Chapter 5 : Chapter 5
Chapter 5. The News Spreads
William looked at the vice principal and spoke calmly.
“Your two sons indeed possess outstanding aptitude, but I have already selected five attendants. If I take more, I may not be able to manage them properly. I am afraid the distribution of resources would not keep up.”
The vice principal quickly nodded, a smile spreading across his face.
“Your Highness is very thoughtful.”
“I was the one who grew impatient… How about this?”
“Each year, I will offer five hundred thousand gold coins as training funds for my two sons. It will not burden Your Highness in the slightest.”
Upon hearing this, William pretended to ponder for two seconds before nodding.
“If that is the case, then I will accept them.”
He understood clearly that this sum of money would be more than enough to sustain the resource consumption of his entire attendant team. It was, by all means, a profitable exchange.
Then he changed the topic.
“Also, Vice Principal, help me pass along a message—anyone who wishes to become my attendant may come to meet me privately.”
“You should understand the proper measure of this.”
The vice principal’s eyes lit up immediately.
He understood at once—this was a path left open for families with influence who could not openly compete for the position.
He hurriedly bowed.
“Your Highness can rest assured. I know how to handle it.”
As he spoke, he took a spatial ring from his sleeve and respectfully presented it with both hands.
William accepted the ring. With a brief scan, he confirmed that the deposit of five hundred thousand gold coins was inside, and he slipped it into his pocket.
“Come. Return to the palace with me,” he said to the two boys.
The two boys looked at one another, their expressions complicated.
They had never imagined that their “attendant positions” would become bargaining chips in a transaction between their father and the prince.
There was joy at being chosen, yet also a vague and indescribable discomfort.
But in the face of royal authority, they could only follow silently.
When they left the vice principal’s office, the corridor had already emptied of students. Sunlight streamed through the windows, casting long shadows across the floor.
William walked ahead with steady steps, but in his mind he was calculating.
With this money, the resources he needed could be arranged much sooner.
As for the two boys who had entered through a “transaction,” he did not particularly care.
What they needed was the title of the prince’s attendants.
What he needed was the money of their families.
The royal carriage was already waiting outside the academy gates. When Knight Tos saw William emerge with two unfamiliar faces, a hint of surprise flashed through his eyes. Yet he asked no questions and simply stepped forward to open the carriage door.
“Your Highness, please.”
William bent slightly and entered the carriage. After a moment’s hesitation, the two boys followed.
The moment the door closed, the outside world was sealed away, leaving only the subtle silence within the carriage.
William leaned against the cushioned seat and closed his eyes to rest.
The carriage soon entered the palace grounds and stopped steadily in front of William’s residence.
Knight Tos led the seven boys to a side hall to arrange their accommodations, while William returned to his own room.
As soon as he pushed the door open, he saw Vivian sitting by the window, embroidering something. Sunlight fell across the gentle side of her face, warm like a thin veil.
“Little William, where have you been running off to?” Vivian set down her needlework and smiled at him, her eyes filled with affection.
William quickly stepped forward and bowed.
“Mother, I went to the Royal Academy to select some attendants. I have just finished settling them in.”
“Oh? So young, yet already gathering your own followers?”
Vivian laughed, beckoning him over.
“Very good, very good. You look just like your father when he was young.”
“Do you have enough pocket money?”
“I still have some here. Take it and buy your attendants a few things.”
“That will not be necessary, Mother.”
William sat beside her and looked up with a smile.
“If I ever run short, I will come ask you.”
The mother and son chatted for quite a while.
From the aptitudes of the attendants to amusing events at the academy, Vivian listened attentively and occasionally added a remark of her own. The room was filled with warmth.
Meanwhile, in Kroll II’s study, candlelight flickered.
A shadow appeared silently in the corner and knelt on one knee. His voice was low and heavy.
“Your Majesty, Prince William went to a slave auction house today and purchased two slaves.”
“He also went to the Royal Academy and selected five attendants, and he accepted five hundred thousand gold coins from the vice principal.”
“Additionally, he appears to intend to sell attendant positions through the vice principal.”
Kroll II paused in the middle of reviewing a document. Then he suddenly burst into laughter, his voice echoing through the spacious study.
“This little fellow is quite the money-grubber.”
He set down his quill and leaned back in his chair, a trace of satisfaction flashing through his eyes.
“If he wants to accept it, then let him accept it. It is nothing serious.”
After a pause, his tone grew solemn.
“You will continue to follow him and ensure his safety.”
“In the future, you do not need to report these matters to me anymore. The child is growing up—he should have his own plans.”
The shadow raised his head.
“Your Majesty means…?”
“Unless he intends to rebel, let him do as he pleases.”
Kroll II’s voice carried unquestionable authority.
“Remember, your mission is to protect him.”
“If he suffers even the slightest harm—especially if someone attempts to assassinate him… you will take your own life in atonement.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
The shadow answered in a deep voice.
As he stood, his figure gradually faded until it vanished entirely into the darkness, as though he had never appeared.
The study returned to silence.
Kroll II picked up the secret report concerning William, glanced over it twice, and casually tossed it into the brazier.
Flames licked at the paper and quickly devoured the words into ashes.
“Interesting.”
He murmured softly, the corner of his mouth lifting into a faint smile.
This fourth son of his appeared obedient on the surface, yet he clearly had many ideas in his mind.
And that was good.
In this unpredictable kingdom, having a few schemes was far better than being a naive fool.
News spread quickly within the palace.
Before long, word that William had been profiting from attendant positions reached the ears of the First Prince, the Second Prince, and the Third Princess.
In the First Prince’s palace, he was polishing the sword that symbolized his status as the eldest son while listening to a subordinate’s report. His brows twisted into a knot.
“Using attendant positions in exchange for money? That truly damages the dignity of the royal family.”
His maternal family was the Duke of the Southern Frontier, who commanded great military power. The attendants around him had all been carefully selected by the ducal household—each from prominent families, many of whom already held positions within the army.
In his view, attendants were extensions of power. How could they possibly be associated with money?
The Second Prince, meanwhile, sat in his study chatting with several noble youths. When he heard the news, he sneered.
“Has my fourth brother gone mad from poverty? Is he not afraid of being ridiculed?”
His maternal family was the Duke of the Eastern Coast, who controlled the kingdom’s trade routes. His attendants were either wealthy or noble, relying on their family influence to dominate the commercial circles of the capital.
To him, money had never been a problem. Winning people’s loyalty was the proper path.
In the Third Princess’s chambers, she was trying on a newly made dress. Upon hearing the report, she cast a faint glance at the maid.
“Completely improper.”
Her maternal family was an old ducal house known for generations of political marriages. Her attendants were all noble girls who managed her social affairs and maintained connections within the aristocratic circles.
In her eyes, William’s actions were nothing less than lowering his own status, no different from a common merchant.
Although the three siblings held different attitudes, each of them carried a trace of disdain.
They had grown up immersed in the world of power, surrounded by the greatest noble families.
Naturally, they could not understand William’s approach.
In their eyes, the birth and family background of attendants were what mattered most.
Talent and loyalty, on the other hand, were secondary.