Chapter 71

8/8

"......I see, I see."

I savor his words within myself, the words that promised to take me, more than any blood relation.

"......Don't worry. I won't interfere with the events that will unfold from now on. My resolve hasn't changed since the day we decided to remove the king with Elria. I won't become like my father."

"I'm relieved to hear that."

Rudy lets out a breath he had been holding.

"......In the first place, your concern is unfounded. Seeing her up close has only solidified my resolve."

"......What is the reason for that?"

"A weak king kills the people. ...The fact that my father lost my mother and his heart because he loved her... I can pity him, but I cannot sympathize with him."

That man visibly lost his spirit from the moment he lost my mother. He abandoned his thoughts. This is one of the reasons for the rise of Queen Elria and her family, the Marquis House of Marea.

Foolishly, even though my mother's death was orchestrated by her, he turned a blind eye to this fact... and followed her orders, trying to remove me and Letty. To that man, no matter how much my mother loved us, we were far from being as important as her.

If the Queen Dowager hadn't hidden us, Elria would have had us eliminated long ago.

"Seeing her devote herself entirely to her duties has only strengthened my resolve. Since he is already ill and beyond help, it's only a matter of time before he abdicates. I will have him fulfill his last duty as king... to purge the corruption in this country."

Even if it means taking him down with me. I can no longer feel any familial bond with him. To me, family is only my sister Letty. That's why I have no sentimentality about removing the king.

Ah, I see... I suddenly realize. Rudy says I've become softer... and indeed, this conversation has made me realize it. My true self was like this.

Being indifferent to everything means I had no interest in anything. Whether people died or suffered, it was all just numbers to me... as long as the accounts balanced in the end, that was fine.

The only ones who occupied a corner of my heart were Letty and Rudy.

From an outsider's perspective, especially my changes were very noticeable. And conversely... the fact that she changed me means she was a significant presence in my life.

It's almost laughable that I realize this now.

"......I won't become like my father. Ah, that's right. The woman who took my heart can never be mine."

"......If you wish, the Duke of Armenia will gladly offer her in marriage. It is only natural, as she will eventually have to hand over the authority of the lord to her younger brother."

That's true. The Duke of Armenia has Bern. Eventually, she will have to hand over her authority to him. But what does that mean to her? Even if she hands over the authority of the Duke of Armenia, she has the Azuta Trading Company. More importantly, without the authority of the lord, she will find something else to pursue and run after it.

"......The woman I love is the one who flies freely. Forcing her into the palace by clipping her wings is not my intention."

That's right. The charm of the woman who dedicates herself to her duties, runs around the territory, and lights up with every challenge she overcomes, is too precious to be confined by the rules of the palace.

"Though I may disappoint the Queen Dowager... I have no intention of bringing her to the palace."

"...Is that so..."