Mount and Blade

The words from that night came to Edward's mind. Yes, he would never bear to see Hickel get hurt. Just thinking about the disappointment in those blue eyes could make his breathing stagnate and his heart ache.

Edward slowly opened his eyes, and his slightly turbid eyes rekindled a new light and became sharp.

In exchange for such tempting conditions, what exactly did the Grand Duke want from him? He really wanted to use him... to get rid of Gulenberudo, right? After all, no one was more suitable to do this than him.

"There is really nothing to hesitate, father."

Edward regained his calmness. Yes, how could he forget the Grand Duke's face in the past?

A country tormented by war, a king alienated from the people, just looking at He Kun's deteriorating physical condition, you can know that this position is not so easy to sit.

There is no family affection to speak of, and no freedom to speak of. The movements are monitored by those nobles every day. I don't know whether I am in control of others or constrained in the cage called royal power.

...Even killing people has to be done secretly, which is really boring.

...His father really has low tastes, only killing women?

The bloody smell through the crack of the door was mixed with a faint smell of mutton, and various targeted torture instruments emerged in Edward's mind.

The serial murder case that made the whole capital panic... The culprit was his father, and the marks on the victims just matched those on the wall.

Edward looked at He Kun with a little more imperceptible pity, an incompetent and barbaric trapped beast, hiding in the depths of his gorgeous palace, worried all day long.

So what if he destroyed Gurenberudo? I'm afraid that this throne will be trampled into dust by Jodah's cavalry before he sits on it for a long time...

So what if he is jealous? So what if he is angry? The only one who can defend the Fire Dragon's Nest and the Principality of Grant... is the monster Gurenberudo!

The Grand Duke's desire to harm Gurenberudo is tantamount to strangling his neck and destroying himself. As the Grand Duke, how could He Kun not understand the principle of "the lips and the teeth are cold"? !

Edward, who had regained his calmness as usual, suddenly had an epiphany.

...The Grand Duke actually wanted to sell out this country! !

He almost fell into the Grand Duke's trap. It turns out that negative emotions only make the brain dull.

Edward took a deep breath, and his eyes became more determined. He decided not to be swayed by the Grand Duke's conspiracy.

"What? You figured it out." He Kun's voice was as sure as if he had expected how Edward would answer.

He raised his head, looked at He Kun firmly, and said slowly: "I will not be swayed by your words. My life should be decided by myself."

He Kun's face suddenly became gloomy. He widened his eyes and shouted angrily: "You stupid guy, this is your only chance!"

Edward was unmoved and stood up from the stool. His voice was a little hoarse but very steady: "This so-called opportunity is just pushing me into an abyss of desire and sin."

"And this throne that seems to control everything is just a cage that looks noble and gorgeous. I would rather stick to my original intention than become a puppet of power!" Edward's only right eye was burning, as sharp as a peregrine falcon to see through He Kun's superficial shell.

...That look made He Kun's long-dead soul tremble! !

Edward, who had always longed to be recognized by the Grand Duke, disobeyed his father for the first time. He was tired of his father who always slandered and used him in every possible way. This is the sorrow of the royal family!

At this moment, the air in the secret room seemed to solidify, and the tense atmosphere made people feel suffocated. He Kun clenched his fists, as if he was suppressing the anger in his heart.

Edward turned around, unwilling to look at He Kun's dirty and rotten heart under the human shell. He walked towards the door with firm steps, and his back looked lonely and resolute in the dim light.

...It also takes courage to choose to abandon the only way out and blood relatives who cannot understand and trust each other.

The moment his hand touched the door handle, He Kun shouted in a trance behind Edward: "You will regret it, Edward!"

Edward paused slightly, then opened the door without hesitation and walked out of the secret room.

Only one sentence was left: "I don't want to become like you, father."

Looking at the darkened door of the secret room, He Kun opened his mouth in disbelief, but couldn't say anything. He didn't even know how to organize the words in his throat, and only spit out a few meaningless syllables.

"...Ah!"

I don't know how many years it has been since I felt this way. Was it grievance? Or resentment?

I couldn't think clearly anymore, only tears flowed from the swollen cheeks. To be honest, crying on a face full of pus and sores was several times uglier than a pig.

Just when Edward pushed the door open, He Kun seemed to see his younger self.

He remembered that he was so determined and fearless, with a beautiful vision and ambition for the future. He was determined to change the world, change the religious beliefs of this country, integrate into the French King's Hall, and open up more valuable trade routes with the mainland and the Holy City.

When he was studying in the mainland, what he hated most was being laughed at by the noble students of the mainland, who called him a heretic prince and regarded him as a backward, uncivilized barbarian...

However, with the ensuing setbacks and misfortunes, those past finally came to nothing, and the young man who was determined to change everything has long since disappeared.

Today, he is trapped in a cage woven by power and desire, and has long lost his original intention and ideal of wanting to improve the country.

He Kun slowly slumped down on the chair, his eyes empty. I don't know when it started, but it seemed like all he had left was... this cold throne.

...

When Edward left the secret room, although he still felt confused and uneasy about the future, he was more yearning for freedom.

Although he did not expressly say anything unfavorable to the Grand Duke, the Grand Duke's hint was quite obvious. As an Edward who often hangs out in aristocratic circles and is proficient in royal methods, he knew that he must take action immediately.

It won't take long for the Grand Duke to react. Not only to protect himself, but also to have a better future with Hickel, he must stand firmly on the side of Gulenberudo and Hickel! !

Edward hurried back to the Halvorsen family, only to see Furda with red eyes. It was obvious that she had not recovered from what happened yesterday.

"...Edward."

"mother..."

Edward didn't want to forgive his mother yet. When he opened his mouth, he felt his heart was filled with panic. He was about to prepare for other things. He wanted to send a few confidants to sneak into the ice-free port to prepare a sailboat to take Hickel away from Grant. Principality.

"Edward!" Seeing her son ignoring her, Furda's eyes became even redder, and her voice became more aggrieved and she sobbed.

Edward paused for a moment, but still did not look back. He just said coldly: "The wife of the soon-to-be city lord, or should I call you the former princess, why are you acting like this now?"

Furda seemed to be stung by these words, and her body trembled slightly, "Edward, I know I was wrong, I shouldn't..."

Edward sneered, "Your repentance comes too late. Now I only think about how to save our lives and stay away from this place of right and wrong."

At this time, the old housekeeper on the side sighed softly, "Master, my wife has been very worried these days, and she has also received many threats from the Grand Duke."

Edward's expression became a little looser. In fact, deep down in his heart, he still felt a little affection for mother and son.

"So what? She betrayed my trust in her, so what if this family is gone? I don't care." Edward clenched his fists, sat in his room and wrote a few secret letters pretending to be calm. He lifted out some of the caged hawks raised by the Halvorsen family.

Furda quickly walked up to Edward, her eyes red as she tried to defend herself: "Listen to my explanation, Edward. Last night Gullenberg and I..."

When the old things were mentioned again, Edward immediately crushed the pen in his hand to pieces. Hearing this, he just wanted to drive this woman out!

"Housekeeper, drag this woman out of my room, I don't want to see her again!!"