[Volume IV: The Death Bell Screams]

Dark Gate 1 year.

Autumn is in full swing.

It's been a full year since the Second Orc War cast a shadow on the people of Azeroth.

It was a terrible war that swept across the northern continent, and many kingdoms of the alliance were razed to the ground overnight, and countless warriors and civilians were separated and forced to set foot on the battlefield and shed their blood for the country.

Although the Alliance forces were able to defeat the orcs in one fell swoop at the last moment, under the wise rule of Uther and General Lothar, they also paid a terrible price, and almost an entire generation of young people gave their lives for the victory and freedom of the Alliance.

Although the victory belonged to the Alliance, to this day, many people who experienced that pain do not want to talk about the war again...

A year is not a short time, but the inhabitants of Lordaeron, under the leadership of King Terenus, gradually came out of the haze of war.

Windmills turned, greenery, and farms were rebuilt on the Tirisfara Grove grounds.

Under the orderly organization of each local consul, the peasants began to pick up their hoes again and became obsessed with farming, and the merchants reopened trade routes to connect the kingdoms.

It seems that we are all starting to move towards peace and beauty...

The wide streets of the royal city were once again crowded with small stalls and vendors, shouting and selling, and the missionaries tirelessly roaming the streets and alleys, bringing confidence and encouragement, and the gloom on the faces of the people of Lordaeron was gradually swept away, and happy smiles were once again filled.

Among them, the town of South China Sea and Talenmir, which were most seriously trampled by the iron hooves of the orcs, gradually returned to a thriving scene under the proper governance of Prince Arthas and Paladin Uther.

It has to be said that Arthas, as a prince, is very good at governing towns, which may also have something to do with the fact that he has been exposed to it since he was a child, at least during the days when Uther worked with Arthas, the paladin always wore a proud smile on his face.

He's a worthy prince, and he'll be a worthy king in the future—Uther nodded slowly as he looked at Arthas, who greeted the townsfolk kindly.

In the course of a year, Arthas has gradually faded from his original immature appearance, his body is stronger, his eyes are more determined, the cruel war has brought him temporary pain, but more importantly, it has honed his spirit and will.

Having watched his country fall into danger and its people in agony, he swore in his heart that as long as he had him, Lordaeron's subjects would never suffer that grief and pain again.

He will defend the glory of Lordaeron with his life until death...

And Terenus did give Arthas a chance to prove himself.

During this year-long period, Alsace, as a prince, never returned to the royal capital, but kept traveling to three places: Southsea Town, Talenmere, and Hillsbrad Hills.

Everywhere he arrived, he would order his Lordaeron soldiers to participate in the construction and production of the townspeople, even himself.

Although nominally Uther was the main leader, Arthas only assisted from the side, but the experienced and shrewd Uther certainly knew Terenus's intentions, so along the way, unless Arthas took the initiative to ask, or encountered a problem that could not be solved, in addition, Uther never interfered in Arthas's political opinions and arrangements, and left everything to his disciples.

And the facts have once again proved that Alsace, as the crown prince, has a vision and means beyond ordinary people, and has an affinity that makes everyone feel like a spring breeze.

He always did his best to share his enthusiasm and kindness with everyone, and during his time as temporary consul of Tarummir and the town of Southsea, he always took care of every detail, both big and small.

In the eyes of ordinary townspeople, Arthas is no longer a high prince, but a savior of their family.

For a time, Alsace's prestige in the Arathi Heights reached its peak!

But no one knew, not even Terenus or the brilliant Galia, that behind Arthas's efforts to bring hope and light to the people was his own guilt.

He is a very proud person, but at the same time, he is also a person who is extremely demanding of himself, and can even be called harsh.

Since the day he was born, Alsace has always held himself to the strictest standards and will not allow himself to make any mistakes, but it is precisely because of this that he has never been able to get out of the haze that the incident brought him.

Behind the smiles again and again, there is endless pain.

He's atoning for his sins...

Atonement for the heroes who failed to save the next Lordaeron, for the failures of a subject who once failed to live up to the trust of his subjects...

It was getting late and the sun was setting over the beautiful town of Tarummere.

"Faric, it's time to close the team, let the logistics prepare dinner!"

Patting the crumbs of bread in his hands, Arthas looked up at the darkening sky and yelled at the nearby soldiers who were distributing food.

He couldn't remember the first time this month had come here to distribute food to nearby townspeople.

The town of Tarummere has been rebuilt and restored to its former order and prosperity, but there are still many villages around the town that were burned down by the war. These places are desolate and full of people, and as rulers, they have a lot more to do.

"Understood, Your Highness the Prince!"

Farrick replied with a loud voice.

At this time, he was carrying a hemp cloth bag, surrounded by a dozen ragged victims, but these victims did not fight each other because of hunger, but waited quietly and orderly for the distribution of the chief, which also made Farrick's job much easier.

As Arthas's right-hand man, the loyal Faric had always done his duty, and after a moment's hesitation, he handed the few remaining pieces of sourdough bread to the dirty children.

You know, since noon, they have been following the Prince of Arthas here to distribute food to the victims, and thousands of victims have been waiting for food to fill their hunger, which is a big project, so until the sun sets, he and dozens of royal guards still have not entered.

As a prince, Arthas has been leading by example, and they don't complain about anything, but the feeling of hunger is a little uncomfortable after all.

At this time, when they heard the message of closing the team, the soldiers were full of joy, and the action of handing bread to the victims was much faster.

Looking around at the townspeople who had received food and regained their bright smiles, Arthas pressed the hilt of his sword with his right hand and wiped the sweat from his forehead with his left hand, and smiled with relief.

Today's mission was successfully accomplished, but it was only the first step, and for more than a week to come, he would lead the townsfolk to rebuild their homes, which was his duty and his duty as a prince.

"Long... Sir..."

As Arthas pondered, a pleasant child's voice came from behind him.

He turned back to see a blonde boy barely knee-high, tugging at the corner of his blue cloak, staring timidly at him.

Arthas squatted down with a smile and rubbed it on the little boy's head, his voice kind and gentle, "What's the matter, little one, is there anything I can help you with?"

"I... I can't find my mom anymore..."

The little boy's face was immature, and his voice was sweet and glutinous, but with a hint of crying.

Arthas's handsome face was filled with a gentle smile, and he stretched out his hand, hooked the little boy's nose, and whispered: "Don't worry, little one, I'll help you find your mother, now tell me, what is your name?"

"Mention... Timmy..."

The little boy reached out and rubbed his red and swollen eyes, and replied timidly.

Under Arthas's kind and gentle tone, little Timmy gradually stopped crying, and he bit his fingers, looking at Arthas and the royal guards behind him with an innocent face.

The horn sounded to close the team.

In a sea of cheers, the royal guards mounted their horses, and Alsace, as a prince, was no exception.

He picked up the frightened little Timmy and rode on his horse, and led the iron horse to the nearby village at a rapid pace, because according to the clues provided by the nearby villagers, it was very likely that little Timmy's home was in a small town not far from here.

"Why are these people wearing armor?"

Little Timmy, who was held in front of Arthas, stared at the big innocent eyes and looked curiously at the nearby soldiers, all of which seemed so new to a young child.

"They are knights, guardians of our country. ”

"Sir, are you the regimental commander?"

The child's curiosity overshadowed some of his fears, and at least he believed that these people were protecting him.

"I am the prince, Arthas. ”

"Oh..."

Biting his fingers slightly, little Timmy nodded as if he didn't understand, I'm afraid that in his worldview, there is no concept of the so-called "prince" at all.

Along the way, the curious child asks the prince a lot of questions.

For example...

Is the prince also afraid of chili peppers?

Does the prince also dislike large cutlets and prefer to cut them small?

Did the prince sometimes have to tell him stories at night so that he could sleep?

Was the prince also spanked by his mother?

The prince is not...

And so on and so forth...

Faced with a series of questions thrown by little Timmy, Arthas did not show a trace of boredom, but patiently smiled and answered them one by one, his voice was gentle and peaceful.

Until the child was sent home, Timmy's parents fell to their knees, tears of joy streaming down their faces, and they kept expressing their gratitude to Alsace.

"Your Royal Highness!"

As Timmy's parents watched with a smile, the little one staggered to Arthas and handed him an old wooden sword.

"This... To you!"

The prince was a little surprised, for the little one, this wooden sword is probably a very precious toy.

Leaning over and touching the little one's head, Arthas took the gift and chuckled and said, "Thank you, little one!"

"Will you always protect us?"

Before leaving, little Timmy asked innocently, the anticipation in his eyes that Arthas couldn't refuse.

"Of course!"

Alsace replied in the affirmative.

He touched the little guy's head, his eyes flashed, and his tone was gentle and firm: "I will always be by your side!"

The starry sky at night is particularly stunning.

Arthas treasured the wooden sword given to him by little Timmy at his waist, and he looked back at the warmly lit and happy Timmy family.

With a slight smile, Arthas stepped onto his horse and walked away with his knights, before disappearing into the night...

(End of chapter)