Prince Erhart of the Rhine Kingdom was young, handsome, and brave. Though he had everything a prince could want, his heart was heavy with a quiet sadness that never seemed to leave him.
Erhart went to his father, the King, and pleaded, 'Dad, I want to see the outside world.' But the King shook his head. 'The world is too dangerous, my son. You must stay here until you are a true warrior.'
'How can I become a true warrior?' Erhart asked, puzzled. The King smiled warmly at his son's eagerness. 'You need to study diligently, Erhart. A warrior's strength begins in the mind.'
Erhart took his father's words to heart. Every morning, he practiced his training skills every day , and every night, he read ancient scrolls by candlelight, hoping to find the secret of the warrior.
Despite his hard work, the answer was always the same. Each time Erhart asked, 'Am I a true warrior now?' the King would look at him and say, 'Not yet, my child.' Erhart's disappointment grew.
One day, a splash of color returned to the palace. Uncle Edward, the King's brother, arrived after years of traveling. He was very happy and went to ask Uncle Edward: "Is it fun abroad?"
Uncle Edward raised his eyebrows and said: "Of course, I went to the east, where there are silks and gold and silver everywhere; I also swam in the Aegean Sea, where the sea is as blue as your eyes; I saw cherry blossoms like clouds on Mount Fuji, and I even fought a dragon on the top of Mount Everest, bringing back a piece of its dragon scale for you."
'I even brought back a treasure for you,' Edward whispered, pulling out a silver dragon scale that shimmered with colorful light. Erhart held it as if it were the most precious thing in the world.
Erhart sighed, 'Uncle, how I wish you could take me out! I'm almost moldy staying in the palace!' Edward looked away with a sigh. 'Your father would be furious with me if I took you away, dear nephew.'
Erhart looked at his uncle with pleading eyes. 'Please, just take me out! If father blames you, I'll say I forced you!' he cried, his blue eyes filled with tears.
Edward stroked Erhart's head, a plan forming in his cunning mind. 'Alright, but you must stay here tonight and do as I say. I will go and persuade your father myself.' Erhart laughed through his tears.
Edward went to the King, carrying a bottle of rare wine. 'Brother, I brought this vintage from the Land of Immortals. I couldn't bear to drink it without you,' he said with a charming bow.
The King drank cup after cup, while Edward secretly poured his own wine onto the floor. Soon, the wine took hold, the King grew very tired and soon fell asleep at the table
Edward shouted for the guards, 'His Majesty has fallen ill! Seal the palace!' But the guards who arrived were not the King's; they were Edward's hidden cavalry, and they surrounded the palace gates.
Edward returned to Erhart and lied, 'I have convinced your father. We set off tomorrow!' Erhart hugged his uncle in joy, never noticing the strange look in Edward's eyes.
Subsequently, Edward announced to the ministers: "The King is seriously ill, and the Prince is taking care of the King. Now all important state affairs will be handled by me." Will the prince see through his uncle's scheme? Please read the next chapter.