Confession (3)

At the end of January 1894, the Southwest Campaign came to an end.

In March 1894, Levière completely withdrew his troops from the country. Before returning home, Levière signed a peace treaty with Choune on a large merchant ship in the Gulf of Cattlan.

The emperors and crown princes of both countries were present in person, followed by their generals.

During these two months, both sides also spent time calculating the casualties and losses of the war. The results were incredibly small.

The battle in which both sides deployed hundreds of thousands of troops resulted in less than 10,000 deaths, but the consumption of resources was no joke.

This is largely due to the wizard's full rescue efforts and the fact that both parties abided by the convention of treating prisoners well.

Inger's promise of unconditional peace talks was fulfilled here. Although the Chune Parliament, including the House of Representatives and the Senate, strongly opposed it, it was suppressed by Aura alone.

Of course, from a national perspective, it would be a foolish move for the country, which was actually victorious, not to make some demands for compensation and to negotiate unconditionally, which would only result in huge losses.

But from the perspective of the entire human race, Li Wei'er also consumed a lot in this battle. The compensation only increased the internal consumption of human resources and was of no benefit to the subsequent war against the demons.

Instead, Qiu Nie's side put forward some demands.

"The two countries will re-establish diplomatic relations economically, open up official trade channels, lower tariffs, and resume trade flows between the two countries," Ola said.

Mackay Olin nodded. "It may take some time to truly restore trade, but there is no problem. This is what we hope for."

The country has not yet recovered from the wartime state, and even the most daring businessmen dare not go directly to neighboring countries to trade. However, as long as the policy is implemented, it is only a matter of time before communication is restored.

Elena smiled and said, "I think it's not just about the economy, right?"

Several people present immediately understood the hidden meaning of his words.

The problem with Saranqin still remains, and Qiu Ne will need to seek Li Wei'er's help to subdue the current Saranqin regime.

Alex then said, "Perhaps we will fight together soon. Please take care of me then."

Elena looked at him with a smile: "You can do well without us, right? Aren't you afraid that we will take a share of the profits?"

Alex said calmly: "What Chune expects is only peace, otherwise he would not negotiate unconditionally under such circumstances."

['Don't be a good boy if you get an advantage', right? ]

Inger complained silently in his heart.

Regarding such a formal occasion, he really felt uncomfortable whether standing or sitting.

But his current military rank has been promoted to general, so it is impossible for him not to come.

Executives from both sides, led by Mackay Olin and Ola, discussed the details of the contract.

As the first phase came to an end, Mackay Olin turned his attention to Inger.

He smiled amiably and said, "Master Wizard Neka, I brought your gift directly this time. Here is the gift list."

The executive officer behind him came forward and handed him a thick gift list.

Inger glanced at Ola, who nodded for him to take it.

Inger took a quick look at it and his eyes widened.

Too many!

Buying up enough supplies for a territory of Li Weier, and giving them to just one person? !

Inger was about to open his mouth to refuse, but Alex held him down and shook his head.

Inger saw the look in his eyes and realized what was going on.

This was a secret compensation that Mackay Olin gave to Chunie on behalf of Levitra.

On the surface, Qiu Nie gave enough face to the defeated country, Li Wei'er, but Qiu Nie was a party that was forced to participate in the war, and the lost resources and manpower could not really be wasted in vain.

Then Mackay Olin made up for this part by giving Inger a gift. Although it is not as much as the actual loss of Qune, it should be close to the loss of Liweier.

Mackay Olin smiled and said, "I really want to express my gratitude. You saved me and my daughter. You deserve it."

Inger glanced at the generals behind him, and saw no expression of dissatisfaction, so he stiffly returned the salute and took on this hot potato.

[I'll give it to Lanmore to fill the national treasury when I get back...]

Elena stood up again and said to them, "I sent a few more people to you."

She clapped her hands: "Bring it in."

The three men brought in by the knights were blindfolded.

Inger took a few glances before he recognized who it was and was dumbfounded.

"Our people in our country will clean up on their own, but the people in your country will still have to be handed over to you for disposal."

Rudolf and the former Duke of Amiel were tied up with insulating stone chains. The black cloth covering Rudolf's eyes was bleeding and his eye sockets were sunken. It was obvious that his eyes had been gouged out and it seemed that the tendons in his hands and feet had also been cut.

And the other person...

"This woman came out voluntarily and is in cahoots with this guy, but I don't know what she did. I'll hand her over to you." Elena pressed the woman's head.

Alex looked at her, frowned and whispered her name: "Arianna..."

Ariana didn't look up, but just lay beside Rudolf.

Rudolf kicked Ariana away and said in a hoarse voice: "She is just a stupid maid. You caught the wrong one."

It was the first time Alex saw Rudolph care so much about someone, and he glanced at Arianna.

Inger remembered that Arianna seemed to be Coco's biological sister.

[This... is a bit difficult...]

Olagang was about to say something when Alex spoke.

He pointed at Ariana and Duke Amiel, "We'll take these two away." He looked at Rudolf, "As for him, no need. He is no longer a member of our country. You will handle him."

Aura slammed her fist on the table. When everyone looked over, she forced a smile and nodded: "Yes, he has been tried and his nationality and royal family affiliation have been revoked. You will handle it."

Mackay Olin nodded, and Elena smiled and said, "Okay. Then go back and punish them for treason. This gang is in collusion with the mastermind."

In fact, Prince Longdor is still wanted in the country.

Elena asked someone to take the two people over.

The moment he passed by Alex.

clang!

The silver hairpin in Arianna's hand was knocked away, and Elena twisted her neck and pressed her to the ground.

"Ugh!"

Arianna screamed.

Rudolf stood up instantly but fell to the ground, his tears and blood staining the floor.

Rudolf, Inger, and Alex all blurt out at the same time: "Don't kill her!"

Elena raised her eyebrows, loosened her hands, and stepped on Arianna's back with her feet.

"We didn't search them thoroughly enough," she said, glancing at the escorting knight.

Alex looked at Arianna, not knowing what to say.

Arianna raised her head and screamed fiercely: "Give my sister back to me!"

Those eyes were filled with despair.

She actually thought Coco was dead?

How did she know in Liwei that Coco was "dead"?

Inger was about to retort that Coco was not dead, but when he thought of the other people around him, he stopped talking.

Ariana was completely heartbroken and asked him hysterically: "You took her away from me! And tortured her to death! Give my sister back to me!"

Alex looked at her, frowning deeply, and his tone changed: "Ariana! Who told you that I was torturing her? And who told you that she was dead?! But she is not dead!"

Ariana was stunned for a moment.

Inger tugged at Alex's sleeve, then he squatted down and grabbed Arianna's collar, "Coco, she writes to you every once in a while. If you received her letter, you wouldn't say such things! Who told you this?"

Ariana opened her eyes wide for a while, seemed to understand something, and murmured: "Queen...Queen..."

Alex grabbed her collar tightly and said, "She has a connection with you... So, she sent you to him to monitor him, and sent Coco to me to control you."

Rudolf slowly raised his head.

Ariana subconsciously retorted, "But she is not!"

Alex let go of her and stood up: "Of course Coco is not that, she took the poison sent by the Queen for me, she was almost killed, but she didn't die. Lucia just wanted to kill Coco and put the blame on me, you are her knife!"

Arianna was shaking with rage.

Alex also found it difficult to control his emotions. He said, "Coco is in my palace now. She has a box that I have never opened, but she said that all her letters are kept in it. I will let you see it before I take you back to question you."

Ariana raised her head, and there was a glimmer of light in the eyes of the person who had just died, "You really didn't lie to me..."

Alex looked at her sadly: "You have been deceived for long enough. Do I have to deceive you? You used to be a maid from my mother's side!"

Ariana murmured, "It doesn't matter. Let me see Coco. I don't care what punishment I receive. I will tell you everything I have done."

Inger looked at her with mixed feelings.

Yunia Gazi, who was standing behind Alex, suddenly spoke up: "She used to come here occasionally, and Sissi would bring something to the palace for her."

Alex's pupils shrank.

Inger was also surprised.

[She was also involved in Alex's mother's death? But she was still very young at that time. ]

Alex didn't care about that and shouted, "You say!"

Ariana has calmed down a lot now. She lowered her head and said, "It wasn't me who did it...but I know who did it."

“…”Alex couldn’t control his breathing and began to tremble.

Inger stood beside him, held his shoulders, and activated the soundproofing array for the people involved.

This is the first time in two lifetimes that Alex knows the real cause of his mother's death.

It was also the first time he knew about it, because at that time everyone thought that Empress Sissi died of illness, and because it was not in the main storyline, there was not much explanation.

She died before the main character appeared.

Ariana looked at Rudolf and told him the truth: "...When Princess Sulie went to visit Princess Sissi, the Queen had someone poison the food that Princess Sulie brought over...Afterwards, she asked me to tell Princess Sulie about this, and forced Princess Sulie to death. It was at this time that I learned the truth..."

When she heard this, she was so frightened that she gasped for a long time.

She couldn't imagine how a person could be so vicious.

She didn't dare to resist the order of the Queen, who held her sister's life in her hands.

She also thought that Princess Sui Li would not die because of this. After all, she could guess that it was the Queen who did it.

But the fact is, even though she guessed that the Queen had done this, Princess Sui Li still couldn't bear the fact that her only friend was killed by the poison she brought, so she committed suicide.

Alex clenched his fists and closed his eyes.

Inger could feel the waves of anger coming from him.

Inger could not help but feel angry.

Ariana thought for a while, then suddenly laughed, with a ridiculous look in her eyes. She turned around and looked at Rudolf.

Even with his eyes gouged out, Rudolf still looked straight at her.

Ariana slowly told the more cruel truth: "Your Highness...you should hate the Queen, you should hate me, but you should not hate Empress Sissi and her only child."

"...Yali..."

"When you were little, the birthday presents given to you were given to you by Empress Sissi in the name of your mother. She was afraid that you would be bullied and not have enough food or warm clothes. She knew that Empress Suli didn't care about you, but she didn't let me tell anyone about it. But the queen asked me to take the blame on myself. I didn't understand the reason before, but later I understood. She wanted you to hate Alex. Your mother wanted to strangle you to death. Empress Sissi was the only person in the palace who cared about you and pitied you."

Rudolf opened his mouth, but no words came out.

"My poor highness, you and I have been completely used by the Queen. Hahahaha, really, so stupid!" Ariana laughed until tears came out.

When Ariana stood up and walked towards Alex in despair, Rodolfo whispered, "Ariana, I wish you the happiness and freedom you want."

He kept her by his side for so long, but in the end he chose to let her go.

Ariana paused for a moment: "...Your Highness, this is all fake. It's time for you to wake up from your dream."

At this moment, Rudolf was glad that he had no eyes.

He exhaled slowly, and in the darkness, he reviewed his life.

Born with nothing, he was deceived by others, and at the same time had deep love and hatred, deceived many people, and tortured himself. When he was about to die, he found that even the only love and hatred he had were all fake. He was clean and pure, from beginning to end, he still had nothing.

Perhaps he had already realized that this was false, but at that time, he could not live without even this false thing.

He relaxed his body as if relieved of a heavy burden.

Rudolf didn't resist much and was taken away by Elena's men.