Meanwhile outside, Alvaro looked around. The doctor's house and the inn were not that far apart. Around the corner and turning right, they would reach the inn.
"Who is that doctor?" asked Sylas quietly. He was very curious about how the old man knew they were coming, as if he had been waiting.
Alvaro shrugged, then looked around at the old man's small house. The modest home was flanked by a large yard and shaded by several large trees. Some branches clung to the house roof. Even so, there were not many dry leaves scattered around the house, which meant that the old man was diligent about cleaning it.
"I thought the innkeeper was joking when he called the doctor a fortune teller, because it sounded ridiculous. But that old man intrigued me enough," Alvaro replied.
Sylas agreed. "The palace fortune teller isn't even as good as him."
Alvaro chuckled. "What do you expect from corruption? His Majesty must be crazy to give that doctor the title of fortune teller."
Alvaro shook his head. But then he noticed the silence between them. He immediately looked at the quiet Sylas.
"Sorry. I didn't mean…"
"I know. There are many things that make me ashamed to call him my father," said Sylas. His gaze was sad as he stared at the village street.
Alvaro gulped. Sometimes, he felt like he should just keep his mouth shut. There were times he forgot that Sylas was the crown prince. In their childhood, his father had been a general, and the fact that they were similar in age brought them together as study buddies.
He blamed Sylas for being too humble, insisting that he call him only by name when no one else was around. This made him cross the line sometimes—like now.
"I'm sorry," Alvaro said again.
Sylas looked at Alvaro and smiled softly. "You have many intellectual friends. It's natural for you to have such views. As for my father, he only cares about securing his position. It suffocates me."
Alvaro took a breath. He was very emotional and often impatient, but when he was with Sylas, he could be an obedient puppy.
"We'll be back at the palace soon. Everything will be fine. Prince Anam must have returned to his kingdom," Alvaro said, remembering the reason they had left the palace.
Sylas felt a headache rising when he recalled the problems he was facing. "Can't we just stay here?"
Alvaro shook his head. "You'll get everyone in trouble. His Majesty will search the entire world for you. Not only that, he'll definitely execute your servants."
Sylas sighed. "But returning to the palace makes me sick. I don't want to get married. Not to the woman he chose for me."
Alvaro was silent because he had no say in the matter.
Sylas was the king's only hope—King Adrien, who had shed a lot of blood for his throne and did not want to lose power.
He knew Sylas didn't like women. But as a king, Sylas was expected to produce an heir. Adrien forced him to marry the princess of the Ganesh Kingdom, for the sake of tradition and the royal bloodline.
But Sylas refused. He would rather give up the crown than marry an innocent woman he could never love.
Adrien did everything in his power to force Sylas to comply. He even killed a male servant who had spent the night with his son, leaving Sylas angry and heartbroken.
Five years had passed, and Sylas still held a grudge against his father's actions.
His marriage problems still unresolved, a new issue arose. Prince Anam of the Emeria Kingdom had openly sent a marriage proposal after hearing that Sylas preferred men as partners.
The liberal culture of Emeria did not adhere to Valigrian traditions, pressuring Adrien to consider the proposal. It was difficult for Adrien to reject Emeria's request. So he asked Sylas to leave the palace for a while until Prince Anam returned.
At the very least, it would buy enough time for Adrien to organize a grand feast for Sylas's wedding to Eresia of Ganesh, as originally planned.
Sylas walked to a nearby tree and leaned his head against it. His posture was slouched and defeated.
He loved neither Anam nor Eresia.
Anam, the prince, was quite handsome, with tanned skin and a well-built body. But the thought of sharing a room with him—oh no! He couldn't imagine himself being the one receiving affection. No, no! He was horrified by the idea of intimacy with Anam.
And then the Princess, Eresia.
Ugh... Just… NO!
Sylas longed for freedom—for a life where he could choose his own path, away from duty and tradition. But for now, he was trapped in a web of political machinations and unwanted proposals.
Alvaro approached, patting Sylas on the shoulder, showing concern for the prince's fate.
Sylas cursed his father. Adrien had many concubines and only one queen—his mother. His blood and DNA came from him. Why did he forbid him to marry a man?
"Why can't he accept that I love men while he has so many male concubines?" Sylas snapped.
"Well, I don't think His Majesty won't allow you to have a male lover. He's just upset that you refuse to marry a queen to pass on the bloodline. You know how important that position is to him."
"I will never marry a woman. Nor will I ever marry a man I don't love!"
Alvaro scratched his head. "That's tough. You were born destined to breed."
Sylas glared at Alvaro. Then he grumbled, "Damn, my head hurts."
"Do you want to see a doctor while we're here?" Alvaro asked, chuckling.
"No point getting treatment if you're still with me," Sylas replied jokingly, walking into the house.
"Be glad I'm accompanying you!" Alvaro grinned, following Sylas.
Once inside, they were stunned to see Kai's body reddened all over. The slave was already lying down, his body trembling violently and drenched in sweat.
The doctor was gently fanning him.
"Is he okay?" asked Sylas.