Monarch's Rebirth: Chapter 33

Since I was away for a while the reports had piled in for all the construction. I noticed that the city was indeed looking much better than before. Many of the holes in the roads were fixed and testing of the new drainage system was a huge success. Seems like it's smooth sailing from here.

The sewage worked in the way an ancient civilization from my old life worked. Pipes would drain out the water from the many places and run through the walls down through a drainage system rather than just into a dug out lake. It becomes complicated from here on out and confuses me too. Which is why I sent this idea for testing.

"Damn, my tea got cold." I said under my breath. Nevertheless I drink the rest of what was left and get back to work.

Amelia has been resting on my lap for quite a while. She fell asleep on my lap so I kept my movement at a minimum. I could feel my legs fall asleep too but if I move Amelia will wake up.

Why am I always in these situations?

I looked behind me towards my windows to see that it had already become night. I had been working for so long that I hadn't even realised that It was dark, which explains why Amelia fell asleep.

Suddenly someone knocks on my door which takes my attention away from the window.

"May I come in?" Felix's voice came through the door.

"Come in." I told him as I turned back around.

Felix entered the room with a few papers in his hands. I was already tired from all the paperwork and I was not in the mood for more reports and work.

"There is a slight issue. Remember when you killed the feral wolf today? The one that was about to kill Lady Kathlyn?" Felix said while looking at the paper and back at me.

"Lady Ka- Who do you think she is?" I exclaimed, surprised that he would think and say such a thing.

"Yeah whatever Lady Kathlyn, Misses Dorman. The point is, he was actually the beloved son of an aristocrat from the wolf tribe. We checked into his wallet and found the crest of a noble family from the wolf tribe, meaning he is either the son or a close relative to them."

"You're kidding." I simply muttered out, shocked that such a coincidence like this happened and had to happen to me out of everyone else.

He shook his head in response and put the papers on my table. "This here is a letter that came through today. It was urgent from the Polaris empire and I was concerned upon seeing it. Read it for yourself, see what it says."

I took the paper and started to read it. Just from a quick glance I could tell they are not happy with me, nor are they going to be messing around with me.

"King Artorius Dorman. I am Bjor's father from the Polaris empire. I need answers for my son's murder. I will be coming over after his funeral to your kingdom and I expect to meet you the moment I arrive. I will do everything it takes to avenge my son's death. Meet me tomorrow. From Astrid Brant."

After reading the entire letter I was left dazed. Is this a threat or a short notice of arrival? I stared at the letter for a few seconds, trying to figure out the right way to express my emotion.

"Uh… sire… Is everything alright?" Felix asked me, looking at me with concern and confusion.

I looked up at him blankly, trying to make the right face. "Should I laugh or should I be scared?" I asked Felix, hoping he could answer me.

Instead of giving me an answer he bursted out into a fit of laughter. I scratched my head and tried to figure out what to do.

"HAHAHAHA! EVEN I DON'T KNOW!" Felix said in his fit of laughter while I awkwardly smiled at him. "Well what's the answer!?" I asked him again. I hoped he would answer me soon.

He finally stopped laughing after a few minutes and wiped a tear from his eye. "That's honestly my reaction too! I still can't figure out what to do."

"Well I need an answer. What can we do?" I asked him one final time. He sat down and pondered for a moment. "Well he's just an aristocrat. The wolf tribe aristocrats are always a huge pain to deal with. Might as well act like a pain too."

An arrogant smirk breaks out from my lips after hearing his solution to the issue. "Couldn't have said it better! I have the perfect plan for this." I told him with excitement oozing out from my words.

I had a perfect plan for what to do tomorrow. I just need Felix to listen to it and give me a way to make the plan even better.

Amelia had woken up from Felix's burst of laughter and jumped onto my desk. She listened along with Felix to my plan that I had.

After a bit of back and forth between ideas with me and Felix we came to the conclusion with a plan that will make Astrid running back home.

"I will get started with the preparations. Tomorrow will be so much fun!" He said before leaving the room in a hurry to start preparations for our genius plan.

"Papa, are you sure this will be a good idea? He's an aristocrat after all. Maybe using him isn't going to be a good idea." Amelia said, skeptical of our plan.

I stood up from my chair after hours of sitting and picked her up. "They're just aristocrats. I have an emperor on my side. The worst that can happen is some family feud."

We left the room for dinner as it was getting too late. I was hungry and tired and wished to just go to sleep. Felix can deal with the planning while I can rest for the day. Tomorrow will be a lot of fun.

ALARIC'S POV

"Is that so? I would think he would be more mature." I muttered under my breath as I read the letter.

"First a war, now killing the son of an aristocrat. Are we sure he changed?" Kody said with concern.

Everyone was unsure if Artorius changed or not. He seemed to have changed his ways but became something compared to a monster. He has inhumane strengths, capable of killing beasts that were not found before in this world. We are still scratching our heads figuring out what it is.

I sigh and take off my glasses. "Dismissed. I will think about this and tell you what to do." I told Kody. He leaves without a question and I am left alone to think of what to do with this untamed beast.

Artorius is capable of many things. He's strong mentally and physically. He's charismatic and quick witted. He knows what he wants and will do anything to achieve his goals. People like him terrify me. I want to be on his good side but also use him but he's someone who never stays under another person's control.

His ability to think of a plan in an instant is terrifying. Even I wouldn't want to go up against him in a war. Lukas was ignorant to what he had coming, so was I.

"What did you raise, Theo? Your son is not human." I muttered out, frustrated that I finally met my match in strategic thinking and physical power. I don't stand a chance.

Out of the blue someone knocked on my door. It stopped my train of thoughts and brought me back to reality. "May I come in?" The sweet feminine voice of my wife came through the door.

"Come in" I told her, hiding the report that Kody gave me. It was confidential since I told no one I'll be monitoring Artorius' behaviours.

She walked into my room and gave a warm smile. "It's getting late. I think you should come and sleep." She said while tying up her hair.

I give her a smile back and nod. "I will. Go to sleep. I just have a few more things to do."

She leaves without a question while I read the recount on what Kody saw today. I still have two more spies in the city, watching everything that will happen in the city.

The only way to understand his behaviour would be actually spending time with him. Doing that would be difficult as I can't invite him to my palace for a stay and he would actually agree.

Just then something genius came to my mind. I quickly checked the calendar to find that and saw it was the 33rd of Spring. Amadeus' birthday comes up on the 40th of Spring. Every year I host a party for him and last year only Theo came because it's mandatory for king's to attend.

It would be a bit immoral for me to use my son's birthday as an excuse to spy on Artorius. But it's something I've done in the past. This is all for the good of the world. I need to make sure that I can truly trust Artorius and that he does not actually have any devious plans up his sleeves.

Suddenly Sylas walks into the room to take my cup of tea. Perfect timing.

"Sylas, I need some preparations." I asked him as he picked up the cup and plate. "Do tell me, my lord."

"Amadeus' birthday is coming up. This will be like his fourteenth birthday. Target is Artorius. Get five spies ready by then." I told him as I got up and took off my shoulder pads.

He nods in reply. "Understood. 40th Spring I will set up everything by then." He said before leaving the room.

I left the room with him and walked back to my room. It was a tiring day as usual and I felt exhausted from all the time I spent sitting down. My age is really getting the best of me nowadays.

"You must pass down your crown, emperor. Your end is soon." The familiar voice rang in my head.

It was Mori.

I become startled by his voice as he speaks to me. "I know that. I can feel your hands wrapped around my throat already, waiting to take my soul." I told him with a sorrowful smile.

The God of Death, Mori. I am a secret worshipper of the god of death. People only know of the six gods of elements and the primordial god that created us all. But only a few know of the gods of the sea and only a select few know of Mori, the god of death.

"Your soul would be a fine collection. Do what needs to be done and I will come to take it." He told me once more. He could speak to me through my mind as if he was right next to me.

I sigh and smile from what he was saying. "A month. Give me a month."

It is said that when Mori wants your soul and already has his hands around your neck, you only have a few weeks left. I have heard from him for a few days already. But if you are a devoted follower he will keep mercy and let you live for a reasonable amount of time if you request it from him.

I heard him scoff from my request. "Fine. A month from now. Spend it wisely."

My time is numbered.

ALEXANDER'S POV

The scientists and the engineers have been working quite hard already. I see some have given me reports on their designs and progress on how far they have gone with the steam engine itself. They decided to split up into two teams. The engine team and the locomotive team. This way they can efficiently design both together. Quite a genius idea.

I felt drowsy and tired from all the work that I had been doing as the overseer. Artorius has to deal with his own issues and as the co-founder of this project I must play my part in this. Though it would be nice if he would help me out.

Out of the blue my father walked into my room, startling me as I sat on my desk, reading through papers of reports and looking at sketches of the locomotive.

"Is everything okay?" He asked me, looking at me with concern. "Yes, father. The project is coming along nicely. Especially after King Alaric gave us the fundings."

My father's face became starlit as I mentioned that King Alaric would be funding our project as well. "Oh my! How did that happen?" He exclaimed as he took a seat on my bed.

I turned around to face him and tell him the story of how Artorius managed to strike a mutual deal with King Alaric.

"King Alaric and Artorius made a mutual deal on it. He ended up actually signing it on the spot and handing us ten thousand gold in investment."

He was stunned hearing the story, like anyone else. "He really has a way with words it seems. It was his charisma that really drove me to sign the deal." He said while thinking back to us talking about the project.

I smiled at him complimenting Artorius. If he was here he would've talked about how to not flatter him so much. What father said was true, he has a way with words that makes you compelled to trust him and follow him.

He got back up from my bed and took a quick glance at the pages. "Work hard. Don't overwork yourself though, give a thought to some other things. Like marriage for instance."

"M-marriage!? Goodness me, father! I'm just eighteen! Even Artorius isn't married and he's twenty two!" I told him, flustered from the thought of marriage.

He laughed as he opened the door and stepped a foot outside. "I said give it a thought! Not get married! Anyways, good night. Don't stay awake too late."

He leaves and closes the door behind him. I get back to reading the last few reports left. I felt quite tired as well but I had to finish this.

"Marriage… Huh…" I murmured under my breath.

Maybe one day.

ARTORIUS' POV

"You've grown quite big. I think you've grown even bigger actually. Here, have this." I told Amelia while handing her a raw piece of meat.

Amelia's growth was gradually becoming faster. She had already grown to my height when she stood up on her two legs. Her wing span had become quite large too. Dragons are colossal beings which meant in about a year she would grow to the same height as the mansion. Scary.

She gobbled up the meat in an instant and wished for more. "Let's see… I need to test how you fly. Go for a spin around the entire place. Make sure to not crash."

"Alright~!" She exclaimed before flapping her wings and taking off. Her speed is incredible in flight. She's also skillful at controlling herself in flight. She could even carry me over to the estate with Emily in my arms and I had no issues with balancing.

Though she has an issue with being too prideful of her abilities. She does a lot of tricks in flight to show off. She is still a young child compared to most dragons but her intelligence challenges even adults. I might have myself a prodigious dragon this way.

"Incredible. Amelia! That's enough for today. Come down and you can have the rest of the meat that is here." I told her through telepathy. "Yay! Give me a second!" She said before diving right down to grab her reward for her hard work.

Amelia dived down and gracefully landed right in front of me. Without a second to spare she dug into the pot of meat that I prepared for her. She needs a lot of food if I want her to grow big. I might need to feed her extra and train her more thoroughly from now.

I stood and pondered for a minute as she ate up all the meat in mere seconds. She looked at me and smiled widely and innocently, distracting me from my thinking state.

"Gosh, I forgot how adorable you can be even in this form." I said before kneeling down and cuddled her head which was as big as my body by now.

She squealed and rubbed her head against mine in happiness. "I need to test out one more thing from you." I told her as I got back up. "What is it?" She asked, excited to test out her abilities too.

"How good is your mana pool?" I asked her hoping it would be big.

Instead of giving me an answer she showed me the answer. In an instant she made six layers of mana around her and slowly made even more till stopping at twelve. "Impressive." I said simply, still unfazed by her mana pool.

"I can still shoot out any of the six elements." She said, trying to impress me more. "Expectedly, even I can do that and I can make more mana layers.

Without a second thought I created ten layers in an instant and made another twelve in a few seconds. I smirk arrogantly and shoot out a fire beam to the sky. Amelia looked at me with joy and excitement.

"Woah! That's so cool! I will do this one day!" She said excitedly. "Sure you will. You're a dragon and I'm just a mere human. It won't be long till you actually beat me in things like this."

Amelia transforms back to her fox form and floats back to my shoulders. I turn around and walk back to the palace. Luckily I found a servant on my way and asked him to take back the pot that I had brought out.

One quick look at my pocket watch revealed that it was nearly twelve. I sigh and kept walking back to my room, hoping that tomorrow everything goes to mine and Felix's plans.

"Papa, when will mama live with us?" Amelia asked me suddenly as I set one foot onto the staircase.

"Whose mama? I don't know who that is." I replied back, trying to make her stop calling Kathlyn her mother.

She puffed up her cheeks in anger as I told her that. "Accept it already! She's my mama and you're my papa!" She said while growing angry with my decisions.

I looked at her blankly, trying to understand why she sees Kathlyn in that way. "Why do you think that Kathlyn is your mother?"

"Isn't it obvious? You like her and she likes you." She told be, straightforwardly.

What is this infant dragon thinking?

"Who told you that?" I exclaimed, frustrated by the constant taunting from everyone. Even Felix has been taunting me!

Amelia looked at me with confusion. "It's so obvious! You remember what happened today?"

"Today… I returned and killed that son of an aristocrat to save her. Then I had tea at her place and returned back to the palace. What does this have to do with our relationship?"

Amelia sighs and facepalms as I cluelessly try to understand her logic behind this.

"You can think of the most intricate and smart plan in an instant but when it comes to love you are the most dull person ever."

"...!?"

Amelia's words really struck me when she talked about it. She isn't wrong. I've always been dense when it comes to romantic relationships, I never understand it and never had. It's… unusual.

I sigh and open the door to my room. "Let's just get to bed." I told her while taking my shirt off.

Amelia made herself comfortable and I turned off the lights, leaving the shirt on my chair as usual.

"...Did I strike a nerve?" She asked me, seeing my gloomy face as I tried to sleep.

I smiled at her and patted her head to make her not sad. "It's fine. It just reminded me of something from my past life."

She didn't stay awake long after that and fell asleep soon enough. I stayed awake for a few more minutes before trying to fall asleep as well.

"Is everything alright?" Ha Yun asked as I try to suck up the pain from my arm. "It's… okay." I told her, trying not to groan in pain.

She looked at me with concern, seeing that I was bleeding from my head. "Let's go to the infirmary. You really need medical assistance."

I stood up from the ground while she helped me up. Even after Kye's death my bullying hadn't ended completely. People still poked fun at me but I didn't speak out about it.

Ha Yun helped me to the infirmary, carrying me by my shoulders and sitting me down at the infirmary.

"Sung Hei again. What is it this time?" The nurse asked me, unworried that it was me coming in for the fourth time this week.

I sit down and grit my teeth in pain. "I think one of the wounds on my head opened up… I fell down and hit my head which is still healing." I told her, bearing through the pain.

She takes off the bandage from my head and checks under my hair. "Your guesses are correct. Your wounds opened up. Should get this operated on before it causes too much blood loss."

The nurse went to bring another roll of bandage to tie it up again. I took a glance at Ha Yun who covered her mouth in horror, seeing that my head has a gaping wound in it that's bleeding profusely without an end.

Out of nowhere she fell to her knees and wrapped her arms around my body. I looked down at her and heard her softly cry as she buried her face into me.

My blood ran down my head to my face and slowly dripped down my cheeks, slowly falling on her uniform, tainting it red. I panicked seeing this and tried to push her away.

"Move away from me! Your uniform will get tainted with blood if you do this!" I told her in a panic. She had no intentions of letting go though, no matter how hard I tried.

"Sung Hei… why did you never tell me your injuries are this severe…? I know we spent only a month talking but… tell me if you're in that much pain…" She said through her sorrowful sobs.

I was lost for words and remained silent for the moment. "I… didn't want you to be scared of me, or for me."