"My mother used to say that the future is like a garden. You can choose which seeds to plant, but you never know exactly how they'll grow. Sometimes the smallest flower can change the whole look of the place."
Cael's words echo in my ears like a song playing on repeat, each note sinking deeper into my mind than the last. After days of weighing every possibility, every risk and reward, I have finally made my choice.
I will live this life the one that was not mine by right, but was given to me nonetheless. I will live peacefully, just as Prince Vernom was meant to. I will not chase the throne, nor fight for power I never wanted. But neither will I stand idly by and watch this kingdom fall into the hands of the land I once called home. I will not let this beautiful, heaven-like place crumble under the bloodthirsty rule of Custodian.
I will be the seed that sprouts change in that harsh, unforgiving soil.
It has been a few days since the council meeting, and I am slowly finding my footing in this new existence. I cannot say I fully understand what it means to be Prince Vernom yet, but I have realized one thing clearly: all my assumptions and everything I heard about him during my years in the military were completely wrong. How absurd those rumors were. It turns out the old saying holds true: you really cannot judge a book by its cover.
There was one truth among the lies: Prince Vernom did spend most of his time in the royal gardens. Over these past few days, I have discovered exactly why. There is a quiet peace here that I never knew existed standing among blooming flowers, feeling the warm sun on my skin, breathing in the sweet scent of roses and jasmine. It has become my own refuge too; a place where I can think clearly without the weight of battle or politics pressing down on my shoulders. Sometimes I sit by the man-made pond at the back of my quarters, watching fish swim lazily beneath the surface, and for a few precious moments, I almost forget who I was before.
But everything else I was told about him was false.
Rumors painted him as overlooked, irrelevant, and weak. Yet during that council meeting, I was surprised to find that the nobles and the royal family listened openly to my opinions, as if it were nothing out of the ordinary for me to speak up. They treated my words with genuine respect, asking follow-up questions and considering my ideas seriously. It turns out Vernom had always been quiet, but never silent. He simply chose his moments carefully, observing more than he spoke, and thinking through every word before it left his lips. What no one knew not even the warriors in Custodian's ranks or soldiers of other kingdoms was that Vernom was actually the strategic mind behind Callibean's armies. He was labeled the weakest link in the kingdom, while in truth, he was the one guiding their strength.
And his father King Theron is no tyrant. Unlike the ruler of Custodian, who governed through fear and brute force, this king leads with wisdom and compassion. I have since learned that he makes time to meet with each of his children regularly, asking about their lives, their concerns, and their hopes for the kingdom. To be fair, he is a man who loves women I have lost count of how many concubines reside in the palace but at the very least, he is not a cruel or oppressive ruler. That makes all the difference.
Perhaps the most surprising discovery of all is the bond shared between the royal siblings. There are twelve princes and princesses in total, born to the King and his various partners and there is absolutely no rivalry between them. Instead, they gather often for meals and discussions, supporting one another in their duties and ambitions. The concubines are close friends who look out for each other and all the children as one family. Even the Queen treats every one of the King's sons as if they were her own including me, and even Crown Prince Vonce, her own biological son.
Only yesterday, I joined them for dinner in the main palace. Vonce clapped me firmly on the shoulder when I arrived, asking how preparations for our upcoming plans were progressing. Princess Lina, the youngest at just fifteen, pulled me aside to show me sketches of new garden designs she had drawn, knowing how much time I now spend among the plants. Even the King's second concubine who had raised three of my siblings herself pressed extra servings onto my plate with a warm smile, remarking that I looked too thin and needed to eat more.
It feels strange. Growing up in the slums of Custodian, then surviving years in an army where every man fought only for himself, I never imagined a family like this could actually exist. A place where power does not breed jealousy, where status does not create distance, and where love and care extend to everyone under the same roof. I often wonder: if I had been born here in Callibean, not as Prince Vernom but simply as me, with my original family… would my life have turned out differently? Would I have grown up kind and righteous, just like them?
As I sit by the pond now, running my fingers through the cool, still water, I realize something important. Vernom did not hide away in his gardens because he was weak. He came here to recharge, to find clarity, and to remind himself of what was truly important in a world that too often forgets. It is a wise habit, and one I am glad to have inherited.
And as I plan for the work ahead planting seeds of hope in the harsh soil of my homeland I know that this new family, and this peaceful kingdom, will be my strength. They have shown me that there is more to ruling than power and conquest, and more to life than mere survival and struggle.
I must protect this place at any cost. It is my payment for taking over Vernom's life. It is my atonement for the lives I took in battle. It is the tribute I owe to my own parents, who sacrificed everything just so I could live.
I hear soft footsteps, and look up to see Cael approaching, carrying a tray with tea and fresh pastries.
"Your Highness," he says quietly, careful not to break the peaceful atmosphere. "Prince Vonce sent word. He has found some merchants who might be willing to help with our plan. They will be arriving at the palace tomorrow."
I stand up, brushing a bit of dirt from my clothes. For the first time since waking up in this body, I feel completely like myself not just a soldier, not just a prince, but someone who has been given a second chance to grow into something better.
"Then let us be ready," I say, looking out across the garden that has become my sanctuary. "It is time to start planting those seeds."