Chapter 142 - Episode 4: I'll Make a Run for It Then
Greetings! I am Violia Nico Fortesia!
Right now, the air in this dining hall has frozen over magnificently! Dactor-sama's expression has frozen as well!
Now, go ahead and continue your fun dinner party in this atmosphere! Ohohohohoho!
"May I... ask the reason for that?"
As the next dish was served, Dactor-sama finally opened his mouth.
"Yes. First, it is the judgment that the Cathedral must remain a neutral entity."
"...Was it not the Cathedral's role to act for the sake of the people?"
"As long as I observe the current actions of the Royal Family, I do not believe that our cooperation with the Royal Family would reduce the number of people being harmed."
At Carol's merciless words, Dactor-sama looked as if he had suffered a fatal wound.
"That is... unfortunate. I thought that if we joined hands, we could at least save the people from the demonic hands of the so-called Revolutionary Army."
"Is that so? I do not think so. ...Rather, are there not people being harmed by the Royal Family? In fact, in the towns near Elsemarin, reports have come in of attacks by royal soldiers."
"What!?"
Dactor-sama raised his voice, but he seemed to realize his rudeness immediately. While apologizing for his lack of courtesy, his mind seemed completely occupied by the 'towns attacked by royal soldiers.'
And for good reason. There is no record of royal soldiers being dispatched, and naturally, no soldiers went out on their own.
Therefore, the Royal Family would find that no such fact existed if they investigated, but there is no reason for Carol to trust that from her perspective. After all, towns that were actually attacked by people dressed as royal soldiers do exist, and the pleas of the victimized people have reached Carol.
It goes without saying that even if the Royal Family were to claim 'It was the Revolutionary Army dressed as royal soldiers who attacked those people,' it would have no persuasiveness at all. Ohoho.
"...What exactly is the Royal Family thinking? Is it truly the people you are thinking of?"
Carol's eyes stared intently at Dactor-sama. Incidentally, we Holy Knights also stared at Dactor-sama.
Dactor-sama needs to come up with at least one good excuse here... but he seems to be having trouble thinking under the pressure of the gazes fixed upon him. Come now, do your best. The Carol you are trying to win over already feels nothing but distrust toward you!
"...The current situation is that the Royal Family does not have the luxury to think of the people."
Oh. Dactor-sama has taken quite a bold direction here.
"What do you mean by that?"
"Exactly what I said. Shamefully, the Royal Family does not possess the military strength to deliver a decisive blow to Violia Nico Fortesia. Therefore, we cannot afford to disperse our power here and there."
Carol's gaze became sharp. This is... well, he must be speaking with that much understanding...
"Therefore, the Royal Family intends to focus on protecting the country."
"The country? Is a country not made of its people? What exactly is this 'country' you speak of?"
To Carol, who was now a mass of suspicion, Dactor-sama spoke as if he were incredibly tense.
"...It is the 'future.'"
"If the Revolutionary Army throws this country into a vortex of chaos, then after we of the Royal Family have perished, the people will surely be tossed about and harmed. Many will surely appear who will die without being able to lead a satisfactory life."
Is that so? Honestly, I am confident I can do a better job than the current Royal Family's rule.
"Therefore, we must avoid that future. Even if it means sacrificing the current people, in order to reduce the number of people who will suffer for all eternity in the future, we cannot allow the country to vanish here and now."
"...I cannot accept that. The people of the future are an extension of the people of the present. Do you think that even if the current people vanish, the people of the future will simply appear out of nowhere? And above all, do you believe you can lead the people of the future to happiness? Is it not you who created the current situation where the people are suffering?"
"That is..."
They were quite bold words for Dactor-sama, but they were not enough to persuade Carol.
The discussion, which had become completely parallel, was cut off there, and they returned to the meal.
However, there is no way Dactor-sama could eat his food deliciously in this situation! Watching his beautiful etiquette contrasted with his sour expression is quite entertaining!
"Well then, thank you very much for today."
Eventually, the dinner party ended, and it was time for Carol to leave the Royal Castle.
"Please, let me invite you again. I still wish to speak with you."
"The Cathedral has nothing more to say to you."
"...Regardless of the Cathedral's position, I... wish to try speaking with you."
"Then there is even less reason to speak."
Carol brushed off Dactor-sama without a second thought, her expression devoid of even a hint of a smile! Dactor-sama can do nothing about this!
"Then, if you'll excuse me."
Unable to even stop Carol as she walked away, Dactor-sama looked as if he were about to hold his head in his hands! This is what happens when you try to execute a shallow plan like 'If I can't win over the Cathedral, I'll just win over Carol'! It serves him right! Ohohohoho!
"And so, I successfully protected Carol and she rejected the Royal Family."
"I see."
Returning and reporting. It's the usual. This time, Doran stayed behind instead of posing as a Holy Knight, so I shall tell him all about the dinner party!
"...For the sake of the country, huh. That's a way of thinking I can't understand."
"Quite so. I... well, I can understand the logic, but I also understand that it's a way of thinking the people won't accept."
I understand the logic behind Dactor-sama's 'discarding the current people for the sake of the country.' From the perspective of the current ruler, it is probably an unavoidable choice.
However, the current people are not going to just sit quietly and be discarded when told that. If they know they are being discarded, they will all join the Revolutionary Army. Or rather, the current situation is already like that.
And above all, the current Royal Family lacks the ability to lead the country in the future. Because that is transparent, the people are even less inclined to follow. Even if the Royal Family were incredibly kind to the people and thought of them constantly, if they lack ability, the people will not follow. The evaluation of the Royal Family's ability is reflected there with cruel directness.
"The Royal Family is the only one who can see this 'future.' The people can't even see tomorrow."
Well, as Doran says... that is how it is. There are differences in position and lifestyle, but the Royal Family sees too much of what the people cannot see. Incidentally, they forget too much that the people cannot see those things. There is no reason for the people to believe in what they cannot see.
Neither the future nor happiness can be believed in if they cannot be seen. That is why they simply seek 'change' that destroys the present. I believe the reason I, as the Revolutionary Army, am being strangely accepted this time is that the Royal Family has built the foundation for me to be accepted.
"...By the way, Violia. Have you decided what you'll do after you crush the Royal Family?"
"Yes. Well, Onii-sama will likely rule this country for a while, so I thought I would assist him."
Now then, after the Royal Family, it is a story about our future.
...Well, since I am doing something like a Revolutionary Army, I cannot simply kill all the royals and nobles and call it a day. If I overthrow the Royal Family, I have a responsibility to lead the country better than they did...
With that intention, I said that to Doran.
"...Contraus is going to rule the country?"
"Eh? Is there anyone else more suitable? Oh, were you planning to do it?"
"No, that's not it."
Doran made a rare, troubled face. And then, he spoke.
"I thought for sure that you would be the ruler of this country."
"...Me?"
"Yeah."
"Not Onii-sama?"
"That's right."
...Eh? Me?
Let's see... thinking about it for a moment, the only points where I am superior to Onii-sama are that my blood is poisonous and that I almost never die from poison. If anything, the fact that my blood is poisonous can be counted as a flaw... I wonder if I can even keep my blood from dying out in the first place?
Thinking about various things, there isn't a single reason for me to become the ruler!
"Some of the people are probably following 'Violia Nico Fortesia,' not the 'Revolutionary Army.'"
...However, when Doran says that, I cannot immediately talk back.
It is true. I have certainly stood out immensely until now. I gave a speech on the execution platform, I gave a speech inside the glass room during the Saint election, and I won the recent Martial Arts Tournament. I have stood out quite a lot. Yes.
And... on the other hand, Onii-sama, come to think of it, has not appeared on the public stage for over a year.
Even after joining up with me, he never came out in front, always sticking to the background... could it be that he foresaw this and made sure my name was better known than his!? It is something Onii-sama would do!
"Incidentally, I also thought you would be the one to rule this country."
"My... that is quite a tremendous misunderstanding you've made. You..."
...Until very recently, I had hardly thought about what would happen after I killed everyone involved in House Fortesia's downfall, and I had thought even less about what would happen after the revolution.
That's right. Just as I can't just kill the King and be done with it, I can't just start a revolution and be done with it. I understand that. Yes.
However, me as the ruler... I wonder about that.
"I think it would be better to look for someone else suitable after all. If anything, I think you are more suitable than I am."
"I don't think so."
"If we're thinking only of ability, I would be superior. Yes. I am confident I can do a better job than the current Royal Family, at least."
Standing above people and moving them, acting so as not to create enemies, or judging who can be turned into an enemy, and thoroughly crushing enemies—I am confident I am better at those than the current Royal Family.
However, that is all.
"But... in terms of temperament, I am very unsuitable."
"...Is that so?"
"Yes. I am good at moving things in a direction that is better for me, but I could never do something like 'for the happiness of everyone.'"
I do not possess such decent sensibilities. It might suit me better to live a fun life as a villain in the shadows.
...Because right now, it is quite fun.
Therefore, I think I am more suited to be an administrator than a King. Someone who stays out of the sun as much as possible. I believe I should be in that kind of place.
"...Well, you should think about it. Even if you don't really intend to be the next King, the people around you probably won't let you escape when the time comes."
"My, my. Then I must start planning my escape now. How troublesome."
If that's the case, I must prepare so that I can make a run for it the moment I kill the King. That said, I don't think much preparation is necessary...
...Well, I shall think of it as half a joke. Yes.
"Right... if you're going to run, take me with you then."
"Oh? You're the one saying that?"
However, I was a little surprised by Doran's sudden statement. I didn't expect a second person to be planning to make a run for it.
"Wouldn't it be better for you to just make a run for it on your own? If anything, from now on, you'll have many paths to live a decent life."
"It's the same for me. It doesn't suit my nature. I won't be able to live a decent life anymore either. ...And if I'm going to run, it seems like it'd be more fun to run with someone interesting."
You certainly think highly of me. I am not some 'interesting-thing-manufacturing-machine,' you know.
"...Well, I shall consider it for you."
"I'm counting on it."
I see... I must also think carefully about what to do after the revolution.
In that case... what shall I do?
I should consult with Onii-sama once. And then... I must also ask in detail about Father and Mother.
It should be about time for us to meet.
...Now then.
The next day, we were planning to just go and rob the noble district of the Royal Capital, but Giovan arrived with news just then.
"Ah, perfect timing. You're here too, Doran."
"What is it?"
Seeing Giovan looking a bit flustered, I had a bad feeling about this...?
...And without betraying my premonition, Giovan spoke.
"Apparently, a carriage with the Royal seal is parked over by the Cathedral. Could it be that Prince-sama again?"
Me! That man! I will not forgive him!