After the execution concludes the crowd gets dispersed.

Not in a forceful manner, but in a way that it’s clear they aren't needed or supposed to struggle here any longer.

I, on the other side, feel exhausted.

This is probably going to weigh forever on my mind.

While only a minor inconvenience, I'm now faced with the issue that I need to get back up to the others since I neither want to disturb Uma nor have any desire to ask her to lift me up again.

I don’t want to walk all the way through the palace halls.

Maybe I should just fly.

(U)

Seriously, I need to pay better attention to my thoughts.

Recently everyone I meet is able to read them.

Just once I finish that thought I realize that I got grabbed from behind and find some of those abductors fixing themselves on me.

Shortly after this I leave the ground and am a moment later on the terrace.

I can fly on my own!

Immediately Mum throws herself at me for an embrace.

"I'm so sorry, Erys!" (F)

Right, I just killed someone.

Probably one of those things where a mum may comfort you.

Well, as long as you don't derive a sick kind of joy from this.

"You, you don't need to. This, this wasn't pleasant, but it was necessary. I think." (E)

Still not too sure if it was.

(H)

Honiu!

As pleasant as ever to have around.

(H)

Honiu moves, and by sheer presence alone, pulls us all with her.

She's basically the current center of administration in Valera and maybe all of Tarsona.

While walking, Liseti addresses me.

(L)

She says so less in a laidback assuring way and more in a matter-of-fact declaration.

(E)

(H)

(L)

If you spot this story on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

Huh, I don't feel like a winner right now.

"Umh, so, this was your queee-, queen?" (K)

She's quite the looker, huh?

(H)

What did I ask her about treating him like a pet?

(E)

(H)

Suddenly, Mum chimes in.

(F)

(H)

Damn, did Mum go on the warpath while I was away?

(F)

"Ahem, you are awA-, aware that I can hee-, hear you?" (K)

Right, he got the full Honiu program.

Eventually, we reach the big hall again that Honiu built for herself.

She looks as regal as when I met her earlier today when she places herself on her throne.

(E)

To my surprise, the answer comes from Liseti, next to me.

(L)

Well, if this doesn't sound ominous...

"I hope wee-, we showed ourselves to be cooperative eee-, enough to warrant a decent treatment." (K)

Oh my god, if Honiu's look could kill.

(E)

(H)

(L)

(H)

"Ahem, in this case, it may be a good idea to invite cE-, certain figures of our politics to thie- this meeting. This might help to let any changes run smoothly." (K)

(H)

"That'z, that's very thoughtful of you. You have my gratitude." (K)

It's making me quite concerned about how accommodating my former king is to someone who basically overthrew his kingdom.

I mean, why does he suck up so much to Honiu?

The one who took his nation from him?

What does he stand to win from letting this get out of his hands right into the queen's claws?

After all, if we decide...

Decide!

I guess I can see where he's coming from.

By allowing important nobles and such to attend the meeting, he can assure that their issues and arguments will at least be heard.

So to say, he can save face in front of them by acting as if he did what he could, and now they can try their best to convince Honiu and the queen.

But the much more important point is that he isn't losing out here.

If things proceed as they seem to be doing, the Formicea will decide on something for Tarsona that doesn't involve eradicating them all.

While this might not sound like a big win, one has to see it from the other side.

Basically, tomorrow's meeting's end result will determine the fate of this country.

What we decide, happens with a certainty.

In this sense, if we decide Tarsona's population survives we'll guarantee this outcome.

This means the king is closer than ever before to pulling us into his war because anything else means we'd allow Koreso to take over here.

Something that absolutely can't be in our interest.

Especially not if we want our decisions to happen.

That's sly.

Yet it wouldn't help what I wish for to point that out here.

(H)

Her way of saying we're dismissed.

So we head back down, where our quarters should be prepared for us.

Of course, mum comes with me.

Nothing Honiu says could prevent her from sticking close to me after all the anxiety she must've been through.

Eventually, we arrive at our new temporary home.

It feels good to know I'm in a safe location again.

"Oh, Eryes. I'm so glad you could reeturn safely." (F)

"I can honestly say, I have some stories to tell that might put you on edge." (E)

"Okay, but I hope you'll miend my weak heeart." (F)

"Yes. I'm just happy that I'm back. Sitting here with you means much to me. Despite everything else that happened today." (E)

"That's so nice of you. So you truly are fine?" (F)

"Yes. Fortunately, while there was quite some bad stuff, I was never physically mistreated. I think I can leave this behind me now. That I can come down here is just a really big relief to me." (E)

"Plop"

I should've known!