Anfey and Christian walked side by side down the small path. Kumaraghosha followed them with a small group of mercenaries. Anfey didn’t need protection, but Kumaraghosha insisted that walking around alone did not befit his status.
Everyone was different when it comes to having guards accompany them. Some people, like Newyoheim and Michael, prefer bringing guards along, even though guards were unnecessary, because they saw the guards as a display of power. Others, like Yolanthe and Saul, liked to keep to themselves and draw as little attention as possible. Because of Saul’s influence, his students did not like drawing too much attention to themselves either. Even though they all held power now, none of Anfey’s friends hired any guards or maids.
"Spring is coming," Christian said, looking at a nearby tree.
"Christian!" Anfey said, smiling. "You’ve talked about everything from legends to schools to prostitutes. What are you trying to get at?"
Christian smiled. "I just think we haven’t talked in a long time."
"We can talk for an entire day if you want," Anfey said. "I’m just curious what has you so worried."
Christian smiled and shook his head. He stopped and glanced at the mercenaries. Seeing he had stopped, Kumaraghosha stopped the mercenaries just out of earshot.
"Alright," Anfey said. "Let’s talk. Tell me, don’t lie. Have you slept with any of the women here?"
"What?" Christian asked, surprised.
"Tell me honestly," Anfey said.
"I’ve only been to bars a handful of times," Christian admitted. "And I only went to drink."
Anfey smiled. "I’m not surprised," he said. "You’re a good person. But even you must have urges."
Christian blushed. "I don’t have time to think about anything else," he said quietly. "Everyone thinks I’m so talented, but I’m not talented. I need to work very hard to achieve what my peers achieve easily." He paused, turning away from Anfey and muttering under his breath, "Sexual urges are natural."
"Do you go to bars then?" Anfey asked.
"That’s Blavi," Christian said, shaking his head. "I don’t have time. All I need to do is meditate to calm myself down."
Anfey frowned. "You need to let go a little once in a while. I’ll talk to Blavi about it."
"No," Christian said. "I don’t want to do that. There’s no need making those girls’ lives worse."
"It’s their job," Anfey said. "The mercenaries risk their lives everyday. Don’t they deserve pity as well?"
"It’s not the same," Christian said. "No one wants to be a prostitute if they can help it. The girls didn’t choose this. Society forced them into it. I am sure none of them actually enjoys their job. And the slaves. Their lives are even worse than the prostitutes."
Anfey nodded. "Good," he said. "You’re worried about the people’s lives."
Christian said, "I want to think about things from the point of view of normal people," he said. "Gives me whole new perspective."
"You really hate slavery, don’t you?" Anfey said. "If you become the successor, you will abolish the practice?"
"That’s too far in the future," Christian said.
"Let’s just pretend it has come true," Anfey said. "Tell me. What will you do?"
Christian thought about it for a few moments then sighed. "I won’t do anything," he said.
"Why?"
"It’s too risky. The nobility are all slave owners. So are the officials and merchants. Even some commoners own slaves. I cannot fight against an entire system by myself. If I want to do it, I will do it slowly. I will change the law to, say, free the slaves’ children. If that works, I will wait again for the society to accept those children and make new laws to ensure the slaves’ safety and give them more rights. I would need to take things slowly and make sure every step is taken after society has come to terms with the previous step."
"So complicated," Anfey said, frowning.
"It’s not just complicated," Christian said with a smile. "There is no way a ruler can completely abolish slavery by himself. This is a collective effort made by everyone in the society and the generations to come." Christian paused and sighed. "Let’s talk about something else. I can talk all day about this."
"I like your plan," Anfey said with a smile. This conversation reminded him that he did not have the mind for politics. Even though Christian was inexperienced, he was still a better politician. Anfey made a mental note not to get too involved in politics.
"It’s not good," Christian said with a sigh. "Did someone say something?"
Anfey nodded. "Blavi said you got angry with them yesterday. Heard you’re scary when you’re angry."
"I knew it," Christian said. "What did Blavi say?"
"I understand why you did what you did," Anfey said, "but isn’t it a little too much?"
Christian frowned. What happened wasn’t exactly Blavi’s fault. He was just in the wrong place at the wrong time. Blavi had gone to the bar with Ozzic and Tiger. Tiger was flirting with one of the barmaids, but the maid didn’t know who Tiger was and ignored him. Tiger found the owner of the bar and complained, causing the bar owner to punish the maid. The maid grew angry and said some insulting things in her anger. Tiger grew angry as well and kicked the maid. Because he was too strong, the kick knocked the woman unconscious.
Christian happened to be passing by the bar and heard the commotion. He became very angry after learning what had happened.
"You scared Tiger," Anfey said. "Tiger has been with us for a long time. Plus, the woman was at fault as well. She shouldn’t have insulted him."
"I cannot allow this," Christian said sternly. "Everyone is different and I don’t want to be too strict, but I don’t need to cause chaos in this city."
"Blavi also brought up the fact that you’re still single," Anfey said. "And I agree with him. Do you have anyone in mind?"
"Do you know why Grandon and Wester are still unmarried?"
"Grandon is in love with Niya, but I don’t know anything about Wester."
"We are princes," Christian said. "Marriage is the most important decision we can make in our entire lives. No one wants to rush into this decision. I’m waiting. Which is why I’m jealous of you and Suzanna. You can decide your own destiny. You cannot let her down."
Anfey frowned, then smiled. "Is this what you want to talk to me about?"
"Alice always acts strange around you," Christian said. "I think we both understand why. You’re my friend and so is Suzanna. I don’t want to see a rift between you two."
"Don’t worry," Anfey said. "Suzanna is true to herself. She is loyal. Sometimes she rushes into a decision that may not be the best. Some may say she is immature, but I like it. Alice, on the other hand, thinks too much. I trust her because right now she works for us. Her thinking benefits us. If one day I become an useless old man or do something horribly wrong and become the most hated man in the world, Suzanna will still stand by me. Alice would never do that, and she knows it."
Christian nodded. "That won’t ever happen, though."
"It doesn’t matter," Anfey said. "That’s what is different about them. For me, Suzanna is irreplaceable."
"So you must have noticed Alice."
"So?" Anfey said with a shrug. "If that maid you saved wants to marry you, will you do it?"
"No," Christian said, "but that’s different."
"I won’t, either," Anfey said. "Suzanna had been protecting me for so long, it’s my turn to protect her."
Christian nodded. "I trust you, of course," he said, glancing at Anfey’s window. "I’ll go now. Suzanna must be waiting for you."
"Is that all you wanted to talk about?" Anfey asked.
"Alice…"
"Don’t worry about her," Anfey reassured him. "She’s a very sensible person. She won’t let her emotions get in the way of the alliance. She values this more than we do."
"Really?"
Anfey nodded. "If this falls apart, we can go back to Maho Empire. The mercenaries can keep being mercenaries. She has nowhere to go. She is too smart, which is why she won’t do anything that may potentially undermine the alliance."
Christian nodded. "Alright," he said. "I’ll see you tomorrow."
"Sleep tight," Anfey said with a grin. "We’ll be busy tomorrow." Christian nodded and hurried off. Kumaraghosha sent some of the men to go with Christian. The mercenaries like freedom, but a lot of the mercenaries had already gotten used to being guards.
Anfey went to his room and discovered to his surprised that the unicorn was lying in his bed, its head hanging low. Suzanna was sitting next to it and petting it.
"What’s wrong?"
"I don’t know," Suzanna said, shaking her head. "I heard it stopped eating. They sent it back because they couldn’t take care of it anymore."
They had left the unicorn at Stormenburg under Alice and Marino’s care because they couldn’t bring it along.
"Have you asked Hui Wei?"
Suzanna nodded. "He said it’s probably because it’s maturing. He said you should spend more time with it."
Anfey sat down on the bed and stroked the unicorn’s head. The unicorn whimpered but did not do anything else.
"Let’s keep it close for a few days," Anfey said. "We need to go to bed now. It’s going to be a busy day tomorrow."
Suzanna nodded. She moved over to help Anfey take off his coat. When she saw the way he was looking at her, she jumped. "Why are you looking at me like that?"
"No reason," Anfey said with a smile. He leaned over and pressed a kiss on Suzanna’s cheek. "Just thinking about how much I adore you."