Ten years had passed, and everyone in town was talking about the large number of migrants coming from East Gladiolus to the capital city.
A street tea seller said, "Don't you know? A few days ago, a fire broke out in the East Gladiolus Palace. Since then, Queen Violas has taken charge and sent ministers and guards to investigate."
One customer said, "I heard that in the last six years, this is the fifth place where something like this has happened."
The street tea seller nodded. "I also heard that no one survived."
"Who do you think will be next?" an unknown man suddenly asked, stunning everyone present.
The street tea seller replied, "How would I know? But I heard it might be the South next."
The unknown man got up from his seat, paid for his tea, and walked away toward the jungle. While walking, he felt someone following him, so he stopped in the middle of the path.
"Why are you following me?" he asked.
"I am not following you. I am also going in the same direction," the other man replied.
The unknown man turned back to look at him. After observing him for a moment, he moved aside to let the man behind him pass.
The other man thanked him and went on ahead.
When the man reached the main city gate, he saw a familiar figure—his guard, Magnolia.
"Prince Amaryllis, why are you coming from the jungle?" Guard Magnolia greeted him.
"Don't call me prince. I came here so I could stay away from the palace. Why are you here?" Prince Amaryllis said.
"Prince Bogandilla has sent me for your safety," Guard Magnolia replied.
"My elder brother?" Amaryllis thought. Does he even trust me?
"Fine, but do not call me prince in front of others," Amaryllis said.
"How can I do that?" Magnolia asked.
Frustrated, Amaryllis said, "Then you can go back to the South."
Guard Magnolia was shocked by Amaryllis's demand. "Prince, your elder brother instructed me to protect you. That is why he sent me here."
"Fine, then go bring me some food. I am hungry," Amaryllis ordered.
"Prince, let's go to an inn. You can eat comfortably there," Magnolia suggested.
"I am not going anywhere. You have to bring food for me from here."
Poor Guard Magnolia could only accept the situation. He did not want to go, but he could not disobey the prince's order. The moment Magnolia left to get food, Prince Amaryllis took the opportunity and ran away.
When Guard Magnolia returned with the food, the prince was already gone.
"Not again," he said worriedly.
While running away from Guard Magnolia, Amaryllis bumped into a man. Looking up to apologize, he saw the same unknown man he had met earlier.
"I am sorry," Prince Amaryllis said.
"It's okay," the unknown man replied.
By accident, Prince Amaryllis's sword, which he had hidden beneath his clothes, brushed against the unknown man's hand. Amaryllis thought he might have cut him, but the man did not react at all, as if he were accustomed to injuries.
This made Prince Amaryllis suspicious.
He thought, Could he be the person I am looking for? He is acting strangely.
"Let me see if you are hurt somewhere," Amaryllis said.
The unknown man stepped back. "No need. I am fine."
Amaryllis stepped forward. "No need to be shy."
Prince Amaryllis grabbed the man's right wrist. "Let me see if I can help."
Before the man could react, Amaryllis pushed up his sleeve.
Startled, the unknown man took a step back.
"What are you doing?" he demanded, instantly pulling his hand away.
"Who are you?" The man looked at Amaryllis with furious red eyes.
Amaryllis felt as if a memory he had tried to forget had suddenly returned to reality before him.
He is that Thistle boy, the one who died because of me fourteen years ago. He has the same mark.
Meanwhile, the unknown man walked away toward the main city.
Who was that bastard? But his skills were not ordinary. He might be someone influential. I have to stay away from him in the future, he thought.
Amaryllis walked alone, thinking, What if he comes back for revenge for his family's death? But he does not know what I look like. More importantly, what is he doing here in the capital at the same time these suspicious deaths are happening? In the last six years, this is the fifth palace to be destroyed like this.
He reached the center of the capital. Lost in thought, he suddenly heard someone say, "Without permission, you cannot come here. Tell me your full name."
Amaryllis looked up and saw the unknown man being questioned by palace guards. He hurried over.
"He is with me. I am Amaryllis Monarda. We come from the South to do business," he said.
The unknown man looked at him suspiciously but remained silent, playing along.
The palace guard warned, "Don't let me see you two here again."
Both men nodded.
Amaryllis grabbed the unknown man's hand. "Come with me."
The unknown man pulled his hand away and started walking off.
"I am talking to you. Where are you going?" Amaryllis asked.
The unknown man ignored him and kept walking.
"I just saved you."
The unknown man suddenly stopped.
"Thank you," he said.
"Who are you? What's your name?" Amaryllis asked, noticing that the question made the man uncomfortable.
"You don't need to know," the unknown man replied, beginning to walk away.
"It will be difficult for you without me," Amaryllis said.
"Why are you following me? Tell me who you really are," The unknown man asked.
"I already told you. I am Amaryllis, a businessman from the South. I came here to do business. Now it's your turn."
"It's none of your business," the unknown man replied without looking back.
At that moment, Guard Magnolia arrived.
"Finally, I found you! Prince, I am telling you—"
"You took so much time, so I had to find something to eat on my own," Amaryllis interrupted.
"Prince, I was searching for you everywhere! If something happens to you, Prince Bogandilla will kill me!"
"Okay."
"You know, it's dangerous for you to walk alone in the capital," Guard Magnolia said.
Suddenly, Amaryllis heard shouting, as if someone was being beaten. His eyes immediately began searching for the unknown man.
"Prince, what happened?" Magnolia asked.
"The noise."
Magnolia stopped him. "Prince, don't go there. It's some Thistle man being beaten by the royal guards."
Amaryllis saw the unknown man walking toward the scene.
He thought, He might be going there to save him. What if his identity is exposed?
"This time, I won't let anything happen to him," Amaryllis said tensely, memories of the past flooding back—how he had left him there to die.
He hurried after the unknown man, with Guard Magnolia following close behind.
Seeing the unknown man approaching the palace guards, Amaryllis quickly handed Magnolia a token.
"Go and tell them you are the head guard of the Southern Prince. Show them this token."
"But why, Prince?"
"To stop them from beating that man. Hurry."
While Amaryllis kept his eyes on the unknown man, Magnolia did exactly as instructed, intervening before the man could act.
The unknown man was visibly agitated, staring at the palace guards as if he might kill them.
One of the guards noticed him.
"You there! Who are you? You look suspicious. Tell me your name."
Amaryllis thought the unknown man would calm down or run, but instead, he stood firm, his eyes blazing with fury.
Before the guard could approach, Amaryllis grabbed the unknown man's hand.
"He is with me. I am Amaryllis Monarda."
"But you cannot wander around the capital like this. And who is he?" the guard demanded.
"He is my man. He works for me. The Southern Prince gave me this token and told me I could use it whenever I came to the capital. Do I still need permission?"
"Why should I believe you?"
"Here is the token. You can check. The young Southern Prince gave it to me when he visited my shop."
The palace guard examined the token.
"It's real. You may go."
Amaryllis thanked the guard and quickly left with the unknown man before Magnolia could catch up.
They ran far from the palace.
The unknown man angrily pulled his hand away.
"What are you doing?"
"Rather than thanking me, you are getting angry at me?"
The unknown man calmed himself.
"Thank you. Now tell me, what do you want?"
"I just want to know your name."
"Why are you so interested in my name?"
"So, would you rather I take an interest in you instead?"
The unknown man grew irritated.
"I am leaving."
"I saved you twice, and you cannot even tell me your name?"
After thinking for a while, the unknown man finally said, "Marantaceae."
Amaryllis said in a low voice, "You have a beautiful name."