Charles couldn't possibly sit back and take the beating. With his face ashen, he commanded his men to surround William.
William's face was full of emptiness, as if since the death of the woman he loved, he too had lost his soul, becoming a soulless creature that neither cries nor laughs, feels neither sorrow nor joy.
He simply stared at Charles, speaking with a voice devoid of emotion, "I neither fight nor compete. I know you want to be the next king. Before going out to sea, I even made up my mind that when we returned, no matter what, I would persuade Father to let you ascend. Because I am clearly aware of my own temperament; I'm not suited for that position, nor have I ever thought of competing with you. But why? What has our brotherhood of over twenty years amounted to in your heart? You ruined me, left me crippled, and even took away my last trace of warmth, my hope! She died so tragically, how could you have the heart, how?!?"
