71: The Embodiment of Inequality
I decided to escort Konrad, despite him being the First Prince, back to the entrance hall after our meeting with Judith. His guards had already left to prepare the carriage.
As we walked along the red-carpeted hallway, Leticia addressed Prince Konrad.
“Your Highness, how was the inspection? I heard inspections and investigations are different, and this is my first inspection.”
Oh, how I wished I could explain it to her step by step.
“Well…”
Prince Konrad paused, as if considering his words.
“[It was a fruitful journey.]”
My heart skipped a beat.
“[Having been raised as a prince, this is the only way I can learn about the lives of the people. I’ll probably never truly understand. But… it made me want to protect them. It was a journey that made me want to fulfill my duty.]”
The sudden [Official Line]. The unpleasant jolt of déjà vu. The moment when the world seemed to lose some of its color, feeling artificial.
Also, such noble words didn’t suit him.
As a royal, his words weren’t bad, but he was still a novice.
Even so, compared to some nobles who declared in public, with a straight face, that “commoners are nothing but sacks of meat that produce taxes,” he was much better.
Though such nobles tended to be quite unpopular and were now, thankfully, deceased.
“[Lady Leticia, my perspective has changed in many ways since meeting you. I believe it’s a change for the better… I hope to continue learning from you.]”
Translated using a special dictionary, it probably meant, “I fell in love with someone from the ‘back alley,’ so it became a personal issue, and now I’m interested.”
I wouldn’t say it was a bad thing.
In the game, my sister didn’t have any lines or choices here.
This scene wasn’t supposed to involve me at all.
But here I was.
“Konrad, while my sister’s perspective is valuable, don’t rely on it too much.”
So, I decided to offer a word of caution.
“…Of course.”
While my sister was adorable, I didn’t want the future king to become so infatuated that he turned into a lovesick fool, a cheap imitation of a ‘prince charming’ from a romance novel.
“Leticia, you might be familiar with the lives of commoners. But remember this. You only know your life. …Everyone is different.”
――The Vanderwaals’ way was to erase those differences with fear and profit.
Fear alone couldn’t control people.
If they were chained in a cold prison, they would resent, hate, and try to escape.
But even if it was a prison, if they could find happiness there…
One of the reasons I didn’t abandon my restrictive noble lifestyle, despite feeling suffocated by it, was the luxurious environment: the gourmet meals, the spacious hot springs, the soft bed, the maids who attended to my every need…
――I had already accepted it, as a noble by birth.
I had lived as a noble, from the day I was born until now.
“…Adelheid von Vanderwaals.”
“What is it, Konrad von Eustasia?”
Since he used my full name, I returned the favor.
“…You’re a good lord.”
“Huh?”
I responded instinctively, almost without thinking.
This guy… was complimenting me?
Was this a sign of an impending natural disaster or epidemic? Or was he the source of the problem?
“I was ordered to inspect Vandergant… so I could learn from how this territory is managed. And to learn without preconceptions… no, to learn with a critical eye.”
“…And my territory… met your standards?”
He affirmed with a serious expression.
“Yes… I’ll admit it. It’s one of the best-managed territories in the Kingdom of Eustasia, perhaps even on the continent.”
“That’s an exaggeration. Compared to the southern granaries or the trading cities along the Altrein River, it’s…”
“You’ve managed to make this territory prosperous without the advantages of fertile land, natural harbors, or river trade… Excessive modesty is just another form of arrogance.”
While I welcomed arrogance… his compliments were unsettling.
“…Even a lord as capable as you… cannot achieve equality?”
“No, I cannot.”
I answered immediately.
“…Why? Eustasia currently has the resources to help the less fortunate.”
I stopped walking.
Konrad and Leticia also stopped, half a step behind.
“We are the embodiment of inequality, Konrad.”
Prince Konrad fell silent.
He knew that, didn’t he?
Had he always been this naive? …Love truly changed people.
“It was a ‘fruitful journey,’ wasn’t it? Judith’s words resonated with you—even with power, there are things you cannot achieve.”
There were those who once sought power.
Before the rise of the nation of Eustasia, embers of conflict smoldered on this continent.
There was once a great nation, a bloated empire stretched thin like an old, overfilled wineskin.
It was too large to be governed effectively—or rather, perhaps they had no intention of governing, aside from collecting taxes.
I didn’t even know if it could be called a nation.
What should you call a country where there was little difference between tax collectors and bandits?
In the distant past, might made right. Everything was decided by the whims of those in power.
Who could feel safe?
When currying favor with, flattering, kneeling before, and offering your pride to the powerful became the ‘correct’ way to live.
Those in power accepted it, their power growing, becoming intoxicated and drowning in their absolute authority.
With a wave of their hand, many people died. Taxes, born from whims, burdened the people, and judgments changed on a whim.
Injustice remained injustice.
That was the ‘norm’ in this world.
That was why the founding king of Eustasia took up the sword.
The martial Hargau, the mercantile Wirtschaft, and the scheming Vanderwaals.
Led by the families that would become the three ducal houses of the Kingdom of Eustasia, including my own, uniting the feudal lords who would become the future nobles, he plunged the continent into war.
He sought order, shining brightly even when stained with blood, rather than a distorted stability built on resentment.
How much blood had been spilled?
We lived on land soaked in the blood of our ancestors—and our enemies.
Even so, there were those who sought power.
Those who established a monarchy, established laws beneath it, and tried to rule the nation according to those laws.
We, the nobles of the Kingdom of Eustasia, were their descendants.
Descendants of those who swore loyalty and bore their duties.
“…Your Highness,” my sister, who shared that blood, addressed the prince, a direct descendant of the founding king.
“I was born in the ‘back alley.’ I was probably… far from the ‘equality’ you speak of.”
“Yes, that’s why I want to help—”
“We don’t want help.”
She declared quietly, but firmly.
Konrad looked taken aback.
“Oh, no, I mean, help would be appreciated… but… I know there’s no such thing as equality.”
Leticia laughed.
Her lips curved into a smile—but her eyes seemed to be looking somewhere far away.
“That’s not—”
“Elder Sister just said it, didn’t she, Your Highness? I’m a ducal lady now. I eat delicious food, wear clean clothes, and take luxurious baths… I’m the only one.”
Neither of us could say anything to my sister, who had lowered her head.
“Elder Sister is kind, so she treats even someone like me well.”
No, that wasn’t it. I was simply giving her what a ducal daughter deserved.
It wasn’t because I was kind.
However, it wasn’t the right time to interject.
“I know I’m just taking advantage of my position as a noble relative.”
That wasn’t true.
She was the [Protagonist] of [Moonlight Liberium].
She deserved everything she received.
…But what if… that story didn’t exist?
A voice, like a wall lizard, whispered in my mind.
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