The Bastard First Prince Doesn't Want to Die

Chapter: 116

After hearing the prince's message from Yoo Gueng, Heo Seokgyeom was momentarily speechless.

He had always believed that he was an important figure to Prince Ikwon. Only now was he realizing the depth of his own delusion. For Prince Ikwon clearly had no intention of keeping him close.

His thoughts drifted back to the past.

During the time when the prince was behaving recklessly, even showing signs of madness and tormenting the palace servants, Heo Seokgyeom had scoffed at his behavior. Had he held a grudge against the prince for those actions? But was there anything wrong with disapproving of the prince's misdeeds?

The prince he had seen in Wolhan Fortress didn't seem so petty. However, if that was the reason Prince Ikwon was dismissing him, it would be hard to hide his disappointment.

Perhaps there was another reason? Maybe the position of Commander was too heavy a burden for someone who was merely a follower of Prince Ikwon on this expedition.

But regardless of the reason, the fact remained that he was disappointed by the prince's decision.

The funny thing was, he was certain that his absence wouldn't change Prince Ikwon's course of action.

For better or for worse, the Crown Prince would continue to behave as he always had. He would rush into danger, perhaps even suffer serious injuries, but he would always come back alive.

Or maybe he was just being overly hopeful.

He scoffed at himself.

Heo Seokgyeom had his own reasons for supporting Prince Ikwon. Sharing the desire for Queen So’s revenge, he was willing to follow the prince's path to the throne.

And he actually quite admired Prince Ikwon's drive. Though following his reckless path might lead to occasional difficulties, he even looked forward to overcoming those challenges. Of course, as always, his loyalty had conditions. But as things stood now, he wouldn't turn his back on the prince.

"Haah."

His mind was racing. Even when he had received the king's letter, ordering him to enter the demonic lands, defeat the monsters, and return victorious, he hadn't been this confused.

Suddenly, Heo Seokgyeom realized his true feelings.

"I see," he muttered with a wry smile.

A few days ago, he had heard a story from Yoo Gueng about how the prince had risked his life for a mere soldier. It was shocking, but he had laughed first.

And yet, he was being discarded by such a person. It meant he was someone the prince wanted to distance himself from.

He let out a long sigh.

Betrayal. This feeling was betrayal.

Once he had defined his feelings, their meaning became clearer. He could hear something shattering inside him.

Lowering his head, he stared at the ground. Under the completely dark night sky, not even a shadow was cast on the ground.

He remained lost in thought for a long time before heading towards the prince's chambers.

"If you wish to dismiss me, I will accept it, but I must know the reason."

The fact that Prince Ikwon didn't really value him had wounded his pride. He needed to know the reason to accept the prince's decision. Only then could he leave for the capital as the prince wished.

Disappointment clung to his every step. His gait lacked its usual vigor.

As he trudged down the corridor leading to the prince's chambers, his gaze was fixed on the ground. Suddenly, he looked up.

The door to the chamber was open. How could they leave the door open so soon after an assassination attempt? He quickened his pace.

Even as he took those few steps towards the door, a sense of foreboding filled his mind.

"Your Highness."

He quickly poked his head into the room.

He surveyed the room but found nothing out of the ordinary. The prince was simply sprawled out on his bed, fast asleep.

Seeing him so carefree, Heo Seokgyeom realized just how young the prince truly was.

The youthful features that had been hidden beneath the weight of his armor were now apparent. It was no wonder that he was still struggling to navigate the complexities of the world. It was a difficult age, both for managing one's emotions and for making important decisions.

Even though he was nearly twice the prince's age, Heo Seokgyeom still found it challenging to make all his own decisions. And yet, there were so many people looking to him for guidance.

Seeing this, Heo Seok-gyeom felt a sense of despair. Standing at the door, he whispered, "I do not understand why Your Highness wishes to send me to the capital."

A farmer who expects a harvest in the budding spring is a fool. And so, he spoke now, while the prince slept.

Though he felt sorry for the prince's cruel fate, he was also just one of the many people who would ultimately burden him. He had vowed to stay by this man's side and serve him, to share the future he envisioned. But it was disheartening to realize that the one holding the reins had no intention of using him.

He gave a bitter smile.

No matter how grateful he was or how much he admired Prince Ikwon, it was strange to feel this level of resentment. He had always thought of himself as a man as unfeeling as a stone. What did it matter if he was dismissed or abandoned? If he wanted to follow, he could simply wait until the prince noticed him. If he worked hard enough, he would eventually meet the prince's standards.

Heo Seokgyeom chuckled.

No matter how kind he was, he had always ignored Prince Ikwon when he was acting out. He had only followed when things were good and turned away when they were bad. He had been fickle, like a person who seeks warmth and then retreats when it becomes too hot. It wasn't just their lord-servant relationship; his attitude had always been like that.

"No, Your Highness. Whatever the reason may be... I will wait." Heo Seok-gyeom lowered his eyes, lost in thought.

Just then, the prince stirred.

"Ugh," he groaned, sitting up with a sudden burst of energy. It was clear that he had been pretending to sleep.

Startled, Heo Seokgyeom froze. Yegyeong yawned widely and scratched the back of his head. "What are you waiting for?"

As if one yawn wasn't enough, Yegyeong opened his mouth again, then suddenly clamped it shut. "Ah, I told you not to do this. Sorry. I made a mess of myself."

"...No, it's nothing."

He quickly adjusted his posture and looked at Heo Seokgyeom. "So, what were you saying about going to the capital?"

So he had heard everything. He remembered the last time he had seen the Crown Prince asleep, he had been snoring. This time, he hadn't, so...

Clearly, he had been faking it. And the door was open too. Heo Seokgyeom realized he had walked right into a trap.

Since he had been caught, he decided to be bold.

"Yes, Your Highness. I came to see you at this late hour."

"I was hoping you would."

So he had been expecting him? Heo Seokgyeom blinked, speechless.

Yegyeong continued, "My grandfather has said he will visit."

"Yes."

"It won't be a simple matter. There will be conditions, as you can imagine."

It was unlikely that the king would grant permission for General So to embark on this expedition without any conditions. Heo Seok-gyeom agreed, or rather, he had to agree.

"I already received a letter from him, but at the very least, we'll need to bring back some kind of victory. That's the only way to avoid trouble."

A victory. It was easy to say, but defeating the monsters meant annihilating them.

It was essentially the same as exile. In fact, it was worse. At least in exile, he wouldn't have to constantly fight against endless waves of enemies.

"There's no other way. Perhaps my grandfather's grave will be here."

"...You will be victorious, Your Highness."

"I don't really understand why His Majesty hates me so much," Yegyeong said, almost joking. Then he gave a bitter smile.

It was a pitifully pathetic sight. His face, haggard from the battles and weight loss, made him look even more pitiful.

Heo Seok-gyeom sensed that behind Yegyeong's sarcastic tone lay a deep-seated frustration that he couldn't fathom.

“And you are a Middle Commander,” Yegyeong continued.

"Yes."

So it was the burden of his position that was bothering him. A small smile tugged at the corner of Heo Seokgyeom's lips. His facial muscles moved involuntarily.

But this was no laughing matter, so he forced himself to compose himself.

"Commander Heo."

"Yes, Your Highness."

Their gazes met. Heo Seokgyeom felt a slight tension in the prince's face, now devoid of any amusement.

"You can go back. Wolhan Fortress is too small for both a General and a Commander, especially with the circumstances. As you've heard from Captain Yoo, this is a grave matter, and we can't just send any messenger to deliver such important news."

"...Yes."

Yegyeong continued, his voice low and steady. But his words were as harsh as they could be. “Let’s consider the worst-case scenario. What if my grandfather dies here in Wolhan Fortress? And what if, after that, I return to the capital as payment for the General’s life—what then?”

"That kind of thing..."

He wanted to say that it wouldn't happen.

But how could he hide it from Yegyeong? The General was already quite old. And given his stubborn nature, it wasn't inconceivable that he would sacrifice his life for Ikwon, his only blood relative, to serve as a tool and a justification for his future.

Heo Seok-gyeom was speechless. In fact, he knew the General's character better than Yegyeong did. He couldn’t refute it.

“I know you don’t like me.”

No, that wasn’t true. Heo Seokgyeom tried to deny it, but the following words silenced him.

“But for the sake of my grandfather and my mother, please do this. I beg you.”

He couldn’t say anything. And he felt regret.

Taking his silence as an affirmation, Yegyeong continued, “I'll give you the evidence. And when I return to the capital, you will be my support.”