第９５０堀：お姫様の迷い (Part1)
**Chapter 950: The Princess’s Hesitation**
**Side: Parfil Gusdo**
*Buzz, murmur…*
Every time I come here and peer out the window at the main street below, I see crowds of people passing by, their faces bright with smiles.
“……”
Each time I witness that sight, I feel something strange accumulating in my heart.
Why are the people so happy, even though they live under the rule of someone who claims to be an Emperor? Were they not supposed to be suffering under a tyrannical regime? Or perhaps…
“No! That’s not it! Because, if that were true…”
I shake my head, rejecting the thought that just crossed my mind. If that were the case, it would mean that my father and the others were wrong, wouldn’t it?
But I cannot deny what I have seen with my own eyes. During my time accompanying the people of Weed and Seasifo, I observed the Zurable Empire in great detail. The people living in the towns, the villagers, and the travelers on the roads—they were all living in peace.
There was no sign of a wicked nation that oppressed its people or defied the Emperor. All I saw was a nation acting as it should: cherishing and protecting its citizens, just as we once did.
“Was my father wrong, or was the Zurable Empire actually…?”
No, even if my father was wrong, that doesn’t mean it was right to destroy our country! Because of the Zurable Empire, my family, my kingdom…!
As I think of this, the doubt that had been flickering in my anxious heart ignites once more. That’s right. I asked Yuki-sama to bring me here so that I could speak directly to the Emperor. Why did they destroy my country? What was the true intent behind it? Is there any justice in their actions?
“As the last member of the Gusdo Kingdom’s royal family, I will fulfill my responsibility.”
I do not know if my country will perish or survive. …No, if I think about it rationally, the restoration of the Gusdo Kingdom is impossible. Some of my retainers strongly insist that we should seek support from Weed or Seasifo, but that is not realistic. Even I, who know nothing of statecraft, can see that.
If we were to reclaim our country while relying entirely on other nations, would the people truly look up to us, the Gusdo, as their masters? That is impossible.
That is precisely why I must know the reason my country was destroyed. Even if I am just an ignorant young girl, I still carry the pride of the royal family that the Gusdo have woven through the ages!
Just as I renew my resolve, there is a sudden knock at the door.
“Yes. Who is it?”
“It’s Yuki.”
It seems Yuki-sama has come to visit. It has already been four days since we arrived at the Imperial Capital of the Zurable Empire. The general discussions must be over by now. And, surely, they have held talks regarding my treatment as well.
At last, the result is to be delivered.
…Considering what we did to Weed and Seasifo, it is possible that I will be handed over to the Zurable Empire. No, even I understand that it would be strange if they didn’t. There is no reason to keep hiding me anymore.
It is true that Weed possesses immense power, but it is questionable whether they have the military strength to fight the Zurable Empire. They are a nation across the sea, and even if they have established a bridgehead at Aurelia Port, fighting Zurable is not a realistic prospect.
…That is likely how the conversation went.
“……Please, come in.”
I steel myself and give my reply. The door opens, and Yuki-sama enters. I look at him again. He is a boy—or at most a young man—with black hair. While his appearance is rare, it is not unheard of.
…But his essence is completely different from his outward appearance. I feel a sharpness in him, as if he has crossed countless battlefields. I cannot help but wonder how someone could possess such an aura. If I had even a fraction of his strength, would the future have been different?
As I ponder this, Yuki-sama sits down and begins to speak.
“For now, I’ll get straight to the point.”
“……Yes.”
I have already prepared myself. It is far better than being spoken to in riddles.
“First, your safety has been guaranteed, for the time being.”
“Pardon? Instead of handing me over to Zurable?”
The answer is so unexpected that I find myself asking for clarification.
“Yeah. As for us, I’m sorry we couldn’t fulfill the promise.”
“No…”
I never truly expected them to reclaim my homeland from the start. I should be grateful enough that they brought me this far. Still, it is a fact that I held a small, lingering hope, and I feel a twinge of sadness.
“Now that I’ve given you the answer, let me explain why it turned out this way.”
“Yes. Please, go ahead.”
Why was I allowed to live? Why did the Zurable Empire destroy my country?
“……Was it to secure your rear?”
“That’s not the only reason, but it’s the main one. The Gusdo Kingdom had turned into an enemy of the Zurable Empire. And you understand that one must be ruthless for the sake of one’s own people, right?”
“……Yes.”
In the end, it was a simple, clear story. They defeated an enemy to protect their own citizens. We had indeed treated Zurable as an enemy of the state that defied the Emperor until the very end. It is understandable that Zurable could not leave such an opponent behind.
Moreover, we had the means to reach the sea from Aurelia Port. They must have considered the possibility of us drawing in further enemies from across the ocean. In fact, we were using that very route to try and escape…
That’s right. The Zurable Empire was simply acting to ensure its own survival. That is all there was to it.
And the reason I am alive—no, the reason I am being *kept* alive—is that I still have utility. It is only natural. My name and blood are very effective for unifying the former Gusdo Kingdom territory.
And what surprised me most was that the Emperor of the Zurable Empire apparently said that if the former Gusdo territory does not turn its blades against him, he would be willing to return it someday.
…Truly, the reputation outside and the reality inside are worlds apart. The Zurable Emperor we heard of was a cold-blooded tyrant, and we were told the citizens were whipped, overworked, and on the verge of death, but the reality was different.
In this Imperial Capital—no, under the rule of the Zurable Empire—everyone is smiling. This proves that the Zurable Emperor did not annex these countries to exploit the people.
In other words, the image of the Zurable Empire I had been told about was a lie.
“Are you saying that I—that we—were being danced around by rumors?”