33 Chapter 33

As he returned, Marie was standing inside, waiting for Lovell. "So, you waiting for Lovell?"

Marie looked at Zero. "Yes, have you seen him?"

Zero sighed as he rubbed his head. "Not since this morning when we got separated down by the slums." Marie bit her thumb; Zero walked up to her, "What's wrong?"

She turned to him. "I was hoping to catch him to see the King, but I guess he's not here. By the way, you look like someone I used to know?"

Zero smiled at her, "You must mean my father, the last advisor, Henry Foxtail."

Marie stared at him. "There is no way? You mean he had a kid, you, I mean?"

Zero laughed, "Two kids, me and my sister are twins."

Marie turned away, "My goodness, I had no idea?" She turned to him again. "But anyway, if Lovells not here, maybe you could go in his place?"

Zero stared at her. "You mean, I speak to the king?" He sighed at the thought. "Alright, then let's do this before the others get back. I did dig something up anyway."

Marie nodded as he followed her to the alleyway to change. "I had done the same with Lovell as to not cause any suspicions amongst the other guards."

Zero finished fastening the last of the guard's uniform. "That's fine, as long as it works to fool that man me, or Lovell will do this. That's for sure."

Marie turned to him. "What about any of the other men in your party?"

Zero thought on it for a moment. "Maybe Lance would be being he's a soldier from Grand Dale and all, Fang…" Zero went pale, thinking about it, "No way for him and Gale, well… might give himself away as a royal by the way he holds himself."

Marie stunned at Zero's words. "Wait, Lance is from Grand Dale, and Gale is a royal?"

Zero tapped her shoulder, "Yeah, prince and heir to the throne of Grand Dale." Marie froze, hearing who Gale was. "Anyway, we should get going before I get spotted."

Marie snapped back, "R-right!"

They made their way to the back way when Marie noticed guards keeping. She stopped Zero as he looked at them. As she searched for another way in Zero walked over to them, Marie saw him walked by and tried to stop him, but it was too late.

"Hey, you, what's going on here?" Zero barked at the guards.

The guards flinched as they looked over to Zero. "N-nothing, we—" They noticed behind Zero, was Marie. "Marie, thank goodness." The men sighed in relief as the one guards walked over to her. They were whispering in her ear something.

Marie nodded as she turned to Zero. "It's not good; we need to hurry to the king." Zero sighed as she walked over. "The council is here, and they have shortened the sentence of Ark's due date."

Zero followed as she picked her pace up. They weaved in and out of the corridors making their way to the King's room. Marie could hear voices within as the door opened, Zero looked up at the beams and jumped up.

The men walked out, "Think about your incipience, your majesty. The people are suffering, and you have no heir? So, consider our offer." The men looked over at Marie "Good afternoon Marie what brings you here?"

Marie looked behind her, seeing that Zero made himself scarce for her sake. "N-nothing really, just doing my job and checking on the king."

The man nodded as he walked away, Marie sighed as she looked up, seeing Zero sat comfort in the beams. Zero watched as the men slipped from view before he jumped down. "Let's get this done; those men aren't bad folk, though, are they?"

Marie nodded, "Yes, they are not, but that dam man has them around his finger of twisted lies and deceptions." She opened the door seeing that the King was at his window. "My King, I didn't find Lovell, but I have one of his friends here instead. Also—"

The King turned to them, "I know about Arks due date." His eyes filled with concern. "Who are you, young man—" Zero pulled the helmet off, revealing his face. The King stood up as if he saw a ghost; tears welled up as he stared at Zero.

Zero bowed at the King, "It's our first meeting, but yes, I am his son, your majesty."

The King shook as he grabbed his arms. "There is hope then that he can't' win."

Marie and Zero looked at each other; Zero turned to the King. "What do you mean?"

The King hugged Zero, "The fact your mother is my late sister."

Zero pulled him away, "Wait, what are you talking about?"

Orville grabbed Zero's arms, and his expression became stern. "Your sister is fine, right?" Zero stared at the Orville; He realized that Zero was confused about that matter of what he spoke of. "Ah, sorry you must not have known then."

Orville swayed his hand to as chair; Zero took note as he walked over. "So, I know about my father being the last advisor but, this whole thing about my mother is—"

Orville sat down, "yes, about that, your mother was my older sister, and well, sixteen years ago, the castle was under attacked. At the time, I was to become an ordinary soldier, and your mother was to become the next ruler. As a woman within the royal family, but it was thought she perished during the time."

Zero leaned back in the chair. "Well, my mother lost most of her memories except for the ones about our father. SO, it makes sense that something or someone wanted her out of the picture, but we weren't born yet, telling by your reaction?"

Orville nodded, "You and your sister were kept as a secret, because of who your father was. They didn't want the people to think badly of you. My father, or rather your grandfather, had approved of a marriage between them. As a way to strengthen the relations with all the non-humans within the country."

Zero blinked at him, "Wait, my grandfather approved the marriage?"

Orville nodded as he turned to the balcony, "Yes, my father had abolished slavery and punished those who would harm any who would hurt a non-human or human through discrimination. And that is how your mother met your father. Your father was the first non-human soldier and worked his way up the ladder, becoming the advisor of your grandfather."

Zero felt a welling pride as heard Orville's words. "I never knew he was such a big deal, only that he was the best at what he did, jumping headfirst into danger for the sake of others."

Orville laughs in joy at Zero's words. "Yes, he was headstrong, but he was my best friend as well. Losing him was when that man came into—"

"That same man killed my father in cold blood and is the one behind all of this!" Zero remembers what he was here for. "The thief was hired by him and is willing to protest. I know Lovell and the others might come up with a way to—"

Orville pointed at Zero. "If you crash the execution and take to the royal sceptre, the people might listen to you, and the council will hear you out." Orville smiled, "Besides, you have the Krisnik's with you, the advisor is outmatched for any of this."

Marie looked at her pocket watch, "Sir, its time we leave you before he comes around."

Orville nodded as he turned to Zero. "Take care of yourself till then." Zero nodded as he put the helmet back on, leaving with Marie again outside the castle.

As they reached the alleyway of Marie's choice, Zero changed back, looking at the mark on his wrist. Marie noticed it and grabbed his wrist. "No way, the royal mark is there!?"

Zero looked at her, "So, that's the proof we need, don't we?"

Marie stared into his eyes, "Yes, keep it covered till the plan is ready." She looked out to the street, "I'll be by every dawn and dusk waiting for the plan in the next three days."

Zero grabbed her arm, "Wait, three days?!" She nodded, "I'll let Lovell know as soon as he returns." Marie turned and walked away as Zero gritted his teeth at the amount of time they now had. Zero looked out as he leaned against the wall. "Just great, Lovell is more than likely going to freak."