Jack was one of the handsome men in the empire of Esclosten. He had black pupils, chocolate brown hair, and a slim face. Despite being a commoner, his skin was pearl white. At just one year younger than Gabriel, he was well-known throughout the empire by his nickname, "Loyal Dog."
The story of his loyalty extended beyond the Empire of Esclosten and was famous worldwide. The nickname "Loyal Dog" originated during an assassination attempt when Jack sacrificed his life for the Crown Prince. He was on the brink of death but was miraculously saved by the grace of God and the magic of Al Hi Matt. Al Hi Matt was a tower located on the outskirts of the capital, where the finest wizards of the empire trained to assist both commoners and royalty.
"Your Highness…" Gabriel, who had been lost in thought, stared at Jack.
"Are you worried about something?" Jack asked, noticing the concerned expression on Gabriel's face.
Gabriel remained silent.
"Your Highness, your tea will get cold if you don't drink it,"
Jack pointed out, shifting the conversation to a more pressing matter. He sensed the Crown Prince was not yet ready to share his thoughts and wanted to avoid making the atmosphere uncomfortable.
Gabriel took a seat and began drinking his tea. After a few minutes, he paused, and his thin lips parted.
"Jack," he said.
Hearing his name, Jack responded quickly, momentarily panicked that something was wrong with the tea. "Yes, Your Highness?"
After a brief pause, Gabriel continued, "Esmeralda is coming back."
His voice softened as he spoke her name.
"Your Highness, isn't that good news?" Jack replied.
"Yes," Gabriel agreed, but Jack could see the worry etched on his face instead of happiness.
"Your Highness, you look tense," Jack observed.
Gabriel set his teacup on the table and turned to Jack, who was standing beside him. "Indeed, I'm worried."
"May I ask why Your Highness is so concerned?"
"I don't know what kind of gift to give her when she returns to the imperial palace."
Jack initially felt a sense of seriousness from Gabriel, but soon realized his Highness was troubled over something so trivial. A low chuckle escaped his lips.
"Why are you laughing, Jack?" Gabriel asked, looking confused as he squinted his eyes.
"Pardon me," Jack replied, suppressing his laughter.
"It's fine, Jack. You can laugh, but I would like to know the reason," Gabriel encouraged.
"Your Highness, I think you're worried over nothing. If you permit, I could offer some suggestions."
Jack's words sparked excitement in the Crown Prince.
Gabriel hummed and said, "Tell me."
Meanwhile, on the other side, a knight approached the commander with a concerned look. "Commander, why don't you take a rest?"
She gestured for him to leave, as he noticed she wasn't in the mood to talk.
Esmeralda stood near the bank of the river, looking at her face marked with scars and bloodstains. Her hands were rough, unlike those of other girls; from an early age, she had wielded swords instead of flowers, fighting day and night on the battlefield.
"Sigh…" she murmured as she gazed up at the sky.
"Father, I hold the dignity of the house of Kayleigh".
She whispered, sensing that her father was proud of her.Jack was one of the handsome men in the empire of Esclosten. He had black pupils, chocolate brown hair, and a slim face. Despite being a commoner, his skin was pearl white. At just one year younger than Gabriel, he was well-known throughout the empire by his nickname, "Loyal Dog."
The story of his loyalty extended beyond the Empire of Esclosten and was famous worldwide. The nickname "Loyal Dog" originated during an assassination attempt when Jack sacrificed his life for the Crown Prince. He was on the brink of death but was miraculously saved by the grace of God and the magic of Al Hi Matt. Al Hi Matt was a tower located on the outskirts of the capital, where the finest wizards of the empire trained to assist both commoners and royalty.
"Your Highness…" Gabriel, who had been lost in thought, stared at Jack.
"Are you worried about something?" Jack asked, noticing the concerned expression on Gabriel's face.
Gabriel remained silent.
"Your Highness, your tea will get cold if you don't drink it," Jack pointed out, shifting the conversation to a more pressing matter. He sensed the Crown Prince was not yet ready to share his thoughts and wanted to avoid making the atmosphere uncomfortable.
Gabriel took a seat and began drinking his tea. After a few minutes, he paused, and his thin lips parted.
"Jack," he said.
Hearing his name, Jack responded quickly, momentarily panicked that something was wrong with the tea. "Yes, Your Highness?"
After a brief pause, Gabriel continued, "Esmeralda is coming back."
His voice softened as he spoke her name.
"Your Highness, isn't that good news?" Jack replied.
"Yes," Gabriel agreed, but Jack could see the worry etched on his face instead of happiness.
"Your Highness, you look tense," Jack observed.
Gabriel set his teacup on the table and turned to Jack, who was standing beside him. "Indeed, I'm worried."
"May I ask why Your Highness is so concerned?"
"I don't know what kind of gift to give her when she returns to the imperial palace."
Jack initially felt a sense of seriousness from Gabriel, but soon realized his Highness was troubled over something so trivial. A low chuckle escaped his lips.
"Why are you laughing, Jack?" Gabriel asked, looking confused as he squinted his eyes.
"Pardon me," Jack replied, suppressing his laughter.
"It's fine, Jack. You can laugh, but I would like to know the reason," Gabriel encouraged.
"Your Highness, I think you're worried over nothing. If you permit, I could offer some suggestions."
Jack's words sparked excitement in the Crown Prince.
Gabriel hummed and said, "Tell me."
Meanwhile, on the other side, a knight approached the commander with a concerned look. "Commander, why don't you take a rest?"
She gestured for him to leave, as he noticed she wasn't in the mood to talk.
Esmeralda stood near the bank of the river, looking at her face marked with scars and bloodstains. Her hands were rough, unlike those of other girls; from an early age, she had wielded swords instead of flowers, fighting day and night on the battlefield.
"Sigh…" she murmured as she gazed up at the sky.
"Father, I hold the dignity of the house of Kayleigh," she whispered, sensing that her father was proud of her.