An Unattainable Dream
“Rezamiliana-sama, we have been waiting for you. His Majesty the King is waiting inside.”
“Alright, open it.”
When Rezamiliana arrived before the throne room doors and spoke with her usual dignified posture, the two soldiers standing on either side slowly opened the doors.
Walking straight down the red carpet that extended from the doorway, she knelt on one knee before her father seated on the throne.
“Thank you for coming, Rezamiliana.”
“No, if a royal decree comes from you, Father, it is only natural for me to obey.”
“A good mindset.”
The king continued, leaving a small pause before he spoke again.
“The reason I called you here today is none other than the future of this nation.”
“At present, with myself, First Princess Rezamiliana, Second Princess Elizalina, Third Princess Felisiana, and powerful noble houses like the Florence Ducal House, this nation is advancing in a way that is unprecedented even when compared to other countries, but is there something that causes you concern, Father?”
“Of course, I have no intention of blaming your abilities. Rather, I consider your excellence to be the pride of this country.”
So said the king, and with a prefacing tone of but, he continued.
“Do you remember how about half a year ago, Felisiana came to me more than a hundred times asking to be engaged to a count family?”
“Yes.”
Count family, huh…
Rodwell, the one I care for, was also from a count family.
Strange things do happen.
“Since then, Felisiana seems to have given up or at least has stopped mentioning it, but now Elizalina has started saying the same thing.”
“Elizalina also wants to be engaged to someone from a count family?”
From her conversations with Felisiana, Rezamiliana had expected that she hadn’t actually given up, but she said nothing of that and simply asked.
The king nodded as he answered.
“Yes. And it seems she has a very strong will about it.”
For Elizalina to say she wants to be engaged to a man… she had always said there were no good men, so has she found someone she thinks is good?
As Rezamiliana was honestly surprised by something she had not known until now, the king spoke firmly.
“But no matter what, it is unacceptable for members of the royal family to be engaged to members of count families, except perhaps to those from ducal houses.”
“What…!”
So a member of the royal family being engaged to someone from a count family… isn’t permitted?
“Since you deal with foreign countries on a daily basis, Rezamiliana, you understand what I mean.”
“…”
“If the royal family were to be engaged to members of count families, it would be unacceptable when thinking of the nation’s future.”
A royal being engaged to someone from a count family.
And not just one, but all three sisters.
It’s unacceptable… that is true.
Normally, royal engagements are formed with royalty of other nations to strengthen relations between the two countries.
Or they are formed with members of ducal families in order to greatly expand the strength of those houses.
Leaving Elizalina and Felisiana aside, for me, the First Princess, to act on emotion rather than considering the nation… that would set a poor example.
Believing she should prioritize the nation and its laws over her own feelings, Rezamiliana gave a small nod to the king’s words.
“I’m glad you understand. Then I will prepare several candidates for your engagement. At the upcoming inter-nation royal gathering, find someone you would wish to be engaged to.”
“…Yes.”
When she answered with a voice lacking its usual strength, the king spoke.
“I will judge not only lineage and ability but also character to the best of my ability. You may go now.”
“…Excuse me.”
Still speaking with her subdued voice, Rezamiliana quietly left the throne room.
As she walked down the halls of the royal castle, she imagined Lux’s smiling face.
Ah… the dream of spending my life with the one I love was, from the very beginning… an unattainable dream.
For the first time since she was born, Rezamiliana felt she might shed tears because of her own emotions.
But she told herself that as the First Princess, she couldn’t allow herself to cry over something like this, and she endured it by gripping the hilt of her sword tightly.
The pain would likely never be healed.
Not unless the day comes when she chooses her love for Lux over the nation and its laws with absolute resolve.