The Debt Of Fate-Chapter 318: Injured

Early the next morning, the gates of the royal city opened.

Ernest rode in at the front, his armor stained with dust and dried blood. Behind him were his men, quiet and alert. At the center of the group rode a bound figure slumped over a horse.

Lord Aureline.

His hands were tied. His head hung low. A cloth was wrapped around his neck and shoulders, hiding his face, but his build alone was enough. People recognized him at once.

The news moved faster than the horses.

"He’s back."

"They caught him."

"Lord Aureline has been captured."

By the time Ernest reached the inner streets, the city was already awake. Shop doors stood open. Windows were crowded with faces. People poured into the roads, ignoring the guards who tried to keep order.

They came to see with their own eyes.

Some climbed crates and carts. Others stood on tiptoe. Mothers lifted children onto their shoulders. Soldiers pushed back the crowd, but curiosity was stronger than fear.

"That’s him?"

"The one the gods protected?"

"He doesn’t look chosen now."

Whispers followed the procession like a shadow.

Ernest did not look left or right. His eyes stayed forward. His grip on the reins was steady.

At the palace gates, the guards straightened at once. Trumpets sounded. The gates opened wide.

Lord Aureline was pulled down from the horse and forced to stand. His legs shook, but he did not fall. When the cloth was removed from his face, a low murmur spread through the crowd.

It was truly him.

The man who had escaped.

The man people had begun to believe in.

Now chained. Now silent.

"His Majesty has ordered that Lord Aureline be led to the public execution ground once he arrives," a guard announced.

Ernest heard this and turned away from entering the palace, ordering the procession to move to the execution ground. He could already guess the king was afraid that any delay might lead to more unrest.

The execution ground was already filled with people. Many turned when Ernest’s arrival was announced.

Ernest stepped forward and knelt.

"Your Majesty," he said simply. "Lord Aureline has been captured alive."

A guard pushed Aureline forward. He stumbled, then steadied himself.

King Edward rose slowly from his seat. His gaze fell on Aureline, sharp and cold.

"Lord Aureline, you have raised the banner of rebellion and caused chaos. Your punishment is death. Do you have any final words?" King Edward asked.

Lord Aureline remained standing. He did not believe he would die; the gods were on his side.

He opened his mouth and spat at the king.

A guard quickly stepped forward and shielded the king while another delivered a blow to Aureline.

Aureline laughed. "Your family is the one that brought judgment upon the kingdom. You have been rejected. I will have your throne. No man can stand before the will of the gods," he said. He believed the gods would save him.

The people watching the scene also began to shout in support. Many believed him. King Edward was not pleased to hear this.

"Execute," he ordered. He wanted to see which gods would save him.

Two guards stepped forward and forced Aureline to his knees. His head was placed on the execution ring.

Just as the executioner’s blade was coming down, the sound of an arrow was heard.

Everything happened quickly.

The executioner dropped to the floor. The place fell into chaos.

"Protect the king!" Ernest shouted as he blocked an arrow fired at the king with his sword. Unfortunately, he missed the second one and was stabbed.

"No!" a voice shouted.

Lord Aureline took advantage of the chaos and picked up a sword to fight.

Although injured by an arrow, Ernest still fought to protect the king.

Ernest raised his sword and fought. King Edward also started fighting, but no one had expected an attack here, so the royal guards close to the king fell one after another.

"Your Majesty, look out!" Ernest shouted when he saw Lord Aureline attempt a sneak attack.

He pulled Edward out of the way, but he ended up getting stabbed.

Edward took the chance to kill Aureline.

"Your master is dead. Drop your weapons, and I might grant you a chance to live," Ernest announced.

The men began to drop their weapons. At that moment, a shout was heard.

"No! How could you use your life to protect him?" someone from Lord Aureline’s team cried out. He dropped his knife and caught Ernest as he was about to fall.

"He is the king," Ernest said, his face pale.

"What king? His father murdered your father and took the throne. This attack today was to set the two rebels against each other," the man said.

His voice was filled with panic but loud enough for everyone to hear. Everyone paused and looked at him.

"What rubbish are you saying? I am the illegitimate son of the Duke of Ironhaven. My father still lives," Ernest said, his shock evident as he tried to push the man away.

"I am not talking nonsense. You have the same eyes and hair as His Highness Prince Christopher. Apart from that, you resemble his mother, his wife," the man said, his voice filled with confidence.

Ernest opened his mouth to speak, but he fainted.

"Quick, save His Majesty!" the man shouted. His voice rang out. The entire execution ground fell silent. Many of the lords and nobles had heard the man’s words clearly.

King Edward was too shocked to react in time.

A physician stepped forward quickly and began treating Ernest.

King Edward also snapped out of his shock. He wanted to stop the man from treating Ernest, feeling it would be best if he died, but Ernest had just blocked a blade for him.

If he gave such an order at that moment, the hearts of the people would turn against him.

So he could only watch as Ernest was treated.

.....

The event spread quickly through the city. Though the nobles said nothing aloud, each went home in a quiet, uneasy state, their minds replaying the scene at the execution ground. In private chambers and dimly lit studies, they compared Ernest’s face with a painting of the late Prince Christopher and his wife.

The resemblance that had always been subtle, unnoticed, now became undeniable. The same sharp eyes, the curve of the jaw, the way his hair fell—it was all there, mirrored in Ernest.

Even King Edward could not escape the realization. Once in his study he ordered for prince Christopher’s and wife painting. He stared at the remnants of the day’s chaos in his mind, the image of Ernest on the ground, pale and fainted, burned into him.

He compares the painting, the resemblance unsettled him deeply, more than any defeat or rebellion ever had. A cold knot of dread settled in his chest.

The throne he believed was secure—suddenly, everything seemed fragile.

The truth, or what it suggested, crept into his thoughts, uninvited and unrelenting: Ernest was no ordinary general.

He thought of denying Ernest identity but with Duke of Ironhaven still alive his words can confirm everything. Once Ernest identity is confirmed, then the crime of his father would be confirmed, then how could he still sit on the throne.

King Edward fell into deep thought.

The palace corridors buzzed with whispers that could not be silenced. Nobles exchanged furtive glances at one another, knowing that a single word could undo the careful order of the court. Outside, the city murmured, though uncertain of the full truth. Inside, the king alone felt the chill of a revelation that could not be unseen, nor easily dismissed.

....

Ernest woke up late at night, he was surprised to find Anastasia sitting beside him.

He frowned and called for his special aids, he had warned that no bad news was to be related to Anastasia.

"I found out myself," Anastasia said. Since Ernest volunteered to go and capture Lord Aureline she had felt something would happen so she had pay special attention, so there was a physician to treat Ernest the moment he was hurt

Ernest lowered his gaze, "you promised to take care of yourself, how can you be injured," Anastasia cried. She had been scared all morning. She forced herself to be calm because of her pregnancy but now that he woke up, all her fear and anxiety could no longer be controlled.

Watching her cry, Ernest felt a pang in his chest. He had planned today’s chaos, he had deliberately taken an arrow for the king to show loyalty before everyone he did not expect to get injured by Aureline’s swords.

Although the other plan had moved as smoothly as he wanted, watching Anastasia break down he regretted his decision but he only wanted to deal with Edward and his family as soon as possible, after all, their lives could not be peaceful as long as Edward was the one sitting on the throne.

Ernest moved to comfort her, at the same moment Anastasia’ felt a sharp pain in her stomach.

Ernest noticed her pale face. "Get the Physician... Where is the physician?"he called out.