Chapter 92

“He’s a fool, the biggest fool in the whole world,” the prince
roared in his mind. “There’s no doubt about it now. No matter how he
imagines or fantasizes, it’s useless. For the priest, there’s no point in going
to bed with him!”

The prince found it difficult to pinpoint his exact feelings at the moment.
Yes, he had lost touch with his emotions. He couldn’t discern the exact mix of
emotions seizing his soul right now. All he felt was a rapid heartbeat,
feverish skin, trembling hands, and a shuddering soul.

“Since you’re so indifferent…” The prince was surprised at how
calm his voice sounded, as if there was another person speaking for him.
“When I made my request initially, you refused with the fervor of a chaste
maiden.”

The priest donned the bishop’s red robe. “My enjoyment of such things
doesn’t mean I accept everyone who comes my way, Your Highness. Let me remind
you, I’ve never deceived you. Have I ever shown any affection towards you? I
simply didn’t refuse your advances. Does that offend you? Forgive my frankness,
but you’re quite contradictory.”

The prince found himself momentarily speechless.

The priest casually wrapped the robe around himself like a dressing gown,
barefoot as he approached the prince. Standing before him, he tilted his head
slightly upward. “If I had agreed to pledge loyalty to you back then,
would you be celebrating my promiscuity now?”

The priest’s breath, fragrant and fresh, wafted towards the prince, his tone
extremely gentle yet his words subtly sharp.

The prince held his breath, feeling overwhelmed. Unlike the initial rage
filled with anger, now he felt suppressed by the priest.

“Your fury puzzles me. Is it because your pride has been wounded? Do
you expect every person you love to love you in return? Then truly, you must be
favored by God,” the priest said, lifting a hand to gently stroke the scar
on the prince’s face. “After all, you’re renowned for your ugliness.”

Tilting his face upward, the priest lightly kissed the prince, who couldn’t
comprehend the meaning behind the kiss. He couldn’t control himself, unsure
whether he should be angry or joyful.

“At 7 o’clock, tonight, come here to see me,” the priest murmured.
“That’s when.”

With that, he lowered his hand, turned away without a second glance, and
resumed trying on the bishop’s attire.

The prince stood still, feeling as though the priest wasn’t donning soft
robes but rather armor, his movements swift and decisive as he shook off the
sleeves. The blood-red sleeves enveloped his slender arms, his hand emerging
from the fabric, and for a moment, the prince thought he might wield a dagger,
gleaming with a deadly coldness.

The prince left the room.

The servant leaning against the wall immediately straightened with concern.
“Your Highness?”

The prince appeared much calmer, though somewhat dejected.

Bill didn’t dare ask further, accompanying the prince back to the room. The
royal servant brought the attire and accessories for the ball tomorrow, but the
prince showed no interest in dressing himself up. Bill instructed the servants
to place the trays down.

The prince returned to the sofa by the window, looking like a fallen
mountain, half-leaning against it with his cane beside him, utterly drained.

Bill poured him a cup of hot coffee onto the table.

The prince had ambitious aspirations, but conquering the continent of Auston
was no easy task. Countless had fallen in pursuit of it, yet the prince never
doubted his ability to claim the emperor’s crown. He had never fretted over it,
as if there were a fruit on a tree, he decided to pluck it, and he was certain
he could. It might take some effort, but that was inconsequential. He was
Landis de Hackett; challenges couldn’t deter him. Simply put, the prince’s life
had never been fraught with uncertainty.

He had faced all sorts of challenges: congenital disability, the loss of his
mother in childhood, persecution from his brothers… oh, too many. He had
encountered countless difficulties, but he just lifted his uneven feet and
stepped over them. With determination, there was nothing one couldn’t achieve.

“Bill.”

Randes spoke, “Why haven’t you married yet?”

Bill hadn’t expected the prince to suddenly take an interest in his love
life. He felt a bit flustered and embarrassed. “I… Well…”

The prince gleaned something from Bill’s stuttering. He turned his head,
scrutinizing Bill’s flushed face. “Do you have a fiancée?”

Bill’s face turned even redder. “Yes, I think so.”

“You think?”

“She… I haven’t proposed to her yet, so…”

The prince chuckled coldly. “Then let me advise you not to be too
confident.”

Bill blushed even more deeply. He stammered, “Before leaving Auston, I
did ask for her opinion.”

“How did you ask?”

“I…”

The prince never cared about his servant’s private affairs, and this was the
first time Bill had disclosed such matters to anyone. He felt extremely
embarrassed. “I, I bid her farewell, and she… she hugged me…”

The prince couldn’t help but smirk.

Hugging? What did a hug signify? If hugs counted as engagement agreements,
then the priest must have been married countless times!

“And then…” Bill looked shy yet pleased and proud, the pride of
a man chosen by his beloved woman evident on his face. He retrieved a pearl
earring from his pocket. “She gave me one of her earrings.”

The sweet smile on Bill’s face deeply pierced the prince’s heart.

It seemed that, unlike his blind confidence, his servant had concrete
evidence of reciprocal affection from the other party.

Oh God—

The prince grimaced, pain and frustration evident on his face as he pressed
his palm against his forehead. How foolish he had been! Those ensnared by love
were blind, and he seemed to be trapped in a barrel, unable to see or hear
anything, futilely yearning to embrace that person…

“Tell me,” the prince said calmly. “How did you meet the
girl?”

Bill carefully put away the earring, smiling sheepishly. “Your
Highness, there’s no romantic love story here. Everything is quite
ordinary.”

“But I want to hear it.”

“Are you nervous about tomorrow’s ball? Your Highness, the ladies of
the capital are quite discerning. They know what kind of husband can truly
bring them glory. No one will not be charmed by you.”

The prince sarcastically smiled. “I advise you not to be too
confident.” He didn’t want to hear his servant’s reassurances. Turning
away again, he said, “Alright, Bill, tell me your story. Perhaps I should
prepare a gift for you.”

Bill smiled gently, feeling happy. “Thank you, Your Highness. I knew
you would.”

“In fact, it’s nothing special. She’s a shepherdess, with two fierce
sheepdogs. She can ride horses, very agile and skilled. I was passing through
to collect taxes, and she was herding sheep on horseback, confidently wielding
her whip. I was captivated by her, willing to become the most docile sheep in
her flock…” Bill said shyly, “That’s how it happened.”

The prince’s expression was complex. He didn’t know what he was expecting to
hear, but evidently, this part wasn’t satisfying.

“You’re willing, I understand. Then what about her? How did she
agree?”

Bill touched his burning cheeks with both hands. “Oh, that… You mean
how I pursued her?”

“Yes.”

“I gave her some small trinkets that girls like, went to her house to
help with chores, praised her thick hair… It’s too embarrassing to talk
about, but anyway, I did everything I could to win her favor. I treated her
like a goddess,” Bill became excited, “My goddess—Your Highness, you
have no idea how beautiful she is, with her light brown eyes, light brown hair,
and the adorable freckles on her face…”

The prince raised his hand to stop the servant from continuing. “After
you return, I’ll find you a piece of land in Auston, where you and your goddess
can build a new home.”

Bill was delighted. He had known the prince would do this. He kissed the
prince’s hand and said, “I hope you’ll also have your own family
soon.”

The expression on the prince’s face quickly dimmed.

A flash of insight struck Bill’s mind. He suddenly understood all the
oddities about the prince today. He was foolish! How could he not have noticed
that the prince’s behavior today was exactly like when he pursued Nia, back
when Nia hadn’t given a clear response!

Bill widened his eyes. “Your Highness, are you…?”

The prince waved his hand dismissively. He didn’t want to share his thoughts
with anyone.

Taking a glance at the prince’s expression, Bill sighed inwardly. “You
can relax at tomorrow’s ball, Your Highness.”

The prince remained silent.

Bill left the room, closing the door behind him. He recalled the past month
since the prince had arrived in the capital, pondering where and when the
prince had met such a girl.

The oddities of today had started with the prince’s morning visit to the
market, buying apples and flowers in Colby. Bill rubbed his chin, wondering if
it was a girl from Colby.

The prince had spent a long time in Colby, especially during the outbreak of
the epidemic. Such a special time was conducive to fostering special feelings.

But why did the prince argue with the priest?

After pondering for a while, Bill suddenly realized the reason. He slapped
his palm with his fist.

The priest must oppose the prince’s association with the girl from the poor
district!

It all made sense now!

Bill paced back and forth in the palace corridor, his face bright with the
joy of understanding everything.

Undoubtedly, the prince had fallen for a girl from the Colby district. As
the person set to baptize the prince, the priest naturally had a say in the
prince’s lifelong affairs.

For some reason, the priest hoped the prince would give up his relationship
with that girl, leading to a fierce argument between them!

Especially with the ball tomorrow, where everyone knew a lady from the
capital would be chosen as the future queen of Lecy.

Given the prince’s temperament, he might argue endlessly with the priest
over this.

Poor priest…

Bill frowned. He wasn’t against the prince being with a girl from Colby, but
he understood the priest’s concerns. No wonder the priest said the prince’s
temper was too impulsive.

As the prince’s most loyal and respectable servant, Bill felt it was his
duty to help the prince solve this problem.

*

Alone in his room, the prince didn’t even glance at the nearby clothes. He
refused when a servant came in to invite him for dinner, sitting alone lost in
thought. As night fell, he glanced at the clock on the wall. It was half an
hour until 7 o’clock.

Should he go, or not?

He had just said this morning that he wouldn’t go to him anymore…

At that time, he meant he wouldn’t go upstairs to that building again, but
he did feel it was necessary to talk to him again… In the afternoon, his
words seemed to imply blame for pressuring him into that matter… There were
some things between them that needed clarification!

The prince stood up with his cane, pacing around the room. Suddenly, he
noticed his faithful servant Bill was nowhere to be seen. He must have left the
room without the prince realizing. The prince walked out of the room, using his
cane to signal the palace servants. “Where’s my attendant?”

“Your Highness, that gentleman has left the palace. He instructed me to
inform you that he went to Colby district.”

“Colby?”

The prince furrowed his brows lightly. What was Bill doing in that place?
Oh… he remembered now, the funeral expenses!

Because of his argument with the priest, the prince had forgotten all about
it!

The prince instructed someone to take money to Colby district and hand it to
his servant. “He’ll know what to do.”

Colby looked even more rundown and gloomy at night compared to the daytime.
Bill wondered what kind of girl could capture the prince’s heart. Guided by the
people in the district, he wandered around until he finally found the place he
was looking for – a small hut by the river.

What kind of girl was she?

With a nervous heart, Bill slowly approached the hut.