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?" Clint

Reuben frowned. "I'm done."

laughed softly at first, then louder

clenched his fists tightly. What was Clint

"What's so funny?"

amusing. You have only one bargaining chip

other families. If you want to stabilize your reign, you must agree to all my conditions." Reuben's face turned cold. "I'm prepared; if I don't return,

directly and send troops to crush all families myself; then I wouldn't need the seal at all." Clint laughed wildly with arrogance. "Sometimes I wonder what Father was thinking; Reuben, you're too soft-hearted for

a catastrophic cost, mutual destruction-only a madman

insane!" he roared.

plunge the country into chaos, displacing people and setting back our economy by decades!

them ever cared about

close kin for

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 to him! He never saw my efforts

throne to you because he feared your ruthlessness would turn our country into an autocracy!

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

considering passing

I don't want to argue anymore-lift the dark magic on Joyce and release her! What reason do you have to keep her?" Reuben was

Reuben a

about her-could it be that you're interested in her? What is

up! I have no such

We're friends-admire her, respect

said angrily