Xu Lin stared blankly at Wilhelm I before him, his eyes filled with astonishment and surprise. He truly had not expected that this esteemed king would value him so highly, even going so far as to offer him the title of Prince in order to persuade him to stay. In this era, the king was the supreme ruler, and a prince was already the highest status a mortal could possibly attain. That position of a prince, symbolizing supreme power and glory, might have been a lifelong dream beyond reach for anyone else, yet at this moment, it was laid out right before Xu Lin.
However, Xu Lin's heart remained utterly resolute; he knew well that he could not stay. He was well aware of the peculiarities of his own physical nature—something that, to ordinary people, was undoubtedly an irresistible temptation, let alone to a sovereign who held the fate of an entire nation in his hands. Which king would not hope for his realm to endure forever, passed down through countless generations? Xu Lin dared not gamble his own future on the benevolence of others, fearing that unknown variables might bring about unpredictable consequences. He looked at Wilhelm I's sincere face, and though a sense of guilt stirred within him, he spoke with a slightly apologetic expression: "Thank you for Your Majesty's kind intentions. I am truly overwhelmed and deeply humbled, yet I must still say I am sorry. I have been away from home for far too long, and right now, my heart is filled with longing for my family. I want to …
Chapter 98