Chapter 9: The False King (9)
[Kaiser]: Wow⦠just wow. So my father really is alive. All this time, I thought he was either dead or had just walked out on usâespecially since youâve never talked about him much.
Kaiser falls silent, lost in thought about the situation between his father and King Arthur.
[Kaiser] (thinking): Iâm starting to understand a little more about why King Arthur did what he did to me and my mom. But just thinking about it puts me in a cold sweatâ¦
Suddenly, a thought pops into his head!
[Kaiser]: Wait! If King Arthur had a vendetta against my dad, then why are we living in the same country as him? Isnât that far too reckless and carefree? Thereâs no telling what kind of problems could arise from us being here.
Kaiserâs mother looks up and shakes her head with a reassuring smile, as if to tell him thereâs nothing to fear.
[Mom]: Itâs fine, dear. Us living here, that is. Thereâs no need to worry about it. In fact, staying here is the safest option for us right now.
Kaiser stares at her in absolute disbelief.
[Kaiser]: Huh?! How, Mom? How on planet Iris is it safe for us to live in the same kingdom as the man who wants my fatherâs blood for God knows what?!
She smirks, then chuckles.
[Kaiser]: Whaâwhatâs so funny, Mom?!
She slowly stops laughing and looks at Kaiser with kind, warm eyes.
[Mom]: You just remind me so much of your father. You two act just alike⦠I couldnât help but laugh.
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Kaiserâs eyes widen, his face glowing a faint red with embarrassment.
[Mom]: But the answer to your question is simple, son. Our safety is at its highest because we are in this kingdom. If I had decided to leave after what happened with your father, Arthur would have grown suspicious. He would have had me followed and, ultimately, killed once he found out about you. But by staying here, he has no reason to suspect anything. And with me raising a child, he has even less reason to think you could be his.
Kaiser, stunned by his motherâs words, feels his jaw drop as he realizes how sound her reasoning is.
[Kaiser]: I-I see⦠Well, you seem to have thought this through. Anyway, thanks for telling me, Mom. You didnât have to.
She nods and gives him a smile, but her expression soon darkens. A serious aura shrouds her, and Kaiser picks up on it almost immediately.
[Mom]: Youâre welcome, son. But listen to meâand I mean this. You must, and I repeat, must stay away from King Arthur at all costs. Do you understand me? He is dangerous and unpredictable.
[Kaiser]: Okay, okay, Mom, Iâll stay away from him.
[Mom]: No, promise me.
[Kaiser]: â¦Okay, Mom. I promise to stay away from King Arthur.
[Mom]: Good. I love you, son.
[Kaiser]: I love you too. Now, Iâve got some homework to do, so Iâll talk to you later.
But as Kaiser begins to walk away, a thought lingers in his mind. He knows staying away is the safest option⦠but deep down, he has a feeling he may have to break that promise sooner or later.
⸻
POV Shift â King Arthurâs Office
[Assistant]: Here you are, sirâyour documents for the city construction projects. I have them all lined up and ready to be filled out.
Silence.
[Assistant]: Sir? Sir, are you alright? Youâre quieter than usual.
[King Arthur]: Yes⦠yes, Iâm fine. Just leave the papers on my desk. I shall attend to them shortly.
[Assistant]: Yes, sir. As you wish.
The King, lost in thought, leans back in his chair. His mind lingers on the boy he sawâKaiser. Thereâs something eerily familiar about him.
[King Arthur] (thinking): Who is that boy? And why does he feel so familiar�
Then again, as King, he has seen many faces. Perhaps itâs nothing.
Still, a nagging feeling tugs at the back of his mind.
[King Arthur]: â¦No. I must be certain.
He smirks as an idea forms in his mind.
[King Arthur]: Ah! I know. Daughter, come to me at once.
[???]: Yes, Father? How may I assist you?
The girl steps forward, smiling as if sheâs been waiting for this moment long before the King even thought of it.
[King Arthur]: I need you to gather intel on a certain dark-skinned boy with locks from class FA-1.
Her smile widens ever so slightly.
[???]: As you command, Father. I shall fulfill this order.