NOT WORTHY TO BE KING: FEARLESS WARRIOR

38. YOU SEEM TO LIKE MY ELDER BROTHER

Axel must have read the hesitation in Logan's expression because he put a reassuring hand on his shoulder. "We won't know until we try," he said. "We have to exhaust all our options if we want to get to the bottom of this."

Logan took a deep breath and nodded. "You're right. Let's do this."

Axel nodded and began to formulate a plan. "We'll need to approach her carefully. We don't want to arouse suspicion, so we'll have to make it seem like we're just catching up with family."

Logan nodded, feeling a bit of apprehension but also a sense of hope. Maybe this could work.

Axel continued, "I think it would be best if you reached out to her personally. Explain that you want to get to know her better and that you're interested in her hobbies and projects. Once you've established a relationship, we can subtly bring up the topic of your uncle's first two wives."

Logan nodded, feeling more confident now that they had a plan. "Alright. I'll do it."

"Good," Axel said. "I'll start gathering information on the palace servants. We'll need to be prepared for anything."

Just then, a guy not older than thirteen years came and told him that Prince Ian has invited Logan to his chambers.

Logan was surprised to receive an invitation from Prince Ian because he hadn't expected any of his cousins to want to interact with him, at least not soon and not so easily. "Why do you think he wants to see me?" Logan asked Axel.

Axel hesitated before responding. "Well, he is the crowned prince of Eclipse," he said. "It could be a political move on his part, or perhaps he just wants to catch up with family."

Logan nodded thoughtfully, but he couldn't shake the feeling that there was more to it than that. "What do you know about Prince Ian?" he asked Axel.

Axel paused before responding as if considering his words carefully. "He's the eldest son of the king's fifth wife," he said. "She was very popular with the people of Eclipse, despite being a fifth wife. She had a good heart and was well-loved by all. She divorced the king after giving birth to her fourth child with him. She was in love with someone else."

Logan raised an eyebrow. "That's...unusual," he said.

"Yes, it is," Axel agreed. "And it's worth noting that even today, nobody really knows how Prince Ian's mother managed to divorce the king, especially since the king loved her."

Logan paused, turning back to face Axel. "What do you mean?" he asked.

"Well, it's unusual for a queen to be the one to initiate a divorce, especially in a monarchy where the king has so much power," Axel explained. "But somehow, she managed to do it. And to this day, nobody knows exactly how she did it. It's just one of the many secrets that the palace holds."

Logan frowned, feeling a sense of unease. The more he learned about the palace, the more he realized just how much he had to uncover.

As Logan made his way down the hallway towards the crowned prince's room, he couldn't help but wonder what Prince Ian was like. He had never heard of him and he had never met him before.

Just before he reached his chambers, he turned to Axel and asked, "What more do you think I should know about Prince Ian?"

Axel paused for a moment, considering his words carefully. "Well, he's only fourteen years old, but he's already very reputable," he said finally. "He's wise beyond his years and cunning, just like his father."

Logan frowned. "What do you mean, cunning?"

Axel shrugged. "Just that he's very good at reading people and manipulating situations to his advantage. He's young, but he's already learned a lot from his father."

Logan nodded slowly, feeling a sense of apprehension. He knew that dealing with someone like that could be dangerous. "So, what should I be careful of?"

"Just be careful not to underestimate him," Axel advised. "He may be young, but he's very smart. And he's not afraid to use that to his advantage."

Logan nodded, taking Axel's words to heart.

The boy showed Logan where to find the prince and Logan made his way there.

Logan entered the room and found Ian sitting on a throne-like chair, his piercing blue eyes looking straight at Logan as he approached. "Your Highness," Logan greeted, still keeping Axel's words in mind.

"I'm not one for formalities, Logan," Ian said, gesturing for him to take a seat. "Besides, we're family. Please, call me Ian."

Logan sat down in a chair across from Ian, making sure not to take his eyes off him. "Thank you, Ian."

"So, I hear you're trying to take back your rightful place as king," Ian said, leaning forward. Logan didn't say anything because he didn't know where he was going with what he just said.

"I want you to know that I'm here to help you in any way that I can," Ian said after a few seconds of silence.

Logan was taken aback by Ian's eagerness to help. He had been expecting resistance or at least some hesitation, but Ian seemed genuinely committed to his cause. "Thank you, Ian. I appreciate your willingness to help me."

Ian looked at Logan. "I sense a 'but'"

"That's because I'm wondering if you know exactly what you're getting yourself into. Do you know that if you help me and I succeed, you will no longer be the crowned prince?"

Ian nodded. "Of course. I have to fulfill my duties, but that doesn't mean I should do it at the cost of innocent lives, especially not yours."

Logan furrowed his brow in confusion. "What do you mean?"

Ian leaned back in his chair, looking thoughtful. "My mother was the fifth wife of the king, my father. She was well-loved by the people of Eclipse for her kind nature, even though she was nothing but a woman who only got the position of a queen at the expense of someone else's sorrow.

"But she was in love with someone else and divorced my father after giving birth to her fourth child with him, my younger sister, Princess Catalina. It's unheard of for a queen to divorce a king, especially one who loved her as much as my father loved her. But no one knows how she did it."

Logan was intrigued by Ian's story, but he wasn't sure how it related to his situation. "I'm not sure I understand how this is relevant."

Ian smiled wryly. "Let's just say that my mother was very cunning, just like my father. And if there's one thing I've learned from them, it's that sometimes you have to be willing to take risks to get what you want. And if what you want is to take back your throne, then I'm willing to help you do it."

Logan felt a sense of admiration for Ian. Despite his young age, he seemed wise beyond his years and fiercely loyal to his family. "Thank you, Ian. I'll do everything in my power to make sure you're not putting yourself in danger."

Ian waved a hand dismissively. "I'm not worried about myself. I just want to make sure that the right person is on the throne. And I believe that person is you."

Logan felt relieved as he spoke with Ian. He appreciated the younger prince's offer to help him in his bid for the throne, but he couldn't help but wonder if it would put Ian in a difficult position with his father.

"Ian, once again, I appreciate your offer to help, but I have to ask, won't this put you in a tight spot with your father?" Logan asked.

Ian nodded solemnly. "Of course, it will. But it's a risk I'm willing to take. I may be the Crowned Prince, but I'm also your family. I cannot stand by and watch my own flesh and blood be killed in the name of duty or get denied something that should have been his in the first place."

Logan understood his little cousin's sentiment, but he couldn't help but worry about the consequences. "I see. I appreciate your bravery, Ian. But what about your responsibilities as the Crowned Prince? Won't this jeopardize your future?"

Ian was honest in his reply. "To be honest, I never wanted to be the Crowned Prince in the first place. But as you know, it's not up to me. My father chose me because he thinks I can handle the responsibilities. But that doesn't mean I have to put the interests of the kingdom above the lives of innocent people, especially my own family. The lives of my family members are not something I'm willing to compromise."

Logan nodded, understanding the younger prince's perspective. "I understand. I'm grateful for your willingness to help me. But how can you help me without putting yourself in danger?"

Ian replied with a hint of confidence. "There are ways to gather information and make plans without alerting my father or anyone else. We'll have to be careful, but I'm confident we can do it."

Logan felt relieved at Ian's words. "Thank you, Ian. I'm happy to know that besides Adrian, I have someone else I can count on."

Ian smiled. "Of course, Logan. We're family. We have to stick together."

He then looked at Logan curiously. "You seem to like my elder brother."

"Is there a reason why I shouldn't?" Logan asked him, trying to see his reaction.

Ian laughed. "Of course not! I don't think there's anyone who doesn't love my brother. He is tall, handsome, and very friendly." he looked at Logan again, "I'm sure you've seen all that though."

"I sense a 'but'," Logan said, echoing Ian's earlier words as soon as Ian stopped laughing.

"That's because there is a but. My elder brother loves my father. There are times when I feel like he might even betray us if that made our father happy."

Logan didn't know what to say.

"I know my brother would do anything to help you get whatever you want, even that throne that my father occupies but I don't trust him enough to betray my father, especially if my father makes him believe that he's not wrong."

Logan felt a sense of disappointment at Ian's words. He had hoped that Adrian would be an ally in his quest for the throne and justice, but now he wasn't so sure.

"I understand," Logan said, trying to hide his disappointment. "Thank you for being honest with me, Ian. I'll keep that in mind."

Ian nodded understandingly. "I'm sorry, Logan. I wish I could give you more reassurance, but I have to be honest with you. Adrian is my brother, but my loyalty lies with our family and the greater good.

"I've never heard about you until a few days ago when Axel's father told my father that you were coming back home but I know that man wouldn't stand by you unless you're what he said about you.

"I just hope that you will live up to his expectations and become the king that he expects of you. I'm sure my uncle would want the same thing."

Logan didn't expect Ian to talk about his father. He really wished there was someone who could tell him more about his parents.

"I heard your wife is expecting." Logan didn't know what to say exactly. He wasn't expecting this type of conversation with Ian, especially since they just spoke about the throne and what needs to be done for Logan to get it back.

"I just want to meet her. For her to be married to someone like you, it's clear that she is no ordinary woman. It takes someone with exceptional taste, wisdom, and insight to recognize the outstanding qualities in a person like you. You both are a remarkable match."

"Well, I couldn't agree more. It's not every day that someone as extraordinary as me comes along, but lucky for her, she snagged me before anyone else could." Logan grins playfully. "But in all seriousness, I'm grateful every day to be married to such an amazing woman. She's the real outstanding one in our relationship."

"All the more reasons for me to meet her. I'll be getting married in a few years, I might need her help."

Logan chuckled. The more time he spent with Ian, the more he relaxed and the more he saw that Ian really needed someone who could treat him with honesty and like a child that he really was, not a crowned prince without emotions.