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Both princes sat casually in the royal carriage. One enjoyed his drink, calm as ever, while the other had his eyes glued to the window, restless with excitement.

“William!”

“William!”

“What is it?” William asked, sipping his cup of tea.

“I just saw the wooden board—we’re finally outside!”

“We’re outside the capital!” Edwin exclaimed, his voice brimming with joy.

William set his cup down, a faint smile tugging at his lips.
“Fine. You may order them to stop the carriage for a while.”

Edwin wasted no time. He pulled the rope inside the carriage, ringing the bell that signaled the fleet to halt. Before anyone could ask about the disturbance, the door flung open and out ran a boy with brown hair dancing in the wind, his red apple-like eyes shining as they swept over the open fields.

Wheat swayed gently with the breeze, the sun stood high in the sky, and the air felt clean—nothing like the coal-stained pollution of the capital. It was a simple landscape, a common sight for many, but to someone who had never seen it before, it felt like heaven.

The young boy laughed as he collapsed onto the grass beneath the shade of an apple tree. He lay there, breathing in the freshness, marveling at the world he’d been denied for so long.

William stepped out, watching his brother’s joy with a rare sense of relief. At last, Edwin seemed happy again.

Most of the army wasn’t surprised by the sight. Unlike William—the heir and face of the royal family—Edwin had never been shown to the public. To avoid suspicion, William had even prepared plain clothes for his brother, stitching them himself so Edwin could pass off as his servant. Only a handful of trusted soldiers knew his true identity, and they dared not speak a word.

William leaned against the carriage, his eyes briefly rolling in mild annoyance, though his smile stayed. She’s late, he thought.

As if on cue, a voice rang out.
“My prince, what is the reason for the sudden stop?” Hugh asked.

“Nothing important. My brother wasn’t feeling well. You may resume as soon as he’s back inside,” William replied, turning back into the carriage and shutting the door.

Unlike Edwin, the outside world held no wonder for William. He had already traveled with his father to countless cities and events. To him, this was routine.

He lifted his cup again, smirking to himself. She was quick to report to the king.

Outside, Hugh exhaled, steadying herself as she went to check supplies. Her eyes fell on a man sitting alone on a barrel while the others laughed and spoke in groups. She recognized him instantly—Rock, the man who had slain the army commander only hours ago.

She remembered William’s command: Teach him the ways. Show him the protocols of command.

Hugh approached quietly. Rock sat hunched forward, staring blankly at the dirt, lost in thought.

“Ahem!” Hugh cleared her throat.

Rock snapped back to reality and jumped off the barrel, bowing quickly.
“Good evening, Commander. Forgive me, I didn’t notice you.”

His voice carried genuine shame.

“Have you never killed a man before?” Hugh asked bluntly.

Rock blinked at the strange question.

“I ask,” Hugh explained, “because of that gloomy look on your face since the duel.”

“Oh, no, Commander. I was stationed at Crownshade. I’ve killed my fair share before,” Rock answered honestly.

“Then what’s with that expression? Lighten up. Surely everyone who mocked you for not being noble is quiet now.” Hugh tilted her head.

Rock glanced at the soldiers nearby. They flinched, stepping back when his eyes met theirs.
“They mocked me before. Now they avoid me. Nothing has changed,” he replied with a faint chuckle.

“Then don’t worry. I’ll teach them proper etiquette. Soon they’ll respect you. Carry a smile with you,” Hugh said firmly.

But Rock didn’t smile.

“Why do you still look so grim?” Hugh asked, frowning.

“Commander,” Rock began, his voice serious, “may I ask you something personal?”

“You may ask,” Hugh said coolly, “but I’ll decide if I answer.”

Rock met her eyes.
“Who is the most precious person in your life?”

The question startled Hugh, but she answered without hesitation.
“My father.”

Rock pressed further.
“And if he were in danger, would you protect him?”

“What kind of question is that? We knights train to protect those we love. Half the men here enrolled for that very reason.”

Rock clenched his fists.
“But what if, when the moment came, you couldn’t protect him? What if all your training amounted to nothing? Wouldn’t it feel like your whole life had been wasted?”

Steel rang as Hugh unsheathed her blade.
“Watch your tongue. A knight’s strength is more than muscle—it’s wit and will. We adapt to any situation. Don’t insult us with this pathetic excuse. You’re just weak.”

Her blade hovered at his neck, anger burning in her eyes.
“The next words out of your mouth better not make me raise this blade higher.”

The soldiers around them stood frozen, watching.

But Rock only smiled faintly.
“Any obstacle, you say? Then tell me, Commander—what would you do if a rock the size of a village fell from the sky, aimed at the one person you swore to protect?”

“That’s a fairy tale. Such a thing doesn’t happen. And even if it did, I’d call it rotten luck, not proof that training is meaningless,” Hugh shot back.

“It’s no fairy tale. Nor is it luck.” Rock’s eyes darkened.

“Oh? And how would you know?” Hugh pressed.

“Because I saw it. An entire village erased in an instant. Soldiers, knights, all of them—men who trained their whole lives. But when that stone fell, all they felt was the weight of their wasted lives.”

Hugh faltered for a moment before regaining her stance.
“And you expect me to believe that? Do you think your words will make us abandon our blades and sweep floors instead? Humanity isn’t so cheap. If there’s a problem, there’s always a solution.”

“Believe what you like,” Rock said coldly. “But if you’d seen what I’ve seen, you wouldn’t fight this hard.”

With that, he turned and walked away.

Hugh stood frozen, her mind churning with his words.

Moments later, Edwin returned to the carriage, cheerful as ever, and the fleet resumed its journey.