44 - Farewell
Following the instructions of the sentry knight, Ray and Miria visited Princess Ekaterina's room.
Today was the final day of the confinement period. Expecting some form of punishment to be handed down, tension was visible on the faces of Princess Ekaterina and Miria. Only Ray remained expressionless, as if he were thinking of nothing. In truth, he was thinking of nothing. No matter what punishment was decided, it was a matter of indifference to Ray.
Flanked by Royal Guards, the person who appeared at the entrance of the room was none other than the King himself.
"Father!"
At Princess Ekaterina's surprised voice, Ray and Miria reacted quickly and stood up. They moved to the corner of the room and waited for the King to enter, standing at rigid attention.
"It has been a while since I last saw your face. Are you well?"
"If you were coming, you could have told me in advance."
"I know you are in your room. I thought it unnecessary to send a messenger for every little thing. I am coming in."
"Yes, please do."
Perhaps feeling hesitant about entering his daughter's room, the King entered after specifically asking Princess Ekaterina's permission. He pulled out the chair in front of Princess Ekaterina and sat down heavily.
"Princess, would it be better if we withdrew?"
Ray asked Princess Ekaterina in a tone more formal than usual.
"You're right."
"That is unnecessary. I am the one who instructed that you be called to the room."
"No way..."
Upon hearing the King's words, Miria's face turned pale in an instant.
"Father?"
"What is it?"
"Are you delivering the punishment yourself, Father?"
If the King himself was handing down the punishment, there was a high possibility that it would be considerably severe. Thinking this, Princess Ekaterina's voice was stiff.
"Punishment? Oh, is that what this is about. I see."
" 'I see' does not tell me anything!"
"The confinement of the three of you is lifted as of this moment. There will be no further punishment. That is all."
"Is that all?"
"What, are you dissatisfied?"
"No. It's just that Father went through the trouble of coming personally, so I was tense wondering what severe punishment it would be, only for it to be this."
"The main subject is something else. Let's see, where shall I begin?"
The King appeared to think for a moment, but it was merely a pose. He had simply paused to tighten the atmosphere that had loosened slightly. Seeing Princess Ekaterina's face turn serious once more, the King spoke.
"Regarding the matter of the renunciation of succession rights that Ekaterina requested..."
"Yes."
"That is on hold. I cannot make a judgment right now."
"Why? Because I hold the succession rights, my younger brother did such a thing—"
"About that, there is no evidence of Neil's involvement. It cannot be said that this incident was Neil's doing."
As he told this to Princess Ekaterina, the King casually directed his gaze toward Ray. However, Ray did not react in the slightest. He simply stood there, expressionless.
"Even so, why is it on hold?"
"If Neil is the sole successor, it would be problematic in the event of an emergency, would it not?"
"Then, please choose someone from among my uncles."
"I cannot do that. If I did, there is no guarantee they would not harbor strange ambitions. I disliked that, which is why I had my brothers renounce their succession rights when Neil was born. I do not wish to do something that would stimulate my brothers, who went so far as to agree to that in consideration of my wishes."
"But a succession struggle has already begun. Even if it is not my brother, there are certainly those who do not want me to succeed."
"That is why it is on hold. With this, Neil becomes clearly superior. If that happens, they will likely cease taking drastic measures."
"...I wonder."
Princess Ekaterina's gaze turned toward Ray. When the King followed her gaze, Ray was now showing an expression that clearly indicated he wanted to say something.
"If there is something you wish to say, speak without hesitation."
"It would be an irreverent statement."
"...I do not mind."
"Then. I believe that Your Majesty's judgment is, perhaps, somewhat short-sighted."
"Idiot! Kamui!"
At Ray's words criticizing the King's judgment, Miria hurriedly shouted at him from the side.
"It is fine. I permitted the statement after hearing in advance that it would be irreverent. I shall hear the reason."
"Yes. Your Majesty's judgment is based on the premise of waiting for the opponent to let things proceed quietly. However, this incident has made it clear that they are not such an opponent."
"Hmm, and?"
"I believe the opponent will view the state of being 'on hold' as an opportunity and will further activate their movements."
"...Continue."
"If I were the opponent, I would employ schemes to make the Princess commit a blunder, or create a scandal. Should such a situation arise, Your Majesty would have no choice but to recognize the renunciation of succession rights. The state of being on hold only creates opportunities to intentionally wound the Princess."
"Hmm, you have a point. However, it will not be on hold for a very long period. That concern is unnecessary."
"Is that so?"
"Related to that, there is one more thing I must tell Ekaterina."
Ignoring Ray's voice of doubt, the King proceeded with the conversation.
"What is it?"
"As for Kamui over there, I will have him take up a mission that was planned some time ago. He will be departing in the coming days, so be prepared for that."
"What!? I refuse!"
"Why? This was decided long ago."
"...Kamui is my slave. No matter if it is you, Father, you cannot just assign him to a mission as you please."
"This was decided long ago, back when Kamui first arrived in the royal capital. This is not a matter that changes based on your wishes."
"No way..."
"Ekaterina, listen well. This is how I feel. Your recent conduct has been very admirable. As a father, I am happy about that."
"But, that is..."
"Kamui's contribution is great. Is that not so?"
"...Yes."
"Therefore, I wish to verify Ekaterina's own capacity. I want to see how far Ekaterina can go without borrowing Kamui's wisdom. If I find that your capacity is sufficient for a ruler even without Kamui, I shall designate you as the next generation."
"T-That is!?"
"However, if not, I will recognize the renunciation of succession rights as it is. The mission is not a very long one. For that reason, Kamui's earlier concern is unnecessary."
"...I see."
Once again, Ekaterina turned her gaze toward Ray. This time, the King did not look at Ray, but watched the scene intently.
"With all due respect!"
"Kamui! Stop it!"
Ray requested to speak of his own accord, and Miria raised her voice again to try and stop him.
"...It is fine. If there is something you wish to say, speak."
"Is the quality of a ruler judged solely by looking at the individual? Even if the ruler themselves were talentless in both administration and military affairs, if they have the capacity to gain the loyalty of excellent vassals, appoint them, and entrust everything to them, that person can be called an excellent ruler. I do not intend to claim that I am an excellent vassal, but that does not become a reason why I must leave the Princess's side."
"You idiot! Do not deny His Majesty's thinking! I don't care what happens to you!"
"Miria-sama. His Majesty understands everything I have said. Despite that, he is deliberately stating something different."
"Huh? Why would His Majesty do such a thing?"
"Because he is lying. In order to deceive the Princess. Am I mistaken in my thinking?"
"...You are not mistaken. But why deliberately make it clear? Are there not times when the deceived party is happier?"
"That is only if you can continue to deceive them forever. Eventually, the Princess will realize she was deceived by Your Majesty. Would that not be a sad thing, not only for the Princess, but for Your Majesty as well?"
"...Hmm."
The King fell into deep thought at Ray's words. On the other hand, it was Princess Ekaterina who could not accept those words.
"Father, what does this mean? Is what Kamui said the truth? What do you mean by deceiving me?"
"Honestly, this is why I cannot leave you by Ekaterina's side."
"As I thought, it is I?"
"Yes. But how did you know?"
"Somehow, I felt distrust and unpleasantness in Your Majesty's emotions toward me."
"What kind of intuition is that. You are a man who cannot be underestimated."
"It was a coincidence."
It was not intuition; Ray possessed such an ability. There was no need to confess that.
"But either way, Ekaterina will end up sad."
"Even so, the wound of having been deceived by Your Majesty will not remain."
"I see."
"Father, explain!"
"...Very well. Kamui will leave your side. I cannot promise a time limit. It may be that you will never meet again."
"I told you, I refuse!"
"I cannot listen to that! This is a judgment as the King, and an order!"
"No way..."
"This is a decision for the nation. On that basis, I ask. Ekaterina, if you became the next king, what would you do?"
"I would take Kamui back."
"I see... then I ask. What would you do if I recognized the renunciation of succession rights?"
"Kamui's—"
"Princess!"
Interrupting Princess Ekaterina's words, Ray raised his voice.
"There is no need to answer that now. Princess Ekaterina should aim to be the next king, in order to accomplish what must be done as a member of the royal family. I believe that the Princess possesses the capacity suitable for the king of a nation."
"Kamui..."
"And I believe in the Princess's pride as a member of the royal family."
"Pride as a member of the royal family..."
"Without losing sight of that, if you still believe someone else is more suitable as the king of this country, you may proudly renounce your own succession rights at that time. That is what I believe."
"But, Kamui is—"
"At that time, something may have changed again. There is a possibility that I will be by the Princess's side."
After telling others not to lie, Ray was lying himself. It was a lie that anyone could tell was a lie, unlike Ray.
"That... is a lie. Kamui is trying to deceive me."
"Have you forgotten? I have been deceiving the Princess for some time. The time has simply come to correct that."
"............"
"Thank you for everything. The initial circumstances were the worst, but I believe it was good that I could serve the Princess. Please believe this."
"I am also glad I met you, Kamui. What I did to you was the lowest, but even so, I will never regret the things I shared with you."
The "lowest" thing was making Ray a slave. But the meaning of the latter part of the sentence was something only Princess Ekaterina and Ray understood. These were words of parting, and also Princess Ekaterina's declaration that she would not make her feelings for Ray a sham.
"Kamui. Not as the King, but as a father, I thank you for your feelings toward Ekaterina. But for that very reason, as a father, I shall pull you away from Ekaterina. Forgive me."
Through the exchange between the two, the King understood clearly that the connection between them was not that of master and slave, or princess and vassal. That was precisely why he had to pull his precious daughter away from Ray. As long as Ekaterina was a member of the royal family, he had to sever the relationship between the two that could never be rewarded. The King had to be heartless, not as a ruler, but as a father.
"There is no reason for Your Majesty to apologize."
Even if he understood that, Ray had to deny his relationship with Princess Ekaterina. There were not just three people in this room.
"I see. Then, without delay, I will have you enter the briefing regarding the mission. Hey, guide Kamui. Also, I have a few more things to discuss with Ekaterina. Will you leave us alone?"
"Yes, sir."
And so, in the room where only the King and Princess Ekaterina remained, only the sound of Princess Ekaterina's sobbing echoed for a long time.