In the afternoon, at the Oscar Mansion.

As Oscar watched the flowerbeds in the garden, a servant came running and whispered.

"That's unusual. Let me know right away."

Yes!

It was a little late, Oscar.

When I said that to the servant, the servant rushed out and turned back the way he had worn.

A few minutes later, he came back with Henry.

Oscar turned to Henry with his hands wide open, smiling at the beauty of the people.

“This is unusual. How many years has your brother been here?”

Was it so shabby?

"That's enough! The last time you came..."

Oscar shifted his body half a step so that he could show Henry the flowerbed behind him.

This flowerbed wasn't there yet.

I see. No, I got a good drink, so I thought I'd split it up.

Henry said that and raised his right hand.

And in his hand was an old pot bound by a rope.

Both the pot itself and the opening seal are old, and it can be seen at a glance that it is a precious sake that is in season.

"That's great, then I'll let you have a seat right away."

Oscar said that, and called the servant who had guided Henry to his side and hit him in the ear.

Every time Oscar said something, the servant nodded and broke his finger in an invisible place, making him remember the order firmly.

"Right away, you got it."

Yes!

Well then, let's go.

"Oh, take this too. If I break it, I'll kick your ass."

Henry joked and pushed a pot of liquor at the servant who was about to leave at his command.

The servant took it in great haste and left carefully to avoid breaking the pot.

After seeing it off, Henry and Oscar face each other again.

Now, brother, why don't you take a walk until you're ready?

"I see. I heard about the splendid 'Couple Tree' in your garden, but I'd like to see it again."

"Hahaha, your brother is also a good joker. My couple's trees are the same number."

While saying so, Oscar turned his palm upward and gestured, "Please," as he led the way to guide Henry.

Couple trees are one of the works that are often made in horticulture.

The two trees next to each other are bent slightly each day from a young age, and the two trees are intertwined and grow like a spiral.

Various names were given according to the times to intertwine and grow, but in the last few decades the name "couple" tree has become the mainstream.

Because it takes time and effort, it is a trend for aristocrats to make and hold it to show off their wealth and spare time.

Huh!

A short walk, the two came in front of a couple of trees.

"This is great."

Henry praised with a loud voice.

"It's not like that, brother."

No, of course it's fine to make a couple of trees, but the process from here to here is great.

Is it a process?

"Oh, it's in the garden. The whole picture of the road is partially disclosed from among the trees, but the whole is unimaginable. This is your idea, Oscar."

"Ahahah, you're here." I can't be proud to see you that far. "

Oscar said that and smiled bitterly, but he didn't feel bad.

And the two brethren stood shoulder to shoulder, and came before the tree of the couple, and stopped.

I knew you were good at this after all.

“What are you talking about?”

"This couple made a tree (.........)." If I were you, I'd leave this somewhere in the garden where it's easy to see, but you don't have to do that and keep it deep in the garden like this. "

"Don't think that's different. I always envy your bravery. I don't have the confidence to hide it because I think that maybe there's something wrong with this couple's tree."

"But then, you can't be wrong. A trump card can only be lost if it is played in anticipation of the chance of winning. If you don't let it out, it won't lose."

"There may be no losing, but there's no winning." I often reflect that if I don't try anything first, the results won't follow in the first place. "

Henry and Oscar.

The two brothers also turned their gaze toward the couple's tree, avoiding the upside of the exchange.

When it comes to swordsmanship, it's a feint.

Both of them were waiting for the timing to cut out, and one of them was waiting for the timing to cut out, while putting on a small feint.

Both of them understood clearly.

Henry was convinced that his intentions and sincerity had almost been conveyed, and Oscar understood that he was not here to talk about a garden that was neither poisonous nor poisonous.

……

……

The conversation broke off and silence flowed between the two of them.

The wind blew between them, and the couple made a whirlwind by the tree.

I didn't come here today.

Before long, Henry opened his mouth.

There was a clear difference between the two personalities around here.

Oscar is a “wait” character, but Henry is a “can't wait” character.

Yeah.

"I want your honest opinion."

Opinion?

"My ancestors have conscripted me many times." In the second half, I spied on Albert and followed him to you. "

"That's right." Albert was the crown prince at the time, so he didn't follow me to the end, and he was the last prince I followed. ”

"Once with each other, we are following our parents." I want to learn from that experience. What do you think of this conscription? "

Armor Sleeve

Oscar replied instantly, barely changing his expression.

"The barbarians on the periphery are jumping back and forth, but I think it's going to be the usual crackdown. Thank God."

Above all else?

"... Your Majesty is truly an amazing man"

A little hesitant, Oscar continues.

"A man who inherited his first conspiracy, and even after his great father. Normally, even though I remember more or less" I want to show good places ", I left all command of the army to my brother. I can't think of anything like that."

"Your Majesty was very reasonable from an early age."

"It is only when people are in danger that they can see the essence. Amazing, Your Majesty."

Oscar's expression was slightly stronger, but he quickly took it back.

"That's why it's called parental conscription, but it's essentially a suppression fight directed by my brother." It's only natural to win. Well, it's not like your equipment is dead to show you what's good about it. "

Oscar shrugged, but Henry didn't ride.

"I see... it's only natural to win."

Henry tweets as if he were on his own.

The two parties were close enough to each other to touch each other, but they continued the conversation without giving a damn.

Oscar is not in the throne.

Henry has pledged allegiance to Noah.

Noah's parental sign could be the biggest gap.

Henry came to explore it.

I know that Oscar is being searched.

On top of that, they conduct conversations with a subtle sense of distance, whether they touch each other or not.

"... Oscar, what do you think of His Majesty?"

"... what is the intention of your brother's question?"

Oscar was vigilant.

I slightly strengthened my face and asked back.

Originally on the alert, Oscar felt that Henry was stepping one step further.

But Henry smiled as if nothing had happened.

"You must be the one who said you could see the essence only in times of danger."

"...... mhh"

What do you think of your Majesty's essence?

……

Oscar shut up.

It is slightly different from the previous one.

I'm not being vigilant, I'm choosing a word to answer - that's why I'm silent.

Silent and contemplating Oscar, Henry stopped without interrupting.

Often waiting, Oscar opened his mouth carefully, still choosing his words.

"If you say it without fear of ridicule,"

Yeah.

Henry nodded.

She made a face to say that this was the only thing she was going to talk about.

"Your Majesty is not very human."

Huh?

"I want you to calm down and think about it. Where is your 'greed'?"

"...... ask difficult questions"

Henry was struck into the void.

After a moment's thought, he gave a bitter expression.

"That's not the answer anymore." His Majesty can barely see the desire of a man. It hasn't started before, it has been since childhood. You must know better than I do, right? "

"That's right... honestly, at first I thought I was a brash child, at the next I thought I was an adult child, and then I--"

"- I can't find a word to argue with."

Oscar was good, and Henry nodded clearly.

It was a feeling that the two of them shared.

Ironically, the first time that the two of them, who had been in an exploratory conversation all this day, united their hearts was in their assessment of Noah.

"I know you've heard this before, but there are words that His Majesty has spoken from time to time."

Hmm?

"Gentle patience is a privilege of the nobility."

Yeah.

Henry nodded.

Certainly I have heard the words from Noah's mouth many times.

It's an expression that Noah often uses when he talks about the nobility.

"I know what you mean. It is a theory of principle that aristocrats are like that. And if you try to penetrate the theory of principle, it will naturally be in the form of slight patience. That's fine. But your Majesty--"

I said, "Privilege."

This time, Henry took over and Oscar nodded quietly.

There was no trace of the feeling of exploration there, and it became a scene that felt like the brother's heart had become one.

A nobleman is a lightweight, enduring thing. You could say that, but it's a privilege.

"Yes, if it's us, if it's normal." But the Majesty can say that. And without any compulsion. "

Oscar cut out his words there, took a deep breath, stared at Henry with a real face, and put them together (,,,).

"In that sense, I don't think your Majesty is human."

That's where the conversation went.

Henry nodded.

At first, I wondered what it meant, but I honestly wondered if I could be convinced that it would be explained.

"That's right..."

"On the other hand, His Majesty knows how people feel." Even though I value the law above all else, I clearly understand people's emotions. The most iconic thing was when Gilbert's assassination plot was discovered. "

"Did you do anything at that time?"

Henry shook his head clearly.

"His Majesty exposed Gilbert's attempt to assassinate his predecessor." The assassination of the emperor was the death of the body, to which His Majesty replied as Minister of Justice. "

Ah, it seems to be your Majesty.

"At the same time, since it was discovered before execution, it can be taken as an attempt." In that case, the beheading would not go unpunished, but the emperor promised him that the execution would be suspended. "

"... hmm?"

Henry broke his neck.

Looks like it hasn't been pinned again.

Oscar smiled.

"It's impossible, that's an idea that can't be reached without being an expert in law." One day, I looked into something else, and I remembered something from it. "

Oscar switched to his true face as he said so.

With a reprieve, His Majesty won't know when to execute.

"... ahhh!"

Henry had a hard time.

Oscar smiled loudly.

She just said that when she understood it, it was just like that.

"And the Imperial Law does not stipulate that it must be absolutely enforced by the end of time." I mean, if His Majesty cares about that. "

"... I can kill her all my life"

"Yes, I won't do what I can tomorrow." At some point, I heard these words and came in sharply. So I checked the Imperial Law from corner to corner and found out. "

"I see... even if Gilbird is like that, my son is my son, and my eldest son"

"A decent parent hesitates. In addition, the ancestor has a slight responsibility to Gilbert."

Even though he was the eldest son, he didn't tell the Crown Prince because he was a child in the side room.

"Yes. When those conditions are met, can you enforce them, brother?"

"... I don't know"

"Yeah, me too. Of course my father did too. Even if we uncover an assassination, my child, we are in trouble. His Majesty has offered the possibility of a moratorium on executions in view of that. But that's not the answer for people who are strict with the law."

That's right.

Henry nodded clearly.

He and Oscar are the same.

I am now from a prime age to a middle age, and I have a son.

That's why it became more realistic to treat my son as a "father" than it was then.

I don't know if I can do it when I'm in that position - no.

I'm sure you can't.

Of course, the trigger word was that earlier, but I clearly understood that it was because I had a child, so it was big.

Yeah.

"That's why... Your Majesty is amazing." At that time, I didn't even have a child in my main room. "

That's right.

"That's why it's hard. I don't have a desire to be human, but I can understand people's feelings." The essence of His Majesty. "

……

Henry agreed deeply.

I deeply agreed with what Oscar said.

"So, it's kind of unusual."

Three times, Oscar mouths the same words.

It's not human.

When I got here, the criticism was so strong that I could no longer think of it as a layer.

"If it's not human, then what will it be?"

"Speaking of imposing... God."

Oscar shrugged his shoulders.

"I'm just kidding."

"But you're the ideal god."

"Still, I..."

Henry smiled bitterly, while Oscar, himself, shrugged and laughed again.

With a bitter smile, Henry was secretly impressed.

Oscar knows that Henry came to "explore."

Henry himself didn't hide it.

It's an open secret that Oscar is still after the throne.

Henry had been searching for it a lot before the Parental Expedition.

Oscar did it brilliantly.

At first, the air tingled because "I don't think of me as a person", but the reason was "because I only think of God".

When this happens, whether you're serious or joking, you can escape with "I think it's God".

It means that Oscar was better at one.

(It's a human resource after all... if you can even swear allegiance to His Majesty with this...)

The mission failed, but Henry, who had once again reaffirmed his talent as an Oscar, was secretly sorry.