Leon, who usually followed Crown Prince Edward, has been spending more time in the field to practice. His swordsmanship was not as good as Benny, but it was definitely far better than most people out there.
At this time, someone came to him.
"Sir Leon, Duke Sun is here to see you."
"I know."
Leon put down his sword and then walked to one of the small meeting room. There, he saw his father, who was standing beside the window, looking at the students outside the room.
"Father," Leon greeted.
"It’s been a while, Leon." Duke Sun looked at his second son. "I have received your letter and you said that you’re confused?"
Leon pursed his lips.
He knew the trade between Duke White and Duke Sun, which was also an important trade for them that improved the situation in Duke Sun’s territory over the past few years. The main reason was naturally the agreement that Duke Sun had with Aurora.
But all of the sudden, Aurora’s reputation took a large hit.
It seemed as if everyone had forgotten that Aurora was someone who had helped them to make a deal.
What kind of person she is, how could they not know?
Now, there were many people who said that Aurora was someone who told lies, bully others, and so on.
He had never seen Aurora did it.
She was only studying like a normal student, but people somehow kept on talking about her.
"It’s about Lady Aurora," Leon started slowly. "How come everyone seems to put her down when she did nothing?"
Duke Sun froze. He looked at his son up and down and then said seriously, "When did you start paying attention to her?"
"Aren’t you the one who said that I have to be as good as her?" Leon snorted.
It was his father who told him that Aurora was really capable, which made Leon started to pay attention to Aurora’s movement. But even if he did pay attention occasionally, it was only about her result in her classes and the negotiation.
He had no other intentions.
Without his father’s words back then, Leon would not even spare a look to Aurora because he was too busy with his own things and didn’t have time to care about other people.
"You..." Duke Sun wanted to say that he never said that but then felt that he seemed to have said it a few years ago. He sighed deeply.
"It’s complicated, Leon."
"Tell me, Father. I’m not a child anymore," Leon said solemnly.
He’s already 17 years old about to turn 18. It was time for him to know about many other things in the world. Besides, he wanted to become a knight and any informations would be important for him to know.
Duke Sun looked at Leon and then said, "There are many people who value power and position. They would not care about others who will not interfere in their interest, but what if someone who could control them all appear?"
"Control them?" Leon fronted, he didn’t understand what Duke Sun said.
"Someone who could know your weakness and make a good use of it. Someone who could make a good use of your situation for their benefit and even if you didn’t lose a lot, you will still be used by them..." Duke Sun sighed.
"You can say that she has offended someone who couldn’t stand receiving loss and someone who was out of control. The nobles didn’t want someone so smart and capable like her to stand at the top."
Because if she did stand at the top, no one would be able to stop her anymore.
Duke Sun himself also realized this many years ago when Mr. Wren was attacked in his place. He realized that there were more and more people who started to make their move against Aurora.
His territory has been protected heavily, but they still could enter and make a move.
What it meant?
It meant that they should have hired the best bounty hunters or the likes with a huge sum of money to make a move against a duke. Not everyone could have so much wealth like that to offend Aurora at that time.
Because she was still very strong and influential.
But the attack still came and it was not the last.
Duke Sun could see that there were many people who wanted Aurora to die.
Someone even come to him...
"But isn’t it better for a capable person...?" Leon was about to refute when he saw his father raised his hand to let him stop speaking.
"If she’s the prince, then yes." Duke Sun smiled bitterly.
If Aurora is Crown Prince Edward, then the entire Yellow Kingdom would celebrate. The nobles might feel uncomfortable because of her ability, but they would put up with it. Because they knew that she would definitely bring the Yellow kingdom to a greater heights.
Besides, it was not like they lose a lot.
But...
Aurora is not Crown Prince Edward.
In fact, it was Aurora’s identity as the daughter of Duchess Isabella that made many people turn their heads to look in her direction.
She’s the princess of the Red Kingdom.
This was something that they worried about.
Because Aurora was so capable, it was impossible for them not to put up their guard around her. When they thought about her background and the fact that she had good results after the negotiation in the Red Kingdom back then...
Some people couldn’t stay quiet.
"For some people with special identity, it’s better for them not to have great ability. Because no matter what your heart actually is, there would be people who suspected them," Duke Sun said slowly.
And not only these people who had suspicions, there were also many people who were jealous of Aurora and didn’t want Aurora to survive.
They would do everything they could to make sure she didn’t stand at the top.
Even if they paid a lot of prices for this.