The Debt Of Fate

Chapter 330: Underestimate his enemy

Princess Karen felt her heart beating fast as she waited in the small courtyard.

Prince Lucan could tell something was wrong with his wife, but he did not dare ask. After all, he had just chosen loyalty to his brother over their lives—and she had heard it clearly.

He understood that she was disappointed in him. Thinking of the love they had shared since their marriage, he felt too guilty to look at her.

"I will take a walk in the garden," Princess Karen said.

She could not wait to hear from Ernest. She wondered if he had noticed her note yet.

She handed their son to Lucan and walked out.

Prince Lucan looked at their sleeping child and gently laid him down. He wanted to follow her, but he guessed she might not want to see him. So he forced himself to lie down and wait for her return.

Princess Karen did not care what he was thinking.

She wrapped herself in a coat and walked around the garden. The more she waited, the more anxious she became. She wondered if Ernest would take her seriously.

Just when she was about to give up, she heard footsteps.

She turned around.

He was walking toward her.

For a moment, she felt as if time had turned back. The first time she met Ernest, he had caught her when she almost fell. At that time, he had been a guard to her husband. Now he was a prince.

She wished she had known back then. Perhaps he should have been the man she married—the man she had been drawn to from the very first meeting.

"Ernest," she whispered.

"What is your condition?" Ernest asked directly.

Princess Karen snapped out of her thoughts.

"You will name me your queen," she said. She did not bother to hide her intention.

Ernest was surprised. The entire royal city had once spoken of the deep love between her and the Second Prince.

For a moment, he remembered the visit he had paid them years ago.

"You are married to the Second Prince. I do not take other men’s wives," Ernest said calmly.

"Prince Lucan is sick. He may not live long. Moreover, I can ask for a royal divorce," Princess Karen said. She did not mention that she could also become a widow.

Ernest raised his brows. "You do not have proper grounds for a divorce. The priests will not grant it."

"Let me worry about that. You just accept my condition," she replied.

"No. I already have a queen," Ernest said firmly. The only reason he had come was because he believed a deal with her might bring lasting peace between Gube and Nexile.

"But she is injured and in Edward’s hands. How can you be sure she will survive?" Princess Karen said.

Ernest’s eyes turned cold. "She will survive." He refused to think otherwise.

"She is only a divorced woman. She cannot offer you support. I, on the other hand, have the backing of a kingdom. Ernest, choose wisely," Karen said. She believed she was far more valuable.

"Do not worry about my son. The one to sit on the throne will be our son," she added, her eyes shining as if she could already see the future.

"No," Ernest refused again.

"Are you sure? Even with your army, without my father’s support, you may not defeat King Edward," she said.

"But you are in my hands," Ernest reminded her.

"So? You will not dare harm me unless you want war between our two kingdoms. I am your best choice. Our son would bring lasting peace," she insisted.

"You think too highly of yourself and your kingdom," Ernest said calmly. "You lost your elite soldiers in the last war. It has barely been four years. Do you think your kingdom has recovered enough to fight me?"

Princess Karen frowned. "No matter how strong you are, you are still one man. Our royal families together can easily destroy you."

Ernest looked at her steadily. "I have planned for more than ten years. Do you think I will lose easily?"

Princess Karen did not understand. She could not see why he would remain loyal to a wounded woman who seemed to offer him nothing.

Seeing her confusion, Ernest smiled faintly. He did not continue the conversation.

Her support would have made things easier. But he would not accept her condition.

He turned and left.

Princess Karen stood alone in the cold garden, her hands slowly tightening at her sides.

...

Royal Palace

King Edward woke early that morning. He had spent the previous days welcoming the envoy from Gube and sharing all the clues they had gathered over the past months.

That day, he planned to send a new team to join the aid and continue searching for the missing prince and his family.

The council had just taken their seats when hurried footsteps echoed outside.

"Your Majesty, urgent news from the Third Region!" the eunuch announced loudly.

King Edward frowned but signaled for the messenger to enter.

The messenger rushed in and fell to his knees.

"Your Majesty, Prince Ernest has raised a banner of rebellion!"

The hall fell silent.

"He claims it is for justice—for his father and for his children."

The council members gasped.

"In one night, he has taken control of the Third Region. The regional lords have opened their gates to him."

Shock filled the room.

But it was not entirely unbelievable.

For months, rumors had spread that King Edward had been rejected by the heavens. Drought. Unrest. Blood within the royal family.

Many had begun to doubt him.

King Edward’s face darkened.

"So," he said quietly, "he has finally shown himself."

Although he looked compose he was frightenined after all to take over an entire region in one night was not an easy feet.

He turned to the others, a few nobles indeed cursed him for been a rebel but others remained quiet.

"Send words..._" kin Edward was about to give others but he was interrupted.

"Your majesty, news from low pass and it’s region," an eunch announced.

Edward had no idea why but he could tell that it was not good news.

"Speak," king Edward said.

"Lowe pass and it region has raised their flag in support of prince Ernest," the messager knee and announced.

The hall fell into a deep silence.

No one had expected things to develop so fast, Ernest did not even go to lowe yet they raised flags to support him.

Even if he was a fool, he could tell that this was not planned within a single night.

"Your majesty, urgent need from the Eastern region," another message appeared.

"This time king Edward could not continue to keep his calm.

"Speak," King Edward said.

"Colonel Edwin took over the fourth region three night. The queen mother has been arrested. The nobles who refuse to bow has all been locked up with the queen mother..." The message was tried from journey night and day without rest. He presented a small paper and fainted.

An Eunuch walked over and passed the report to the king.

Edward looked at it and felt blood rose to his throat.

Edwin had started his movement after Duke of Ironhaven made a move. His mother was under his hand. Even if he had not declared who he served Edward knew well, after all the one who suggested him was Ernest.

"Traitor, I will behead him publicly," King Edward was furious. He hated himself for not noticing the signs.

Out of seven regions, Ernest already had four under his control.

The hall was heavy with fear.

No one spoke at first. The sound of the wind outside felt loud in the silence.

King Edward sat stiff on his throne. His hand still held the report. The paper shook slightly, though he tried to steady it.

"Speak," he ordered. "What should we do?"

An old minister stepped forward. His beard was white, his back slightly bent.

"Your Majesty," he said slowly, "Prince Ernest has taken four regions without a full battle. This shows that many lords support him. If we fight now, the war may spread across the whole kingdom."

Murmurs rose in the hall.

"We should send a letter," the old minister continued. "Invite him to the royal city. Talk. If peace can be made, the people will suffer less."

Some nobles nodded.

"Yes," another added quickly. "The drought has already weakened the land. If war begins, there will be famine. The people may turn against the throne."

King Edward’s eyes grew cold. "You want me to bow to a rebel?"

"No, Your Majesty," the minister said carefully. "Not bow. Negotiate. You are still the king."

A loud scoff broke the air.

General Harren stepped forward, his armor clinking. "Negotiate?" he said harshly. "He raised a banner against the crown. He arrested the Queen Mother. He took regions by force. And we invite him for tea?"

A few soldiers in the hall lowered their heads, hiding faint smiles.

"He must be crushed," the general went on. "If we show weakness now, more regions will follow him."

He felt that this was an opportunity to show his loyalty to the king and build a reputation for himself.

"Yes!" another war minister agreed. "If we call him here, what if he refuses? What if he marches instead? We will look afraid."

The hall grew noisy. Voices overlapped.

"War will destroy us!"

"Peace with a traitor is shameful!"

"Think of the people!"

"Think of the throne!"

King Edward closed his eyes for a moment. His mind was racing. Four regions... Ernest had prepared for years. This was clear now. He regretted underestimating his enemy.

Lord William finally got up.

"Your Majesty," he said, bowing deeply. "Prince Ernest claims he fights for justice. If that is true, then he must still respect the royal blood. Invite him. If he refuses, then we have reason to strike with full force. The people will stand with you."

His words sounded reasonable.

Several nobles who had stayed silent before now nodded.

"Yes, that is wise."

"We must show mercy first."

But in their lowered eyes, something else flickered.

Support.

Hidden, careful, but there.

General Harren noticed. His jaw tightened. "Your Majesty," he said firmly, "every hour we wait, he grows stronger. The army in the capital is loyal. Let me lead them. We strike the nearest region and cut his path."

Silence fell again.

King Edward looked at the faces before him.

Some angry.

Some afraid.

Some too calm.

He suddenly felt alone.

Out of seven regions, only three remained under his full control. And even among those, who could he trust?

He rose slowly from his throne.

"Prepare both," he said at last.

Gasps sounded.

"We will send a letter to Prince Ernest. Invite him to the royal city for discussion." His voice was steady again.

"And at the same time," his gaze hardened, "mobilize the army. Quietly. Strengthen the capital. If he dares step closer with ill intent..."

He did not finish the sentence.

He did not need to.

The council bowed.

But as they lowered their heads, the divide in the hall grew deeper.