Chapter 11 — I was once traded for, then became someone they couldn't reach for the rest of my life

No one answered. Because the answer is so obvious. That day in the palace, I was drugged, unconscious, and my reputation was caught up in their chess game. But no one asked me if I was afraid. No one asked me if I was satisfied. No one asked me where I wanted to go. I look at Trieu Viet.

“His Royal Highness said he wanted to give me the throne, but is what he loves really me?”

“He loved a painting, loved a dream that hung in his study for ten years.”

"It wasn't until he discovered that the person in the painting was me that he felt regretful."

Then I looked at Ta Van So.

“And you.”

“You say you want to make up for it, but what you regret is me?”

“Neither.”

"What you regret is the feeling that there was once someone who quietly waited for you, cared for you, loved you without needing anything in return."

Ta Van So's face was so white that it was almost transparent. I continued slowly:

“You don't love me.”

“A person loves a painting.”

“A lover feels loved by me.”

“Only until it's gone.”

“You guys just remembered my value.”

In the yard, the wind was calm. No one dared to speak up. Even Trieu Viet, who had been used to being followed by others since childhood, could not say a word of rebuttal. I turned around and didn't look at them anymore.

“I don't need anyone to choose.”

“There's no need for anyone to fight.”

"This life of Ly Trieu Ca, from now on, is only decided by me."

Having finished speaking, I entered the palace. The door to the general's palace slowly closed behind me. Outside, the two men who had the opportunity to enter my life finally understood. From now on. They no longer have the right to choose us. After the door of the general's palace closed, I thought I would no longer waver because of any man. But that night, when A Chieu brought in an unnamed letter, my heart still trembled slightly. The envelope is placed in a small wooden box. Inside there was no gold, silver, no pearls, only an almond petal that had been pressed to dry for many years and a piece of paper written in sturdy handwriting.

"The almond tree from that year still exists. The people who once stood under that tree have never forgotten her."

I looked at the almond flower petals in the box, the memories that had been covered in dust for many years were suddenly blown away by the wind. When I was thirteen years old, I followed my father to the border for a short time. At that time, the military camp had just undergone a small raid, there were wounded soldiers everywhere, and my father was so busy that he couldn't sleep for many days. One rainy and dusty afternoon, I was carrying a box of cakes as I walked through the almond forest outside the barracks when I saw a young man sitting under a tree. His clothes were covered in mud, there were wounds on his arms, his lips were pale, but his eyes were very bright. I asked him:

“Are you a new soldier?”

He shook his head. I asked again:

“So why didn't you call someone when you were injured?”

He looked at me for a long time, then replied:

“No one listens.”

At that time we did not understand how much loneliness was in that statement. I just used a handkerchief to temporarily bandage his wound and gave him a piece of warm almond cake.

"If you become stronger in the future, you won't have to wait for others to save you."

That young man looked at me for a long time. Then asked in a low voice:

“So if I'm really stronger, can I protect the people I want to protect?”

"Of course."

I just casually replied with one sentence. But we don't know, some people remember that saying for many years. The next day, I followed my father back to the capital. Lack The man under the almond tree also disappeared from the barracks. From then on, I never saw him again, only occasionally during the days when the almond flowers bloomed, I would remember those stubborn and lonely eyes of the past. Until today. I looked at the piece of jade flower in my hand, then looked at the dried flower petals in the box, and an unbelievable guess suddenly arose in my heart. At that moment, someone outside the door announced:

“Miss, there is a guest coming from the border.”

I raised my head. A man wearing a black cloak walked in under the moonlight. He took off his hood, revealing his handsome, calm face. His temperament is not like the arrogant and sharp Trieu Viet, nor is he like the cold and aloof Ta Van So. He has the calmness of someone who has walked through the wind and sand of the border, and also has a gentleness hidden very deeply. I once met him at a court banquet. Third Prince Trieu Hanh. It's just that at that time, he always stood in a place that didn't stand out, didn't say much, and didn't compete with anyone. I never thought that the person under the almond tree that year would be him. Trieu Hanh stood a few steps away from me, not getting too close. He looked down at the almond flower petals in the box, his voice low and warm:

“I thought, she had forgotten.”

I was silent for a long time before asking:

“That year was you?”

He nodded.

“That year was me.”

It turned out that after leaving the border, that young man proactively asked to follow my father to learn the art of war. From an unappreciated prince, he gradually made achievements on the battlefield, gradually built up power in the army, and gradually made the courtiers unable to take him lightly.