Brother and Younger Brother Emark
A few days after the event in the heart of Sunkland, a public announcement was made, revealing that Prince Echard would embark on a journey abroad to study at Saint Mia Academy. The official reason behind this decision was to support the initial preparations for the Mianet, a comprehensive project spanning several kingdoms with the aim of eradicating famine from the continent. According to the narrative, King Abram showed a strong interest in the project after learning about its noble purpose and declared that Sunkland would proactively participate in its execution as a matter of policy. To facilitate this, he arranged for the Second Prince, Echard, to study abroad in the Tearmoon Empire with the ultimate goal of participating in the Mianet’s operations.
Initially, this announcement faced resistance from conservative nobles who had been advocating for Echard, but the king’s determination prevailed, rendering their protests ineffective. This arrangement also led to the postponement of Echard’s marriage to Duke Greenmoon’s daughter, Esmeralda, causing some discontent. However, Count Lampron and the chancellor managed to smooth things over. In the end, Echard left for Tearmoon in Greenmoon’s carriage, and as he gazed back at his departing homeland, Esmeralda spoke to him.
“Don’t worry. You will return. I understand that it might feel lonely for a while, but there’s no need to brood. As soon as I can, I’ll bring you back to Sunkland,” she reassured him, thinking that young boys like him would likely miss their families.
But Echard shook his head and replied, “No… Thank you for your concern, Miss Esmeralda, but I won’t be coming back. Not to Sunkland. There’s something I must do, and it is a form of penance.”
After a moment of silence, he looked at her with eyes that seemed too mature for his age. “With your gracious permission, that’s what I intend to seek in this arrangement.”
Esmeralda observed him, noticing his restraint, and felt sympathy for the young prince, which touched her heart. That’s why she explicitly countered his statement with a solemn shake of her head and explained, “You don’t need to perform penance…because you have already been forgiven.”
“Huh?” The young prince frowned in confusion.
She smiled at him and continued, “It’s okay. There is no further punishment awaiting you. Who could possibly carry out your sentence now? They would have to come and find you, capture you, and bring you back to Sunkland. Do you think I would allow that? And not just me, but my dear friend Miss Mia as well? No, Your Highness. We will never allow such a thing to happen.”
As she spoke, she felt the logic falling into place. Echard’s sentence was effectively null and void. In practice, he had been pardoned. Even if he couldn’t distinguish himself by the time his reprieve expired, there would be no penalty. His past wrongs were just relics of a bygone era. Resurrecting his old sins would be excessively cruel, and Mia would not permit it. In fact, the suspension of his sentence in the royal chamber that day was an unspoken declaration of his amnesty.
“But… What am I then?” Uncertainty crept into Echard’s eyes, and he looked around as if he were lost.
With her words, Esmeralda directed him forward, saying, “Your Highness, you won’t face any more punishment. There’s no need to feel pressured to make amends. You’ve been forgiven, so you should live as if you are forgiven.”
“Live… as if I’m forgiven?”
“That’s correct. Miss Mia has forgiven you. So has His Majesty, and so has your brother. Think about how Prince Sion bid you farewell. He risked his life for that performance. Does that seem like a parting gift for a sinner awaiting punishment? Certainly not. It was a sign of hope. He has forgiven you, and he is eagerly waiting for you to grow into a fine young man. The best way to repay him is to fulfill that expectation, isn’t it?”
The more she spoke, the more it made sense. In fact, it was almost absurd that she was only realizing this now. This was Mia they were talking about. Would someone like her ever condemn someone to eternal penance, a life dedicated solely to atone for past mistakes? Absolutely not. Such cruelty was beyond her. So, how did she hope Echard would live, and what role did she expect from Esmeralda, having entrusted her with the young prince’s future guidance?
She contemplated and then said, “Your Highness, you should live by embracing the fact that you were saved by Miss Mia and wear it proudly.”
“Proudly…”
“Yes, proudly. Living with your head held high, rather than cowering and living in constant fear of punishment. Such a timid approach doesn’t befit someone who has been blessed by Miss Mia’s kindness. You should follow her example and live proudly. I believe that only people who have pride in themselves can achieve things they are proud of.”
For Esmeralda, this was also how a suitable spouse should live. She had very high expectations for husbands.
“That’s how I hope you will choose to live, and I have no doubt that Miss Mia feels the same way. If you do, know that we will support you with all our heart and soul,” she concluded, taking Echard’s hands in hers and giving them a firm squeeze.
“Uh, thank you very much…”
His voice carried a bashfulness that finally reflected his youthful age. After watching the departing carriage, Sion went to see Abram.
“Excuse me, father. There’s something I’d like to discuss with you.”
“Is that so? Go ahead.”
Despite recovering from the poison, Abram had followed the physician’s advice to rest for ten days and temporarily step back from his official duties. Sion observed his father, who was comfortably seated with a book in hand, and began to speak. “The incident with Echard has given me a lot to think about, and I have some thoughts I’d like to share with you.”
Abram met his son’s gaze in silence and slowly closed his book. “Very well, let’s hear them.”
The room seemed to grow heavier, as if the air had doubled in weight. In the span of a breath, Abram’s presence transformed from that of a father into that of a king. Sion took a deep breath, urging his nerves to settle, and exhaled slowly before continuing.
“Your Majesty, I…” he began, speaking in a steady yet gentle voice, “I want to remain true to my humanity.”
What was necessary for a fair and just judgment? The removal of all personal emotions and biases. Ten days ago, Sion’s responsibility had been to assess Echard not as his brother, but as someone who had committed a wrong, as a person, as a wrongdoer.
There was a time when Sion would have done this without hesitation. To that younger Sion, it would have been natural and his duty as one bearing the weight and authority of the crown. But that Sion no longer existed because he had learned, he knew his imperfections. The current Sion was aware of his shortcomings in realizing the ideals of justice and fairness. So, what should he do? Strip away every last trace of his humanity to become the embodiment of justice?
He had pondered this deeply, grappling with conflicting thoughts. In the end, he had arrived at an answer.
“I want to be a king who rules as a man, acknowledging that humans make mistakes.”
That was his response.
“You desire to rule as a king who acknowledges his own fallibility?” Abram inquired.
Sion nodded. “Isn’t that what it means for a human to rule over other humans?”
“I understand… So, this is the vision you have for Sunkland,” Abram mused, exhaling softly through pursed lips before closing his eyes. When he reopened them, his gaze was fixed on Sion.
“If that’s the case… what you need, Sion, is to establish a system that rectifies the king’s errors,” Abram declared with a regal gravitas in his voice.
“A system to correct the king’s mistakes?”
“Yes, indeed. If you accept the fallibility of kings and wish to become such a king, then you must put in place a system to rectify your own mistakes and uphold justice.”
“What kind of system would that be?”
Sion’s question was met with a narrowing of Abram’s eyes and a stern response.
“How should I know? That’s something you’ll have to figure out. Struggle, search, ask for help, and lean on those close to you. Isn’t that the way of humanity?”
Sion gasped and lowered his head in silence.
“True friends are a blessing,” Abram remarked. “And yours, even more so, aren’t they?”
Slowly but surely, Sion nodded. “Yes, they are irreplaceable.”
A warm smile spread across his lips. That evening, Abram and his wife clinked their glasses together, taking a moment to savor a bottle of fine wine in each other’s company. In that shared sip, there was an unspoken celebration of Sion’s growth and a heartfelt wish for Echard’s safe journey.
This is probably one of the most beautiful arc endings. Of heartbreaks and moving ons. Talking about heartbreaks and moving ons, I have decided to slowly step down as translator of this novel for personal reasons.
So, if any of you are interested in translating it, do let me know.
~MF
