Page 54 of The Casualty of Us
“All right, class! Welcome back!” Our debate professor, Mrs. Long, claps her hands, and I finally turn my head to firmly block him out. Her new pink cardigan this semester almost perfectly matches her lipstick, and she holds up a copy ofThe Princein front of her. “This book poses a number of questions, but first among them is how a ruler, or prince in this case, should maintain control over their people. Is it better to inspire fear or love within the populace for that purpose? Does the end goal justify any choices we might make to get there?” The string of questions ends with a light laugh from her, and she sets the book down in her lap. “Now, I’ve found that this book always sparks great debates with my classes, so all of you better not let me down.” She turns her head, looking us all over a couple of timesbefore her gaze settles on me. “Ophelia, why don’t you start us off? What was your take onThe Prince?”
Of course.
Of freaking course.
Because this day just can’t get any better.
“Of course,” I repeat out loud, clearing my throat since it’s not her fault, and Mrs. Long has always been nice. “I agree with Machiavelli—” A barely there puff of laughter comes from across the circle, just loud enough to interrupt me and make my head whip his way. “Is that a problem?”
“Nope.” He pops the p on the word, leaning back even further in his chair until it’s resting on two legs. “Just unsurprised by your pessimistic take.”
His dimples twitch, and my eyes turn to slits as silence blankets the room, the only break in it the occasional rustle of people moving in their seats.
“My take isn’t pessimistic,” I snap back, unable to let the dig slide. “It’s realistic.”
He tips his head to the side, dimples making another deep appearance before he hides them away. “To you.”
“And let me guess.” I cross my arms. “You disagree?”
“As a matter of fact, I do.” He nods, dropping his chair to the ground. “I’d argue that one loyal person is worth a hundred that fear you.”
I scoff at his stupidly simplistic view. “Loyalty lasts only so long as it’s convenient for most people.”
“Unless there’s feeling driving it,” he argues back, leaning forward until his elbows are resting on his knees and narrowing his eyes back at me with something in them I’ve never seen from him before. “Unless there’s love.”
I scowl immediately at his point, ignoring the hitched little pain in my chest as he brings his hands together to point at me.
“Not even you can argue that some of the greatest acts of sacrifice made in the history of the world weren’t made in the name of love.”
“Exceptions.” I blink with the soft retort before clearing my throat. “Not the rule.” He opens his mouth to respond, but I’m already there, determined not to let him win this one. “Machiavelli is right when the theory is applied to the general populace, which was his intention with the book at the time. Sacrifices made out of love are the exception to the rule, which is why they’re so memorable. Celebrated, even. People are generally only loyal when it suits them, and as Machiavelli points out in the book…” I pause, cocking my head at him before emphasizing. “Love is fickle.”
Don’t fucking push me, Flynn.
“Who do you trust most in the world?”
Ollie.
A frown pulls at my lips as the immediate answer pops into my head, already knowing where he’s taking this. “That’s inconsequential—”
“So you’re saying it’s not because of love—”
“I’m saying Lisette here,” I cut in, dipping my head to the side with a nod to her. “Would probably be happy to stick a knife in my back if this classroom was a kingdom and I was its queen.”
She chuckles quietly before interjecting. “I’d give you the courtesy of it being face-to-face.”
“Thanks.” I snort. “But my point stands—”
“No.” He gives me a hard shake of his head. “I refuse to accept that you would be in any situation and not trust Ollie above anyone else because of the loyalty and love you have for each other.”
“Fine,” I concede with a short breath. “But you can’t apply that to—”
“If you take care of the people in the general populace. If you ensure their needs are met and they’re happy, they will fight harder for you than anyone will out of fear—”
“You still can’t apply that to everyone because everyone’s needs vary!” I toss out a hand in exasperation. “You can’t rely on the favor of the public!”
“So what? It’s a guillotine for every town?” His eyes narrow on mine again. “Fall in line without compromise or else? Because that’s what ruling through fear looks like.” He shrugs, a scoffed-up sound coming with a flex of his hands. “But hey, at least you still have your kingdom, right?”
And with that, I’m done.
