Chapter 67: Favoritism
The King nodded, satisfied.
"I hope that, in addition to receiving your approval, they will also receive some kind of support, Mr. Roger. Young people need the older generations to grow," he said, pointing to Brandon. "Look at Brandon, he has been able to perform spectacularly, growing with each step and amazing everyone, thanks to our elders who have helped him along the way."
The second prince groaned inwardly when he heard this.
Yes, it is true that the help of past generations helps young people develop, but Brandon has been able to do so incredibly well only because he has his support.
And if someone receives the king’s support, how many other elders will decide to help him?
It was normal, then, that Brandon was so good. From the beginning, he was the king’s favorite. And the rest of the princes were left to their own devices. The fact that Brandon now has competitors for the throne is just an example of how talented the rest are.
But there was nothing to be done. Brandon obtained a special path, one of those nicknamed "Extraordinary Paths," and the rest only obtained Primary Paths, nothing the King could exploit to win the war. So the favoritism would remain.
"Haha, count me in, my King. Although you know how I am, I will be judging to see who is worthy and who is not," Roger replied. "Having finished here, I have to go fix the mess in the urbanization, my King. So I will take my leave," he said.
"Very well. I wish you luck," replied the King, and Roger left after giving Ryan a quick salute.
Finally, the room returned to the first ones.
The King gave Martin the reward for completing the mission and then looked at Ryan and Cecily.
"Your actions reached a new milestone, and I have to congratulate you personally. Therefore, I will choose the reward myself and send it to you during the week. Don’t worry; I’m sure it will satisfy you," he said.
Ryan and Cecily had nothing to say about it. "We leave it in your hands, my King," was the polite response they both gave.
"Very well, go back to rest." He dismissed them, and they all left.
Finally, the Second Prince had nothing more to do here, so he got up. "Father, I’m going back to the Alchemy Tower. I need to think," he said suddenly.
"Don’t play games with your mind. Sometimes things just don’t turn out how you expect, and you have to accept that," he said suddenly, advising him as always.
"Thanks for the advice, father," he replied. To tell the truth, ever since he discovered that his advice to him was just a few very general words and not at all focused on his real problems, but that the advice he gave Brandon was profound and comprehensive, he had stopped considering his father’s advice.
In any case, his teacher could also give him good advice. So, after saying goodbye, he left.
Finally, Brandon stood up. He had many questions.
"Brandon," he called.
"Father."
"I first considered mentioning you my recognition of Ryan as a True Royal Prince and his participation with Miss Larsen in this mission. But then I thought that if I let them participate like that, they could lead you to a dead end and make you grow more during this mission," he said suddenly.
Brandon looked up, confused. "How would that help me grow? Do you think Ryan has something to teach me? Even Miss Larsen..."
"That’s the problem, Brandon." The King interrupted him. "You grew up with my full attention. I gave you the best resources, and you knew how to take advantage of them, but you didn’t grow up with competition. My first son has no interest in the throne, so no one is competing with you."
"That’s why you don’t understand what growing up during a crisis means. I thought that Miss Larsen, with royal support, could put you through a great crisis, but in the end, I thought you would still come out on top. The current result genuinely surprises me."
Brandon frowned and clenched his teeth. "I lost because I didn’t consider that he was in Minister Martin’s organization," he said.
"No." The King shook his head. "You lost because he did better than you. There are no excuses, Brandon. Haven’t I taught you that excuses are for those who are poor in spirit?"
Brandon took a deep breath to calm himself and nodded after a few seconds. "I lost because I was worse than him, right?" he asked.
"No, that’s not it either," assured the King.
"What do you mean, Father?" He felt confused.
Hadn’t he just said it?
"I don’t mean you were worse, because I don’t really think any of this was Ryan’s plan. He just had more guts than you. The guts to enter that neighborhood that even I haven’t dared to enter in 150 years, just so as not to disturb those old farts."
Brandon’s eyes widened. "I see, so his guts..."
"Your eyes didn’t light up because of that, right?" asked the King with a smile, knowing that Brandon had realized something else.
"Father, since he dared to upset those old people that even you didn’t want to upset in many years, doesn’t that mean they’re problematic?" he asked.
"Indeed. Old meat is always troublesome to deal with."
"So, doesn’t that mean he stirred up a hornet’s nest? Now he’ll be at the center of problems associated with those old men. He won this time, but he practically dug his own grave."
The King smiled. "I hope you take advantage of what I’ve told you today, Brandon. You’ll surely be able to get more out of it than he did. But don’t rush, be patient."
Brandon smiled broadly. Even though he was 30 years old, his father’s words always gave him advice that opened his mind, so he smiled like a child being advised by his father and accepted his kind words.
"Thank you, Father!" he said, but then he remembered something else and asked, "Father, what reward will you give them? You usually always know what you will give as a reward."
The King smiled and rose from his throne. "Follow me, let’s go to the treasury, and I’ll teach you a few more things," he said.
--
Ryan didn’t stay at the castle that day; he decided to celebrate with the organization’s members since Martin invited him, and Cecily encouraged him to go.
In the end, he ended up at the organization’s tavern, eating and celebrating the completion of this mission throughout the afternoon and evening.
He met many of the organization’s members there, from Alan to Zion and Samuel to old Roy.
Even the receptionists were present, and the party ended in the early hours of the morning when many fell asleep.
Martin approached Ryan when he saw him awake, looking out the window at the city behind them.
"Don’t you drink?" he asked after pouring him some high-alcohol beer.
Ryan shook his head. "I prefer wine," he replied.
"Haha, okay. Young people always choose mild flavors," he said, pouring him some wine before sitting beside him to look outside.