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“What about the traitorous queen?”

“We need answers, majesty.”

The appearance of the child, especially after the Queen’s cheating ways were brought to light, didn’t shine much of a good spotlight on Igna either. An underlying thought of ‘-what if the king cheated on her?’ sparked curious onlookers. The questions exchanged ears to ears, kindly making sure the king to not hear what was being said. Phones pulled, the Arcanum-savvy youngsters leaped miles onto social media. The sudden jolt went so far as to reach éclair’s attention, who sat at the royal court, standing on the judgment of spy from the Rebel’s army.

Notification pulsed mildly, Yui summarized the situation on éclair’s interface, who coincidentally, sat at the state’s side and admired the lawyer’s abuse. There laid no escape for the accused, innocent or not, the scale of Tharis proved very much useful in exerting justice.

“What should we do?” dinged Yui.

“Send an escort,” the thought materialized into words. “-I’m busy till later tonight.”

.....

“Understood,” her picture faded into grey.

‘Master, what trouble have you gotten into this time?’ harsh blinked laid upon Bleu, a man of strong intellect and charisma, ‘-there are more pressing matters to attend,’ he narrowed, the focus fluctuated from peer to peer.

A strongly toned message flashed, an AFR-equipped car toggled in a slow rumble – tainted glass rendered the interior a mystery, a horrifying sight, no driver.

“Majesty...” The onslaught of questions grew exhausting. The king stood imposingly in front of the sleeping Vanesa, “-we need answers, did you cheat on the queen?” a mass flocked outside the fast-food restaurant, security was choked by the sudden increase – cries and shouts, fanatic followers plastered on the window – any second and the wave could shatter the glass.

“Majesty, please,” begged the manager, “-address the crowd... we’ve called law enforcement.”

“Understood,” the pensive silence broke, “-Hear me, people of Hidros,” the voice sufficed, a thunderbolt struck and brought tranquility, “-you deserve the truth,” a live-broadcast played on Lokka and Thawn, “-Vanesa is my daughter, and I say so without care for blood relation. She and her siblings are my precious gems, my family, heirs to what I’ve created and built. Don’t let the appearance fool thee for they bore the Haggard name. Let’s answer the questions, Queen Eia and I were married a few months back. Take a look at Vanesa, does the math add up? Obviously not. I despise the world adoption, to me, Vanesa and her siblings are my children, I will stop at nothing to protect them. Look at me, Hidros, I’m the same as you, however, my responsibility is to safeguard what Queen Gallienne has built. My private life is not for discussion – Queen Eia made it blatantly clear where her heart belongs. Nobility is based on loveless marriages, such as the truth, brothers marrying sisters, keeping the bloodline pure, tis the heritage we hold dear to our hearts, tis the way the rich remain rich. And Queen Eia, I don’t blame her, not do I hate her – I’m disappointed, that’s all, the same emotion I feel when my loyalty and character is brought into question,” he pointed at a customer, “-Miska, of the Andiel Gazette, the infamously anti-royalist paper. Instigating the public, forcing them to question their beliefs, how despicable,” the head shook in disappointment, “-and here I thought being open about how the kingdom moves forward would promote unity,” he moved to Vanesa and tapped, “-how low have your morals fallen. A child sits with a growling stomach, what do you do? Question the integrity of the parent.”

Sirens flashed, a special unit of public safety arrived in armored vans, they dropped and rose a perimeter, broke the dangerously opaque crowd. Security opened the doors for the unit, “-Majesty,” said the leader, “-we’ve come to escort,” he said, to which, Igna and Vanesa left. The masses of differently colored and shaped heads parted, a nice car rumbled – settled inside, “-let’s go,” he said, “-no food, I’m sorry.”

The impromptu visitor rose a debate about the privacy of those in the spotlights. éclair and Yui released explanations on the Igna’s statement, further elaborating on Vanesa and why he hated the word adoption.

“Earlier this afternoon, King Igna was spotted at Yenk’s Burg. Many presents said they first thought King Igna was a kidnapper, as shown here,” photos displayed, many of which pointed at Vanesa’s less than adequate clothing, many pointed to abuse in the royal family, “-the king’s entourage had this to say,” said the anchor, “-the adoption of Vanesa Haggard happened many years back, during a time of war. A babe was found abandoned and at the mercy of a Cult in worship to the Mistress of Plague and maladies. King Igna fought to dispense of the cult, saving the child in the process. Her identity has remained private for security reasons. Under the succession law, Vanesa doesn’t have claims on the Hidrosian crown. However, she has a legitimate claim on Glenda and the associated land,” the paragraph went on for much longer until, “-the King’s private life isn’t up for discussion. We, the humble protector of the crown, will ensure a repeat of said situation never occurs. The King enjoyed the promenade around the capital, joining the conversation, making new acquaintances. Events of today have revealed the truth – royalty is best kept sheltered. Blasphemy to the king is a crime one paid for by the death of the blasphemer. Newly added policies promote one to have their own opinion. Alas, the implantation will take a slower approach.”

“Any opinion on the statement, Lord Esto.”

“Saddens me to say, they’re right. Royalty is best kept from the public’s attention. We saw what happened, if it had been in a potentially dangerous part of town, the ordeal might have ended in tragedy. Andiel Gazette has blatantly accused the royal family. If the media aren’t careful, Hidros will truly become a place ruled by fear. Accountability falls in our hands, I dare say, the future is in our hands. Accept King Igna’s rulership or join the rebellion of Queen Eia – who knows.”

“Thank you, Lord Esto. In other news – five bodies were found-” the television toggled.

“Watching the news?”

“Well, before you turned it off,” narrowed Igna, “-cousin, how did the council meeting end?”

“Badly,” they chatted in a room deep inside the inner-castle. An area crossed from public access, furniture, and arrangements were done with a lounge-style in mind, a stacked bar, after the counter and stools, continued till a piano. Further forward were tables, a large television, vibrantly explosive sound system, and out-of-place beanbags. Gentle lighting provided both a casual and formal atmosphere. Julius stopped at the counter, poured a drink, and shuffled to Igna, “-the Gaien council won’t break. It’s split into noble versus royalist, the former has an influence on part of the public businesses, whilst we have support from a majority of the provinces. We have influence, they have money, well, had money if we take the Bank of Arda out of the picture,” he sipped, “-where’s Vanesa, I heard you two made quite the show.”

“Yeah, I saw,” preliminaries of another car tournament played, “-it worked.”

“What did?”

“Playing the victim card,” he chuckled, “-the sheer amount of sympathetic comment left on the released statement, worth every word.”

“What?” he leaned, “-explain, cousin.”

“All part of a bigger plan, once we’re ingrained as the norm, we won’t have to worry about rebellion or other headaches.”

“Point about hating adoption?”

“Plays into the narrative of child abuse. It’s known the adoption of children is a fa?ade used by disgusting nobles to wrap their deeds in a coating of innocent and good faith. We know what they truly desire, and tis the torment of the weak. Don’t underestimate the thinking power of the Arcanum, they’ll piece together the intent and come to a conclusion I ultimately sowed.”

“I see,” he smiled, “-very shrewd – the influence of the nobles will falter seeing the efforts of the Goldbergs in rescuing war orphans.”

“How’s Malley doing?”

“She’s fine,” he nodded, “-mother’s taking care of her at the manor.”

“I see.” *Incoming Call – Dyu,* “-nice talking, cousin, go spend time with Malley and check on Eira, she’s still at the hospice.”

“Yeah, I know, we planned to visit soon.”

“Catch you later, cousin,” a machine of many cogs, Igna’s inner-circle truly had the authority to do as they pleased, the eventuality of war increased distribution for Phantom. Selling weapons to their kin for the slaughter of the same kin.

Igna pulled into a manor in the middle of a residential district, high-priced property, lush driveways, clean streets, and peaceful aura, doors locked in the distance, Vanesa walked a few steps apart, her focus drowned onto her phone. *Knock, knock,* gates to the property closed automatically, the lock clicked. A valuable painting leaped at him, shuffles came from the right, “-majesty,” gasped Dyu, “-I’ve been waiting.”

“I know,” said manor was built by a previously prominent trading family, their tale sadly ended tragically, upon crossing paths against Lady Elvira of Phantom, the prominent family, notorious for their mercilessness against competitors, were found dead in the massacre known as the Cto’s Butcher. The name spawned from the serial killer who targeted rich folks, the news coverages were continent-wide – echoes of which still resounds today on forums dedicated to murder mysteries. Links to Phantom were never established, nor did the name Elvira ever rose. Law enforcement clueless, the Cto’s butcher walks the street, many rumors point to the murderer’s death. The family’s businesses and fortune were mercilessly devoured by other sharks, and in the end, Elvira acquired their estate. The Cto butcher remains ominously mysterious, none know when he’ll strike or if he’ll ever strike. Such being said, the truth, a morosely bland explanation – the Cto Butcher was nothing more than a concocted story built in nearby villages. Death of influential people, a convenient eraser for Phantom and their rise, ‘-Aunt Elvira’s story is quite the hit,’ he shuffled deeper into the manor, ‘-good thing she stopped before it garnered more attention,’ a simple door unlocked to a lavishly open room. At the center laid Queen Ela, timid and harmless under a comfy blanket. Igna turned to Vanesa, “-the fridge’s stocked. Have Dyu make something to eat.”

“Food?”

“Yeah,” he said.

“I need clothes...”

“We’ll go shopping in a bit.”

“Fine,” she mindlessly turned and headed towards the bar.

“Here,” interjected a troubled Dyu, “-Vanesa, the kitchen is that way.”

‘For her cleverness... Vanesa’s grown into an airhead,’ a side-smile led into the silent room. Weeks elapsed since the escape from Elendor, and since then, she’d remained in a deep slumber. ‘-Marks on her arms,’ he examined, ‘-healed bites on her neck,’ he pulled down the blanket and exposed less clothed Ela, ‘-injuries from head to toe, they truly didn’t care.’ Daily healing by the best court-mages culminated in the current. Igna removed the blanket – white lingerie kept her dignity at a minimum, ‘-la constellation symbolize le relèvement,’ was scarified across her stomach, ‘-Ela’s not an idiot,’ he paused, ‘-she must have meant something. Elendor uses the stars as conduits to utilize spells,’ arms crossed, he took off the glasses, reality distorted, the bed vanished, emptiness leaked into the room, the queen’s figure lit into a black-silhouette of many lines running from her heart to the limbs, ‘-the circle of Edth,’ dark dots at points of interest matched the constellation of Edth, a kite on top which overlapped across. ‘-If I press these points,’ he flicked specks – the dots imploded, the flow of mana restored, *Mana-Control: Healing Element – Full Body Restoration,* she levitated, the wounds regenerated, ‘-and that should do it,’ a potion flask was pulled from his storage dimension. Few droplets landed in her mouth, the irresponsive lady’s pupils moved despite the closed lids, her chest lifted and dropped. The fallen blanket drifted to its original place, ‘-how old is she?’ he wondered beside the bed.

“Unfamiliar ceiling,” said a faint muffle, “-who are you?”

“Igna Haggard, King of Hidros,” he replied, “-you’re in Hidros. We’ve cleansed the body from remnants of narcotics.”

“My spell’s broken?”

“Yeah, it was pretty easy to figure.”

“So much for that,” she sat upright, “-a lack of clothing, why am I not surprised?”