I never imagined Duke would banish Alicia from the kingdom so easily.
What the hell are you thinking? That’s the woman you love, idiot. Protect her!
In my mind, I curse Duke incessantly. Then I let my emotions get the better of me and beg to be exiled with Alicia. I don’t have any love for a kingdom like this. I want to be by Alicia’s side. For her, I can easily cast aside my own country.
But when they escort Alicia out of the room, Duke whispers something in her ear—and she smirks. I see her mouth the words well played.
……Her expression explains it—Duke never lost his memory.
……He really did play us, the son of a bitch.
Alicia never said as much, but I know.
I know she wants to go to Laval.
Ever since we found out where the mysterious wolf had come from, she’s made it clearer and clearer that she wants to go there. A daughter of the nobility can’t just pick up and travel abroad, though. Rather, none did. As a rule, only the heads of the Great Five noble houses travel outside Durkis. Not even merchants cross the border.
That’s because Durkis can sustain itself—albeit barely—without trade. Though it seems to ignore Roana’s existence entirely.
That stupid king… Er, I’d better stop there.
Why can’t Gramps just be king already?
“Well, ladies and gentlemen, have a lovely day.”
Without another word, Alicia leaves the room. I force myself out of the guards’ grasp and chase after her. If I can’t go to Laval with her, I at least want to send her off.
“Let him go.”
Duke’s deep voice rings through the room. In a flash, the guards comply. Duke certainly has an air of dignity about him…though I guess that’s to be expected from a prince.
I’m sure Duke wants to go to Laval with her. And yet a prince could never do something so recklessly selfish.
This is a move he can make only because he trusts Alicia so much.
I leave the room and rush after Alicia. Without me by her side, Alicia will thrive. She will live boldly and proudly by herself, her eyes sparkling with confidence. Her spirit dazzling to the ends of the earth.
But I need her.
I want to become somebody worthy of her. I want to become somebody she needs. Those drives are what brought me here time and time again.
And yet she’s now going to leave my side completely.
I follow Alicia until she’s just outside the castle, and I find Liz and her friends there. Apparently, when she heard some townspeople were summoned to the castle for Alicia’s conviction, she ran over with people in tow.
I can understand Henri being here, but Albert and Alan? Their faces look grim—even they feel a bit differently about the situation, given it’s their own sister who was taken away.
“Alicia dear…” Liz lowers her eyebrows and frowns morosely. It sickens me.
“Good news, I’ve been exiled,” Alicia announces. “Now you may push those ideals of yours all you’d like. Farewell, Liz.”
“Exiled? How horrible… I’ll speak with Duke.”
“Huh?”
Alicia’s cool facade slips. She stares at Liz with the most incredible sneer.
“What did you just say?”
“I said, I’ll ask Duke to rescind your exile,” Liz replies in earnest.
Alicia has no words. That must have been the last thing she was expecting to hear.
“Why…?”
“Exile is too harsh a punishment.”
“This may sound strange coming from me, but tampering with the memory of the firstborn prince of a kingdom is a serious crime.”
“Still, you are a very dear friend of mine.”
A scornful look that clearly says When the hell did we become friends? crosses Alicia’s face. Liz Cather must genuinely believe she’s capable of changing a prince’s mind with a mere request. Why is everyone so easily fooled by her? She’s all kinds of uncanny.
Alicia finally composes herself and speaks frankly. “Liz…you are a mere commoner. I don’t think you can change a judgment made by Prince Duke.”
“Why not? Duke and I are—”
“Friends?” Alicia snickers. “Do you honestly believe a commoner like you has the right to question a prince’s decree just because you’re friends?”
“I never said… I just want to help you, Alicia—”
“You want to help me? Don’t make me laugh. You are an extraordinary existence, Liz, I will grant you that. But don’t you dare have the conceit to believe you’re capable of anything.”