Home/A former empress hides her abilities (roughly)/side story 14

<Side Story 14>

"Your Highness—where do you believe a person's value comes from?"

When his tutor had asked him that during his days as Crown Prince, Thorvian had answered:

"A person's value is established when they fulfil the role they have been given."

Nobles served the Emperor, and subjects paid taxes to sustain their lives and worth.

And Thorvian himself?

Born Crown Prince, he had believed his value lay in existing as a ruler of the empire.

"She is called Ensilen."

"Yes—I have already read your thesis. It was most impressive."

That was why, even when someone surpassing his own abilities appeared, he believed his value remained unchanged.

—Because I am the Emperor.

"His Majesty said he wanted to change the empire together. But selling offices and titles is not part of the nation I envision."

"I never sold a single post."

"Did you not accept bribes from the nobles?"

"That was a development fund for the empire. What is wrong with giving a seat to those who think so loyally of the empire?"

The same went for corruption.

"Are you going to lie in bed all day doing nothing again? When will you attend to state affairs?"

"That is none of your concern, Mother."

Even when criticised by his mother for being idle and lazy, he did not care.

—Because I am the Emperor.

Yes—I am the Emperor, after all.

That alone gave him more than enough worth; he saw no need to strive to do anything.

This conviction only grew stronger when he learned from the Saintess Yuna that he was the male protagonist.

'Indeed—I am a being whose very existence has value.'

Was that not what a protagonist in a story was?

That was why he could not understand.

"It is because His Majesty did nothing."

Why did doing nothing diminish his value?

Then, seeing Rianell absent from his side, he finally realised.

'I see—my downfall was because you weren't there.'

A male protagonist only has value if he is chosen by the female protagonist.

Without Rianell, Thorvian's position had clearly vanished along with her.

But Thorvian did not believe his worth had completely disappeared.

After all, he had been both a protagonist and an Emperor.

'Those things were given to me because I had that much value.'

That was also why Thorvian wanted to meet Rianell.

The essence of Rianell was that she was the protagonist of this world—so if she saw him, she would surely realise something as well.

'You, too, will come to understand that your place is by my side as Empress.'

So you too—

"It has been a long time."

His thoughts were cut off.

A familiar voice. And yet, one he had not expected to hear so easily.

Thorvian raised his head.

"Are you experiencing any abnormalities in your vision or hearing? Your reaction time is noticeably slow."

Realising it was not an illusion, Thorvian let out a wry laugh and shifted his posture.

"Calling me a has-been, are you?"

Then his gaze fell to Rianell's abdomen.

At five months pregnant, it had taken on a noticeably rounded shape.

Thorvian was not so obtuse as to miss the meaning.

"Surely that is my—"

"…It could not be."

Rianell was incredulous.

---

Thorvian could not collect himself.

To be precise, he was closer to being unable to comprehend the reality before him.

Rianell, too, must have read the original story.

'Naturally, any person would want to be the protagonist, and would desire a higher position.'

How could a clever woman like Rianell be satisfied with the position of Duchess?

"Did you betray me just to become a Duchess?"

"I believe your memory is confused. Your Majesty was the one who betrayed me first. The possibility of memory distortion due to prolonged confinement in a closed space cannot be ruled out."

"I admit I was momentarily swayed by the Saintess's sophistry and made a misjudgment. But I clearly promised you the position of Empress!"

Rianell decided not to explain just how preposterous that offer had been.

There was nothing more draining than trying to persuade someone with a firmly established worldview.

"All offers can be refused."

"But you accepted it at first."

"That was the most irrational choice of my life."

Rianell had learned to accept most things in the world as "things that can happen"—by letting go of perfectionism.

A person who had always been expressionless had now become almost unfeeling.

Yet even Rianell had moments when she showed emotion—and this was one of them.

Mockery, contempt, and anger.

Emotions that could not be distilled into one made the corners of Rianell's mouth twitch.

"Did you not seek to prove your worth by becoming Empress?"

"I believe there is a misconception. What I wanted was not the position of Empress—it was recognition."

If Thorvian had sought his value in his role, Rianell had sought hers in her abilities.

That was why she had strived to become ever more perfect.

Because she believed she was only worthy if she was perfect.

"I have always regarded myself as insufficient."

In ability?

No—Rianell believed she lacked the communication skills to convey her thoughts in a form others could understand.

That was why she had been happy when Thorvian approached her after reading her thesis, and why she had believed that accepting his proposal would fill her deficiencies.

But after she had realised the Emperor's true nature—

She felt both betrayed by the Emperor and furious with herself.

'Because I was not perfect enough to see through Thorvian's true nature.'

Having clung to perfectionism until her very last breath, Rianell had only been able to let go of that worldview after dying.

—Ah, well. Let's just live roughly.

That did not simply mean she had abandoned passion.

It meant she had accepted that she could not be perfect.

"I am telling you this now—but we were twisted, tangled people."

We had been unhappy, yet unaware of our own unhappiness, and had sought to compensate for our deficiencies through each other.

"We were the worst possible match for each other. We should never have met."

"…"

Thorvian was uncharacteristically silent.

Not because he agreed with Rianell's words, but because he was now certain that her resolve was firm.

"If you had no intention of being persuaded by me, and no desire to reclaim the position of Empress—then why did you come to see me?"

"I wanted to tell you that you no longer have any influence whatsoever over my life."

Thorvian suddenly laughed.

A smile drained of hope—desolate and barren.

"Indeed. You exist perfectly well without me."

It was a realisation that struck him unexpectedly.

He had now lost all worth. But she was still the protagonist.

He had needed Rianell—but to her, he was utterly unnecessary.

It was a rather bitter truth, but Thorvian accepted it.

"So—have you come to kill me, now that I am useless to you?"

"No."

Then what?

"I came to see Your Majesty today because I felt the need to face a conclusion I had been putting off."

As Thorvian looked bewildered by the incomprehensible words—

Slap.

First his head turned, and only belatedly did his left cheek sting.

Thorvian clutched his cheek, blinking several times—as if he had no idea what had just happened to him.

"I wanted to do this."

At the time of Thorvian's deposition, there had been many witnesses, and she herself had been overwhelmed—so she had not been able to make a proper ending.

'Of course, a single slap cannot settle all the debts accumulated during my time as Ensilen…'

"It feels good."

"…"

For the first time since meeting Thorvian, Rianell smiled.

At last—it was over.

Back   Next