Past Promises

HIS FIRST REINCARNATION (PART III)

Loyalty and Pride.

The ministers had left the Main Hall.

The First Prince still on his knee.

I sat next to the First Prince.

"First Grandson, when did you plan all this? I'd always followed you, why didn't I know about this?"

My heart almost fell to the ground when he pointed his sword to the Crown Prince.

For a moment the word betrayer popped up in my head. I thought maybe I was a betrayer and it runs in the family.

Fortunately, it was all the First Prince's schemes. I wouldn't want to witness both of grandsons to swing their swords against each other. 

"Dear Brother, explain to me what had  just happened. You almost got me when you drew your sword," the Crown Prince asked.

He looked relieved but somehow there was something unreadable behind that facade. 

"They came to me after His Majesty announced his decision to abdicate. I just played along with them and gained their trust by agreeing to plan a revolt."

"Why did you wait untill today?" It surprised me that there was a suspicion in his tone.

"I'd wanted to make them to show themselves. I'd only met few of them and the others remained silent not until today. I believed they trusted me and decided to show themselves.  If you knew early, you might had them killed long before and we might wouldn't be able to disclose the others' involvement," the First Prince explained. His head still lowered down.

"How can I be sure that's all of them?"

The First Prince looked at the Crown Prince, "You're doubting me, Your Highness?"

"I never wanted too, Dear Brother. But as soon as I sat on this throne, I shouldn't give my trust easily. Even if it's you." The Crown Prince eyes lowered and his hands clasped on the armrests.

The weight of becoming a King showed in his eyes.

The words he said were all the truth but I could see the First Prince's was hurt by those words but he shielded it and put on an expressionless face.

"Moreover, everything you said about you as a rightful heir is the truth and it sounded like you were saying things from the bottom of your heart."

"My heart is for this nation but not the throne, I wouldn't dare to even dream of it," the First Prince defended himself.

"What's with this tension? What's wrong with the two of you? How did we come to this?" Their bonds were breaking slowly and I knew they felt that too.

"Let's hope that would last, Older Brother. The ministers might showed themselves but I believed there are more of them in favour of you. Indeed, I was younger and inexperienced compared to you that has lived as a soldier and went to few wars since a young age. I would also pick you if I was a citizen myself."

"Your Highness..." the First Prince wanted to say something but the Crown Prince interjected.

"But," he said with an authoritative voice, "His Majesty had chosen me and I trust his choice and I would appreciate it if you accompany me through this journey, Older Brother. I believe both of us would do anything for this nation," the Crown Prince said and he stepped down from the throne and walked towards the  First Prince. 

He extended his hand toward the First Prince and the First Prince grabbed it and he stood up.

"Stay with me, Older Brother, be the one that I could give all of my trust. Help me make this nation better."

The First Prince lowered down his head and said, "I only have my loyalty and my pride to offer you, Your Highness."