Everything for the throne

Brothers by name and blood

Man: If I was to be late, they might have killed you. You should be thankful.

Alice: I never asked for your help

Man: Lady, you might not know, but they aren't ordinary people. They are from the Clan Headhunters

Alice: Headhunters u say? I wish to hear more.

The man thought for a moment before explaining,

Man: The Clan Headhunters were once under the protection of the great Emperor Alexandr. However, they betrayed the Emperor by plotting against him. As a result, the Emperor killed the people of the clan. But some of them managed to escape and started a new life in the woods.
Though the Clan Headhunters appear in the village festival every year to perform the sword dance, they quickly vanish back into the woods, as if the clan never existed.

Alice: *No wonder they fear the people of hight status of the kingdom*

Alice thought as the story reached her ears. After a few seconds, Alice was reminded that she had left her Imperial brothers in the village alone. She walked past the man, but she was stopped.

A familiar horse stood before Alice. The handsome young man who stepped down from the horse walked towards Alice with wide eyes.

Prince Carlos: Princess Alice!?

There was a complete silence for a minute until the man who stood behind Alice broke the ice.

Man: So... the lady here is actually Princess?

Alice ignored the two and made her way out of the forest. The two handsome men followed her with their horse, whispering to each other.

Man: Is she your sister?

Making a disgusted face, Carlos replied,

Prince Carlos: Ugh... I have no sister like her. My sister would never wander around alone at night like she does.

The man understood from the bitterness in those words that the relationship between the two was troubled.

As the three walked on the village street, the other two princes approached them in haste. The evident anxiety and distress they displayed indicated their deep concern for Princess Alice

Prince Felix: Wait! What is this man doing here?

Felix said, pointing towards Carlos, who looked at him with the same surprise.

Prince Carlos: For heaven's sake, wasn't it enough that I had to see your face in the palace that I had to encounter you here?

Prince Henrik: That's enough. Now that we're all together, let's get something to fill our stomach.

Alice agreed to Henrik's suggestion, but the other two princes were still busy arguing.

Prince Felix: I have no interest in sharing my space with him

Prince Carlos: The interest is mutual

However, this time, the unknown man who stood beside Carlos stopped their argument.

Man: Carlos, stop behaving like a kid

Prince Henrik was surprised by Carlos suddenly turning his head in the other direction with a pout on his face, reminiscent of a child, after just a few words from the man, prompting him to question the man responsible for the abrupt change in the Prince's behavior.

Prince Henrik: Can I know who the gentleman here is?

The man immediately bowed his head, greeting the royalties.

Max: The knight here greets the Imperial Princes and Princess

Prince Felix: Isn't you the young knight who received the medal of achievement along with promotion? You were quite a news. What was your name again?

Max: I am honored to be recognized by His Highness. Myself, Max Arthur

Upon hearing the name, Alice immediately looked at the man. His face seemed familiar before, but now it clicked. Her blood brother, who used to carry her on his shoulders when she was little, was now a high-ranking knight.