The General of the Army, Tranor, walked into Lord Erefeild's office. He sat down.
General Tranor talks to Erefeild with a polite and friendly tone.
General Tranor: My Lord Erefeild, I am happy to see you in good health
Erefeild responds back with a cold and bitter tone.
Lord Erefeild: What is? If you came here to ask for more, I suggest you do another job to please me first before walking in here.
General Tranor: It is a part of our agreement. I help you secure your position, and you will provide as I wish
Erefeild looked at him as he grew annoyed with Tranor's attitude.
Lord Erefeild: It seems that you are a little too comfortable on the job,
Tranor pause,
Lord Erefeild: Answer me, Tranor, how is the border and our progress with the Maleverlem Empire
Tranor pauses again as he struggles to answer the question.
General Tranor: It's been going well. The report has just arrived, and I am sure they have already delivered it to you, My Lord.
Lord Erefeild: Funny how the report just describes something else instead,
General Tranor, starting to feel a little nervous.
General Tranor: There must be a mistake. I am sure the report is already done and has been delivered.
Erefeild, pause and look at Tranor. and respond to him with a calm, while threatening tone
Erefeild: Listen Carefully, GENERAL TRANOR(Calm but heavy Tone) I tolerate your behavior and give you luxury and wealth because I see value in you, so why would I keep a dog that doesn't listen to its owner
Understand the situation, I am the man who makes you who you are now (Heavy Tone)
General Tranor went Silent as he stared back at Erefeild.
Lord Erefeild: And about your request, I want you to make a detailed report back to me, and I'll consider it
General Tranor stood up, left without saying anything, and Erefeild could feel this distance between Tranor and himself, despite them just sitting in front of each other.
After this, King Geithner and his son Juvian are chatting.
Juvian is sitting infront of his father, King Geithner. His body is barely able to move anymore, but he still tries to stand up to let his son Juvian draw a painting of him,
King Geithner talks to his son, with a struggling voice.
King Geithner: Juvian, it lights my heart seeing you doing well
Suddenly, Juvian felt hesitant to respond to his father.
Prince Juvian: I....
Juvian felt nervous every time he was reminded of the next week's event.
Prince Juvian: Father, can you please be by my side forever? I don't think I can lead this country alone.
King Geithner: Be strong, my Son. Don't let anyone control you, and I will also keep fighting to stay here and support you every step. I ask that you must be strong.
Juvian looks at his father as his nervousness slightly fades.
Prince Juvian: Thanks, Father.
Then, as he too focused on his father, he accidentally drew a line on the painting; the mistake ruined the painting as the line covered his father's face. Juvian felt this desperation.
Juvian tries to fix it, then his father grabs his hand and tries to calm him down.
King Geithner: It's alright, you don't need to fix it right away, just relax and take it easy
Juvian is starting to calm down as he feels so incompetent.
As the room felt like it was lighting up, Erefeild arrived.
Juvian suddenly feels his body become heavy. King Geithner still looks straight at the window, but he grabs Juvian's hand tightly as his body is slightly shaken.
Erefeild, walk in closer.
Lord Erefeild: How is your health? Are you doing well, my king
King Geithner: It's a private moment between my son and me. I ask you to leave.
Lord Erefeild: Now, why would I leave without getting what I look for first? I am only here to see our new King and my beloved nephew, Brother.
King Geithner: I am not your Brother.
King Geithner is starting to struggle to speak as his hearth starting to beat faster and faster.
Juvian feels like he can't move as Erefeild puts his hand on his shoulder. Every time Juvian tries to move, Erefeild pushes him to sit back down, while Erefeild tightens his grip on Juvian's shoulder.
Juvian can feel his body is heating up, and stress is slowly building up.
Erefeild moves closer to Juvian and tells him.
Erefeild: Juvian, my beloved nephew, Next week is the biggest ceremony, and you will become king, and I want you to know that your Uncle Erefeild is here to support you in every step. Do not hesitate to come to me. ( Heavy and calm tone)
Juvian feels shaken,
King Geithner started shaking as he tried to force his legs to stand up. He wanted to scream at Erefeild, but his body felt like it was blocking his voice.
King Geithner: Hmmmm. mmmmm
Erefeild: Know that I am the only one you can truly rely on
Juvian can feel his father keep tightening his grip on his hand,
Then suddenly White Lappen slammed the door and walked in, he grabbed Erefeild's arm and pushed him away from Juvian and his brother.
White looks at Erefeild, then King Geithner's condition worsens, as he struggles to breathe, White shouts at the guard outside to get the doctor and the healer right away.
Erefeild walks out of the room like nothing happened, while White tries to calm his brother down, Juvian holds his father's hand to
Erefeild adjusted his clothes, then the healer and the doctor arrived as Erefeild walked out. Knight Morray also arrived.
Morray is distracted by the gift his daughter gave him and sees Erefeild walking toward him.
Lord Erefeild: You are in a happy mood today, Honorable Knight Morray
Erefeild voice, surprise Morray, he took the gift into his armor and immediately greeted Lord Erefeild.
Knight Morray: My Deepest apologies, My Lord, as I got distracted and didn't notice your present
Lord Erefeild: Not an issue. You should get to the king now. He needs you
Knight Morray: Understood, My Lord
Morray got to the room, then he heard Juvian's desperate cry for his father. Morray runs into the room and sees multiple people trying to save him from a heart attack.
White keeps calling King Geithner; his body is heating as stress starts to build; he keeps wanting to walk in to help his brother, but the healer and doctor keep pushing him back.
The Healer: Please, Lord White, stand back. We can't help him if you keep in the way. I must ask you to sit down, my lord.
Morray enters and asks White, What happened? " White didn't respond to him, but Morray saw White's face turning red, his eyes were twitching as he gripped his fist intently, White looked at his brother dying, and his body could not process anything around him anymore due to intense rage within him.
Morray is standing. He looks at White, then he grits his teeth while his mouth opens slightly. He felt heavy on his body as he turned his gaze toward Juvian and the King. He swore on everything he had to protect, are now dying.
His face is emotional. He is sad but also angry. The feeling of warmth suddenly changed into the anger of self-harm.
Knight Morray: I'm sorry, my King
As the Palace and the royal family are in chaos, Liatart looks around the capital.
In the middle of the capital, He see People is well dress.
He walks to a nearby restaurant. The restaurant is luxurious, well-maintained, and the staff are standing to welcome customers.
Then he sees a couple walking into the restaurant, Liatart standing under a nearby tree. The couple is well-dressed,
The man dressed in a suit, wearing shoes fit for a royal house. He smiled elegantly, then suddenly a wind blew, and despite Liatart being standing a few feet away, he smelled a perfume that came from the couple.
Liatart's eyes widen, as he can tell such an aroma can only be achieved from a very secretive ingredient that is well-guarded by the perfume industry, so no one can copy it, and they can justify its high price.
The lady is also well-dressed, her skin is lightened, looks smooth, has well-cared-for her hair, and her dress looks like it shines under the brightening sun.
As Liatart is observing the couple that walks into the restaurant, an old man walks past him, it's just a quick look, Liatart also notices the old man is wearing a diamond and gold ring on every of his finger, a gold necklace, and luxurious clothes, and his bodyguard also has a handcrafted sword, enchanted with magic.
Liatart can feel the high concentration of magic from the sword.
Although the bodyguard seems to be wearing normal clothes, it is actually armor that is designed to look like normal clothes.
Normal fabric but hard as iron, short-handed shirt, but magic covers the entire arm, thin layer but packed with strong concentrated defensive magic.
He looks around randomly as the couple interacts with the staff, and they explain the recommendation.
Liatart takes a deep breath; his head and chest don't feel much as he's used to seeing too many and feeling too many, making him unable to feel any of it much anymore.
Liatart: Again, all are still the same.
Then Liatart starts walking, he is heading north about 7 miles, then he reaches the gate to exit the middle of the capital, once he exits it.
It felt like another world
muddy street, overloading crowd, people shouting and screaming, a pile of trash mounting nearby, guard patrols the street daily, homeless sleep on the muddy street, and animals running around
Everyone feels chaotic, stressful and overwhelmed.
Liatart turns his head to look behind him, clean stone street, calm and quiet, larger wall, more trees, flowers, and well-cut bushes
calm wind and peaceful, it felt like life
Liatart: Same places, Same world, Yet it's so bright and so dark.
Meanwhile, King Geithner has finally been able to go through it all, Juvian is sitting next to his father with the other maid and caretaker.
In the other room, White is standing at a bacony, while Knight Morray is standing next to him.
Lord White: Morray, what do you think of all of this?
Knight Morray: I don't know what to see my Lord as I am just an outsider
Lord White: What are you talking about?
White put his hand on Morray's shoulder.
Lord White: You are my good friend, and I trusted you more than any knight in the kingdom
Knight: You flatter me, my lord
Lord White: Though I never say how grateful I am
Knight Morray: Please, my Lord, you do not need to worry about such a thing
Lord White: Thanks, Morray
Then one of the maids arrived and informed White and Knight Morray that the king had awakened.
Walk and Morray rush to the King's room. They see Marcus Lappen also arrive, and he is sitting next to the king.
Lord White: Brother, I didn't notice that you arrived
Lord Marcus: The Moment I was informed about his condition, I immediately dropped everything and rushed to the Palace. I am just happy to see our older brother is still doing alright.
Lord White: Brother?
As they are chatting, King Geithner opens his eyes,
King Geithner: Marcus? Where is my son Juvian
Lord Marcus: He fell asleep. I already told the other to take him to his room.
King Geithner felt this sharp pain in his chest as he was tearing up.
King Geithner: I am sorry,
White, Marcus, and Morray felt surprise. Then suddenly, King Geithner held Marcus's hand tightly. He speaks in desperation while trying to be careful due to his fragile health.
King Geithner: Marcus, please take care of my son. He may be an adult now, but he is still too young to do anything on his own.
King Geithner tightened his grip; Marcus tried to push him to lie back down.
King Geithner: Do not let. Erefeild gets what he wants if he were able to become King; the whole Kingdom will crumble at his hand, and the endless suffering of our people will continue for generations. Please do not let Erefeild get his way.
Marcus held his brother's hand back tightly, and he swore.
Lord Marcus: I will, brother, we will do with all we can to fight back, we, the Lappen Family, will not let Erefeild of the Maefen Family get his way