Chapter 199 : Chapter 199

Chapter 199 : On the Innate Nature of Good and Evil (1)

The ‍​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌‍bestowal of a knighthood was never something that could be treated lightly.

Even ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍more so when considering the place heroic figures known as knights held in this society.

It ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍was an honor only a two-digit number of people across the entire continent could obtain in a year. That was the status of a knight.

Even ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍an ordinary knighthood carried such immense meaning, so what would it mean to bestow one upon a cadet still enrolled at the Academy?

There ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍was no denying that it was a groundbreaking event, one with few historical precedents to be found.

Serene ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍El Stellia was the star of that historic event, and the first person in this era to be knighted while still a cadet.

In her case, however, there was a distinction from other historical examples: she had been knighted despite never having entered a battlefield and earned military merit.

Even so, there were many reasons Serene could receive a knighthood without significant opposition.

The daughter of the Stellia Family, the continent’s most prestigious house. The recognition of the nobility that came with it.

An unprecedented genius without equal for nearly a thousand years—or even throughout the continent’s history. The recognition of the knightly class that came with that.

And the rampaging of Monsters that had recently begun in earnest, the chaos spreading across the continent as a result, and the need for a heroic icon to overcome it.

Treatment so extraordinary that it went beyond shocking had been born from such circumstances.

-STEP.

After the knighting ceremony and its celebratory banquet had ended, Serene El Stellia walked through the empty corridor of the banquet hall’s annex, lost in thought.

Her expression was somewhat complicated, in contrast to the fact that she was both the protagonist of a monumental event and the star of the day.

“…….”

The girl had always dreamed of the day she would be reborn as a knight.

The qualifications worthy of a knight’s station, and the honor she would grasp when the time came.

That could be called the single dream Serene had held since childhood.

Yes. Today was certainly the day that dream had come true.

But.

‘……Do I truly deserve this?’

Her dream had come true in a form she had neither wanted nor expected.

Even at this moment, some cadets were fighting enemies on the front lines with their lives at stake.

Including Rain Enlight, her dear friend.

And yet, the person who received this honor was herself, someone who had never even entered the battlefield. It was something even she could not fully accept.

Of course, even now, Serene’s power easily surpassed that of the highest-ranking knights, so most people accepted the knighthood as an appropriate measure……

But perhaps her own feelings were a separate matter.

‘Even so, I can now go to the front lines.’

That was the point the girl could take comfort in.

Rather than being protected despite possessing power simply because she was the daughter of a noble family, she could advance to the battlefield as a knight and save people.

‘Though I cannot help but think the timing is somewhat strange.’

It was not immediately after the crisis began. Instead, it was an ambiguous time when several fronts had entered a lull.

Serene felt a vague sense of strangeness that there might be some intention behind her knighthood in this situation.

Though she could not discern that specific intention.

“Haa…….”

A deep sigh settled through the sparsely populated annex.

She had only wanted to save people with her own power, but reality was muddling her mind with all kinds of reasons.

“……You who are so far away, what are you doing right now?”

Serene looked up at the distant sky reflected beyond the window and muttered that.

“You are still protecting what you hold in your hands, are you not?”

As though she were thinking of someone who would be fighting through hardship, unlike herself, who had been born blessed yet could not protect a single thing.

The one who always ran forward with dignity before her pathetic self.

That was why he—

“You are still…….”

Her idol.

As Serene was about to leave the annex with her heart still unsettled, she sensed someone approaching from the opposite direction.

“Hm……?”

The banquet was still ongoing, so just the fact that someone had come here made her question it.

-STEP.

A figure appeared at the far end of the opposite corridor.

“……!”

The moment Serene confirmed the owner of that presence, she had no choice but to be somewhat surprised.

Neatly arranged white hair shining in the moonlight from beyond.

Calm, steady red eyes that gleamed like jewels, unlike those of his sister.

And the kind, unpretentious smile that always rested at his lips, despite being unsuited to his status.

“First Prince……Your Highness?”

Yes. The person Serene encountered was the Abellon Empire’s First Prince and the leading candidate for succession to the throne.

Claudio Renart Abellon.

“Ahaha, what a coincidence. Lady Serene……no, that is not right. Should I call you Dame Serene now?”

“……Please call me by whichever title is most comfortable for you.”

The girl erased her surprise and responded with proper decorum.

The prince, who must have encountered her through the same coincidence, remained simply calm.

“What brings you to this secluded building……?”

“Well, does that question not apply to you as well, Dame? Though we are probably here for the same reason.”

“……I see…….”

“I wanted to clear my head for a moment. There have been matters weighing on my mind lately.”

Claudio Renart Abellon.

As mentioned before, he was a leading candidate for succession, said to have inherited the current Emperor’s kindness and intelligence exactly……or perhaps qualities even greater than his.

His supporting forces were mostly made up of the Conservative Faction, which maintained traditional positions, but his exceptional character won him broad support even from the Reformist Faction, which held opposing views.

He was the very image of an outstanding emperor and an outstanding heir.

Despite his qualities and position, he was not arrogant, but possessed a pure disposition that looked after the people from all sides.

Certainly, that was how he was seen.

‘……But why is it that I……’

Serene often felt an indescribable sense of strangeness toward Claudio.

His track record, words, deeds, and demeanor. Despite the prince displaying perfection in every respect, why?

‘……To let my judgment be influenced by a vague impression.’

Serene often attributed that intuition to her own lack of virtue.

That, too, was the result of her inherently kind nature, and under ordinary circumstances, it would have been an endlessly correct judgment.

Under ordinary circumstances, that was.

“Then this is fortunate. If you have time, would you perhaps listen to me for a moment?”

As their conversation continued, Claudio asked that with his characteristic kind smile.

“Ah, of course. Listening to a prince’s worries would sound difficult even to think about, so please feel free to consider it at your leisure.”

That unpretentious response of his remained unchanged.

“If I am suitable, then please.”

Of course, Serene was not someone who would refuse such a request.

“Hehe, I can only be grateful. I will not keep you long, so please rest assured.”

“Ahaha…….”

Thus, a brief conversation began in the moonlit corridor.

“Lately, I have been pondering the innate nature of people—their goodness and evil.”

That was how he began, with the smile from before gone and a somewhat serious, expressionless face in its place.

Perhaps such inquiry was necessary for a prince, and for someone who would one day become the Empire’s ruler. Serene merely thought that.

“The innate nature of……good and evil?”

“Yes. It is the question of whether they are defined at birth.”

Were good and evil things one was born with as one’s essence?

Or were they established throughout the course of one’s life?

“This may be sudden, but what is your opinion, Dame?”

“…….”

Though the question was sudden, just as Claudio himself had said, Serene remained composed.

Perhaps she, too, had repeatedly pondered innate nature within her unconscious as she lived.

And so, after a brief silence, her answer was—

“I……do not believe good and evil are defined at birth.”

To that answer.

“Is that so?”

The prince gently curved his lips upward, but his face seemed somehow shadowed as he responded.

“May I ask why you came to that conclusion?”

At that returning question, Serene once again pondered and refined the words she would use in her answer.

The silence that resulted did not last long.

“……Good and evil are not clearly defined things, but standards born from social consensus.”

The conversation continued.

“Considering the many facets of human character, I do not think it is possible to define an existence simply as good or evil.”

There was no all-encompassing good, and no all-encompassing evil.

“Everyone will possess aspects called good, and aspects called evil, at the same time.”

Every person was born with both aspects.

“However, depending on how those various aspects are expressed……might good and evil not be divided?”

Thus, good and evil were determined through one’s choices and actions along the path of life.

To that answer.

“Haha.”

The prince gave a clear laugh whose intent could not be read.

There were words within that laugh that never became language.

How could you, of all people, say such things?

You, who were born holding all the goodness in this world?

Claudio nodded with an easy smile.

“Good. That is a truly common-sense and ethical answer.”

“I can only hope it was helpful.”

“However, hmm. I do not disagree with that opinion, but……would it be all right if I offered a counterargument as a Devil’s Advocate?”

A Devil’s Advocate.

A role that intentionally raised counterarguments for a broader perspective in a discussion, thereby guiding it toward a more rational conclusion.

Claudio volunteered for that role.

That name held a slightly different meaning for him, but Serene could not have known that.

“Yes, Your Highness. Please.”

“Very well, then…….”

With his characteristic smile, Claudio continued speaking.

All while hiding within his chest a blackened, festering heart and a sharp dagger.