I was still dumbfounded when the verdict was over and I stepped out of the audience chamber after my father.
I might have been distracted by the fact that everything that had been bothering me since I found out as a child that Angela was the former kingâs princess had come to nothing.
I should have asked Father from the beginning instead of worrying about it aloneâŠâŠ.
I felt as if a weight had been lifted from my chest for the first time in a long time.
It was a shame that Angela, with whom I had spent more than a little time at the school, had been expelled from the country.
But considering that she had Cosette kidnapped and was trying to bring Remias down as well, no more feelings came to mind than that.
Itâs too light a punishment for someone who was carried as a coup de grace.
As for Remy, considering the crime of being complicit in the kidnapping, even if she was ensnared, there is a part of her that deserved it.
However, if I think of it as a result of her having known me since childhood and being fond of me, I feel glad that she was not charged with a crime.
The mere fact that Remy who had spent her life uneventfully as a dukeâs daughter, was stripped of her noble title must be punishment enough.
Even though Remias got the Viscountcy, it doesnât mean that Remy is able to return to being a noble daughter.
Once the estate was seized by the kingdom, a portion of it would be given to Remias as a viscounty, but he wouldnât be able to maintain the same life as before.
I was still sinking into my thoughts as I entered the living room of the royal familyâs private space when I felt a glance and looked up to see my father staring at me.
I wondered if he greeted already. Before I knew it, the three of us were alone in the room.
My fatherâs eyes met mine, and he suddenly relaxed his eyes sadly.
âLeonhardt,â he said, âDo you think Iâm a ruthless king?â
âYour Majesty the KingâŠâ
Mother gently stroked Fatherâs arm, painfully.
I tilted my head, not knowing what Father was talking about.
âOh, I thought you knewâŠMiss Angela would definitely be His Majestyâs former princess first.â
âEâŠ? But the ruling you just madeâŠâ
My fatherâs words startled me.
âI am the King of Altoria.â
As if to remind me, I understood what Father was trying to say.
But my body was trembling and I didnât know it, and I couldnât help but put so much force into my clenched hands that they turned white.
âNo-, way, about the poisoningâŠâ
My voice trembled pathetically as if pleading on what to do.
I couldnât turn away, afraid that the person in front of me was that family-friendly father.
âI have done nothing. I would have thought that if I were on the throne, I would be of great use to you. But I suppose thatâs no longer the caseâŠâ
He felt as if his father had laughed at him.
I couldnât help but raise my head and stare into his eyes, which had a look that seemed to pierce my soul.
He said, âCleanliness alone does not make a king. You must learn to be a good judge of character.â
I felt my Motherâs warm hand on my cold fingertips.
âHis Majesty the former King wasnât of the caliber to be able to handle political affairs. If things had gone on like that, the country would have been left to the good of the noblesâŠ.although itâs only an excuseâŠâ
Mother stared at me once, speechless.
âAt least, âweâ love this country and its people. âŠ. and of course you.â
My motherâs words hit me like a blow to the head.
It made me realize that I did not really understand what it meant to succeed on the throne.