Viviana was no fool; on the contrary, being incredibly intelligent, she had long ago seen the root cause of the growing rift between herself and Faust.
Her very existence threatened Faust's throne.
Due to the open-minded nature of the older generation, both Count Roselin and His Majesty the King were not fixated on whose bloodline wore the crown, so long as it benefited the Kingdom of Qingxi.
Thus, the King granted the family of his best friend immense power, practically decreeing that military authority be handed down to the descendants of the Roselin family as a monument to their friendship.
This wasn't something Viviana could avoid simply by expressing loyalty. Even if the knight-maiden had not a shred of interest in so-called power, the mere fact that she possessed such capability was considered a "mistake" in the eyes of a ruler.
Furthermore, Faust did not accept an internal union; after all, he didn't even try to hide his ambition to marry into foreign royalty.
His ideals and aspirations were to compete for the world. Faust says he's giving up the throne? How could I have such a dream?
To be honest, even as she desperately wished to know Faust's true resolve, Viviana had never imagined the Prince would say something like that.
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 deeply mired in my own folly and arrogance."
"So you actually knew..."
The knight-maiden brushed aside a lock of hair clinging to her cheek. Her long eyelashes blinked as she spoke in a faint, haunting voice.
The thing Viviana found most unbearable about Faust was that he clearly knew her feelings, yet he remained indifferent, even using those feelings as chips to drive her at his whim.
To be fair, Viviana had endured it for years before snapping; she was essentially a saint.
"I used to despise romantic sentiments, thinking that only power and authority were everything, and that all things were mere bargaining chips to be traded."
Faust spoke with a tone of unprecedented sincerity:
"But now, because of you, I have changed my mind."
"Since when did I become a beast of power? It shouldn't be so. A person shouldn't live like that."
Viviana gazed quietly at Faust, her melancholic eyes sizing up the Prince's handsome face.
Faust continued to beat his chest: "Am I truly a heartless and ungrateful person? No, it was only to realize my ambitions and aspirations that I resolved to sacrifice all other private desires. Looking back now, I truly went down a wicked path."
The Prince of Qingxi declared decisively: "Now, I understand better than ever before that a crown is not important at all. What matters are the bonds and emotions between people!"
"Your Highness, please look at me."
Viviana's words drifted over. Faust realized his childhood friend wanted to confirm if what he said was true.
She was indeed capable of this. Whether he was telling the truth or lying, the pale-gold-haired girl could tell at a glance; she was essentially a specialized polygraph for Faust.
If it were a fabricated excuse, Faust would have truly been checkmated. Fortunately, this time, he was serious.
Thus, the Prince locked eyes with her without hesitation.
"!!!"
Unlike the many times he had used sweet talk in the past, Viviana could not find a trace of hypocrisy or deceit in the Prince's reddish-brown eyes—only an unprecedented seriousness.
Her clear pupils trembled slightly as the girl took the Prince's hand and gripped it tightly:
"Your Highness... were you actually suppressing your true nature all this time?"
"You could say that."
Faust gave a bitter smile. "To place such value on a mere throne was truly foolish. Even if it starts now, from this day forward, I want to live more freely and enjoy the beauty of the world to my heart's content. Is that alright?"
"Your Highness, it is not too late."
Viviana was almost completely convinced. She pressed the Prince's palm against her soft cheek and whispered:
"Even if we start now, correcting the mistakes of the past—our relationship, our feelings, and our future—can all begin anew!"
"I have understood your resolve. If this wish is true, I will certainly do everything in my power to help you achieve it. I swear it in the name of Viviana Roselin!"
Having finished her words, the girl closed her eyes and knelt on one knee with an incredibly solemn posture, as if swearing an oath to her own declaration.
You really are easy to handle, Vivian.
Seeing this, Faust knew he had passed the test and let out a sigh of relief.
Under the restrictions of Destiny, Faust could not reveal the truth of the [Witches' Feast] to her. He couldn't say things like "I was also blinded" or "Every mistake was the fault of Destiny!"
He had to use other reasons, and he couldn't lie; he had to be sincere.
Therefore, his speech was not a deception. If anything, it was merely "selective."
Faust was indeed moved by Viviana, and his perspective had undergone an earth-shattering change—but not because he was melted by his childhood friend's fiery love.
Rather, he was thoroughly awed 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 Human child, this is a wise move.]
"Submit? You've got to be joking!"
Faust immediately denied it. "I'm just following the flow."
In an ordinary world, his previous mindset wouldn't have been wrong—to achieve hegemony, one should extinguish romantic feelings and avoid indecisiveness at all costs!
But here... this was a fairy tale world dominated and governed by Destiny. Common sense did not apply.
Under the churning of Destiny, even the highest royal authority was a toy to be manipulated at will.
Any fairy tale, regardless of its foundation or direction, or how much it was "grimly" adapted, generally sang praises of beautiful human emotions. In a fairy tale world, characters with deep schemes who are obsessed with power and ruthlessness are destined to be stepping stones for the "love-brains."
I say "love-brain" is a T0-tier attribute. Do you understand?
Whether it was a genuine outpouring of emotion or a deliberate disguise, Faust had to act as a man of great sentiment and loyalty!
Besides, who said giving up the throne meant giving up power?
In a fairy tale world, a "Prince" was far more noble than a "King." No matter how much of a tool he was, a "Prince" at least had a place in the Script of Destiny.
If I lose the "Prince" attribute after ascending the throne, who's going to make up for the stats I'm missing?
Ever since learning the truth of the world, Faust had considered maintaining the identity of "Regent Prince" permanently. Now, he was simply taking the opportunity to admit it fully to Viviana.
[Ho. So that's what you're thinking. That is truly... full of insight.]
After hearing Faust's true thoughts, Mephisto let out a meaningful laugh and offered a clearly admiring comment:
[In just a few days, you discovered the essence of it. Most Human child, even if they awaken from Destiny, cannot see through it in an entire lifetime.]
Faust smiled:
"Naturally. 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 an interesting story; perhaps you truly can help me complete that matter...]
What matter?
Mephisto's whisper gradually faded. Faust was about to ask, but at that moment, Viviana, who had been kneeling for a long time, stood up.
Whatever she had been thinking about just now, she appeared refreshed; even the lingering melancholy in her brows had dissipated somewhat.
"Your Highness, please forgive my transgressions over this past period. Allow me to undo your restraints."
Faust shook his head. "I should be the one thanking you; otherwise, I would still be stubbornly unrepentant."
He actually had to thank Vivian!
Watching the knight-maiden undo the magical restraints on him, Faust stretched as the spiritual chains were severed.
"Alright. It's time to leave this place."