Book 12: Chapter 4
“Prince Troy, I do not think we need a self-introduction. You would loathe me if I introduced myself, right?”
I looked at the young man in front of me. His fingers were curved similarly to an eagle’s claw. Despite being dressed in formal clothing, he looked similar to a vulture standing on a dry tree branch, surveying my place.
We sat on either side of a long table. In front of us was a cup of tea. I didn’t know what he thought coming here, but he told me he’d give me a response I was after.
“It’s all right. Your father’s mistake is not your mistake. I understand that,” I stated.
He smiled before replying, “I do not think everybody can understand that. I am so glad that you can understand that, Your Majesty. But nonetheless, I am ashamed by my father’s deeds. You will not blame me, but my father’s deeds have been etched in my heart and forever shame me.”
“Don’t mind it too much. Your father did, indeed, err, but he is your father, nevertheless. You can only say that he failed as a vassal.”
“You are truly lenient,” he replied with smile. He then sighed, “They say that you are a benevolent lord, but I think that you are a very fair lord. You are able to treat my father and me as two separate individuals and be considerate of me. You truly are a lord that sees things as they are. I think that you must be a fair King.”
I couldn’t help but smile. In reality, I didn’t always think level-headedly, like this. After Luna died, I killed an excessive number of innocent people, so I promised to not take up a sword again. I had Ling Yue to thank for making me understand that. I needed to do my best to avoid reverting back to that state.’
Mommy Vyvyan was right. I shouldn’t take up a blade with a desire for vengeance and murder. I shouldn’t pick up a sword with joy and madness. It wasn’t benevolence or weakness, but a type of respect for life, facing people equally and fairly. I should kill based on crimes committed and not based on my mood or desire. I didn’t want to become the type of monarch Mommy Elizabeth was. What I want wasn’t for everybody to fear me, but to wholeheartedly submit to me.