Chapter 359: Light
“Ghh…!”
Even if the king had some martial training, defeating Felisiana and Violet together would be extremely difficult.
But in the first place, the king had no such training at all.
So there was nothing he could do in this situation.
“What’s wrong? If you’re going to call yourself great, then I’d like you to show power and character worthy of that claim.”
“S-silence!”
Was it anger at Felisiana’s words, which could be taken as provocation?
Or was it a futile act of resistance, despite being in a situation where he could do nothing?
The king raised his voice, but Felisiana replied calmly.
“I’m not telling you to shout meaningless words… if you value lineage and ability above all else while ignoring character, then show something befitting that.”
“Character…? You, Elizalina, and Rezamiliana, why are you all so misled by such things! What a king needs is nothing but a proud lineage and excellence! Character, and especially kindness, are unnecessary for those who stand above others or rule as king!”
“…!”
Kindness is unnecessary.
Felisiana could not agree in the slightest with Florence’s view that if she truly cared for Lux, she should protect him in a way that respected his own feelings.
However, there was one point the two of them shared.
They were both drawn to Lux’s kindness and purity, and both cherished him, that much she acknowledged.
Yet… the man before her had just dismissed that very kindness, something precious that Lux possessed, as unnecessary for those who stand above others.
“…”
That was the same as denying Lux’s dream of becoming a good lord, a good king.
Felisiana’s eyes grew distant, and in a flat, emotionless voice, she spoke.
“Under a king who lacks kindness, who exactly could ever be happy?”
The king, not noticing the change in her demeanor, continued heatedly.
“Happiness comes afterward, alongside the prosperity of the nation… what we royalty must seek above all else is the nation’s prosperity… from what you’ve said, I can roughly imagine the kind of man you favor, but for someone like you to devote your life to such a man is hardly—”
“If you want to die, then say so.”
“!?”
Moving faster than the king’s eyes could follow, Felisiana drew her sword and pressed it to his throat.
“Y-you would… s-strike down this king!?”
“I didn’t intend to do that today… but it might not be such a bad idea.”
“Wha!?”
The king cried out in shock and hurriedly spoke.
“Th-this is absurd… you, who desire a kind king, can you really stain your hands with such an act?”
If that woman were here, perhaps she might have taken those words at face value… but I…
“I believe that precisely because a king is kind, those who stand by his side must also possess a darker side that contrasts with that kindness… so words like that mean nothing to me.”
“…What this king seeks in a ruler is precisely someone like you… intelligent, strong, able to cast aside unnecessary emotions as royalty… why would someone like you be swayed by such a man!”
“…It’s true, if I had never met him, I might have become exactly as you described, nothing more than a cold, unfeeling person.”
Without joy.
Without sorrow.
Simply fulfilling royal duties without emotion.
If she had never met Lux, that might truly have been her path.
“But now… after meeting him… I was able to find the light.”
“Ojou-sama…”
Violet, who had witnessed Felisiana’s change more closely than anyone, let out a voice filled with admiration.
Then Felisiana continued, her voice firm.
“And because of that… I will show absolutely no mercy to anyone who tries to harm him… that is who I am now… Felisiana, the Third Princess of this kingdom.”