King Adrian had spent many nights thinking about Edward.
The young man had now completed five years of service.
He had survived dangerous assignments.
He had endured injuries.
He had remained faithful to the promise he had made.
And throughout those years, his letters to Princess Evelyn had continued.
From everything the king had heard, Edward appeared to be exactly the kind of man who deserved his daughter’s hand.
But appearances were not enough.
King Adrian was not only a father.
He was a king.
And a king could not give his daughter to a man simply because the man claimed to love her.
Edward would one day become part of the royal family.
As he’ll become Prince Consort of Bexton, if he successfully completes his seven years of Service.
Then he would stand beside Evelyn.
He would share her responsibilities.
He would become the man entrusted with her happiness and safety.
Therefore, before Edward completed his seven years of service, King Adrian decided that he needed to know the truth.
Was Edward truly loyal?
Was his love for Evelyn strong enough to survive temptation?
Would he remain honest when no one was watching?
Would he choose honor when dishonesty would benefit him?
The king had already seen Edward’s courage.
Now he wanted to see his character.
And so, without telling anyone—not even Queen Amelia—the king designed a secret test.
One morning, King Adrian summoned Captain Marcus, one of his most trusted officers.
The captain entered the king’s private chamber and bowed.
“You called for me, Your Majesty?”
“Yes.”
The king closed the door.
“What I am about to tell you must remain completely secret.”
Captain Marcus immediately became serious.
“Of course, Your Majesty.”
“I want you to conduct a test.”
“Of whom?”
“Edward.”
The captain looked surprised.
“Edward?”
“Yes.”
“But he has served you faithfully for five years.”
“I know.”
“Has he done something wrong?”
“No.”
The king walked toward the window.
“This is not a punishment.
It is an examination.”
“An examination?”
“Before I allow him to marry Evelyn, I need to know what kind of man he truly is when he believes no one is watching.”
Captain Marcus nodded slowly.
“What do you want me to do?”
The king explained the plan.
Edward would be offered an opportunity to obtain wealth and advancement by doing something that violated the king’s trust.
The offer would come from a stranger.
The stranger would claim to have influence within the palace.
Edward would not know that the stranger was acting under the king’s orders.
“If Edward accepts,” the king said, “I will know that his loyalty has a price.”
“And if he refuses?”
“Then we will continue.”
Captain Marcus understood.
The king was not looking for one answer.
He wanted to know Edward’s character under different circumstances.
“How far should we take the test?”
“Never put his life in unnecessary danger.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
“And do not reveal my involvement.”
“I understand.”
King Adrian turned toward him.
“Edward must believe that these choices are entirely his own.”
Several days later, Edward received an unexpected visitor at the military camp.
The man introduced himself as Lord Vincent, a wealthy merchant who claimed to have connections with several powerful nobles.
Edward listened politely.
“I have heard about you,” Vincent said.
Edward looked at him carefully.
“Then you have heard more than I know about myself.”
Vincent laughed.
“You are a modest man.”
“What do you want?”
“I have a proposition.”
Edward remained silent.
Vincent placed a small leather pouch on the table.
The sound of coins filled the room.
Edward looked at it.
“You have my attention.”
“I know that you are serving the king for seven years.”
“I am.”
“I also know why.”
Edward’s expression hardened.
“You know about Princess Evelyn?”
“Everyone with eyes knows.”
Edward pushed the pouch away.
“If this concerns the princess, speak carefully.”
Vincent smiled.
“I am offering you an easier path.”
“There is no easier path.”
“There can be.”
Vincent leaned closer. New chapters come out on novelping.com first.
“I have influence in certain royal circles.
I could arrange for your service to be shortened.”
Edward stared at him.
“How?”
“Certain documents could disappear.”
“What documents?”
“The records concerning your service.”
Edward immediately stood.
“You are asking me to deceive the king.”
Vincent raised his hands.
“Not deceive.
Simply rearrange circumstances.”
“I will not.”
“You have spent five years serving.”
“I know.”
“Why spend another two?”
“Because I gave my word.”
Vincent laughed.
“Words are easily forgotten when a better opportunity appears.”
Edward’s face became cold.
“Not mine.”
He turned away.
“You should leave.”
Vincent gathered his pouch.
“You are making a mistake.”
Edward looked back.
“No.
I am protecting the promise I made.”
The man left.
Edward never knew that King Adrian had arranged the meeting.
When Captain Marcus reported what had happened, King Adrian was pleased.
But he was not satisfied.
“Continue,” the king said.
The next test would be more difficult.
This time, Edward would be tested through temptation.
A beautiful and influential young noblewoman named Lady Roseline was instructed to approach him during a royal gathering.
She was intelligent, charming, and confident.
Her task was not to seduce Edward dishonestly.
She was simply to discover whether he would willingly allow himself to become emotionally involved with another woman while claiming to love Evelyn.
At the gathering, Roseline found Edward standing alone.
“You look uncomfortable.”
Edward smiled politely.
“I am not accustomed to these celebrations.”
“Why?”
“I spend most of my time with soldiers.”
She laughed.
“Perhaps you need someone to teach you how to enjoy yourself.”
Edward smiled.
“Perhaps.”
Roseline sat beside him.
“You are Edward, aren’t you?”
“Yes.”
“I have heard many stories.”
“Most are probably exaggerated.”
“Some say you are destined for greatness.”
Edward shook his head.
“I am only serving the king.”
“And Princess Evelyn?”
Edward looked at her.
“What about her?”
“Everyone knows you love her.”
“I do.”
Roseline studied his face.
“Do you ever wonder whether waiting seven years is worth it?”
“Every day.”
“And if someone offered you a different future?”
“I would refuse.”
“Even if that future were easier?”
Edward smiled.
“Easier is not always better.”
Roseline leaned closer.
“You are certain?”
“I have never been more certain of anything.”
She nodded.
“I believe you.”
Edward frowned.
“What do you mean?”
“Nothing.”
She stood.
“Good evening, Edward.”
He watched her leave.
He found the conversation strange, but he thought nothing more of it.
He did not know that the king was watching from a distant balcony.
King Adrian had heard every word.
But the greatest test came later.
King Adrian ordered one of his officials to approach Edward with confidential information.
The official told Edward that the king was considering replacing him after six years of service.
“You may lose your chance to marry Princess Evelyn,” the official said.
Edward’s heart sank.
“Why?”
“Some members of the council believe you are not suitable for the princess.”
Edward remained silent.
“What should I do?”
The official lowered his voice.
“There is a way to protect yourself.”
“What way?”
“You could secretly gather information about the king’s advisers. Enjoying the story? Read on at g.com.
If you discover something embarrassing about them, you could use it to protect your position.”
Edward stared at him.
“You want me to spy on the king’s advisers?”
“Only for your own protection.”
“No.”
The official looked surprised.
“You could lose everything.”
Edward stood.
“If I have to betray the king to marry Evelyn, then I am not worthy of marrying her.”
The official said nothing.
Edward continued.
“I did not begin this service to manipulate the king.
I began it to prove that I deserve his trust.”
The official left.
Again, Edward had passed.
That evening, King Adrian sat alone.
Captain Marcus stood before him.
“Your Majesty, Edward has passed every test.”
The king smiled.
“Tell me everything.”
“He refused wealth.”
“Good.”
“He refused another woman’s attention.”
“Good.”
“He refused to spy on the king’s advisers.”
King Adrian nodded.
“What did he say?”
Captain Marcus repeated Edward’s words.
The king leaned back.
“If I have to betray the king to marry Evelyn, then I am not worthy of marrying her.”
The king remained silent for a long moment.
Those words touched something deep inside him.
Edward had finally given him the answer he wanted.
The young man did not love Evelyn simply because she was a princess.
He loved her enough to refuse anything that would make him unworthy of her.
Later that night, King Adrian went to Queen Amelia.
She looked at him curiously.
“You seem unusually peaceful.”
“I have learned something.”
“About Edward?”
The king nodded.
“Did you test him?”
The queen smiled knowingly.
“I suspected you would.”
“What makes you think so?”
“Because you are a father.”
King Adrian laughed softly.
“And?”
“And because you would never allow Evelyn to marry a man without knowing his true character.”
The king sat beside her.
“He passed.”
“All of them?”
“Every test.”
Queen Amelia smiled.
“Then perhaps Evelyn chose wisely.”
“Perhaps.”
The king looked toward the palace gardens.
“But there is still the matter of Lilian.”
The queen’s smile faded.
“Yes.”
The king sighed.
“Edward may be worthy, but the law remains.”
“And two years remain.”
“Exactly.”
Far away from the palace, Edward knew nothing about the king’s secret tests.
He sat outside his quarters, writing another letter to Evelyn.
“My beloved Evelyn,
Today was a strange day.
I was reminded again of why I began this journey.
There are many things in this world that can tempt a person to abandon his promises.
But I want you to know something.
No matter how long the road becomes, I will not exchange our future for an easier path.
I did not serve the king for five years simply to abandon everything now.
I want to return to you with a clear heart.
I want your father to look at me and know that I have honored his trust.
And when the seven years are finally complete, I want to stand before you knowing that I gave everything I had to become worthy of you.
I love you.
Two years remain.
Wait for me.
Edward.”
He folded the letter carefully.
He had no idea that the king already knew the answer to the question he had been secretly asking.
Was Edward worthy of Evelyn?
The answer was becoming clear.
But another question remained.
Could Edward’s love survive the final two years?
Could Evelyn wait for him?
And most importantly, could the ancient royal law be resolved before Edward returned?
King Adrian knew that the greatest challenge was no longer proving Edward’s character.
It was finding a way to protect both his daughters’ futures.
The king had tested Edward.
Edward had passed.
But the greatest test of all was still waiting for the royal family.