Chapter 154: A Destined Failure

End!" Field said earnestly, raising his head.

"Have you still not given up?" The old man sighed.

"Never!" Field replied seriously. "Why does Father think I will fail?"

"Because the present is no longer the past. Haven't you noticed that the little girl is no longer the little girl she used to be?" The old man sighed.

"No, in my eyes, she is still just a yellow-haired brat!" Field said earnestly.

"This is why you are destined to fail, because you can never face reality." The old man stood up and walked away. "The family will decline because of you."

"No, the family will prosper because of me!" Field muttered softly. "Carnell!"

"My lord, did you call me?" The old butler appeared respectfully at the door.

"The time has come."

"My lord." Carnell suddenly entered, gently closing the door behind him. "My lord, won't you reconsider?"

"Do you also think I will fail?" Field asked angrily.

"Yes!" the old butler answered without hesitation.

"Why?"

"Because Gistak has already failed," the old butler said. "There must be an expert guiding Her Majesty the Queen behind the scenes. You are destined not to defeat him."

"I don't believe it." Field calmed down. "We have prepared comprehensively enough; we will certainly succeed."

"Do you think Gistak's preparations were not comprehensive?" the old butler retorted. "Do you think the Dark Jester was lying, and that the Paladin hasn't arrived?"

"What did you say? The Paladin has already arrived?"

"Yes, and the Dark Jester has already been here. He wanted to speak with you, but I turned him away," the old butler said.

"Why?"

"He is untrustworthy," the old butler lowered his voice.

"But he will help me." A smile appeared on Field's face. "Invite him over. I know he hasn't left yet."

"My lord, you are playing with fire," the old butler said solemnly.

"I know." Field smiled.

***

"Respected Prince Field, I am glad you agreed to speak with me in person." Jerald cast aside his cynical demeanor and appeared serious for the first time.

"It's only right. I know what you want, and you know what I want," Field said earnestly.

"Yes, that's why I've always wanted to talk to you face-to-face," Jerald replied seriously.

"What if I agree to your conditions?" Field asked.

"Then I will give you everything you want!" Jerald snapped his fingers, and a burly man clad in full white armor walked over, kneeling on one knee.

"Lord Prelate."

***

"Young man, helping your friend groom again?" Ye Tian looked up and saw that it was the old man who had spoken to him earlier.

"Oh, Old Man, why aren't you resting yet?"

"Aren't you also awake?" the old man asked.

"I couldn't sleep, so I got up to stretch." Ye Tian absentmindedly brushed Old Black's mane. The horse didn't mind and quietly let Ye Tian work.

"Couldn't sleep? Why? And you don't look like someone who can't sleep; rather, you look like you're about to leave," the old man smiled.

"Not at all," Ye Tian laughed.

"Heh, when you live long enough, certain things become clear. By the way, why are you suddenly leaving? Did your sister come back?" the old man suddenly asked.

"Yes, I'm done with my business," Ye Tian smiled.

"Who on earth are you?" the old man stared at Ye Tian and asked.

"I am who I am. Right now, I'm the young lady's steward," Ye Tian said strangely. "Old Man, are you losing your mind?"

"Sigh, I really am losing my mind. I never noticed it before." The old man stared intently at Ye Tian. "So it was you!"

"What's wrong with me?" Ye Tian asked, puzzled.

"I realize you look a lot like someone," the old man narrowed his eyes. "I've seen you before, for sure."

"Old Man, you must be joking. I've never seen you before," Ye Tian said, scratching his cheek.

"It's you! You're that fellow named Geer!" the old man shouted. "You're the one who kidnapped the princess!"

"You've got the wrong person!" Ye Tian laughed bitterly.

"So that's how it is." The old man reached out to the side.

"Wait, Old Man, what are you trying to do?" Ye Tian asked nervously, seeing the old man reach for a nearby pitchfork.

"Grandfather, what are you doing!" Suddenly, a girl rushed over and grabbed the old man.

"Grandfather? Is he the young lady's grandfather?" Ye Tian asked in surprise.

"Yes, is there a problem?" Lefier turned and asked.

"Never mind!" The old man sighed and released his grip on the pitchfork. "Lefier, go back to the academy. Leave right now, and don't come back."

"Grandfather, what's wrong?" Lefier asked, confused.

"I also suggest you go back," Ye Tian touched his nose and said.

"Why? What happened? I'm not leaving, I'm not going anywhere!" Lefier urged anxiously.

"Go. That way you won't be implicated," the old man said helplessly.

"What happened? Grandfather, tell me, what happened?" Lefier pressed anxiously.

"Young lady, how about this: let's go back to the academy first, and find Her Majesty the Queen. She will explain everything to you. But you must hurry, or it will be too late," Ye Tian said.

Lefier turned to look at the old man, who nodded. Ye Tian kicked aside the items on the ground and led Old Black out. "Young lady, is there anything you need to bring?"

"What do you mean?" Lefier asked.

"There's still time if you pack right now," Ye Tian grinned. "Besides, we might not even come back."

"Why?" Lefier asked, puzzled.

"If you really want to marry some noble lord's son, then keep asking," Ye Tian shrugged.

Though Lefier was utterly confused, Ye Tian's last remark startled her—she certainly didn't want to get married! She glanced at Ye Tian, then took Lita back inside the house to pack.

"Are you sure you can get out?" the old man asked.

"I'm sure," Ye Tian said earnestly.

"Thank you," the old man sighed. "Heroes come from the youth; we are all old now."

"Actually, it didn't have to be this way," Ye Tian scratched his cheek. "It's just that you were all too greedy."

"You don't understand," the old man shook his head.

"True, I really don't understand," Ye Tian smiled.

"Promise me, will you treat Lefier well?" the old man asked despondently.

"I can't guarantee that, because I will eventually leave."

"Why? Why do all this and still leave?" the old man asked.

"I'm just fulfilling my promise," Ye Tian smiled. "Well, goodbye, Old Man. It was nice meeting you."

"I can't say I'm glad to have met you," the old man sighed. "Whatever, I'm old, and I can't control anything anymore."

"That's not necessarily true. Actually, you could still stop this, you just don't want to," Ye Tian shrugged. "Don't tell me you don't support your son."

"Is that so? Actually, I'm quite curious, how did you know?" The old man wore a curious expression.

"That, my friend, is a secret." Ye Tian scratched his cheek.

"Then what do you plan to do next?" The old man refused to give up.

"Next? Next is to go back, because I still have a promise left unfulfilled." Ye Tian smiled as he hitched the carriage, turning to the old man. "Old Man, everyone must take responsibility for what they do and say, right?"

"Gray, why are we actually able to leave? And what on earth is going on?" Lefier asked doubtfully. For some reason, her grandfather had brought a large group of people on the road, claiming it was to look after her.

"Gray, it's the middle of the night, where are we going?" Konia sat beside Ye Tian, looking excited. "And what are you hiding in your coat? Can I see?" With that, she reached her hand toward Ye Tian's chest.

"Do you want your hand to rot off?" Ye Tian slapped her hand away. Crying out in pain, she immediately pulled back.

"Jerk, did you have to hit so hard!" Konia rubbed her wrist and muttered unhappily.

"You two done showing affection? Can you answer my question now!" Lefier demanded angrily from the side.

"Young lady, don't ask; he won't tell you," Head Maid Bella said quietly from within the group. Sitting expressionless, she spoke up upon hearing Lefier's angry inquiry.

"Why?" Lefier turned to ask.

"If he wants to tell you, he will. If he doesn't, you couldn't pry a single truthful word out of him even if you forced his mouth open," Bella stated flatly. "So don't waste your energy."

"But, but!" Lefier said, aggrieved, tears welling up in her eyes.

"Your father is going to rebel tonight," Ye Tian suddenly announced.

"What?" Not only Lefier, but everyone else stood up in shock, immediately bumping their heads against the carriage roof and rubbing them as they sat back down. "What did you say?" Lefier asked angrily, cradling her head.

"If nothing unexpected happens, your father is going to rebel tonight," Ye Tian said deliberately, word by word.

"Gray, you can't just say things like that," Konia said in alarm.

"Are you surprised? Then look at Bella's expression."

Everyone looked at Bella, who remained entirely calm.

"Don't look at me, I don't know anything," Bella said blandly.

"Really? If you truly didn't know, you'd be fighting me to the death right now," Ye Tian exposed her without mercy.

"Mr. Gray, how did you know?" Bella suddenly asked.

"That's none of your concern. Console Lefier first." Ye Tian curled his lip.

Startled, Bella turned to look at the furious Lefier. "Young lady..."

"You knew from the very beginning, didn't you?" Lefier demanded.

"Yes, I knew a little bit," Bella hesitated. "Everything was planned by the master and Steward Carnell. I only knew a tiny fraction of it."

"Why didn't you tell me?" Lefier gritted her teeth.

"Why should I?" Bella asked. "If I told you, could you have stopped the master?"

Lefier fell silent. She knew her father's stubborn personality all too well; once he made a decision, nothing could change it.

"Gray!" Lefier called out softly.

"Nothing can be done. It's already happening, and no one can stop it."

"Then what will happen to my father?" Lefier continued to ask.

"Do you even have to ask?" Ye Tian chuckled lightly. "Your father is destined to fail."

"Why?" Lefier asked anxiously.

"Heh, we've arrived. I'm getting off first. You guys go on ahead, I have some business to attend to." With that, Ye Tian jumped down from the carriage.

"Gray, what are you talking about?" Lefier called out anxiously.

"Sister Lefier." A helpless voice suddenly rang out beside her. Startled, Lefier lifted the carriage curtain, and a small figure came into view.

"Leixina!" Lefier cried out in shock.