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118 Episode

‘Treatment of Defeated Nations.’

I licked my dried lips. The sound of my heartbeat was slowly growing louder.

‘It’s a difficult and… complicated subject for the army.’

This was a tricky issue that had divided opinions in my previous life as well. I had merely considered it an interesting problem back then, but now, feeling the war looming close, it weighed heavily on my mind.

‘It’s fortunate that I’ve mostly forgotten past memories, but I still retain knowledge of military strategy.’

I thought I could easily present a rational opinion.

“That subject will likely differ based on the inclination of the defeated nation.”

Just as I was reviewing my past knowledge, Diego, stroking his chin, asked Helios. His deep, dark blue eyes shone with a rare, cold light.

Helios, who had been grinning with amusement, rolled his eyes playfully.

“Indeed. All strategies should change depending on who the opponent is. Let’s consider an example of a defeated nation… Ah, yes. For instance, if the defeated nation were the Northerners. How should we treat them?”

The moment Helios finished speaking, the atmosphere in the garden, which had been somewhat relaxed, turned heavy.

I fidgeted with my lips and stiffened my expression. Diego’s face also became serious.

‘This is… not just a light test. They want to see how Diego and I will respond before the upcoming war.’

The high-ranking officials of the Empire were already aware that war was imminent. They were simply complacent about the Northerners’ secret weapon.

As an Emperor, Helios could not have been oblivious to the approaching war.

He was testing Diego and me sobre the real possibility of conflict.

‘If we win the war against the Northerners… how should we treat them afterward?’

Now that I think about it, I found myself so caught up in the thought of victory over the Northerners that I had never considered what would come next.

What happens after we win?

For the Empire, it would be unparalleled dominance, but for the Northerners, the Empire would be an oppressive foe.

Surely there are many wretched souls among the Northerners who fight to survive; can we treat them recklessly after our victory?

‘…Is this why I’m not suited for politics? Aria does such things well…’

I sighed inwardly.

This is the problem. The most emphasized value for me isn’t a rational cost-benefit analysis but rather a belief.

‘No one in this world deserves to die.’

For me, this was an unwavering constitutional-like statement.

‘However, despite my beliefs, this is also a recognized method in military strategy.’

I organized my thoughts carefully in my head. This was a critical opportunity for me to prove myself to Helios.

Just as I was about to speak,

“…Your Majesty. May I answer first?”

Diego was quicker.

“Oh, certainly. Go ahead.”

Helios, looking casually at the flowers blooming beside him, smiled and gestured for Diego to respond.

I blinked several times, then looked at Diego.

We locked eyes — his calm, clear gaze full of a fair and cold light, holding a depth that felt devoid of anything hidden. It was a look I’d never seen before yet fit him like the perfect piece of a puzzle.

Just as I was momentarily at a loss for words,

“Initially, we’ll exterminate the surviving soldiers. We can’t allow them to think of rising again.”

He opened his beautiful lips, which I had come to cherish, and spoke with unwavering cruelty.

“Next, we will behead all the leaders who plotted rebellion and display their heads for all to see. We must teach them the consequences of rebellion. Any adults capable of fighting will be killed as well.”

Diego’s demeanor was unnervingly calm as he discussed the deaths of countless individuals, as if discussing today’s weather.

“All remaining children of the tribe will undergo thorough ideological education before being placed in a lower class under the Empire. We erase their history, silence their songs, and cut off their cultural roots. We will strip them of their name and fully subjugate them as part of the Empire. This, I believe, is the perfect way to secure victory in war.”

Diego Solarit was the cold ruler who considered safeguarding and reviving the Empire as his justice and creed.

“That’s a fitting answer, Diego.”

Helios accepted this version of Diego, which felt oddly unfamiliar to me, as if he were entirely at ease with it. As if Diego were always this kind of person.

Diego simply nodded, maintaining his composure.

‘This is who Diego has always been.’

It wasn’t shocking. I was already aware of how cold-hearted he could be.

It was a subtle yet undeniable ripple. It was as if I became aware of my own blinking.

It’s a natural thing for humans to blink. But when you become aware of it, the act itself becomes quite strange.

Diego’s coldness felt just like that to me.

“…I have a different opinion.”

I respected Diego’s coldness, believing it was a tool to lead the Empire in the right direction, but aside from that, I did not agree with his views.

As I directly countered him, Helios’s eyes lit up with interest.

I faced Diego, who seemed to have anticipated my reaction.

“The extermination of an entire ethnicity might aid in quickly subduing the situation. However, in the long run, it would undoubtedly be a loss.”

“Oh? Why is that?”

Taking a deep breath, I began explaining in a calm tone.

“First, indiscriminately annihilating an ethnicity will bring condemnation from the continent as unethical. Second, if you kill everyone, you will be unable to pursue further advancements afterward. Third, if you only show cruel behavior, other minority tribes might join forces to attack the Empire in retaliation. Fourth…

Actually, only the third is logically sound. This alone should suffice for evidence.

Yet, I forced myself to voice the fourth reason.

“…Because it isn’t right.”

Indeed. This was the most significant reason.

It is unjust to slaughter innocents merely because they have lost a war. That is my belief.

“…I must say, while I agree with the princess’s argument, if you’re afraid of the continent’s condemnation, then perhaps we shouldn’t have gone to war in the first place. If you’re fearful of condemnation, you’ll be unable to accomplish anything. After all, the Solarit Empire is already a power that stands unmatched on the continent; who will punish us for any condemnation received?”

“However, to entirely ignore condemnation would mean we can never become truly strong. We would only be as lawless as rogues. While we may not have the strength to rise up at this moment, I believe a rule that suppresses through strength isn’t sustainable for long. If the war muddles the continent, we must also show mercy. The continent must not view the Empire as a dictator that indiscriminately annihilates any ethnicity.”

“True. A rule sustained solely by suppression won’t last long. However, if you feel there’s a need to show mercy to the continent, it can be done in other ways. There’s no need to leave the Northerners as a potential threat. Are they merely ‘any ethnicity’? They have long been our enemies, watching the Empire greedily.”

Despite Diego and I maintaining calm expressions and low voices, the conversation felt fiercely intense.

Diego locked his cold, rational eyes onto me.

“I’ve always thought we have treated the Northerners leniently. If they rise up once more… then we should crush them harshly.”

As I drew closer to Diego, I uncovered one truth: he was a benevolent and fair ruler, but that only applied to the Solarit Empire.

For someone like me, who is merely overly kind-hearted and possesses unwavering beliefs, becoming a ruler is impossible. A ruler must be familiar with depravity and manipulation of power.

Diego’s governing method carried an unmistakable element of state egoism.

“…I don’t believe the Empire is weak enough to be unable to manage a single tribe of Northerners.”

I spoke slowly, maintaining my gaze on Diego without wavering.

Our eyes fiercely collided in that brief moment. It felt as if only the two of us remained in this world.

In that instant, neither Diego nor I were crown prince and princess, lord and vassal, man and woman.

We were just two human beings trying to assert ourselves and prove our points.

“You might achieve temporary stability through extermination, but all future developments possible by sparing the Northerners will slip away like dust.”

“Oh? Then why don’t you tell me what benefits the Northerners can provide to the Empire?”

Diego asked sharply with a sneer.

It was my first encounter with his sardonic demeanor, but I wasn’t surprised. It suited Diego too well. I could easily predict that would be his demeanor when approaching conversation seriously.

“Have they not gained benefits so far? The tribute we have received from them has undeniably aided the Empire’s prosperity. Moreover, thanks to their guarding the North, the influx of the masses toward the Empire has remained consistent. They are indeed contributing to the Empire.”

“But you must also remember the number of times the Northerners have dared to oppose the Empire. The resulting damages as well. The income from the tribute produced by the Northerners and the losses incurred from their incursions are nearly equivalent. Thus, ultimately, the net income is zero. If you are willing to squander resources to keep an eye on those who hold no income for you, then isn’t that the most foolish thing you can do?”

A fierce debate exchanged as Diego and I stood firm on our positions. He showed no signs of backing down, and neither did I.

As Diego’s icy blue gaze ran over me, I stared resolutely back.

“If that foolishness can save thousands of lives, shouldn’t we do it?”

I spoke as if placing a heavy boulder down.

Diego’s lips twisted into a stiff smile as he looked at me coldly.

“They are not subjects of the Empire, Kashmir Crisis. Their lives hold no value to us.”

I took a slow breath. Following Leo’s time, the current situation of questioning my beliefs was slightly exhausting, but retreat wasn’t an option.

To hide the turmoil swirling in my mind, I bit down on my lips and composed my expression. I pressed down on my rising emotions and squeezed out my words.

“In this world, no life is without value.”

It was my unchanging belief.

In response to my conviction, Diego countered with a steady gaze.

“There is no peace without sacrifice in this world.”

I thought Diego and I got along quite well. Didn’t they say that opposites attract?

While it was more challenging to find common ground between us, we had maintained our relationship without much friction until this point.

However, it was precisely here where our most significant differences became pronounced.

Diego thought as a ruler, while I thought as a human with convictions.

That thought led to actions, actions led to habits, and habits shaped our ways of life. This was the biggest divide between Diego and me.

‘…I didn’t want to oppose Diego like this.’

I chewed my lip.

I had expected we would clash at some point, but I never anticipated it would be now.

As I emerged from my passionate debate to regain my senses, I found Diego looking at me with a sheepish expression, as if he realized the chill had left his gaze.

Just as I took a deep breath and opened my lips to respond to Diego,

“I hope those two kiss.”

Helios’s comment, whether as a soliloquy or meant to be heard, made Diego and me turn to him simultaneously with expressions as if we’d just encountered a madman.

 

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