Jerry was nervous sitting in front of Prince Edwin. This was the first time he had sat in one of the rooms in the palace to speak with a prince.
"I want to make you an offer."
Jerry was a bit of a jolt because Prince Edwin to the point.
"What offer, Prince?" Jerry asked hesitantly.
"You've come from abroad, haven't you?" Prince Edwin asked.
"Yes, Prince."
Deep inside, jerry wondered where Prince Edwin could find out about his origins. He never even told anyone.
Wait? Ah, right. Jerry once told Ichiro and Jirou. No doubt Prince Edwin obtained that information while conducting his investigation.
"Tell me about your life there?"
"I am overwhelmed live comfortably, Prince."
Suddenly, it fell silent. Did Jerry say something wrong? Or is it one of those disrespectful words at Horathomi?
"Are you lying?" asked Prince Edwin. Jerry was again made shocked by Prince Edwin's question. "So, what brings you here? In fact, it is quite comfortable where you come from," Prince Edwin asked again.
Jerry's speechless. He just looked at prince Edwin out of curiosity.
Prince Edwin smiled a little. "Are you being evicted? Did you escape on purpose?"
"I am overwhelmed wanting to live a new life," Jerry answered hesitantly. Prince Edwin seems to know everything. Or is it just a guess?
Afterward, there was silence. Prince Edwin only drinks the tea on the table. So does Jerry who's been entertained so many snacks at the same table. Jerry seemed to freeze with tension.
"Okay. I will begin the bidding," said Prince Edwin, ending the silence. "You want my position in the army, don't you?" he continued.
Jerry was shocked again for the umpteenth time. "Is unbecoming... Can I?" Jerry asked hesitantly. The only thing Jerry really wants is power.
"Sure. But, with a condition."
"What is it, Prince? I will fulfill it," said Jerry, who began to show interest.
Prince Edwin smiled again. "You must defeat prince Ken at the competition to be held next week."
***
The Golden Sword Competition was the one held once a year to commemorate the heyday of the horathomi empire. Next week is the 400th competition to be held in the arena.
Competition is stiff, considering that coming from all over the world. The man who survives the finals will win the title of gold sword if he wins.
During recess, Jerry met Jirou and Ichiro in a tavern. He told them about the competition he was going to join.
"You're going to join the competition?" Ichiro asked. Jerry nodded his head.
"Are you crazy?" asked Jirou.
Jerry was amazed at the reactions of Jirou and ichiro. "So what?" he asked.
"Jerry, the competition was tight. Your lives are at stake," said Jirou with a serious face.
"There are only two options, Jerry. Win... or die!" Ichiro asserts.
Jerry swallowed. "Dead?"
Yeah, you better think about it.
Jerry fell silent. He thought of the offer that prince Edwin was making. But he forgot that such a great offer would be impossible without great risk.
All of a sudden, Jirou looked at Jerry with an investigative stare. "Is that an order from the Prince?" he said in a hushed voice.
"What?" Ichiro was surprised. Jerry looked at him.
Spurred on by the stares of the two brothers, Jerry told of the prince who had asked him to win against prince Ken. The reward is high position.
Hearing Jerry's statements, Ichiro and Jirou couldn't bear to tell the truth. They don't think they can stop Jerry. They were well aware of Jerry's ambition for power. Let alone Jerry's sagging back from his own father to his demise.
***
Prince Edwin sits in a chair facing the window. He was enjoying the view outside the palace while putting on his happy face.
All of a sudden, his guard walks into his room without permission. Anderson's used to not saying hello. The prince asked her to be relaxed when it was just her and the prince.
Without further ado, the prince spoke directly of his offer to Jerry.
"Was the prince not exaggerating about the offer?" asked Anderson worried.
The prince smiled a little. "Why do you think that?"
"Surrendered the position of prince as leader of the armed forces."
"What are you thinking, Anderson?" Prince Edwin asked with a laugh.
Anderson is baffled by Prince Edwin's question. "What does the prince mean?"
"Prince Ken has never lost in that competition."
Upon understanding Prince Edwin's words, Anderson was shocked and surprised.
"The prince sacrificed the boy's life?"
"Exactly! He only brought himself to his own death."
Years of service to the crown. As a guardian, Anderson still could not understand the meaning of Prince Edwin's every word. He couldn't even predict Prince Edwin's purpose for any action taken.
***
Ichiro and jirou did not return to the palace until after carrying out their duties as royal messengers.
When they passed the training ground, they looked at each other as they saw jerry practicing a real sword by himself.
"Jerry, what are you doing?" asked Jirou over to Jerry.
Jerry put his sword into the sheath. Then, answer Jirou's question.
"I'm practicing."
"Isn't this training a holiday?" Ichiro asked.
"No time off for me. I had to defeat Prince Ken," Jerry said confidently. Ichiro and Jirou look at each other. "I'm going to stay in the competition."
"What?" repeated Ichiro and Jirou simultaneously.
"I don't care if I have to die. But mainly If I win, the power I can easily gain," Jerry said with belief.
Jerry's persistence turned him into a decision that would cost him his own life. Even when he didn't know what he was getting into.
"Good luck," Ichiro said, softly patting Jerry on the shoulder.
Jerry practiced very hard. He even came early and left late at practice. In his mind was just one. Proving to his father that power doesn't always have to be a higher education. That there will be many who are obedient to a leader who fails high education like himself.
***
Princess Alice saw her brother busy with her paper in front of her with a serious facial expression.
"What are you doing?" asked Princess Alice, who was going through the files.
"Preparing for your wedding."
Princess Alice is widening her eyes. "What? Come on, you know that I don't want to get married at a young age."
"What's the matter?" Prince Edwin asked with a small laugh.
"I've said that before!" upset Princess Alice. She folded her arms.
Princess Alice did tell her brother that she did not want to marry young. If she wanted to marry young, she would choose his own lover, not because it was an arranged marriage.
"How are you, Prince Edwin?" asked a man who had come from outside his room.
Princess Alice hid right behind her brother's chair. She could clearly hear the voice, Prince Ken.
To be continued....