“Alright, go.”
Inside Ivan’s room, Adair patted Yuzu’s wolf head and fed them some dog food he had pilfered from Ye Xi, before sending them off with his letter.
Ivan watched this familiar scene with a cold gaze. Nearly two days had passed since that notorious breakfast.
During this time, Adair had bribed Yuzu with delectable treats, turning them into a messenger to convey his deepest apologies to Ye Xi. He had sent over two hundred letters by now.
Apart from eating, resting, and organizing materials, Adair had spent these two days solely writing letters to Ye Xi.
For the first few letters, Ye Xi had replied with gentle words, assuring Adair that she no longer minded and that he should return without worry.
Adair, however, refused to believe it. He knew Ye Xi truly wasn’t upset only when she resumed her usual sarcastic remarks towards him.
So, Adair clung tightly to Ivan’s side, bombarding Ye Xi with envelopes. After the hundredth letter, Ye Xi had stopped bothering to reply.
“Aren’t you tired of this?” Ivan asked, exasperated.
Adair, engrossed in reading documents about the capital’s powerful figures, casually replied, “When my very life is at stake, how could I possibly complain?”
Ivan’s voice held a hint of menace. “Speaking of which, are you so busy flattering your maid that you’ve forgotten there’s someone right in front of you who wants to tear you limb from limb?”
“Surely not?” Adair feigned an innocent expression. “I’ve only been freeloading off you for two days.”
“Only?” Ivan’s face darkened. “Do you have any idea how badly my reputation has been ruined recently? Now, the servants outside are secretly saying I have a preference for men, which is why I haven’t found a woman yet.”
Adair showed not an ounce of remorse. “Want me to help you win one over?”
Ivan was incensed. Was that even the point?
“If I wanted to find someone, would I need your help?!”
Adair looked at Ivan with a strange expression. “Hey, you’re not actually interested in men, are you? Keep your distance from me!”
Ivan laughed in exasperation. “Well said! But tell me, which shameless scoundrel handcuffed me like this?”
“That would be me!” Adair declared righteously. “Don’t try to provoke me with that. I truly have no shame!”
Ivan was speechless.
For the first time in his life, he had been rendered utterly speechless by someone.
The veins on Ivan’s forehead and clenched fists throbbed. He stated with firm resolve, “Just you wait. The first thing I’ll do once these handcuffs are off is beat you to death!”
Adair offered a kindly reminder. “Go easy on me. If you smash my brains, your younger brother will only have an idiot for an assistant.”
“Well said,” Ivan retorted, “but don’t try to provoke me with that. How would you like to be paralyzed from the waist down? Unless your brain is in your lower half.”
Adair spoke earnestly. “I’m prepared to dedicate myself entirely to your younger brother. If you cripple my lower body, my personal feelings are a minor matter. But an incapacitated me wouldn’t be able to swiftly run errands for our future king, and that’s a major issue.”
“Heh, so you’re already using that as leverage?” Ivan scoffed.
Adair replied with a show of goodwill, “Not at all. I’m just thinking of you. Look at how hard it is for you as an older brother. I genuinely want to share some of your burden.”
“How much is your ‘genuine sincerity’ worth?”
“That depends on who it’s for.”
Adair and Ivan locked eyes, as if two bolts of lightning shot forth, clashing fiercely and sparking intense friction.
****
“Second Prince, Sir Adair, something terrible has happened!”
The door to Ivan’s room was flung open. Fu Yuanxing, who had rushed in, had barely finished his sentence when he sensed the hostile atmosphere between Ivan and Adair.
“Uh, are you two arguing?”
Ivan immediately averted his gaze and replied, “No, Sir Adair and I deeply appreciate each other. How could there be any conflict?”
Adair also smiled at Fu Yuanxing. “Exactly. We consider each other close confidants, and our political views align perfectly. Why would there be any discord?”
The two exchanged a harmonious smile. Yet, despite the seemingly amicable scene, Fu Yuanxing felt an unsettling chill, as if a venomous snake and a cunning fox were calling each other brothers.
Their duplicity had become almost instinctive.
“What happened?” Ivan asked.
“News has arrived from the capital: a large-scale barbarian invasion in the north, and His Majesty’s decision regarding the young prince.”
Ivan’s eyebrows rose. “To the council hall. Call Rich.”
“Understood.”
Fu Yuanxing quickly departed from the disharmonious room, leaving Ivan and Adair behind.
‘Northern barbarians? Invading at this time?’
Adair hadn’t spent the last two days reading materials for nothing; he had a decent understanding of the barbarians. Their northern lands were harsh and infertile, unsuitable for farming. They primarily subsisted by hunting and raising a type of livestock called stone goats.
Every winter, animals would retreat, leading to insufficient food supplies for the barbarians, and the stone goats couldn’t meet the needs of their growing population. At such times, the barbarians would wage war to plunder food and wealth, while also reducing their own population. They were a fierce and warlike people.
However, it was currently spring, a season of revival for all living things! It was a time for the barbarians to recover and recuperate. To invade south at this time, against all common sense, meant they must have gone mad!
“Let’s go. Some things are better discussed in the council hall. It will be a good learning experience for Rich.”
“Mm.”
Adair and Ivan arrived at the council hall, where Adair saw Ye Xi, whom he hadn’t seen in a while.
Ye Xi’s gaze towards Adair now, at least, lacked the terrifying murderous intent from before, but her displeasure was still palpable.
Adair breathed a sigh of relief. His death sentence had been commuted to a suspended one. His plan was working.
Naturally, Adair pulled Ivan to sit next to Ye Xi.
Ivan was utterly exasperated. ‘What a damned sycophant.’
Rich, meanwhile, arrived late with Kelly.
Seeing that everyone had gathered, Fu Yuanxing began to recount the news that had just arrived from the capital.
“The first piece of news is that three days ago, the northern barbarians suddenly moved south, attacking the border. Due to the incompetence of the defending general, three cities were lost in quick succession. Officials were beheaded and their heads displayed on the city walls, while commoners and nobles alike were massacred. His Majesty was enraged and has already ordered the Second and Fourth Armies north, vowing to annihilate the invading barbarian forces.”
Rich’s brow furrowed at the mention of the massacre. He asked, “Do we know the reason for the barbarian attack? If I recall correctly, they already attacked once in winter. Spring is usually their most docile season.”
Adair and Ivan glanced at Rich. They had been about to ask the same question but held back. It was rare for Rich to show initiative, and they wanted to cultivate his independent thinking.
Fu Yuanxing shook his head. “Though an investigation into this abnormal behavior has been launched, the reason for their attack is currently unknown.”
“I see.”
Rich fell into thought. He detested war, but if it had broken out, the problem should be identified quickly to end it sooner. However, he found himself unable to intervene in this matter. The army, diplomacy, and the court’s views were all far beyond his reach.
Rich felt a profound sense of powerlessness at that moment.
Ivan spoke up, “Let’s not dwell too much on this issue. His Majesty and the court ministers will handle these matters. Although this barbarian invasion was sudden, they merely caught us off guard. Now that His Majesty has reacted, with two grand armies marching north simultaneously, peace will surely be restored soon. If we truly want to investigate the cause, we should wait until the northern conflict is settled.”
This was directed at Rich, who nodded with a complex expression. He truly couldn’t concern himself with such matters at present.
“General Fu, please proceed with the next piece of news,” Adair prompted.
Fu Yuanxing nodded. He also didn’t want to dwell too long on the northern military operations, though such important news certainly warranted understanding.
So, Fu Yuanxing began to relate the next message: “During the morning court session, His Majesty announced his decision regarding the young prince. A trial will be held one month from now, with all the court officials present.”
Upon hearing this news, everyone breathed a sigh of relief, except for Ye Xi. For her, perhaps beating Adair senseless right now was more important.
“A month from now, huh?” Adair’s lips curved upwards. It was clear the King was openly favoring Rich in this matter.
Their Cloudskiff would reach the capital tomorrow night, yet the King had deliberately postponed Rich’s trial by a full month, and insisted on including all the court officials. This was as good as openly declaring, ‘My dear younger son, your father has bought you a month’s time. Quickly go and win over those old stubborn officials in court, so I can clear your name.’
Ivan also understood the old King’s intention, a pleasant smile gracing his face.
Kelly exclaimed, quite agitatedly, “That’s wonderful, Your Highness!”
“Ah, thank… thank you, Father.”
Rich was gradually becoming more perceptive. He, too, recognized his father’s favoritism in this matter, and he was deeply moved.
“Alright, alright, everyone,” Ivan said with a chuckle. “Let’s not celebrate too soon. The trial has only been postponed; we can’t completely lower our guard yet.”
Everyone sobered, their smiles fading. Just then, a faint tremor ran through the Cloudskiff.
“What’s happening?” Rich asked, puzzled.
Fu Yuanxing frowned and connected to the control room. “Why was there a tremor just now on the Cloudskiff?”
The reply from the control room came: “The Cloudskiff just experienced unique air currents in the Halada region. It’s a minor issue. Everything is normal now.”
“The Halada region,” Ivan murmured. “That seems to be Duke Buzz’s territory.”
Just then, Ivan heard a distinct click from his wrist.
The magical handcuff had finally exhausted its power, automatically unlocking Adair and Ivan’s shackles.
Ivan flexed his wrists, which had been bound for so long, a sinister smile spreading across his face.
At the same time, Ye Xi, who was nearby, noticed this scene, and her eyes lit up.
Adair gasped, drawing in a sharp breath. His position, squarely between Ivan and Ye Xi, felt like being caught between a wolf and a tiger.
Adair wasted no time. If he didn’t run now, he was doomed.
Unfortunately, before he could fully stand, two hands, belonging to different owners, pressed down on his shoulders, forcing him back into his seat.
“Where are you going, Sir Adair?” Ivan sneered.
Ye Xi chuckled lowly, “Master, the meeting is still in session. Don’t wander off.”
“I’m a bit…”
Adair’s remaining words caught in his throat. Beneath the cover of the conference table, Ye Xi was subtly wielding a sharp small knife, glinting near a very crucial part of his lower body.
Adair swallowed hard. Retribution, it seemed, had finally arrived.
[Only 800 more ‘fire tickets’ to unlock another bonus chapter! 😘]