As he followed Joaquin through the martial arts arena, Borena saw his "younger brother" at a glance.

The little prince was seriously trying to compete with a tall knight, but the other man seemed too cautious, not like he was fighting him, but more like he was always careful not to accidentally sprain his wrist.

Sercio will be twelve years old in three months. Many young knights at the age of twelve had already begun to participate in jousts, but Sercio ......

Borena tilted his head to look at the blonde boy, thinking that he was better suited to hold a book than a sword or spear.

Qiao Jin snorted, and he didn't seem very happy to see his youngest son practicing martial arts diligently.

It must have been his mother's idea again. ”

There was anxiety in the king's tone.

"She's always wanted to prove that Sercio was as strong as I was when I was younger, but the boy was more like her than me, and Makadeline might have been stronger. ”

Joaquin was indeed very strong when he was young. Borena remembers that he could easily lift him and his sister to the top with one hand...... Even now, Joaquin's burly figure has not slackened or gained weight.

By the time he was a teenager, Borena himself was able to compete with the Cavaliers, who were twice his age, compared to Sercio...... Of course, it can't be said that he is weak, but it is ......

Not strong enough.

Borena looked at the middle of the field again. The knight, who had noticed the king passing by—and who ought to have seen how hard the little prince was, stopped, took off his helmet, and fell to one knee respectfully.

Borena recognized the face. It was the chief of the little prince's guard. Belin Greon always followed Sercio every step of the way.

Celsio turned around and called out a little out of breath, "Father." ”

Borena thought he would run over and show Joaquin how sweaty he was. Ask for a compliment, or ask your father for some pointers...... But Celsio just stood there stiffly with his round-headed sword, and even lowered his head slightly, as if waiting for a scolding.

This kind of personality is not at all like Joaquin, who was quite simple and straightforward when he was young, but he didn't like to talk much, but now he is serious and rigid, but he has never been so elegant and timid. Trembling, it's like a girl.

Joaquin was silent for a few moments before speaking. But not to Celsio.

"Don't keep him going, Behring!" he yelled at the young knight, "you can't protect him for the rest of your life!"

Sercio's head seemed to hang lower, making Borena feel a little pitiful. But without even looking at him again, His Majesty turned and continued to stride forward, leaving Borena to follow.

He felt someone's gaze nailed to the back of his head—a not-so-friendly gaze. I don't know if it's Celsio or the chief of the guard who is more like his brother.

But he could only pretend that nothing had happened and leave without looking back.

"What are your plans?" asked Joakin bluntly, "I owe you...... But the throne cannot be given to you, and you cannot sit steadily. ”

"I just want to know who wants my life. Borena assured him, "I'll disappear as soon as this is done." ”

He didn't expect a little bitterness in his tone. He really didn't want any thrones...... But listening to Joaquin say it so directly, it was still inevitable that it would hurt a little.

"I can find you a noble girl and give you another piece of territory......" Joaquin frowned, thinking that he had anything else to compensate for, who was obviously his eldest son. The man, who had nothing, suddenly remembered another question.

"You're not married, are you?" he asked, skeptically.

Father and son didn't say a word at the Trine Festival. All he knew was that Borena had made a name for himself at the mouth of the Kuz River...... But how could such a dilapidated little place be worthy of his son?

Borena scratched his beard and didn't know whether to tell the truth or not.

"It's over. In the end, he decided to tell the truth. "Krichens...... She was the daughter of a merchant. ”

As soon as something happened, he sent someone to send her far away. I don't know when I'll see her again......

“...... Do you have children?" asked the king again after a moment of silence.

"It's still in her belly. Borena said.

God forbid, at least let him see the child born.

The king frowned, presumably because the "daughter of the nobles" had no hope. But when he looked at Borena, there was a hint of relief in his eyes.

"Take them ...... Pick her up. I'm going to watch my grandchildren be born. ”

It was really the tone of the king—Borena couldn't help but laugh.

"I'll take them to see you. "But we'd better stay away from Black Castle." ”

"I sent someone to find you. The king's face sank again. "But they said you were missing. I thought ......"

"Thought I was running again?" said Borena, "and I was lying half-dead in the cave...... Frankly. I thought the soldiers were here to see if I was dead and needed a knife. They've killed a lot of me!"

He couldn't help but be angry when it came to that. Those soldiers don't look like they're here to "find someone", not to mention that they're also related to necromancers.

"I don't know that. His Majesty said firmly.

Borena sighed. He guessed this, too. Joaquin only cared if he found anyone, and he didn't have the leisure to ask what method was used, and he didn't know if those people were carrying out his orders.

"What's the matter with the priest of Nethers? They used this excuse to arrest me, didn't you tell them they were looking for a son, not a criminal?"

Only then did he feel that this tone was a little impulsive, but he couldn't swallow it back.

"That's a priest of a false god!Servants of the devil!" Joaquin suddenly became agitated, "They all deserve to go to hell!"

Borena looked at his father in amazement, Joaquin Dejury had never been a devout believer, and it was a bit of a surprise that he would be so excited.

"You know this isn't something to judge casually, are you?" he asked cautiously, "have you asked the priests of the other gods......?"

A strange blankness appeared on Joakin's face, causing Borena to stop involuntarily.

"Father?" he asked, puzzled, "are you alright?"

“...... Of course I'm fine. Joaquin seemed to wake up suddenly, and replied impatiently.

"Nesses ......" Borena tried to turn the subject back, but was rudely interrupted by Joaquin.

"That's none of your business! aren't you trying to find out who is trying to kill you? it's a barbarian who attacked you, and maybe you were the enemy yourself!" His Majesty seemed to become irritable.

“...... It's possible. Borena decided to stop here for today, "When the people you sent are withdrawn, you can ask, they have captured so many people, they can always find something." ”

Joaquin nodded heavily, his face still not very good-looking.

As he leaves, Borena meets Queen Kezia in the hallway, which he doesn't know if is a coincidence or not.

He smiled and saluted respectfully, but Her Majesty the Queen walked past him without squinting.

Borena stepped aside disapprerovingly, thinking about something else entirely.

Joaquin's reaction to the mention of Nethers was indeed not normal...... Maybe he should have asked if there were any strange creatures around his father.

The suspicion he had left behind resurfaced - could someone really control Joaquin's soul...... At least partially, let him do what he didn't want to do in the first place?.

"Why, has your good son upset you?" asked Kazia sarcastically as she entered.

Joaquin looked at her with a tired expression: "What do you want to do?"

"What do I want?" Kazia sneered, "I want him to get out of the Black Castle, out of Llewellyn, and back in his mud pit!"

"Kazia!" Joaquin roared with a calm face, "He's my son!"

"Why didn't you say you had a son when you married me!!" Kazia roared back without fear.

Joaquin suddenly had a huge headache, they had already quarreled about this countless times. But even now, he still needs the support of the Longfu family. The Croiffler family fell out with him, and the Grean family was lukewarm...... That meant he had to continue to endure this woman.

"He'll leave. Suppressing his anger, he told Kazia, "Find out who wants to kill him, and he'll leave." ”

"Then I really have to pray to the gods to bless him. Kezia said coldly, turning around to leave.

"Kezia ......," the king called to her, glaring at her with a dangerous look, "tell me that you didn't do it. ”

"If it had been me, he would have died a few years ago. Kazia replied arrogantly and dismissively, leaving Joaquin speechless.

He stared at the queen's distant back, and suddenly became tired.

It took him so long and lost so much to become the ruler of this country...... But he was not as happy as before, a poor and nameless knight, with only a gentle wife and a pair of lively children.

He would never let anyone hurt his son again—he swore to himself.

No matter which one.

Kezia angrily walked to her bedroom door, only to remember that she had been there to see Sercio. The kid wasn't tough enough, far from enough, and she had to tell him what to do with her "brother."

That bastard wasn't his brother!

She hesitated to retreat, but Lady Sterling, her closest maid, had already met her.

"Mistress Croiffler is waiting for you. Meg Sterling whispered in her ear.

Kazia stared at her in disbelief, her blue-green eyes lit up with some kind of light.

She lifted her long skirt and rushed into the room, rushing to the familiar figure in front of the window, and hugging him tightly.

"I thought you would never come to see me again!" she choked, feeling as if she had gone back to the young girl who was waiting for her lover in front of the window.

A hand stroked her long, still beautiful blonde hair, and the man replied softly, "I have never forgotten you." ”.

(To be continued)