Steel, Guns, and the Industrial Party in Another World
Chapter 475: Allegiance 2

Chapter 475: Allegiance 2

“I have already removed this stumbling block for you,” Prince Antonio said with a smile to the old Marshal MacDonald.

After saying this, he clapped his hands vigorously.

While Marshal MacDonald was still pondering what the prince meant, Lady Carol, a court lady serving His Highness, walked in with a young boy.

“Grandpa Ima!”

The boy, seeing MacDonald, showed a joyful expression on his face, which quickly turned to sorrow.

He broke free from Carol’s grasp and rushed into MacDonald’s arms.

“Grandpa Ima, I… my father and mother…”

In the recent days, his life had undergone significant changes. He had been living in constant fear, and now, finally seeing a familiar face, a flood of emotions – grief, fear, longing, relief, joy – overwhelmed him and he couldn’t hold them back any longer.

“Jonny, how are you, have you been hurt in any way?”

Marshal MacDonald, suppressing his immense confusion and shock, thoroughly checked the boy for any injuries.

“Grandpa Ima, I… I haven’t been hurt, don’t worry,” the boy said between sobs, “but… my parents…”

MacDonald felt a twinge of regret for the boy’s parents, who were kind-hearted commoners. Ten years ago, when Jonny’s biological parents died of illness, this commoner couple had adopted Jonny, who was then just an infant. Jonny was the only surviving blood relative of a certain prince, which was why MacDonald was so concerned about him.

“Ah, good child,” he said, gently stroking the boy’s hair with his rough hands. “Don’t grieve too much… My condolences for the misfortune that befell your parents. They were good people, and their souls are surely in heaven now.”

MacDonald wasn’t very good at comforting others, but he tried his best to console the boy, who was deeply traumatized.

“You must be strong. I am sure your parents would not want to see you so disheartened.”

“Grandpa Ima, you’re right. I can’t let my parents see me like this.”

The boy gathered his strength, trying to stop his tears from flowing.

After consoling the boy, MacDonald then turned to Antonio.

“Your Highness, what is this about…”

A thought suddenly crossed MacDonald’s mind – the second prince had taken the hostage who could threaten him, probably intending to do the same thing his brother and the Dias family had done, to sway MacDonald to his side.

He was now in the prince’s estate, surrounded by the prince’s people. Relying solely on his no longer young body and a few guards waiting outside, there was no way he could take the boy away from here.

“Oh! Marshal MacDonald!”

Prince Antonio’s response was very relaxed.

“Please don’t misunderstand, I have no ulterior motives. If it’s convenient for you, you are free to take this little fellow home.”

Marshal MacDonald’s eyes widened a bit.

After hesitating for a moment, he suddenly kneeled on one knee before Antonio—using the most solemn knightly etiquette of the Gabella Empire.

“Noble Highness! I… and my family, will be deeply grateful for the great favor you have bestowed upon us. I will never forget this kindness, and I will find an opportunity to repay you.”

Antonio smiled and extended his hand to hold the old marshal’s arm, helping him up, then clasped his hand tightly.

“I just don’t want to see a loyal servant of the empire, who has contributed so much, being trapped by such a despicable plot. I’m not trying to flaunt my nobility, but I choose different strategies for different enemies. For vile people, I don’t mind being more despicable than them, but for someone like you, even as an enemy, I prefer to deal with them in an upright manner.”

“So, I want you to be free of worries, without any concerns, and without any dilemmas in your heart, even if in the future we stand on opposing sides.”

Antonio’s words unexpectedly moved MacDonald, an emotion he hadn’t felt for many years.

He touched the boy’s head beside him, “Jonny, go stay with Lady Carol for a while. I have some things to discuss with this gentleman. Grandpa will come to find you later… Lady Carol, please take care of him.”

Jonny obediently nodded. “Grandpa Ima’s” and the kind-looking big brother’s conversation was a bit confusing for him, and he couldn’t understand most of it. But hearing that “Grandpa Ima” could take him home made him very happy.

Since “Grandpa Ima” asked him to leave, he shouldn’t stay here and disturb the adults’ discussion, just like when his father used to talk business and didn’t like him around.

Jonny followed Carol and left.

“Your Highness,” MacDonald looked at Antonio. “Why don’t you… eliminate Jonny? You must know, in the long run, his lineage is as much a threat to you as your brother. Many families were loyal to that prince, not just mine.”

“Marshal, whether you believe it or not,” Antonio replied, “the throne is not as alluring to me as people imagine. It is simply the most convenient shortcut to my ultimate goal, which is why I strive for it. In this process, I try to avoid harming those who subjectively do not wish to be my enemies. This child, innocent and unknowing, caught in the whirlpool of conspiracy merely because of his lineage, is so innocent. Why would I harm him?”

MacDonald thought he saw a flicker of empathy in the prince’s eyes.

“Your Highness, I am deeply impressed by your magnanimity.”

MacDonald said sincerely from the bottom of his heart, though he was still unclear about the prince’s “ultimate goal.”

“So, what are your thoughts about the child’s future?” Antonio asked.

MacDonald hesitated before answering, “I want to keep him with me.”

“Are you sure you can protect this child? Have you not considered how the Dias family learned of your well-guarded secret?”

“Uh…” The old marshal hesitated even more. Indeed, his own side didn’t seem very safe.

But then… MacDonald looked at Antonio.

He suddenly realized that there was a safe place right in front of him.

That was by the side of this prince.

If the elder prince and the Dias family could take Jonny away, and the second prince could snatch him back from them, wasn’t that proof enough?

Moreover, since Prince Antonio harbored no malice towards Jonny, where else could be a better place for him than here?