Chapter Twelve

My days passed as calmly as possible after what happened with Prince Noah that day. One day, on my way to the royal library, I heard some servants talking about Prince Noah.

In short, he was fine.

The royal doctor treated his wounds, he was better now. Prince Noah just had to stay some days resting in bed.

It seems that Prince Noah didn't say the reasons why he got hurt. It seems that no one knows that I was involved. The rumors between the servants are that Prince Noah was playing in the forest last night and then he got injured when he tripped.

Well, the last part is true though. At least there is no one saying that there was a servant boy with him. Prince Noah probably didn't say anything about me either.

For that, I'm grateful.

I don't know how people would read the situation. They would probably just blame me. And, I don't want to know what happens to someone that hurt a member of the royal family.

Besides that, nothing much happened these days. As always, I spent most of my days in the royal library.

'I will probably read all the books of the royal library before I leave this place.' I thought to myself after finishing another book. 'If I don't become an adventurer I will become an academic, that is for sure.' I laughed with my thoughts.

It was already getting dark when I decided to leave the royal library. As always, I passed by the tree where I met Nicholas before.

But, then I saw him.

I wanted to run, to far away from him. But it was too late already, he saw me.

"I finally found you! I knew I would find you if I came here again."

The boy standing there wasn't Nicholas, but Prince Noah.

"...Is there anything you need, Your Highness?" I asked after forcing myself to get closer to him.

"Yes, I was looking for you! You disappeared that day." Just like before, Prince Noah was acting like a royal he was. Crossing his arms while staring at me with his aristocratic gaze. But, this time, there was something odd about him.

"Well…There was nothing I could do to help, so I just left." I explained, and then I quickly changed the subject. "And how about your leg, Your Highness? Is it better now?" I asked looking at his bandaged knee.

Prince Noah looked at his injured leg and then said. "Yes, it doesn't even hurt anymore."

"That's good then. I'm happy that Your Highness is better now." I said forcing a polite smile.

Prince Noah averted his eyes ashamed. "I-It is not like it is thanks to you!" Then, he composed himself and looked at me. "...But you did help me back then. So, if you want something, tell me now."

"What do you mean, Your Highness?" I asked, confused.

Prince Noah was flustered again. "I don't like to owe other people! Even more someone like you… Then, tell me what do you want now. So we can be quits!"

'I didn't expect him to even care about things like that. But, it's not like I have something I want right now...' That was what I thought until I realized something.

"Alright, then... There is a wish that you can fulfill, Your Highness." I said still a bit unsure.

"Tell me then." Prince Noah stared at me again with his aristocratic gaze, confident.

"May you tell me when Nicholas will visit the palace again, Your Highness?" I asked, curious.

Prince Noah may be the best person I can ask about it. So, if I know when Nicholas will come, I don't have to come here every day anymore. That way I can also avoid meeting Prince Noah again.

Prince Noah stared at me obviously disappointed. "Is that... all? You just want to know when Nicholas will come?"

"Yes. If Your Highness knows when Nicholas will visit the palace again, I would appreciate it if you tell me." I said, forcing a smile.

Prince Noah kept staring at me, then he sighed. "Alright then, if that is what you want... Nicholas was supposed to come to the palace a few weeks ago. But Nicholas had a cold, that is why he couldn't visit."

"Is Nicholas alright?" I asked, worried.

"Yes, it was just a common cold, he is fine now." Prince Noah explained.

"Then, when will he visit the palace again, Your Highness?"

"I don't know. Probably soon, I think."

"Is that so… Then, thank you, Your Highness." I said bowing respectfully.

'In the end, I still don't know when Nicholas will come.' I thought.

Prince Noah stared at me, confused. "Is that all? Is there nothing else you want?"

'Well, I do, but it's not like you can give me what I want, you are just a child anyway.' I thought, frustrated. 'If I could, I would love to leave the palace having already a good place to live without worrying about money. But, it's not like I can ask that.'

With a weak smile, I answered him. "No, Your Highness. That was all I wanted."

Prince Noah stared at me in silence, but then he said. "...Is that so? Then, I will go now." He quickly turned away and left, without even thinking if I had something else to say.

'He really just came here so he could get quits with me, huh.' I realized. 'Well, it is not like I was expecting something else from him, though.'

"But… was that just me, or he seemed a bit angry just now?" I asked myself looking at Prince Noah's back while he walked away from me.

"What is going on here?!" I shouted surprised.

I was back in the northwest area, but when I went to my room I just saw some guards taking away the furniture of my room.

Then Lena appeared and got in front of me, blocking my sight from the guards taking my things away.

Lena was crossing her arms and staring at me with her usual authority gaze. "That isn't something for you to care about, kid." Then she looked at the maids and ordered. "Flora, take him to his new room."

Flora sighed, not hiding her contempt for me. "Alright. Follow me, brat." Then, Flora walked away, without even waiting for me.

I stared at Lena's eyes, trying to express all my hate towards her silently. Then, I followed Flora. There was nothing I could do.

I knew what was going on. It wasn't enough stealing a few things valuable in the northwest area anymore, they wanted to steal anything they could. And all I could do was let them go away with it.

Actually, there was something I could do.

'I could use my magic to detain them, but then what? How far would I go? I never trained offensive magic before... Would I end up killing them?'

These thoughts made my stomach hurts. I don't want to kill people unless I have to. I don't want to carry this sin unless I really need to.

And what would be the King's reaction after hearing that me, his secret bastard child, hurt his servants using light magic? What would happen to me after that?

'As long as I can keep going forward peacefully, I will. I don't want to die in vain.' I thought, determined.

"This is your bedroom now, brat." Flora said after opening a door at the end of the corridor. She had a malicious smile on her face while she said that.

I looked inside, then I realized why she was looking at me like that. It was a small servant's room, with only a small bed and a wardrobe in the corner. There wasn't even a window in the room.

Flora laughed while looking at my surprised expression. "You thought a bastard like you could keep living a good and comfortable life forever? This room suit you better, a dirty small room for a disgusting little bastard like you are."

Then she pushed me into the room and locked the door behind me, letting me in the dark.

"Hey, Flora!" I shouted knocking on the door several times. "Open the door!"

But, it was in vain. I could hear her steps getting far away from me.

I passed the night and the next whole day locked inside of this small and dark room.

I felt like I was going to have a panic attack more than I would like to admit. Being locked in this place made me feel like I was getting out of air, like I couldn't breathe. It was suffocating.

Making light with my magic was the only thing that kept me focused and calm.

They didn't even bring me a meal all this time. No matter how much I screamed or begged, they didn't come here even once.

"...Are they planning to let me starve to death here?" I asked myself scared.

They stole everything they could. It wouldn't be weird if they also fled away from here before anyone notices them.

'Maybe I should just break through the door using my magic. They will never come here again.'

I was standing in front of the door, taking a few deep breathes, gathering courage. But then, when I was about to use my magic, the door was open.

It was Alice the maid, holding a food tray. "Here it's your mea-"

I didn't even let her finish. I quickly pushed her with all my strength and then I left the room running as much as I could.

"Alexander, come back!" I could hear Alice calling me from behind.

But I didn't look back.