After that, the war came to an end, and Eirene won a victory without precedent.
Valcion, Nereia, and the petty states of the east hurried to send surrender documents one after another, and I began "cleaning up" their territories piece by piece, laying the foundations for the kingdom's development.
At the same time, I also carried out the executions of those who had led the war, bringing matters to a certain order.
Thereafter, the news of our triumph rode the wind and spread across all of Greece.
Valcion's iron mines and Nereia's fertile plains fell into my hands, and the petty states of the east opened their gates of their own accord and came under my rule.
I sank deep into the throne and scanned the ornate letters piled atop my desk in the study.
The flattering gifts that arrived before the screams of war had even fully died down were so smooth they were almost nauseating.
"The ones who kept their breath held when they smelled blood on the battlefield are quick on their feet only at times like this."
At my cynical murmur, Medea, who was pouring tea beside me, let a faint smile touch her lips.
"That is the way of those who live in disorder, Your Majesty. From now on, they will lose sleep worrying over your displeasure."
At Medea's words, I let out a short laugh.
"...Then it will be quiet for a while."
Saying that, I picked up one of the letters from Valcion.
It was a politely sealed document at first glance.
And yet the sensation at my fingertips felt subtly wrong.
"...Is this the sort of method you have seen before?"
I asked without taking my eyes off it.
Medea tilted her head slightly and came slowly closer to me.
"..."
Her eyes narrowed ever so slightly as she looked at the hidden letter.
"Your Majesty. That letter..."
Before she could finish, I had already broken the seal.
Riiip—
A brief tearing sound.
At that instant, whoosh— a sharp crack split the air.
From inside the letter, a short iron needle, no longer than a finger, shot out.
It was not fast enough to be seen clearly, but the distance was far too close.
An unavoidable distance.
Thud—
"..."
The sensation of it driving deep into my shoulder.
Only belatedly did Medea's hand seize my arm.
"Your Majesty!"
Her voice shook more violently than ever before.
I lowered my gaze once.
The short needle embedded in my shoulder.
And from its tip, a black liquid spreading outward.
"...Poison. Those bastards. To think they had prepared something like this."
Having been struck by poison through a moment's mistake, I said it calmly as I looked at it.
But Medea's hand moved at once.
Her magical energy spread out, pressing down around the wound.
"Do not move."
Her voice was low, but unmistakably trembling.
"...It is not immediate. But..."
She did not finish the sentence.
For someone as sharp as she was, she had already understood.
I let out a short breath.
"...Valcion, then."
"Most likely..."
Medea's eyes sank coldly.
"...So they do not think it is over yet."
I leaned back and slowly closed my eyes.
"...Good."
Then I let a very small smile form at the corner of my mouth.
"...I have one more thing to clean up."
Afterward, when I returned to the kingdom, I controlled the spread of the news that I had been poisoned.
However—
"We must take revenge on those despicable wretches!!"
"That's right, Your Majesty! Revenge against those Valcion bastards...!!"
Once the retainers and knights heard of Valcion's deed, they looked ready to rush out at this very moment.
"...First, I agree with dealing with Valcion. Beginning with the public execution of those who led this matter... cough...!"
Just as I was making my judgment while listening to the retainers and knights, the poison worsened and I coughed up blood before them.
"Your Majesty!!"
"My King!!"
At that, the retainers were more startled than I was and hurried to check my condition.
"Summon the court physician at once!!"
"If he does not arrive in time, throw him out of the castle!!"
Then they went searching for the royal physicians.
"No... I can still endure for now..."
"Please, remain still, Your Majesty!"
"That's right! We will deal with the Valcion bastards ourselves!!"
The others said they had to take me to my room to rest, forcibly laid me on the bed, and dragged the court physicians before me.
And once the meeting was forcibly brought to an end, the knights checked their weapons and made every preparation to march on Valcion at once.
All of it happened within less than an hour after I had coughed up blood.