The Debt Of Fate
Chapter 95: Meeting the seer

Chapter 95: Meeting the seer

The king looked at the military advisor who had spoken. Although his words were true, the king did not want to hear any bad reports. His gaze was cold stopping the man from saying more.

"Well, even if they are not fit to fight, as long as the soldiers remain unaware of this, their morale will stay high, and they will try their best to hold on and protect their lives," the general who had reported earlier said. After all they could not argue with facts.

He had fought many wars and understood that with the right mindset, an army could defend itself more effectively. On the battlefield, hopelessness often led soldiers to give up. The news of reinforcements arriving soon would help them hold on a little longer.

Everyone felt his words were reasonable. Moreover, the northern border was far away, so there was no need to argue further about the situation. They could only wait for further reports.

The king shared this sentiment and dismissed the court early. He then returned to his bedchamber with a deep frown. His body ached so much that he could not suppress a low grunt.

"Your Majesty, shall I summon the royal physicians?" his eunuch asked upon seeing the king in such pain. He had watched the king suffer in silence this days and felt worried.

The king shook his head. He knew the physicians would not be able to determine what was wrong with him or provide any meaningful solutions. There was no need for his sickness to spread within the palace; as he was most worried of it leaking outside.

"Leave," he instructed in a low voice. The eunuch bowed and walked out.

The king hissed in pain as his mind drifted back to many years ago.

He had once been the second prince of the Nixel Kingdom, and the throne had never been his to claim. His elder brother was five years older than him, and their father had been in good health. Back then, Prince George had been dissatisfied with his position. He believed himself to be more intelligent than his brother. Although his elder brother was a man of war, George felt that being a king required more than just skill with a sword.

He was a quick thinker, capable of finding solutions to various problems. His father and many nobles praised him for his talents. However, the more he learned, the more dissatisfied he became. Why should he be limited to serving as an advisor to his brother simply because he had been born a few years later?

During that time, the Kingdom of Nixel was at peace, and family unity was considered essential. Yet George wanted the throne. The only way to claim it was for his brother to die.

With no war, it was difficult to eliminate his brother. Furthermore, their father was still strong. Yet, George was unwilling to accept his fate. He wanted the throne for himself.

One day, he journeyed outside the royal city, having heard of a seer who could charge a person’s fate.

On this journey, the prince traveled in disguise, afraid that others might discover his true motives.

While riding in his carriage, he noticed an old man walking with small, deliberate steps.

At first glance, the man appeared unimpressive, dressed in tattered clothing. However, Prince George was intelligent and sensed something unusual about the man. So, he approached him.

"Kind sir, you look weary. Would you like to ride in my carriage? I can give you a lift," the prince offered.

The man paused and looked at the prince. Although he was in disguise, the old man could tell he was a noble.

"Sir, I am just a humble man," the man replied, declining the offer.

The prince smiled. "It is just a ride. Perhaps we are heading in the same direction. To be honest, I am new here and unfamiliar with the area. Would you mind pointing me in the right direction?"

The man hesitated, appearing conflicted. But after a short moment, he stepped into the carriage.

"Sir, how may I address you?" the man asked once inside, he looked as though he was scared of offending him.

"You may continue to address me as ’sir,’" Prince George replied, not wanting to reveal his identity.

"I will listen to Your Highness," the man said.

Prince George was surprised that the old man had recognized him. His gaze turned cold, but he did not become defensive. After all, the kingdom was enjoying a rare time of peace, and he did not believe the man before him was capable of harming him.

"You recognize me?" he asked with a smile. He wanted to know if his disguise was poor ; so he could change it.

"Your Highness, not only do I recognize you, but I can also tell you this; you desire something greatly, and I can help you obtain it," the man said.

Prince George immediately became alert. He had tried his best to conceal his deepest desire. He was a prince and ordinary people should not think that he lacked anything.

"Oh? And what is it that I desire?" he asked. Though he was wary, he maintained a calm facade. He was not foolish enough to reveal himself so easily; many were skilled at guessing and deceiving others.

"Your Highness wants the throne," the man whispered, his voice low enough for only the two of them to hear.

"What nonsense are you saying? The throne belongs to my father, and after which it will fall to my brother. I support my brother with all my heart," Prince George replied. Though he longed to become king, he would never admit such thoughts to a stranger.

"Your Highness, I may be the only one who can help you," the man said, unfazed by George’s denial.

"I have no such thoughts," Prince George insisted. He was worried that this was a step up and his thoughts would be discovered and his brother would become weary of him.

"Then you should return to the royal city. The seer you seek only works with those who are sincere," the old man said, his deep frown showing his displeasure.

This time, Prince George did not refute him. He had a plan to bring his brother down, but he feared failure. Although his brother was not wary of him yet, any exposure of his intentions could ruin everything. His greatest fear was that once his brother became suspicious, any future attempts would be even more difficult.

That was why he had sought out a seer’s help.

"How do you know so much?" the prince asked suspiciously. He was not the type to assume everyone around him was a fool. Had he somehow revealed his own thoughts?

"You seek help from a great one. How could he be a seer if he cannot even read a person’s heart?" the man replied.

Prince George was stunned. He found it strange that he had encountered the seer so coincidentally on the street.