Free Web NovelChapter 1601: Chapter 1601: Born of the Same Root
The two brothers clasped hands, their gazes meeting as well, like two conflicting auras suddenly merging into one.
Ian’s eyes were淡淡 in color, and under his stare Taylor felt a bit unsettled; even though he hadn’t done anything, he still had the feeling of being a guilty man.
"Louis." Ian’s thin lips parted; he uttered just two syllables, introducing his own name.
Taylor’s lips hooked faintly, his gaze deep.
After about half a minute, at the King’s low cough, the two brothers finally loosened their clasped hands and came back to themselves, turning toward their father in unison.
"Louis, Taylor."
The King looked at the two standing by the bed. He said solemnly, "You are of the same root. I hope you can support each other like real brothers, without fussing over gains and losses, because what you have is already far more than ordinary people. Only when you know contentment can you find lasting peace."
When a man is about to die, he always sees this life with piercing clarity; this is a father’s greatest wish.
"All right." Ian nodded, answering with sincerity.
Taylor also nodded. "Okay, I promise you."
The King gazed at them for a long time. He had lived his whole life with extreme restraint, precisely because he had seen too much of royal infighting.
So he had never had two women at the same time at his side; in the past he had loved Louis’s mother, and later he had loved Taylor’s mother.
It was very likely that Bertie had found Elsa’s shadow in Catherine; the outlines of these two women’s profiles were simply too similar.
Ian had sensed this as well after returning to the royal household.
"Help me sit up." The King spoke softly.
The brothers bent down together and reached out to help him up. At this moment, a servant brought over a glass of warm water and some pills.
Ian reached out to take the glass and the pills.
Sitting on the edge of the bed, the King said to his two sons, "You both have to attend tonight’s banquet. I also want to meet that business prodigy. They say Justin Kingston’s commercial empire is unimaginably vast, with branch offices all over the world."
Ian said nothing. "Take your medicine first."
The King reached out to take the water and the pills. Ian watched him finish the medication. He knew what pills these were; at the very least they could sustain his father’s strength for five hours, but taking too many was bad for his body.
The imperial physician had said that whenever there was an important banquet he absolutely had to attend, he would take one pill.
"You can both go." The King handed the glass to the attendant beside him and waved his sons away.
Ian glanced at his father, then left together with Taylor.
The King’s palace was very large, with many levels, and the bedchamber was deep inside. To get out of this palace one had to pass through several halls.
Ian had long legs but walked slowly; Taylor’s pace was also unhurried, and he followed by his older brother’s side, half-intentionally, half-not.
"I heard you want to find some Raban doctor to treat Father? Is that guy reliable?" Taylor asked, genuinely worried. "The imperial physician’s medical skills are the best in all of Lorelei."
"If he’s the best, why hasn’t he cured Father?" Ian asked as he walked.
"..." Taylor was choked off and for a moment didn’t know how to respond.
"Even if he’s not reliable, we still have to try." Ian spoke again, turning his eyes toward him as they walked. "I won’t let go of even the slightest hope, and I will cure Father."
When Ian said this last sentence, he gave him a look laden with meaning.
That look made Taylor burn with irritation. "What do you mean by that? Why are you looking at me like that? As if I don’t want him to get better!"
Taylor didn’t know about the King being poisoned. Ian now regarded everyone as a suspect. He drew back his gaze and didn’t say anything more.
By this time, the brothers had already walked out of the palace.
Taylor no longer walked with him; instead, he turned and headed toward the side corridor. He felt this big brother was really high and mighty! In front of Father he’d talked so nicely about being born of the same root, but as soon as he turned around he was warning him with his eyes. Hmph! What a load of crap!
