The Third Prince Of Darkness

"Your Excellency, I greet the Prince of the Sun, Ethan," said Althea's mother, Madeleine. Since there was no one around, I didn't need to pretend not to recognize her.

"Is Althea awake?" I asked Madeleine.

I noticed a slight frown on Madeleine's face, which indicated she probably wanted to say something but was holding back because of my position as a prince and the new status I had earned through the service guild.

"Althea is resting now, Your Excellency, but if you give me the flower, I can tell her that you visited," Madeleine said.

"There's no need. I want to speak with her alone," I replied, but Madeleine frowned again.

"Your Excellency Ethan... Althea is no longer your knight. She will return to me and assist me with my work. If you wish, we can arrange for someone else from the service guild to serve you," Madeleine said, her gentle mask replaced by a cold and real expression.

Madeleine's cold words created tension in the room. I could clearly sense the intent behind her words. However, I wasn't going to just turn my back and leave. Althea had gone through so much for me; at the very least, I needed to thank her and offer her the chance to be my woman.

"Madeleine, is this decision yours or your daughter's?" I asked. Both Madeleine and I had now lost our polite masks.

"Do you think I could make my daughter do something she doesn't want to, Your Excellency?"

Madeleine's question hung in the air defiantly. Her words were sharp, and her gaze was icy. Yet, I could see the fear and concern behind this cold demeanor. Althea's life being in danger because of Liam was clearly terrifying her; like most mothers, she cared deeply for her daughter. Therefore, I didn't think I had the right to blame her.

"Very well, Madeleine. Althea may stop being my chief knight and come back to you, but I want to speak with her now."

Madeleine hesitated for a moment, a look of cautious surprise appearing in her eyes. She seemed to accept what I said, but was still not fully at ease. It was understandable that she wanted to protect Althea; however, this conversation was not just a matter between a mother and her daughter. Althea herself should have a say.

"Of course, Your Excellency," Madeleine said, stepping back slowly. "I will allow you to speak with her. But remember, she is no longer under your command," she added... Recently, it seemed that some people had forgotten I was a prince. Anyway...

Madeleine left the room, and I waited silently for a few minutes. Memories of the time I spent with Althea, the moments we fought together, and the trust we had for each other resurfaced in my mind. She was much more to me than just a knight. I approached another door and knocked a few times before opening it.

"It's Ethan. I'm coming in," I said simply, and after waiting a moment with no response, I stepped inside.

As I entered, I looked in shock at Althea lying in bed. I knew she was heavily injured, but I didn't realize how severe it was. Althea's abdomen was covered in white bandages, and her right arm and leg were similarly bandaged. There were several knife wounds on her neck. This was... much worse than I had thought.

Anger towards Liam surged within me again, but this time I managed to control myself. I closed the door behind me and sat in the chair beside Althea. I looked at her still beautiful face, which had stubbornly avoided looking at me all this time.

The pallor on Althea's face reflected the severity of her wounds. She was breathing quietly, but her eyes stubbornly looked away. Seeing her in this state hurt me; the once strong and courageous Althea was now fragile and wounded. However, our bond was not just about physical strength. We had a deeper, stronger connection.

"Althea," I said, my voice softer than I intended. "I'm sorry I couldn't visit you sooner."

Her eyes turned slightly towards me but still didn't meet mine fully. I continued to sit in silence. Somewhere inside, the rising anger towards Liam was replaced by a sense of guilt in this silence. I had allowed her to be injured and couldn't protect her.

"It's okay..." she said, her gaze drifting to the plain white wall beside her. It seemed like she didn't want to talk to me... And honestly, my heart ached deeply and felt terrible.

Althea's vacant look in her eyes disturbed me. This wasn't just a physical wound; it carried the marks of a deep emotional injury. Realizing that she wasn't even willing to see or hear me created a vast emptiness within me.

"Althea... What happened? Why are you looking at me like this? I understand that you're in this state because of my negligence, but what do you want me to do? Just tell me, do you want revenge?" I asked. Despite the hardness of my words, I couldn't hide my desperation.

"Really?" Althea finally turned towards me. For a moment, pain and disappointment flashed in her eyes. "The truth is, Ethan, the reason I'm angry with you isn't because of my injuries or because you allowed seven people to beat me to almost death. I never hesitated to put my life on the line for you, and I still wouldn't," Althea said, her eyes welling up.

"Then what's the problem? Why are you so upset?"

Althea took a deep breath, as if what she was about to say would be even more difficult. The room was filled with her disappointment and pain. "Because the person I risked my life for wasn't you... It was your old beloved who died years ago! Even though she died years ago, you valued her life more than mine!

I wasn't regretful when I lost the fight and lay bleeding on the ground, but did you ever think about what I felt when Liam's men pulled Emilia's body out and delayed beside me?! Turns out everything was for another woman to you..."

Althea's words pierced my heart like a knife. Emilia... I thought of the woman I lost years ago and still couldn't erase from my mind. I had clung to her memory and always carried the pain of trying to bring her back to life. But Althea's current anger made me realize what I had truly sacrificed.

"Althea," I said quietly, my voice trembling, "I'm sorry... I... I don't know what to say." I really didn't know what to say.

Althea wiped the tears from her eyes and took a deep breath before continuing. "Your apology won't change anything, Ethan. These wounds may heal, but the wound you've opened in my heart won't heal so easily. I've stayed by your side, supported you for years, remained loyal. But you've always thought of other women. You...

never saw my feelings," she said.

Her words dug deep into my soul. I had preserved Emilia's memory for years, but in doing so, I had ignored Althea's love and loyalty to me. I tried to put myself in her shoes, but understanding such profound disappointment and pain was difficult. I had no choice but to admit that I had wronged her.

"Althea... I don't know if this will make any difference, but the real reason I came here was to express my feelings for you. I care about you, Althea. Maybe I realized this too late, but you are very important to me. I want you in my life."

Althea looked at me with a bitter smile. "Do you only care about me out of fear of losing me? Even you don't know if that's true, do you?" Her voice was hurt but resolute. "Ethan, I remained loyal to you because I thought our bond meant something. But I was always second place. I can't continue this any longer.

Even if I am madly in love with you... I need to carve my own path for myself. I can't stay with a man who hasn't even properly said he loves me... even if he is a prince."

Althea's words shattered me. This was a sign that she was ending all her feelings for me, but it also intensified the sense of helplessness within me. The memories I had cherished, her loyalty to me, were now shattered in an instant. Althea had received marriage proposals from many different nobles and even a duke, yet she had continued to stay with me despite the uncertain my future...

As the silence echoed in the room, I was at a loss for what to say.

"Althea," I began, but the words caught in my throat. What could I possibly say? I knew she was right. The ghost of Emilia had always been a barrier between us, and I had never removed it. "My feelings for you are real. But I hadn't realized how much I've hurt you.

I acknowledge that it took me a long time to recognize my mistakes. But I don't want to lose you."

Althea took a deep breath and turned her face towards me. Her eyes no longer held anger or sadness, only resolve. "Ethan, can you promise that you won't be with any other woman besides me?" she asked.

"Th-...I'm sorry, but... I don't think I can."

For a moment, great disappointment appeared in Althea's eyes. My answer seemed to have extinguished the last remnants of hope within her. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath. "I understand," she said in a quiet voice, and spoke while looking at the bandages covering her hands. "Then this conversation has no meaning."

At that moment, I understood better the deep pain I had caused in Althea's heart and her desire to be with me. Expressing my feelings had only been a consolation to her. I placed a bouquet of flowers, which was in an envelope, on the table. Inside the envelope was a key to a large sum of money from my bank, which would probably be very useful for her mother, Madeleine, to restore her noble household.

As for how I knew who Madeleine was, well, Because of Evangeline, I had become the third most authorized person in the servants' guild after Evangeline.

"Before I leave, I want to say one last thing. There will always be a place for you with me, and you will always be welcome. If you ever come back to me, know that I will love you with all my heart... Althea"

Althea's eyes seemed to resist my words. The difficult situation she was in and the fracture in her heart reflected how uncertain she was about the truth of what I said. Her face had a slight tremor, but this tremor seemed more like an internal struggle rather than losing control. But she said nothing and continued to look at the wall beside her.

Knowing that staying no longer made sense, I turned and headed for the door. I had a small hope that Althea would stop me before I left, but nothing of the sort happened. As I opened the door and prepared to step outside, I caught a glimpse of Althea looking at me from behind, with tears streaming from her eyes.

As I took a step out the door, the emptiness I left behind in Althea's room tightened around my heart. Talking to her, revealing my feelings, made me feel both guilty and helpless. Althea's tears and the wound I left in her heart were a confrontation with one of my greatest mistakes. As I walked down the corridor, each step deepened the pain I felt for Althea.

My expression reflected the dark moment I was experiencing. When I stepped out the door, I encountered Madeleine. Her gaze held a deep sadness and a sense of resignation.

"Is everything alright, Your Excellency?" Madeleine asked, her voice subdued.

"Yes," I said, pausing for a moment to study her eyes. "Everything is fine," I said with a pained smile. In this new life, even being a prince and incredibly rich was not enough for a happy love life...