Chapter 71

As they were talking, Leona frowned in a troubled manner. Alvis tilted his head, wondering what was wrong.

"Lord Leona?"

"Your Highness, how is Her Highness the Princess? I heard she was supposed to be here today."

"She's with Lana and the others. I thought it would be better not to bring her here."

"…Thank you. However, this place is unfamiliar to Her Highness. Shouldn't you be more concerned about her than me?"

It would be better for you to be with Elina rather than meeting me here, Leona was saying. As always, she placed herself at a lower priority. Alvis understood that. Of course, he wanted to prioritize Elina. But he couldn't miss the opportunity to meet Leona, who could be considered his benefactor in a certain sense.

"Lana is a junior of Elina at the academy and they seem to be quite close, so I can't just intrude. Elina is still adjusting to life in the castle. Besides, she doesn't have many people to talk to other than the maids."

"That's true, I suppose."

Alvis often leaves the Crown Prince's Palace due to his duties. Apart from the change in residence, there hasn't been much change since he returned to the royal family. But Elina is different. Living in an unfamiliar place must be a mental burden. Alvis can't be much of a conversationalist, so he hopes that coming here will be a way for her to relax. Introducing her to Miralia and Valeria is also a genuine wish, but allowing Elina to go out is also a sincere desire of Alvis.

"Once she settles in a bit, Elina will invite her friends over."

"Hehe."

"? Is something wrong?"

Alvis voiced his confusion at Leona's sudden laughter. Was there something funny? But Leona shook her head and smiled.

"I was just happy."

"Happy?"

"That you truly care about Her Highness. It's something I never would have thought of from the Alvis of the past. …You've finally moved on."

"Ah…"

For a moment, a memory resurfaced in Alvis's mind. He closed his eyes, seeing her clearly. He placed his hand on his chest, seeing her image, but he felt no pain. It seemed that she no longer tormented him.

"I don't know. Even now, I can remember her and think that I shouldn't forget her. But I also understand that her words weren't the truth."

"Your Highness."

"I've always thought of myself as an unnecessary person. My existence was only a hindrance to my older brother."

Muglia, the heir of the Belfias Dukedom, already existed. But Muglia was a bastard. It was easy to predict that if Okvias, the legitimate wife, gave birth to a son, there would be a commotion. As expected, when Alvis was born, the surroundings became noisy, spreading rumors about him.

His parents always prioritized Muglia, and he couldn't understand why they had even given birth to him. Once, he said this to Naris, who cried when she heard it. From then on, he understood as a child that it was something he shouldn't say. All Alvis could do was try not to stand out more than his brother. He had to stay one step back.

No one ever said Alvis was unnecessary. Only one person, a woman who could be called his lover, told him he was unnecessary. Words leave a deeper impression on the heart than actions. Her words became a blade, dominating Alvis at the time.

"My value was just as the son of my father. If it weren't for Riti and Lana, I might have been even more apathetic."

Without siblings to protect, Alvis might not have even wielded a sword. The time when he was most alive was when he was wielding a sword. After the academy, Alvis joined the knights. As a knight, going to the front lines meant the possibility of injury or even death. He was fine with dying if it meant protecting someone or something. This changed last year when the ground he stood on began to shake. He was placed in a position where he was to be protected rather than protect.

Still, Alvis had the responsibility of being his father's son. He had to follow the king's orders. That was the only thing that had driven him. The will to act came after the events of the Founding Festival.

"The one who changed me was Elina. She has been expected to become the Crown Princess since she was young. Perhaps she had other things she wanted to do. But Elina didn't have that freedom."

Elina was destined to become the Crown Princess from a young age and was always expected to be suitable for the role. She is a strong and principled woman. But sometimes she shows a worried expression. Unlike Alvis, she has always fought in the noble society without running away. Such an Elina looked up to Alvis. Her straightforward gaze was different from any other woman he had met…

"I respect Elina. And now, I also care for her."

Her straightforward gaze is still dazzling to Alvis. That's why he thinks he needs to become a person who can respond to it, both as a person and as a king.

Leona listened to Alvis's words attentively. When he finished, she nodded deeply several times.

"You've met a good person."

"Yes."

"Even just hearing those words is enough for me. …Your Highness, I think this way."

Gently standing up and walking towards the garden, Leona said,

"You don't need to forget the past. If you feel responsible, I won't object. But please cherish the present and the future. I'm sure Okvias, your father, and even Naris and the others who are with you now, would wish for that."

"…I will keep that in mind, Lord Leona."