"That man is in love with you, your highness"said the old prisoner without flinching.

"Who?"

"That man who visits you."

" You are not talking about pirate Bomberty are you?" Sam had a feeling that wasn't the case.

"No . The younger one.The one who looks like a royal."

Sam's heart skipped a beat.

"What nonsense are you spouting?" Sam sounded angry , though she had no reason to.It was simply a misunderstanding on the old man's part."You have mistaken his kindness for something else. Aren't you too old to have a wild imagination?"

" I am afraid you are the one who is mistaken your highness."continued the old man in the same monotonous tone. "He comes in the early mornings or late at night and watches you sleep.Surely , that is something more than kindness."

Sam felt her anger surge. "Don't talk nonsense about the future crown prince. Do you have a death wish?"

Though he did sound like an educated man, he must have gotten into trouble because of that mouth of his. Why should she be angry and get uncomfortable by a mere prisoner's words?

She knew that Edgar was very friendly with her. But this was simply because of his good nature. Old felon did not know about whom he was talking about .He should know to keep his mouth shut at least. But then again he did not seem to be the talkative type.This was the first time he had opened his mouth.

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But Sam began to think about the topic she had left alone before; about the relationship between Edgar and her sister.She remembered her conversation with the prince in Sythia.

Her sister and Edgar were two wonderful people who had the potential to love each other.She had to do something to deepen their love. This was one other thing that would benefit her country.

"Who are you anyway?" she asked the old prisoner with some curiosity.

"They call me Iglesius."

"And what crime have you committed?."

"I killed a king."

Sam sat up in her cell.

" Say that again." This old man was full of surprises, or was it that he had simply gone senile?

"When a man abuses power, uses it to glorify himself, living with wine and women when his countrymen are starving and its children dying ,and with nothing to justify his actions except the crown on his head, then the people would choose to remove his head." said the old man and Sam listened to him with wide eyes.

"But the man's son was a wise young man, with none of his father's blood.He was born an innocent child . In the beginning he chose to run away , but he was not blind to the plight of his nation,nor was he deaf to the cries of his people.He had to make a tough decision .. His country or his father?This was the choice that fate left him to make.Ultimately he chose what was right. He turned a blind eye to the people who were plotting to assassinate his father.But to keep the murderer of the king alive was not something that even he could do. So after taking the throne he exiled me to Hebelone,and to keep myself alive I chose this prison."

"You are talking about the present king of Gregoy"

"You guessed right , your highness."

Sam had heard the stories about the king of Gregoy. She was a pirate in the Gregoshian seas after all. She knew that the crown prince had ascended the throne after his father had been assassinated. And after his crowning , the new king had brought about rapid reforms that soon brought back the kingdom all its former glory.He was a well admired king. Sam remembered Earl McArler's praises of him. No wonder they make a big deal out of him,thought Sam. But to think her father was keeping a political prisoner for the king of Gregoy, were they friends or something?

"Were you an adviser to the previous king of Gregoy?" Sam asked the old man

"Yes"

" And you chose to back stab him."

" I abandoned my honor for the greater good."