Chapter 184: Chapter 35. Unexpected Hospitality

Philippe Blanche was left alone with an infant in his arms. After Serge gave birth, he took the baby and went to an unknown destination, trying to find a place where they could be sheltered.For a long time, the little girl screamed and cried — and Philippe had no idea what to do with her. He didn't know how to handle children at all. Eventually the child calmed down on her own and recently fell asleep.

«She's probably hungry.»

But what to feed her? Where to get money for baby food? The boy had already spent his last money on the essentials — and he didn't yet know how they were going to survive. The future seemed hazy and uncertain.

The crown prince dressed in rags was no different from other beggars living on the streets. His most precious possession was his newborn daughter. Philip clutched her to his chest and walked on. No matter what, he must find lodging for the night.

The clouds began to thicken. It was about to start raining.

Philip walked almost nonstop and felt tremendously tired. Meanwhile, even the orphanages would not let him on the doorstep. The locals were unwilling to accept beggars: they feared there might be thieves among them. The boy really was in a desperate situation.

— And you are unlucky with your father…» he grinned bitterly, while the child was sleeping soundly in his arms.

Philip did not give up trying to find shelter until the evening. Finally, when even he had almost lost hope, someone's voice suddenly called to him:

— Your Highness.

Philip turned around slowly. Before him stood an elderly woman of dubious appearance. Dressed in a purple robe, and when she smiled she bared her toothless mouth.

The boy was sure it was the stranger who was addressing him.

— Who are you? — The crown prince asked cautiously.

— Is this child yours? — The woman suddenly inquired.

Philip nodded slowly.

— This is my daughter.

The old woman smiled unpleasantly again.

— Follow me, Your Highness.

The woman suddenly turned around and walked in her direction. The boy watched her perplexedly. Who is she and why does she say to follow her? For a couple of seconds the prince hesitated.

But in the end he changed his mind. He had nowhere to go anyway. So what difference does it make where?

Philip slowly wandered after him.

After a while the old woman led him to her tent and led him inside. The room had a peculiar smell and not the best light. But at least it was warm.

After the woman's offer, the crown prince took a seat on one of the chairs. Afterwards she gave him some milk formula — which she said the baby could eat.

Since there was no other food available anyway, the boy was grateful for this as well. At least his daughter wouldn't be hungry tonight.

— You can stay here.

Philip didn't even know how to express his gratitude.

— Thank you! I will be sure to repay you in the future.

The old woman grinned.

— I look forward to it, Your Highness.

After the child had eaten and fallen asleep, Philip couldn't help but ask this:

— Who are you? And why did you help us?

The woman replied:

— Do you really want to know?

— What kind of question is that? — The guy objected, «Of course…

— In that case, I'm the one who will help you regain your former power.

Philip was taken aback.

— What do you mean?

— The lost greatness of the Blanche dynasty… Don't you want to restore it?

— «Lost greatness»? — The crown prince interrogated,» What do you mean?

The old woman smiled.

— 'I know that deep down you feel regret for this injustice.

Philip looked away.

— It's all in the past now…

— Not at all. As long as you're alive, you still have a chance for revenge.

— …

The boy was silent, not understanding what this stranger was getting at.

— Even if you can't, your daughter is also a descendant of the Blanche dynasty,» the old woman continued, «I see that she has a great future.

Philip was dumbfounded.

— What do you mean? What do you see?

— If you guide the princess in the right direction… In the future she will not only avenge her enemies, but she will help you to ascend the throne again.

Philip was feeling more and more tense.

— Who the hell are you?!

The woman was in no hurry to give a straight answer.

— Some call me a charlatan, others call me a messenger from heaven… I am the one who can read destiny by meeting a person only once.

The Kronprinz hesitated. Could this old woman be a fortune teller? In the kingdom, as on the whole continent, it was quite a common pastime. Tents with fortune-tellers stood in almost every major city, and everyone from ministers to commoners could visit them. What could you do if the people of the empire were rather superstitious?

However, almost always, with a few exceptions, it was just a brazen scam. True soothsayers were rare. And the boy couldn't believe he'd met one.

At least he could not see any other motive in the woman. Now Philip was poor and had not even a penny in his pocket. So it's unlikely she was telling him this for profit.

— Your daughter is destined to become the savior of the empire,» the woman continued, «Our meeting today is also heaven-sent. That's why I helped you.

The prince frowned.

— You're just a fortune teller. Why would you interfere in all this?

For the first time there was sincere emotion on the old woman's face. She grinned sadly.

— I want to avenge my granddaughter.

— Granddaughter…?

— My poor girl…» she sighed, «I thought I'd help her, but instead I pushed her to the edge of the abyss. There's nothing I can do about it now. I only long for the destruction of the empire as retribution for her sad fate. Sёarᴄh the nôvelFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

Philip did not know what she was talking about or what granddaughter she was talking about. But one thing was clear: he would never allow his child to become an instrument for someone else's purpose.

— I am grateful for your help today,» he said dryly, «But I have to refuse your offer.

The woman was stunned.

— And why is that?

— I alone was enough,» Philip smiled weakly, «I do not want my daughter to spend her life in hatred.

— …

— Even if not rich, but Bridget will live happily and without unnecessary regrets. That's all I want.

The fortune teller was angry at his words.

— Fool! You're nothing but a weakling who's afraid to take responsibility.

The crown prince looked at her coldly.

— Neither I nor my daughter wants this bloody responsibility.

The old woman jumped up from her seat.

— You will regret it in the future! — Pointed a shaking finger at the boy.

Philip also stood up and answered her bluntly:

— I will decide for myself what I will regret. Thank you for your hospitality, but it seems we are no longer welcome here. Brigitte and I will leave you as soon as possible.