“The crown prince of Elda…?”

“That’s right. After signing the peace treaty, they wanted to display an amicable relationship to the other countries. We were on the verge of defeat, and had the war continued, we’d have surely lost. The power dynamic doesn’t allow us to refuse.”

The crown prince of Elda visited us.

Despite the peace treaty, Elda was still a former enemy country. To make matters worse, the war was started by our side.

—Isn’t the future king being reckless coming to visit us?

Elda had other princes, and even quasi-royalty.

“As our side failed to acquire Elda’s magic ore, signing the peace treaty is only natural. After all, we don’t know when Cleil will attack and steal our territory.”

In fact, that was whole reason Paides set its eyes on Elda’s magic ore mines.

Although, as we all knew, it ended in a disaster.

Thankfully, Elda had both common sense and a conscience, otherwise Paides would’ve been finished.

Hopefully, the royal family of Paides had self-awareness.

Paides had always ridiculed Elda for being a small country with a short history.

“…Well, it didn’t end there.”

Eric, who’d been lightly carrying the conversation, suddenly hesitated.

“What’s the matter?”

Eric fell silent. Only at my urging did he finally speak.

“It seems that they want to visit the Lowenberg territory as well.”

I involuntarily clenched my fist.

What am I getting nervous for…?

Wasn’t it normal for the victorious country to visit the place where the damage was the heaviest? I shouldn’t be offended, he wasn’t the one who murder my parents, after all. No, even if he had, who was I to blame him?

Our country, Paides, started the war. In war, killing was inevitable. In war, casualties were to be expected.

—this is inevitable.

“I understand. I’ll see to the people. Some of them may harbor resentment after losing their loved ones, which could lead to trouble.”

The spark of war could always be reignited. We were in a critical period right now. I had to move carefully.

“What about you? Will you be alright? You lost your parents, too. Unlike me, you went to the battlefield. Surely, nothing could compare to what you witnessed there.”

“So what? You and I both survived the war. We equally share the pain. I can’t just blame them for it. Regardless of how many lives were lost, Paides was the one who incited it. Therefore, we have no right to hate or blame Elda.”

“—No one wanted war!”

Eric voiced his frustration.

“I’m sure none of us did, and especially not you, Iris…”

“If Paides had won the war, we and the people would have reaped the spoils from them. In that case, would you still say we didn’t care, or that we didn’t want it?”

“I can. I’m not selfish enough to not appreciate the peace given to us by those who fought in the war. But Iris, you’re using the war and Paides’ position to suppress your own hatred!”

Eric’s gaze pierced me. That gaze—it was the very same look my beloved family used to give me. I used to love it, but now I couldn’t stand it.

“Then, are you saying that I should hate them? What would that achieve? I cannot regain what I lost.”

—Why am I the only one who survived?

Why couldn’t they kill me as well?

If I have to live with such twisted feelings until I die, then I shouldn’t have survived.

---

***T/N: At this rate I prefer to have no romance in this story hehe

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