Chapter 69: heh – Sufilia Artemias

Dad!

When we pushed open the large doors I heard Sufilia scream, the king had fallen onto his but in front of Seig and the others.

They had killed anyone else who got involved and the bodies laid scattered around the room. Their blood was pooling on the floor and I straddled is as I made my way forward.

YoureDragons heart?

Fredrick Artemias, for the crimes of embezzlement, rape, murder, and mass murder, you are here by sentenced to death.

Seig proclaimed with a sword resting in the kings neck. I had no idea this guy was that terrible.

What are you talking about! This country is mine, and Im free to do whatever I want with it!

Typical.

I dont care what you think. Youre going to die.

Im going to die? Hahaha. In that case, whats the difference between us? Youre also guilty of murder.

We believe differently.

Youre calling it your beliefs? Then what I did was based of my own belief? Thats not enough to kill me? The definition of a crime is

That definition is why were here.

..

We decided to kill you, thats all there is too it.

My daughter too? Are you going to kill her as well? Wait! Wait my daughter is different, my daughter is

Sieg cut off the kings head, blood sprayed from the wound.

That too, is at our own discretion.

Sieg muttered to the headless corpse.

Youre turn.

Yeah.

Sieg asked me to kill Sufilia.

There were no tears in the princesses eyes, she didnt even look sad. I wonder if this is how one feels when their parents are killed in front of them.

Princess I want to ask you something.

The princess looked at me.

Did you order the people to be killed?

I can believe it, at the time she seemed to feel the peoples sadness inside herself. She mourned that she couldnt help the people. But now, I dont feel any of that from her, shes like a completely different person.

Im going to take off my mask for a moment.

Sieg and the others moved away and turned their backs then I took the mask off.

Sufilia.

Nito?

Looks like she remembers me but, I dont feel happy about it.

Answer my question, did you give the order to have those people killed? The people who gathered here back then.

Why are you here?oh, I see. Youre part of Dragons heart.

Was that a lie?

A lie? No, I didnt lie.

Then is it OK for me to believe that you give the order for them to be killed?

No, I did give that order.

Her expression didnt change when she answered.

Then.why did you mourn about how powerless you were? How you couldnt do anything?

Because thats what you all wanted right? A princess that felt sad for her country.

Is this really Sufilia?

Her expression held no affection for anyone anymore, the guard was right, she is crazy.

Did you order the slaughter?

I did. But my father didnt listen to what I wanted then. I wanted to set them all on fire but he had them killed with arrows and swords, if I was going to die anyway I wanted to see it at least once. A crowd of that size all burning together.

The princess I met was a fake, this is the true princess. But my heart still wants to believe her.

Are you lying to me?

No Im not lying. Havent you already seen what you wanted to see?

.

I dont understand why you looks so sad.

..

Im the princess and Sufilia, I lived wearing these two masks. Princess to the people, and Sufilia in the castle. Thats how I lived, its the same for everyone isnt it, even you Nito. The adventurer Nito, Nito of the Dragons heart. You have to masks as well so what is it thats so different about me?

The problem isnt the difference between us. The problem is that you ordered those people killed.

I noticed it now, Sufilia felt even less guilt about killing people than we did.

I dont understand, is that why youre going to kill me? I knew it, were the same. I didnt understand why people adored me.

You didnt understand?

Isnt it good that they adore me? Then arent I free to do whatever I want with them? Didnt you know Nito, everyone is selfish. And I thought to myself one day, why is it that they adore me?

I know that people are selfish. Saeki was selfish and it turned in to me being bullied.

But I realized the didnt adore me, they adored the princess. They wouldnt understand me, so I just played along, gave them something to adore. Do you get it Nito? Youre the same as everyone else, you saw what you wanted to see.

Everyone lives for themselves, this is true. Most actions can be explained in this way.

They chose to adore me without understanding, while I happened to choose to kill them. Although chose is a strong word, it felt like it was just happening in front of me. Not everything is good or evil like you think it is.

Good and evil are abstract concepts, we act according to our beliefs. Thats what sieg said, but what are my beliefs? Arent I pointing my sword at her neck?

See were the same, people reject things they dont understand.

What she said isnt wrong, Saeki and Aries both rejected and abandoned me. But did her people really adore her? Maybe thats something only she was capable of seeing.

Why did you ask me those things?

Why am I the one suffering?

Isnt it unreasonable?

Yeah, it is.

Why did I have to be born as a princess?

Why am I suffering. Someone else would have been fine.

So then, isnt it OK for me to kill them?

Yeah, Im going to kill them Saeki and the others.

Nito, kill her!

I dont want to.

I wont kill her.

.What?

If I killed her, I would be denying who I am.

Nito what are you saying?

She shouldnt kill.

Murder isnt her only sin, theyre sending weapons to other countries promoting wars. They use the trifar technology, shes one of the lead alchemists and manufacturers.

Manufacturer?

She was the one controlling the manufacturer of Trifar.

If Sufilia is killed.

Then the production of Trifar will be halted.

The others have already been killed, shes the only alchemist in this country. If we kill her the weapons wont be produced anymore.

Thats why youre going to kill her? That sounds like its for Siegs convenience.

Sufilia closes her eyes, waiting for death.

What about the trifar that has already been made?

The factory will be destroyed after this, we cant help whats already been released. But magic tools cant be used forever.

So that means that if she doesnt make anymore then there wont be any more?

Thats what it means.

Ok. Then let me look after her.

She cant be allowed to live!

Siegs angry shout echos through the hall.

She wont make Trifar anymore.

Her very existence is a sin.

Seig you told me once to follow the path I believed in. I believe that Sufilia shouldnt die here, I think the evil died with the king.

What do you plan to do with her, build a country here?!

She will join my party. From here on shes no longer a princess. She will live as an adventurer.

I turned to Sufilia who still had her eyes closed.

Hows that?

Ill dedicate my life to Nito.

I took Sufilias hand.

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