation skills, it couldn’t be helped. Even he must have realized it would be bad to let his anger lead him to burn the emperor alive.
He decided to sell his shop in the empire, using the money to buy a small place in the capital and start anew.
The old shop was too big for him anyway. This new setup will probably suit him better.
Once he settled in, he was cheerfully flipping pots in the kitchen again. It’s quite a popular spot, so he’ll be fine.
The princess was officially sentenced to exile from the empire.
By the time she awoke from her injuries, everything was already over, but she took it in stride with a single, deep sigh.
Perhaps she had anticipated this outcome.
She easily secured the position of chancellor in the kingdom. Was it connections, or was it skill?
Incidentally, she burst out laughing when she saw me become a chevalier.
I can’t call her “princess” anymore.
Handling the Third Imperial Army was tricky.
It was an army formed by the former princess, made up of orphans and people with nowhere else to go.
From the empire’s perspective, it was awkward to use them, so they were handed off to the kingdom.
The kingdom officially incorporated them, though that led to a significant military budget increase.
Fortunately, the kingdom in its reconstruction phase is in great need of labor.
So the army was partially disbanded, with some joining the kingdom’s military and others moving into the workforce.
The kingdom’s population problem still remains, but the gender ratio has significantly improved.
Amidst the turmoil, the kingdom and empire finally took the time to reestablish a trade treaty and transitioned from a ceasefire to a formal peace treaty.
And so the Lion War, sparked by a clash between lions, came to an end.
The fact that no soldiers were sacrificed, due to it being more of a proxy conflict, was significant.
Of course, perhaps it was also due to the sheer force that Kasugal and I displayed.
I understand why no one wanted to mess with us unnecessarily.
My alias of “Sky Knight” has now been completely overwritten with “Heavenly Demon Duke.”
It’s a bit embarrassing.
Controlling angels and demons alike is, after all, a fact.
As a result, I’ve become the subject of whispered rumors for a while.
I was sure I’d be excommunicated by the church for this, but they told me it’s fine since I’ve only subdued the demons. I guess they see me as a good publicity figure.
“Thank you for your hard work. Please take some time to rest.”
“I’ll do that…”
Following the queen’s command, I decided to take a break.
Standing beside me, watching our conversation, was former princess Chancellor Sanarie Arièze, suppressing a laugh. Damn.
By the way, the name “Arièze” wasn’t stripped from her.
Perhaps this is to preserve the Arièze dynasty in case of future issues…
If she has children and passes on the lineage, there may be complications—but only if she finds someone.
Though she’s a beauty of unparalleled grace, her personality is intense, and her blood could stir up conflict. Not my cup of tea.
Living in the royal palace is rather stifling.
I decided to buy an empty house in the royal capital and make it my home.
The house in the empire could be left to Nia. There’s nothing of particular value left in it, anyway.
Sepia will also stay with us for a while, so a larger house for the five of us is ideal.
We’ll use our vacation to renovate it ourselves.
“Carpentry work is…”
“I’ll do my best to help!”
Though Noel and Arnella have always been reliable, even they struggled with the carpentry work for this house. I was impressed that there were things even they couldn’t do.
We hired the best carpenter in the capital, and over two months, we completed the house.
Thanks to Sepia’s hard work, the carpenters managed to spare some time, it seems.
I felt a bit of nostalgia, just as I did when I bought my first home in the empire, but doing the work ourselves made it all the more meaningful.
In a way, this sort of thing isn’t much different from adventuring.
Seeing, doing, and learning something new.
I think I find a thrill in these things.
My relationship with Mastema hasn’t changed significantly.
We were already together nearly all the time since she came to me, but now I’m even more conscious of her as a partner.
Apparently, the contract between us has already been established.
So that’s what the demon king’s attitude was about—it all makes sense now.
…By the way, feeling a threat to my life, I finally made a move on Mastema and Arnella.
The slaves had that intention all along, and there’s no significant change in our relationship.
The rooms are soundproofed, so I made sure Sepia’s was the furthest one away.
When I tried to explain, I got yelled at loudly.
Teenage girls are tough to deal with.
And so, I decided to enjoy my vacation for a while.
