Chapter 4 - Fred Ezbert

20 Days Ago in the Kingdom of Ezbert…

Fred awoke to the sudden sound of war trumpets. He quickly donned his battle attire and grabbed his sword. Fred and several royal guards stood in formation near the main gate, armed with bows and weapons.

From a distance, Fred could see several cloaked figures on horseback chasing a girl.

"Stop or we will attack!"

The guards warned, but the figures didn’t stop. One of them suddenly fired an arrow, hitting the girl in the back. She fell from her horse and struggled to get up.

“What now, Your Majesty?” asked Jose, the chief royal guard.

“Shoot the attackers!” Fred commanded. In an instant, arrows flew and struck all the assailants.

“Open the gate, I’ll go down!” Fred said.

Fred rode his horse and approached the unconscious girl. She was still breathing when he checked her.

Who is this girl? Why were they chasing her? Fred examined her more closely. She wore a nightgown and had no shoes on. Wait a second! That necklace!

Fred took the necklace from around her neck. Yes—no doubt about it. It was a key pendant with the Roseman Kingdom’s emblem. Fred recognized it from the spies he had once sent. Only members of the royal family possessed that key. That meant she was a princess of the Roseman Kingdom.

Roseman had long been a thorn in his side. It was the closest neighboring kingdom to his, and he wanted to conquer it. If this princess died, would Roseman collapse?

“Ugh... help me…”

Suddenly, Fred heard her voice. Her eyes were still closed, but she wore a pained expression. I’ll take her for now, he thought. Fred carried her and placed her on his horse.

He returned to the palace and took her to his room, calling for the royal physician to treat her. After letting the doctor work, Fred returned to the room.

“How is she?” Fred asked after the physician had finished bandaging her.

“All her wounds have been treated, Your Majesty. She just needs rest to heal. Luckily, the arrow wasn’t poisoned—aside from the wound on her back, she only has bruises,” the physician explained.

Fred nodded, signaling the doctor to leave.

He sat on the sofa in his room, watching the girl. What happened to Roseman? Why did the princess come to Ezbert, her enemy’s kingdom?

“ARGHHH!!”

The girl suddenly screamed and opened her eyes, breathing heavily. Fred stood by her side.

“You’re awake?” he asked.

She groaned in pain.

“You shouldn’t move just yet. The doctor just treated your wounds,” Fred advised.

“Whe.. where?” she asked, trying to speak.

She didn’t even know where she was?

“Where is this? I suppose that’s what you’re wondering. Don’t you know? You came into my kingdom at dawn and caused a commotion,” Fred said, irritated.

“Sorry… and… thank you…” she said before fainting again. Fred clenched his fist, feeling guilty for getting angry at her.

“Rest. You’re safe here,” he said, trying to comfort her.

Three days passed before the girl woke up. Fred had ordered the doctor to tend to her daily and commanded the servants to treat her well. He hadn’t visited her, instead investigating what happened in Roseman. It seemed they had closed all access to their kingdom.

A week later, Fred decided to visit her. He opened the door and saw her standing by the window.

“I see you’re feeling better.”

The girl was startled and lost her balance. Fred rushed forward and caught her. She wasn’t as pale as before, but she was still thin. Was she even eating properly?

“I’m sorry,” she said. Fred helped her back to the bed.

“Are you from the Roseman Kingdom?” he asked. The girl nodded. At least she’s not lying.

“I’m Fred. Fred Ezbert,” he introduced himself.

“Ezbert?” she seemed shocked.

“Yes. This is my kingdom,” Fred explained. Why is she so surprised? Does she not know I’ve been king for three years?

“And you? Who are you, and why did you come here?” Fred asked.

“Forgive me, Your Majesty. My name is May. I’m just a servant from the Roseman Kingdom. There was a coup, so I fled here,” she answered.

"A servant?" Fred clenched his fist. She was hiding her true identity.

“Y-yes,” she said nervously. Does she think I’ll kill her if I know she’s the princess? Probably. She must think Ezbert is cruel.

“So you're saying the Roseman Kingdom has fallen?” Fred asked. She nodded.

“The entire royal family is gone,” she said, her voice trembling.

Fred understood how hard that must be to accept. He couldn’t believe it either.

A kingdom he had tried to conquer for years—he’d even considered making peace with them. And now? It had suddenly fallen?

“Ha… hahahahaa…”

Fred laughed bitterly.

The entire royal family wiped out? The wise King and kind Queen—dead? And not by his hand, but by someone else’s?

“Ha… After all these years, Roseman falls because of its own people. This is truly ridiculous.”

Fred stopped laughing and looked at the girl.

“If you recover, you can work here as a servant. Make yourself useful if you want to stay alive,” Fred said coldly. I need to plan to take over Roseman. This might be my chance. He left the room and went to his study.

---

One week later, Fred received a letter from the Roseman Kingdom requesting a diplomatic visit for a cooperation agreement. Whatever the new king is planning. For now, let’s allow it. Fred gave his permission.

Soon after, ten representatives from Roseman arrived. Fred welcomed them into the main banquet hall and served them food and drinks.

“Respectful greetings, Your Majesty King Ezbert. I am Diego, chief royal guard of Roseman. I bring our cooperation proposal,” said Diego. He seemed powerful and influential. Does he know the princess?

“I’ve heard something happened in your kingdom. If you want cooperation, you need to explain your situation first,” Fred said.

“As you may have heard, Your Majesty, there was a coup several weeks ago. The royal family was killed,” Diego explained.

“Then why does the new king want cooperation?” Fred asked.

“He desires peace. His Majesty wishes to avoid war. He promises to give the territory of Greze to Ezbert if you agree to the deal.”

Greze? That was the borderland between Roseman and Ezbert. Fred had always wanted it for its strategic location.

“And what does Roseman want in return?”

“We ask for Ezbert’s protection and support,” Diego replied.

Protection and support? Makes sense. The new king was a commoner. Other kingdoms wouldn’t accept that. If word got out, many might attack to seize Roseman. And Ezbert had the strongest military—others wouldn’t dare challenge them.

“Very well, I’ll consider it. I’ll send a letter once I decide,” Fred said.

“Thank you, Your Majesty. We await your reply.”

“Now please, enjoy the meal!” Fred invited them. After the meal, they prepared to leave.

Fred intended to see them off, but he noticed the princess talking with Diego in the garden by the front gate. He decided to observe and listen.

“Don’t give up! I will protect you, Your Highness. As long as you still have that key, you can reclaim the throne! I will help you,” Diego promised.

The key? Fred remembered. He had secretly taken and hidden it. He somehow knew it was valuable to Roseman.

“I’m sorry, Diego. I couldn’t protect the key. When I arrived here, it was already gone. I don’t know where it is,” the princess said sadly.

“Your Highness…”

The princess cried in Diego’s arms. For some reason, Fred didn’t like their closeness. How dare a guard touch a princess like that?

Fred couldn’t let this happen. He approached them.

“What’s going on here?”

Diego quickly stepped back and bowed.

“Respect to Your Majesty.”

“Greetings, Your Majesty,” the princess added.

“What is a Roseman guard doing with my servant?” Fred asked sharply. Even if she’s a princess, right now she’s my servant. How dare he treat her like his own.

“Forgive me, Your Majesty. I was just happy to see a former servant of Roseman,” Diego replied.

“The carriage is waiting. You may leave now!” Fred snapped.

“If I may, Your Majesty… could I take this servant back to Roseman? She’s like family to me,” Diego asked. How dare he call the princess his family? I won’t allow it.

“No!”

“Excuse me?”

“I said no! She’s a servant of Ezbert. Her life belongs to me. If you understand, leave now before I lose my patience and cancel this deal!” Fred threatened.

“Yes, Your Majesty.” Diego bowed respectfully.

Fred noticed the longing look the princess gave Diego.

“You! Stop looking at him and come with me!” Fred ordered angrily. He walked, and she followed.

“So you’re close with the head guard of Roseman?” Fred asked when they reached his study.

“Yes, he’s like family to me.”

“You want to return there?”

She nodded again. “If the situation allows and Your Majesty permits it.”

Fred clenched his fist in rage.

“Hah! You come to Ezbert, we save your life, and now you want to leave without any gratitude? Shameless!” Fred snapped.

“Forgive me, Your Majesty. I’m very grateful to you and the Kingdom of Ezbert for saving me. I promise I’ll repay the favor one day,” the princess said. You think I’ll fall for that lie?

“How can I trust a liar like you?” Fred asked.

The princess looked at him in shock. What? You didn’t expect me to know, did you?

“I overheard your conversation with that guard. You’re not a servant, are you?”

The princess knelt and bowed before Fred.

“Forgive me for hiding my identity. I am Flori, Princess of Roseman. I’m the only one left of the royal family,” she admitted.

A princess, bowing before him. For some reason, Fred felt even more irritated. Is this what losing everything has made you into?

“If you return there, will you reclaim the throne?” Fred asked.

Flori shook her head.

“That would be difficult. I’ve lost everything. I’ll return and start a new life.”

“But... as I heard earlier, you could do it if you had the key, right?”

“Yes… but I lost it.”

“Is this the key you mean?”