Got a secret, can you keep it? p4

At the stables, "I can't believe...out of all...the punishments possible...I have to...do this one." Tacito said as he started preparing another clean bucket to wash the next horse.

Sighing, "I suppose it's the most common punishment around here, just be grateful because you only have to do this for the rest of today.

My daughter had to do this non-stop since the day you had your...or pretty much your doppelganger had the horse-fall!

Poor Jade was freed when you supposedly woke-up yesterday." Ned replied.

"I'm not very...fond of cleaning...duties but I... guess cleaning the...horses all day...Just for one...day...is better than...a whole week...of kitchen duty." Tacito said before he smiled softly at the horse who was staring at him.

Suddenly, "Honestly what were you thinking? I mean I know that the situation was bad, and Yurei didn't deserve getting bullied but you didn't need to attack Thorn!" Kimberly who was there all along, spoke-up.

"Please Kim darling...I'm not in...need of lecture...right now I'm...already embarrassed enough." Tacito replied.

"I don't know what Kim is telling you, but You Are just like your father's doppelganger.

Seriously, Like father like son! you and Thorn both don't like it when people lecture you." Ned said, "It's just funny considering that both of you have serious anger issues that lead you to doing things like attacking each other...although it's more frequent for King Thorn to do stupid shit like this, not prince Tacito.

I didn't expect you would do what you did since you are a doppelganger of our beloved Prince Taci, but still a different person from him." He added.

"It doesn't matter...whether we're different...or all the...same...the fact remains...one...I cannot keep...doing this I....need to find...A way back...home...faster and before...the weekend comes." Tacito said, he chuckled as the horse he cleaned seemed happy with the shower it was receiving.

"Aren't you enjoying...this!" Tacito said to the happy horse, suddenly he noticed that both Ned and Kimberly were eying him strangely.

"What?... what's wrong with...you?" Tacito asked.

"Should I start with the fact that you're getting married off by the end of the week, or maybe with how you made the other Yurei obsessed with you?" Kimberly said.

"What is Kim saying?" Ned asked, "She says that...I made Yurei's...doppelganger obsessed with...me!" Tacito replied.

"Oh she's right! his behavior was strange as hell! he was very happy that you were angry for his sake and usually prince Yurei likes dramas and fighting but I never expected him to be so enamored by what you did!" Ned said.

"I have to admit not every day you get to find someone who's willing to kill their own father for your sake, maybe that's his kind of love." Kimberly stated.

"Btw I don't like how I can't see or talk to Kimberly, shouldn't we find a solution to that problem?" Ned asked.

"Oh yes we...do." Tacito agreed.

"Anyways, It's a good thing that we're Taking the chance that Prince Yurei is busy right now making lunch." Ned said.

"True, I can't help but feel like he won't let you go back home eventually." Kim replied, "I wonder if...that's true..." Tacito said.

"What's Kim saying?" Ned asked.

"She said that...she thinks it's...a good thing...that Yurei is...currently busy cooking...because she believes...he would stand...in our way...to fix this whole... situation eventually." Tacito replied.

"You're right, he would probably do that.

The thing is that before the horse fall, Garrick hinted that he thinks The other Tacito and Yurei were having issues in their relationship because of prince Tacito's packed schedule, he barely had time to spend with Yurei and with Thorn's constant bullying, Their relationship wasn't doing well." Ned stated.

"If he had problems with the other Tacito, Is it possible that Yurei would try to imprison you Taci? To replace the other Tacito with you?" Kimberly questioned.

"Hold on doctor...what do you...mean the relationship... wasn't doing well?... Yurei didn't mention.. any fights or...any disagreements between...him and my... doppelganger?" Tacito asked.

"Well the thing is as you already know, my husband is a good friend with prince Tacito, and Garrick accidentally told me once that The Prince Tacito was doubting his ability to become future king.

Apparently he started spending more of his time and energy training, basically he neglected Yurei." Ned explained.

"Oh no! I see now why Yurei is behaving this way." Kimberly said feeling sad.

"Ever since king Muriel and Thorn's marriage, Tacito's life went upside down, at first during the engagement period, the two kings would constantly travel from each other's Kingdom to see one another.

Once married and because they are both Kings of different countries, you can say that the two kingdoms merged together becoming one Kingdom, although the kingdom names remain separate and currently the whole family is living in the Derora Castle and since King Thorn stepped out, king Muriel is currently the head of both kingdoms.

It's a great responsibility, and this responsibility is now looming like a Shadow over prince Tacito's head.

He has been training since he was 11 to become the next king." Ned further explained.

"Does Yurei ever...have to train...to be a...king too or... just my doppelganger?" Tacito asked.

"As the future king's, future husband...Yurei can help but only a little.

The king's husband is still considered the King just not the one taking serious actions, it's more of an honorary title than an actual job, and because Yurei was very vocal that he did not want to be the next one in line, This put all pressure on prince Tacito alone." Ned replied.

"Is there a...chance that The...other Tacito started...resenting Yurei because...of that decision?" Tacito asked.

"No...not really, not at the beginning at least! it was obvious that Tacito was excited for the job even though he didn't like to show it, probably because he admired Muriel and wanted to be him.

but reality might've hit him hard as he actually grew-up... things got tougher on him, with Aroon as his super serious mentor, Tacito grew tougher but also a little bit colder to how he was as a kid.

He was much more serious than Yurei and you guessed it, the only one responsible in the pair...maybe that's why Thorn believed Tacito deserved a different partner than Yurei." Ned replied.

"So we did...grow-up differently...after all huh." Tacito said, "You still haven't told me what happened during that party 11 years ago? you keep saying that everything completely changed from that party and that's why you're different from our Tacito but...are you really that different?" Ned asked.

"I believe it's... for the best...if you don't...know what happened.

Anyways I wanna... ask you something...doctor.

Aside from the...stress of being...a king and...having an irresponsible...partner like Yurei...what else could...have possibly created...the rift between those...two...I mean the...other Yurei and...Tacito?" Tacito asked.

"It could be something like this...prince Tacito is an omega like you and me, he feels like he has a lot to prove, compared to Yurei who's a beta and can lead a normal life." Ned replied.

"Hey Taci Why the sudden interest in your doppelganger?" Kimberly asked.

"Btw Why are you suddenly so interested in your doppelganger?" Ned also asked.

"How funny you...and Kim just...asked the same...question!

To answer it...I would say...it's because I...believe that the...key to solving...this mess might...be in relation...to my doppelganger." Tacito replied.

"Maybe we should try bringing him back?" Ned asked, "We don't know how though." He added.

"I know that sounds like a little cliche but I've watched a couple of movies and even worked in some of this type, where it happens that a character end-up in a coma and they kinda like get stuck in this dream world, just how we thought has happened to you at first Taci.

And often in these scenarios, the person in coma is experiencing a dream where they get told by someone they lost or somebody they know and love that they should go back to the real world, and come out of that coma.

So most of them do listen to the advise and wake-up but sometimes, some of them Like being in coma because it's peaceful, more than their actual lives so they remain comatose forever." Kimberly tried her best to explain her point.

"You think the...other Tacito is...forcing himself into...a coma?" Tacito asked.

"I'm sorry what now?" Ned asked since he couldn't hear what Kimberly said.

"I believe that if my theory is right, forcing him out of the coma might Speedrun the whole thing, though we could still just wait until the week is over and powers have been recharged." Kimberly said.

"Hmm, that's actually...interesting." Tacito replied.

"What? Why did she say?" Ned asked curiously.

...Few minutes later...

Ned knocked on the king's assistant office door.

Inside, Socorro waved with her magic wand and the door opened on its own, allowing Ned to enter.

Sitting by her desk as usual, "Ned...what have brought you here?" Socorro Asked.

"I'm sorry Coco i was just wondering about something...you Nana, how is she?"

"Probably angry that I didn't get a chance to visit her at the hospital, I feel bad honestly...Even Lucius used to visit his mother almost daily, and I can't see my grandma once a week." Socorro replied.

"If you'd like, I can go visit her...she just came into my mind and I remembered how I used to visit Lucius's mother when he couldn't..." Ned suggested nervously.

Smiling, "That's very sweet of, but seriously how did she came into your mind?" Socorro asked.

"I was talking with a servant earlier and they were Telling me about their experience with supernatural possession, then I remembered your grandma was a supernatural exorcist, and thought 'wait didn't coco say her grandma got hospitalized recently, I wonder how she's doing!' and then I thought I should come ask you.

She's your only relative you cared about, and since you're my friend I know her illness must be weighting heavy on you, especially since his majesty is drowning you with work and you don't have the heart to request a leave to go see your grandma." Ned explained.

Obviously, it was a lie, most of it at least, he wanted to meet Nana Delores and ask her to help Tacito, but he couldn't let Socorro know the actual plan.

Ned does consider Socorro his friend, she's the wife of his best friend after all, but he knows she won't keep Tacito not being the real Tacito a secret of she were to know the truth.

"Thanks doc, it's very nice of you to offer, I guess I can count on you to make my Nana understand my situation and why I can't come visit her yet." Socorro said, "Sure, leave it to me!...btw is it ok if I go now?" Ned asked.

Surprised, "But half the day has already gone by?" Socorro asked back, "I'll be back faster than you think! I have to be around here anyways to make sure everyone is healthy after all... besides hospital visits shouldn't last too long or they'll effect a patient's health." Ned replied.

"I guess you're right...please take some gifts with you and tell her she's always in my thoughts, I promise I'll give her a phone call once I'm done working." Socorro said, "Sure! I'll be going now." Ned replied smiling before he left the office and the doors immediately shut behind him.

Outside, Tacito with Kimberly waited for him, "It worked!" Ned replied excitedly.