Chapter 200: In Response to the Knight’s Plea
Chapter 200: In Response to the Knight’s Plea
"Impossible. I refuse."I told him without emotion. Impossible, impossible. Maxim’s people might already have captured Mother and the others — they might have killed them. Even if Maxim himself had no such intention, the soldiers who rose up might have acted on their own... my thoughts only went in the worst direction. And if Maxim were truly that outstanding, even without saying anything, a future in which he flourished as a national leader — if not the king — should already be visible, right? Did he want to become king that badly? Being king was nothing more than a stud horse — or rather a stud man — for producing children. If there were an outstanding chancellor and close aides, a king was nothing but decoration.
"Is it impossible? With all due respect, may I ask the reason?"
The knight clung to the subject. The face he raised was bright red with mud stuck to his forehead. Was Maxim worth becoming so earnest over?
"I was nearly killed by Prince Maxim’s agents. That was yesterday. While we were heading for the checkpoint ahead of the carriage, they suddenly attacked. There was no questioning like yours. There was no persuasion. It was sudden — they tried to kill me, a member of the royal family. I cannot even consider siding with a Prince Maxim who sends such people. Because I am still young, I do not possess a heart broad enough to simply obey the one who ordered my death. If I go to that commander, the only future I can picture is being killed. Therefore I refuse!"
From the middle of my speech the color of sorrow floated in the knight’s eyes, and at the end it changed to the color of despair.
The knight’s hand trembled as it stretched toward the hilt of the sword at his waist. And when at last he gripped the hilt,
"Wait. Do not take any further action!"
At my voice the knight started and stopped his movement. Was he going to try to kill me on the off chance?
"Even if you take the next action, I am stronger. These maids also possess strength equal to or greater than mine. Therefore you and your two attendants cannot defeat us. So stop. And think about it. Do you believe Prince Maxim would give important positions to those who have harmed the royal family? Do you believe he would use those who have committed the taboo of harming the royal family? Prince Maxim would surely think that their blades might one day be turned against him as well. In that case those who have harmed the royal family will certainly be punished. He will say, ’I intended to treat my younger brother favorably, but that person killed my younger brother. The punishment is heavy. Therefore I will punish that person. Let him atone with death.’ So do nothing further. Reconsider."