His eyes widened in disbelief, staring at the silvery-white-haired figure before him. The air in the living room seemed to vanish, leaving behind a suffocating emptiness after the words "secede" left Kazien's mouth.
Felix had never imagined that Kazien would dare utter such a serious threat, one tantamount to high treason, right in front of his father, King Nalvon, the supreme leader of the Kingdom of Garveon.
"What did you say?" Felix cried out, his voice trembling between anger and disbelief. "Have you gone mad, saying such things in front of my father? Do you realize you are speaking of separatism before a King?"
Kazien did not flinch in the slightest. Instead, he snorted softly, as if Felix's reaction was something he had predicted and found utterly boring.
"I'll just be blunt with you, Felix!" Kazien retorted with a tone so cold it pierced the bone. "Why should the Altavis family continue to support a cowardly king who dares not act? We are disgusted by a king who is steered by corrupt nobles until he becomes their puppet! Burn that into your head, you foolish Prince!"
King Nalvon, sitting beside Felix, remained silent, but his gaze sharpened as he observed the interaction. He was not angry. On the contrary, he wanted to see how his son would respond to this slap of reality.
"A King holds the highest authority!" Kazien continued, his voice rising an octave, full of emphasis. "If the king we serve commands no respect, if he hesitates to swing the sword of justice simply because he fears political shadows, why should we acknowledge a king who is nothing more than a decoration? A beautiful ornament in the palace cannot protect the people!"
Kazien rose from his seat. His steps were slow but certain, approaching Felix, who remained frozen. The aura Kazien radiated at that moment was so domineering, it was as if he were the ruler of that room, not the King or the Prince. His gaze was sharp, as keen as a hawk ready to snatch its prey.
Felix, intimidated by the immense mental pressure, reflexively lowered his head. He could not bear to look into Kazien's sapphire-blue eyes, which flashed with demanding intensity.
Kazien stopped right in front of Felix. "Lift your head, Prince!" he reprimanded harshly. "If you dare not look someone in the eye while speaking, how will you face your enemies later? If you continue to bow your head like a loser, I will ask your father to remove your name from the line of succession as Crown Prince right now!"
The threat jolted Felix's pride. Gathering the last shreds of his courage, Felix dared to lift his face. He looked at Kazien's handsome features, searching for mercy, but all he found was undeniable firmness.
"What do you want to say, Felix?" Kazien asked, demanding an answer.
"I-I don't know!" Felix stammered. Honesty finally slipped from his trembling lips. "I am terrified to act, Kazien. I'm afraid that if I make a wrong move, the political stability of this kingdom will crumble. I fear triggering a civil war if I act recklessly against those nobles."
Kazien let out a long sigh. His expression softened slightly upon hearing the honest confession. At least Felix was aware of his weakness.
"Felix..." Kazien replied in a voice that was slightly more relaxed, yet still serious. "The Delfilian family held immense influence in this kingdom, even greater than the palace officials. But your father dared to act decisively after I gave him two choices. He took that risk for the sake of justice."
Kazien suddenly reached out, took hold of Felix's chin, and tilted it up slightly so their gazes locked perfectly.
"Whereas you..." Kazien whispered. "Are you willing to let the Altavis family truly leave this kingdom's federation and let you lead the kingdom alone?"
The question hit Felix harder than the previous shouting. Imagining the Kingdom of Garveon without Altavis support was a nightmare. The economy would collapse, military power would be destroyed, and neighboring kingdoms might invade Garveon.
"Of course not!" Felix answered firmly, his eyes now burning with determination. "I don't want your family to leave the kingdom that our families built together from the very beginning! That must not happen!"
"Then become a future king worthy of leading this kingdom without fear for the sake of his people! Not for the sake of those sycophantic nobles!"
Felix felt a strange surge of energy. Kazien's words, though harsh, managed to reignite his spirit that had flickered out. Felix stood up, matching Kazien's height. Unconsciously, he grabbed both of Kazien's arms, gripping them gently as if seeking an anchor.
"I want to confirm one thing from you, Kazien!" Felix said seriously.
Kazien tilted his head slightly, looking confused yet curious about the sudden change in attitude from the handsome prince before him.
"What do you wish to confirm, Handsome Prince?" Kazien asked in a slightly teasing tone, an old habit of his that was hard to shake.
Hearing the praise "Handsome Prince" slip so naturally from Kazien's mouth, Felix's face immediately flushed deep red. His heart pounded, making him nearly lose his composure on the spot.
Damn it! Felix screamed inwardly. You know, only you have always praised my face with a tone like that since we were kids. For some reason, I always feel happy with your compliments, even though hundreds of other girls praise me every day.
Felix fell silent for a few seconds, busy organizing his messy heart.
"Why have you gone quiet?" Kazien asked again.
The question pulled Felix back to reality. He shook his head quickly, banishing strange thoughts, and refocused on his initial intent.
"Will the Altavis family support me if I act?" Felix asked for confirmation, his voice full of hope. "The current situation is very dangerous for me. Without the assurance of your support, I feel like I'm walking into a monster's den without a weapon."
Kazien paused for a moment, then shook his head slowly.
Felix's heart dropped. He thought Kazien was rejecting his request. Despair began to creep onto his face. However, before Felix could protest, Kazien spoke up.
"There is nothing dangerous, Felix!" Kazien answered. His head shake earlier was not a rejection, but a denial of Felix's fear.