chapter 33: "I have no family left now."

In the calm and quiet forest now, they gently buried the bodies of Jeheria and her accompanying guard. Anna was deeply anguished by her brother's death, but Ethan's words had provided her with some solace. As Jeheria's body was being buried, Aphrodite and the others stood silently by her side, their respect and loyalty unwavering.

Ethan approached Anna and reached out to support her. "We will move forward together now, Anna. I need your strength and loyalty. Despite Jeheria's death," he said.

Anna nodded slightly and grasped Ethan's hand. "Yes, Ethan. I have no family left now. But my dedication and loyalty to you are unwavering. I will do whatever it takes for you."

Ethan smiled at Anna's determination and looked at her gratefully. "You're mistaken. We are family now, Anna," he said, continuing his sentence. "So, get ready, Anna. We need to hit the road."

Anna nodded with genuine joy at Ethan, not referring to them as his family. Feeling Ethan's trust, she smiled sincerely and stepped closer to him. "Yes, I'm ready. I will always accompany you," she said in a determined tone.

They began to move quietly into the depths of the forest together. Aphrodite and the others also accompanied them. Along the way, they moved cautiously, hidden among the shadows, and remained alert, watching their surroundings sensitively to be prepared for any danger.

Throughout their journey, Ethan and Anna worked together, leading Aphrodite and the others. When they faced challenges, they supported each other and overcame them together.

As they gathered to fulfill their missions, their dedication and solidarity towards each other grew stronger day by day. They had become each other's family now, with a steadfast belief that they would overcome every difficulty together.

A week later, they emerged from the forest and crossed into the Asina Kingdom. They took their horses to a nearby town where they had left their carriage. Ethan, Anna, and Aphrodite got into one carriage, while Ulric and Namora got into another. And so, they set off towards the city of Aurendale. Along the way, Anna started to doze off from exhaustion. Aphrodite took this opportunity to move closer to Ethan. Although Ethan didn't notice, there was a silent competition between Aphrodite and Anna for his affection. While they didn't discuss this verbally, it was their instinct as women.

Aphrodite said, pretending to be tired, "I'm very tired, Ethan. Can I lean on your shoulder?" Ethan nodded, and Aphrodite leaned on his shoulder. Despite not having much experience with women, Ethan wasn't naïve. He had known Aphrodite's feelings since childhood. For now, he postponed this issue. After all, life was full of uncertainties. For instance, if he failed as a prince, his life would be in danger. The Kingdom of Asina did not prohibit fratricide among princes. Even his father Richard, the current king, had his father, Ethan's grandfather, killed in his tent by an enemy on the battlefield. Richard, upon hearing of his father's death, immediately concealed this information from everyone and killed those he didn't trust who knew his father had died. After the war, he pretended to be his father and sent a fake letter to his brother, who was chasing fleeing enemy soldiers, calling him to his father's tent.

Richard's brother went to his tent, unaware of their father's death. As soon as he entered the tent, someone killed him and his guards. Rumors of Richard's ruthlessness stemmed from this incident. However, Richard had done what he deemed right. What else could he do if not kill his brother? Reconciliation was impossible between them. Both coveted the throne. And if Richard hadn't killed his brother, it would have sparked a civil war, resulting in civilian and soldier casualties, weakening the Asina Kingdom like never before. Killing one person to prevent this was a better option!

Such events were commonplace in other kingdoms, a fear Ethan harbored as well. He didn't want to end up with someone mourning him after being with a woman. At least he felt compelled to wait until he secured the throne. But the flawlessly beautiful women around him constantly tested his resolve, especially while his body was still grappling with adolescence.

Approaching Ethan, Aphrodite spoke in a hushed tone. "I don't understand. Why did we bury Anna's brother's body in the forest? The Duke and Duchess might search for him for a long time, making Anna's task even more difficult, wouldn't it?" This question indeed made sense. After all, the Duke would likely not believe Jeheria was dead until he saw the body. They could have left Jeheria's body where someone would find it after they killed him. "For one reason only. The Royal Resurrection Providers." "These are part of an elite organization that serves only the king. Resurrection providers consist of individuals with a rare talent. These individuals can examine what remains of a deceased person's soul and see what they experienced in life by looking at their memories. There are many such groups exclusive to the king, known only to the royal family. So, it's normal for you not to know this. Keep this information to yourself, Aphrodite. If the royals find out, you know, not even I can save you," he said in a serious tone. Aphrodite quickly nodded, assuring Ethan.

Aphrodite understood why they buried Jeheria's body. If Ethan hadn't killed Jeheria and tried to cover it up, no one other than the king could touch him. But that wouldn't make him king. After all, there were only two dukes in the Asina Kingdom, and the stronger one already supported this prince. This person was also Karl's uncle, so it was natural for him to support his nephew. Despite Richard's claim that Karl would not become king, the future was uncertain, and Karl still had a chance. Additionally, Ethan's other brother, Henry, had a mage tower and stronghold supporting him. His sister Isabella had powerful support in the army and among the common folk.

In this triangle, for Ethan to have a chance, he needed to gather as many allies as possible and make as few enemies as possible. Ethan needed to seize an opportunity to become one of the favorite heirs. He already had a plan for this. The place where a prince gains the most fame is on the battlefield. His sister, Isabella, had gained considerable fame on the battlefield. Ethan sought to spread fame and reputation by taking advantage of the upcoming war. This would help him garner even more supporters, enhancing his already noble appearance.

Ethan carefully thought out his strategy and filled it with plans for the future. Gaining fame on the battlefield was an effective way to showcase his skills and prove he was a reliable leader. The decision to hide Anna's brother's body was indeed crucial, as it prevented drawing the attention of the Royal Resurrection Providers, a special ability of the royal family.

Though Ethan had reassured Aphrodite, it was important not to forget that the royal family could access such information. Therefore, being cautious and sharing information only with trusted individuals was crucial.

Considering the power balances in the Asina Kingdom, Ethan would continue to tread carefully. Although the future was uncertain, he hoped to succeed in this challenging struggle with his determination and strategic intelligence. Thus, the journey continued peacefully. Eventually, the team approached the city of Arundel. They entered the tunnel within the mountain and soon returned home.