Chapter 17 - Loose Tongues
It was shortly after Andri learned that he would be promoted from servant to page once the reconstruction work was complete.
At first, he did not understand what Antonius was telling him.
"...Me?"
"Did you not hear me?"
"N-No, Your Highness!"
His voice cracked despite himself.
Knights belonged to a world unimaginably distant from his own.
He had always believed such a life had nothing to do with a servant boy who had once lacked even a name.
No explanation was necessary.
He knew who had opened that path for him.
The realization filled him with joy.
A joy that lasted only until Antonius informed him that he would be returning to the capital the following day.
The happiness vanished at once.
For a long moment, words refused to come.
When they finally did, they emerged little more than a whisper.
"Your Highness... I shall never forget all you have done for me."
A small smile touched Antonius's lips.
The words sounded almost like a farewell.
"I told you before."
His tone was casual.
"One day, I'll summon you into my service."
Andri looked up.
"So you had better keep working hard."
Antonius pointed a finger at him.
"Understood, Andri?"
Something swelled in Andri's chest.
"I promise!"
He bowed deeply.
Later that day, Antonius headed toward Commander Ioanis's tent to offer his farewells before departing.
Theodoros accompanied him.
Andri followed behind.
No one had invited him.
He simply wanted a little more time.
A little more conversation.
Antonius, notably, did not tell him to leave.
When they reached the tent, they found it unattended.
The usual guard stationed outside was nowhere to be seen.
Strange.
Antonius was just about to call out when voices drifted from within.
"Once the elder brother returns to the capital, I intend to dispose of the younger one."
Andri froze.
"The spoiled prince really has been a nuisance until the very end."
Another voice.
One of the senior officers.
"Truly. The queen certainly gave birth to an unfortunate pair."
"If the elder brother is a spoiled prince, then the younger is a monster."
A laugh followed.
"The elder one's a spoiled prince, the younger a monster. A pair of black sheep."
Andri blinked.
Were they talking about His Highness?
If so, that would be an outrageous insult.
Yet something didn't add up.
As far as he knew, the Crown Prince had no siblings.
Monster?
That made even less sense.
If anyone had ever been called a monster, it had always been him.
"His Majesty chose a troublesome wife."
"Good thing she was dealt with early."
"Imagine if she'd gone on producing more monsters."
Before Andri could process the words, Antonius seized his wrist.
"Come."
Without another word, he turned around and walked away.
Theodoros hurried after them.
