Era of Light

The “Prince’s Palace” of XueLi Star was really inappropriate to say that it was a palace, because it was actually more like a large villa. Although it was quite spacious, there were two quite different things.

However, the border conditions were limited, and the prince’s visit was very sudden. Therefore, it was not bad to be able to prepare like this.

Alfred followed Xiu into this “Palace”. The attendants left to do miscellaneous tasks one after another, and Xiu took Alfred to his study.

“Close the door.” Xiu ordered.

Without him saying so, Alfred had already closed the door, and the spacious study was now just the two brothers.

This scene was too familiar for them. No matter how calm and composed they were on the surface, their hearts were actually in turmoil.

From childhood to adulthood, Alfred had been led by Xiu into the prince’s study countless times like this, and the two of them had spoken privately behind closed doors.

Sometimes it was Alfred who wanted to discuss his unconventional views with Xiu. Sometimes it was Xiu who didn’t want to discipline him in front of others, but would secretly analyze the pros and cons and teach him principles.

Alfred believed that his code of conduct and independent personality had been established through these private discussions and teachings in the prince’s study when he was young.

Now, he was standing in the “Prince’s Study” again, a strange room, and the person in front of him also made him feel strange.

Xiu stood with his back to Alfred by the French window. He was about to speak when he suddenly heard Alfred say:”Your Highness, when was the last time you and I talked alone? Do you remember?”

Xiu remained silent.

Alfred knew his temperament well. Xiu was not the kind of person who would waste energy responding to provocations. So Alfred continued: “In the past two years, I have always remembered every word of your last teaching the last sentence, and I have never forgotten it for a second.”

“That’s good.” Xiu said, turning to face him, “Let’s get down to business. What is the purpose of your performance today?”

“Your Highness carefully set up the stage for me and invited an audience to support me. How can I not give it my all?” Alfred laughed. “I heard that the original itinerary also included a visit to the student dormitories. Have you already written the press release about ‘Prince’s visit to the young prince resulting in an embarrassing open goal’? It’s a pity not to use it.”

Xiu didn’t respond to the second half of the sentence, but just said: “Do you think your performance will not be exposed? Those people are not rebels at all.”

Alfred said indifferently: “Assassinating the prince in public, doesn’t it matter if they are rebels?”

“Of course it matters,” said Xiu.

“Oh, right, it’s related to your merit of cleaning out the rebels back then.” Alfred sneered as if he had just remembered this relationship, and suggested: “It’s very simple for Your Highness to keep his meritorious deeds. Just come out and explain where these people came from.”

Xiu walked over to the spacious desk and sat down. He looked up at Alfred, and slowly said: “This is a serious matter. I have personally asked all the media present to suppress the news for the time being, and wait for the results of the interrogation.”

Alfred said without showing any weakness: “So many media outlets. You think you can suppress the news just because you want to? I have been on XueLi Star for two years and never knew there were so many media outlets on this freezing planet. It’s really impressive that Your Highness managed to invite them all here—but now he wants them all to keep their mouths shut. Doesn’t that feel like lifting a rock only to drop it on your own feet?”

“As long as I want, naturally I can do it. They would rather offend you than me.” Xiu crossed his fingers and calmly replied, “Because I am the crown prince, and you are just an exiled prince without a title.”

This was a cutting remark. Alfred had become more restrained in the past two years, and still took two seconds to control his provoked anger. Then he said coldly: “True. However, what the prince is most worried about is whether or not he can maintain his achievements, right? You came to XueLi Star in such a hurry because you heard some other news, didn’t you?”

Xiu didn’t deny it, but asked instead: “Then, is the news true?”

“It depends on what news you heard.” Alfred smiled. “If it’s the news about me being promoted to Lieutenant, then yes, it’s true.”

“Nonsense.” Xiu said in a deep voice, “That is the Royal Legion loyal to His Majesty. It’s not a place for you to use a fake identity and interfere.”

Alfred said: “Forget about it. Everyone knows that it’s the army under Austin’s name, and it’s not a legitimate legion. Austin has been enjoying himself on the main planet, ignoring this matter. So what if I try to take care of it for him? Your Highness, don’t be so harsh. You are sitting comfortably in your palace, waiting for someone to deliver the news to you. But what about me? I spent a lot of money on gifts, and didn’t know how many times I stayed all night at the bar, just to earn a promotion and get a little bit of news.”

Speaking of this, he changed his tone and said suddenly: “Your Highness, you and I have only received the news recently. But the Royal Legion directly serves His Majesty, and he has known about this matter for a long time. Even if he didn’t want to help me, why didn’t he tell you about it, Your Highness?”

Xiu lowered his eyes and said coldly: “The Second Prince traveled to several inhabited planets last year. Those planets all had temporary Royal legions stationed there for ‘training’.”

“So that’s how it is.” Alfred sneered, “It turns out that he was busy crediting his precious son with this matter, lest the news be leaked and either you or I would steal the credit for it.”

“Don’t speak ill of His Majesty.” Xiu subconsciously said.

This admonition that had been said too many times before made Alfred stunned for a moment. But this time he didn’t shut up obediently like he did when he was a teenager. Instead, he spoke frankly: “You can go to the Holy Golden Palace and sue me, just like two years ago. I heard that XueLi Star’s mission was almost complete… I look forward to seeing how you’ll handle it when the news spreads. When this happens, I will transform into a hero who saves the world. How will Your Highness deal with himself then?”

Xiu said without emotion: “Alfred, I thought you had grown up a bit, but you’re still immature when it comes to thinking. I have already visited XueLi Star in person. Do you think this news can still spread as you imagine?”

“Then we’ll just wait and see.”

After Alfred finished speaking, he turned around and prepared to leave without showing any courtesy.

When holding the doorknob, he suddenly said: “Your Highness, do you regret it?”

Xiu paused and asked, “Regret what?”

“It was clearly you who ordered the destruction of that planet, yet you pinned the blame on me. Who would have expected that the person who ordered the destruction of that planet would become a hero?” Alfred turned to look at him. “Do you regret falling into this passive situation you are in today?”

Xiu’s eyes flickered and he said very seriously: “I have never regretted it.”

Alfred’s throat was suddenly blocked by hostility, as if he had returned to the day when his faith collapsed two years ago.

Two years ago, on the front line, Xiu found him and asked him to sign some kind of “combat statistics form”, saying that it was supposed to be used to settle rewards later. He signed it without even looking at it.

After all, he was his elder brother. He could die for his elder brother without blinking an eye. How could he doubt him?

Then, things seemed to get out of control all of a sudden. The small asteroid was destroyed, and they were urgently recalled to the palace. The document he signed appeared in the Holy Golden Palace, which became the evidence that he had secretly issued a military orders over the crown prince.

The verification was correct, and it was signed by him personally. Therefore, the heinous crime of disregarding human life could no longer be refuted.

Alfred’s world collapsed. He watched Xiu plead for forgiveness for him in the Holy Golden Palace. But what Xiu said about the situation on the front line, such as the young Prince being eager to suppress the bandits at that time and the young Prince thinking that the situation was urgent…. were all fabricated lies.

He just looked at his elder brother, whom he trusted so much, spat out absurd lies one after another, seemingly begging for mercy for him, but actually making every sentence an indictment that left him with no defense.

Who would suspect that the eldest prince who had always loved the young prince would not tell the truth?

In the nineteen years of his life up to that time, Alfred had always devoted himself to supporting Xiu’s position as crown prince without accumulating any power for himself. Once he was framed, he had no power to resist.

Soon, the charges were confirmed, and the punishment was also determined. Xiu personally sent him—or rather, escorted him-to the starship port on the main planet to send him away.

Before leaving, Alfred still did not give up and asked to speak with Xiu alone. He grabbed Xiu’s collar and questioned him, “I trust you so much.” Nineteen-year-old Alfred shouted only those words over and over again, until he burst into tears.

I trust you so much! Why? I trust you so much!

Xiu just pushed him away, with a cold expression on his face, and said condescendingly: “Alfred, I will teach you one last lesson now. That is—don’t trust anyone.”