"You don't have to worry about him," the Prince said, his voice calm and tinged with a quiet confidence. "He isn't someone who could ever harm me. In fact, he'd do anything for us… well, except die, I suppose."
There was no doubt in his tone—no hesitation, no flicker of fear.
And somehow, that made me more cautious.
I understood that whoever the man hiding in the bushes was, the Prince didn't see him as a threat. That was good. But that wasn't my concern. The real issue was trust—and I wasn't the kind of person to hand mine out just because someone else said it was fine.
"Your confidence can go to hell," I muttered, irritation lacing my voice. "Just tell me who the hell he is."
The Prince sighed, folding his arms as if the entire situation bored him. "You've already met him. You just don't remember. He's the one who served you since you were a child. The only one you ever had. He's the son of the Duke of Orlando—Arslan. Arslan Orlando."
The name hit me like a slow echo from a distant past.
Arslan… I remembered now. A character from the novel—loyal to Christopher since childhood. He was more than a servant. He was a friend. A rare soul with enough sense to see through right and wrong, even when others couldn't. When Christopher planned a rebellion, Arslan was the only one who dared speak against it. But Christopher didn't listen. And because the Duke of Orlando had pledged loyalty to the Empire—not to any one person—Arslan was forced to oppose Christopher.
And so, Christopher lost one of his strongest allies.
Now knowing who was behind me, I allowed myself to breathe again. The tension in my shoulders eased as I took a slow, casual stroll back to my quarters. Once inside, I locked the door and opened the window—just enough for the breeze to roll in.
He came in moments later, as if summoned by thought.
Arslan climbed through the window with ease and landed softly on the stone floor. I gestured toward the chair in front of me. "Sit."
Without hesitation, he obeyed.
But even in the dim light of the room, I could see it—he was angry. Not livid, not disrespectful… just hurt. I knew I had to be careful with my words.
"I know you're angry," I said, leaning back. "And maybe you think I've been acting strange ever since I woke up. The man who used to tell you everything—from errands to travel—suddenly vanished into the streets without saying a word."
Arslan's brow twitched, his voice low and gruff. "That's not the point, my Lord. You could have been attacked. It wasn't safe out there. All I needed was a simple message—'Hey, I'm heading out.' That's it. I would've done everything in my power to ensure your safety."
He looked down, fists clenched. "Instead, you went alone. No warning. No protection."
I could hear the pain in his voice—not the kind that lashes out, but the kind that builds in silence.
I sighed, rubbing my temples. Truth was, in the chaos of everything, I had forgotten about him. With so many things to plan and threats circling my every move, Arslan had slipped through the cracks. But I couldn't just apologize. I needed him to understand the weight of the choices I was making.
"Rich words," I said quietly, "from someone who couldn't protect his friend even within palace walls."
His head dipped instantly.
That was cruel. I knew it the second I said it.
He wasn't at fault. He had no idea how Christopher had been poisoned. He couldn't have seen it coming. But truth didn't change reality: He couldn't save me. And he knew it.
The silence between us was heavy. Long.
Then I broke it.
"Arslan," I said more softly, "I know you're loyal to me. But that loyalty means nothing if you can't keep me safe. And we both know who's behind this. Hell, even my father knows."
Arslan's eyes flicked up.
"But he won't act," I continued, "because the man responsible… is someone with a legitimate claim to the throne. And if my father tried to expose or punish him, the public would twist it. They'd say the Emperor is clearing the path for his favorite child. Me."
I leaned forward, locking eyes with him. "And what happens if that rumor spreads? The people might not rise up—not immediately—but it will taint everything I do. No matter how hard I work, they'll see me as the boy who cheated his way to the crown."
Arslan gritted his teeth. "Then what can I do, my Lord? Tell me. What do I need to do to stay by your side? How do I strip that man of his legitimacy? Tell me, and I'll do it—whatever it takes."
Before I could answer, the Prince's smug voice cut in from behind.
"You... are such an asshole," I muttered at him. "How the hell do you manipulate people like this? With just a few words, you had Arslan ready to sacrifice everything."
The Prince chuckled. "I didn't manipulate him. I just told the truth. Real loyalty doesn't need sugar-coating."