亚洲综合中美

*Gasp,* shocked, the eyes opened to a dark-room, one different and shorter in size compared to the royal chambers. A glance to the left showed normal size windows with a beige curtain. A table adjacent said opening with a cupboard right after the table. Feet on the cold floor, ‘-isn’t this a room for a student?’ warmth from the feet had the cold floor around turn foggy.

Humming followed by a click; the door opened with a lady dressed in humble clothes. “You’re awake?” entering with the back, she pushed the door for the hands were busy holding a tray.

“I guess?” perplexed, a glimpse of green hair had him staring intently.

“Here’s your coffee,” facing him, the lady gave a genuine smile.

“Xula?” asked, he stood brusquely in search of answers.

“Y-yeah?” cheerful tone turned to one ashamed.

.....

“What’s the meaning of this?” stood face to face and separated by a tray, their faces showed multiple emotions.

“I don’t know,” sighed, her shoulders relaxed.

“Surely you must know,” taking the cup to have a sip, “-bitter,” he pulled his tongue.

“We’re in the maid’s quarters,” her eyes rolled to the left.

“Maid’s quarters,” gulping down the tea, “-it’s good,” a glance at the clock revealed 14:00. “I have no idea why the queen is wearing those clothes. Bothering to ask questions isn’t the priority, where’s Ryul, did he not sleep with you?”

“Don’t you remember?” she asked surprised by the calmness of him saying those words.

“No, I’m sure I said what I wanted to say,” walked past without an inkling of interest,”-you chose your path and I did mine. Don’t bother, Xula, or rather, Queen Shanna. I understand now, playing house with a caring wife, a lovely daughter and another in the making isn’t ideal. Suppose this is a farewell, I’ll be taking Lizzie, Rosetta, Youst, and a few servants to Hidros. I have no use of staying in a place where I’ve been shamed. It’s been fun, make sure to not cause the kingdom trouble, that’s the last of what the people want.”

“WAIT,” she screamed, “-YOU’RE MAKING A HUGE MISTAKE.”

“I wasn’t the one who began this senseless war, goodbye, majesty,” slammed shut, the destination in mind was the office.

“Majesty,” teleported the sage, “-are you ok?”

“Yes, better than ever,” giving an uninterested nod, “-has the General sent the invoice for the arms deal yet?”

“Yes, and for the property of the mine as well, Serene is looking over the procedures right as we speak.”

“Good, where is she?” walked at a pace of a light jog, the sage gave into fatigue and hovered alongside the king.

“She’s at the queen’s office,”

“Good, have the head butler and maid meet there.”

“O-ok?” stopped, Staxius vanished into the many empty corridors.

“Intherna?” whispered, a flare of light hovered above the right shoulder.

“What is it?”

“You were there during the whole supposed plot to have me blow a fuse, right?”

“Yeah, I was there till you fell on thy feet.

“Good, I overheard that Prophecy had used Ryul’s face, is that correct?”

“Yes,” the voice seemed confused, “-a minute ago, you spoke as if you had no idea on what had happened.”

“I knew that it was fake, don’t you think I’d have recognized his aura. Besides, I was going to kill anyone who would have dared lay a hand on my wife. She’s smart but idiotic at the same time, emotions over logic and reason. If I told you that prior, she would have read thy mind and my plan would have been foiled.”

“Are you telling me this is another scheme?”

“Not so much a scheme, consider it a punishment. There’s no way Ryul could have made it to the castle in that short a time. Besides, the talk we had has scared him beyond belief. The fear you girls placed onto his heart is frightening. He’s probably going towards the mine.”

“Why, why go through all the trouble?”

“Simple,” paused before entering the office, “-I’m sure that Eira’s words of warning about a man aren’t baseless. Lady of Ice might have helped a little in the confusion around the castle, though, I presume there’s more that is being let on.”

“Oh, I see,” she smiled and materialized, “-who knew the human world would be so interesting.”

“You haven’t seen the bit of it, as we speak, there are countless thousands of convoluted plans being enacted behind the scenes.”

Opened, Serene stood patiently with a hovering screen, details of contracts and orders he had given prior were recorded. “You’re awake,” she gave a courteous nod.

“Are the papers ready?”

“Yeah, all we need is the payment and approval.”

“How much for the weapon and land?”

“200,000 with an additional 50,000 gold.”

“That much?” perplexed, “-fair enough, cheaper than I had envisioned.”

“What do you mean cheap?” she frowned with a crinkled forehead, “-are you saying that amount means nothing to you?”

“Hey,” voiced coldly, “-Phantom is rich; not that I wish to brag but the plane that came to collect those kids is around 175,000 gold. Don’t underestimate the arms business,” winked, “-head to Roth, I’ll join soon,” to which the door knocked.

“As you wish,” a press on a green-ring had her teleported.

“Majesty?” in tandem, Youst, and Rosetta stood with heads bowed.

‘Perfect,’ spun, ‘-Rosetta mustn’t have known about Xula’s plan. I think everyone is kept in the dark to not allow a leak. A perfect opportunity to have the tides turn in my favors. A mysterious man is roaming around these halls – he manipulated both Xula and Eira. I don’t have the luxury to play detective, the matters of Mont Blanc take precedence,’ from blank to woefully disgusted, Staxius walked with a feeble step. Catching onto the intent, Intherna reached in to give a helping hand. Stumbled on the knees half-way across, the servants rushed to his aid.

“Majesty, are you ok?” asked Youst with his hand wrapped around the king’s shoulders.

“What happened?” asked Rosetta who did the same on the opposite end.

“I apologize for such a weak display,” said grievingly, they walked over to a couch. “The Protector of Arda, King of nightwalkers, what a shame,” slamming the couch in frustration, “-I’ve dishonored my titles and responsibility. I couldn’t protect my daughter; my wife wasn’t satisfied with our relationship of which she turned to another man. It’s pitiable, I’m supposed to be the strong man, right?” glanced at Rosetta with warm eyes, “-tell me, what should I do...”

“So it’s true,” she stood straight, “-Queen Shanna broke the vows of loyalty.”

“Mind thy tongue,” fired Youst, “-it’s not wise to speak of such matters openly, the walls have ears.”

“What of it,” she argued, “-what of it, a sin such as extramarital relation should be shunned and punished. Princess Eira is nowhere to be seen, King Staxius came to us in a near-death situation, and our Queen is off doing the devil’s work. How do you expect me to stay silent?”

“I understand the frustration, this could all divulge into disarray, the peace might be harmed,” he raised good points.

“BUT,”

“Please,” cutting the maid off, “-if you both fight over the current situation, what of the castle, what of the people, won’t that bring about harm. Leave it as is, Rosetta, I’ve excused Queen Shanna, her actions were due to my failure as a husband. Don’t take thy fury on her, direct the hate at me, it’s for the best.”

“No, I simply can’t stand this unruly behavior, please, Majesty, if you were to say the word, you could have thy wife be punished for her actions.”

“Enough,” voiced loudly, “-sorry, Rosetta, but this isn’t what we must do. The kingdom is what matters. We’re still new and possible targets for war from a foreign land. Breaking that promise now will have everything crumble. That’s why I asked for thy assistance. Youst, Rosetta, will you come to Hidros with me?”

“Hidros, sire?” confused, they stared one another for answers.

“Yes, Hidros, I can’t have Lizzie fall to the hands of a possible coup. Please, there are far more problems brewing in the continent. I can’t have my daughter be raised in a place like this.”

“Yes,” knelt Rosetta, “-majesty, I’ll swear my loyalty to you and Lizzie.”

“Same for me, sire,” knelt Youst, “-however, I shan’t move to Hidros. If both leaders were to leave, the maids and butlers would be led astray.”

“T-thank you,” knelt in turn, “-thank you,” reached for a warm embrace, “-thank you for trusting my words, friends.” Overwhelmed by the show of affection, Youst’s ears lowered with the tail wiggling back and forth. Rosetta’s ears straightened with her cheeks flushed.

“M-majesty,” said the head-maid with a soft voice, “-you shouldn’t go around calling servants friends.”

“Nonsense,” embrace broke, “-those who help in a moment of pain are true friends. Despite being sworn to the queen, thou choose to side with me with the risk of being turned against by the others.”

“Don’t worry,” stood the bunny-lady, “-I shall have preparations for our departure soon. I have a few butlers and maids who will join us willingly.”

“As for me,” stood Youst, “-I’ll stay in here and keep an eye on our queen,” both held out a hand, “-I see that thou still love her much,” he smiled.

“Yes,” chuckled with an underlying tone of sadness, he accepted their hands.

Walked to the door with growing admiration for the King’s devotion and less than ideal prospect on the Queen’s action, Staxius stood with a cavalier face.

“Oh my,” whispered Intherna, “-thou art frightening. You took the Queen’s lie and turned it against her.”

“Well,” nonchalant, “-I suppose it was a given,” they took the portal to Roth. ‘I need Rosetta to take Lizzie out of Arda. Preparing for what is about to be unfolded is a must. There’s no way I’m going to get blind-sided. Not that I wish to say it but that head-maid is worth the trouble. She’s trustworthy, a mother, and loyal, bunny-people are very truth full by instinct. Sense Emotion didn’t catch anything amiss, the anger she felt when the news of Xula cheating caught her ear was real.”

Sat inside a broken-down office with a temporary barrier, the eyes were turned to papers on the table. Intherna was sat on a couch to the left with a puzzle-cube. She seemed very interested in the toy. Serene, on the other hand, stood beside her master and worked via a tablet.

“Hello?”

“Boss?” replied Cake through the phone.

“Hey, I’ve sent you some papers, could you review it?”

“Yeah, about purchasing land and arms in Arda for 250,000 gold I assume?”

“Right on the mark.”

“I’ll contact the bank, who is it directed at?”

“Send it to the Ardanian Royal Family’s account.”

.....

“Too hard a hassle,” sighed, “-how about this. Do you have your personal bank card, the one Godfather gave.”

“Yeah, there’s about 60k gold in there.”

“Should be fine, I’ll have 300,000 gold transferred from Phantom’s account.”

“Deal, could you have Courtney and Elliot brought over to the mansion in, let’s say, three hours?”

“Alright,” the conversation ended.

“Majesty?” called Serene, “-forgive me for asking, but that was a lady’s voice, was it not?”

“Yeah, that was Cake, my secretary from Phantom. The best strategist I’ve met.”

“I’m jealous,” she pouted.

“Are you not supposed to keep those inner thoughts?”

“Hell no, why would I,” laughed, “-Phantom was it, majesty, I’m very much curious of how much power you wield, truly.”

“Why?”

“Gathering 50,000 Gold alone is a feat that would make a man richer than lower nobles let alone 250,000 gold.”

“Money is a means to an end. The question about power, let’s just say that Phantom has yet to reach its potential.”