The King's Will

The next day, Royal Palace.

Sunlight streamed through the window and fell into the bedroom.

On the bed in the bedroom, King Donas lay unconscious beneath a thin blanket.

After a while, Donas opened his eyes and stared blankly at the ceiling, his gaze occasionally shifting.

Only after a long time did he recover somewhat, his awareness gradually clearing. Turning his head to one side, he saw Butler Delong standing there and asked hoarsely, "William... and Richard, have they arrived?"

"They have both arrived and have been waiting outside for some time, Your Majesty," Delong answered softly. "Mm." Donas closed his eyes after hearing this, seeming to drift back to sleep. After a long while, he opened them again, slowly sat up in bed, and said to Delong, "Bring them in."

"Yes, Your Majesty." Delong immediately hurried toward the bedroom door. A moment later, he returned with the two princes following behind him.

Walking in front was First Prince William, dressed in plain clothes without the slightest hint of splendor. Sorrow filled his eyes as he quickly stepped to Donas's bedside, dropped to one knee, and asked, "Father, are you feeling any better?"

Richard walked calmly behind him, his face utterly expressionless. After approaching and glancing at King Donas, he said in a tone devoid of emotion, "Respected Father—Your Majesty Donas, greetings."

Cough, cough! Donas coughed several times. He looked far worse than he had over a month ago. He first took William's hand and patted it, then looked at Richard and asked, "Do you... do you hate me that much? Do you need to remember what happened three years ago for so long?"

"I wouldn't dare."

"Alas." Donas sighed helplessly. "Pour me a glass of wine, then stand with your brother William. I want to talk to the two of you."

Richard's eyes flickered, but he said nothing. He walked to one side of the bedroom, took out a glass, and poured it half full of wine. As sunlight streamed in through the window, fine black particles swirled through the glass and sank to the bottom.

Richard picked up the glass and walked toward Donas. He saw the other man extend his hand; the skin on his arm was extremely dark, as though pigment had accumulated there, while bumps the size of corn kernels had grown on his palm.

As the hand rose, its color changed from dark to pale, then purple, then flushed red, before finally returning to its original dark shade—classic Raynaud's Syndrome.

Watching the black particles settle completely at the bottom of the glass, Richard handed it to him and said, "You should drink less of this wine, my respected father."

William turned to look at him, somewhat puzzled. "What are you talking about, little brother? Father is ill and in unbearable pain all over. He can only rely on wine for relief. How can he drink less?"

"Indeed, William is right," Donas said. He raised the glass to his lips and took a large gulp, then caught his breath and continued, "Without this wine, I couldn't endure even a single day. Speaking of which, I have William to thank. The wine he sent me tastes much better than what I drank before."

Richard fell silent, merely shaking his head faintly.

Donas raised the glass again and drained it in large gulps. His complexion improved slightly, and the numbing effects of the alcohol lifted his spirits considerably. Looking at William and Richard, he said, "I originally thought I could survive this winter, but my condition has worsened more and more recently. It is very likely that I will go see your mothers ahead of time. I called you here today because I have some things to tell you.

Although the Blue Lion Kingdom is not large, with a population of only several hundred thousand, it is still a kingdom. Therefore, I want to entrust it to someone qualified, and that person is William. Of course, it is not that I think you, Richard, are lacking... cough, cough... but your interests clearly do not lie in this.

Thus, this autumn, when the Birch Forest outside the city turns yellow, I will leave the city and move there to live. Then I will die there and be buried there. At that time, William will inherit my throne. Richard, you will be made a Grand Duke and granted a vast territory. As long as you do not cause trouble for your brother, you will live safely for the rest of your life."

Raising a hand to stop William from speaking, Donas closed his eyes and gathered his strength again before slowly saying, "Neither of you is to refuse. This is already my decision. No matter what, I hope that after I die, the two of you can both live well and keep this kingdom standing. Also..."

After some time, the two princes—William and Richard—finished listening to King Donas's will-like instructions and left the palace.

Outside the palace, their personal guards had been waiting for a long time and hurriedly followed them. The two men immediately became two separate groups.

Tap, tap, tap. Footsteps echoed across the square before the palace as the two groups walked in silence. Reaching the end, they headed off in opposite directions to the left and right. Suddenly, William stopped and turned to look at Richard. "Richard! Little brother!"

"Hmm?" Richard stopped as well, his gaze questioning.

The sorrow in William's eyes had not faded, and his mood was somewhat low. "My dear little brother, Father is like this now. I think neither you nor I is in a good mood. If Father truly passes away one day, then the Blue Lion Kingdom will have only you and me left as members of the royal family.

It has also been a long time since we brothers properly sat down and talked. Today, I would like to invite you to dine with me at my palace. Though I have recently cut expenses in order to seek physicians to treat Father, so dinner will be somewhat simple, I hope you will not mind."

"I don't mind." Richard shook his head calmly, then calmly added, "But I don't have time."

"Uh, this..."

"Another time, then, my dear brother—Prince William. Farewell." Richard waved, turned, and left, his personal guards following closely behind. Edward, the Guard Captain, cast William a glance, seeming somewhat wary.

William stood frozen in place. Only after watching Richard's group disappear into the distance did he shake his head and give a bitter smile.

"Prince!" A voice sounded from behind William. It was his Guard Captain. Unlike Edward, he was not a noble, but a fiercely loyal soldier. He said somewhat angrily, "Prince, Prince Richard has gone too far. You clearly meant well, yet he..."

The Guard Captain abruptly fell silent, because William was staring at him coldly, his gaze like knives. "P-Prince, you..."

"Remember one thing." William spoke each word deliberately. "No matter what Richard does or says, he is my younger brother. Other than Father, only I may judge him. No one else can! Do you understand?"

"I... understand..."

"Good. Let us return," William said.

"Then, Prince, since Prince Richard will not be joining us for dinner, should the kitchen continue with its preparations?" the Guard Captain asked quietly.

William had truly been cutting expenses lately. He ate only two meals each day, brunch and dinner, both very simple: a loaf of white bread and some jam made a meal.

However, because he had planned to invite Richard today, though he had not dared to be too extravagant, he had still had the kitchen prepare a few more dishes. But Richard clearly would not be attending dinner, so most likely...

Yet unexpectedly, William said, "Have the kitchen continue preparing it. My dear little brother will not be attending, but perhaps other guests may come."

"Hmm?"

"Do not ask questions."

"Yes." The Guard Captain hurriedly lowered his head.