CH 104

Ethan showed a dry smile and nodded. ‘Circumstances… huh.’ Ethan was still the rightful heir to the throne when the Garcia family had been exterminated. However, he had become isolated in the castle back then, with all his men taken away from him. He hadn’t noticed Halbert’s scheme to thoroughly drive him into a corner over many years. Halbert soon took control of the royal palace, and if not for his mother, Ethan would not be alive, making preparations to avenge his family like he was now.

“The tragedy that happened to your family was my fault in a way. Did you ever resent me for that?” Ethan asked.

“I’ve never thought about anything like that. I was too busy thinking about how to survive each day,” Gareth answered bluntly.

Ethan vacantly gazed at his old friend. He could smell the stench of blood emanating from the man who was now a mercenary. It seemed that all the blood he had been drenched in while killing had now become his scent. Nevertheless, he didn’t mind it, because it was the same case for him. When Ethan had fled the capital with the help of his mother before the day of his execution, when he had gritted his teeth and vowed to get revenge against Halbert, his scent had also changed to resemble that of blood.

“Stop talking about the past and just tell me what you’re planning,” Gareth crossed his arms and spoke in a brusque manner.

Seeing the coldhearted man in front of him, Ethan smirked and opened his mouth. “Does talking to me feel like a waste of time?”

“Then is it not? You should know that we’re short on time.”

Accepting the truth, Ethan decided to get straight to the point. “I’ll attack Halbert first before the war between him and his cousins begins.”

“Do you have the military power to do that?”

“I haven’t wasted time, Gareth. There are also people who have been waiting for me and are willing to help me. It will just be between me and the capital, Gareth. I want you to come with me to the capital.”

Gareth became deep in thought at his words. ‘My family… was exterminated by Halbert. I need to kill him myself. I have to.’

“We need to take control of the capital to have an advantage in this war, Gareth. You know that, don’t you?”

“What if Logan decides to attack you? There is a chance that he might hold hands with Halbert to get rid of you first. Don’t you think that could happen?”

“What? You…” Gareth’s outspoken and rude words caused anger to surge up within Ethan, rendering him speechless.

“Then what do you have planned? There is only one chance to make this happen. We have to keep all the variables in mind.”

Ethan’s rage was instantly awakened by Gareth’s terribly cold words. He was a man burning with vengeance, waiting for the day to get his revenge, but his status right now was a fugitive, not the rightful heir to the throne. Ethan inhaled deeply to collect himself. He pondered over Gareth’s words for a moment. ‘I could get attacked from behind…’ He then realized Lydia’s whereabouts had been unknown for the past few months.

“I see. That could be the case. If Lydia is with Logan right now, she could surely pull off such a thing. Then, can you check what Logan is up to for me and stop him if you think he will be a danger to us?” Ethan requested.

“I can, but what about you? Will you be able to handle the king alone?” Gareth asked back with an objective and somewhat condescending voice.

Ethan could not help but marvel at Gareth’s attitude. ‘I can see why he has never been defeated before. He remains calm and composed at times like this. He has probably never lost his temper, and that’s probably how he always wins.’ With this thought, Ethan retorted with a sarcastic voice, “You don’t think I’ve prepared at least that much? I didn’t even include you as part of the plan in the beginning. You were, in fact, a variable to me.”

“Alright, then,” Gareth nodded.