Chapter: 608
After finishing the business at the Holy Land, Arthur returned to the palace, only to be summoned by the First Queen before he could step into his room.
The usual ministers who would swarm around the First Queen were nowhere to be seen. Standing alone while handling documents, she greeted Arthur with a smile.
“I’m sorry for calling you before your journey has concluded. I am in desperate need of someone to help.”
Seems like you’re not even trying to hide the fact that this is a lie. If it were normal, you’d have summoned the Eldest Prince to sit beside you instead of calling me.
“I have never performed any duties in the palace, Your Majesty. I would only be a burden.”
“I know of the Third Prince‘s intelligence. I’ll assist you until you become adept, so please have a seat.”
– They have no intention of giving up. Just sit quietly.
Seems like the little fragment is right.
Sigh. For now, all I can do is appease the First Queen.
“What should I do?”
“Firstly…”
As Arthur listened to the First Queen’s explanation, he internally cursed.
Is she going senile? This is not the kind of task you’d assign to someone doing their first job!
While she claims it’s something that can be done by following procedures, the difficulty is a separate issue.
I have no right to take on this task.
“Shall I explain again?”
“No. I understand everything you’ve explained.”
“Then do you think this is a task you should not undertake?”
“Yes. That’s correct.”
Power should only be given to those who can be responsible for their own strength.
If one forgets their place and takes rights, what they wield may someday return to them.
Having had nothing but royal blood, Arthur had always kept this in mind to survive.
Thus, I can confidently say:
This is a task I should not reach out for.
“I’m sorry. Instead, I’ll fetch Eldest Brother.”
“He is currently out. It will take him some time to return, as he has gone to the Allen Family.”
Wait, the Eldest Brother, who usually doesn’t leave the palace, voluntarily went to the Allen Family?!
He must have been quite bothered by what happened last time!
But isn’t Lina and the fanatics for Lucy Allen lurking there?
Only unfortunate thoughts come to mind. May the Allen Family keep their wits and talk some sense into them.
“Your Highness Third Prince?”
“…I’m sorry. I was just thinking for a moment.”
“I don’t understand what your worries are, but the you from before and the you now are different. You have the right to perform this task now.”
That’s true.
There’s no need to worry about disappearing like I did when I was a child, caught up in faction fights. Now, there are those who protect me.
However, separate from that, I don’t want my name on this paperwork.
“Your Majesty, let’s skip the pleasantries. I have no desire to become king.”
“Why is that? Don’t boys usually have an interest in power?”
“Well, everyone likes to be elevated.”
“Don’t you?”
“No. Not at all.”
Receiving praise from others can indeed be a delightful thing.
Having a group around you that only says nice things about you is a pleasure of power as well.
Seeing those who get flipped over by a single word could be joyful for some.
But if you take a step back, the story changes. There is no loyalty without cost.
All those who feed off power have their own desires. If you cannot satisfy them, your power becomes precarious.
“I prefer watching chess rather than playing. In fact, there’s something I enjoy more than chess.”
Mother told me to be happy.
I still don’t know how one can be happy, and it’s something I’ll have to ponder on, but at least one thing is certain.
When I seize power, I will not be happy at all.
“I can’t understand why you are not interested in me.”
“…Didn’t you hear what I just said?”
“I did. That’s why I like you more. Someone who wishes to be king isn’t suitable for the throne.”
The First Queen let out a true laugh, setting down her pen as she giggled.
“Usually, those who sincerely want to be king are simply after the power of kingship. They can be confident as they dream of wielding power from a position of dignity.”
What came to Arthur’s mind was Second Prince Cecil, who once proclaimed he would be king.
Having been through several experiences and matured, he now thinks he must first become one fit for that power instead of just concentrating on the power itself, but he wasn’t always like that.
Back then, he only coveted the power held by the king.
“Would they say they wish to be king without a worry like you do now, if they truly felt the weight of royal responsibility?”
“Perhaps they might. If they believe they must be themselves.”
Even though Arthur knew the answer clearly, he twisted his words on purpose, driven by a foolish thought of not wanting to say what the other wanted to hear.
“Isn’t that right?”
Not realizing that doing so could please the other.
“I think so too. Whether they wish to or not, if they believe they must be king, then they will be.”
Arthur felt a shiver at the First Queen’s beaming smile, but he couldn’t delve deeply into that feeling.
Before that, the First Queen had issued the Invitation.
“Please review everything I taught you today flawlessly.”
When Arthur stepped out of the Office, rubbing the back of his neck, he sighed and moved his feet.
Maybe I should head over to the Allen Family just in case.
– Kid. Do you know what that woman’s real bloodline is?
“What are you suddenly asking that for?”
– Because there’s a reason. Just answer. Right now.
“From what I know, it’s Bolosi. That’s what she was called when she made her mark in the Knights.”
– Really? Does the Bolosi family genuinely exist?
“Hey.”
– Just answer for now. Please.
Arthur, having never received such an earnest request from Soladin’s fragment, dismissively pushed aside the questions arising in his mind.
“It’s a minor noble family from the west, under the influence of the Duke of Rahbi. I understand that it was largely due to the Duke’s support that Your Majesty could become queen.”
– Was it just my misunderstanding?
“I’ve solved my curiosity, but now answer me. What bothers you so?”
As Arthur interrogated, the fragment swallowed its words before whispering an answer.
– That woman’s way of thinking seems extraordinarily close to that of a watcher.
“…A watcher?”
What this guy was saying probably wasn’t just the textbook meaning. His expression was far too serious for that.
“Explain. Besides, there’s no restriction anymore, right?”
– You remember the Oath formed between Soladin and Lord Erginius, don’t you?
“What? They kept the seal in exchange for helping establish the nation.”
– However, promises tend to fade over time if left to languish, so someone was needed to constantly remind them.
“Is that what a watcher is?”
– She was a part similar to Soladin, in a similar predicament. Though at some point, she shattered.
Unlike himself, who guarded the seal, the watcher couldn’t withstand the ravages of time and fell.
“So she doesn’t exist in this world now.”
– …Correct. I know it’s a trivial thought since Lord Erginius didn’t say anything after seeing her. But there’s something, something feels off.
Hearing the fragment’s explanation, Arthur stopped his feet headed toward his room.
I don’t know how the information about the watcher will affect me.
But if Your Majesty intends to force the throne upon me, I’d at least need some preparation for that.
“Let’s see if your instinct was right.”
– Is there a way?
“We have someone who possesses all the kingdom’s information.”
What luck! I was concerned about what might happen between Lucy Allen and Eldest Brother, but now I’ve got a purpose.
Relieved by the excuse to escape Lucy Allen‘s taunts, Arthur stepped into the mansion of the Allen Family, seriously pondering if he were trapped in an illusion.
“How can you be this ugly in looks, words, movements, and even fighting? If this place were a forest, you wouldn’t even see my face! You ugly boy!”
“What kind of nonsense is a pervert girl who can only grin at the feet of a girl? If you’ve grown that much, you should learn how to hide your desires! Ha! Is it too much to wish for a mere fox that can’t even become livestock?!”
“I’m not ugly, I’m being honest! Someone like you can only do these things through nighttime fantasies in bed!”
“Like a dog, you’re barking son of a beast! Isn’t living in perpetual heat a beastly instinct?!”
The Owner of the Forest and the First Prince were both aiming their weapons at each other.
There was no elegance, formality, or decorum. What connected them was merely the brawl of their emotions clashing in an alley.
“You should be grateful that you were born with royal blood, you ugly male! If this place were nature, you would have been eliminated!”
“Don’t tell me that you’re any different!? To me, you look like something that has been eliminated for a long time!”
The situation became even more surreal as the knights divided into two groups, cheering for each side while they showed genuine intent to kill each other.
Every time one side gained the upper hand, the knights reacted vigorously, looking like drunken idiots who had lost their senses.
“Elimination?! What can a male shaken by lust even say?!”
“That’s why you’re a beast! Humans can resist their instincts!”
Most painfully aggravating of all was that Lucy Allen was standing between the two, staring at the sky in resignation, having to explain this situation.
“Excuse me, Third Prince.”
“…Who is it?”
“It’s Karia. I came to speak to my employer, but what on earth is happening? Why is that bastard Benedict shouting in favor of Lina?”
“I want to know too.”
Through Arthur’s sigh, once again, the Owner of the Forest and the First Prince collided while the knights cheered.
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