Reality was always cruel and full of unexpected twists. At the First Prince's residence in the Raynor Royal Capital, after spending this period offering strategies and advice, Doug had almost come to believe he could become His Highness the First Prince's foremost adviser. Only now did he realize that he was still nothing more than the same lackey as before.
Doug was currently being hung beneath a large tree in the courtyard and whipped. Fortunately, the estate's guards weren't carrying out the punishment. Otherwise, he wouldn't have been able to let out such vigorous screams after enduring more than a hundred lashes. This was already a blessing in disguise.
The one carrying out the punishment was the First Prince himself. The First Prince hated this damn lackey to the bone. Nothing short of personally beating him would ease the hatred in his chest.
There was a reason for the First Prince's fury. It all began with this morning's court assembly.
Although most of the Raynor Kingdom's administration was controlled by the chancellor, the king still presided over court assemblies every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday.
There had been nothing unusual about this morning's assembly at first. The First Prince was competing for the throne, so of course he had to attend. That meant the Second Prince, his rival, was bound to be there as well.
The First Prince had previously been confined by the king for a period of time, but he had behaved well enough that His Majesty lifted the restriction ahead of schedule. This was his first court assembly after being released, and his mood had originally been exceptionally good.
That lasted until the chancellor finished his report, when the Second Prince suddenly brought up the pirates causing trouble in the kingdom's eastern seas.
At first, the First Prince