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Man Makes Fun of Royal Guard, Not Expecting This To Happen

Large crowd

It all seemed like any other regular day at the royal guard post. A large crowd of tourists had already formed and were taking pictures of the motionless guards. While watching, the tourist made sure not to cross the line chalked on the ground, respecting the guard’s duty.

But that situation would soon change.

Breaking the silence

Because a sudden commotion broke the pleasant and calm mood of the crowd. It started off small with some yells, but soon it caught traction, and multiple screams could be heard.

People at the front of the group turned their heads from the guards to see what was going on.

Standing out

They could see the crowd stepping aside and making room for something or someone, and then a group of four men appeared. They were pushing their way through the crowd while fooling around with each other, not paying any attention to their surroundings.

But one man stood out in particular.

The leader

One of them walked in front of the other three. His chest was puffed up, and his arms were wide. His eyes hid behind dark sunglasses, but the man radiated confidence and obviously thought he was the most important person there.

But his behavior would catch up to him in an unexpected way.

Daring each other

The man in front was called Dwayne, and he and his friends had seen the royal guards from a distance and instantly knew what to do. They had been mocking and daring each other to annoy the royal guard on their way here.

And Dwayne was the one that actually dared to do it.

Over the line

Dwayne stepped over the line the crowd had stood behind and confidently approached the royal guard. At first, he posed beside him so his friends could take a picture, but after that, the obnoxious behavior started.

He made weird faces and fooled around, knowing the guard had to stay motionless.

Cheering him on

But it didn’t stop by making weird faces and trying to get the guard to laugh. Dwayne’s friends yelled and cheered him on as his behavior worsened. He moved around the guard, stepping closer and almost touching him, backing off at the last moment.

He turned around and laughed at his friends, but then…

Stand back!

When Dwayne turned back to face the guard, a voice roared over the crowd’s murmurs. “Stand back for the king’s guard!” the guard shouted.

The sudden noise from the otherwise silent and motionless guard startled Dwayne, causing him to take a few steps back, but he recovered in a split second.

Used warning

Dwayne realized this was the only thing the guard could do, as long as he didn’t over-exaggerate his behavior. The fact that the guard used this warning meant Dwayne’s behavior annoyed him, which was everything Dwayne needed to know.

He continued his behavior, not knowing he would soon be in trouble.

One step further

Dwayne even dared to go one step further. He approached the guard again and put his fists up, moving rapidly and throwing some feint punches while imitating the sounds of the blows landing.

He turned around with his hands up as if he were victorious. His friends cheered and laughed, but the crowd booed him.

High and mighty

The laugh faded from Dwayne’s face as he looked at the crowd. “Do your worst! Your hate can’t hurt me,” he exclaimed as he waved his arms. “Do you even know who I am?

I’m rich beyond your imagination and have my own guards because I’m that important!” Dwayne answered the jeers.

Against them

His friends stood by him with yells and tried to silence the rest of the crowd before cheering Dwayne on again. The negativity from the crowd only worked against them.

He initially had enough of annoying the guard, but now he had to continue. But as he faced the guard again, something unexpected happened.

Drowned out

Like before, Dwayne got close to the royal guard to annoy him as much as possible. The background noises were drowned out as she focused on himself and the guard, but because of his focus, he heard something that made the hairs on his neck stand up.

Did he hear that right?

Hear it right?

The unexpected sounds caused him to step back and stand in silence. His face wasn’t expressing the harried smile like before but instead showed a mixture of concern and confusion as the cogs in his head turned.

He stared at the royal guard. Had the guard just whispered something to him?

Entirely different

Dwayne’s body was tensed up from the moment, and he shook his arms and legs to regain control. After that, he stepped closer to the guard again. His friends cheered him on, and the crowd booed, still thinking he was mocking the guard.

But in reality, the situation was entirely different.

Breaking the rules

The Royal Guard had whispered he wasn’t allowed to move or show any sign of emotion. They also weren’t allowed to speak, yet this red-uniformed man decided to break this rule and started speaking to Dwayne.

There weren’t many words exchanged, and the volume was extremely low.

Conveying a message

But it was clear that this guard was trying to convey a message to Dwayne, one that would later become extremely important in the grand scheme of things. And Dwyane also took notice.

There was a reason for these whispers, and their tone urged Dwayne to move in closer.

Trying to focus

Slowly but surely, Dwayne got closer to the guard. All his confidence from before was gone, and when he was close enough, he heard the whispering again, but he couldn’t understand it due to the cheers and boos from the people behind him.

Dwayne closed his eyes and tried to focus.

A message

He took a deep breath, and the mumbles slowly turned into words. The words formed a few sentences, which the guard repeated constantly. Even though Dwayne focused on the words and sentences, it took him some time to understand the meaning.

But when he did, he stumbled back a few paces.

Change in behavior

Any sign of confidence was gone, as his face had turned pale, and he expressed fear. Dwayne ensured he remained with his back toward the crowd so they wouldn’t see his reaction.

Meanwhile, his mind was racing, processing what he had just heard from the guard and trying to figure out what to do.

Something changed

The crowd behind Dwayne was getting more restless. They had watched him taunt the guard for several minutes, but now something had changed. The arrogance and playfulness had vanished from his posture.

He stood frozen, his face blank. People whispered among themselves, trying to understand what was happening.

Friends taking notice

His friends also noticed the shift in Dwayne’s behavior. Just moments ago, he had been laughing and putting on a show. Now, he was stiff and unmoving. One of them nudged the other, raising an eyebrow.

“What’s he doing?” he asked. But no one had an answer.

Losing patience

The noise of the crowd grew louder. People were losing patience. The entertainment had stopped, and confusion replaced amusement. Murmurs turned into complaints. “What’s wrong with him?” a woman asked her husband.

“Is he scared now?” someone else chuckled. But no one knew what had caused the change.

Confusion amongst friends

Dwayne’s friends exchanged confused glances. They expected him to continue showing off, but instead, he was silent. One of them took a step forward, waving a hand in front of Dwayne’s face.

“Hey, man, you good?” he asked. Dwayne didn’t respond. He kept his gaze locked on the guard.

Growing tired

At the front of the crowd, a few people started moving closer. They had grown tired of Dwayne’s arrogance and foolishness. A man shook his head in frustration. “Enough of this nonsense,” he muttered, stepping toward the chalked line.

Others followed, determined to put an end to the scene.

Hold them back!

As the bystanders neared him, Dwayne’s posture changed slightly. Without taking his eyes off the guard, he spoke in a low, firm voice. “Hold them back now!.” His words were clear, yet quiet enough that only his friends heard them.

They looked at him, puzzled, but didn’t question him.

Not what they expected

The approaching bystanders hesitated for a moment. They had expected Dwayne to ignore them since he stood there like a statue, but instead, he had ordered his friends to intervene.

Some of them stepped back, uncertain of what was happening. Others pushed forward, determined to drag him away from the guard.

Reacting quickly

Dwayne’s friends reacted quickly. They moved in unison, blocking the bystanders’ path. Their arms spread wide, their feet planted firmly on the ground. “Back off,” one of them said. His tone wasn’t aggressive, but it left no room for argument.

The people in front of them stopped, unsure of how to proceed.

Getting a bit angry

The crowd’s murmurs grew louder. Some called Dwayne a coward. Others accused him of making a fool of himself. But despite the insults and confusion, Dwayne remained where he was.

He didn’t respond to the jeers, nor did he acknowledge his friends holding the crowd back. His focus was elsewhere.

Unbreakable wall

A woman at the front of the crowd tried to push through. “Move,” she demanded, attempting to step past Dwayne’s friends. But they held firm, their bodies forming an unbreakable wall.

She huffed in frustration. “What’s he doing? Why are you protecting him? Look at that poor guard,” she said. But they didn’t answer.

Not giving up

The bystanders weren’t giving up so easily. More people joined in, trying to push past the human barricade. Hands reached out, shoving and grabbing at Dwayne’s friends. But they stood their ground, refusing to let anyone through.

They didn’t know why Dwayne wanted them to do this, but they obeyed anyway.

Blocking out the crowd

Dwayne, still standing before the guard, took a deep breath. The shouting behind him barely registered in his mind. He was aware of it, but it no longer mattered. The only thing that mattered was the guard in front of him.

He had to hear more. He had to understand.

Increasing tension

The tension in the air thickened. The crowd wanted answers, but Dwayne wasn’t giving any. A man at the front clenched his fists. “Why are you protecting him?” he demanded again.

“He doesn’t deserve it!” But Dwayne’s friends didn’t flinch. They formed an impenetrable barrier, standing shoulder to shoulder.

Something brewing

The shouts, the pushing, the anger—it didn’t matter. Their job was to keep the crowd back. And their job was about to get even more important because, amidst the crowd, something was happening, something only Dwayne and the guard knew about.

But that was all about to change.

Frozen in place

Dwayne remained frozen in place between the royal guard and the crowd. Slowly the cheers and boos faded away as the tourists and Dwayne’s friends became confused about the situation.

His friends yelled at him, asking what was going on. Then Dwayne finally moved as he took his phone out of his pocket.

Paid close attention

Nobody knew what was happening, but people who paid close attention could see Dwayne’s hand tremble lightly as he took his phone out of his pocket.

The cheers and boos were gone entirely and had turned into murmurs as the crowd speculated on what could’ve caused Dwayne’s behavior to change so dramatically.

Delicate situation

Dwayne was searching through his phone for the right contact and breathed deeply as he tried to calm himself down. He realized his sudden change in demeanor caused some confusion and ruckus among the onlookers.

And that was the one thing he absolutely had to prevent in this delicate situation.

The call

Dwayne’s heart leaped when he finally found the correct contact, and his hands fumbled over the touchscreen when he pressed the dial button. He carefully whispered into the phone, making sure nobody could hear what he said, and then ended the call.

Dwayne then nodded to the royal guard, who responded inconspicuously.

Speculations

He gathered his final thoughts and took one last deep breath before turning around to face the crowd. Dwayne tried his best to radiate as much confidence as before, but he wasn’t fooling anyone.

His behavior was subdued and careful, not as high and mighty as before. Which fueled the speculations even more.

Mocking

When Dwayne reached his friends, they immediately asked him about the situation. “What is going on? Are you too scared to continue?” one asked mockingly, and the rest smiled. But Dwayne refused to smile back.

“We need to get out of here now,” he whispered to them, urging them to walk away.

Interference

Dwayne’s friends stared at him in confusion but realized he wasn’t going to explain what was happening. Still, some people in the direct vicinity overhearing his whispers did want to ask him.

But before they could approach Dwayne and demand answers, there was a commotion coming from the center of the crowd.

An idea

At first, people pushed each other, and a few fell over, but soon different people started screaming. Slowly, an area free of people formed in the middle of the crowd.

Dwayne’s friends couldn’t see what was causing all this ruckus, but Dwayne had an idea, and he hoped he was wrong.

Make place

As sudden as the commotion and the screaming started, so sudden they stopped and made way for gasps. “Make place. Give us some room!” a voice shouted from within the crowd.

A voice Dwayne recognized. Slowly, the crowd moved aside, and the circle of people opened up so Dwayne could see what was going on.

Surprising scene

Dwayne’s eyes grew wide when he saw the scene before him, but a feeling of relief quickly washed over him. An unknown man was being held to the ground by two big men in suits.

“Good job, guys!” he Dwayne triumphantly. “I knew I could count on you. I wasn’t worried one bit.”

Regaining confidence

The unexpected scene of two men holding someone on the ground and Dwayne’s comments didn’t really reassure the people. Most of them were yelling and screaming, demanding answers. A smile appeared on Dwayne’s face as he gained some of his confidence.

He asked for everyone’s attention, as he had the answers they were looking for.

Terrible threat

This was his element. This was what he was good at. Being the center of attention. Being the man who solved the situation. “You can stop worrying now. Everything is under control,” he spoke to the crowd around him.

“These men are my security guards, and they saved us from a terrible threat.”

More questions

That comment caused more questions and confusion. “A threat? What kind of threat? Is it that man? Who is he?” Dwayne could hear people ask.

Dwayne gestured for the people to calm down again and explained he signaled his guards to solve the problem the moment he heard about it.

Struggling

A loud groan was heard, and Dwayne looked at the man on the ground, who was struggling to break free from his captors. “As you can see, my guards have everything under control.

The threat will be sent to the police,” Dwayne said, not knowing things would soon be different.

Notified

“But who is he? How did you know? What happened?” the questions sounded from the crowd. The smile on Dwayne’s face grew increasingly larger. He was enjoying this moment very much.

He pointed toward the royal guard and told the crowd the guard had notified him of the incoming threat.

Far from over

Murmurs went through the crowd as their faces turned toward the royal guard. Dwayne spoke again to get the attention back. “The guard knew about my security detail and asked me to solve this problem discretely.

And so I did,” he smiled. He was happy to solve the problem, but it was far from over.

Sudden change

The crowd finally seemed satisfied and were talking among themselves. Dwayne nodded to his security guards and told them to handle the situation. He turned toward the guard and walked toward him to discuss the situation.

But as he approached the royal guard, he noticed the man’s expression suddenly change.

Surprising action

The guard’s stale and motionless face suddenly showed fear and worry. And for the first time, the guard moved. Dwayne was startled by the sudden action, and before he knew it, the royal guard stood beside him.

The guard tackled him, causing Dwayne to hit the ground hard and scream.

Helping out

“What are you doing!? Get off of me,” he exclaimed, frustration drenched in his voice. He had done exactly what the royal guard had asked him to do. Was this what he got for helping out?

But then his thoughts were interrupted by a loud bang, and panic ensued again.

Heart stopped

Dwayne pushed the royal guard off him to get up and see what happened. But as he looked in the direction of his security guards, his heart skipped a beat.

It seemed that the floored man managed to get one hand free, and he was holding a gun. The sound had been a gunshot!

Realization

The man swung his hand around, but the guards recovered quickly after hearing the sound and grabbed the gun. Dwayne ensured things were safe now and looked around to see if anyone was hurt.

Then he suddenly realized the guard tackled him because he saw the danger. Dwayne went to thank the guard up, but…

On the ground

The guard was still lying on the ground where he had tackled Dwayne. The man was lying motionless, and Dwayne had the second fright in a short time. Why was he still lying there?

Was he hurt? Dwayne hurried toward him and knelt down, and what he saw made his eyes widen.

Shoulder

The guard was groaning heavily and held his shoulder in a tight grip. “What is it?” Dwayne asked as he helped the guard upright. The man screamed, and Dwayne could see that the guard was bleeding heavily from his shoulder.

He was hit! Dwayne grabbed his phone and called for an ambulance.

Wave of emotions

While they waited for the ambulance to arrive, Dwayne did his best to stop the bleeding. When the ambulance finally arrived, the guard was taken to the hospital immediately. As Dwayne was cleaning his hands, a wave of emotions hit him.

He had treated the man disrespectfully, and the guard still saved him.

Guilty conscious

Dwayne felt incredibly bad and guilty. He had to do something about this.

Dwayne instructed his guards to get the culprit to the police and got in his car. He drove as fast as he could, trying to catch up to the ambulance while praying the guard would be fine.

Something wrong

Dwayne arrived at the hospital just in time to see the guard being brought in. Many doctors surrounded him, and Dwayne was afraid something was wrong. The guard was escorted to the operation chamber, and when Dwayne tried to follow, he was held back.

He became frustrated as he wanted to support the guard.

Waiting room

Dwayne tried everything, but the medical officers didn’t want to let him through and forced him to wait in the waiting room. He couldn’t just sit still and wait for an update, so Dwayne paced around the room, praying and mumbling to himself.

After an hour, the doctor finally showed up.

Emotionless

The doctor’s face was emotionless, and Dwayne couldn’t read anything about it but remained hopeful. The doctor started by saying that the guard would be fine, and a wave of relief washed over Dwayne.

“But it was real close,” the doctor added. And Dwayne realized this could’ve ended way differently.

Profound apology

Dwayne felt incredibly guilty and wouldn’t have been able to live with himself if things had turned out differently. He waited around until he was allowed to visit the guard.

Once he sat beside the man, Dwayne expressed his most profound apology for his behavior and thanked the guard from the bottom of his heart.

The promise

The guard groaned as he tried to sit upright and smiled when Dwayne immediately got up to help. “It’s all part of the job. My name is Thomas, by the way,” the guard said.

But Dwayne shook his head, not accepting the response. “I promise to change my behavior,” he said, explaining that this moment had opened his eyes.

One unanswered question

But there was one thing the guard wanted to know before he could accept Dwayne’s apology. “I did indeed notice the threat between the crowd of people. And I did act accordingly.

But why was the man with the gun there? Why did he target you? It was clear that he wanted you to be hit.”

Inevitable question

Dwayne let out a deep sigh, rubbing his forehead as he leaned back in the hospital chair. “I was afraid you’d ask that,” he muttered. The guard, still weak from his injury, raised an eyebrow.

“I need to know, Dwayne. Why was that man after you?” he asked firmly.

Victor Langley

Dwayne hesitated before answering. “His name is Victor Langley. A former business partner… and a man I betrayed,” he admitted. The guard remained silent, listening intently. “Years ago, we went into a deal together.

We were supposed to split the profits evenly, but I got greedy and cut him out.”

Unfair fight

The memory of Victor’s rage resurfaced in Dwayne’s mind. “He tried to sue me, but with my money and influence, I made sure he never won,” he continued. “Eventually, he lost everything.

His company, his reputation, even his home. I thought he had disappeared, but clearly, he never forgot.”

A revenge story

The guard narrowed his eyes. “So, this was revenge,” he said. Dwayne nodded. “I didn’t realize it until you whispered to me. That’s when it hit me—he was in the crowd, waiting for his moment.

And if you hadn’t acted… I’d probably be dead,” Dwayne admitted, his voice shaking.

I ruined him

The weight of his past mistakes pressed down on him. “I ruined his life. He wanted to do the same to me,” Dwayne said softly. “But what I don’t understand is why now.

Why come after me here, in public, with security everywhere?” The guard thought for a moment before responding.

In public

“Desperation,” the guard finally said. “A man with nothing to lose doesn’t think rationally. He wanted to humiliate you, make you feel powerless before taking his revenge.” Dwayne swallowed hard, realizing how true that was.

“And he almost succeeded,” he muttered. “If it weren’t for you.”

Police calling

Just as the weight of the conversation settled, Dwayne’s phone rang. He pulled it out of his pocket, glancing at the screen. “It’s the police,” he told the guard before answering.

“Yes?” he said, his voice steady. The officer on the other end didn’t waste time. “We have a confession,” he said.

A clear confession

“Victor admitted everything,” the officer continued. “He knew he had no way out, so he confessed to attempted murder, illegal possession of a firearm, and premeditated assault. With his record and the evidence we have, he’s facing a long sentence.

You won’t have to worry about him coming after you again.”

Finally over

Dwayne exhaled, relief washing over him. “Thank you, officer,” he said. “I appreciate the update.” He ended the call and turned to the guard. “He’s going away for a long time,” he said.

“No more threats. No more looking over my shoulder.” For the first time in a long while, he felt safe.

It changes nothing

Silence filled the hospital room for a moment before Dwayne spoke again. “I needed to hear that,” he admitted. “But none of this changes what I did to him. I built my fortune by stepping on others.

Victor was just one of many.” He looked at the guard, guilt in his eyes.

A changed man

“I don’t expect forgiveness for the person I used to be,” Dwayne continued. “But I promise you—I’m not that man anymore. And I’ll spend the rest of my life proving it.” His voice wavered, but his conviction was clear.

“Thomas, I owe you everything. And for what I did before, I’m sorry.”

Believing him

The guard—Thomas—watched Dwayne carefully before nodding. “I believe you,” he said simply. “Not just because of your words, but because of your actions. You’ve already started making things right, Dwayne.

That means more than any apology ever could.” Dwayne let out a breath he hadn’t realized he was holding.

Promise me one thing

A small smile formed on Thomas’ face. “Now, stop looking so guilty and buy me dinner when I’m out of here,” he joked. Dwayne chuckled, shaking his head. “Done,” he said.

“But it’s going to be more than dinner. I owe you my life.” And for the first time, he truly meant it.

Visiting daily

Dwayne visited the hospital almost every day. At first, Thomas was surprised by the attention. “You don’t have to come here every day,” Thomas said, wincing as he adjusted his bandaged shoulder.

But Dwayne shook his head. “I want to. It’s the least I can do.”

Getting to know each other

As Thomas recovered, the two men got to know each other. Thomas wasn’t just a royal guard—he was a father of two, a husband, and a man who had dedicated his life to serving his country.

Listening to him, Dwayne felt ashamed of how he had treated him before.

Medical bills

One day, Dwayne arrived at the hospital with a document in his hands. “What’s that?” Thomas asked. Dwayne hesitated, then placed it on the bedside table. “Your medical bills. Paid in full,” he said.

Thomas blinked in shock. “You didn’t have to do that,” he said, but Dwayne only smiled. “I wanted to.”

You can’t deny this

Thomas tried to refuse, but Dwayne insisted. “You got shot protecting me. I can’t just walk away and act like it’s nothing,” he explained. Thomas sighed and eventually accepted the help.

He wasn’t a rich man, and while insurance covered most of his expenses, there were always extra costs.

Learning from him

As the days passed, Dwayne found himself enjoying their conversations. Thomas was calm, wise, and grounded—everything Dwayne had never been. He talked about discipline, honor, and responsibility, concepts Dwayne had never taken seriously before.

Slowly, Dwayne began to admire the man behind the uniform.

You are different

“You know, you’re not the first person to mess with the royal guards,” Thomas chuckled one day. “But you’re the first one to come back and apologize.” Dwayne smiled sheepishly.

“Guess I needed a reality check,” he admitted. “And you gave me one… in more ways than one.”

Discharged

When Thomas was finally discharged from the hospital, Dwayne was there to pick him up. “Ready to go home?” he asked as Thomas slowly walked out. “More than ready,” Thomas grinned.

But before they left, Dwayne made sure everything was squared away. “No unpaid bills. No worries,” he told him.

Won’t stop helping

Once Thomas was home, Dwayne didn’t stop helping. He arranged for a physical therapist to visit regularly, ensuring that Thomas’ recovery went smoothly. “You really don’t have to do all this,” Thomas told him.

“I know,” Dwayne replied. “But I want to do something useful for once.”

Never stopping

Over time, Thomas’ strength returned. The injury had set him back, but his determination never wavered. Dwayne watched in admiration as he pushed through the pain, never once complaining. “You’re tougher than I’ll ever be,” Dwayne said one day.

Thomas just laughed. “Discipline does that to a man.”

Changed ways

As Thomas got better, Dwayne realized how much he had changed. He no longer sought attention for the wrong reasons. Instead of wasting money on expensive parties, he donated to charities and funded recovery programs for injured service members.

He finally understood the value of giving back.

Different man

“You’re a different man than the one I met that day,” Thomas said as they sat in his backyard one evening. “I had to be,” Dwayne admitted. “That day could’ve ended in the worst way.

And you put yourself in danger for me, even after I was an ass to you.”

Returning to work

Eventually, Thomas was cleared to return to duty. Dwayne accompanied him on his first day back, watching as he put on the red uniform once more. “Back where I belong,” Thomas said with a proud smile.

Dwayne nodded. “It suits you,” he said. “You never stopped being a protector.”

The same but different

Dwayne stood among the tourists that day, watching Thomas take his post. The scene felt familiar, yet completely different. He was no longer the man who mocked the guards. Instead, he was filled with respect.

When Thomas looked his way, Dwayne gave him a small nod. Thomas nodded back.

What’s next?

Later that evening, Dwayne and Thomas met for dinner. “So,” Thomas asked between bites, “what’s next for you?” Dwayne thought for a moment. “Honestly? I want to do more. Not just throw money at problems, but actually be involved.” Thomas smiled.

“That’s a good answer.”

Putting it to use

In the weeks that followed, Dwayne put his money and influence to use.

He funded security programs, sponsored scholarships for veterans’ children, and even helped organize charity events. Instead of using his wealth to show off, he used it to create meaningful change.

Listening to stories

Thomas introduced Dwayne to other service members, and Dwayne listened to their stories. He learned about the struggles they faced after being injured or retiring. It opened his eyes to a world he had never cared about before.

“I had no idea,” he admitted one day. “But now you do,” Thomas replied.

Close friends

The two men became close friends. Dwayne often visited Thomas’ family, and they treated him like one of their own. “You’ve got a good life,” Dwayne told him one day.

“One that I never appreciated before.” Thomas patted his shoulder. “You’ve got a good life too, Dwayne. You just had to find it.”

Making jokes

One day, as they walked past the royal guard post, Dwayne looked at Thomas and grinned. “You know, I could’ve been one of you guys,” he joked. Thomas laughed. “Maybe in another life.” Dwayne smirked.

“Yeah… or maybe I’ll just settle for being a better version of myself.”

Change of perspective

Dwayne still had his wealth, but now, he used it differently. He didn’t need to prove anything to anyone. The people he respected most weren’t billionaires or celebrities—they were people like Thomas, who served others with honor and integrity.

That was the kind of man Dwayne wanted to be.

A setting sun

As the sun set over the city, Dwayne and Thomas stood in front of the royal guard post, side by side. The same place where their story had begun—one as an arrogant troublemaker, the other as a silent protector.

But now, they stood as friends. And for Dwayne, that was worth more than anything.

A lesson learned

Dwayne took a deep breath, looking at the royal guard post one last time before turning to Thomas. “You know,” he said, “I used to think power came from wealth.

But I was wrong. It comes from respect, from doing what’s right.” Thomas nodded. “And you finally learned that.” Dwayne smiled. “Yeah. I finally did.”