Chapter 18 - Embrace
Only after they had put considerable distance between themselves and the camp did Antonius finally stop.
He spoke without turning around.
"It seems the commander lacks the discretion expected of a man entrusted with confidential information."
Andri stared at the ground.
"Your Highness... I did not hear anything."
Antonius snorted.
"You are not foolish enough to think that excuse would work."
Andri fell silent.
"Or are you foolish?"
Antonius glanced back at him.
"Do you intend to disappoint me?"
"...No. My apologies."
The answer came almost automatically.
Antonius's voice sharpened.
"You are not to repeat anything you heard."
"I understand."
Antonius waited.
Several seconds passed.
Then he sighed.
"I said you're not to repeat it. To anyone else."
"I beg your pardon, Your Highness?"
He folded his arms.
"There are exactly two exceptions. Theodoros. And me."
Andri stared at him blankly.
Another sigh.
"There must be something you want to ask."
Andri hesitated.
A long silence followed.
Then another.
Finally, after carefully considering every possible question, he spoke.
"...I did not know Your Highness had a brother."
Antonius answered immediately.
"Officially, I am the King's only legitimate son."
Andri blinked.
That answer only deepened his confusion.
"But... Your Highness's mother..."
He chose each word with painstaking care.
"She gave birth to another son."
"She did."
Again, the answer came without hesitation.
Andri clasped his hands together.
His heart pounded.
"And Your Highness's brother... is a monster?"
Antonius shrugged.
"Covered in scales. Ridiculously strong. Turns into that enormous thing. Loses all sense when he does."
He glanced sideways at Andri.
"Has sword instincts and intelligence no ordinary five-year-old should possess."
A pause.
"The men back there are not entirely wrong when they call him a monster."
Andri stood frozen.
His mind could not keep up.
Slowly, cautiously, he opened his mouth.
"Then... Your Highness's brother is..."
"You."
Antonius answered before he could finish.
"Half-brother, technically."
The words were delivered as casually as if discussing the weather.
"Be grateful Mother spared you from inheriting that fool king's blood."
Beside them, Theodoros held his breath.
Without realizing it, his hand had settled on the hilt of his sword.
Theodoros had seen countless opportunists try to attach themselves to powerful men.
If Andri began to think of himself as royalty...
That would be troublesome.
But—
Andri immediately dropped to one knee.
His head lowered until it nearly touched the ground.
"I swear upon my life that I shall never reveal this."
His voice trembled.
"I give you my word."
He continued without lifting his head.
"Please allow me to continue serving you exactly as before."
Theodoros released a breath he had not realized he was holding.
Antonius looked pleased.
"Then devote your sword to this kingdom."
His voice softened.
"And to me."
A faint smile appeared on his face.
Andri could not bring himself to look up.
No matter how many times he wiped his face, the tears would not stop.
Antonius crouched beside him and wrapped an arm around his shoulders.
After a brief hesitation, Andri timidly grasped the sleeve of his tunic.
Antonius chuckled.
Then he helped him to his feet and embraced him properly.
"I look forward to seeing you again."
After a brief hesitation, Andri wrapped his arms around him in return.
"I shall work hard."
A breath caught in his throat.
"And I shall look forward to serving Your Highness again."
Though tears still clung to his eyes, he nodded firmly.
