Translator: Cinder Translations
...
"This stumbling block... I have already removed it for you."
Prince Antonio smiled as he spoke to the old Marshal McDonald.
After finishing his sentence, he clapped his hands vigorously.
Just as McDonald was still pondering what the prince meant, Lady Carol, a court lady serving the prince, walked in, leading a boy.
"Grandpa Imah!"
The boy's face lit up with joy upon seeing McDonald, but then quickly turned to sorrow.
He broke free from Carol's hand and rushed into McDonald's embrace.
"Grandpa Imah, I... I... my father and mother..."
Recently, his life had undergone a great change, filled with fear and anxiety. Now that he had finally seen a familiar face, a flood of mixed emotions—grief, fear, longing, relief, and joy—overwhelmed him, unable to be suppressed any longer.
"Jonny, how have you been? Are you hurt?"
McDonald fought against his huge confusion and shock, inspecting the boy from head to toe.
"Grandpa Imah, I... I'm not hurt, don't worry."
The boy sobbed, "It's just... just my parents..."
McDonald felt a pang of regret for the boy's parents, who were kind commoners. Ten years ago, Jonny's biological parents had died from illness, and this kind couple had adopted the still-infant Jonny. He was the only bloodline left of the prince, which was why McDonald cared so much.
"Alas, good child." He gently stroked the boy's hair with his rough hands. "Don't be too sad... Please accept my condolences for what happened to your parents. They were good people, and their souls must surely be in heaven now."
McDonald was not good at comforting others, but he did his best to soothe the emotionally traumatized boy in front of him.
"You must cheer up. Your parents wouldn't want to see you looking so dispirited now."
"Grandpa Imah, you're right. I can't let my parents see me like this."
The boy forced himself to stay strong, holding back his tears.
After comforting the boy, McDonald turned to Antonio.
"Your Highness, what is this...?"
In that moment, a thought crossed McDonald's mind—Prince Antonio had taken the boy, who could be used to threaten him, in an attempt to do the same as his brother and the D'Arshi family, trying to get him to switch sides.
Now he found himself in the estate of the second prince, surrounded by the prince's people, and with just his not-so-young body and a few guards waiting outside, there was no way to take the boy away.
"Oh! Lord McDonald!"
Antonio replied casually.
"Please don't misunderstand; I mean no harm. If it's convenient for you, you may take this lovely little guy home with you."
McDonald's eyes widened slightly.
After hesitating for a moment, he suddenly knelt on one knee before Antonio, using the most solemn knightly gesture of the Gabella Empire.
"Your Highness! I... and my family will deeply thank you for the tremendous favor you have bestowed upon us. I will never forget this grace, and I will find a way to repay you."
Antonio smiled and reached out to grasp the old marshal's arm, helping him to his feet, and then tightly held his hand.
"I just don't want to see a meritorious minister, who has been loyal to the empire for half his life and made great contributions, trapped in such a despicable plot. I don't mean to flaunt my nobility, but I will at least choose different strategies for different enemies. For despicable people, I don't mind being more despicable than them, but for someone like you, I want to face you squarely, even as an enemy."
"So I want you to be free of concerns and worries, without any entanglements in your heart, even if in the future we find ourselves on opposing sides."
Antonio's words actually made McDonald a little misty-eyed, a feeling he hadn't experienced in many years.
He touched the boy's head beside him. "Jonny, go spend some time with Lady Carol. I need to talk with this gentleman; Grandpa will find you later... Lady Carol, I'm counting on you."
Jonny obediently nodded. The words spoken by "Grandpa Imah" and the nice big brother had left him somewhat confused; he didn't understand most of it, but hearing the big brother say that "Grandpa Imah" could take him home made him very happy.
Since "Grandpa Imah" told him to leave, he decided not to linger and disturb the adults. His father also didn't like him around when discussing business.
Jonny followed Carol away.
"Your Highness." McDonald looked at Antonio. "Why don't you... get rid of Jonny? You should know that in the long run, his background poses a threat to you no less than your brother does. There were many loyal to that prince, not just my family."
"Sir, whether you believe it or not," Antonio replied, "the allure of the throne is not as great for me as people imagine. It's merely the most convenient shortcut to my ultimate goal, which is why I strive for it. In this process, I wish to avoid hurting those who don't wish to be my enemies. This child is innocent and knows nothing. He has been unwittingly drawn into the vortex of conspiracy simply because of the blood he bears. How could I harm him?"
McDonald wasn't sure if it was just his imagination, but he seemed to see an emotion called empathy in the prince's eyes.
"Your Highness, I am deeply impressed by your magnanimity."
McDonald said this from the heart, although he still couldn't quite understand what the prince's "ultimate goal" was.
"Well then, what do you consider for this child's future?"
Antonio asked.
McDonald hesitated before answering, "I want to keep him by my side."
"Are you sure you have the ability to protect this child? Have you not considered how the D'Arshi family could learn of this secret you have always kept so guarded?"
"Uh..." The old marshal hesitated even more; yes, it didn't seem very safe for him either.
But... McDonald glanced at Antonio.
He suddenly realized that there was a safe place right in front of him.
That was beside this prince.
The first prince and the D'Arshi family could take Jonny away, but the second prince could snatch Jonny back from them; wasn't that the best proof?
Moreover, Prince Antonio didn't have any ill intentions toward Jonny; was there a more suitable place to keep Jonny than here?
(End of the Chapter)
---
Read (FF) ahead on (pa treon . com / CinderTL) – Chapter 740. {We've Caught UP!!!}
Early access starts at $5. Your support keeps this going!
Use Code CINDER2025 to get 50% first month discount on TUR and TUP Tiers. Valid Till 15Jan2025. \(^O^)/
Subscribe & Read Nightmare Strikes FREE!! ;)
Translated 4 Series, 1.5K+ Chapters and 1.78M+ Words.