0&1 Ch 17.8

“Are the knights too old? Or is my son too talented?”

“His Highness Edward is talented, Your Majesty. Did you not see how he pierced the beast’s neck with a single blow?”
“Is it not time for His Highness the Prince to take the throne? It was as if I was seeing your younger days.”
“He really takes after you. With his handsome appearance and exceptional hunting skills. I guess talent runs in the family.”
“Isn’t it natural for the descendants of a conqueror to be outstanding knights and hunters?”

Flattery poured out like honey on my tongue. Even though it wasn’t directed at me, my face felt hot.

Edward was only showing me his back. I had no intention of looking at his face, but I wondered what expression he was wearing. Flattery was not something he was used to.

I couldn’t imagine him blushing and standing there shyly. The image of his dazed expression and bright smile from when he was a child came to mind.

And then his frozen blue eyes.

I have no idea. I don’t know the grown-up Edward.

“Is that so? I see.” The King laughed heartily. However, it didn’t sound cheerful at all, but more like he was coughing.

Was he sick?

His young, handsome face had grown rough, losing its former sharpness. Standing next to Edward, anyone could tell they were father and son, but that made the difference even more striking. The King’s complexion was poor.

The King looked around with a pale face and found his target. It was me, standing blankly in front of an unattractive prey.

The King frowned. “Joffrey, what is this?”

“It’s a fox.”

“Who asked you what kind of animal this is? Is this all you could find to hunt? Even a ten-year-old child wandering in the forest would catch more animals than you.” He asked a question that left no room for answer, and his scolding tone did not change.

They say that when a person changes suddenly, it is time for them to die. The King’s appearance had changed like a ghost, but his core remained unchanged.

“That’s because I didn’t wander around the forest.”

“Who told you to wander around the forest? Why don’t you understand what I’m saying?”

He is a very angry man.

“I wasn’t feeling well, so I left the forest right away. I told them I was sick and couldn’t come, didn’t your attendant tell you?”

Why did you call me here to argue?

The King was annoyed by my answer. 

“You’re too young to be so sickly. Have you ever been healthy?”
“Thank you for your concern. With you always looking out for me, I’m sure I’ll be fine someday.”

At least pretend to be worried.

I know what the King was trying to do by calling Edward and Joffrey over together.

The King should have known that if I could guess, so could the Queen. She had never even glanced at a hunting ground in her life, but she had come out to watch the competition.

The Queen was listening to the conversation between the King and me. She had a smile on her lips and her cheeks were flushed.

Anyone with eyes and ears could tell that it was not a smile of approval.

“It’s true, Your Majesty. I am also worried. As you know, Prince Joffrey is very frail. Just yesterday, he was burning with fever and couldn’t even get out of bed, but now he is getting better just to obey your orders. It breaks my heart to see him like this. I know you must be worried about Prince Joffrey, who is so kind and gentle. But seeing Edward show such bravery in his place, I feel relieved as a parent.”

The king did not reply. He looked at the Queen with his bright blue eyes, and I was startled to see that his face looked exactly like Edward’s.

The Queen said gently, “I have always been worried, Your Majesty. The tears of the suffering people and soldiers at the border formed a river, and as the mother of the kingdom, there was nothing I could do to help. But now that we have such a wonderful Prince, how can I not feel at ease?”

What are you trying to say? I looked at Edward.

Edward was staring at the floor with his chin down. I couldn’t tell what his expression was, but his attitude was respectful. 

“Isn’t it fate that his namesake, the Conquering King, was the same age as Edward when he went into battle for the first time? When the kingdom was in crisis, the young Prince Edward rose up to protect his people.”

“Milane.” The King warned.

“Seeing Edward emerge from the forest with such dignity, I felt as if I were witnessing a scene from history. If it is my duty to care for orphans and widows, then it is the duty of a young and brave Prince like Edward to take up arms in times of crisis.”

“Milane!” The King raised his voice.

The Queen opened her eyes wide. She covered her mouth in surprise. “Yes, Your Majesty.”

“What are you talking about?”

“We were talking about Edward’s departure, Your Majesty. You showed us what a fine knight Edward is. I am foolish for not realizing Your Majesty’s intentions until now. I did not understand until you mentioned the Conqueror. How ignorant of me. Isn’t that right, My Lord?”

Sir Emon, who was singled out, was taken aback. “What? No, Your Majesty.”

“You all already knew, didn’t you? You knew the truth behind His Majesty’s words. Surely, with a large-scale campaign ahead, what other reason could there be for holding a tournament to show off the bravery of your knights?”

Is the King stupid? The King provided the justification. However, that does not mean that it would be accepted.

This was the King’s camp. The King’s subordinates, knights, and soldiers were here, and the Queen had no allies.

It had nothing to do with whether the justification was right or wrong.

Depending on the situation, there were schemes that could work and schemes that were impossible.

Send Edward into battle? Impossible.

If Edward simply refused, the Queen could not force him to go.

Above all, the King would never agree to put Edward in danger.

The King’s favor toward Edward was obvious. The vassals who had followed the King would never side with the Queen.

What was the Queen thinking?

As I puzzled it over, one of the nobles finally spoke up. “Indeed…”

Indeed?

“Your Majesty, you are truly insightful. You gathered talented knights to hold a hunting competition in order to gather talented people! I finally understand. Among these talented knights, His Highness the Prince is the most skilled in martial arts, which is a blessing for the country.”

Was this person a fool, or an excellent actor? The nobleman seemed genuinely impressed.

I wanted to know if he had been bribed by the Queen, but I couldn’t tell with my limited insight.

One person’s admiration caused others to become restless.
“Was that what it was?”
“Oh, Your Majesty…”
“To give power to His Highness the Prince…”

The King’s expression of shock was not visible.

What an interesting country. It seems that the King cannot even manage his own people properly. But that’s nothing new.

I looked at Edward curiously. He wouldn’t fall for such a trick. I already warned him through Grey.

If Edward refused to participate, his reputation would suffer. Still, that was far better than risking his life.

My heart sank for a moment. Edward and I locked eyes.

“Father. I request the right of the victor. As you said, neither a fine horse nor a fine sword is fitting for me. May I request something else?”

It was not a mistake. Edward looked at me and then turned his head away.

“Yes, Prince Edward. My son. You are the winner of this tournament. Tell me what you want.”

The King’s expression softened.

“Please allow me to go.”
“Edward?”
“I am the best hunter and knight in the kingdom. The fate of the country rests on my shoulders. How can I abandon my duty as a Prince?”
“Edward!”

I had never thought that the King and I were well-matched, but at that moment, I understood him.

He was only calling Edward’s name, but what he really wanted to say was, ‘Have you lost your mind?’

What I wanted to say was, ‘You’re crazy.’

The nobles were in shock. Edward spoke beautifully, like Prince Charming from a fairy tale.

“I will fulfill the duties that my weak brother cannot. Please allow me to bring victory and glory to the throne of my father.”

Edward was out of his mind.

But the King was no different..

“My son, you are the only one who would say such a thing. But if something happens to you…”

I was moved by those words! What was so moving about that? The King’s eyes were red.

“I promise to return safely.”

“Oh, Prince Edward…” The nobles were amazed. 

It was madness.

“Edward. May you have good fortune.” The Queen smiled and blessed him.

The hunting competition ended.