The Debt Of Fate-Chapter 255: Such Risk

Ernest looked at her. "What nightmare?"

He couldn’t help but recall how restless she had been in her sleep the previous night.

Anastasia shook her head. She hadn’t meant to speak her thoughts aloud.

"I just feel... going back to the palace would be a nightmare," she replied quietly.

"If you don’t want to go back, then you don’t have to," Ernest said. "I have a plan that might work."

"Please tell me," Anastasia urged, hope flickering in her voice.

"Using yesterday’s scandal as an excuse, you could marry someone else," Ernest began.

"Say you were hurt and believed the king had chosen your sister, so..." He hesitated.

"So what?" Anastasia prompted, sensing he had more to say.

"You were drunk. Since His Majesty claimed he was drunk and mistook your sister, why can’t you claim the same mistake... and marry another?" Ernest finished.

Anastasia stared at him in shock, but as the idea sank in, she realized it might indeed be her best chance to avoid returning to the palace.

"But... who would dare go against the king for a woman?" she asked, voicing the biggest flaw in the plan. "Even if I claimed such a thing, no man would risk that."

"I would," Ernest said, looking at her with unwavering confidence.

"What did you say?" Anastasia asked in disbelief. He was a loyal general—why would he do something like this?

"The kingdom isn’t stable right now. Even if I marry you, His Majesty wouldn’t dare express his anger openly," Ernest explained.

"You... would really marry me?" she asked, still trying to understand his motives. With his military success, he could marry anyone.

"Yes. Many nobles have approached me with offers, but I know they look down on me," he admitted.

"I’m just the illegitimate son of a duke. And with the current state of the kingdom, I worry I might marry into the wrong faction. Marrying you is more beneficial—for both of us."

He spoke carefully, framing the arrangement as one of mutual advantage. He wasn’t sure she would agree otherwise, knowing how deeply she once loved the king.

Anastasia looked at him, conflicted. "Can this plan really work?"

She didn’t want to drag him into her problems—if the king reacted badly, Ernest’s hard-won position could be at risk.

"Just nod," he said gently, "and I’ll take care of the rest."

"There’s not much time. If we don’t act now, it might be too late."

Anastasia took a deep breath, then nodded. "Okay."

"You agree to this marriage?" Ernest asked, trying to mask the joy in his voice.

"Yes," she said firmly. "I don’t think I could find a better way out... or anyone else who would take the risk."

"Then I’ll go to the palace and speak to the king. You should head to the church and make a public confession."

He outlined the steps quickly, and they parted ways.

---

Scene: Royal Palace, King Edward’s Study

King Edward was seated at his desk, reviewing reports, when Walter entered.

"Your Majesty, General Ernest is here to see you. He says it’s urgent."

"Did he say why?" the king asked, surprised. Ernest wasn’t the type to come without cause—he valued his solitude and independence.

"No, Your Majesty. Only that the matter is of great importance."

"Let him in," Edward said, turning his attention back to the papers.

Moments later, Ernest entered and bowed deeply.

"Your Majesty."

"General Ernest, please sit."

Edward gestured to the chair across from him. He had come to trust Ernest greatly, especially after their campaigns together and Ernest’s role in quelling the southern rebellion.

"I have failed Your Majesty’s trust," Ernest said solemnly, remaining standing. "I do not dare sit."

"What do you mean?" Edward asked, confused. He could not think of a way Ernest could have failed him.

Ernest lowered his gaze.

"Yesterday, after sharing a few drinks with Your Majesty, I was on my way out when a woman stumbled into my carriage. I was slightly drunk, and she seemed ill... also intoxicated."

He paused, then continued.

"We... spent the night together. Only this morning did I realize she was the former queen. I believed she was no longer bound to Your Majesty and felt it would be honorable to marry her. After all, I already crossed the line with her,"

Edward’s face darkened. Ernest continued.

"But then I heard at court this morning that Your Majesty intends to reconcile with her. I was shocked... and ashamed."

He knelt and pulled out a sealed box.

"Your Majesty, I do not wish to hide anything from you. I’ll return the seal of command if I must, but I will keep my promise to her."

King Edward’s jaw clenched. He had only had a sip of wine with Ernest the night before. Neither of them had been drunk. He had used the excuse of drunkenness to cover his scandal with Elizabeth... he hadn’t expected Anastasia to use the same excuse. But what he could not understand was why Ernest was willing to help her

"This... can’t be," Edward muttered, stunned.

He didn’t believe Ernest’s story, but the general had left him no room to object without raising suspicion.

"Your Majesty," Ernest said calmly, "I am prepared for whatever punishment you deem fit—but I cannot break my word to her. I spoke to lady Anastasia after leaving the palace, she would rather kill herself than lie to your majesty. With her courage how do I dare go back on my words?"

He remained on his knees, waiting.

King Edward remained silent as Ernest knelt before him, the seal of command held out with unwavering resolve. A thousand thoughts raced through his mind, each louder than the last.

He had no doubt Ernest’s story was fabricated—the general hadn’t been drunk, and even if Anastasia’ was druged, it should only make her weak not lose her sense.But Edward himself had played that same card before the council, just thea few hours ago. He had "mistaken" Elizabeth, a woman already engaged, and claimed drunkenness to escape the scandal with dignity.

Now the excuse was being turned against him.

If he punished Ernest... what then?

Wouldn’t that open the floor for others to question his own actions?

Worse—Ernest wasn’t just any man. He was the empire’s sharpest blade, a symbol of strength among the soldiers, and a living legend after the southern campaign. His command kept ambitious nobles like Lord Auraline in check. Even now, Edward knew there were whispers of Auraline’s loyalty to the Old Gods and his quiet gatherings in the countryside.

If Ernest left his side, Auraline would rise.

He clenched his jaw. The room suddenly felt too small, too suffocating.

"You... Ernest..." he began, struggling to keep his voice calm. "You’re loyal. I know that."

Still kneeling, Ernest said nothing.

Edward rose from his chair and moved to the window, staring out at the palace courtyard below. The sound of training soldiers echoed faintly in the distance. They trained in perfect formations, like machines. But even machines needed men to lead them—and Ernest had always been that man.

He rubbed his temples. The irony of it all was bitter. He had tried to set a trap for Anastasia, to shame her into returning. And yet he himself was the one cornered.

He couldn’t punish Ernest without punishing himself.

He couldn’t afford to lose his strongest general...at least not now.

And he couldn’t bear the humiliation of appearing weak before the court, not again.

This was not a choice. It was a checkmate.

He turned back to Ernest.

"You may rise," he said finally.

Ernest stood slowly, his expression unreadable.

"Your actions..." the king continued, voice tightly controlled, "though reckless... were not malicious. And I take it the lady was not unwilling?" 𝕗𝐫𝚎𝗲𝘄𝐞𝕓𝐧𝕠𝘃𝕖𝐥.𝐜𝚘𝚖

"No, Your Majesty. She did not resist," Ernest replied with solemnity.

Edward’s fingers curled into a fist at his side. He hated how easily those words mirrored his own defense just a few hours ago.

"Then... it is as you said," the king concluded.

"You shall marry her. And the matter shall be closed."

He sat back down heavily, the weight of the kingdom pressing harder than before.

"But the seal," Ernest said, offering it once more.

Edward waved his hand dismissively.

"Keep it. We are not in a position to shift power right now. You’ve earned it."

A flicker of something unreadable passed through Ernest’s eyes.

"Thank you, Your Majesty."

As Ernest turned and exited the room, Edward leaned back in his chair, swallowed by fury, shame, and helplessness.

For the first time, he feared that he was no longer in control of the game.

Not of Anastasia.

Not of Ernest.

Not even of his own crown.

King Edward thought about the previous day accident again, he wondered if Anastasia had found out about his mother’s plans and somehow escaped. She even run into the hands of another man.

Edward felt his heart surge with anger. His plan seems to fall through again. Although no one would continue to blame him for this incident, he hated that he would end up marrying a lady like Elizabeth.