Viviana was no fool; on the contrary, she was incredibly intelligent and had long ago seen the root of her and Faust’s estrangement.
Her existence threatened Faust’s throne.
Due to the open-minded attitude of the older generation, Count Roselin and the King were not fixated on whose bloodline took the throne, so long as they could benefit the Qingxi Kingdom.
Therefore, the King had granted his friend’s family immense power, almost formally decreeing that military command would be handed to the descendants of the Roselin family to commemorate their friendship.
This was not something Viviana could avoid simply by expressing her loyalty. Even if the knightly girl had no interest in power, the fact that she possessed such capability was considered a mistake in itself.
On the other hand, Faust did not accept an arranged marriage, as he made no effort to hide his desire to marry into foreign royalty.
His ideals and ambitions were focused on vying for dominance over the world. Why would I ever dream of Faust saying he would give up the throne?
To be honest, even though she desperately wanted to see Faust’s resolve, Viviana never imagined the prince would say such a thing.
Faust let out a long sigh.
"Vivian, I understand your resentment, your anger, and your frustration. I understood it in the past, but at that time, I was already deeply mired in my own folly and arrogance."
"So you knew after all..." the knightly girl murmured, brushing away the strands of hair clinging to her cheek. Her long eyelashes blinked as she spoke in a low, somber tone.
The one thing Viviana found most unbearable about Faust was that he clearly knew her feelings, yet he turned a blind eye to them, even using those feelings as chips to drive her at his whim.
To be fair, Viviana had endured this for years before turning against him; in many ways, she was a saint.
"In the past, I looked down on romantic entanglements, believing that only power and strength were everything, and that all things were merely chips to be traded."
Faust spoke with an unprecedented tone of sincerity.
"But now, because of you, I have changed my mind."
"When did I become a beast of power? It shouldn't be like this. A person shouldn't live this way."
Viviana watched Faust quietly, her gaze tinged with melancholy as she studied the prince’s handsome face.
Faust continued to beat his chest in regret. "Am I truly a heartless and cold-blooded person? No, it was only to realize my ambitions and aspirations that I decided to sacrifice all other personal desires. Looking back now, I truly went down a dark path."
The prince of Qingxi said decisively, "Now, more than ever, I understand that a crown isn't important at all. What matters are the bonds and emotions between people!"
"Highness, please look at me."
As Viviana spoke, Faust realized his childhood friend wanted to confirm whether his words were true.
She could indeed do it. Whether he was telling the truth or a lie, the blonde girl could tell at a glance; she was essentially a lie detector specifically for Faust.
If it were a fabricated excuse, Faust would have been checkmated. Fortunately, this time, he was serious.
Thus, the prince did not hesitate to meet her gaze.
"!!!"
Unlike the many times he had used sweet words in the past, Viviana could find no trace of hypocrisy or falsehood in the prince’s reddish-brown eyes, only an unprecedented level of earnestness.
Her clear pupils trembled slightly as the blonde girl took the prince of Qingxi’s hand, gripping it tightly.
"Highness... so you were suppressing your nature before?"
"You could say that."
Faust smiled bitterly. "To place such value on the throne was truly foolish. Even if it starts from now, I want to live more freely and enjoy the beauty of the world to my heart's content. Is that alright?"
"Highness, it is not too late."
Viviana was nearly convinced. She pressed the prince’s palm against her soft, delicate cheek and whispered:
"Even if it starts now, we can correct the mistakes of the past. Our relationship, our feelings, and our future—all of it can begin anew!"
"I now understand your resolve. If this wish is true, I will certainly do everything in my power to help you fulfill it. I swear it in the name of Viviana Roselin!"
Having finished, the girl closed her eyes and knelt on one knee with an incredibly solemn posture, as if making a formal vow for her statement.
She's certainly easy to handle, Vivian.
Seeing this, Faust knew he had passed the test and breathed a sigh of relief.
Under the restrictions of fate, Faust could not explain the truth of the 【witches' feast】 to her, so he couldn't say things like "I was also blinded" or "Every mistake was fate's fault!"
He had to use another reason, and he couldn't lie; he had to be perfectly sincere.
Therefore, his speech was not a complete fabrication. If anything, he was just holding a little bit back.
Faust was indeed moved by Viviana, and his perspective had undergone a world-shaking change, but it wasn't because he was melted by his childhood friend's passionate love.
Rather, he was shaken into submission by the great power of the 【witches' feast】, which could twist human hearts and the laws of the world at will.
【Knowing the great power of destiny, do you intend to submit? For a son of man, it would be a wise move.】
"Submit? Are you joking?!"
Faust immediately denied it. "I am simply following the path of least resistance."
In an ordinary world, his previous way of thinking wouldn't have been wrong. To achieve hegemony, one must extinguish romantic feelings and avoid indecisiveness at all costs!
But here... in a fairy-tale world dominated and controlled by fate, things cannot be judged by common logic.
Under the churning of fate, even the highest sovereign power is just a toy to be played with.
Any fairy tale, no matter the foundation, no matter the direction, or how it is adapted, generally sings the praises of the beautiful emotions of humanity. In a fairy-tale world, characters who are calculating, obsessed with power, and ruthless are always destined to be stepping stones for the love-brains.
If I say being a love-brain is a Tier 0 attribute, does anyone understand?
Whether it was a genuine flow of emotion or a deliberate disguise, Faust had to appear deeply sentimental!
Besides, who said giving up the throne meant giving up power?
In a fairy-tale world, a "prince" is far nobler than a "king." No matter how much of a tool they are, a "prince" at least has a place in the script of fate.
If I lose the "prince" attribute after ascending the throne, who will compensate for my missing stats?
Ever since learning the truth of the world, Faust had considered the idea of maintaining his identity as the prince regent. Now, he was just going with the flow and fully committing to it in front of Viviana.
【Ho, so that's what you're thinking. That's truly... full of insight.】
After hearing Faust's true thoughts, Mephistopheles smiled meaningfully and offered a clearly appreciative comment:
【In just a few days, you've discovered the essence. Most of the Sons of Man, even if they awaken from fate, cannot see through it in their entire lives.】
Faust laughed.
"Of course. Otherwise, how would I be qualified to be your contractor?"
【I am increasingly glad to have signed a contract with you, Faust. You bring more than just interesting stories; perhaps you really can help me finish that matter...】
What "matter"?
Mephistopheles’s whisper gradually faded. Faust was about to ask, but at that moment, Viviana, who had been kneeling for a long time, stood up.
It was unclear what she had been thinking just now, but she looked refreshed, and even the lingering melancholy between her brows had dissipated slightly.
"Highness, please forgive my offenses during this time. Allow me to release your restraints."
Faust shook his head. "I should be the one thanking you. Otherwise, I would still be lost in my delusions."
He really did need to thank Vivian!
Watching the royal guard girl release the spell-based restraints on him, Faust stretched his limbs as the spiritual chains were severed.
"Alright, it’s time to leave this place."
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