Chapter 114
Louis didn’t know exactly what efforts Nox had made to hold back the wolf tribe. However, as someone who also held an important position, he could roughly understand. It was never easy to repel an enemy that invaded at critical moments again and again.
Not once had Louis ever felt that the Imperial Palace was small. Physically, it occupied vast grounds, and he could receive news from every corner while seated in one place.
But through this incident, he realized something. He had been nothing more than a frog in a well. He had never gone to the battlefield himself to fight and stop invasions from neighboring nations. He had only needed to issue orders to the soldiers.
“…It may sound as if I am changing my words because of you, but I still wanted to speak honestly. I will no longer be swayed by such superstitions. Plagues can occur at any time, and misfortune is something we must overcome ourselves.”
The words were heavier than expected, and Sia felt a little uncomfortable. She had only meant to tease him, but she hadn’t expected such a formal apology. At the same time, she felt relieved. If the Crown Prince took the lead, Nox would no longer have to suffer unnecessary humiliation in the future.
As Sia quietly organized her thoughts, she looked at Nox, who was keeping his eyes only on her. A sincere apology. Would that alone be enough?
She worried that her innocent cat might accept the Crown Prince’s words too easily. Before Nox accepted the apology so readily, she decided she should step in first.
Of course, kind words were appreciated. A sincere apology was something to be thankful for. But she couldn’t help feeling resentful at the thought of covering up pain that had already passed with mere words.
“Lord Nox, may I speak up?”
However, the first thing she needed to consider was Nox’s opinion. For her, it had only been a few months, but for Nox, it had been a lifetime of disregard. And she also believed that people’s perceptions wouldn’t change easily.
“I will always agree with your opinion.”
Encouraged by his steadfast reply, Sia smiled and turned her head. Then she spoke to Louis, who was seated at the head of the table.
“Firstly, thank you for changing your view of us, Your Highness.”
At her use of the word ‘firstly’, Louis felt himself grow tense. He had felt it before, but the woman before him had a peculiar way of speaking. Even her tone, which sounded somewhat positive, could change direction at any moment.
“But will the citizens of the Empire think the same way?”
There it is.
“Also, saying ‘I’m sorry for what happened’ and settling it so easily… no one can truly understand how Lord Nox feels after being looked down on his whole life. Apologizing without even knowing what the other person has really felt doesn’t seem right either.”
Louis was at a loss for words again. The last time, he had been speechless out of shock. This time, even if he had ten mouths, he would have had nothing to say. Every word she spoke was correct.
“Of course, I’m not doubting Your Highness’s sincerity. But unlike you, the nobles and commoners won’t accept it easily. And if they apologize without any sincerity, just because it’s an order… no, I’m worried that Lord Nox might have to go through something like that. Please understand.”
Louis properly grasped the context of what she meant and nodded first.
“You are right. Then what do you think should be done?”
And he became curious. Would the woman before him offer another unexpected idea?
“Hmm…”
Sia thought seriously. Asking for material compensation would feel too mercenary, and Nox didn’t seem to need anything like that. And taking money from commoners, even if not from nobles, would feel like exploitation, which she disliked.
As she pondered quietly, Nox continued watching her with affectionate eyes. Every word she spoke seemed to resonate in his chest. Because Sia had the same black hair as he did, she could understand his feelings better than anyone else.
With a reliable ally by his side, he waited proudly for what she would say.
Sia recalled what Nox had told her before, and also the words of God, as she measured her position. She wondered whether this would work, but she decided to say it anyway.
“There’s a saying in my hometown. It’s called putting yourself in someone else’s shoes.”
“…What does that mean?”
“It means to think from the other person’s perspective. If others were to experience something similar to what Lord Nox has gone through, I think the apology would feel more genuine.”
“Hmm?”
Louis didn’t immediately understand her meaning. For someone who had been called intelligent since childhood, that fact itself was rather shocking. Sia added, her face slightly tense,
“If you’re expecting something from me because I’m human… then I won’t meet anyone except those who have black hair like me. If people experience the same kind of discrimination based on color… then they’ll realize how childish that behavior really is.”
At her words, everyone in the dining hall was stunned at once.
After all, in the Pelles Empire, black hair was entirely hard to come by.
Discussion
0 CommentsReactions
No comments yet.