0094 Equality, Judgement and Kingship II

His Majesty calmly took a sip from his teacup. He did not seem to care for my reaction, as if he already knew my answer.

I closed my eyes and rubbed my temples. A washed-up sigh escaped my lips. "How did you know?"

"Who was it again? That boy from the Willemstad family told me." He put his cup down again. "Well, you might know him better as the judge of your bout with that fallen knight."

"Him?" My eyes widened. From all people, it was that guy? No, more importantly, how fast does news travel in this world?

"I can tell from your gaze that you are confused. Worry not, it was only a coincidence for me to find out. See, that boy seemed to know you and thus spread the information to my son, your prior fiancé, as they are good friends. I only learned it via proxy, thus it should not be widespread yet," he told me. "Ah, but do not blame him, I would have found out anyways."

While he was talking I returned to my seat, once again facing him, like I just entered. "How?"

"It annoys me a little that you care more about this than the topic before." He rubbed his chin. With a smile, he pointed in the air. "Through the wind."

"Huh?" I tilted my head, afraid that I'd misheard. I perked my ears up, hoping that he would repeat what he said, but he remained quiet. "Your Majesty, I'm afraid I don't follow."

My words made him laugh. "True, right?" he said. His laughter didn't stop, and I could only wait in patience, while hiding my irritation. Only after a few more seconds, when his breath had abated, did he rest his hands on his stomach and continue. "You will have to find out on your own, the meaning. That is a journey you best walk on your own. "

This gu—I mean, His Majesty really is something, huh? "I don't get it. My grandfather never mentioned anything like the 'wind'."

"Of course he didn't. After all, you and I are walking completely different paths than him," His Majesty said with a smile. "You and I are pioneers. We are inventors. Do you know what I mean?" He did not wait for my answer. "Unlike ordinary people who take the walked paths, the two of us tread the unknown. We create our own philosophy."

I waited for him to finish talking. "No one should know that my magic differs from the usual ones." I focused my eyes on his reaction. "Was it also the wind that told you about that?"

"Naturally." He simply nodded. "When you truly have a philosophy you can call your own—not just the budding seed you currently possess—you will understand what it means to be with the wind. Until then, let this old man enjoy this small glee from causing mischief and seeing your confused face."

"The wind, huh," I muttered quietly. "I suppose it will be some time before I find out what it means then."

"Who knows, the time might come sooner than you think." He shrugged his shoulders. "Well, I called you today to ask you if you want me to hide your magic for you. As said before, not many will know your true nature, but that does not mean no-one will. Without a doubt, sooner or later you will attract unwanted attention, and with it comes danger."

"That might be true," I nodded in understanding. True indeed, I did understand. "But no thanks."

"Huh? Why?" he opened his mouth to ask, confused by my reply. "Don't you understand that there will be many that wish for what you have, wanting to know your secrets, just as there are many that will see you as a latent threat and try to remove you while you are weak? That's simply how it is."

I balled my hand into a fist, my nails dug deep into the flesh, and my knuckles turned white from pressure. "So what? Let them come then. I don't care how many." I grinned. "All I have to do is crush them. There's nothing more pathetic than lowering your head to an enemy you yourself imagined, one that may exist but also may not. An irrational fear from a coward. I'm not like that, I will not compromise when it comes to my beliefs." I opened my hand again. "Even if that decision leads to death."

His Majesty placed his palm to his forehead. "Dear me. With such an approach, I truly think that you will find your magic quite soon. But you know what they say, 'Those who fly higher, fall harder'. I hope the weight of such a risk will not crush you."

"Hah. Maybe I, too, am an idealist." I smiled at the thought.

"Don't jest. You think I can't tell your reasons are purely ego-driven? But if that is your decision, I will let it be so. What will become of you, only God shall know," He immediately denied my words. "All right, I have satisfied my curiosity, there is nothing more that I want to know. Though, maybe in the future I'll invite you for a chat again. I hope that you can abide by my wish in due time."

My expression immediately brightened. "Does that mean that I can leave?"

"Ah, one more thing. As you know, the day after this festival, all of the Archdukes meet up under my supervision and discuss the future of this country. However, given how you have yet to find stable footing ever since you returned, I have taken the liberty of postponing that meeting for another 10 days."

"Huh? That's possible?"

"Sure, Why not? I'm the one who established this festival in the first place. None will object to what I do with it. Or are you dissatisfied with my arrangements?"

"No, of course not. In fact, I welcome it."

He nodded. "Good. Unless you yourself have something in your heart to share, you may take your leave now."

"Well, maybe if you could recommend me some friends—No, nothing at all, Your Majesty!" His glare cut my voice short. I abruptly stood up, dusted my clothes off, and made my way for the door. I turned around one more time, ascertaining that there was nothing more coming out of his mouth. Thankfully, his lips remained sealed. "Well then, excuse me," I bowed down and reached for the knob. As the light of the hallway was about to shine upon me, I heard His Majesty's voice again.

"Be careful when you choose your philosophy."

I did not pay much attention to his words and only replied perfunctory. "Yes, yes."

"No." He cut me off. "I am serious. Be careful."

His serious tone surprised me and I involuntarily cocked my head to give the man one last look. I saw his face illuminated in the dark room, half due to the dim candlelight and half from the cold moon. His eyes remained as sharp as ever. I only nodded at his reminder—'be careful when you choose your philosophy'. The door closed between us, leaving me alone with my thoughts.

I walked shortly afterwards and the maidservant offered to guide me, but I wanted some time unattended, not just for me, but the ghost haunting me too.

"Yᴏᴜ sᴀʏ ɢʜᴏsᴛ, ʙᴜᴛ ᴛʜᴀᴛ ᴡᴏᴜʟᴅ ɪᴍᴘʟʏ I ᴀᴍ ᴅᴇᴀᴅ, ᴡʜɪᴄʜ ᴄʟᴇᴀʀʟʏ I ᴀᴍ ɴᴏᴛ. I ɪᴍᴘʟᴏʀᴇ ʏᴏᴜ ᴛᴏ ʀᴇsᴄɪɴᴅ ᴛʜɪs ᴛɪᴛʟᴇ ʏᴏᴜ ᴅᴜʙʙᴇᴅ ᴍᴇ." Agnes floated in front of me, her legs in the air while her head pointed at the ground. Gravity did not affect her hair and dress, giving me the chance to marvel at the wondrous workings of magic phenomena.

"For someone that isn't a ghost, you sure do act like one." I grabbed her head and pulled her down. "Come on, just give me your questions."

"Hᴏᴡ ᴅɪᴅ ʏᴏᴜ ᴋɴᴏᴡ I ʜᴀᴅ ᴏ̨ᴜᴇsᴛɪᴏɴs?" She slapped my hands away,

I knew because she had remained silent. With time, I had come to realize that whenever I was conducting important business, the girl would not run her mouth, giving me much needed peace. For that I am quite thankful. No, I really am. The only problem was—just like some loan shark collecting interest—she would come at me twice as strong right after.

"Yᴏᴜ sᴇᴇᴍᴇᴅ ᴛᴏ ʙᴇ ɪɴ ᴀ ʜᴜʀʀʏ. Wʜʏ? Aʟsᴏ, I ᴅɪᴅɴ'ᴛ ɢᴇᴛ ᴛʜᴇ ʀᴇᴀsᴏɴ ғᴏʀ ᴛʜᴀᴛ sᴍᴀʟʟ ᴛᴀʟᴋ ʙᴇғᴏʀᴇ. Exᴘʟᴀɪɴ."

"Hmm, why should there be a reason for pleasantries? It's the truth that I wanted to meet some new people who could help me, you know?"

She looked at me, her eyes full of distrust. "As ɪғ. I ᴅᴏɴ'ᴛ ᴋɴᴏᴡ ᴍᴜᴄʜ, ʙᴜᴛ I ᴀᴛ ʟᴇᴀsᴛ ᴋɴᴏᴡ ᴛʜᴀᴛ ʏᴏᴜ ᴡᴏᴜʟᴅ ɴᴇᴠᴇʀ sᴀʏ ᴛʜɪɴɢs ᴡɪᴛʜᴏᴜᴛ ʀᴇᴀsᴏɴ. Eᴠᴇʀʏ ᴡᴏʀᴅ ʏᴏᴜ sᴀʏ ᴄᴀʀʀɪᴇs ᴀɴ ɪɴᴛᴇɴᴛɪᴏɴ, ᴡʜᴇᴛʜᴇʀ ʜɪᴅᴅᴇɴ ᴏʀ ɴᴏᴛ." She floated away. "I'ᴍ ᴀsᴋɪɴɢ ᴛᴏ ᴋɴᴏᴡ ᴡʜᴀᴛ ʏᴏᴜ ᴀʀᴇ ᴘʟᴀɴɴɪɴɢ."

"Great, when you say it like that, it feels like we are getting much closer." I cupped my cheeks with my hands and smiled at her. The sound of my footsteps followed us closely. "The answer is not hard to get if you think about what it means to be an Archduke."

Wʜᴀᴛ ᴄᴏɴɴᴇᴄᴛɪᴏɴ ᴅᴏᴇs ᴀɴ Aʀᴄʜᴅᴜᴋᴇ ʜᴀᴠᴇ ᴡɪᴛʜ ɪɴᴄʀᴇᴀsɪɴɢ ᴍᴀᴋᴇ-ᴜᴘ sᴋɪʟʟs? I ᴘʟᴀɴɴᴇᴅ ᴏɴ ᴀsᴋɪɴɢ, ʙᴜᴛ I ᴋɴᴇᴡ ᴛʜᴀᴛ ᴛʜɪs ᴘᴇʀsᴏɴ ᴡᴀs ᴏɴʟʏ ғᴏᴏʟɪɴɢ ᴀʀᴏᴜɴᴅ, ɪɴᴛᴇɴᴛɪᴏɴᴀʟʟʏ ᴠᴇɪʟɪɴɢ ᴛʜᴇ ᴀɴsᴡᴇʀ ɪɴ ᴍʏsᴛᴇʀʏ. Hᴇ ᴀʟᴡᴀʏs ʟɪᴋᴇᴅ ᴛᴀʟᴋɪɴɢ ɪɴ ʀɪᴅᴅʟᴇs, ᴇᴠᴇɴ ᴍᴏʀᴇ sᴏ ᴡʜᴇɴ ᴛʜᴇʀᴇ ᴡᴀs ɴᴏ ʀᴇᴀsᴏɴ ᴛᴏ ᴅᴏ sᴏ. Sᴛɪʟʟ, ᴛʜᴏᴜɢʜ ʜᴇ ᴍᴀʏ ʙᴇ ᴀʙʜᴏʀʀᴇɴᴛ ᴀɴᴅ ᴀ ᴘᴇsᴛ, ᴀ ʀɪᴅᴅʟᴇ ᴀʟᴡᴀʏs ᴄᴏɴᴛᴀɪɴᴇᴅ ᴀɴ ᴀɴsᴡᴇʀ. Aɴᴅ ᴀs sᴛᴀᴛᴇᴅ ʙᴇғᴏʀᴇ, ʜɪs ᴡᴏʀᴅs ᴅɪᴅ ɴᴏᴛ ᴄᴏᴍᴇ ᴡɪᴛʜᴏᴜᴛ ʀᴇᴀsᴏɴ. Sɪᴍᴘʟʏ sᴘᴇᴀᴋɪɴɢ, ʜᴇ ɪs ɢɪᴠɪɴɢ ᴍᴇ ᴀ ᴄʜᴀɴᴄᴇ ᴛᴏ ғɪɴᴅ ᴏᴜᴛ ᴏɴ ᴍʏ ᴏᴡɴ.

"Is ɪᴛ ᴛʜᴇ sᴛᴀᴛᴜs," I ᴀsᴋᴇᴅ ʜɪᴍ.

"Good girl, you actually got it right. I'm awed by your development." I sent her a thumbs-up. "You already know, an Archduke carries unprecedented prestige, as it is the highest title of nobility. However, do you think that prestige compares to the child of a king?"

"A ᴘʀɪɴᴄᴇ, ʏᴏᴜ ᴍᴇᴀɴ?" Agnes faced me, awaiting an answer, but I believed in her to find one herself. "I sᴜᴘᴘᴏsᴇ ɴᴏᴛ. Tʜᴏᴜɢʜ ɪᴛ ɪs ɪɴᴄʀᴇᴅɪʙʟʏ ᴄʟᴏsᴇ, ʀᴏʏᴀʟᴛʏ ᴡɪʟʟ ᴀʟᴡᴀʏs sᴜʀᴍᴏᴜɴᴛ ɴᴏʙɪʟɪᴛʏ, ᴇᴠᴇɴ ɪғ ɪᴛ ɪs ᴀɴ Aʀᴄʜᴅᴜᴋᴇ. Wᴀɪᴛ, ʏᴏᴜ ᴅᴏɴ'ᴛ ᴍᴇᴀɴ—"

I nodded. "I'm glad you understand. In other words, our predicament has not changed. Though we may have escaped the D'Anelé household, the main factor for our exile and broken engagement, the reason for all the evil befallen upon us has still not changed. Whether Archduke or not."

Yes, it is so. Though my revolt against my family may have gotten me temporary glee, I will never forget the contemptuous eyes I had to endure the first day I arrived here. Only by clearing this past blemish, may I move on and start the journey I gave myself.

Agnes did not react. She only asked me, "Tʜᴇɴ ᴡʜᴀᴛ ᴅᴏ ᴡᴇ ᴅᴏ ɴᴏᴡ?"

"Well, that was the reason I did not want to meet the King. Ultimately, power will always belong to the majority. It only depends on whether the people realize it or not. This festival was the perfect timing to broaden my connections. My plan had been—after the party was over—to individually meet new people and slowly build up an alliance for protection, but as you can see, my plans were cut short by the callings of His Majesty." I closed my eyes, the floating Agnes disappeared from my vision. "By this hour, I suppose everyone has already left for their home? How disappointing."

"Bᴜ-Bᴜᴛ ʏᴏᴜ ᴄᴀɴ ᴀʟᴡᴀʏs ᴍᴇᴇᴛ ɴᴇᴡ ᴘᴇᴏᴘʟᴇ ɪɴ ᴛʜᴇ ғᴜᴛᴜʀᴇ! Tʜᴇʀᴇ ᴡᴀs ɴᴏ ʀᴇᴀsᴏɴ ғᴏʀ ʏᴏᴜ ᴛᴏ ɪɴsɪsᴛ ᴏɴ ᴛʜɪs ᴘᴀʀᴛɪᴄᴜʟᴀʀ ᴅᴀʏ," Agnes said, either trying to lift my spirits or convince herself.

"Can I? Me, who has no money, no land, and no family? If it wasn't for me being an Archduke, I would be no different from a commoner, you know? Where would I meet new guests, when I have no manor to invite them? How would I have any status without servants accompanying me? I don't possess any more money than the funds our grandfather gave me, so how do I 'showcase' the prestige I have?"

I explained this to her, as she requested. Did my reminder of reality hit hard for her? She still remained expressionless, as if nothing here had to do with her and all I did was reiterate a story. But she stopped floating around me. "Sᴏ, ɪs ᴏᴜʀ ᴇsᴄᴀᴘᴇ sᴇᴀʟᴇᴅ, ᴏʀ ᴅᴏ ʏᴏᴜ ʜᴀᴠᴇ ᴀɴʏ ᴏᴛʜᴇʀ ᴘʟᴀɴs?" was all she managed to ask me.

"Plans? I was planning on having the king give me some recommendations, since nobody would disobey the Rulers order, but as you know, he saw right through me, not mentioning any person of relevance. So what other plan is there to have?"

Agnes  pouted. "I ᴜɴᴅᴇʀsᴛᴀɴᴅ. Is ɪᴛ ᴛʜᴀᴛ ᴛʜᴇ ᴋɪɴɢ ɪs ᴀɢᴀɪɴsᴛ ᴜs ᴀғᴛᴇʀ ᴀʟʟ? Tʜᴏᴜɢʜ ɪᴛ ɪs ʀᴇᴀsᴏɴᴀʙʟᴇ—I ᴀssᴜᴍᴇ, ғᴏʀ ᴀ ғᴀᴛʜᴇʀ ᴛᴏ ʙᴀᴄᴋ ʜɪs ᴋɪᴅ—ɪᴛ ɪs sᴛɪʟʟ ʀᴇɢʀᴇᴛᴛᴀʙʟᴇ, ᴡʜᴇɴ ᴡᴇ ʜᴀᴠᴇ ᴄᴏᴍᴇ ᴛʜɪs ғᴀʀ." She let out a sigh, lamenting the hard life she had lived, and was to continue living now.

I turned my head to stare at this little ghost following me around. "Not necessarily. This game is not over until the player forfeits or dies." I turned left, edging closer to where I came from, and hopefully finding Raya to go home with.

"Gᴀᴍᴇ? Iғ sᴏ, ᴡʜᴀᴛ ᴛᴜʀɴ ᴀʀᴇ ᴡᴇ ɴᴏᴡ? Wʜᴏ ɪs ᴏᴜʀ ᴏᴘᴘᴏɴᴇɴᴛ? Wʜᴀᴛ ᴀʀᴇ ᴛʜᴇ ʀᴜʟᴇs?"

"Well, Lady, that all depends on the whims of His Majesty." My arms practically reached out on their own, I grabbed her slender waist, and pulled her to me. Agnes' arms reached out, grabbed my hips, and our eyes connected—it was like telepathy—she stared intensely while her chin tilted downward and her lips separated. Her tongue swiped her teeth, an action so subconscious she may not have realized, and she commanded me once more, "Exᴘʟᴀɪɴ."

Times like these made me truly glad that it was her—and no one else—I usurped the body of; that potential she carried, with a hint of oppression, was a beautiful feature no one else carried. "As I said before. It all depends on His Majesty, and whether he cares more about his philosophy than his children. Allow me to extend His Mastery's courtesy. " I bowed down, just like a servant would. "What do you think equality entails? Well, it is of course when kin and stranger are worth the same. At least that is what the man believes. So do you think he would favor one before the other?"

"Well, these things will have to wait either way. I still have my hands full with Raya."

"I ɢᴇᴛ ᴡʜᴀᴛ ʏᴏᴜ ᴀʀᴇ ᴛʀʏɪɴɢ ᴛᴏ sᴀʏ, ʙᴜᴛ ᴅᴏ ʏᴏᴜ ʜᴀᴠᴇ ᴀɴʏ ғᴜᴛᴜ—"

 "Sorry, but this conversation will have to continue another time." I cut her off, grabbed her head and turned her around. "Oh, talk about the devil, look at who has come to greet me."