At that moment, a carriage stopped outside a guest manor in Okla City, Okra Province, in the Star-Prayer Kingdom.
When the two guards saw the young man step out, they bowed. "Your Highness."
Without looking at either guard, the young man headed straight into the manor.
Inside the manor, beside a pond, a blond middle-aged man held a fishing rod, his gaze resting on the water. He looked as relaxed as if he were spending an utterly ordinary afternoon.
"Father."
The blond middle-aged man raised a finger to his lips to shush the young man, then continued fishing.
Seeing this, the young man could only wait quietly beside him.
After an unknown length of time, ripples appeared on the water.
With a gentle lift of the rod, a large, plump fish broke the surface. It writhed desperately, trying to escape the hookless fishing line, but the slender thread seemed to have grown into its mouth. No matter how it struggled, it could not break free.
"Tell me. What is it?"
The young man spoke. "Father, you haven't returned for a year. With Drake constantly sending people to persuade them, Lady Selena and Lord Baldo, who originally supported you within the alliance, have begun to waver."
"If you don't return soon, I'm afraid things may take a turn for the worse."
"Go back first." The blond middle-aged man tossed the plump fish into a small pool beside him, then cast his line again and continued fishing.
"Father, the Moon Knight hasn't seen you in all this time. Surely that means the matter won't work out. Rather than pinning your hopes on him, you would be better off devoting more attention to the other legendary figures in the alliance." Seeing that his father remained unmoved, the young man earnestly tried to persuade