before he was crowned king

Alex's eyes opened a slit, and the woman's shadow slanted across his face.

Because he was too tired these days, he accidentally fell asleep lying on the bedside during the night watch.He pinched the bridge of his nose to be lifted up, and gently stroked his head with one hand.

"Mother, when did you wake up?" Alex looked up, only to see the woman sitting on the bed and watching him quietly.

"I just woke up too." Mrs. Mary said, looking at Erics.

"Then why didn't you wake me up? After sleeping for so long, you must be thirsty. I'll go get some water." Alex exhaled, and his mind cleared up a lot.

"I see that you are sound asleep." Madam Mary said in a gentle voice, "My child, I have worked hard on you during this time."

"This is what I should do, mother." Alex turned his head. He was a little surprised by the tone of his mother talking to him. He was no longer as hysterical as before, as if he had returned to his previous dignified and polite appearance.

"How are you feeling? Is there anything uncomfortable?" Erics asked carefully as he brought warm water over.

"After waking up, I feel much better." Mrs. Mary took Erics' hand and said apologetically, "I'm sorry, child, I caused you trouble."

"Don't say that, as a son, why would he find his mother troublesome?" Erics smiled, seeing that Madam Mary's spirit had indeed improved a lot, he was really relieved.

Compared with the family's reputation or personal glory, he hopes that everyone around him will be well.

Janice walked in pushing a silver dining trolley, on which were freshly baked fluffy cakes.

"This is—" Erics was stunned. He remembered that his mother didn't like to eat too sweet food. He was a little surprised to see Janice serving so many cakes.

"You're hungry, Janice said, you haven't eaten anything these days." Madam Mary said softly, "It's too early for dinner, so eat something to fill your belly."

"Where do these cakes come from?" Alex asked.

"Janice made it," said Mrs. Mary, laughing. "I taught her the recipe."

"Mom, can you actually make cakes?" Alex was very surprised.

"Of course. Silly child, when you get married in the future, you will know that every girl will learn to make one or two special snacks." Mrs. Mary's eyes are full of memories, "Your father said back then that he would I like my cake."

"Mother." Speaking of his father who had passed away, Erics was a little sad. In his impression, his father was always very busy and rarely showed up at home, but every festival he would prepare exquisite gifts for himself and his mother. one's gift.

"Let's try it."

"Yeah." Alex took the cake from Janice, and the beautiful presentation made people very appetizing.

"Is it delicious?" Mrs. Mary looked at her son and asked in a low voice.

"It's delicious, mother." Alex nodded, "You should try it too."

"No, I'm very happy to see you eating." Mrs. Mary said.

In fact, Erics is not very interested in sweets, but hearing his mother say that he was happy, he couldn't help eating a few more mouthfuls, and before he had time to praise him, a strong dizziness suddenly hit his head.

"What's going on..." Alex held his forehead, and before he could figure it out, he lost consciousness.

The half-eaten cake fell to the floor with the plate, and the black-haired young man was lying on the bed, as if he had fallen into a deep sleep.

"This way you won't betray me." Mrs. Mary stretched out her hand, touched the young man's handsome face, and said to herself, "It's really... he looks more and more like him."

Janice clutched the handle of the dining car tightly with both hands. In fact, since she entered this room, she has been in a trembling panic.

She stared numbly at the woman sitting on the bed, and swallowed reluctantly.

"Move the young master to the bed."

"Yes." Janice couldn't resist. Even though she knew that the woman couldn't use magic at this time, she didn't dare to disobey the other party's order.

She was raised by Mrs. Mary at the age of 12. After so many years, her fear of this woman has long been engraved in her soul, and she cannot get rid of it.

Madam Mary got off the bed with a high bun on her head. She was wearing a long light red dress, which was extremely pale against her shriveled skin.

"Now everyone thinks I'm crazy?" Mrs. Mary asked lightly.

Janice shuddered, and moved the young man to the bed with difficulty, not daring to make a sound.

"How can a person be resurrected from the dead? How can his appearance be completely different?" Mrs. Mary walked barefoot on the cold stone surface. "This is impossible, but I am sure of it."

"He is as lingering as that woman, infesting my life like a fly." Madam Mary gritted her teeth, "If it wasn't for Norman... I should have gotten rid of him myself when I knew he was born."

"Forget it," Mrs. Mary sighed, and she walked to the dining car, her fingertips running on the knife that divided the food, "It's not too late now, waste is always waste, even if you change a good face A small bug that can be crushed to death."

"Husband, ma'am...you have to do..." Janice's pupils constricted, and the woman picked up a slender knife, aiming the sharp edge at her little finger.

"I am Mary Victoria, the noble magister of fire. They have obviously forgotten that it is my nature to burn everything to ashes." A crazy smile appeared on the corner of the woman's mouth, "The flame is me, and I am the flame itself...that is What is mine, no one can take away my innate talent."

"Crazy...really...crazy..." Janice stared blankly at the wave of flames rushing into the sky outside the window,

Under the bloody sunset, rose petals are burning.The wall of flames rose up from the center of the manor, and the scalding cyclone spread to the surroundings, churning endlessly.

"The state affairs meeting will start tomorrow, and the chess pieces on the chessboard are already in their positions." In the empty classroom, the afterglow of the setting sun sprinkled on the perfect profile face, and the pen was twirling in circles in the young man's hand.

Behind him, out of sight, there was another figure leaning against the wall.He was wearing a tan slim long dress, and his long blond hair was as dazzling as the sunlight outside the window.

"Are you so confident? Everything will be as you think." Herrell said lightly, "Human beings are not chess pieces that follow the rules. Are you not afraid of self-defeating?"

"The chariots are rampant, the soldiers are advancing and never retreating, and the high-ranking king is trapped in the palace closed on all sides." Sean whispered, "Helair, we are no different from chess pieces, we are driven and bound by identity , the choices left to everyone are always limited.”

"You just used 'we'." Herrera turned her head to look at the young man, "So what about yours? What motivates you?"

"You stopped me."

"Isn't it for your loyal Highness?" Herrell looked back, "Everything you do is to pave the way for him and remove obstacles before the throne for him."

"If you say that," Sean thought for a while and said, "I am also for you."

Herrell trembled invisibly.

"Oh, I thought you had already forgotten our agreement."

"No." Sean shook his head, "I like to do challenging and difficult things, just like... a game."

"Game?" Herrell frowned, "You take this as a game?"

"Maybe it's not accurate, but the feeling is very similar." Sean rested the back of his hand on his chin, "for a pleasure."

"You really..." Herrell no longer knew what words to use to describe the man's attitude towards things.

"Games can relieve people's depression." Sean said slowly, "I don't think I should be excluded, just like you asked me, I am also curious about what I want."

"Your troubles are really different."

"Sorry, I shouldn't be talking to you about this," Sean said softly.

"Something went wrong." Herrera suddenly straightened up.

"What happened to Duke Oscar?" Sean raised his eyelids and asked.

"That stepmother of yours escaped control." Heller said, "Rose Manor is already in flames."

"She got rid of the magic monitor? How?" Sean frowned.

"Oscar didn't say anything," Herrell said, looking at Sheen, "but don't worry, it won't affect tomorrow's plan. Oscar has already rushed over with his people. There is moonlight at night, your stepmother It's not going to be an Oscar rival at all."

"Wait a minute." Sean seemed to have thought of something, his voice was cold, "Let Duke Oscar wait a moment."

"Why?" Herrell was puzzled.

"Wait for me to pass." Sean suddenly stood up, turned and left the classroom.

"What are you thinking? Are you crazy?" Herrell's expression sank, "Humans, stop."

"I'll take care of this." Sean stopped, his voice as decisive as iron.

"I told you to hand it over to Oscar." Herrell's tone was also unyielding, "I seek death again and again...Human, my divine power is not for you to squander as you please."

"No." Sean said after a pause, "If I die this time, it will be deemed that I have violated the contract. You don't need to save me."

"What do you think is the contract between us?" Herrell couldn't help but burst into anger, "The bargaining chip for threats?"

"Helaire." Sean looked into those rosy eyes and said seriously, "I'm begging you."

"You..." Herrell stared at the young man's expression and was stunned, "Why? This action is not in your plan."

Sean's eyes drooped slightly, but he didn't speak.

"What drove you to make such a decision?" Herrell whispered, "Tell me, and I'll promise you."

"I can't answer you." A trace of confusion flashed in Sean's eyes, "Maybe I will know the answer after I go."