The Rose Of The South
Prologue
"His Highness the Crown Prince..."
The young man paid no heed to the voice that called out to him and continued to walk through the park alone. His bright red eyes stared at the stars in the night sky with a sad look. The warm night wind gently caressed her face. The weather was much warmer than usual. The snow has been melting for a few days. The flowers in the palace garden also began to bloom, a sign that winter was over and the start of spring.
"His Majesty Crown Prince Edward."
The young man looked towards the voice that called out to him. He's not used to that name yet. Just a few days ago he was crowned as the new Crown Prince of Schiereiland. Just a few days ago he returned from the war he had won. The war that made him Crown Prince. The war that took the life of his much-honored older brother, Crown Prince Phillip. The war also claimed the lives of his best friend and the girl he loved. War that made him unable to sleep all night for days because he was haunted by feelings of guilt and regret.
"What's wrong?" Ask Edward. When he saw his personal bodyguard coming up to him with something covered in a blanket, Edward again asked, "What is that you brought?"
His personal bodyguard was a man of the same age as King Eustacius, his father. But the man bowed very low in front of him. Since he was the Crown Prince of Schiereiland, of course everyone should behave like that to him.
"What are you carrying, George?" Ask Edward again.
George, the new Crown Prince's personal bodyguard, removed the blanket that covered what he was carrying. Showing a cheerful smiling baby boy gazing at Crown Prince Edward with his hazel-colored eyes. At the sight of those eyes, the Crown Prince was unable to hide his shock.
"Is Kris... Wait for... That's not possible, is it?"
Edward took the baby out of George's hand and carried it. The baby boy looked happy. But Edward looked at her with sadness.
"I'm sorry... Your parents died because of me. They died to save me. Ii'm sorry... I didn't know Irene was..." Edward couldn't help but cry when he saw the baby. "I'm sorry... I'm sorry..."
"Your Majesty... It's not your fault. Please stop blaming yourself." Said George.
Edward shook his head, "No. My fault. The deaths of Phillip, Kris, Irene and many others were because I was not a good leader. My father gave me the confidence to lead this war, but I failed to protect them. Why am I the only one who survives? If only I could repeat time..."
If only Edward could repeat time. There were many things that Edward wanted to change. He would listen more to Phillip's advice while on the battlefield so that he wouldn't have to take the wrong strategy that caused his brother to die. She will ask Kris and Irene not to participate in the war so that Irene can deliver her baby in their residence safely and comfortably. The baby does not need to lose his parents. But more than anything else, if Edward can repeat time, Edward will ask Irene to return to her family in Nordhalbinsel. Although Irene will insist on staying at Schiereiland because she loves Kris. Although that means Edward will not be able to meet with Irene again forever. At least the girl will still be alive in Nordhalbinsel as the daughter of Grand Duke Winterthur. Irene would probably still be married to Kris, or perhaps marry a noble from Nordhalbinsel, but Edward did not care. All she wanted was for Irene to stay alive and stay away from the war that took her life. Edward will do everything possible to get Irene to accept the request of Grand Duke Winterthur at that time to return to Nordhalbinsel. But that's just empty hope. Humans cannot repeat time.
"Your Majesty..." George roused Edward from his daydream. He could not bear to see the Crown Prince he served sink into such grief. George looked at Edward with a serious look as if what he was about to say was something very important that might change everything.
"Did Your Majesty ever hear of the Grimoire Sand Clock?"
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