Chapter 404: Revelation
“W-what are you trying to do!?”
Words alone would be one thing, but,
Being surrounded by dozens of armed soldiers was going far too far,
So when I demanded an explanation, the King spoke without the slightest hint of remorse.
“I told you already. It is absolutely unforgivable for one of a count’s house to seduce a member of the royal family, Elizalina.”
“I have not seduced Elizalina-sama!”
“It is too late to feign ignorance now. From your own admission that Elizalina has treated you well, combined with the information that the man she favors is from a count’s house, I have reached my conclusion.”
“…!”
So the King knew that Elizalina-sama had feelings for me.
In that case, the only way he could know would be if he heard it directly from her, so did Elizalina-sama tell him?
But if that were the case, then,
“It is true that Elizalina-sama has feelings for me… but that is not because I seduced her! Please do not reduce her feelings to something like that!”
“Hmph, nonsense… not because you seduced her? Then are you suggesting that as she spent time with you, she simply came to like you naturally?”
“That… to be honest, even now, there are times when I can hardly believe that such a thing truly happened.”
Someone like Elizalina-sama.
No, not just her, but people like Felisiana-sama, Rezamiliana-sama, and Florence-san… the idea that they would come to like someone like me still feels unreal no matter how many times I think about it…
But even so, I don’t want to run away from those feelings.
“However, I don’t think it’s strange at all for such feelings to develop naturally as you spend time together… I also…!”
…I also?
The words slipped out on their own, and I cut myself off.
Just now… what was I about to say next…?
“In any case!!”
Just as I was about to grasp something, the King’s loud voice pulled my attention back.
“It does not change the fact that you, in your insolence, have stolen Elizalina’s heart! That alone has become one of the causes of the current conflict in this kingdom, a civil war between this King and the three princesses!!”
“A civil war…!?”
As the unexpected words left me stunned, the King declared forcefully.
“Indeed! The cause of this civil war lies in the three princesses, including Elizalina, insisting they wish to be united with a mere count’s son, and even Floria Florence of the Florence ducal house has joined their side!”
“…!?”
Felisiana-sama, Elizalina-sama, Rezamiliana-sama, and Florence-san, wanting to be with a man of a count’s house,
in other words, with me… are opposing the King because of that…?
“If you obey this King, I can still secure Elizalina and there remains a chance to turn things around… but if you refuse, then this country will fall because of you!!”
“…”
This country…
I had no idea that the people who said they loved me were in such a situation right now.
Why… why would all of them…
“Though I say that, you have no choice but to obey this King.”
As he gave a signal with his hand, the soldiers surrounding us all raised their weapons at once.
Reflexively, I touched the hilt of my sword and began to draw it…
“Let me make this clear, do not resist. If you do, I will deal with the maid beside you before I deal with you.”
“…!!”
The King looked at Siana, who still had her head lowered, and curled his lips.
…So that’s why he allowed Siana to remain here.
…No, that doesn’t matter.
More importantly,
“Your Majesty… if you so much as lay a single scratch on Siana… I will never forgive you.”