Chapter 100: "accident"
- First of all, I am Ethan Asina Lenistark, and this is my autobiography. Initially, you, the reader of this book, will probably have many preconceived notions or biases about me, or at the very least, you will have an opinion. It must first be stated that this is quite normal, but I'm sure that as you read my autobiography, you will at least develop more genuine views about me.
The reason I am writing this book is, first and foremost, to provide information about myself to your future generations and to guide future rulers. Of course, it's understandable that as I write these sentences, I am a mere eighteen years old, young and inexperienced.
But as you progress through the chapters, you will probably come to see that despite my youth, I possess sufficient knowledge and maturity, and as I recount the things I will do in the coming years, you will probably learn to respect my intellect. First, I will fill these pages with as objective an account as possible about my childhood.
Since I have vague memories of my early childhood, I will skip over the first few years. However, I would at least like to talk about Queen Fiona, who played an important role in my childhood, and her childish intrigues.
"Uwaaaaaaa!"
With the cry of a baby, I closed the notebook I was writing in and looked at the crying infant lying to my right. We were currently traveling in a carriage a few days away from the capital. Yes, with Liam's baby and his mother.
To prevent the baby from getting cold or falling, I removed the blanket I had previously placed over him and laid the crying baby, with his mouth and legs covered, into his mother's arms. Ignoring the mother's hateful gaze, I focused on my notebook again.
As for why I am writing this autobiography... It was actually a reasonable idea that came to mind out of a moment of boredom. Honestly, as a historian in my previous life, one thing I hated the most was the lack of sources. As I recalled memories from my past life, I felt a chill run down my spine.
I remember reading volumes of books just to learn or find information about a historical figure, and when I finally found just a few lines of useful information, I would leap with joy. Especially since my field of study was ancient and medieval history, finding sources was still quite a laborious task.
For example, finding information about the Huns, who contributed greatly to the fall of the Roman Empire, and their most famous ruler, Attila the Hun, was like finding a needle in a haystack. Only the Roman sources, their enemies, were satisfying, but even those Roman sources were, of course, not very objective when it came to the Huns.
And these were the kinds of issues encountered in every period of history. That's why I decided to write an autobiography that would recount my life and the important events of my time. As a historian, I am proud of myself, and I'm sure future historians will greatly appreciate me.
"IMMMMMMMM!"
Returning to reality, I saw the woman in front of me breastfeeding her child. Since this had been happening for a few days now, the woman, who initially refused, eventually got used to nursing her baby in front of me.
Honestly, although the woman's breasts were quite large and attractive, I could definitely control myself, and especially, I had no interest in any sexual contact without a woman's consent.
Therefore, I tried to avoid looking at the woman or the exposed area where she was breastfeeding, but when I lifted my head to look at the woman, who was now trying to tell me something, my eyes inadvertently rested on her two large, milky-white breasts for a few seconds. I quickly regained control and looked at her face.
"Immmm!"
Naturally, nothing sensible came out of the woman's mouth, which was gagged, so I reached out and untied the rope from her mouth.
"Is it really necessary to gag me? How could I possibly escape from a dragon as powerful as you?" the woman said as she wiped her mouth.
"Dragon? Ah… No, I lied about being a dragon just to distract you at that moment," I said, placing my notebook aside and enjoying the remarkable view.
"Then who are you?" she asked.
"I am Ethan Asina Lenistark, the third prince of the Asina Kingdom," I replied.
Honestly, I wasn't worried about revealing my identity. After all, even if the woman in front of me managed to escape—which, as I said, was highly unlikely—where could she go? At best, she could flee to Liam, the nearest person she might find. But that would actually be her downfall. Once Liam realized everything, he would likely kill her to eliminate the evidence.
"I am Lunaene Koch Avar, the ninth princess of the Kingdom of Avarya. A pleasure to meet you, Prince," she said, surprising me.
If I'm not mistaken, a few years ago, it was reported that Avarya's ninth princess had died in an accident. But it seems that Liam was behind this "accident." Moreover, since the ninth princess's mother, the fourth queen, was in a rather weak position at the court, this "accident" had quickly been covered up, and it was concluded that the princess had indeed died in an unfortunate "accident."
"Hahahahaaa!" I just laughed.
"Hahahahha!"she just laughed.
The princess joined in my laughter, giving the most absurd reaction possible, surprising me once again. As for why I laughed... I had just hit two, perhaps even three, birds with one stone.
"Princess Lunaene, I too am very pleased to meet you," I said once my laughter had subsided.
Princess Lunaene slightly nodded her head to greet me, the smile on her face fading slightly as a cautious look appeared in her eyes. It seemed as though she was weighing my words. The light swaying of the carriage carried the silence for a few seconds. Then, locking my eyes onto hers, I continued,
"It seems that the Kingdom of Avarya already considers you dead. So, Princess, what do you plan to do now? You're truly considered lost now."
Princess Lunaene took a deep breath and adopted a more serious expression. "I live in a world where they truly believe I'm dead. This gives me a certain level of freedom. However, I can't say everything is fine. If Liam discovers where I am, I know I'll be in grave danger."
Her words surprised me. It seemed the woman before me was more intelligent than an ordinary princess. Just then, the baby started crying again, breaking the tense atmosphere. As the princess held the child close, I turned my eyes to the scenery outside the carriage. A baby caught in the midst of royal intrigues, just another byproduct of power struggles.
"So, you have no choice but to cooperate with me, do you?" I asked, turning back to her.
"I might have another chance if I return to my kingdom, but when someone like you can teleport behind me at any moment, the possibility of escape becomes a childish fantasy," she replied.
"Smart," I said, locking my gaze onto hers. "You know escape is nearly impossible, but you're still looking for a way out. I admire your determination, Princess. But don't worry. I'm not like my brothers. If you cooperate with me, I won't harm you or your son.
In fact, I can ensure you live a relatively luxurious life," I said.
"I know… As amusing as I find your efforts not to look at my breasts, it's given me some insight into your character," Princess Lunaene replied.
"So, is that a yes?" I asked.
"It's definitely a yes."
Princess Lunaene's decision pleased me. As the carriage continued its gentle sway, plans for the future began to form in my mind. This cooperation was a great advantage for me, but despite having secured her alliance, I knew I needed to be cautious. Her intelligence and determination elevated her from being a mere pawn to a significant ally.
However, time would tell whether she could be a trustworthy one.
"Princess, to solidify our agreement, we need to clarify a few things," I said, turning from the view to face her. "First, forget about returning to the Kingdom of Avarya. There's no force that can keep you alive if you go back. As long as you stay with me, both you and your son's safety will be guaranteed. But I can't allow you complete freedom."
Princess Lunaene bowed her head slightly with a faint smile. "I understand, Prince Ethan. I'm aware of my current position. But I want you to know that I'm not just a princess. I have skills to take care of myself. Don't underestimate me."
Her words reaffirmed her strength and confidence. I couldn't help but respect her for that. But she had to be aware of my power, and in this game, control still had to remain in my hands.
"I have no doubt about your abilities, Princess," I said. "But remember, I'm not ordinary either. If I'm helping you, I expect something in return. I will do whatever is required of me. And I hope you remain loyal to me in return."
Silence filled the carriage for a few minutes. Outside, the sound of the wind and the horses' hooves echoed. Although this woman in front of me was now willing to cooperate, I knew that in the games of royalty, no one was ever truly trustworthy. But for now, this partnership gave me an edge.
"I believe you will keep your word, Prince Ethan," Lunaene finally said, a meaningful smile appearing on her face. "And I promise I will stay loyal to you." At these words, I gave a slight nod. We had now entered a new phase of the game. This move, which would shape the kingdom's future, was working in my favor for the time being.
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100 chapters! 🎉🎉 🥂I want to thank the readers who have been supporting me almost every day and who have read up to this chapter! I hope you enjoy the upcoming chapters and follow along with me to see where the story goes!
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