Chapter 197
"My reign has reached its twenty-fifth year. I have put you all through hardships. It has not been all good, I am sure. There are many things I must reflect upon. But we have safely reached this day. That is only because of the vassals who supported me and the people who followed me! Today is a day for all of you! You have followed an emperor like me all this way! Let us celebrate and rejoice that the Empire has survived and continued to prosper, and walk forward with hope for the future! Let us make today such a special day!"
The opening ceremony commemorating Emperor Johannes's twenty-fifth anniversary on the throne began with his speech.
While applauding, Leticia and Leo shifted their gazes toward the people.
"Long live His Majesty the Emperor!!"
"Long live the Empire!"
"May the Empire live forever!!"
Seeing the atmosphere verging on frenzy, Leticia suddenly gave a gentle smile.
"It's a fine country."
"Indeed. His Majesty... no, Father has built a fine country. I always find myself wishing I could become like him."
"I'm sure you can, Prince Leonart."
Leticia said this with a smile.
She was not flattering him. For some reason, she was able to say with confidence that Leo could do it.
"...I hope so."
"Do you lack confidence?"
"I suppose so... I haven't done anything that gives me confidence."
"Hehe, if you say that, you'd make many people feel inadequate."
"I'm not being modest... I truly haven't done anything. People call me a hero. But I haven't done enough to deserve that title. I simply did my duty as a member of the imperial family, and the people around me helped me."
"Being helped by others is also a quality of a ruler, don't you think?"
"Perhaps. Fortunately, I've been blessed with the people around me. But if that is what matters most... then there is someone more capable than I am."
As he said this, Leo turned his gaze toward Al, who was watching the emperor's speech from another place.
Orihime and Wendy were there, along with Christa and Fiene.
Al was chatting with all of them as though they had already become friends.
Leo felt that was something he could never do, since he could not even properly relax around Leticia.
"Prince Arnold truly is an extraordinary person. He must have a talent for winning people over. I, too... think it would be fun if he were my younger brother."
"Y-younger brother?"
"Younger brother. I am older than him."
After repeatedly emphasizing that she was older than him, Leticia turned a gentle smile on Leo.
Seeing that smile, Leo's face turned red.
"Prince Leonart, you are troubled by whether you should become emperor and whether Prince Arnold is more suited to the position."
"...Yes."
"Then let me say this with certainty. You are surely more suited to being emperor. Prince Arnold takes an interest in those close to him, but if someone is not close to him, he likely takes no interest in them. Even now, although he is looking at those beside him, he is not looking at the populace. Prince Leonart, on the other hand, can see the nation as his family. You are someone who can think about what you can do for its people. It seems clear which of you is more suited to be emperor."
"More suited, you say..."
"Yes. You are suited to it, and Prince Leonart is the one who deserves it. A ruler is the symbol of a nation. A ruler is someone who makes decisions and guides the country. As long as that is the case, the one who aspires to become a ruler and seeks to improve the country is the one who deserves it. Prince Arnold may be blessed with the necessary qualities, but he lacks the will. That is because he has you. As long as you are there, Prince Arnold will not seek the throne. He recognizes you more than anyone."
Was that still not enough? Leticia asked with her eyes.
Leo shook his head in response.
When his faction had been weak, he had been desperate. If he failed to act, death awaited him.
However, as his faction grew stronger and the imperial throne began to loom, doubts arose. Doubts about whether he was truly the right person.
The fact that he could hesitate meant that he had gained some breathing room. But those doubts had now been dispelled.
He had realized that there was no point in hesitating.
"I'm all right. Thank you."
"I see. That's good to hear."
Just as Leo felt that Al was more suited to become emperor, Al felt the same about Leo.
And if Leo was the one suited to the role, then the answer was clear.
Becoming emperor would not mean they were no longer brothers. They could continue trusting and supporting each other just as they always had.
That future came into view through Leticia's words.
It felt as though the fog before him had cleared. The doubts he had carried for so long had vanished.
With gratitude, Leo looked toward Al once more.
Al did not look at Leo.
That was surely because he trusted Leo. It was also a silent message.
Leo was no fool.
He had been at Al's side all this time.
He had sensed that Leticia was carrying something, but he had not known how to deal with it.
He had thought Al might notice the same thing and come to him for advice. But Al had said nothing.
There was no way Al had failed to notice. They were twins, after all.
Then there was only one answer.
"You mean you're leaving it to me..."
"Pardon?"
"No... I've simply reached an answer, Leticia."
He had called her simply by her name, without adding -san.
The unfamiliar way he addressed her made Leticia's eyes widen, but Leo continued speaking.
"Just as you listened to my troubles, I want to listen to yours. If you trust me, then—would you tell me about the troubles you carry?"
Leo spoke while looking straight into Leticia's eyes.
The unexpected words left Leticia speechless.
"I knew all along that you were carrying something. But I was afraid to ask. So I waited until my brother brought it up. But he never said anything. Surely that means he is leaving it to me. So I will ask. Would you let me share in the troubles you are carrying?"
"Prince Leonart..."
Now that his doubts were gone, Leo was utterly direct.
Leticia was initially surprised by his straightforwardness, but she now saw it as the difference between these twins.
Al would never ask so directly. He would probably use some roundabout method to draw the answer out of her. Leo, on the other hand, had asked without taking a single detour.
Which of them she preferred was obvious without thought: it was the latter.
Kindness was Leticia's weakness.
In that respect as well, Leo was well suited to persuading her.
Leticia gave a troubled smile, then let out a small sigh.
She found herself wanting to talk. There was something about Leo that made her feel that way.
She knew that if she spoke, she would draw him into the matter. She knew that could never be a good thing. Yet the words that slipped from Leticia's mouth ran counter to those thoughts.
"His Majesty the King has grown old. At present, the First Prince is handling most of the affairs of state. And... the First Prince has joined hands with the anti-imperial faction. Perhaps he has come to see me as an obstacle. I believe I will eventually be assassinated. The Kingdom no longer needs me."
"Assassinated...? You, who have devoted yourself to the Kingdom!?"
"Of course, there are people who support me. But... when I took up this Holy Staff, I decided to devote everything to the Kingdom. A king is the one who guides the country. And if the next king desires my death... I will accept it."
"No... How can this be...?"
"The Kingdom has changed. When I took to the battlefield, the Kingdom was terribly weak. But that is no longer the case. It is regaining enough strength to be called one of the continent's three great powers. The people have changed as well. They have regained their confidence and begun to believe that the Kingdom is the strongest nation on the continent. In reality, however, the Kingdom is considered the weakest of the continent's three great powers, and is treated accordingly. That is becoming a source of discontent among the people. The First Prince had never taken either side before, but he must have acted because he sensed the Kingdom's mood. If I changed my position and accepted going to war with the Empire, my life would likely be spared... but I do not believe fighting the Empire will benefit the Kingdom's future. The Empire is a powerful country. I believe it would be better for the Kingdom to join hands with it and develop together than to fight it."
"Exactly! You are not wrong, Leticia! I'll lend you my strength!"
That was what Leo told her.
Saint Leticia's popularity extended across the continent. There had to be many forces that supported her. If the Empire backed them, the First Prince might change his mind.
That was what Leo thought, but Leticia gave him a sad smile in response.
"If the Empire becomes involved in this matter, it will lead to war between the Kingdom and the Empire. At worst, it could become a civil war that divides the Kingdom in two. I cannot allow that."
"Then are you going to simply wait to be killed...?"
"I will not cause trouble for the Empire. They will likely assassinate me within the Empire and use it as a pretext to start a war with the Empire. However, assassinating me during the ceremony would be extremely difficult. The Imperial Guard is watching closely. They will surely target me on my way home. But I have brought people I can trust with me. Assassination will only become possible once I enter the Kingdom's territory. So... the time I spend at this ceremony will be my last. That is why I chose you two brothers. I thought I could spend an enjoyable time with you..."
The Empire's Imperial Guard could well be called the strongest on the continent.
Breaking through that protection would be unrealistic.
But Leticia could not remain in the Empire forever.
"This is my trouble, and my problem. It is not something Prince Leonart needs to concern himself with... so please, do not make such a sad face."
"...If the king tells you to die... will you die?"
"...That is what a country is. My Holy Staff is powerful. Its strength is one reason the people have confidence in the Kingdom's power. If I die, the people's fervor will cool. That will make it easier for the First Prince to change course. War is terrible. If it can be avoided, then it should be. If I die within the Kingdom's territory, it will be easier to avoid war... That is the final service I can render to the Kingdom."
There was no hesitation on Leticia's face as she said this.
The Holy Staff had been sealed deep within the Kingdom.
From the moment she had gone to break that seal in order to save her country, she had never expected to die a normal death.
"This is my final selfish request. Please give me an enjoyable time, Prince Leonart."
With that, Leticia smiled.
What could he say to change Leticia's mind?
She had given up on living. He had no idea what he could say to someone like that.
And in the end, the opening ceremony concluded without Leo finding the words, and the Imperial Capital transitioned into a festival.