Chapter 2

My son was stunned for a few seconds. As if realizing something, he shook his head vigorously. "No, I won't leave. I want to stay with you. Father, don't make me leave."

He gripped my hand tightly, as if he wanted to let out all the tears of his life.

Swallowing the blood in my mouth, I pretended to be mad. "Are you disobeying me now? Go buy the almond cookies, and we can enjoy them together once you're back."

Seeing my anger, he stopped insisting. He wiped his tears and agreed. "Okay, I'll go buy them right now. Father, wait for me. You must wait for me."

The moment he stepped out of the door, I shouted with my last bit of strength, "Arthur!"

Facing his puzzled gaze, I explained, "I've coined you a name. From now on, you'll be called Arthur Brighton Smith. It's so you'll lead an upright and honorable life. I hope you'll always be healthy and… happy."

The child showed a panicked expression. "Father..."

My consciousness began to fade. I bit my lip hard and smiled through the blood. "Go ahead. I'll wait for you to come back."

Arthur let out a sigh of relief and quickly ran off.

As his figure disappeared, I closed my eyes. "Arthur, I'm sorry I lied to you."

…

When I opened my eyes again, I had become a spirit, following Arthur out of the princess' residence.

"Sir, I want some almond cookies!" Arthur shouted anxiously, tugging at the shop assistant's clothes.

Looking at Arthur's disheveled face, the shop assistant waved his sleeve unhappily, shooing him away while shouting, "Go away! Where did this little beggar come from? Get out of here! Is this a place you can come to?"

The other customers in the shop also covered their noses, looking at him like he was a pile of garbage.

"Yeah, doesn't he know where he is? How can they let just anyone in here?"

"How filthy."

Hearing that, the shop assistant quickly smiled apologetically and pinched Arthur's ear hard. "You little brat, get out of here!"

Arthur yelled in pain, "I'm Princess Anna Lang's son! My father is sick, and I want to buy him almond cookies!"

The crowd froze for a moment before bursting into laughter.

Hands on hips, the shop assistant spat in Arthur's face. "You? Bah! Take a good look at yourself in the mirror! What about you looks like you belong to a wealthy family? If you're a prince, I'm your king! Get out, get out!"

He then shoved Arthur out of the shop.

Arthur wiped the grime from his face and tried to go back in, but the shop assistant had kicked him hard in the stomach. The pain made him unable to get up.

Just as he was about to despair, someone reached out a hand.

"Child, are you alright?" A young woman carefully brushed the dust off Arthur and asked with concern.

"Mother..." Arthur instinctively called out when he saw the tall figure. Then, he came to his senses and stammered a thank you.

The woman waved her hand and handed Arthur a packet of almond cookies.

Perhaps because he had suffered too many grievances that day, Arthur's eyes suddenly reddened at the kindness of a stranger. Clutching the paper bag, he bowed repeatedly. "Thank you, madam."

She said sheepishly, "You don't need to thank me. I didn't buy this bag of almond cookies. Princess Anna distributed food and pastries outside the city to celebrate her husband's recovery, and I just happened to get one."