Chapter 398: Ridiculous
“R-Rezamiliana!? Th-that’s impossible! Why are you here!!?”
Just like when Elizalina appeared yesterday, even if it were within his own country,
This was the Katiswear Empire, a foreign nation, so he couldn’t process the fact that Rezamiliana had appeared right in front of him.
So, with shock mixed in, he spoke, and Rezamiliana answered calmly.
“I am the one who handles diplomacy with other nations, including this Katiswear Empire. There is nothing strange about me visiting a place where the king of an allied nation is present.”
“Ugh…”
The king was left speechless, but.
Rezamiliana paid it no mind and continued, “More importantly…”
“Any further stay without permission would become a serious problem… therefore, if there is nothing more to discuss, I will have you leave.”
“W-wait! Don’t end this on your own!! The discussion isn’t over yet!!”
“You want to gain the Katiswear Empire’s cooperation, is that it?”
“Th-that’s right!”
Being seen through wasn’t quite how he had planned things, but this was no time to complain about that.
And so, facing Rezamiliana, who even seemed to have composure to spare, he spoke.
“You may have grown arrogant after securing most of the ducal houses within the country, but if this king can obtain the cooperation of the Katiswear Empire, the situation will change drastically!”
The king thought that imagining such a future might at least shake her, but Rezamiliana spoke without changing her expression or tone at all.
“You entrusted all diplomacy to me and did nothing but check and stamp the bare minimum of documents… regarding the Katiswear Empire, you have never once even shown your face, and yet now that you are in trouble, you seek its power. That can only be described as ridiculous.”
“Guh…! Sh-shut—”
“That’s not all. Even though you left domestic mediation to Elizalina, you acted solely for your own convenience and tried to borrow the power of the ducal houses. That too can only be called ridiculous.”
“Y-you…! Even if we are at odds now, do you think you can get away with spouting such disrespectful words to the king—”
“Since we’re on the subject, I’ll say it plainly.”
Cutting off the king’s words with a sharp, powerful voice,
Rezamiliana spoke as her piercing gaze locked onto his.
“Father, you are king in name only. In reality, it is I and my sisters who run this country… you deny things like love and kindness and wish to pursue only profit, yet even producing that profit was left to us… someone like you never had a chance of winning from the start.”
“Sh-shut up!!”
The king shouted that, then hastily turned toward the King of Katiswear and spoke.
“K-King of Katiswear! Rather than someone who would speak such words to their own country’s king, wouldn’t it be better to cooperate with me instead!!”
A desperate appeal.
In this situation, he couldn’t defeat Rezamiliana with words,
And there was no way he could win in strength either,
So he raised his voice, placing his hopes on the King of Katiswear… however,
Perhaps because he had not lived long for nothing, even after hearing the intense exchange, the man spoke without changing his expression or tone.
“No. On the contrary, after hearing that, I feel even more inclined to cooperate with First Princess Rezamiliana-sama… and once again, I truly believe it was right to form an alliance with First Princess Rezamiliana-sama and Third Princess Felisiana-sama back then.”
“Y-you…”
“Leave. If you insist on staying any longer, I will not choose my methods.”
Saying that, Rezamiliana placed her hand on the hilt of the sword at her waist.
“…!”
Seeing that, there was nothing more he could say.
The king left the royal guest room and, his agitation laid bare, made his way toward the carriage waiting in front of the castle.