Upon crossing the gates, Grand Duke Liam halted his steps and turned his head to the side to look at the elegant old man. With a smile, he said "It's good to see that the Queen has already put several precautions in place". He then turned his head forward and added, "One would almost think she was bluffing, but it seems that isn't the case". He continued forward, with a steady pace.
Knight Boris, with a fluid grace that belied his years, sheathed his sword, which had sohow returned to the length of a normal sword and bowed. "When the eting is over, I would please like to know your na?".
The elegant old man nodded seriously. "Of course, Knight Boris. Although, I must say that among others, I certainly wasn't expecting this from you ".
Knight Boris straightened his back with a slight smile on his lips. "I understand, however, you shouldn't be surprised because I am the only one left to lead my people". He then crossed the gates and walked into the castle.
"True" The old man nodded, sowhat in understanding.
anwhile, the mad king's hands were still neatly wrapped around the elegant old man's neck, as everyone walked into the castle.
The old man stared, silently "….. The eting is about to start King Bor, and I don't think it would be a good idea if my Queen were to see us in such a convincing position".
The mad King laughed. "Well, I don't also mind having the Queen in such a position".
The magical pressure in the atmosphere increased by four folds.
The old man was silent for several further seconds. He narrowed his eyes at the mad king "If anything happens to 'Her Majesty'…." He stressed. "I. Will. End. You".
The mad King's laughter died down into a smile "It's good to see that we have an agreent". He released his hands and flexed his wrist before he turned to the other side and walked in with his white-clad assassins behind him.
Suddenly, the mad King paused, turned his head and stared at him from the corner of his eyes. "Fallen Prince Beck, It seems I may have misjudged you…..".
Beck remained silent and waited patiently for the mad King's words.
"... You are not a King. You were never a king. A king is soone who either conquers those around him or watches himself beco the conquered" The mad King shook his head "And in this eting, you have been already positioned at the bottom of the hierarchy. In others, you are the one with the least threats, a tiger without claws that is too afraid to bite even though he is been cornered".
"Sotis, violence can be the best answer in a certain situation" He continued his stride forward, with his voice ringing loudly beside him. "Humph!! Even the Knight with the biggest heart here is ranked higher than you".
Beck watched blankly as the mad King disappeared from his sight.
"Ahem!" The sound of the old man clearing his throat snapped him out of his daze. "I think it's best we head in now Prince Beck, the eting is about to comnce" He casually said, with a smile.
With a nod, Beck strode past the grand gates and into the castle. Even from inside, he could hear a loud voice bellowing, seemingly addressing the decorations that were still arranged outside "Know that no one else shall be permitted entry by order of the Queen herself!".
"HA!!"
Soon he t a servant, patiently waiting to lead him towards his destination.
Along the way, Beck wondered and pondered, and unknowingly got lost in his thoughts.
In this world, there are only two types of kings, Beck knew.
Indeed!
He chuckled. His smile stretched across his lips as his chuckle continued.
He didn't understand it.
He couldn't get it.
No matter how he choose to ponder around it, he couldn't!
The conquerors, and the conquered.
Verily, Beck realized that he didn't yet know what it ant to be a conqueror.
…....….....
"Is this it?"
I an when he said that he would give every ascendant technique, enchanted weapon, alchemy pills and potions, that he owns, I figured that…. at least…. you know, that it had to be sothing.
But, right now, there was nothing in front of except two crates of what appeared to be leftover properties with dust littered on and all around it.
I turned my head to the side and stared at King Aal. My facial expression conveyed my thoughts non-verbally.
He sighed, desperately. "The rest of what we gathered and escaped with when the Moonlight ice struck has already been depleted and after so few months, we beca short-handed in terms of resources. Apart from our gold coins, I decided to store the rest because I had a feeling that I will be in need of it one day. But, it seems, that it isn't as much as I thought".
Yeah! It isn't.
But still, I am currently running a con, so the only thing I can do is accept whatsoever is in front of .
"Are you sure this is everything? You know that what I am about to do requires sothing much more than…. this?" I asked again, just to clarify.
King Aal's body trembled. "I.. Know. And that's why I will choose to serve as your eyes and ears in the Vrymath Kingdom".
And that would only be important if I planned on conquering the Vrymath Kingdom, which is not currently on my to-do list.
"... Please, if this is not enough, I will try my best to also procure so gold coins for you" King Aal mistook my silence as a blatant refusal of his offering, and pleaded once again.
Inwardly, I released a heavy breath. Now, I feel like a bad guy who murdered his people and is taking the fee for it, like a hitman in so badass 80s action movie.
The only thing that remained was a cool response.
"You are giving this kind of offer mixed with a very dangerous deal… Hah!! I hope you won't mind if my skills aren't short-handed on the day the Miracle Queen cos looking for you".
Yes, I just couldn't stop myself.
'BAM!' He slamd his knees into the ground. The concrete crack failed to stop his descent into futility.
He brought out so wards of golden paper bills and begged with plea. ".… Please, I have offered everything I have and know of as a reward for your help…. And yes, I also know that this is unbecoming of a king, but as a fallen king who has lost the respect of his people" His lips curved into a painful smile. "…. And as a man who has nothing else to lose except his life, I beg of you, please. I am not doing this for myself, but for the sake of my already fallen Kingdom".
"And what if I ask for your life?"
He froze. His brain reeled back, taking a few minutes to process my words. "I will.." He muttered slowly before he paused.
He continued "If my life is of any value to you, then I will gladly offer it up to you?"
Huh! He agreed.
"If I can die knowing that it was the only way for to protect my kingdom, then I will gladly give it up?".
I narrowed my eyes at him.
This man! He was being serious.
Still….
"Are you sure?"
"Yes, I am" King Aal nodded, truthfully.
"No, I am not talking about that" I shook my head. "What I an is, are you sure that you would be okay dying like this?" I asked.
His brows furrowed in confusion "…. What do you an?".
A burst of air escaped my lips and pointed out "You are a fallen King, you have nothing to offer, yet, you also have nothing to lose except your life. Your people detest and loathe your every being for what you have beco and what you have indirectly turned them to, even though It wasn't your fault".
I couldn't help but shake my head, as I found the man's situation pathetic and a punishnt for anyone else who ever finds theimselves in it.
"So giving your life would just be a justifiable reason for you to die without regrets, knowing that you died for a good cause, for your kingdom... King Aal, are you okay if you were to die like this?".
"I…." He stamred. "Even if it t…." He fumbled upon his words. "I know…." His sentences beca incoherent and gibberish nonsense.
Seeing that this was going nowhere, I interrupted his words, while I walked towards the two crates. "I will give you ti to think about this. In the anti, I will be taking these two…." I bent down and picked up the crates and walked towards the door. "And I don't need your life, so, you can keep it"
I halted my steps the mont I reached the door. "Fallen King Aal, I hope you find sothing worthwhile to live for again".
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