“Just one more word, Marquis Raeven. Listen, Climb. If you were a bigot then I wouldn’t have even bothered to say anything. But… I’m giving you a warning since she could be tricking you. She’s a monster.”
“Your Highness, though it may be presumptuous of me, allow me a question. What part of Renner-sama do you feel that she is a monster? There is no one else who cares more about the Kingdom and its people.”
“… Almost all of her efforts end up as nothing. Her actions are too pointless. At the beginning, I thought that maybe it was because her preparations were lacking. Then, the idea came up during a conversation with the Marquis here. What if everything was calculated? That would tie all of the loose ends together. If that were true… it would mean that a girl who lives half her life inside a palace and has almost no connections to the nobles is controlling them as she sees fit. … What do you call that if not a monster?”
“It’s a simple misunderstanding. Renner-sama is not that type of person.”
Climb was certain.
Those tears were not lies. That girl called Renner was selfless and kind. He, whose life was saved by her, knew this for a fact.
But his words did not reach the prince. He showed a bitter smile and walked away from Climb, with Marquis Raeven following behind him.
Climb muttered in the empty hallway.
“Renner-sama is the most benevolent person in the world. My existence is proof. If…”
He swallowed those last words. Even so, they continued in his heart.
If Renner-sama ruled the Kingdom, it would become a great nation that stood by its people.
Of course, considering the line of succession, it was an impossible wish.
Regardless, Climb could not give it up.