Chapter 151 - Chapter 13: "Because I am a Villain, After All"
Good day to you! It is I, Violia Nico Fortesia!
Right now, I am gazing upon our spoils of war!
"We certainly brought back quite a lot, didn't we..."
"For now, I've taken everything from the four treasuries the princesses told us about, as well as the three hidden ones. ...That filled up one bag. We should think about where to store all this."
A mountain of treasure lay spread out in our hideout. All of this came from the royal treasuries or various places within the royal castle.
"When you have this much gold, silver, and jewels, you start to lose track of their value."
"That is true. That is why the royalty are fools."
"Ah, I see."
Just looking at the mountain of dazzling treasure makes me feel a strange sensation. Well, the actual value doesn't matter much to me. I simply like them because they are sparkly and beautiful. Knowing that is enough for me.
"I just brought back a ton of booze for now!"
"You certainly are consistent..."
Chesta brought back nothing but alcohol. Well, since it was served in the royal castle, it must be of the highest quality... but to prefer alcohol and medicine over gold and jewels, he really never wavers!
"As for me, well, it was fun. Let's build a library with these after the Revolutionary Army wins."
"Oh. That sounds lovely."
What Keeb brought back was a massive quantity of books. And he took the bookshelves with them.
It seems he stepped into the castle's library, the forbidden archives, and even the private rooms of civil officials, mages, princes, and princesses, taking every book and piece of property he could find. He truly has grown up to be so resilient!
"Bringing back books was a good move. If the castle burns, the books burn with it. If that happens, history and culture might be severed then and there. No matter how sinful history may be, or how worthless culture might seem, they should not be treated as if they never existed."
Onii-sama seemed to approve of Keeb's haul. Yes. Indeed, books can sometimes be far more valuable than gold or silver.
"I have these! I thought these dresses would look wonderful on Violia-sama! Please, allow me to present them to you!"
"You went to the dressing rooms, didn't you..."
And Lital had brought back a large number of dresses and formal wear.
...It seems he scoured the contents of the royal dressing rooms. Yes. Seeing so many exquisitely tailored dresses makes my heart dance...
"...Then, a souvenir from me as well."
While I was smiling and accepting the dresses, Doran pulled a vanity out of a different Spatial Bag. Made of deep-colored wood with delicate carvings and a large, high-quality mirror, the vanity looked like a supreme masterpiece at a glance.
"I took it from a princess's room."
"I see."
It seems Doran didn't just take the contents of the treasuries, but furniture from all over the place as well!
"Then from me, booze. Oh, and I picked this up too, so you can have it."
"Oh, thank you."
From Chesta, I received alcohol and... a bracelet decorated with a large ruby. Eh? Where did you pick this up?
"Then me too. Here."
"Oh, how wonderful."
I received a forbidden book from Keeb! It's titled 'Everything on Poisons and Antidotes.' It seems to contain a lot about magical poisons, so I'm sure it will be useful!
"Everyone, good work. With this, we can finally burn down the royal castle."
After finishing the inspection of the items, I thanked everyone.
"Oh yeah, that's right. We're burning the castle, huh. You really do love burning things, Milady..."
"Yes. I love it! And then we'll catch the royals and nobles who get smoked out and burn them all separately at the stake!"
I have worked so hard for this very purpose. Since burning the castle is one of my ultimate goals, I must put in even more effort from here on out!
"...However, if negotiations have broken down, it is only a matter of time before the royalty tries to flee."
"Ah, that won't be a problem."
"Chesta has already taken care of it. There isn't a single horse or carriage left in the royal castle."
"...When did you...?"
"Eh? At the start. I had time left over after stealing the horses, carriages, and dragons, so I went to the larder and stole some booze."
Yes. I had originally ordered Chesta to rob the royalty of their means of transport, not to get alcohol.
By the way, regarding the story that the royalty kept dragons, I had heard about it from Dactor-sama back when we were engaged, so I had a general idea of where they were. Past experiences can be surprisingly useful, can't they?
"Now then, the only way for the royalty to move is on foot, isn't it?"
"That would be the case. And they likely won't think they can reach safety on foot. Because they must know that we possess dragons!"
Exactly. Now, the royalty finally has no way to escape.
There is no place to run, and they have no means to run in the first place! From the perspective of the royal lot, this must be a truly desperate situation! Ohohohoho!
Still, it's best to remain vigilant regarding the state of the royalty.
Today, Doran and Keeb decided to ride the dragons and keep watch around the royal castle.
As a feint, we'll have several riderless dragons flying about to act out a situation that says, 'We are watching the castle with our maximum military force' and 'It wouldn't be strange for us to charge in at any moment.'
...And then, with the end of the royalty finally in sight... I decided to speak with Onii-sama.
About what comes after this.
"Hmm. Not a bad wine. It was worth taking from the castle."
"Yes. Truly. I'm so glad Chesta recovered this. It would have been such a waste if it had been burned without being drunk."
The wine I prepared was the one Chesta gave me. As expected of something from the royal castle, it was delicious.
If I recall, this is from a vintage year of House Fruitier's winery. ...To enjoy something produced by a house I've already destroyed is quite a luxury. Ohohoho.
"Now then... it has been a while since we spoke like this, my sister."
Yes. It has been a long time since I spoke with Onii-sama alone.
After all, Onii-sama had been missing for over half a year... Even after we reunited, we were so busy that we couldn't find time for a relaxed conversation.
...But we can't just leave things as they are forever. Yes.
"I have something I wish to discuss with Onii-sama. It's about what happens after this..."
"The matter of who will rule this country, I presume?"
Onii-sama already understood. What I was worrying about right now. ...As expected of Onii-sama.
"Yes. Once the Revolutionary Army defeats the royalty, a new country will remain. In a state where there is no one to rule it."
"Hmm. I had fully expected that you would become the Queen of the new country?"
"Oh, Onii-sama, how can you say such a thing!?"
"Hahaha. I can. ...I don't think you're unsuited for it, though."
...Onii-sama said that and narrowed his eyes playfully. Honestly, what a teasing brother.
"I believe Onii-sama is the one who should rule the new country."
"But the people will want you, won't they? The name 'Violia Nico Fortesia' is heard far and wide."
That is the problem! Perhaps I introduced myself in too many places! If I knew it would come to this, I should have operated more anonymously!
"Even so. Listen, I believe Onii-sama would do a better job. Even if I am not unsuited to be a ruler, it is certain that Onii-sama is more suited for it, is it not?"
"Now, I wonder. I believe that I am the one unsuited to be King."
Onii-sama gave a wry smile at my plea and spoke.
"What are the abilities necessary to be a King? You understand that it is not simply martial prowess or intellect, don't you?"
"...Yes."
"What a King needs is the power to attract people. Centripetal force. Charisma. You possess all of those things."
"Onii-sama has those as well."
"And, persuasiveness."
"...Persuasiveness."
"Exactly."
Onii-sama nodded deeply and stared straight into my eyes as he spoke.
"...When it is decided that the next ruler is you, the people will be convinced. You, who have fought to overthrow the royalty, have a certain persuasiveness. ...I lack that."
I saw myself reflected in Onii-sama's deep red eyes.
Despite having the same red eyes as Onii-sama, I saw my own figure, unable to be as decisive as he is.
"Be proud, Violia. You have accomplished this magnificently. And you will continue to do so. The people desire you. They might not accept anyone else, but many will think that if it's you, it's fine."
"Even so... I do not think I can rule a country. It is more than I can handle."
Averting my eyes from Onii-sama, I... finally managed to say it.
"I have no confidence."
The words I had wanted to say for so long. I finally said them.
"No confidence!? You!? ...That is quite rare."
"Don't be mean. I do have a delicate side, you know? ...I cannot be a King. I cannot do things 'for the happiness of the masses.'"
"I do not know what form the country should take. I cannot see the goal."
...Until now, I have been able to keep going because I had a goal.
The things I had to do, the enemies I had to kill—all of them were my guideposts.
Because I had those guideposts, I was able to come this far. Conversely, if I lose them, I won't be able to move anymore.
"...I wonder what a country even is. At the very least, the current country is a world of bad taste built upon blood, money, and corpses. But the things needed to crush that country are, after all, blood, money, and corpses."
I have become lost.
After kicking those infuriating people into the depths of the abyss and laughing at them... there is nothing I wanted to do after that.
I thought that if the people who made me feel miserable died miserable deaths, I could just throw myself away while laughing.
Yes. That's right. I had envisioned my own end as ruin.
That was my intention from the start. Kill the Prince, occupy the royal castle... and there, let the castle gradually rot away, destroy it, and stand upon the ruins... I had no intention of doing anything else.
"I do not know how a country should be. I am not someone who creates, nurtures, and cherishes a country. I am merely a villain who thrives by preying upon the country."
I am evil.
I am not a tragic victim framed with a bad name, nor am I an actor playing a villain; I am simply, purely, evil.
I chose to be this way. By my own will, I chose to live happily by preying on others.
I have no regrets or guilt about it whatsoever. Because I am pure evil.
...Therefore, I don't think I should stand on the public stage of justice.
"The good or evil of governance is not necessarily related to the good or evil of the governor. Even if you are evil, it does not mean your governance will be evil."
Onii-sama said that abruptly.
"In the first place, what is evil? What is justice? ...If you go back three generations, killing people from other countries was considered justice, but can the same be said now? If anything, justice has been overturned right now. Because the House of Orchesta, which was once justice, is now a band of evil, rotten scoundrels."
...Onii-sama's words were directed at me ironically, yet kindly and strongly.
"Do not chase after 'rightness.' Something that changes as frequently as the fashion of women's dresses will give you nothing even if you pursue it."
"That is..."
That is certainly true.
The existence of an absolute 'rightness' might just be a fantasy.
As for 'justice,' it certainly shifts and changes. Just as I, who was once a great criminal, am now trying to strike down the 'evil' royalty as a revolutionary.
"In the first place, does governance even need 'rightness'? If you ask what the foolish masses want, it is only 'visible change' and 'slightly better treatment.' If a beautiful, radiant royal smile is added to that, it will be more than enough."
...Even if 'rightness' did exist firmly, there is indeed no one who desires it.
It is human nature to not care about things that don't involve oneself, and it is also human nature to treat things one doesn't know as if they don't exist.
Most of the populace is far removed from politics. Therefore, they don't seek 'rightness' from the start.
What they seek are only things they can understand...
"Until the time the next justice is born. You, who are the 'current' justice, should build this country as you see fit. You, as the current justice, are the one who decides good and evil. Do what you want to do. That is what the people desire!"
...When Onii-sama finished saying that, he suddenly gave a wry smile and added this:
"And if you fail and a new 'justice' is born... then we shall gracefully be destroyed. That is the fate of us villains."
"...I see."
Naturally, I was convinced.
This must be what it feels like for things to click into place.
I am evil, and I am surely the furthest thing from 'rightness.'
But at the same time, I am 'justice.' I am the one chosen 'now' by the ever-changing 'justice.'
And doing a good job is what is expected of me. Whether that is the right thing or not doesn't matter.
The rest... I will decide.
Both 'justice' and 'evil.'
Since I am the one who decides... in my country, villains shall be justice!
...Of course, as long as I am doing a good job!
"I've decided! I shall become the Queen and create a new country!"
If you must resent someone, resent yourselves for making a villain your King! I won't be stopped anymore!
If you ever want to stop me... you can send me to the executioner's block whenever I happen to fail!
Of course, I have no intention of going to the block easily! Because I am a villain, after all! Ohohohohoho!