Everything was being prepared so that Arek could leave for the border with the palace troops, although the soldiers believed that the emperor was going too far by sending the second prince as a representative of the imperial family, since he was barely 15 years old, he was too young to have to suffer on a battlefield, most of those who were there know how stressful and traumatic a battlefield can be.
"Sending a child to the battlefield, the emperor must be crazy."
"The crown prince was supposed to come, how can the emperor send the youngest?"
"Because the crown prince is only showing his cowardice."
"That's been known for a long time, he's a coward, nobody believes he's sick."
The murmurs continued, Arek could hear perfectly what they were saying and smiled slightly, it was good to know that the soldiers were on his side and knew well of the cowardice of the crown prince, as that would be an advantage for him. Now with everything ready, the time to leave had arrived, the emperor came out to give a few words of encouragement and together with the empress, they performed their act of worried and proud parents of Arek for going to a dangerous place. After that, the troops began their march. They carried carriages full of provisions and others of weapons, they also carried several griffins, as they had told Katerina before, they are used for long distances, but they carry carriages, so they must go on horseback and only if necessary, they would use the griffins.
Meanwhile, the empress was happy, because not only did she prevent her son from going to war, but she was also able to get rid of Arek, because she doubts he will return alive.
With the troops on their way to the border, along the way they were met by a group of guards, when Arek saw them, he recognized the uniform of the Rosesky family and his surprise was to see the marquis and he asked to speak to him in private, so they moved away from the troops.
"My daughter told me what you feel and it breaks my heart to know that my daughter is separated from her first love. So, Your Highness, I need you to return safely."
Arek did not quite understand what the marquis was saying and then he remembered what Katerina had told him the last time they spoke, so he let out a long sigh and raised his head.
"I'm sorry you found out this way, what we feel is inevitable, I promised Lady Katerina that I would return safely and I will." He felt a little ashamed to have to lie in that way.
"I want to make sure you do. They went ahead yesterday, they will be waiting for you in the town of Heliz. That's all I can do, don't die, I don't want to see my daughter cry."
The marquis handed him a scroll with his seal and a badge, which Arek took without hesitation. With that, the marquis withdrew and Arek continued on his way until he stopped to rest. Arek looked over the scroll, which was a document temporarily ceding him command of the Rose troops, special troops that have served the Rosesky marquisate for centuries, these are elite soldiers and powerful mages, although it is not easy to obtain their help, for not even the emperor himself can dispose of them whenever he wants.
"The man really wants his daughter to be happy, the Roses, they're not just anything," Jack mentioned.
"She must be a good actress if she got her father to give me this," Arek replied.
"Or, she loves you too much. I've seen them talking and the way they look at each other. Ah, love." He let out a sigh.
Arek just elbowed him and Jack just laughed.
****
On the other hand, Katerina was at a tea party, she doesn't like to attend them, but this time, it will serve her well, it's time to ridicule the empress and her cowardly little boy, since the center of attention that day was Arek, since everyone already knows that he will go to the battlefield in place of the crown prince.
"It's a shame that he's being sent to such a horrible place at such a young age," lamented one countess.
"I could never send my children to war, they are just children," replied another.
"But the second prince is so brave, he didn't protest and is willing to go to the battlefield, I feel great admiration for him," Katerina mentioned.
"Lady Katerina is right, he is an admirable young man," another young woman present chimed in.
"And Lady Katerina must be relieved that her fiance is not going to a dangerous place," added another girl.
"Relieved? No, I feel humiliated, what kind of honor is there in a man like that? To be known as the wife of a coward... there is no honor in that..." Katerina looked down.
The ladies were speechless at her words and looked at each other, but if they thought about it, the young girl's words made sense, no one believes that the crown prince is sick, since it is too much of a coincidence that he would fall ill just a few days before going to the battlefield.
"I-I'm sorry, I think I was too harsh with my words..." Katerina seems sorry for her previous words.
"Lady Katerina only expressed how she feels, and if we think about it that way, what kind of emperor will we have?" mentioned a young lady.
The others looked at her, they knew that it was not right to speak ill of the imperial family, but, what Katerina expressed was true and the other young woman was right, an heir who wins the throne just because his parents favor him, does not ensure that he will be a good ruler.
After that talk, a week later, there was already talk of how humiliating it must be for Katerina Rosesky, because not only did she lose the title of saint because of her mother's lies, now she is also known for being the fiancee of a prince who showed cowardice by not going to fight for his empire and in his place, sent his younger brother. That information did not take long to reach the ears of the empress and of course, she was furious, since now the crown prince was nicknamed, the cowardly prince.
"I'm the laughingstock of everyone, Mother, we have to do something." Rowan pleaded.
"Of course we will, I will have their tongues cut out, anyone who speaks ill of you," she threatened furiously.
"Have you gone mad? This is all because he didn't want to go to battle." The emperor points to Rowan.
Although of course, he is also to blame for supporting the empress.
"But this must be the work of someone who wants to harm our son. N-no matter, no one else could ascend the throne, Rowan will be emperor and no one can refute that." The empress looked nervous.
"Send a letter to the Rosesky mansion, have my fiancee come, so everyone will know that I am sick and that my fiancee is taking care of me," Rowan suggests.
"Good idea, they will stop talking if Lady Rosesky sees that you are sick, she will speak and everyone will know that it is not a lie."
The empress asks for a pen and a sheet of paper to write on, she is sure that Katerina will come immediately when she reads the letter.
...
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Comments
Nanami Tomoe
awww teenage love 😆
2024-12-18
0