Chapter 51

"So, what brings you two here?"

"Word from his majesty, Artorius," I replied.

Leo's eyes widened when I mentioned his name, it piqued his interest. "Oh? From General Artorius? What news?"

I took my seat and started to explain to him. "He's planning on starting a new experimental group. He wants to create a new training course and a new training regiment."

He sat down opposite me and Vincent, crossed armed and nodded his head at every word I spoke.

A charismatic young general that leads his battalion. He came from a family of lieutenants and captains, destined to be one himself, but he passed his ancestors and now became a general.

"What are you talking about? Is something wrong with our troops?" He asked me, confused and curious. "We did well in the war, I heard."

I shake my head in disapproval. "It's not about the war, maybe it is but I'm not sure why he is planning this. Firstly to counter your words, the war was mostly fought by Artorius, to begin with."

Leo wasn't surprised as it was general knowledge. Artorius fought most of the war by himself with just a little help from the other soldiers.

"Very well, but why make a whole new special group of soldiers?" He asked with curiosity.

"Good question, we don't know. He has a plan and I want you to listen to me carefully while writing down everything I say."

Without another second wasted, he takes out a sheet of paper and a pen, ready to write down all my words.

"Speak," He ordered me.

I began explaining to him everything that Artorius explained to us. He didn't hesitate in writing everything, he took my words a bit too well.

Vincent wasn't sitting idly either, he helped me explain as well, some key details that I forgot to mention to Leo. They were minor details that I looked past but Vincent kept them in mind.

"T-this plan… it's interesting," Leo says as I stopped dictating everything. "But how is this going to be possible!?" He exclaimed.

"There is no guarantee, which is why this is an experimental group," I told him once again.

Leo was not sold on the idea but even he knew there was a possibility of the success of such an elite group becoming a reality.

"Very well, I will get to making the crash course as soon as possible. I assume it would take two days to complete," Leo says as he stands up from his chair.

I only needed the approval of one general and that was it. A smirk breaks through my lips and I stand up. "Very well, I will get on with the recruitment process then."

"Well, I know you all are leaving for the capital soon. When will you return?" Leo asked as we were about to leave.

I stood and thought for a moment. There was no guarantee for when we would return, all I knew was that it would be as soon as we could. But even that is hard to tell with how much is happening.

"A week, give or take. Why?"

"I would like to speak with General Artorius," Leo said as he stood up as well.

"Speak to him whenever you wish. It's not like he's too busy to hear from his generals."

He scoffed at the idea of meeting Artorius whenever. "Do you think that?"

"He's not the same kind you knew him as a month ago."

"How are we so sure? What if he's just an imposter?"

His words bewildered both Vincent and me. "W-what imposter? What do you think?"

Leo walked around his table while taking small steps. "Think about it. A prince who became king when he was unfit. Suddenly he comes back after being drunk and lost in the wilderness, changes completely and changes the kingdom."

"It's an odd tale but do you suspect that he's not who he was?" I spoke out, slightly irritated that he would suspect such things.

"The story speaks for itself. What other answer do you have?"

His face turned to a sinister grin as he slowly walked towards me. I kept my composure and stared at him down as he came closer and closer.

Leo looked more intimidating from the lighting in the room. A room that is coloured burgundy with low lighting, made his crystal blue eyes look frightening.

"What will you do about it then?" I asked him, concerned about what he would do.

"Talk to him, figure out if he truly is his majesty or just an imposter."

I take a deep breath and turn back around. "Well, do whatever you want. As long as you don't provoke him or anger him I have no objections."

A giggle could be heard from behind me as I opened the door, a giggle coming from Leo. "Very well, for now, I bid you my adieu

We didn't speak about it anymore and walked out of his office room into the hallway of the barracks. Vincent seemed anxious and unhinged about what happened.

Leo is young and naive, and so is Artorius. Both are cunning and could trade shots at each other in a game of mental chess. But one thing that sets Artorius aside from Leo is his power physically and how quick-witted he can be.

No doubt Artorius' change has sparked rumours and controversy, but I doubt it's widespread. It's good for the kingdom and the whole world in general. He made improvements to the living standards of the kingdom.

In the slight chance that it is an imposter, I would be quite keen to know the story of how this imposter fooled us all.

"F-Felix, I'm not sure about Leo talking to Artorius. Is everything going to be okay?" Vincent asked me as we stepped outside the barracks.

"Oh for sure. Leo is smart but Artorius is smarter."

"How are you so sure?"

"You will see."

ALEXANDER'S POV

My eyes opened but they were blurry. A throbbing headache and a tired body. Just what happened?

I slowly rubbed my eyes clear and sat down on the side of my bed. The headache continued but my vision was clear. My room was dark with the only light coming from the bright moon outside my window.

All I could remember was falling asleep and being envious of Artorius. I forgot how many bottles of alcohol I drank and how many days I was awake.

I turned the lights on and watched my step as I navigated around the mess that I laid in my room. As I made it to the bathroom my headache worsened and my eyes felt heavy.

One splash of cold water on my face cured most of my headache and the drowsy feeling that I felt after waking up. I must've slept through the day and into the night.

As I grabbed onto the sink, trying to not fall over, I tried to check my watch for what time it was. Just then a barrage of knocks came from my door before a familiar voice spoke out.

"Alexander, it's eight. Have you packed up?" Father's voice rang through the door.

I panicked and quickly ran outside the bathroom. "N-not yet! I just woke up!"

"Hurry up! I want it to be ready in fifteen minutes!"

"W-what!? O-okay, sure!"

Fifteen minutes!? I haven't even started packing my bags and he wants me to fix it in such a short time?

Without wasting any more of my precious time, I bolted to action and brought out my suitcase. I opened it, placed it on my bed, and rushed to my closet to see what clothes I needed.

"Four sets of clothes… Two capes… Some undergarments… What else am I missing?" I muttered as I grabbed the clothes from my closet.

I placed them all in the bag, neatly folded and closed the suitcase. It was all I needed and I was ready.

Suddenly father walked into the room and saw me packing up my suitcase.

"Are you done?" He asked me. "Yes, I took all the necessities.

"Good, let's go downstairs together. Dinner is being prepared." He said before walking out of the room.

"Why so soon? Is there something important?"

"No, I just want to talk to you while we wait for dinner."

I took my suitcase and walked out of the room with him. He seemed eager to talk about something with me, but what?

He didn't speak a word as we walked downstairs. I gave my suitcase to one of the servants that I found on the way. He followed us till we made it to the foyer where we split up and he went his own way.

"So. what did you want to talk about?" I asked him out of curiosity.

He looked at me as we walked into the living room. "Nothing important, just something I had in mind.

We took our usual seat in the living room, him on the armchair with me on the left-hand side of him.

"Well, to start. I just want to know what plans you have with Artorius." He spoke out, starting our conversation.

"We don't have any more plans after this project, possibly later on but for now, this is all we planned on."

"Huh, I thought you were joining him in his venture into the alcohol market."

"The alcohol market?"

He skeptically looked at me and paused for a moment. "You don't know about it?"

He never mentioned anything about it to me directly but I remember when he took some passengers with him when he went to the capital. Wilkins was his name and he took his entire family.

"Well, no. I just remember him having connections with one of the pub owners in his kingdom." I told him, with the very little knowledge I have of it."

"I see. Seems like he didn't mention it."

"Is something wrong with that?" I asked him, seeing he was quite disappointed about it.

"Not at all. I would've liked you to go on another venture, especially one with the actual business involved."

"I could talk to him about it."

"Are you sure you want to go into a business venture with him when he overworks you so much?"

Well, I didn't anticipate that.

I'm indeed overworked but on my own accord. Artorius does not want to share work since it will take longer for him to do the work. It's just up to me because he left it to me to supervise it.

"Answer me, Alexander," Father spoke out louder, taking me out of my thinking space.

"Y-yes, I'm sure of it. It's not him who overworks me. It's me who just cannot take a break from all the work." I told him in a panic.

He seemed displeased with my answer. "Why is he giving you all the work? Why does he not do some of the work instead of going to lavish parties and enjoying himself."

"What do you know about running a kingdom?" I accidentally spoke out.

"What did you say?" He asked in an angry tone. I didn't mean it!

"W-wait! I didn't mean it like that! He's a king and has more work than a count. I'm sure he has enough on his plate."

Father scoffs and glares at me in a way I haven't seen before. He's beginning to not like me.

"Remember your etiquettes, Alexander. Do not let your ego take hold of you."

His words of wisdom were different from before. I stared at him as he spoke and listened more carefully to his words.

"I understand, father. I'm sorry for any offense."

"I take none, but that's because I'm your father. If it was a stranger, the story would be different." He says. "Be on your best behaviour when talking to the royals. You're just a count's son, not a prince or a king."

"Yes, father. I know."

ARTORIUS' POV

"What brings you here?" I asked the general that suddenly entered my room.

I was finishing the day and ready to head off to bed. Felix only told me during dinner that a general wants to speak to me about the project. But what questions would he have?

"Ah, I'm sorry for the such late notice. My name is Leo Alessandro." He spoke out as he bowed down. "I will be in charge of the secret project that you had planned."

"Is that so? What question brings you here then?"

He stood upright and smiled at me. "I'm concerned about this project. It's an odd concept which seems good on paper. But I'm not so sure how well it will do in practice."

Leo Alessandro, the one general that stayed behind as a last line of defence. Young, charismatic with golden blonde hair, and likes to play with fire.

"You're not from here are you, Alessandro?" I asked him, noticing his peculiar accent.

"Y-yes, my parents moved to the Delmont kingdom before I was born. I grew up in the coastal region and that's where I got my accent."

I gave him a minute before answering his question. "What makes you think that the idea won't work?" I asked him to get his opinion.

"There is no need for such a special and elite group of soldiers. War is unlikely with all kingdoms and empires, especially after what happened last time. No one dares to challenge us."

Seeing his ignorance I let out a chuckle which he did not take kindly to.

"Did I say something wrong, my lord?" He says, muddled and confused.

"Sorry, I just couldn't hold it in seeing your ignorance."

He furrowed his eyebrows and seemed more serious than before. "Then enlighten me with your knowledge." He said, sounding irritated.

"Firstly, this isn't for war, it's for safety," I told him as I stood up from my seat. Amelia jumped onto my shoulder and stood firmly and gave Leo a mocking look.

"Not only that, it's the incompetence of the guards that are stationed around the cities and towns."

"What do you mean?" He asked, trying to figure out what incompetence the soldiers have.

"Do you know why we station soldiers around the city at night, Leo?" I asked him a simple question.

He seemed unsure of his answer. "To catch criminals, my lord."

"And have they been doing a good job?"

"I assume they are."

"No! They are not doing well at all."

He seemed astonished by the sudden power in my voice. "H-how so?"

"They cannot distinguish a criminal from an innocent. The arrests that have been made are baseless. Some criminals are young adolescent boys who have been thrown into jail for a lowly crime that could've been dealt with in other ways."

Leo slowly became more nervous as I told him the truth about the city guards. Most generals like him think that their men are doing a good job keeping the city secure, but my reports say otherwise.

I walked closer to Leo while telling him more about the issues with the system we are using currently. Slowly he realises that a soldier in the army is not fit to also be law enforcement.

"I-I see… So this was never about a war." Leo stuttered.

"It is about war, a war against the underworld."

He starts to scratch his head and look down in shame. "Very well. I will begin work on the project then." He said before turning around to leave the room.

"I see your question is answered. If there is anything else you want to ask, do so now. I won't be available after tomorrow for a week."

He didn't seem to have any more questions but I asked anyway. "Not at all, your majesty. The questions I had were answered. Please have a safe trip."

"Good night then, Leo."

He leaves the room and I sigh from exhaustion. Leo had something else in mind that he didn't ask.

"How do you know?" Amelia asked me out of the blue.

"His smile. It felt fake. His question was him beating around the bush. He's a general and should know this already. That's why I pointed out his ignorance." I explained to Amelia.

She paused and thought about it and realised what I said was true. "Oh~ I see now! But what was the question that he meant to ask?"

His question was something I don't know either. He seemed nervous and anxious about something, something hidden from me.

Leo wanted to ask me something else, but what?

"Ugh, I'm getting tired of mind games," I said as I rubbed my forehead, exhausted and done with the day. "Let's get to bed."

"Okay~!"

With no work left for me and the sun going to sleep, I spend no time in the office and walk to my room.

"Tomorrow is the day, huh?" I muttered as we walked through the hallway. "Is tomorrow going to be any fun?" Amelia asked me.

Tomorrow would be nothing but travelling. "Nope. It's just travelling in a carriage till we make it to the capital. We will be staying at an estate owned by us, however."

Her eyes twinkled with excitement as I mentioned the estate. "Really!? Our estate?" She exclaimed. "Yep, our estate. Alaric wouldn't be housing all the guests at his castle, it would be the perfect setup for any assassin."

"With the current state of the world… we shouldn't stay at the castle."

The Dorman family owns quite a lot of estates around their kingdom. One is near the capital of the empire for this sole reason. There are five estates scattered across the kingdom and a single palace in the capital of the kingdom.

Amelia seems interested in royalty and the lavish life of kings and emperors, but on the other hand, I have to deal with all the affairs which makes it hard for me to enjoy such a life.

I opened the door and let Amelia enter the room. She instantly jumped into bed and curled up on her pillow while I took off my shirt.

"Where are you going?" She asked me as I headed for the bathroom. "To the bathroom. I wanted to wash my face before going to bed."

"When did you start skincare?" She mocked me. "Never did. Just wanted to feel refreshed before sleeping."

She didn't speak another word and I washed my face in silence.

"This is tiring…" I said softly while staring at myself in the mirror.

The more I stare at myself the more I realise that I'm playing a facade, a character. This is not who I am. I still haven't come to terms with this new life even after nearly spending a month in this body.

My crimson hair covered my left eye as I stared deeper into my eyes. I noticed the dark circles that grew under my eyes that had not been there before. The stress was getting to me…

I wanted to scream out of stress and anger. My mind feels clouded and I don't know what to do. Everything I plan is going it's way… Something is wrong.