Seeing Chairman Siegel being so humble, Felix smiled slightly and raised his soda to take another big gulp. The icy cold soda rushing down his throat sent a refreshing sensation straight to his crown.
Noticing how Felix was drinking the soda, Lacus spoke up out of concern for his health. "Drinking soda like that isn't good for your health."
"Why bother with that! Who knows when I might die on the battlefield? If I don't enjoy life as I please now, I won't get another chance after I'm dead."
At her concerned reminder, Felix's words slipped out spontaneously. Hearing Felix's response and seeing the carefree smile on his face, Lacus trembled slightly, deeply shaken internally, even forgetting to eat the skewer in her hand.
After the stunned moment passed, Lacus lowered her head, pursed her lips, and looked at the skewer in her hand. A feeling of unworthiness spread through her heart, making her unable to eat the skewer.
Both Felix and Siegel noticed her emotional state. Siegel looked at his daughter but remained silent, simply patting her shoulder calmly. In contrast, Felix spoke up.
"Miss Lacus, you don't need to blame yourself like this. Our fight is precisely so that you and everyone in PLANT can happily eat and live each day well. Seeing you all living happily brings us great comfort." Here, Felix changed his tone and continued. "So please be happy and don't show such emotions. Otherwise, I would feel very guilty for passing my negative feelings to you."
"I'm sorry!"
These words struck Lacus's guilt-ridden and self-blaming heart, seemingly touching her deeply. A different kind of emotion rose within her. Raising her head to look at Felix, shock showed in Lacus's eyes before calming down, and she offered a sincere apology. After apologizing, as Felix requested, a happy smile appeared on Lacus's face.
She picked up the skewer and took a bite.
With her other hand, she grabbed a bottle of soda and, imitating Felix, took a big gulp.
"So refreshing!"
After the soda went down, Lacus broke from her usual gentle demeanor and exclaimed cheerfully.
She then continued eating the skewer in big bites.
Seeing her like this, Felix pursed his lips, lowered his gaze and remained silent, but he knew in his heart that Miss Lacus was behaving this way just to show him, to make him feel reassured and comforted.
It was very deliberate, but Felix didn't expose it.
Siegel, who was standing there grilling skewers, could also understand his daughter's thoughts. His feelings aligned with Felix's, and he chose not to expose it either.
"Captain Griffith, let me toast you!"
In the calm atmosphere, Lacus raised her soda and spoke sincerely to Felix. Felix raised his own soda, gently clinked it with Lacus's, smiled in acknowledgment, and then took a drink.
Seeing this, Lacus also brought her soda to her lips and drank.
After that sip, Lacus warmly invited Felix to eat the skewers.
"Captain Griffith, shall we eat while it's hot? Otherwise, it'll get cold."
"Mm!"
With a hum of agreement, Felix picked up one of the grilled skewers from the tray and began to eat. Lacus followed suit shortly after.
Siegel smiled slightly at the scene, picking up a skewer with one hand while continuing to flip the skewers on the grill with the other.
"Felix, how have things been lately?"
After a while, Siegel asked Felix.
Hearing the question, Felix paused mid-bite, looked up at Chairman Siegel, and calmly replied, "Quite well!"
"That's good."
Nodding in response, Siegel took a bite of his skewer and then asked, "Do you think we will achieve ultimate victory?"
The calm question reached Felix's ears, but it stirred no calm within him. He was momentarily stunned before snapping back to reality and continuing to eat his skewer.
Upon hearing her father's question, Lacus cautiously glanced at Felix a couple of times, her heart quietly anticipating his response.
Under the expectant gazes of the two, Felix finished the meat skewer in his hand.
"There are no winners in war!"
Setting down the bare skewer, Felix calmly spoke these six words. After saying this, he picked up another freshly grilled skewer from the tray and continued eating.
In contrast, Lacus and her father were visibly surprised by Felix's words, though to varying degrees.
Siegel was astonished that someone as young as Felix had such a profound understanding and summary of war. Lacus was amazed that Felix could so casually articulate a conclusion she had only reached after years of exposure and observation beside her father.
"Felix, when do you think the war will end?"
Siegel's expression returned to normal as he looked at Felix and continued his questioning. The questioned Felix calmly shared his thoughts.
"It will end temporarily when both sides are exhausted. As for a true end?" He paused here, took a sip of soda, and then looked at the two as he continued. "It's hard to say. Different perspectives lead to different definitions of war and the demands under it, making the true end always an unknown."
After hearing this, Siegel fell silent and said no more. His years in politics allowed him to thoroughly understand Felix's words. Yet, even with this understanding, Siegel could neither respond nor refute, for he himself had no answer in his heart.
Meanwhile, after pondering Felix's words, Lacus turned to face him and asked, "Will the true end always be an unknown?"
"Do you have an answer?"
Looking at Lacus, Felix did not reply but instead smiled and posed a question in return. Lacus was silenced by his words, bowing her head to search her own heart, only to find that she had no answer.
"Though there may be no answer, one of the meanings of our human existence is to unravel unknown outcomes and pursue the true answer. I believe that as long as we don't give up, one day we will eventually obtain the answer we seek."
Seeing his daughter's silent demeanor, Siegel looked at her with a gentle and benevolent gaze, speaking in a soft voice to offer her comfort.
'What a thick spoonful of chicken soup!'
Turning to look at Siegel, Felix inwardly agreed while also unable to resist a sarcastic remark.
Comforted, Lacus lifted her head to look at her father. The confusion that had clouded her eyes during her silence had faded, replaced by a resolute expression.
Seeing his daughter recover, Siegel smiled with relief and handed her a skewer of freshly grilled meat.
"Thank you, Dad!"
Lacus's voice carried a hint of affection as she accepted the skewer.