You Hit My Heart by Kylie Stanford

Chapter 2079: Don't Mistake Your Enemy

"Now do you believe me?" Reuben brushed the ash from his fingers. "I don't want to fight you for the throne."

On the ground, the fire had died down, leaving only a few glowing embers.

"Without an edict, you're still the Crown Prince. You can ascend the throne rightfully. But the imperial seal is with me, and I've hidden it in a very safe place. If you agree to my conditions, I'll tell you where it is. This way, your claim will be legitimate, without any flaws or leverage against you."

Reuben remained calm. "So, are you interested in hearing my conditions now?"

"Go ahead," Clint said as he sat back down on the mahogany stool, waiting for Reuben to speak.

Reuben's expression turned serious as he spoke each word clearly. "You kidnapped Joyce. She's innocent and shouldn't be dragged into our conflict. Moreover, as far as I know, you've used dark magic to control her."

"It seems you've met her," Clint smirked. So Joyce had not only sought out Darrin but also met Reuben. She was quite resourceful; how did she manage to contact them under his watch?

"Yes, I kidnapped her and controlled her. So what?"

Reuben frowned. "Lift the dark magic and release her. That's the first condition."

"You prepare a ship to send my mother out of Rohomes along with Joyce and the others. I'll stay here and wait for news of their safe arrival. That's the second condition."

"And I'll find a way to disband the Inner Palace Office. They oppose you, and you must promise not to harm them and ensure their safety. I want you to write this promise down; if you break it in the future, I'll make it public. That's the third condition."

"Lastly, Hajime must be Prime Minister to keep you in check so that you won't act arbitrarily. I'll persuade Hajime to pledge loyalty to you, provided you meet these conditions. You know very well Hajime's standing in politics; you need his support."

Reuben laid out his conditions plainly. Their father had been clear before his death. He had hesitated about who should inherit the throne because he doubted Clint would spare him and his mother or refrain from eliminating the Inner Palace Office, fearing Rohomes would become an autocratic state.

done?"

Reuben frowned. "I'm done."

laughed softly at first, then louder until he was roaring

fists tightly. What

"What's so funny?"

"I laugh because you're amusing. You have only one bargaining chip but are making

to stabilize your reign, you must agree to

to crush all families myself; then I wouldn't need the seal at all." Clint laughed wildly

face paled; crushing all families would come at a catastrophic cost, mutual destruction-only a madman would do that. But he had overlooked that Clint was indeed

insane!" he roared. "I

Crushing all families would plunge the country into chaos, displacing people and setting back our economy by decades! Even if you sit on that throne, could you live with yourself? Could you face our

family ancestors? Which of them ever cared

close kin

interests; even diluted bloodlines couldn't prevent me from being born with congenital diseases! Did they ever care about me? And Father ignored my mother all his life-I was like a ghost

end about passing the throne to you because he feared your ruthlessness would turn our country into an autocracy! My conditions merely fulfill

silently that he hoped Father would forgive him for giving up the

scoffed dismissively. "Father's most foolish act was considering passing the throne to you! It brought me so much unnecessary

reason do you have to keep her?" Reuben was furious. "What do

gave Reuben a

care so much about her-could it be that you're interested in her?

have no

We're friends-admire her, respect

said