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[enthraller]

 

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[enthraller]

[Well. He certainly wasn't against just having Lanzhil killed, if a way to do it neatly with no way to link it back to himself arose -- say, if Yuuri's attacks on Large Shimaron army and navy had happened to kill Lanzhil. Boy, that would be been convenient. But Saralegui doubts Yuuri would be happy to hear that, so he just won't mention that part.]

He doesn't have to die. He just has to lose the throne. He was well on his way to it back home, at least at the point I remember. Word got out of what he had done to the other heirs, and the stress of the situation would likely have soon deposed him if the populace uprising didn't.

[swirlied]

[ Yuuri nods in understand. Wow... Saralegui is really good at analyzing all this. ]

You have a really good sense for this kind of thing.

[enthraller]

I should hope so. I've been a king longer than you have.

[By like, two years. Which maybe isn't a really long time objectively speaking but it's probably nicer to use than excuse than to just point out that Yuuri isn't the sharpest tool in the shed.]

[swirlied]

Really? [ It definitely makes sense, though. ]

Were you raised as royalty?

[enthraller]

Mm. My father was the previous king.

[He looks a little confused over that confusion for a moment, then brightens with realization.]

Oh, right. Shin Makoku doesn't follow a primogeniture system, does it?

[swirlied]

[ He shakes his head. ]

No, the next ruler is chosen before they're born. Still... I had a pretty normal childhood.

[enthraller]

I know. You told me a little about your mother.

["While we were hiding from rebel soldiers staging a coup," he doesn't bother adding. It just complicates the story.]

[swirlied]

I did?

[ It's not really surprising, though. They must have had time for them to talk about those things. ]

Did I ever tell you about Japan, or anyone else in my family?

[enthraller]

[Saralegui glances over to Yuuri with an apologetic smile, sincerely regretful as he shrugs]

Not much, unfortunately. We didn't have much time to talk, back then. You gave me a tour of Blood Pledge Castle later, though. And you introduced me to your daughter.

[swirlied]

[ He smiles at the mention of Greta. ]

I hope you two got along, at least. [ And he pauses, thoughtful. He's a little worried about Greta, but this isn't the first time he's been gone for a while. At least she has people there to look after her. ]

I guess we'll have plenty of time to talk here, since we don't know when we'll be able to go back.

[enthraller]

[At the reminder of how long they might be stuck here, Saralegui grimaces and sighs.]

Mm. I imagine your people will be able to keep Shin Makoku afloat in your absense. But I'm not so sure about my own country.

[There are still competent people like Lord von Voltaire back in Shin Makoku, after all. But the only person Saralegui trusts back home is Belias, and as skilled and loyal as he might be, he isn't a politician.]

[swirlied]

[ His smile falls, and his eyebrows knit together in concern. ]

Do you not have anyone to watch over things when you're gone?

[enthraller]

[s i g h.]

No one good at that sort of thing, unfortunately. And Small Shimaron has always been attractive prey to plenty of interested parties...

[swirlied]

Well, I'm sure everyone back in Shin Makoku would try to protect Small Shimaron, since we're friends! They would know that's what I'd want.

[ ...There goes his optimism again. ]

[enthraller]

[Saralegui pauses just to shoot Yuuri an exasperated look, faintly fond but mostly just frustrated.]

I'm not so sure about that. Your friends are a great deal less forgiving than you are. And they never really liked me to begin with.

[swirlied]

[ He frowns. ]

But I think they would still want to respect my own wishes, even if they don't agree.