"That's an interesting question," she said slowly. "And a dangerous one."
"Answer it anyway."
She hummed, folding her arms. "The crown rests on three things. Bloodline. Divine approval. And perception."
"Perception?"
"The belief that they deserve to rule," Velra replied. "Once that cracks, even a king bleeds like any other man."
I exhaled.
'So that's it.'
Bloodline was untouchable.
Divine approval… questionable, but distant.
But perception?
That was human.
And humans were easy to shake.
----
The carriage lurched forward once more, wheels crunching softly over the gravel as we set off.
I glanced sideways at Alice.
Radiant—as always.
Even sitting casually, she carried herself with effortless grace, the kind that couldn't be taught. And as usual, that only made my irritation deepen.
'No matter how I look at it… that crown prince really is blind.'
Blind in how he saw the world.
Blind in how he judged people.
