Chapter 622

The Allied Forces were preparing to depart, but they no longer needed our help.

Most of us were on standby, except for Riana, who had been assigned a special mission.

Her task was simple: maintain her own stability.

Riana had a unique trait—when she cried, it rained, as if the sky itself were pouring tears. To activate this, she had to take a special drug that acted like a depression-inducing agent.

This meant Riana would need to use her mental fortitude, rather than her mana or stamina, to harness her powerful abilities.

What she needed most was rest, not training. If she overused the depression-inducing agent to test her abilities, she risked losing her mind and being unable to use her powers when truly needed. Therefore, Riana spent most of her time at the mansion, as if she were in recovery.

The last time she used her powers was to melt away the heavy snow that had blanketed the capital.

We sipped tea in the mansion’s tea hall, waiting for Illeion Volten and the Duchess to return. Though it was not as bustling as it once was, the villa still employed several servants. It was one of the rare places in Edina where one could experience the life of a noble.

“You’re thinking of converting him?” asked Riana.

“If it’s possible.”

“Hmm... Is it really necessary? He doesn’t strike me as someone who would cause trouble. If he showed even the slightest inclination for it, I wouldn’t have ignored it.”

‘Oh yeah...’ I realized.

Unlike Harriet, whom I only teased with words, Riana was a real thick-skull.

Just as I hadn’t been able to grasp why Charlotte and Olivia wanted to convert Illeion Volten, Riana was equally baffled.

She thought we intended to brainwash him for fear that he might stir up trouble.

“Hey, come on, think. Would we really waste time on re-education for a retired old man just because we’re bored?” I said.

“Unlike the others, you don’t have much to do,” Riana replied.

Her retort made me stumble. “W-well, that’s true...”

She was still a thick-skull, and I still couldn’t get along with her.

“Depending on how the situation unfolds, we might need to reinstate Sir Volten. We’re preparing for that possibility,” Charlotte chimed in, stepping in for me while I struggled to regain my composure after being challenged.

“Reinstate...?” Riana repeated.

“Ehem. It means putting him back in his role as commander,” I explained to her.

Riana fixed her gaze on me, her eyes narrowing slightly.

“Did you really think I asked because I didn’t know what ‘reinstate’ meant?”

“Oh... You actually knew?”

Her mouth fell open slightly. “Seriously? What do you take me for?”

I unintentionally found myself trying to show off my knowledge to someone who already understood things on her own, which was embarrassing.

‘Why does she know what it means? And what do you mean, what do I take you for? You’re...’

“You’re just a lucky girl who stumbled upon the right abilities and has it easy.”

My retort was met by silent stares from the other two.

‘Was that too harsh?’

Sparks started to dance along Riana’s forehead.

Crack! Crackle!

“Are you looking for a real fight?”

“Oh, I’m down.”

“Enough! Why are you both acting like children?” Charlotte sighed, glancing from Riana to me with a mix of frustration and disbelief.

We were caught up in a petty argument during what was supposed to be a serious discussion.

“Like children?” Riana echoed, tilting her head as she looked at Charlotte. “But technically, we are still kids,” she pointed out.

She had a point. At most, we were only twenty-one. That did make us almost kids, at least by age.

‘But I don’t feel like a kid. Not really. No matter how you slice it, I’m not a child.’

“...”

“Why the long face?” Charlotte asked, noticing my silence.

“It’s nothing...” I mumbled. “I was in the wrong.”

My unexpected apology left both Charlotte and Riana staring at me in confusion.

Why was I even trying to outsmart a kid at my age? Even I found that pathetic.

“Why haven’t you fixed your habit of saying unnecessary things yet?” Charlotte asked.

“Good question,” I replied.

‘Why can’t I just grow up already? Is it too late for me?’

“Anyway, what’s this talk about reinstating that man? What does that even mean, realistically?” Riana asked.

Charlotte was the one who replied.

“Nothing is confirmed yet. But while we’ve managed to secure control over the Church’s forces in the capital, there’s a chance we might face resistance from the holy knights that are marching with the Allied Forces. If we fail to control them, we might have to bring Illeion Volten back into the fold.”

“We expect him to be willing to work with us,” she continued, “but our ultimate aim is to reshape the entire Church and bring it into the Holy Order. If Illeion Volten can harness the Divine Power of the Demon Gods, that transition will be much smoother.”

“Ah... I understand now,” Riana said, nodding slowly as she began to understand what was going on.

By choosing Rowen, we had the opportunity to transform the Church of the Five Great Gods into the Holy Order. Illeion Volten was in a position where he had no choice but to cooperate with me, even if the popes were still alive. Even if we reinstated him now, he wouldn’t oppose me, since he knew it could lead to a greater crisis.

However, Rowen hadn’t failed yet. If we had to put Volten back in charge due to any failure on her part, it would be better if he had fully embraced the Holy Order’s banner by then.

Charlotte took a sip of tea. Despite the significant change to her appearance, her elegance while drinking tea remained unchanged.

As I watched her, I realized that elegance was a subtle quality. It resembled grace, but was entirely distinct. It wasn’t flashy; it was revealed in a quiet, understated way. Trying too hard to imitate elegance would only make one look foolish. True elegance was only achieved when someone acted naturally, without effort. That came across as graceful.

It was grace embodied. That was the true nature of elegance. When one really paid attention, it made one’s heart skip a beat.

While we chatted, the Duchess and Illeion Volten returned to the mansion.

“Ah, it seems we have company.”

Duchess Yelena de Granz, and Illeion Volten, the former commander of the Order of the Holy Knights...

“Hello, Duchess. It’s been a while.”

“Yes, it has been a while since I’ve seen Her Highness the Princess. And you too, Demon King.”

“Ah, yes...”

Charlotte rose gracefully to greet them, while I awkwardly scratched the back of my head.

Elegance... Even if I couldn’t quite define it, I was certain it was something I’d never possess in my lifetime.

Illeion Volten regarded Charlotte and me with a stern expression, as if he already knew why we were here.

“Did you come to see me?”

‘Well, it’s time to get to the point.’

Charlotte glanced at me, her eyes searching for something. “Reinhart?”

“Yes?” I replied, meeting her gaze with determination.

She smiled warmly and gestured toward the window. “You should step outside.”

I was taken aback. “Huh?”

“After watching you just now, I think it might be best if you’re not here.”

My pointless arguing with Riana had left Charlotte with the impression that I’d only be a hindrance at the negotiation table.

“I-I can read the room...!” I protested weakly. “I know when to hold back...!”

‘I know when to hold back and when not to...! Riana is a friend! I wouldn’t do that to Illeion Volten! Of course, I did say something like “Do you want to die or retire?” to him, but still...!’

Charlotte’s expression turned cold. “You’re already proving yourself wrong with all your talk of holding back. Get out.”

“Yes, ma’am...”

In the end, I was kicked out.

***

It was a time for important discussions. Only Charlotte and Illeion Volten remained at the tea hall, while Riana and the Duchess tactfully excused themselves from the mansion.

Of course, I was shown the door as well.

Riana chuckled at my predicament.

“Serves you right! Why did you have to say things you shouldn’t and squander the little trust you had?”

“Can’t it be seen as me trusting Charlotte enough to handle the important conversation by herself...?”

“You obviously know it didn’t come across that way at all.”

‘Yeah, I know it didn’t.’

In the end, I didn’t really understand politics or negotiations, and honestly, I didn’t have much interest in them either. I was just thankful Charlotte was taking care of it all and thinking things through more deeply than I ever could.

‘Hmm. But then, why did I even come here in the first place? Wouldn’t it have been easier to just leave everything to Charlotte?’

If I hadn’t had that silly argument with Riana, I would still be in that room.

It was odd for a king to be scolded and sent away by the regent. But this was exactly what I wanted—a relationship where we could be at ease with each other, without the weight of a strict hierarchy.

‘Still... “Get out”? That was a bit overwhelming... I’ll definitely let her know later that it hurt my feelings... I mean it; I really will...’

With nothing to do while Charlotte finished her conversation, we strolled along the beach. It was me, the Duchess, and Riana.

Unlike Riana, I didn’t see the Duchess often. Her villa was in a remote area, and I didn’t have many reasons to visit.

“The Allied Forces are about to march again, right?”

“Sorry? Oh, well... Yes, they should leave within a few days.”

The Duchess seemed to have some understanding of the current state of the world. It was probably Riana who filled her in on what was going on.

Ever since I transitioned from being her daughter’s friend to becoming a king, she treated me with the utmost respect.

To be honest, I had a poor initial impression of her. She had made it clear she disapproved of her daughter mingling with those of lower status, even going so far as to invite only Harriet to breakfast that time. She was very conscious of social standing and quite concerned with worldly things.

Her relationship with the late Duke of Granz had been undoubtedly strained, although it seemed the Duchess had experienced a significant change of heart since his passing. She had reconciled with her daughter, even revealing that the true culprit behind the Duke’s death wasn’t the Demon King and urging Riana to seek justice for her father.

People changed. Someone who was concerned with worldly things did not always stay that way forever. A transcendent soul could become worldly. An evil heart could turn good. And a good person could fall into darkness.

People changed. Whether the shift was monumental or subtle, whether the experiences that caused it were profound or trivial, change was an inevitable part of life.

I had changed. Riana had changed. The Duchess of Granz had changed. And so would Charlotte, and Illeion Volten.

All of us would keep changing, over and over again.

“Are you heading to the front lines again this time?”

“Well... I’m not sure yet. We’ll have to see how things unfold. If the situation isn’t dire, we might not have to fight. But nothing’s certain,” I replied.

“I see...”

The Duchess let out a sigh, one of relief.

It was only then that I realized something I’d overlooked while caught up in my own thoughts. From her perspective, she was sending her daughter into battle.

It wasn’t just any battlefield; it was a place teeming with terrifying monsters, a realm of fear and death.

No parent would willingly send their child there, no matter how powerful their supernatural abilities might be. And the more her daughter used some of those abilities, the more her mental state deteriorated.

The Duchess knew her daughter was suffering, whether she survived the war or not.

From her perspective, I was the one constantly dragging her daughter into battle.

It was no wonder she wasn’t pleased with me.

Even though I hadn’t seen her often, the fact that the Duchess never revelaed her true feelings toward me suggested she was adept at hiding them.

‘If I were in her shoes, how would I feel? If I had a child, and a friend kept taking them to war, insisting their abilities were needed... Even though they always returned safely, there was no guarantee that luck would always be on their side.’

It was truly a miracle that I hadn’t been yelled at yet. But Riana was someone we desperately needed, and so I had to push aside her parent’s worries, sorrow, and fear.

“May I ask why you spared Sir Volten?”

The sudden question caught me off guard.

I thought we were getting along, especially since we were taking a walk together. Was I wrong?

Riana’s expression also tightened at the Duchess’s unexpected inquiry.

“Did Illeion Volten do something foolish?”

I didn’t think he was the type to act out of line, but if he had done something in secret, I couldn’t just ignore it.

“Not at all.”

The Duchess’s expression held no trace of anger or any similar emotion towards Illeion Volten.

“Sir Volten may not be the best communicator, but he has an insight into and an understanding of nobility,” she added.

While I couldn’t say she was fond of him, I could sense her respect for Illeion Volten.

So why was she asking me why I hadn’t killed him?

“This isn’t about Sir Volten. I’m curious about your reason for sparing him,” she explained.

This wasn’t a question about Illeion Volten’s behavior or actions. It was directed at me from the beginning.

She wasn’t asking me to kill Illeion Volten.

It all came down to why I hadn’t killed him from the start.

“Well... I didn’t think it was necessary to kill him.”

By sparing him, I found new ways to use Illeion Volten, just like this time.

The Duchess fixed me with a stern gaze.

“Necessary... You speak of necessity.”

She began to pace, almost as if she were speaking to herself. The air around us felt tense, as if it had somehow solidified.

“What do you plan to do with the Empire once all this is over?”

“The Empire...?”

“Yes.”

I felt like a stone had caught in my throat.

Vertus had killed Duke Granz. Riana sought revenge, and so did the Duchess.

Vertus, who was part of the imperial family, had a duty to eliminate any forces that threatened to destabilize the Empire. That included the now-neutered Revolutionary Forces, along with the greatest menace of all—the Demon King.

That was Vertus’s sense of justice, the duty he was bound to uphold.

Vertus had had no choice but to kill Duke Granz. However, in doing so, the Duchess had lost her husband, and Riana had lost her father.

Thus, it was only natural for them to despise both the Empire and Vertus.

Such was the way of the world.

“I am who I am, and I must do what I must. If that leads to someone’s inevitable thirst for revenge, then so be it.”

Where did it all go wrong, and who was truly to blame?

If everyone was simply doing what they had to, yet all that resulted was hatred, anger, and a longing for vengeance, wasn’t there something fundamentally flawed with the world?

“If I say I won’t destroy the Empire, will you dislike me?”

“How could I dislike you more than I already do?”

‘This person is refreshingly honest.’

“Mom, please.”

“I’m thankful to the Demon King for many things, but you have to understand why I feel this way.”

“Well... I guess you can’t help it.”

No matter how much I assured her that I was doing the utmost to ensure Riana’s safety and well-being, she couldn’t help but resent the person who kept dragging her daughter into battle.

“I don’t expect you to understand,” the Duchess said.

“I’m sorry, what?”

“Why should you have to understand why I dislike you?”

Her sudden statement left me a bit taken aback.

“In this world, it’s hard to predict your own future, let alone your own survival. Why are you trying so hard to understand everything?”

Her gaze was piercing. “You’ve already taken on the burden of leading a nation and countless lives. Why do you still prioritize understanding? Instead, you should dislike those who dislike you.”

This wasn’t a scolding or a rebuke; it felt more like she was trying to persuade me.

“You should kill those who want to kill you,” she stated flatly.

I found myself at a loss for words.

“And not just that. Sometimes, you have to kill those who don’t intend to harm you. You have to dislike those who bear you no ill will, and you have to take the lives of those who don’t hate you,” she continued.

“Even those who have loved you all their lives, those who never meant to betray you... You might have to kill them if it becomes necessary. Watching them die, wailing, with tearful faces full of betrayal—that is the life of a king.”

I struggled to find a response to what she was saying.

“Do you think there has ever been a king in history who ruled solely with mercy, kindness, and understanding?”

“There wouldn’t have been,” I said.

“There has never been a nation built without someone willing to take things. Those who aren’t used to taking can’t protect or hold onto anything.”

I remained silent.

“So why are you trying to become a king?”

Love, understanding, and mercy... History has never seen the world united by such things.

Take what you can, and build a mountain from it.

Stack up a pyramid of your spoils, and the greatest thief was the one who would be able to a throne at the top.

That was what created a nation.

The one who wore a hat made of stolen gold and called it a crown would become a king.

Steal a little, and one is branded a thief; steal a lot, and one would be lauded as a great thief, remembered in history.

But if someone managed to take everything in the world, then no one would call them a thief anymore.

I had also begun by seizing the throne of Edina.

I had also begun by taking.

“Those who only conquer their enemies or dethrone those they despise might become avengers or noble thieves, but they can never truly rule, nor should they.”

That was exactly it.

It wasn’t about defeating those you despised.

It was about turning the defeated into those you despised.

That was what being a king was.

That was what history showed us.

Sometimes, you had to kill those who loved you. You had to look into their eyes, filled with betrayal, as they died.

Aspiring to be a king as a mere human was sheer arrogance.

The Duchess was calling out my arrogance.

Was I really so exceptional as to think I could become king as a mere human?

Could I truly protect everyone when I behaved so carelessly?

Someone like me... Someone who only used her daughter... could I really protect her?

She was condemning me.

“With this strategy, you might win allies. But weren’t allies once the most feared entities in the world?”

Allies would often stand by us. Yet it has always been allies who also took things away.

Neighbors were equals, and a king had no need of them.

For a king, everyone else in the world had to be his subordinates.

As Vertus once said, a different kind of arrogance was necessary. The belief that everyone was equal, and beneath you. That was the attitude that a ruler had to have.

The Duchess of Granz looked at me.

“I dislike you because you’re not ruthless.”

It wasn’t just because I was taking her daughter to war.

It was also because I allowed Illeion Volten to live peacefully in my land, without ending his life.

She was pointing out that I hadn’t spared him because he was actually useful.

She didn’t dislike Illeion Volten, but she found my decision to spare him inherently dangerous.

A king who took one’s daughter to war might be disliked.

But a king who lacked the resolve to strike down his enemies, who failed to put the realm’s protection first, who was moved by compassion and kindness... They would despise the king who made their daughter live in such a kingdom even more.

The war would end someday, but a king who always wavered and showed too much compassion would always put the kingdom at risk.

“A king must be willing to slaughter even harmless creatures like small herbivores or rabbits. Sometimes, they must even eat the dogs they raised.”

Illeion Volten’s usefulness aside, the fact that I didn’t try to kill him was troubling.

I didn’t harm those who didn’t threaten me. I only targeted those who were clearly my enemies.

I focused on hunting down beasts and cowards, those who posed a real threat.

But she didn’t approve of my methods.

The Duchess of Granz was speaking to me as if I were a child needing guidance.

“There are packs of wolves lurking outside the fence. Do you intend to reassure the sheep within by claiming that the wolves’ hunger is unavoidable? Will you allow anyone inside the fence even if you can’t tell if they’re wolves in sheep’s clothing, believing they’re harmless just because they haven’t shown their teeth yet?”

I found myself at a loss for words.

Illeion Volten wasn’t a wolf, and the Duchess understood that. But she was admonishing me for allowing him past the fence while being unsure if he was a dog or a wolf, all the while insisting that there was no need to kill him.

She was warning me that one day, I might let an actual wolf in sheep’s clothing slip through.

“This is the most dangerous kind of tyranny.”

A king who freely dispensed death may be a tyrant, but a king who avoided killing too often was a fool.

The Duchess knelt before me, offering up a desperate plea.

“Demon King, please, become a ruthless king.”

A king and a saint were two different things.

If one tried to rule like a saint, they would end up with nothing, and would not be able to protect anything.

The Duchess of Granz was pleading for a king.