wavenovel 090, Rear Route
090, Rear Route
Inside the palace, the candlelight flickered, casting intermittent light and shadow on Bermelt's aged face.
Xinlai helped her father slowly down the steps, each step extremely slow, as if measuring the indescribable distance between father and son over the past decades.
The two followed the tower's stairs to a garden, where Bermelt sat down on a large, carpeted chair and gestured for Sinley to sit on the low stool beside him.
This seat has always been reserved for the closest people.
Xinlai remembers that when he was a child, he could occasionally sit here and listen to his father tell stories, but as he grew up, he no longer had a place here.
"Child," Bermelt sighed, his cloudy yet still sharp eyes gazing at the huge oil painting hanging on the wall in the distance—portraits of the past kings of the Golden Radiance Royal Family.
Do you know how many years the Golden Dynasty lasted?
Sinley paused, looking at Bermelt thoughtfully. His father didn't mention his mother again; it seemed her death was something his father didn't want to discuss.
Since that's the case, Xinlai didn't press further and replied:
"Reporting to Father, it has been nine hundred and seventy-three years."
"Nine hundred and seventy-three years..." Bermelt murmured, repeating himself.
"Do you know how many times in these 973 years, there have been internal strife and fratricide within the royal family?"
Xinlai certainly knew.
The history of the Golden Glory Royal Family appears on the surface to be a glorious epic, but in reality, it is a bloody history of power struggles.
Before and after the death of each old king, the princes would stop at nothing to obtain the ruby throne.
"The year my father ascended the throne," Bermelt's voice lowered.
"Of your three uncles, one was exiled to the far north, a place of bitter cold; one was imprisoned for life in the palace dungeon; and the other..." He paused, "...died in a rebellion."
Sinley remembered these things only from a few words in the historical record written to supplement the world view in "The Elegy of Asgard".
Now that my father has spoken these words himself, those cold words suddenly become vivid and cruel.
"That year, Father was thirty years old. Your eldest uncle, Summit, secretly allied with three border dukes and launched a coup while Father was away on campaign."
"By the time my father led his army back to reinforce the capital, the city had already fallen into his hands."
Bermelt's tone was eerily calm.
"The siege lasted seven days and seven nights, with over 100,000 dead and wounded."
Xinlai held her breath, not daring to make a sound.
"But in the end, I was still the better one."
"My father captured Samite, intending to spare his life. After all, he was my father's own brother."
Bermilt's eye twitched. "But the courtiers disagreed, the generals disagreed. They said that without killing Summit, it would be insufficient to deter future leaders."
"So, Uncle, he..."
"He was executed."
Bermelt closed his eyes. "Right here in the square in front of this palace, in front of 30,000 soldiers, behead them as a warning."
A long silence.
"I'm telling you this not so you'll pity me."
Bermelt reopened his eyes and looked at Sinlai. "Father wants to tell you that in the royal family, kinship must always give way to power."
"Do you think your father doesn't know about the open and covert struggles between your eldest and second brothers? Your father knows it all too well."
Xinlai whispered, "Father, you are wise..."
"A clear understanding?" Bermilt gave a bitter smile. "If Father were truly a clear understanding, he wouldn't have stood by and watched you all gradually become adversaries."
"But what can Father do? Depose one of them, or appoint a crown prince first? That would only cause the conflict to erupt prematurely."
He turned to look at Xinlai, his eyes filled with complex emotions: "So Father chose another way, to reduce the number of competitors."
"Your father is well aware of your talent. Although it is not bad, it is far inferior to that of your eldest and second eldest brothers."
"If your father gave you resources to cultivate power in court, what would you do?" Bermelt asked, emphasizing each word.
"You will become a threat in their eyes."
"Your eldest brother is inherently suspicious, and your second brother is ambitious. What will they do once they feel you might be a contender for the throne?"
Bermelt continued, "Assassination, framing, false accusation..."
"They have countless ways to make you disappear without a trace. By then, even if your father wanted to protect you, he might not be able to."
Xinlai opened her mouth, but remained silent.
"So your father deliberately neglected you, didn't give you resources, and didn't let you get involved in court affairs. He made everyone think that the Third Prince was a useless piece of trash."
"Bermeert's eyes reddened slightly as he said this, "I'm sorry you've suffered all these years."
Xinlai lowered her head, her Adam's apple bobbing.
He recalled his childhood, watching his older brothers train under renowned masters, while he could only learn basic swordsmanship on his own.
He recalled that when he grew up, his eldest and second eldest brothers had their own fiefdoms and mansions, while he could only squeeze into a remote little castle.
He recalled countless royal banquets where courtiers were polite to him but never gave him a second glance; that feeling of being ignored was like needles pricking his heart.
"Father..." Xinlai's voice was a little hoarse, "Why didn't you tell me sooner?"
"Should I have told you sooner?" Bermilt shook his head. "If I told you these things when you were young, would you have understood? Now that you're grown up, there are spies everywhere around you. If your father summons you alone, it will only arouse their suspicion."
In this palace, there are no real secrets.
If his father shows favoritism towards him, that favoritism will soon become his death warrant.
"And now?" Xinlai asked. "Aren't you afraid they'll find out if you tell me now?"
Bermelt's gaze deepened: "Because the time has come."
"opportunity?"
"My father's health won't last many more years," Bermelt said, his royal dignity completely gone.
"In three years at most, your father will be going to see your mother."
Xinlai suddenly looked up: "Father—"
"Do not interrupt Father."
Bermelt raised his hand to stop him, "Father's time is running out, so before he goes, he must make some things clear."
"Sooner or later, your eldest brother and your second brother will fight. Your father can't stop it, nor does he want to. This is the destiny of the Golden Glory royal family; every generation must experience it."
His voice suddenly softened: "But your father doesn't want you to get involved. So your father has arranged a way out for you."
"A backup plan?"
"I have a private plot of land in Cercyius. You and your wife can settle there. Your father has prepared an estate and property for you there, enough for you to live comfortably for the rest of your lives."
Bermilt took a seal from his pocket and handed it to Sinlai. "This is my token. Just show it to me when you get there."
Xinlai looked at the seal, a hint of resistance flashing in her eyes, and did not reach out to take it.
"Father, I cannot leave yet."