With short blond hair, half-blue and half-green eyes, and a delicate face, Malone really didn't expect that Alsace could be regarded as a "beautiful man" when he was a child.

"You...... Who are you? I have never seen you in the palace...... Are you the guardian of a nobleman? Or which knight? ”

Young Arthas showed a hint of vigilance on his face the moment he saw Malone; However, he soon realized that this was his father's palace, so he took Malone as a nobleman's bodyguard.

"Neither, I'm a guest from the South...... Your Royal Highness Prince Alsace, what's wrong with you? ”

Marlon asked with a smile on his face as he introduced himself--Arthas's face was somehow covered with a lot of dust, and he looked like a gray-faced cat.

"A guest from the South? Are they those southern guests who are meeting with my father? Is the meeting over? It's terrible...... If only I hadn't stepped on that kick......"

Listening to Malone's words, Arthas said in annoyance.

"No, the meeting isn't over yet, though...... I'd better get you out of here first......"

Malone looked at Alsace, who was "trapped" in the canopy, and said helplessly.

……

"Thank you, my lord...... What should I call you? ”

Alsace stood in front of Malone and said politely.

"It's okay to call me Marlon, I'm Anduin? Lothar's nephew, my uncle is meeting with your father. ”

Marlon looked at Arthas, and couldn't help but reach out and brush off a few leaves that were still sticking to Arthas's shoulders - he broke many branches to "rescue" the prince of Lordaeron from the small tree that was now unrecognizable.

"Is that Anduin? Sir Lothar? It's the ...... from Stormwind The first warrior? ”

Alsace let Malone whisk over his shoulders. His attention was focused on Marlon's self-introduction.

"Yes...... But if you talk to my uncle about it, he'll definitely deny the 'First Warrior' claim......"

Malone said with a smile - even the famous Alsace, who was no different from an ordinary boy when he was a child - was far more interested in things like horseback fighting than anything else.

But the merchants and sailors from the south said so! That's right. Horse...... Lord Marlon, are you also a warrior? ”

Arthas's eyes widened in surprise as he looked at Marlon - it was the first time he had learned that Stormwind didn't have the title of "First Warrior".

"Yes, I'm a warrior, but I'm also a 'priest'...... Also, Prince Arthas, you don't have to call me an adult, and you don't need to use an honorific title. For I don't have a knighthood of my own. ”

Malone nodded and said to Arthas.

"Both a warrior and a priest? The Light is above, you ...... You're amazing! Well, since that's the case. Then I'll allow you to call me Alsace, so we'll be even. ”

Arthas said triumphantly.

"Well, Arthas...... But I guess you can explain why you're in the canopy of this tree? ”

Malone nodded. Then he pointed to the small tree next to him whose branches and leaves had fallen to the ground and asked.

"Yes...... That is true...... My father won't let me join him at today's rally. But when I heard the maids say that there were guests coming from the south, I wanted to climb up and see, but I fell down and wore it in the tree...... Fortunately, Marlon, you saved me, otherwise if my father or Ms. Gosloth found out, they would have punished me for copying the book...... By the way, you're not going to tell my father about it, are you? ”

Arthas explained why he was stuck in a tree, then looked at Malone heartily and asked.

"I'm not going to tell King Terenus about this...... But who is Miss Gothros? ”

Malone asked, confused—his sister in Alsace. Princess Kalia had also heard the name in her mouth.

"Lady Gothroth is the head maid of this palace, and she's fierce!"

Arthas seemed to have been reprimanded by the Lady Gosloth. He said with a sigh of relief.

"By the way, Arthas, I just met your sister, and she's worried about you and looking for you."

Marlon remembered why he had come back to look for Arthas, and hurriedly said.

"You mean Kalia? I'm not going...... She was in the same league as her father, and they both treated me like a child...... I'm not too small, I'm so tall! ”

Arthas also seems to have a grudge against his sister.

"No matter how tall you are, Her Royal Highness Princess Kalia is your sister...... And, Arthas, haven't you thought about what to do if Kalia can't find you and tells your father about it in a hurry? ”

Malone said to Arthas like a child.

"That's right! But...... I still want to climb up! ”

Arthas suddenly realized, but still turned his head a little reluctantly, and glanced diagonally upward.

Marlon followed Alsace's gaze—behind this row of street trees was part of the palace of the royal palace of Lordaeron; At the top of the small tree that Arthas had just been trapped in was an open window, and the faint sound of conversation came from the window - Malone could vaguely distinguish Anduin? Lothar and Alonthos? Fao's voice.

"This is the back wall of the Throne Room? But you can't climb up to Alsace, that's too dangerous. Let's go find your sister quickly. ”

Malone shook his head and said to Arthas.

"Okay...... What a pity...... If only I could grow up a little longer, my father would have allowed me to stay with him and handle government affairs with him. ”

Arthas nodded in disappointment, then muttered.

Marlon looked at the frustrated Arthas, especially his dirty face and blond hair from tossing in the canopy, and a little pity suddenly rose in his heart.

If it weren't for the sake of proving himself in front of his father, if King Terenus had been a little more patient and tolerant of Arthas...... Perhaps Arthas will not end up with that sad and tragic end.

Malone didn't know if his presence would change the fate of Arthas - he didn't even know anything about his future fate - but he knew he could at least do something now.

"My friend, Varian? Wrynn, who is the prince of Stormwind. He is now in there to meet your father. When he comes out, I can ask him to tell you what the meeting was like - not as good as what he saw with his own eyes, but better than nothing, what do you think? ”

Malone patted Alsace's still slightly immature shoulder and said to him with a smile.

"Really? That's great! ”

Arthas shouted for joy—he looked at Malone with gratitude—for the first time he had seen someone who didn't treat him as a child.

"Of course it's true...... But before you do that, go to your sister first, and clean yourself up - the prince of Lordaeron can't go dirty to meet guests - am I right? ”

Malone stretched out his hand, pinched Alsace's somewhat emaciated face, squeezed his eyes at him and said.

"Don't pinch my face!"

Arthas angrily tried to pull away from Marlon's hand, but he dodged it one step ahead; The young prince glared at the guy who was still smiling after the prank he had played on him, and ran away angrily - he decided to retract his opinion - and the fellow named Marlon had also thought of himself as a child! He doesn't look much older than himself!

Watching Arthas's back disappear into the garden, Malone glanced down at his hands, rubbed a few fingers lightly, and smiled smugly—it would feel good to bully the future Lich King properly! (To be continued.) )