Chapter-5|Rediscovering the Prince's Acquaintances

Mark sat back down. "I thought it was something serious. Yeah, I know I have lost my memory."

Mark lightly whispered, "I have lost my life."

Steve looked at Mark. "My lord, did you say something?"

Mark replied, "No, no. By the way, Steve, since I have lost my memory, you tell me—who am I, what am I, and who are the people I should know?"

Steve nodded. "Sure, my lord! I'll even bring the portraits of everyone so you can recognize them at first glance!"

"Go ahead," said Mark.

Steve got up and left the room, and Mark lay back down on his bed. "It's so soft I might as well stay here forever just for this comfortable bed," Mark thought, blushing. But then he sat back up. "Wait, no, no, no. What if time in the future passes too? When I get back there, I'll miss my last chance to get a safe and stable job... What will I do then?"

The door suddenly opened, and a young girl entered the room along with a few soldiers and a guy in prince attire. The young girl smirked. "My lord! Looks like you are still alive..."

Mark shouted, "Steve! Get them out of here!"

The young girl replied, "That's unlike you, my lord. You are not going to fight us out of here? Looks like our attack has weakened you! Seeing we aren't dead yet, you must have not told the king yet... But why? What's your motive now? Do you want to continue living despite knowing Anna never loved you and she was using you all along... Are you planning for an act of revenge?"

Steve entered the room. "My lord, why was the door open—" Steve looked around and noticed the strange atmosphere.

Mark signalled Steve to come up to him. Steve walked up to Mark.

"Steve, tell them to leave," said Mark.

Steve nodded. "As you all can see, my lord does not wish to see you all. You may leave..."

The young girl smirked. "Alright, alright. We'll come back again, my lord." The young girl and everyone else left the room.

Steve closed the door. "My lord, the atmosphere looked tense. Did something happen? Are you not getting along with Miss Sophie?"

Mark nodded. "I guess so but who is she? Anyway, did you bring everyone's portraits?"

Steve nodded. "Yes, my lord. I'll start with the ones that came already. The young girl was Miss Sophie, your lover Anna's sister. She is also the lover of your brother, Master Jake."

Mark nodded. "And who was the young boy?"

Steve looked shocked. "Well, I guess you forgot everyone! He is your brother, Master Jake. He was adopted by your parents. He is 2 years older than you and has been on a rough patch with you ever since you were announced as the next king."

Mark nodded. "No wonder his lover was so upset with me."

Steve trembled in fear. "Did Miss Sophie say something?"

Mark chuckled. "She said I was—" They heard a knock on the door. "Steve, who is it?"

Two servants entered. "My lord, Princess Anna is here to see you. Would you like to meet her?"

Steve laughed. "Of course, he would—"

Mark disagreed. "No, I am feeling a little sick. Tell Miss Anna to come tomorrow or some days after."

The servants bowed and left.

Steve was flabbergasted. "My lord—she was the love of your life!"

Mark smirked. "But I guess I wasn't the love of her life."

Steve asked, "What do you mean, my lord? Why are you not speaking straight? Your way of speaking has changed."

Mark laughed. "Well, well, let it be. You continue with your introductions."

Steve bowed. "Sure, my lord!" Steve held up a portrait of a young, beautiful girl. "My lord, she's Miss Anna, the girl you were deeply in love with."

Mark smiled. "She's beautiful."

Steve nodded. "Yes, my lord, she is, but—"

Mark looked at Steve. "What happened?"

Steve looked down and replied, "She's the daughter of our new enemies, the Mings. They were the king's very good friends when you two met, but the King of the Mings backstabbed our king, and we lost one of our cities. It is the biggest trading capital of Zhongguo. Therefore, the king wants you to forget Princess Anna... but you said you didn't care and would marry Princess Anna no matter what! You two were deeply in love."

Mark laughed. "Don't worry, Steve. She was fooling me all along."

Steve was flabbergasted again. "My lord, let's continue since I am unable to understand what you mean, and we have to finish this all in an hour and leave for the forest."

Mark replied, "The forest?"

"Yes, my lord. The doctor asked us to bring you to the forest so that you'll get back your memories."

Mark lightly whispered, "They weren't even mine."

Steve looked at Mark confused. "Should we continue, my lord?"

Mark replied, "Sure."

Next, Steve held up the portrait of the king.

Mark laughed. "The old guy I met at noon?"

Steve, looking worried, said, "My lord, please don't say that. He's your father! Our king!"

Mark chuckled. "Okay, what's his name?"

Steve replied, "He is Jackson Qing, king for 24 years, and has done a lot of work for our people. He is not too strict but firm on ethics and manners. You must keep your way of speaking straight in front of him! Or else he'll get angry at you, and you guys will have a fight again, which will stress out the queen. We mustn't do that—she's not really well these days."

Mark nodded. "Now show me the portrait of the queen."

Steve took out the portrait of an old, beautiful lady. "She's our queen. She might look in her 40s, but she's 55 now."

Mark smiled. "Well, yes, she is pretty."

Steve smiled. "That must be due to her good nature! Her name is Nancy Qing. She's good at martial arts and always speaks up for justice. Our king was merciless when he was a prince, but ever since they got married, the queen completely changed our lord. He's the best king the Qing dynasty has ever had."

Mark nodded. "Is that all the people I need to know? Since our time seems up!"

Steve chuckled. "If you get your memory back, all of this might not be needed, my lord..."

Mark smiled. "I hope so."

Steve shouted, "Someone bring two horses! My lord and I are leaving for some important work..."

After a minute or so, Mark and Steve got on the horses to leave for the forest.