The mere fact that someone else, not themselves, is on top is enough to hate him

Hugoarno was falling free as if he wasn't even trying to have any control over his fall. As if he was unconscious.

"Hugoarno!" screamed Zackocuki and dived to catch him. He caught him a few meters above the water's surface. The prince was not unconscious, however, he only seemed a bit dazed.

"It's all right," said Hugoarno, but his voice was not strong. Zackocuki felt a painful pressure in his heart. "Do not worry. I used too much energy on that arrow. "

"Let me assist you for a moment," Zack asked softly, but he wouldn't really take no for an answer. He took Hugoarno with his strong arm and started up with him. "You shouldn't push yourself so hard. We could have dealt with the dragon without it. "

"I know," he admitted.

His submissiveness indicated that Hugoarno was clearly weak and still seemed to be not completely conscious. This worried Zackocuki, who knew better than anyone about the young prince's limitations.

Not only did they know each other from childhood. They not only grew up together. They fought side by side, risking their lives and saving each other. Such ties cannot be replaced by any other. Therefore, Zackocuki knew Hugoarno as well as himself. He knew him even better than he knew himself. He knew his strength and his weaknesses, his dreams and fears.

The closer they got to the portal, it stabilized, proving that Hugoarno was still strong enough to hold it. Upon his return, however, he will need a long, peaceful rest. Or maybe something else. Earlier, Natalia's touch instantly restored his disturbed energy balance. Perhaps this time the girl will also be useful?

"When we get back ..." he began but could not finish.

"When we get back, I will go home immediately. No one can see what happened here, "Hugoarno announced, and stood on his own.

Zackocuki took two steps away. Who knows whose eyes they will see when they pass through the portal, and some things were not intended for public view. Even in the private villa of a trusted man, there might be someone willing to betray secrets for which someone was willing to pay.

"I want to see you home and leave when you fall asleep," Zackocuki announced quietly. "We just got back from a mission, so we're not gonna arouse suspicion."

"You speak as if you are planning something wrong," the prince chuckled softly.

His chuckle, however, was forced and so unnatural that an iron rim gripped Zackocuki's heart. At this point, they were passing through the portal and had already seen people standing on the other side.

"Ha!" Zackocuki was indignant. "You yourself refused to meet a woman. Do I really have to discuss the course of the action with you, instead of going to have fun? "

There were few slaves, but two soldiers stood in front of the portal, making sure that no one would dare to use it. Whichever regiment they belonged to, they were not Hugoarno's men, for he never had custody of an army.

"It wasn't our first rock dragon, but your blade had notched yet. We do not know when we will receive the next summons ... "

Hugoarno was upright and proud and his tone as always cool and full of majesty. In this world, anyone could be a spy or an information seller. Hugoarno was a prince, but everyone knew that he had only blood and a title to share with the royal family. No one would dare to touch it, for it would be an attack on the crown itself, but any weakness of it could be sold to men wishing to undermine the majesty of the crown. After all, the royal family could not have any blemishes, and the eldest of the imperial sons was the easiest target for them. Hugoarno, for obvious reasons, had no political background.

So both of them kept appearances as they walked. Hugoarno's proud steps were stiff and firm, giving no reason to his enemies for gossip. His face was calm and his voice was natural. Nobody on the side saw how weak he was. If that had happened, bad rumors would have spread around the world.

After all, people love to feed on someone else's misfortune. They love tragedies when they are not their own. The prince, who had been orphaned by his queen mother a few days old, pushed aside by an ambitious concubine who soon took her place by the king's side and gave him her own son, was already a beautiful topic for romantic and tragic stories in itself. In addition, Hugoarno grew into a man of exceptional beauty, admittedly majestic and cold, but righteous like the General of the Straight Way. He was not a slacker for that, since he was associated with the Interworld Research Institute from an early age. For people far from the palace, Hugoarno was like an ideal, like a young god guarding the balance of the worlds.

However, the higher someone was, the more people wanted to throw him to the ground and trample him. The mere fact that someone else, not themselves, is on top is enough to hate him.

If all these people knew the truth ...

Though he usually didn't do it in his world, this time Zackocuki wrapped space and time bringing them as close to Hugoarno's chamber as he could. Local teleportation was his specialty, which he created in his childhood, when he wanted the imprisoned Hugoarno to see a bit of the real world. So he knew all the safe hiding places, places hidden from human eyes, where he could secretly smuggle the young prince. Now that they were adults, he didn't have to hide his talent. Hugoarno was also free to leave his room and return - within the limits set, of course.

While Hugoarno looked like he always did to the outside world, Zackocuki could see his friend struggling with weakness. If he could, he would have moved them directly to his room, but that might raise suspicions.

Hugoarno's position in the palace was not what it seemed to the world, but the servants respected him. For he was a quiet man who never complained about his fate and never demanded anything. He lived in a palace, but so far away from his bustling, glamorous life that it amazed everyone. From time to time there were unpleasant incidents organized by one of the younger princes, their mothers or servants who wanted to please them, but all were quickly silenced by the faithful Hugoarno people.

"Well, well, well! Who's coming home so late? Probably not our beloved older brother? "

Zackocuki gritted his teeth, but that was the only thing he could do. He knew his place too well. Hugoarno, on the other hand, put on a friendly smile and turned to the speaker as if nothing had happened.

"You do not say, dear younger brothers, that you have waited so long for my return. Boys your age should be asleep by now. "

Zackocuki turned as well and, standing behind Hugoarno, lowered his head politely. What on the surface might seem like a sign of his showing respect was in fact a way to hide the look of disgust that showed on his face every time he dealt with these two princes.

They were both sons of the present queen and enjoyed their privileges freely. The elder, Hugoyamma, was seventeen years old, but was already considered a lustful and glamorous person. Wealth and pleasure were his greatest values, and the bright prospect of the throne awaiting him made him feel invulnerable. The younger, Hugosanna, was only thirteen, but by following his older brother like a shadow, he was already taking his example from the worst.

"It's not our curfew!" Hugosanna had just boldly announced. The puppy had no respect for his eldest brother. Anyway, why would he have it?

Hugoarno just shook his head. He could tell both boys a lot, but it would be like throwing peas against a wall - it's a waste of effort and the effect would be rather goof.

"You are not responsible for me, you don't have to worry. While I appreciate the sincere care of my dear little brothers, I must remind them that their rooms are situated in a different part of the palace. If you go astray, follow the scent of hedonism."

"You ..." The thirteen-year-old clearly did not like Hugoarno's remark, although he probably did not know the word "hedonism" yet, which was too difficult for him.

"Leave him!" Hugoyamma stopped him, bringing a vengeful, satisfied smile on his face. "Father will know our eldest brother is breaking the curfew."

"Make sure your mother finds out about it too," Hugoarno suggested.

The boys weren't good at verbal skirmishes yet, so they pulled back with their regal, pouting expressions.

"Insolent brats" Hugoarno growled as the boys, like the virtue of a debauchery, passed with the wind. He didn't even notice that the guards at his door heard him. However, they, pretending not to hear anything, laughed softly under their breaths. Hugoarno, in turn, pretended not to see it.

It was not the first time these guards had served here. They knew no worse than the servants, what customs prevail in the palace, and that from birth Hugoarno was nothing more than a pariah just because there was a flaw in his genotype. No one paid any attention to the prince's character or intellect, which was extraordinary. His little, ragged brothers were valued more highly because they had a mother who could plead for them, while he had no one. They saw him strong and they saw him weak. Through the open door they could see how he lay lifeless on a simple, modest bed and the terrified maid ran to the doctor. They could hear his cough too, so powerful that even the closed door could not suppress it. Hugoarno, however, never complained. He never asked for help, though he did not dismiss her contemptuously when she came. He accepted his fate without complaint, but that didn't mean that he also had to accept the bad behavior of his younger brothers.

"What was it this time? Beast?" one of the guards asked in a low voice as the prince reached for the doorknob.

"Rock dragon. From the onyx family, "explained Hugoarno.

"Have you dealt with him?"

"With one shot."

The guard pecked in admiration.

"Hey, I was there too!" Zackocuki interrupted. "I chipped an ax on it!"

"Your beautiful spinning blade ax?" asked the second guard, much younger than the first.

"Yes, yes," admitted Hugoarno with an indulgent smile. "You cut it into pieces beautifully. We had nothing to collect. "

"And we saved the train from derailing," added Zack.

"Train? What is a train? " the younger guard inquired. Like almost everyone in this world, he didn't even have a vague idea of ​​the latter.

"This is such a big, long vehicle. It looks like a snake, but it is two men tall and a hundred meters long, "explained Zackocuki, but when he glanced at his friend and saw the pale face of his face, he quickly finished:" Someday I'll draw it for you. "

Quickly and unceremoniously he pushed Hugoarno and, finding himself in the room, closed the door behind him. At the last moment, because Hugoarno's hands began to tear and he himself reached the bed, barely shuffling his feet. He leaned against the wall and closed his eyes.

Zackocuki took off the prince's shoes, his cloak and belt, and then gently laid Hugoarno in the sheets. The prince was so exhausted that he was already asleep.