第１４５３堀：考えるということを学びなさい (Part2)
"Indeed. We shall spread rumors to settle the populace—not mere hearsay, but information backed by evidence and proof. That way, the upper echelons of Irinau will be forced to answer for their responsibilities."
"But surely, no matter how many commoners gather, they cannot possibly denounce those who rule Irinau. To do so would be to invite the literal loss of their heads. At best, they could only act in the shadows, could they not?"
"Ah, but that is exactly what we want the populace to become. If they can objectively grasp which side is in the right, they won't be so easily swayed by empty agitation, will they? Of course, we shall provide them with physical support as well. And when the upper echelons find themselves isolated, with no one left to rally to their cause..."
"They will have no choice but to submit to us... However, is it guaranteed that such evidence will even surface?"
"True enough. But that is no excuse to stand idly by. One must find what can be done and set it in motion. That applies to you as well, Princess Hasnia."
"...To me, as well?"
"Yes. You are returning to the royal capital of Suurus to report the results of these negotiations, so you will not be heading to Kinauf. This is where we part ways. But that does not mean your work in Suurus is finished. Once your duties as an envoy are concluded, new challenges await, and should you find insights from these events, you can convey them to influence future policy."
Indeed, while she had not acted in concert with us until now, things would be different from here on out. Princess Hasnia would surely leverage her experience as an envoy to contribute to the interests of Suurus.
Well, she would likely be dispatched to Weed as a diplomat before long, I suspect.
Even so, what she chooses to do remains entirely up to her.
Though, I wonder if she has the foresight to manage that much.
"..."
Upon hearing my words, Princess Hasnia falls into a contemplative silence.
She must have a great deal on her mind.
Until now, she had only needed to follow the directives from above, but moving forward in the field means she must think for herself, striving for the best outcome while still adhering to those orders.
Even if it diverges from the judgment of her superiors, if it serves the nation in the end, then so be it.
"That is what life is, after all. We spend our entire existence thinking, choosing, and bearing the weight of those consequences, over and over again. Do your best."
I offer these words to her as she remains silent.
Your life is still just beginning.
Go forth and gather as much experience as you can.
"...Yes."
She returns my words with a slightly tense reply.
Ah, perhaps that was a bit too heavy?
If so...
"You don't need to overthink it. If you find yourself lost, as you were earlier, it is perfectly fine to consult others; relying on those with experience is no vice. That said, be careful not to become someone who relies on others for everything or fails to think for themselves, as that will only earn you resentment. Perhaps it would be wise to seek out someone who can teach you *how* to think."
"Teach me how to think, you say?"
"Yes. No one is capable of never making a mistake. Right and wrong are, in the end, things that each individual must judge for themselves. Take this situation, for example. We, as an alliance, judged that there was no value in lingering to discuss matters further, but you felt we should have pushed harder, didn't you?"
"...Yes. The way Irinau handled things was... I felt that to back down there would be to compromise our prestige."
"Mm. That is one answer. You heard why the alliance chose to withdraw, did you not?"
"Yes. I understood that. ...It was for the sake of the people."
"Precisely. If we considered only the pride of the nation and chose to destroy them, the damage to our side would be immense, and we would only breed more resentment. Furthermore, the people who lost their homes would inevitably turn to banditry. When you weigh all those factors, we concluded that a hardline approach was not the answer."
"Because, in the end, the losses to the nation would be too great."
"That is not the only reason, but... that is something you should think about for yourself, or perhaps ask someone else to help you find the answer."
And so, with such talk, we arrived at the royal capital of Suurus, where we finally parted ways.
Now, we shall see how that child grows.
As for the rest, there are the future negotiations to consider.
That part is more troublesome, but at any rate, being able to return to Weed is a blessing.
Surprisingly, Lilishe is the type to be quite strict when she teaches.
Though, one could also say she’s a bit soft.