Al's Answer

After the opening ceremony, Leo came to my room and said he wanted to speak with me privately.

Seeing his serious expression, I sent Orihime to Fiene and decided to hear him out.

"..."

"..."

But Leo didn't say anything.

Or perhaps he couldn't. He probably hadn't sorted things out in his own mind, either.

"What did Leticia say?"

"...Brother. I..."

At the mention of Leticia's name, Leo's face twisted as though he were about to cry.

Seeing that, I could more or less guess what had been discussed.

"So she was being targeted after all..."

"You had noticed, Brother..."

"I suspected that might be the case. But she didn't tell me. She told you, then."

"I'm not happy about it... She had given up on her own life...!"

Leo squeezed out those words, then began telling me what had passed between him and Leticia.

Leticia was being targeted by the Kingdom's anti-imperial faction. The next king was among them. Anti-imperial sentiment had taken root throughout the Kingdom, including among its people.

She had given up on her life because resisting would split the country. She had asked him to let her enjoy her final moments.

Leo spoke with frustration.

"So that's her resolve..."

To Leticia, who had devoted herself to the Kingdom, the Kingdom was everything.

In everything she did, she placed the Kingdom first.

For someone like Leticia, the Kingdom going to war with the Empire was something she had to avoid. But neither could she oppose the Empire head-on.

So she believed that, as the wielder of the Holy Staff and the symbol of the Kingdom's strength, she had no choice but to die.

All for the Kingdom.

That was just like her.

"There has to be... there has to be something we can do, right? I want to save her!"

"That's admirable, but this has nothing to do with us."

"What...?"

"She's a citizen of the Kingdom, so she puts the Kingdom first. We're imperial royals. We have a duty to put the Empire first. I agree that we should protect her so she doesn't die in the Empire, but we have neither the obligation nor the room to get involved after that."

"What...?! Then you're telling her to die!?"

"Yes. If she wants to die, then let her. That's what she wants. It would be wrong for us to interfere. It would be a problem if she died in the Empire, but if she dies within the Kingdom, it won't cause us any trouble."

Hearing my detached words, Leo took a step back.

I closed my eyes, not wanting to see the despair on his face.

"Brother... She's your friend, isn't she!?"

"She is. But she's not family. I'd save family no matter what, but she's only a good friend. As long as she's living under the Kingdom's flag, she's not someone we're in a position to save."

"How can you put it that way!? She devoted herself desperately to the Kingdom and worked so hard for its sake! How can this be happening!?"

"You're right. I understand what you're saying. But the people who need to do something are the people of the Kingdom. This is the Kingdom's problem."

"She's pro-Empire! Saving her would serve the Empire's interests!"

"If we involve ourselves with only half-hearted resolve, just as she said, the Kingdom will split in two. That's why she's trying to die to prevent it... Are you going to render her resolve meaningless? Saying you don't want her to die is just our own selfish desire."

When I opened my eyes, Leo's expression was a jumble of emotions.

Anger, sadness, resignation. A host of emotions welled up inside him, and he seemed completely unable to sort them out.

I had seen a similar expression long ago.

"Do you remember when you picked up a cat that was on the verge of death?"

"...I remember."

"Back then, Mother told you it was your responsibility. She said you could save it if you were prepared to take responsibility for everything that came afterward. It's the same this time. If you can't take responsibility, you shouldn't act."

"She's not a cat."

"No, she isn't. That's why the responsibility that would fall on us is on an entirely different scale. She's the Kingdom's Saint. Saving her means taking responsibility for the many problems that would follow. And we're not in a position to shoulder that responsibility. So, give her the enjoyable time she wants, and nothing more."

In the end, the two of us took care of the dying cat together until it died of old age.

But this time, even joining forces would be too reckless.

Leo hung his head and lowered his gaze. He must have been acutely aware of his own helplessness.

"As far as Sebas's investigation shows, a criminal organization has infiltrated the Imperial Capital. I'm going to ask Silver to take action. You stay by her side."

"...Is that really all we can do?"

"Who knows? I can only come up with an answer that is true to me. What I just said is my answer."

Hearing that, Leo gave an awkward smile.

Then he said, "I understand," and started to leave the room.

At that moment, someone knocked on the door.

"Come in."

"Excuse me. I am Paula, Wendy-sama's attendant."

The one who entered was a female elf wearing glasses.

She carried herself like a capable professional and bowed politely with a smile.

"Has something happened?"

"Wendy-sama said she would like to see the festival. The people there weren't in a position to make that decision, so I came to ask Prince Arnold."

"I see. Understood. I'll make the arrangements."

"Thank you. And you are Prince Leonart, correct? Even the elven homeland has heard rumors about you. It is an honor to meet you. May I shake your hand?"

Saying this, Paula held out her hand to Leo.

Though he was clearly in no mood for it, Leo somehow managed to smile and shake her hand.

"If you go to Leticia looking like that, you'll make her sad."

"I know... I'll do my best."

After Paula left, I said the same to Leo, and he replied in a low voice.

I saw him off, wondering if he would be all right.

Then I heard a voice behind me.

"Wasn't that a bit harsh?"

"Would it have been better to tell him we'd help her together?"

Sebas, who had appeared without a sound, shook his head.

"Not exactly. I merely thought you might have driven him into a corner."

"If he gives up over something like that, then that's all he is. He'd be better off giving up."

"You make it sound as though you do not want him to give up. Do you believe that Leonart-sama will arrive at a different answer?"

Sebas gave a small chuckle as he said this.

I frowned at that and changed the subject.

"Have you found the executive's base?"

"Yes. They haven't noticed us."

"Good. Then I'll handle it. Have Mia stand by."

"You are being quite proactive."

"There has to be a traitor inside the castle. But I've looked into everything and still don't know who it is. The Maokodan is our only lead. We can't afford to fail. We'll mobilize our greatest strength and crush them."

"Understood."

With that, Sebas went to prepare Silver's outfit.