Beyond the Throne: The Monarch's Return

"What do you think? Will you give him to me?"

The Duke was speechless at Ian's confident request. Who was asking for whom now?

"Are you out of your mind? You want me to give you a knight instead of a soldier?"

The Duke's voice hardened. Offering Galon, not just any knight but one of the Three Great Knights of the Continent, to serve as the prince's escort?

'If it weren't for me, would you still be living as a peasant in some rural village?'

Ian had yet to be officially recognized as a prince. In truth, there'd be little issue if the Duke ordered Galon to kill him out of sheer annoyance. For a moment, a dark thought flickered through the Duke's mind.

'Should I just kill this brat?'

But that notion quickly vanished. After all, the First Prince was dead, and Ian was now a crucial piece in the war of succession.

No matter how powerful the Duke was, a change in monarchy would inevitably affect him. Worse, the closest candidate for the throne was the Second Prince, supported by the family of the rival Duke Lavaltor, known for their unmatched strength. The guardians of all other claimants had already been decided.

Killing Ian was out of the question—for now. Appeasement was a safer option. A few words should suffice.

"I'm afraid that would be difficult. Sir Galon is assigned to..."

"I heard he isn't."

"!"

The Duke stared at Ian, who smiled brightly.

"Didn't you assign him to fetch someone like me from the countryside? If he's doing tasks like that, why not let him serve me?"

"!?"

The Duke glanced at Galon.

"..."

Galon remained silent, head bowed. Ian wasn't wrong. The Duke felt a wave of frustration.

"I sent him because I trusted him more than anyone."

While it might have seemed like an odd task to others, it was part of a larger role in the succession conflict. But Galon didn't seem to share that perspective. Worse still, they seemed to get along well—perhaps too well.

'There's no need for a common-born knight. He's perfect to guard a prince from a lowly mother...'

The Duke could sense the sentiment in the room. His aides and servants wanted Galon gone.

'I could brush this off, but...'

What if the vassals heard of this? His pure-blooded nobles would complain, surely. Galon, a commoner, was an exception in this world of aristocrats. Trying to suppress any internal discontent forcefully wouldn't help him achieve his goals.

Ian was the real problem. This prince, who claimed to need protection, was a key piece in the succession struggle. Refusing him now might taint the Duke's image in front of the court.

'He'll never truly use Galon as I would. He's just a pawn to him. I could still make use of him when the time comes.'

But the Duke was cautious. A misstep now could make Galon a card he couldn't reclaim. Ian seemed confident, but this was a delicate balancing act.

After what felt like an eternity, the Duke finally spoke.

"Fine. I'll give him to you."

"!"

Ian's face lit up with triumph, but the Duke smiled darkly to himself. He wasn't letting Ian win so easily.

'I'll give him to you now, but I'll get him back when the time is right.'

Other knights could be appointed to the prince later. Galon's loyalty was still something the Duke could claim eventually. But for now, this left a bitter taste in his mouth.

"Then I'll be on my way."

As the Duke turned to leave, Ian's voice halted him.

"Oh, Duke?"

His words sent a chill through the room, freezing everyone.

"Have you paid your respects to me?"

Silence fell.

After Ian and his entourage left the audience chamber, only the head butler remained with the Duke.

"Hahaha!"

"Your Grace, please, compose yourself."

The Duke had shed his cold demeanor, laughing uncontrollably. Ian's audacity was simply unbelievable.

"He asked if I paid my respects. Did I hear that correctly, Butler?"

The head butler hesitated, unsure of how to respond. It was unthinkable that anyone would speak so boldly in the Duke's presence.

Of course, the Duke had bowed, but only to the crest of the royal family, not to the prince himself.

'Damn prince. How dare he make the Duke bow.'

The Duke's eyes, however, glinted with something other than anger.

"A lion's cub is still a lion."

He wasn't upset. In fact, Ian's transformation from a mere peasant to someone playing royal politics was impressive. The boy had seized Galon with just a few words.

'And yet, the king and his sons barely noticed Galon's potential.'

The head butler interrupted with a stern expression.

"Shall I take care of him, Your Grace?"

"No. On the contrary, if he's that sharp, he'll be useful."

"But..."

"If Galon had better sense, he wouldn't serve someone like that."

The butler was about to suggest the Duke's second son, but the Duke's face darkened.

"Attach the third to the prince."

"Pardon? Master Karan?"

"Yes. The eldest will handle him when the time comes. For now, Karan is enough."

Karan was known as a genius, but also unpredictable—a dangerous combination. However, the Duke's cold stare silenced the butler's objections.

"Understood, Your Grace."

As the Duke relaxed, he thought back to Ian.

"The boy has spirit, but let's see how he fares against Karan."

The Duke smiled coldly, confident that Ian's boldness would be put to the test soon.

Ian was on his way to his quarters, hands covering his ears to drown out Nathan's complaints.

"Why Galon and not me?"

Ian ignored him as Nathan kept insisting on why he hadn't been chosen too.

"I'm a prince!" Nathan shouted, clinging to him.

Suddenly, Galon stopped walking and asked Ian quietly.

"Are you sure about this?"

"What do you mean?"

"About asking for me. Sir Nathan would be more help."

Ian was confused. Galon was famous as one of the Three Great Knights, yet here he was, questioning his own worth. But Ian understood.

'Ah, this must be when Galon was largely overlooked.'

At this point in time, Galon's true reputation hadn't yet solidified. Despite his skills and loyalty, in a world dominated by noble bloodlines, Galon's common origins made him less valued.

"I trust what I've seen, not rumors," Ian said, meeting Galon's eyes. "And what I've seen of you is enough for me to trust you with my life."

Galon felt a surge of emotion at the prince's words. He had never received such trust before.

But Nathan, persistent as ever, interrupted again.

"Then why not both of us?"

Ian chuckled quietly, but he knew he couldn't push his luck. Asking for two knights would have been too much, provoking the Duke further.

For now, surviving the day was his priority.

'One misstep, and the Duke could have me killed before I even reach the capital.'

As they reached his room, Ian pushed the door open, ready for whatever awaited him.

"What's with this room?"

Galon and Nathan's expressions turned serious.