“I also never thought that she would be that determined. Oh my! What is she thinking?” Monica who stood up said without blinking an eye.The Queen was very surprised seeing her daughter’s way to show her affection.Her eyes were still looking straight at her daughter who was still reluctant to let go of her embrace on Riley. Meanwhile, Xylan, the young prince could only shake his head, “My sister seems to have become infatuated with General Mackenzie's son, Mother.”Not long after, the fifteen-year-old youth added, “Perhaps you should arrange their marriage soon, Dad before ... it's too late.”Keannu turned his head towards his son, “Too late, how do you mean, Xylan?”“Hm, Father. You ... must know that ... Rowena is sometimes beyond prediction. She ....” Xylan shrugged, unable to tell his father what he was thinking.However, Keannu had understood the meaning of his son's words and the king who still looked handsome at more than half a century old sighed softly.“You're right, Xylan.
Riley immediately approached and hugged his father tightly.William returned the hug no less tightly while patting Riley's shoulder. Shortly after, Rowena, who had witnessed the scene, said, “General Mackenzie, I'm going out. You can talk to Riley alone.”William threw a smile of gratitude at Rowena which was returned with a small nod by the young girl.“I'll wait for you outside, Riley,” Rowena said quietly before the girl stepped out of the Xylan residence.Once Rowena had left, Riley said, “How can you still be here, Dad?”“I thought you went straight home after the war was over,” Riley continued.William let out a long sigh, “I'd be an ignorant person if I left right away, Riley. I'll still be here, attending Greg Sehel's funeral.”“But, Dad ....”William immediately calmed his son down and said, “You, take it easy! I've arranged everything. James won't know about you ... my son.”Riley frowned, “What do you mean?”“All the royal members have agreed not to reveal your status. You
William Mackenzie immediately held his son's shoulders. He then lowered his voice, “Attend the funeral and talk to the family, Riley.”Riley was taken aback. Attending Greg Sehel's funeral was an obligation, but for the second thing his father said, Riley was not sure.“Why are you silent?”Riley moistened her lower lip, “Dad, what can I talk to his family about?”William smiled, “You'll find out when you meet them.”“But, Dad ....”“You'll find your own way. Trust me, Riley, you can do it.” William nodded confidently to his son.Riley, who still did not know what to say, could only nod back.“Riley, you have to go back,” William said then.Huh? That fast? Riley was a bit surprised. He had only been talking to his father for a few minutes but was already asked to leave.“Why, Dad?” Riley asked in astonishment.“Princess Rowena brought you here. People will gossip about you two if the princess is not seen in public for a long time,” William explained.Riley swallowed and a pink tinge
Oh, it turned out that his father's words were true. Everything a member of the royal court did quickly spread, as if there were no secrets in the palace when it came to them.Sure enough, the news quickly reached the ears of every resident of the palace. Because, the incident where Rowena took him away was indeed witnessed by all the soldiers. So, it was easy for the spies who were witnesses to look for the whereabouts of him and the king's daughter. Realizing all that, Riley let out a long sigh.“We went to Prince Xylan's palace because his residence is closest to the field. Besides, Princess Rowena ... knows what I'm going through so she ... tried to comfort me,” Riley explained a little too long so that no one would ask any more questions.But, unfortunately, someone felt that explanation was not enough and so he still asked, “Oh, then what did Princess Rowena do to comfort you?”“Huh, you want to die? How dare you ask such a personal question?” Alen said as he glared at one of th
“There's no mistaking it, it really is General Mackenzie.”Someone enthusiastically spoke, “Look at his clothes! Those are the clothes on display at the silver building, right?”One of the prospective soldiers lined up parallel to Riley responded, “That's right. I notice that. That really is General Mackenzie's armor.”“I can't be wrong, it really is General Mackenzie.”“Oh my! This is amazing, I can see the legend in person. The best general this kingdom has ever had.”But then someone whispered in a slightly hushed tone, “But, wait a minute! What is the greatest war general doing here?”“Hasn't he decided to never appear in public? Then, why is he here now?”“Is he coming back?”Someone else clucked their tongue, “Don't just talk! Isn't he too old to come back? Perhaps ... he has some interest here.”Alen Smith, who was standing right behind James and Riley, was even more interested in seeing James' reaction than in hearing the ramblings of the other soldiers' friends.The young man
Obviously James' words were such an indisputable fact that when he spoke like that none of the soldiers lined up nearby replied to him.However, James continued to say, “What is so great about that man that King Keannu would give him such a great privilege?”Riley remained silent until James finally got annoyed himself and nudged his arm, “Wood, say something! Why is that man being treated better than others?”Riley of course couldn't dodge anymore so he replied, “How could I possibly know what the king is thinking, James?”“He decides that and only he knows the answer,” Riley continued.However, Riley actually guessed that everything Keannu Wellington did was a tribute to Greg Sehel. Greg was killed saving his life so his father was allowed to do so.But, there was no way he would say that to James Gardner's face.“Damn it! Why does it have to be that man?” James said, sounding unreceptive.All this time, Riley had heard James call his father “that man”. Not once did the young man me
Not wanting to let Riley face Justin Donovan alone, Alen spoke up again, “Right. And just so you know ... with the way you're talking, you're insulting Commander Sehel's sacrifice. Do you know that or not?”Justin's eyes bulged in disbelief, “What do you mean I insulted his sacrifice?”“Of course you're insulting it. That sacrifice shouldn't be questioned, but rather honored. But you ... you're speculating all the time,” Alen replied.Hearing Alen's answer, Justin felt like he had just been slapped until the young man's previously stiff expression softened a little.Wordlessly, Justin moved away. Alen closed his eyes in relief, while James commented, “That big mouth is too much. Oh my!”“Never mind, James. The ceremony will take place in a little while,” Riley said, who refocused on the funeral process.Up ahead, William Mackenzie, Andrew Reece and a number of commanders and soldiers who had the honor of representing their friends began to stand around Greg Sehel's coffin.There were
Riley had a hard time answering James' question so the young man remained silent. However, someone suddenly replied, “James, if you think General Mackenzie sent his son here to compete with you, you are very wrong.”“Wrong? How come?” James replied as he turned to Alen.Riley was quite surprised to hear his best friend's defense. He never expected Alen to do that. Alen sighed, “Oh please, James. You know that even if the son doesn't use his father's surname, it's obvious that this matter of sending the son to the palace has nothing to do with you.”The young man paused for a moment and glanced at Riley, and then continued to say, “In fact, I highly doubt that he knows you are here as well.”Alen frowned but James was still listening as if he knew that Alen had not finished speaking.“I mean ... no one even knows about your father having a son, information about you is not included in General Gardner's biography. So, I think it's highly unlikely that General Mackenzie knew about you.