chapter 3:Unfortunate Accident?

Chapter 3: Unfortunate Accident?

Jason stared out of the grand window of his chambers, the sprawling gardens of the palace stretching below him, a picturesque scene bathed in the warm morning light. But his mind was far from the serenity of the view. Something is bothering at the edges of his thoughts, a persistent doubt that refused to be silenced.

The story of his "accident" had been relayed to him multiple times over the past few days. Each version was consistent: he had fallen from his horse during a hunt, striking his head against a rock. Yet, the clarity of the explanation felt rehearsed, the kind of tale one crafts when the truth is too inconvenient. It didn't sit well with him.

He paced the room, replaying the fragments of memory he could access through the system. There was no recollection of the hunt itself, no sensation of losing control or the moment of impact. His last clear memory as Prince Aung was standing in a crowded court hall, observing the tensions simmering among the nobles. The next thing he knew, he was waking up in bed, surrounded by concerned faces.

Jason's instincts told him that there was more to the incident than a simple accident. The fragmented memories from the system and the political tensions Mira had described painted a dangerous picture. The Pagan Empire was a kingdom on the edge, with factions jockeying for power. As a prince, especially one considered "soft," Jason might have been seen as expendable. Was his accident a deliberate attempt to remove him from the equation?

Determined to find answers, he decided to start with the most obvious avenue—questioning those who had been present that day. He summoned Mira, who entered the room with her usual grace.

"Mira," he began, keeping his tone measured, "tell me more about the hunting trip. Who was there, and what happened leading up to my fall?"

She hesitated, her hands clasped tightly in front of her. "Your Highness, it was a routine outing. You and a group of courtiers rode into the northern woods. The Crown Prince was leading the hunt. You… you seemed distracted that day. They say your horse startled at a snake, and you lost control."

Jason narrowed his eyes, catching the slight tremor in her voice. "And who were these courtiers?"

"Several nobles and their sons," she replied cautiously. "Lord U Thar's youngest was among them, as were General Nanda's nephews. It was a large group, Your Highness."

Jason nodded, filing the information away. The mention of U Thar piqued his interest. The minister was known for his cunning, and his loyalty was dubious at best. General Nanda's name brought further concern; the general was a staunch supporter of the Crown Prince, who likely had little patience for a younger sibling viewed as a rival.

"Who found me after the fall?" he pressed.

"It was the Crown Prince and General Nanda's men," Mira answered, her voice soft. "They carried you back to the palace."

Jason's suspicion deepened. If his brother and Nanda's men had been responsible for bringing him back, it raised the possibility that they had also controlled the narrative surrounding the incident. Could his brother have orchestrated the fall to secure his path to the throne? Or was it a more subtle attempt to keep Jason in check, ensuring he stayed in the shadows of power?

He dismissed Mira with a polite nod, instructing her to prepare his riding gear. If he was to uncover the truth, he would need to retrace the steps of that fateful hunt himself.

***

Later that afternoon, Jason rode into the northern woods with a small escort, Mira among them. The air was heavy with the scent of damp earth and the hum of insects, the tranquility of the surroundings at odds with the tension coiling in his chest. He guided his horse carefully, scanning the area for anything that might jog his memory—or reveal evidence of foul play.

"This is the place," Mira said quietly, pointing to a small clearing bordered by a steep incline. "You were found at the bottom of that slope."

Jason dismounted and approached the spot, crouching to examine the terrain. The ground was uneven, covered in loose rocks and scattered leaves. It was plausible that a startled horse could lose its footing here, sending its rider tumbling.

But something felt off. The incline was steep, but not impossibly so. A skilled rider—or even one with moderate experience—should have been able to recover. He frowned, running his hand over a jagged rock partially buried in the soil. A smear of dried blood clung to its surface, likely his own. The sight sent a chill through him, but it also hardened his resolve.

"Strange, isn't it?" he murmured, almost to himself. "This slope isn't as treacherous as they made it sound."

Mira, standing nearby, looked uneasy. "Perhaps your horse was particularly spooked, sire."

"Perhaps," Jason replied, though he didn't believe it. Something about this location, this setup, felt deliberate.

He turned to his escort. "Return to the palace and inform the stable master that I want a full report on the horse I rode that day. Its condition, its temperament—everything."

The guards saluted and rode off, leaving Jason and Mira alone in the clearing. He remained silent, his gaze fixed on the incline, his mind racing through possibilities. Was the horse tampered with? Had someone ensured it would panic at the slightest provocation?

"Sire," Mira said hesitantly, "if I may speak freely…"

Jason looked at her, intrigued by the rare boldness in her tone. "Go on."

"There have been… whispers in the servants' quarters," she admitted, her voice low. "Some say the Crown Prince wasn't pleased with the favor His Majesty showed you recently. Others believe Lord U Thar might have had a hand in your accident. But these are only rumors, sire. I wouldn't wish to mislead you."

Jason clenched his jaw. The Crown Prince's ambition was no surprise, but Lord U Thar's involvement added another layer of intrigue. If the accident was indeed orchestrated, the minister's cunning hand was a plausible factor. Still, rumors were not proof, and he needed to tread carefully.

"Thank you for your honesty, Mira," he said, his voice firm. "But remember—until I say otherwise, this conversation never happened."

She bowed deeply, her expression grave. "Of course, Your Highness."

As they returned to the palace, Jason's thoughts churned with suspicion and strategy. If his fall had been a deliberate act, then it was more than a personal attack—it was a move in a larger game, one aimed at destabilizing the empire. He couldn't afford to let his enemies remain in the shadows.

The truth was out there, hidden among the lies and half-truths of court politics. And Jason, now armed with both his modern perspective and the system guiding him, was determined to find it. Whether his accident was misfortune or malice, one thing was certain: he would uncover the truth, no matter the cost.