The Promise

Back at home, Lady Chan was deeply worried regarding Noname's absence. It was dusk already, but still, Noname had not yet returned. 

'^The only time he stayed this long was when he was attacked by a bear... I just hope nothing worse has happened to him this time.^' She pondered deep within herself while walking towards a nearby window.

"It has started to drizzle already, and the rain will start pouring down in no time. His vision would be most likely impaired and, unknown to him, he might end up taking shelter in a wild animal's cave. He might have struggled with a bear once, but a family of bears will surely show him no mercy.... I have to go look for him!"

So she hurriedly went into her room and quickly got prepared to leave, but as fate would have it, just as she approached the door, she heard a knock on it. 

"Oh, thank goodness, he's finally back. I wonder what kept him so long" She quickly dashed towards the door and pulled it open, only for her eyes to meet with a sight of five soldiers, heavily armed.

Lady Chan was still in deep confusion, unsure of what was really going on, when they grabbed her forcefully, with two tightly holding on to her arms while keeping her on her knees, and another pointing a sword menacingly at her neck.

"We don't want to waste our time here, so tell us real quickly, where are they?! "

Lady Chan could not really understand what was happening, but deep within her, she sensed instantly that it had something to do with Noname!

<<<

Earlier that afternoon, the prince had stealthily left the palace without informing anyone, but unfortunately, as his sense of mischief and cunning had noticeably declined, he was caught off guard by the new head maid. After a series of much pleading and explanation, he was finally allowed to go, but on the condition that he return back to the palace before dinner.

While away, luck left his side as the queen noticed his absence and called for the maid, who intended to deny her knowledge about his absence, but subsequently, she gave in after much ferocious threats. 

The queen became overly furious about the matter, and the very fact that it had to do with Noname only amplified her anger. She quickly ordered the adjutant to take four other hefty soldiers with him to bring back her son...

>>>

"It feels bad!..." 

Noname said after a long minute of silence. 

"...Whenever I lay to rest, I encounter a series of murderous nightmares; a dark force trying to break free from its cage... and any time it does damage to the cage, I feel my heart being crushed, my body being battered, my sanity sliced through by a sharp blade...

...The torment I face is just... *sighs* words can't describe it brother. 

And true to Lady Chan's words, it only gets worse with each passing day. She told me that whatever is within me will eventually get so strong, up to the extent that at a certain level, it won't need to wait for the time I'm at my weakest, which is while I sleep, before it manifests.

 It will get so strong that while I'm fully conscious, it will initiate its ruthless havoc within me, and this will continue until... 

...until it finally kills me!... which won't be too long from the time it is able to manifest its effects while its prison is conscious."

The Prince, who was already in tears after hearing what his brother had said, replied softly with a whimper—

"I... I... am sorry!"

"It's alright."

" No brother, I am really sorry. Look what I have done! Because of me, you were sent out of the palace even upon this condition which you alone faced. I'm really sorry brother, please forgive me!

Honestly, I have never had peace within myself ever since you left. I would have been dead if not that you saved me TWICE on that day. I will never measure up to your standards... Look at you, a boy against a bear!... Isn't that enough to say that you are a man already? 

...You deserve the crown brother, You deserve to rule this kingdom, You deserve to be king!"

Noname felt deeply touched by his brother's words and knew that there was sincerity in every letter, so he consoled his brother, saying—

"No, none of this is your fault. Being born as the Fuku instead of me means that you have a purpose, but you see, we all just discover our purposes at different times. I'm sure yours will be something that impacts the future greatly!

... And I am not alone, I have Lady Chan. She has always been taking good care of our brother and me with her best ever since our banishment. I will say that leaving the palace was more of a blessing instead. Besides, I wouldn't have found out about my inner strength and capabilities if I had continued to stay confined within that palace. So please, take out your burden of regret from yourself, you will never get stronger and better if you don't. "

The Prince felt comforted and thanked his brother with a sincere promise—

"Thank you... You've given me relief from three years of agony...

...I promise, that when I become king and my father dies, I will surely remember you and bring you back. And even if you... you know.....die... I will surely remember your children!"

"Ha ha ha, let's not go too far brother...." Noname burst out in laughter. 

"...Speaking of Lady Chan and our brother, I think it's time we sail back and meet them; It's night time already, and... gosh, who knew it was raining? We were so drenched in our own emotions that we didn't notice that the rain had also drenched us. We better hurry before it becomes a thunderstorm... And by the way, I'm keeping this cloak!"

"Not a problem, but I was being serious about my promise!" The Prince persistently replied as they rowed the boat back in the direction from which they came.