Chương 45: Chapter 44: The Crown Prince

Ronin McCann, the Crown Prince of the Kingdom, had spent the first few days after his awakening focused on recovering his body. After lying unconscious for several months, his body had become weak, forcing him to undergo physical therapy before he could properly move again. However, while he trained and regained his strength, he was not only focused on his physical recovery. He was also testing his memories.

More specifically, he was trying to understand the rules surrounding his rebirth, the limits of his knowledge of the future, and what information he was actually allowed to reveal. After several days of investigation, he managed to confirm a few things. There were certain events that could not be completely stopped. Major events. One of those events was the banquet his grandmother, the Empress Dowager, had planned to host in order to find his potential future fiancée.

Originally, the banquet had been arranged as a precaution. If the Holy Nation's Saint had not yet been persuaded to join the Hero's Party, then they would need another opportunity to search for someone who could fill that role. The Saint was an essential member of the party, and losing the chance to recruit him would greatly affect their future. However, after examining his memories and comparing them with the current timeline, Ronin realized something was wrong.

This world was slightly different from the one he remembered. At this point in his previous life, he should have already been out of the holy nation with his party. His grandmother should have already died somewhere without him knowing. Yet she was still alive, in this timeline. And because of that single change, countless other things had shifted. The Hero's Party had not yet met the Saint. Ronin lowered his gaze. He wondered how that young man was doing now.

In his previous timeline, the Hero's Party had always known the truth. The Saint was a man. Almost everyone within the original Hero's Party knew it. However, because of the strange circumstances surrounding the Saint's identity, they had chosen to pretend they did not know. They understood that there were certain expectations placed upon the title of Saint, and revealing the truth would create unnecessary danger. So they protected his secret. They allowed the world to continue believing what it wanted to believe.

At the time, they thought it was the safest choice. But if Ronin had known that this decision would eventually lead to the Saint's death, he would have exposed the truth without hesitation. He would have told the entire world that the person who had saved them countless times was a man. But after the Hero's Party had disbanded, Ronin had been forced to return to his kingdom and deal with his own responsibilities. It was only much later, when he finally met the Saint again, that he learned what had truly happened.

Now, standing in this changed timeline, Ronin felt as though he had exchanged one tragedy for another. He had returned to the past, but he had not yet found the person who had saved his life multiple times. The Crown Prince clenched his fist. However, he refused to dwell on what he had lost. If you find this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the infringement. He had returned before several major incidents occurred. Ronin remembered that version of her.

His fingers tightened around the painting. There was guilt and longing in his eyes.

"So this is what you looked like before..." … The Crown Prince tried once again to change the first tragedy event.

"Grandmother, there is no need for this event anymore." He wanted to tell the Empress Dowager to stop the banquet. There was no reason for it to happen. Yet, just like every other time before, no words came out. The Crown Prince's expression darkened. He had tried repeatedly. He had attempted to explain, to warn, and to change the situation before it even began. But something always stopped him.

The Empress Dowager, having watched her grandson struggle with this strange behavior multiple times, no longer felt worried. Instead, she had come to believe that it was simply a strange quirk that appeared whenever he thought about the possibility of losing her. Perhaps the near-death experience had left some kind of lingering effect on him. Perhaps this was simply how he reacted to the fear that she might disappear. Either way, she did not believe there was any reason to panic.

However, the Crown Prince knew the truth. This was not a simple quirk. He truly could not stop the event. So he began searching for another method. There was one person who had already changed the original trajectory. The person who had allowed the Empress Dowager to survive when she should have died. That person was the variable. Originally, the Empress Dowager had planned to send him to a separate personal meeting as a test. But if that variable could appear at the banquet instead...

Perhaps the outcome could change. The Crown Prince had already tested his limits. No matter what he tried, everything involving other people was blocked. He could speak about attending the banquet himself. The Empress Dowager had even agreed, believing that he simply wanted to make an official appearance. But when he attempted to discuss other people attending... When he tried to suggest certain individuals... Even when he tried asking whether the Empress Dowager herself should attend... Nothing would come out.

The restrictions remained. He could not directly interfere. He could not force changes. But there was one exception. The variable that had already changed fate once. If that person appeared naturally through the Empress Dowager's own decisions, then perhaps the outcome would shift. The Crown Prince did not know what test the Empress Dowager intended to give him. However, he understood one thing. If he attempted to interfere, the chance would disappear.

He could ask the Empress Dowager not to allow the variable to attend. But if he wanted him there, it had to be through her own choice. He could not force it. He could only guide the situation. The Crown Prince clenched his fists. For the first time since his rebirth, he felt truly powerless. As he continued thinking, a thought suddenly crossed his mind. The disaster. The banquet. The people who would be present. If he could not prevent the event... Then perhaps he could reduce the damage.

"Maybe..." He paused.

"If everyone had their weapons and protective artifacts with them during the banquet," The Empress Dowager looked at him in surprise.

"Why would you want weapons at a banquet?" The Crown Prince's eyes widened slightly she heard that. He thought quickly, this was a possibility, although a very small one. But it was something. He looked at her seriously.

"Grandmother."

"If we are going to test that variable, I would rather not place other people's lives in danger."

"Allowing them to bring weapons, artifacts, or anything that can protect them would be the safer choice in case that person becomes dangerous." The Empress Dowager frowned slightly.

"But we cannot tell them the real reason." The Crown Prince nodded.

"Then make it something else."

"Say it is related to art. Say that they may bring whatever they wish as part of the event." The Empress Dowager stared at him. That was strange. Very strange.

"Weren't you the one who originally insisted that weapons should not be brought to the banquet?" The Crown Prince looked away.

"I know."

"I know that was me."

"But please, Grandmother." The Empress Dowager continued staring at him. She was beginning to wonder whether her grandson was truly okay. Still, seeing the seriousness in his eyes, she sighed.

"Very well."

"We will do as you suggest."