The Secret from Three Years Ago

When Richard walked down the stairs into the ground-floor hall, all the guards were still stationed at every entrance and exit, extremely vigilant and tense, terrified that the people outside might suddenly storm in. After all, there were only a little over twenty of them. Facing enemies ten times their number, it would be hard for them to hold out.

They had no idea what had happened in the bedroom just now, much less why things had reached this point. They merely received meager pay while risking their lives to protect something they did not even understand.

When one of the guards saw Richard appear, he hurried over and said quickly in a low voice, "Prince, the people outside really seem to mean harm. Many archers have their bows aimed at the palace entrance. Prince, you... you must not let them see you, or you'll be in danger... Ah, right, where is Captain Edward?"

At the end, the guard asked in confusion.

Richard looked at him, his eyes flickering slightly. "Your captain betrayed me, and then I killed him."

"This!" The guard's eyes widened instantly. "This..."

"Even your captain betrayed me for half his family's interests. So really..." Richard said softly, "you subordinates don't need to protect me anymore. There's no need, and no point. Disperse."

"I..." The guard opened his mouth, not knowing what to say. But in the end, he gritted his teeth. "No... I will protect Prince forever, unless I die."

"Hm? Why? Is it worth it?" Richard asked.

The guard was at a loss for words. He was no noble, merely a farmer's son. He could not even read and could not explain any grand principles. Panting heavily, he said, "I... I don't know either, but I... I know that abandoning Prince now is wrong. I... I don't know why Captain Edward betrayed Prince, but I... I will never betray Prince, even if... even if I die..."

"Bill," Richard said.

The guard's entire body shook. He was surprised and taken aback. Before today, he had never even spoken to Richard. He had not expected Richard to know his name so precisely. He hurriedly replied, "Here!"

"I have a task for you," Richard said flatly.

"Yes, Prince. I will complete it." The guard struck his right fist against his chest, dropped to one knee, and spoke.

"You are the Guard Captain now. There is a tunnel in the palace kitchen leading straight outside the city. It is a little low, but people can pass through it. In a moment, take all the guards and leave through the tunnel. Don't rush to refuse. I know you are more loyal than Edward."

"But... the greatest loyalty is not dying for it. It is striving to live for it—humbly, painfully, and with difficulty. Meaningless sacrifice has no value. If you are truly loyal enough, then escape and live. Perhaps many years from now, perhaps I will find you again and have work for you. I hope you will not have forgotten me by then."

"I..." Bill stared wide-eyed at Richard. "Then... then Prince, you... you aren't leaving with us?"

"The tunnel is rather troublesome to travel through. I prefer taking the front gate. Of course, don't worry about me. I have my own arrangements. Besides, there is someone I want to talk to." Richard lightly patted the guard's shoulder, turned, and walked toward the palace exterior, his gaze sharpening.

... Outside the palace, spears stood like a forest, swords were drawn, and the air was filled with killing intent.

However, when the many soldiers saw Richard emerge, they were all slightly stunned, their faces showing confusion. This seemed somewhat different from the orders they had received.

Richard saw it and said, "William, come out. If you don't show yourself, your people won't dare make a move. After all... I'm guessing... you certainly did not tell them to kill the 'Prince,' but to kill the 'Guard Captain who betrayed the Prince,' right?"

With a rustle, the crowd parted to both sides. The new King—William—walked out wearing an incomparably magnificent robe. It gleamed gold, covered in colorful patterns and studded with gemstones of varying sizes.

William's expression was imposing even without anger. After walking out, he watched Richard for a moment, then suddenly smiled faintly.

"My dear brother, you actually came out alive. So... Edward betrayed you again? Not only did he betray you, he has now betrayed me as well? Tsk, I am rather curious how you persuaded him." William narrowed his eyes.

"It was simple. I killed him," Richard said calmly.

William's eyes narrowed slightly, but he remained composed. "So you knew in advance that he had betrayed you? That is why you had been on guard against him and had the other guards kill him? That makes sense. After all... with his swordsmanship, he probably could not even defeat an ordinary guard. Still, I admire your sharpness and intelligence!"

"But then again, no matter how clever you are, you never imagined this day would come, did you, my dear brother?" William's tone shifted slightly.

"Actually, I thought of it long ago." Richard remained calm.

"Im! Pos! Si! Ble!" William glared, denying it word by word.

"Heh." Richard said, "Do I need to explain it to you? In truth, I know far more than you think. For example, I know very well that you spread that rumor three years ago. You made our respected father—the former King Donas—suspect that I had made a voodoo doll to curse him.

"Heh, the massacre throughout the palace. Nearly everyone, from top to bottom, was slaughtered. Over a hundred lives, their blood staining the square before the palace red... Then there were the six months I was imprisoned. Heh...

"I imagine you must have been very pleased and relieved at the time, believing I was no longer qualified to contend with you. Even if I wanted to contend with you, our respected father—King Donas—would still harbor misgivings toward me and never truly let them go. But the problem is, I never wanted to contend with you from the beginning. I told you, I had very important things to do. Still, what happened three years ago strengthened my resolve to leave.

"To be honest, if I were not a Prince in this world, but the heir to a minor noble house, perhaps things would have been better. The position of Prince is a little too high. Too many people are watching, and too many responsibilities are forced upon it. I do not like those responsibilities. To better do what I want to do, leaving is the best choice. I will leave the royal palace, leave Blue Lion City, and leave the entire Blue Lion Kingdom."

William fell silent. He looked at Richard with a strange expression. "You..."

After a long while, he took a deep breath and said in a low voice, "Even if you say that, I still will not let you leave."