Chapter 399: The King’s Final Means
Rezamiliana’s Side
After confirming that the king had left the guest room,
Rezamiliana immediately turned toward the King of Katiswear, bowed her head, and spoke.
“I apologize for showing you such an unsightly display.”
“Not at all. Rather, it was a very good opportunity to once again witness the strength of will you possess as the First Princess, Rezamiliana-sama.”
“Thank you very much.”
After expressing her gratitude, Rezamiliana raised her head.
Then, the King of Katiswear, still wearing his gentle expression, spoke.
“Just now, when you were fulfilling your duty as the First Princess, you appeared strong and dignified, but when speaking like this as usual, your demeanor has changed quite a bit since the first time we met. It feels as though you have gained a greater warmth.”
“That is… if I may borrow your words, Your Majesty, I believe it is because I have come to know what love is.”
“Oh… in that case…”
“Yes… there is a man I love.”
“Well now, that is wonderful news… I would very much like to meet the man who has captured your heart, Rezamiliana-sama.”
Meeting the king of a nation is no simple matter, however,
No matter which of Rezamiliana, Elizalina, Felisiana, or Florence Lux were to choose,
The three princesses hold their positions, and the Florence ducal house also wields great power, so,
“I believe that day will come before long.”
And by that time, Lux will likely have given his answer.
“…”
…No.
The moment when Lux gives his answer is not something in the near future,
It is already right upon them.
Rezamiliana felt something close to certainty in that intuition.
King’s Side
“Th-this… this can’t be…! I-I…!!”
Inside the carriage, the king clutched his head with both hands, his face pale as his thoughts spun in chaos.
Both within and beyond his country, everything he believed to be under his control had in fact been seized by the princesses he now opposed, so his reaction was only natural.
“At this rate, I really will… lose to them…”
His pride refused to accept such a thing.
However, this was not a problem that pride alone could solve.
“If both domestic and foreign powers are out of my grasp, is there truly nothing left I can do…? But to hand my country over to some count’s son…!”
To the king, whose values were based on rank, it was something he could never accept.
As he agonized over that thought…
“…! That’s it, the count’s son!!”
The king recalled something he had completely overlooked in his focus on opposing the three princesses.
“If I can capture the count’s son that Elizalina is fond of, I can make that Elizalina submit to me!”
And if he could make Elizalina submit, then he could bring the ducal houses within the country over to his side.
He could not completely identify the man Elizalina favored, but narrowing it down to a count’s son who attended her events and was enrolled in the noble academy significantly limited the possibilities.
It was still not a complete identification, making it a gamble, but if he could win this gamble, he could overturn the domestic situation in one stroke.
In other words, this was also the king’s final means, but given the current situation, it was one that needed to be used.
“Now, this time for sure, this time for sure! I will make you all submit to this king!! Hahaha!!”
The king, who had been pale just moments ago, burst into loud laughter as if that had never happened, and remained in the carriage as it returned to his country.
Convinced of an unshakable victory through his final means…