Royal Grupie

"Hello." The King said as he sat opposite a pretty long table. He was speaking in French, a perfect French.

It was directed to the dinner table.

The King was actually reading some European newspapers, which were quite old in date of publication, while there was quite an amount of newspaper on the side, forming a nice tower. Most of them were in English and French.

Spain was not so keen on freedom of the press at the time, so there was no real flourishment of the free press, unlike in France and in England.

Funny enough, Felipe could see his own paper among the stack. He felt a bit nervous as he had been criticizing many countries. If he were to get a counterpart in the 21st century, he would be a political commentator on a controversial tv channel.

He has, of course, criticized the kingdom of Haiti, and multiple times at that. Plus, his newspapers were quite distinguishable. That way, he could see the King had many of them.

"I hear you are a king and a prince… Of New Granada… I checked, and New Granada is still part of the Spanish Empire. So either you must be from the Spanish royal family or a liar." The King said as he looked at Luciano.

"Your majesty, my father doesn't know how to speak French. I was only able to learn French." Felipe explained.

The King was surprised as he looked at the 5 years old Felipe, quite amused. After all, his son is ten,d he Is not able to learn a second language at the moment; he wanted his son to learn Spanish, and even though the similarity with French was quite significant, he could not do so. At least it was at a mediocre level.

Yet, a kid, a 5-year-old, in front of him was talking with him in French with quite a proficiency, clearly not his first language.

"Oh, Excuse e, how old are you, child?"

"I am five, and yes, we are King and Prince of the New Granada Territories… it might not be official yet, but it will be," Felipe said as he acted annoyed by his disrespect.

"Ohhh, any treaty with the British? The Spaniards have really declined. What a shame, such a large empire." The King said she found funny the outrage of the 5 years old prince.

"No, I am Spanish, yet I am not from the Spanish Royal Family. I am Felipe Arboleda de Aragon, Prince of the Aragon Family, true Royal family of the Spanish Throne." Felipe said very proud; there were two ways the whole thing could go, either the King recognizes him and is friendly, or the King recognizes him and is unfriendly.

"Aragon Family?" The King was surprised as he looked at Felip for a second time, quite impressed. In his mind, everything made the connection, and he looked at the servant and pointed to the stack of newspapers. The servant complies and takes a newspaper and gives it to him.

The King opened the newspaper and showed it to him as he pointed to the top of the paper showing the 3 headed eagles.

"You are the owner of this newspaper?" The King asked Felipe.

Felipe was now sweating bullets. He didn't think through what would happen when he revealed their identity.

He has outed himself as a critic of the government of the Kingdom of Haiti while in front of the King.

"No, the family owns it. The Aragon Family now consists of my father and me, so my father owns it. I created it and wrote most of everything in the early days." Felipe was already in deep shit. He would now play the game where he was too important to kidnap.

"Felipe… the genius boy… It is really you." The King was surprised.

"It is ended, we were on our way to New Granada, but a storm beached our ship on your coast. We are here to seek travel. We need a ship to get to our future kingdom." Felipe explained.

"Ohh… I see… then explain to me again… how are you, the King of new granda?" The King was no longer skeptical but now curious.

Felipe realized that if he entirely told him what was happening, the King could quickly go to the Spaniards next door and give them up in exchange for warmer relations.

"We are founding a rebel group which has promised the crown of the New Granada and all the Colonies that they conquer in exchange for support with weapons and money," Felipe said as he had no control over his mouth.

The King was surprised as he held his hand over the table like a European noble.

The servants quickly came with the breakfast, and they didn't mind the whole ambient they just rapidly served food to everyone at the table and left.

"We intend to liberate the Spaniard colonies from the fate of being a colony, to make them a kingdom," Felipe explained.

"Just like you have been doing here yourself," Felipe said as he tried to make it so he saw himself in them.

There was an awkward silence as both of them didn't say anything.

"You claim that my kingdom is corrupt. You claim that my kingdom will go down the drain how the kingdom of the French went down. The King beheaded, and a people left without our leader, and I took them from slavery back to slavery." The King said, quite passively aggressively.

"Yes, I did write that thing, and as I came here, I met your people. I saw all the small houses and the poverty that hovers over your cities. Then I see this palace's luxury and grandiosity; it only proves me right. You will end just like the Bourbon dynasty of the French Kingdom." Felipe explained.

"The French Bourbon Kingdom still on the throne." The King said quite calmly. He was a nerd for royal families, and that is how he decided to make his own kingdom.

Yet, the King died under a guillotine. Don't you see, they are still in power, they are still on a throne, but their seeds of liberty and democracy have already been set free among the French People; their days are counted, and even if they still remain, they will experience eternal unrest, never to have peace, meanwhile, it not the same King that is governing at the moment, King Lui's head is already away from his body… So you are thinking that it is okay if I die, and my son will be able to rule? That is just a ridiculous way of putting things.

"…" The King looked at Felipe quite pleased as he saw the same opinions he had seen in his paper, unapologetic and bold.

The King didn't believe such a small child could have such elaborate and complex arguments; he had to see it himself. He was not only impressed but also astonished and quite happy. After all, he is in front of Felipe De Aragon. Who would have thought such a writer would have come before him.

"I see… please, eat. I don't have any grudge against you. I can assure you, the food is not poisoned. I am a big fan of yours, after all." The King said as his face turned into a colossal smile.

Felipe was currently quite nervous as he felt as if he was going off hand from the fact that he was speaking to the King of Haiti. But his speech and passion were already out.

"How come?" Felipe finally asked as he didn't know how a person he criticized could be his fan.

"You are not afraid… you are bold with your words… I enjoy what you write… I have many of your newspapers. I actually have a collection of them. You see, I don't get many newspapers for weeks. So I like to reread multiple of them, and I have found that your criticism about other countries, including this one, is relatively easy and exciting…

"Of course, at first I was outraged about what you said about me and my country… but then I began to think about it, and it is true, a lot of things you say about this country are true, just like what you say about other countries, I have been paying attention… I have cut my expenses by 60%. My son doesn't like it. He wants more painting and more cool things." The King said, quite excited.

"… So you liked my criticism?"

"Well, it doesn't matter if I like it or not. It is, after all, the truth, your arguments are valid, and they are supported… I have been learning English through newspapers and found your articles most engaging. That is why I fell in love with your writing."

Felipe was impressed. After all, his papers have actually arrived all the way in such a remote country like Haiti. Such a small world that he lives in.

"Then, King Henri… you will help us in our endeavours?" Felipe asked in his fluent French; as he spoke French, he saw that his fluidity improved exponentially with every person he spoke with.

"Yes, yes, of course… a ship to travel to La Nueva Granada… of course, a trip, not a ship. I am afraid I cannot spare a while ship as a gift." The King chuckled.

"I appreciate that," Felipe explained very thankfully.