Chapter 68

“Um...” Adrian tried to think of something to say. He noticed that the gazes of the other lords and ladies had turned to him, their expressions shifting slightly.

“Well, I am young... so I am full of life...” Adrian could only say, smiling wryly before quickly controlling his expression.

“Full of life... What does Friend Sylwen mean?” Lord Oscar asked, curiosity evident in his tone. 

Then again, everyone in the room was likely curious.

The elf looked at Adrian with a narrowed gaze, trying to read something in Adrian’s eyes, while Adrian did his best to keep his expression entirely blank.

Then, the elf smiled and lightly shook his head. “It’s nothing, perhaps I got it wrong” He said simply, as if he weren’t talking to the prince of a realm, before turning around and returning to his seat.

Lord Oscar didn’t press the matter. Instead, his gaze, along with the others, drifted back to Adrian.

Adrian tried not to twitch. He knew he had just garnered far more attention because of the elf.

‘Just great.’

--

“You have something more to yourself, don’t you?”

“I wish, Lord Corvus. Who doesn’t like to think they are special?”

“As someone who beat me despite being so young, aren’t you?” Lord Corvus said.

They were currently walking side by side atop the wall, with a small retinue keeping an appropriate distance behind them.

“Well, I guess I am a bit.” Adrian conceded. Persisting that he wasn’t special would only insult Lord Corvus, considering Adrian had beaten him in the joust.

Lord Corvus chuckled. He stood taller than Adrian and had the gallant movements of a true warrior.

“Tell me, Lord Harrow, what are your aspirations?”

Adrian pondered his answer for a moment. Although the earl’s son spoke casually, Adrian knew he couldn’t treat this conversation lightly.

“To flourish my territory.” he said. At the top of his goals was definitely to see his territory rise, his people enrich themselves, and his land improve from a village to a town, and someday, a city.

He longed for that day.

Lord Corvus looked at him in surprise. Adrian, however, wasn’t surprised by the reaction; as the son of an earl, Corvus’s family territory was already massive.

“Quite a proper aspiration... but what about something personal?” Lord Corvus asked.

‘That is personal...’ Adrian thought, but he didn’t say it out loud. “Well, I haven’t properly thought about it too much.”

Lord Corvus raised a brow at him and chuckled.

“Tell me, Lord Harrow, which would you choose, to rise above everything, but at the cost of your flame being snuffed out quicker, or a long life, but a boring one?”

Adrian smiled at that, finding it familiar. “I think I’ve heard something similar before.”

“Oh, did you? What would you choose then?”

Adrian thought about it, smiled, and answered, “They say the common people chooses, while those who are truly great, takes. I pick both.”

Lord Corvus’s brows shot up. It was then that Adrian realized his words might imply that anyone who chooses is ordinary, which indirectly labeled Lord Corvus as such if he picked only one.

“But that’s the idealized version, of course… In reality, life forces us to choose.” Adrian quickly added.

Lord Corvus laughed loudly.

Adrian stood there, unsure of what to do.

After a while, the laughter subsided, and Lord Corvus turned to him with a wide grin. “Well said. Great men take, common people choose…”

Before Adrian could respond, Lord Corvus looked into the distance. “I choose glory. To be remembered throughout all time, even if my life is cut short. But of course, living a long life is also great.”

Adrian nodded slowly.

“And glory is born through hard and chaotic times… Have you ever been to the North, Lord Harrow?”

“Not in all my life.”

Lord Corvus chuckled. “Although the war between our kingdom and Breakstone has subsided, the grudge hasn't fully settled. Sooner or later, war will start again.”

‘And war is bad for my territory.’ Adrian added in his mind, processing the information Lord Corvus had just spewed out.

“And when it does… come to me, Lord Harrow. Together, we will show everyone what we can do. We will write our names in history and be remembered for centuries, even a thousand years.” Lord Corvus turned to him and declared.

Adrian was taken aback by the grand words. To be remembered… he didn’t think much of it. Moreover, he was still so young, he still had plenty of time.

To be remembered for centuries, or even a millennium, did sound tempting and touched a boyish, ambitious part of his inner self, before he remembered that all the trouble probably wasn’t worth it. Besides, he was already a lord with a pampered lifestyle. Unless the situation forced his hand, there was no need to dive headfirst into conflict just for glory.

“Think about it. You’ll know true glory.” Lord Corvus said, seeing that Adrian had stayed silent for a few moments.

Adrian snapped out of his thoughts and smiled wryly. “It is-” he tried to say, before a servant interrupted them.

This servant was dressed differently from the others, passing through them despite the sharp looks Lord Corvus’s retainers were giving him.

“Lord Corvus, Her Grace, Princess Skyla, seeks Lord Harrow’s presence.”

Lord Corvus clicked his tongue and gestured with his head. “Go, Lord Harrow. I’m sure we’ll have plenty of time to talk later. And remember my words.”

Adrian bowed before turning around to follow the servant.

He was relieved his talk with Lord Corvus, which hadn’t lasted more than half an hour, was over. But next, he had to speak with the princess.

He really needed to start getting used to all this.

--

“Which decision are you more inclined toward?” Princess Skyla spoke as if the conversation were perfectly ordinary, her gaze fixed on the board as she contemplated her next move.

“Naturally, in favor of going. It will be an honor to perform such a deed, not to mention a novel experience working with elves.” Adrian responded. Princess Skyla moved her rook while Adrian pretended to ponder his next move.

They were currently in a luxurious room, with only the two of them and a few handmaidens standing off to the side.

“Truly?” She looked up at him, her eyes almost dry, if Adrian wasn’t mistaken. “How much do you know about elves?” she continued.

“Only as much as rumors and things I’ve read in books,” Adrian responded.

“Elves are... blessed by the magic of nature, in tune with the elements. It is almost as if they are part of the natural order of things, unlike humans.” Princess Skyla spoke. 

Her tone held a hint of wonder, as if she were reciting a myth, but her eyes showed she believed every word. “They are friends to nature and animals, and their senses are quite different. So tell me, Lord Harrow...” Princess Skyla leaned forward. 

“What do you think the elf Sylwen meant when he said you were full of life?”

Adrian had expected this. Lord Corvus had asked about it as well, though he hadn’t dwelled on it too much. However, Adrian had a feeling the princess wouldn't let it go so easily.

“I do not know. It might simply be because I am young and full of vitality.” Adrian responded steadily.

The princess’s eyes narrowed ever so slightly. “Oh? Before the competitions, you told me and other that you spoke of your confidence in your... endurance, your body... I think you know more than you are saying.”

“Merely boasts, Your Grace, stemming from the challenges I faced a year or so ago with the islanders. I am young, and naturally confident in things I have already overcome.” Adrian finally moved his pawn, trying to give the princess something else to think about.

“Are you lying to me?” The princess didn’t even look at the board, her voice flat.

Adrian immediately bowed his head. “I would not dare lie to Your Grace.”

“Look me in the eye.” Suddenly, the princess’s tone turned cold, the first time Adrian had ever heard such a tone from her.

Adrian tensed. He slowly raised his head and looked into the princess’s beautiful but sharp eyes.

“I am speaking the truth.” He said without hesitation. At this point, he had already committed to the lie, hesitating for even a single moment would only make things far worse for him.

They held each other's gaze for a few moments, though in Adrian’s mind, it felt much longer, before the princess blinked and leaned back. Her gaze softened, and so did her features.

“I’ll believe you… for now.” the princess said.

---

Adrian did his best not to openly sigh in relief as he nodded. The game continued, turning lighthearted as the princess occasionally commented on the match or other mundane matters, and Adrian politely responded.

Halfway through the afternoon, they moved outside to the garden, where Lord Jayson joined them.

Lord Jayson also had his inquiries about the elf's comments, but his approach was far more casual compared to the princess's and ended quickly. However, Adrian noticed the loaded look exchanged between the princess and Jayson. Then, surprisingly, the duke’s son made him an offer.

“I plan to participate in the challenge tomorrow... figured I should join in the fun now that it's nearly over. Lord Harrow, I hope you can join my team.”

Adrian was surprised. Because of the underground group forming, he had assumed he couldn’t join the final competition, as doing so would contradict how weary he claimed to be to others. 

But what if he wasn’t the leader or the main fighter of the group?

“Don’t worry about the prize. If we win, we can split it among us.” Lord Jayson added, then frowned as Adrian made a move on the board.

Adrian cleared his throat and addressed the lord, “I would be honored to be part of your team.”

“Great, then! Now, if only you could show me some mercy in this game.” Lord Jayson grumbled.

Adrian smiled. “My, that would be a disservice to you, Lord Jayson.”