The Crown War (4)
That night.
A proposal from the 3rd Prince reached the desperate 1st Prince.
Neither the 1st Prince nor 3rd Prince had any answers.
In a gathering of all the advisors.
A soldier sent by the 3rd Prince delivered the 3rd Prince's intentions to him.
"A temporary alliance?"
"Yes, His Highness Calman suggests a temporary alliance to stand against His Highness Christian."
At that, the advisors present began to stir.
"Even after such a fight, Calman proposes an alliance with me?"
They had fought fiercely against each other.
At one point, it was only natural for one of the two to be considered the winner of the war for the crown.
"Yes, His Highness Calman's proposal is sincere."
After the failure of the meeting with the Pope and losing Trinity, 1st Prince found the 3rd Prince's alliance proposal like a lifeline from heaven.
However, it was impossible to tell whether it was rotten or sturdy.
"It's not possible. His Highness Calman cannot be trusted."
"But if we don't accept the alliance proposal, we'll be swallowed up by the army led by the 2nd Prince."
"I'm not sure. I don't know what his intentions are..."
"Didn't we almost catch His Highness Calman in the Howl battle, but let him slip away? There might still be resentment there."
The opinions of the advisors were divided.
As a result, the 1st Prince's agony over not knowing the true intentions of 3rd Prince deepened.
'What should I do?'
If there were no regrets, he would have definitely refused the proposal.
However, with so many regrets at the moment, the unintended temporary alliance was inevitable.
"Go and tell him I accept. There's no other choice right now."
"If you accept, early tomorrow morning, bring only the minimum escort forces to the Wolf Valley in Hasman Forest, as he instructed."
Then the advisors present strongly objected.
"That's an absurd proposal!"
"You must refuse. It's obviously a trick."
"If it's a trick, we'll be done for."
"But the 3rd Prince is just as desperate as we are, so would he really propose an alliance and then try to trap you?"
Thinking that Calman might do it, the 1st Prince asked the soldier who brought the news.
"Why did he ask me to come like that?"
"He said it was to confirm the trust between the two of you. If there is no such trust, you cannot be together."
The 1st Prince understood what he meant.
They had been enemies for a while.
Even if he and Calman formed a temporary alliance, it would be a fragile one without trust between them.
'I have no choice but to make this choice to stand against Christian.'
"Is there no other way?"
At that question, the soldier firmly answered.
"Yes, His Highness Calman said that this is his final offer."
As the 1st Prince fell into deep silence, the nearby advisors began to speak again.
"It's too reckless. If you get caught or run into trouble..."
"But it's not wrong. How can we form a temporary alliance without trust between us? Don't we have to show that level of trust for His Highness Calman to believe in us and join forces against His Highness Christian, who has united the Papal Army?"
"I think so too. But I also agree that it's dangerous."
The choice was up to the 1st Prince.
'There's no choice left now that Trinity has been captured.'
"Even if Calman set a trap, considering Christian, who is gaining power right now, he won't be able to take me down easily."
At that, a few of the advisors strongly objected.
"Your Highness Ryan! It's too dangerous."
"I also think it's dangerous."
Stopping them with his hand, the 1st Prince continued his words.
"If I don't join forces with Calman, I have no future. I'll just wait and eventually face Christian."
The 1st Prince was fed up.
How had things come to this?
However, reality was cruel, and in this reality, he had to find a breakthrough.
Even if it was Calman's trap, he had no choice but to face it.
"I'll go where Calman called me tomorrow. Go and tell him. I'll be waiting there."
The soldier who brought the news returned to Calman, and the 1st Prince had no choice but to spend a sleepless night.
Before the dawn was over.
The 1st Prince, who had left the palace, went to the Wolf Valley in the Hasman Forest, where he had agreed to meet with Calman with minimal troops.
Upon arriving at the destination, 1st Prince let his restless horse loose and briefly scanned the foggy forest.
'The feeling...is not good.'
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