Interlude : Ethervizh's King Observation

Etherheinz is a big powerful and secretive kingdom. It's not the larges but it's, without doubt, the most powerful one. Their militaries are top notch and their securities are the tightest. No spy will able to gain any information inside Etherheinz. The visitor is also limited. Rumours have it that the cause is because the king is paranoid. The rumours also said that the tensions between the prince are so bad and that's why the kingdom doesn't even have a Queen. How correct it is I will find out soon, I reckon.

A few years back, when my father was still the king, our Elders demand him to marry one of his Princess to Etherheinz's king. The Etherheinz King refused because he had promised that he won't marry other kingdom Princesses. Besides, both Princess is young and the king was already in his middle 40th at that time. The king married and had children in old age so he refused to marry young princesses. But both Elders of Etherheinz and Ethervizh pressured them for it. The reasons were for proof of our alliance.

At that time we really need an alliance for both our kingdoms fare. So we compromised that the princess would marry their Prime Minister instead.

The princess that supposed to marry out was my Elder Sister the first Princess, Roseanne Mary Alpine Vizh. But she already had someone she loved that time so our little sister the second Princess who was the apple of our Father's eyes, Roselle Myra Alpine Vizh volunteered herself instead.

All of us, even Roseanne Nee-sama herself disapprove the idea. Roselle was only 16 years old that time and the Prime Minister was already 30 years old.

However, Roselle was a stubborn Princess. She was a romantic at heart, so the idea of separating two people who were in love was making her unhappy. When I told her that Prime Minister also already had a son and a wife she asked if the wife was okay with her marrying her husband. We were told that she agreed to that. But after that, we only able to exchanged letters with Roselle and met Roselle only once, when she gave birth to her twin babies.

The first wife was not present when we came. We were told that she had to go to her hometown because her mother was not well. Beautiful Roselle looked as if she had already lost her fire but she still welcome us with a smile. Her relationship with her husband also seemed not bad. The minister was awkward but we can see clearly that he cared deeply for Roselle.

We were satisfied with Roselle's married life. We thought she was alright. Only the second Prince, Raselle Myro Alpine Vizh who was Roselle's little twin brother was suspicious. He suspected that Roselle wasn't as happy as she looks. We didn't take him seriously. A few months later we received news of Roselle's death.

Our esteemed Father then becomes weaken and weaken, brokenhearted by Roselle's death. We all mourned. All Kingdom were mourned. Even our closest ally, The beastmen tribes were mourned. Roselle was their beloved Princess after all. After our esteemed Father passed away, we never see nor hear about Roselle's babies twin anymore.

Raselle still looking into Roselle's cause of death even now. The pretext is that he was exploring the world and studying magic. He is already recognized as a great Sage in many kingdoms. Meanwhile, Roseanne Nee-sama is still blaming herself for Roselle misfortune even though we never feel tired to remind her that it was not and never her fault. She was even bedridden because of that. Her health declined every year.

Our baby brother, the third Prince, Romero Marc Alpine Vizh plants himself as an Emissary of Etherheinz. He hopes that he will be the first one to know about what happens inside Etherheinz. Roselle is still his beloved and favourite elder sister even until now. You will see the proof hanging on his neck. The childish necklace made from strings with a photograph inside. Her photograph.

And I, Robert Mario Alpine Vizh the king of Ethervizh Kingdom, am also the same as them. Still mourning the loss of my beloved little sister. We, five siblings, are close. Closer than any other siblings you can find outside.

So this is our chance to find out about Roselle's babies. They're not babies anymore. They would have grown up by now. Do they look like Roselle, I wonder? We who have Royal blood in our veins usually have silver hair. Except for Etherkouz's Royal Family who always has black hair, Beastmen tribes, and Elf tribes.

Thought it usually is only the princes. It's rare for princesses to have silver hair. That's why Roselle is an exception. She had a beautiful Silver hair while Roseanne Nee-sama has a beautiful platinum blonde hair. The last time we saw them, Roselle baby girl has silver hair like her. She has the blue tint of her father's hair on the tip but it was still beautiful. While her baby boy had his father's hair with strips of silver on it. It won't be hard to find them.

That was what I thought.

The baby boy who is now a handsome grown-up boy is easy enough to find as he is one of the students that will participate in our expedition. The baby girl though is not present. And nor is the crown prince.

Not even one day, and we already realized that all rumours about Etherheinz are just, well, rumours. The king is not paranoid nor he is feared by his sons. The most false one maybe the rumours between the prince's relationship. They don't seem to hate each other.

So there we were, myself the king, my son the Crown Prince, Rasya Qain Alpine Vizh, his cousin Lord Ray Alpine  Osland who is Roseanne Nee-sama son and our two escorts, my two beloved little brothers, being welcomed by the Prime Minister himself who immediately apologize for the lack of communication between us. We then escorted to meet the king and his lady for small talks while we wait for the students to come. We come early on purpose so we can have this small talk before they come.

At first, we were assured that both Roselle's babies will participate in the expedition, but it turns out that only the baby boy is coming.

"Arren, where is your brother?" King Arkhein sighs as soon as he notices that the Crown Prince is not present.

"My apologies, Father, that stupid brother of mine..." he trails when he heard coughing noises from his both sides.

Did he just say 'stupid brother of mine' in front of the king himself? And the king doesn't seem angry but exasperate instead?

"Ahem... My brother Arzen is taking Kii-chan out of Academy for a break," he finished after correcting himself.

"Oh my..." the king's lady said.

King Arkhein just sighs and bows at us in apologize.

"Allow me to apologize for my son rudeness," king arkhein said.

"I'll make sure that my fist goes through his skull," Prince Arren adds also bowed.

"Arren..." his mother chided.

"Arren-san!" The lady beside him said wide-eyed.

"Allow me to apologize as well. Arren-san, um, I mean Prince Arren is not in his right mind right now so..." the lady trailed nervously.

Meanwhile, their two companions on their back have a different reaction. One of them sighs tiredly and another one, my heart jolt in recognition at the boy who is trying to hide his laugh. Blue hair with strips. He is Roselle's baby.

Noticing my stare King Arkhein pardon them and ask them to introduce themselves to us.

"I'm Arren Arch Fern Rhein, The First Prince of Etherheinz Kingdom. Pleased to have your acquaintance. I'm sorry for my blugger earlier," he said after a pause.

"Midori Fern Wallace. I'm the first daughter of The Wallace house and is Prince Arren's fiancee candidate. Pleased to have your acquaintance," the lady said.

Wallace first daughter? It can't be her. The age is off and her hair isn't silver.

"Akai Fern Wallace. First Son of The Wallace's house. Pleased to have your acquaintance," the sighing boy said. Ah, I remember him. He sure is growing up to be a handsome man.

"Aoi Fern Wallace. The second son of The Wallace's house. It's a pleasure." Roselle's baby finally introduces himself.

He is such a fine young man. I can see a bit of Roselle's mannerism in him. His smile is also as bright as Roselle's was.

"And the ones not present are?" I heard Raselle asked.

His eyes also raking on Aoi. I'm sure he is also trying to memorize and finding his similarities to Roselle on him.

"The ones not present are The Prince of Etherkouz Kingdom, Prince Rhuifen and his two bodyguards Lord Jupiter and Lady Venus as a substitute for My Stu...ahem... My Brother Arzen A Fern Rhein and his fiancee Kii-chan. Ah, I mean lady Kii Fern Wallace. The son of Zoland house to represent his family, Noah Fern Zoland. And one more is invited by Prince Rhuifen. A lady named Angela Fern Reyes," he sighed disappointedly?

Disappointedly? Did he regret his brothers absent that much? Oh, wait...

"Pardon for my rudeness. But I seem to hear that both Prince Arzen and Prince Arren are engaged to daughters of Wallace?" I ask, puzzled by the revelation.

Daughter and father look at each other.

"If I'm allowed to answer?" Lady Wallace said.

I held my hand in a gesture of go on.

"I am adopted and I have no blood relation with my father. So I have permission to get engaged with Prince Arren as Kii is my sister but not by blood," lady Wallace said.

I nod in understanding but one sentence caught my attention. 'I have no blood relation with my father' she said instead of 'have no blood with father and mother?'

"You seem very close with your brother, Prince Arren?" my son asks.

"Indeed. We are," the prince answered.

"but? I sense a but there," Ray added in a playful manner.

Prince Arren looks at him while considering his answer.

"but he drives me crazy," he said in the end.

"excuse me?" both Rasya and Ray ask.

"Arren..." king arkhein sighs again. I noticed that The King sighed a lot.

But Prince Arren seems to be in his wit end. He ignored his warning but ask him instead.

"Father do you know where Lexy-San is?"

"He is in the barracks preparing your escorts," the king answers with a bit of confusion in his tone.

"exactly!" Prince Arren throws his hands in exasperation.

"You need to explain more to make us understand, son," the king said. And I agree.

"Lexy-San is here, which meant that Arzen and Kii-chan are out there by themselves. How can I able to calm down? Well, at least with Kii-chan there I know Arzen will be taken care of but still..." he trails tiredly.

"Er... Shouldn't it the other way around?" Rasya asks confusedly.

"No. Arzen is crazy and stupid and like to do dangerous things. he is crazy and he has no sense of danger, his hobby is fighting the beast. He is crazy. He likes fire. He even likes to set himself on fire. He is crazy. His dreams are to be a pirate and called firefist. He is bad at lying and he is crazy!" prince Arren puffed and huffed in annoyance.

"the only thing I catch is that the Crown Prince is crazy," Rasya said.

"Arren you really should calm down," Akai pats his shoulder in comfort.

Lady Wallace is rubbing his back as he exhaled and inhaled to calm himself down. Meanwhile, The king is messaging his temple with his lady also rubbing his back. This father and son are so similar.

"Pfft...Pfft"

I glance at the noise. Aoi is covering his mouth. His body is shaking and his head turning to the side.

"Aoi..." the Minister reprimands him.

"Sorry father," he said.

I can still hear the amusement in his voice. They're really alike. Aoi seems to inherit Roselle's sense of humour.

"Akai, why did you give Kii permission to go? Shouldn't you aware that today we will have honored guests?" The Minister asks again.

"I deeply apologize Father, I'm afraid that my position is falling under Aoi and Midori in Prince Arzen's mind when it is regarding of kii. Aoi was the one that gives him permission to take her out," Akai shrugged.

"He said it was her birthday present," Aoi said nonchalantly.

"Lady Kii is?" I look at the Minister.

"Aoi little twin sister. She has a beautiful silver hair like her," the Minister said softly.

I smile. I'm disappointed that we are not able to meet her in person. I hope next time we can come again just to meet her and Aoi. I hope I can bring them to Roseanne Nee-sama. It won't remove her guilt but it might lessen it.

The next day, we meet with the rest of the students and the kingdom's guard escorts. The guards will be hidden and not traveling with us. The only guard that will accompany us is the princes' personal guard named Alexander McCais who upon arrival, immediately looks around as if to find something or someone?

"Arzen is not here. He is taking Kii to go on an adventure for a break," Arren said. He is not even looking up from his position reading the guidebook about beastmen.

"that stupid prince!" the guard muttered tiredly.

It seems that everyone loves the Crown Prince. They insult him, yes. But it seems that they do so without malice. I even can hear the fondness in it.

It makes me curious. Just what kind of person is the Crown Prince?

We, The Ethervizh people are here to meditate on the relations between the Etherheinz kingdom and beastmen tribes. The Etherheinz kingdom wants to deepen their relationship with the tribes, but the Beastmen tribes are famous for their hard to get along attitude. It easy to make them offended.

Our people are able to get along with them because we mostly care a little about pride and appearance. We don't care or scare to look ugly in front of others. That's why the beastmen are able to get along well with us.

"Don't ask questions. Do anything they ask on the first meeting with them. After you are welcomed to their circle, you will be allowed to express your opinions or argue with them. They won't ask you to do something dangerous. Something silly or embarrassing maybe, but they never ask something dangerous. So please just agree," I lecture them.

"we will enter their mountain in a few hours and arrive in their village the next day. Remember, when they ask you to do something for the first time. Just do it. Don't ask questions. Just do it." I look at each of them. Including Rasya and Ray "Do you understand?" I ask firmly to show how serious I am.

"we understand" they chorus.

I nod, satisfied with their answers.

The trips were longer than I expected. It happens because strangely the lady that was said that she used to be a commoner is weaker and complaining more than lady Wallace who is raised as a noble lady from a young age.

The commoner ladies in our kingdoms are strong ladies and capable of doing things for themselves. So, it was strange for us to witness these situations. Maybe it was different here in Etherheinz?

In the end, Prince Arren who is still in bad moods because of his brother, signaled his guard to help the lady. The lady was complaining and insulting the guard for being rude and touching her disrespectfully, in which the guard ignored skillfully.

I was impressed by the guard. Why did Prince Rhuifen invite such a lady with no manners like this lady, I wonder?

As we got nearer to the village, we heard shouting and then clanging sound of swords. There is a fight near us. I just finished warning them to be careful when a ball of fire shoot passed our heads. The lady is screaming.

Then a body passed us and slammed at the tree on our side. To my surprise, a boy that is on fire comes skidded in front of the body, a tiger beastman, a very familiar tiger beast man, I noticed.

"I won! Again! Take that old man!" the boy cheered.

"Brat!" the beastman, Rikki said before he also laughs.

I sigh in relief for a moment when I realized that it was a spar instead of an attack. Then I remembered the boy. How is he still alive? He has fire licking his shoulder. I was about to point that out to the boy. When a chilling voice that even makes an old man like me shiver heard behind me.

"Arzen..." the cold of Arren voice might be just able to freeze the hell.

The boy, Arzen, (Ah, this is the Crown Prince?) stiffen.

"Uh oh," I heard him say.

Then he very slowly turns his head to us. His fire reduced.

"Uh, hi?" he said awkwardly. Sweat forming on his forehead.

"Hi? Is that the only thing you can say to me, Huh?" Arren said while advancing to him.

Prince Arzen took a step back. And then rubbing the back of his neck, laughing nervously.

"You found me!" he said in a fake cheerful voice.

"you found me my Ass! You idiot brother, do you know how worry I was?" Arren said, grabbing his head and dugs his fist on his head.

"Hey! Language! There are kids present. I expect more from you, Nii-Sama," Prince Arzen said playfully.

"who gives you the right to lecture me, Huh?" Arren said in an equally playful tone.

They don't look like they are in the middle of a civil war like the rumours said. Contrary, they look content in each other present and act just like how brothers will.

Hold on, if prince Arzen here, that's mean she is also here then?

"Ace-kun, Rikki-san, are you alright?" a girl's voice called.

Speak of the devil. There, jumping between the trees is her. My heart skips beats in nostalgic. For a moment, I thought it was Roselle that was jumping toward us. I heard Rasselle and Romero gasp as well. They must be thinking about what I think because Kii appearance looks exactly like how Roselle was when she was young.

Kii's hair tied in a ponytail. Elegantly jumping off the trees even as she wears a skirt and stiletto. She is really Roselle's daughter. She landed on the boy side perfectly.

"Eh? Arren Nii-Sama..." she called confusedly.

"You okay Kii? Arzen didn't bother you too much?" prince Arren said patting her head.

"Hey!" prince Arzen protested but Prince Arren shooed him with a glare. He crosses his hands sulkily in an answer.

"I'm fine. Miss you all though," Roselle's baby girl, Kii, said hugging Arren.

Then she notices us standing. She looks at Arren for an explanation. A lady can't greet a noble from another kingdom without being introduced. It seems that she also good at studying like Roselle once did.

"This is His highness Robert M Alpine Vizh, the king of Ethervizh kingdom. The Crown Prince Rasya-sama and his cousin Ray-sama along with their two escorts Lord Raselle and Lord Romero," Arren said.

"It is a pleasure to have your acquaintance," Prince Arzen and Kii said in unison.

"The pleasure is ours," I said in reply. My family nod in agreement at my statement.

"My name is Arzen Ace Fern Rhein, the Crown Prince of Etherheinz kingdom and this is my fiancee Lady Kii Fern Wallace," Prince Arzen introduces themselves.

My welcoming speech was cut by Rikki.

"Hold on just a moment there! You're a Prince?" he asked pointing at Prince Arzen. Prince Arzen nods at him.

"I thought you're a pirate?" he continues accusedly.

"Hey! Are you sure your ears okay, old man? I said I'm going to be a pirate. I repeat. I said I am going to be a pirate when I finished my study! Get the fact right!" prince Arzen sounds equally offended.

Rikki looking at him in disbelief. Then he laughs, patting Prince Arzen on the back.

Kii meanwhile is giving Aoi, Akai and Midori hugs and nods politely at the remaining party.

The expedition went smoothly after that. The tribes welcome them easily after they knew that they are friends of Prince Arzen and Kii. They are surprised when they find out that Prince Arzen is a Crown Prince though.

I can see why Kii and Prince Arzen are welcomed easily by the tribes. They do not hesitate to play in the dirt with the kiddies, they dance silly dance along with the tribes, sing their stupid out of tunes song together. They even haunt with them and cook their own food too, the beastmen said.

Looking at her among the tribes. It is as if I'm back in time. I saw Raselle looking at her with a sad nostalgic smile. I'm sure he must be remembering his beloved Nee-sama.

"So, she is our beloved princess' daughter, Huh?" Manbagi the elder said as Rikki sat on my other side.

"she is," I confirm, my eyes still not leaving her.

"When she shows up for the first time, I thought our beloved is back," Rikki laughs without humour.

"she doesn't remember us, so we thought she just a look alike but to actually is her daughter..." Manbagi sighs and shakes her head.

"I'm glad I got a chance to see her before I died," she continues. Her lips smile nostalgically.

"she looks just like her. I'm glad she found someone amazing. That boy is one of his kind. He is perfect for a beautiful soul like her," Manbagi says seriously.

"I'm really glad to hear that," I said in reply as I am unable to say anything else.

For Manbagi to praise someone like that is a big thing. It means that Prince Arzen is really a remarkable person.

"and the blue-haired boy is her boy?" Rikki smiles.

"he is," I smile back.

"there is no doubt that they are her babies," Rikki said pointing at Aoi who is now rolling on the ground playing with the bunnies beastmen.

The kiddies seem to adore him and Aoi seem to truly enjoy himself if his laugh is any indication.

Roseanne Nee-sama will also glad to witness this. I want her to meet them.

With that in mind, I invited them to visit our kingdoms on their vacation. It's not polite to exclude any of them so I had no choice but to invite them all.

Rhuifen and his two bodyguards, unfortunately, have to decline as they have to go back to their own kingdom at that time.

Noah apologizes deeply and decline because he has to go for training with his father.

Arren and Midori declined with the reason of discussing their official engagement. Akai and Aoi nodding along with them, said that they have to be there to help them.

Prince Arzen firmly said that Kii and he still have an adventure to finish so they can't go.

With everyone declined the last lady who is about to agree also decline with the pressure of everyone eyes.

I was really disheartened with their refusal. Especially when their reasons are so halfheartedly.

Later that night.

Noah from Zoland house apologizes again, as his actual reason is not the training but he just didn't want her fiancee to come to our kingdom.

"I don't want to leave a bad impression," he said mysteriously.

Prince Arzen, to my delight, comes with Aoi and Kii as representatives, asking if they still can accept my previous invitation which I enthusiastically agree. They explained that they had problems with the lady so they purposely refuse the invitation.

It seems that Prince Rhuifen is the only one that is actually cannot come to visit. We talk until a very late at night. By the time they excused themselves to leave, I was full with so many stories about Roselle's babies to tell Roseanne Nee-sama when we got back. 

I close my eyes in content. I'm glad I agree to meditate for them.

I was woken up by Prince Arren screaming Prince Arzen's name along with Rikki and Manbagi loud laugh.

It seems that Kii and Prince Arzen have left by themselves again.

I can't wait to receive them in my kingdom.

We left the tribes without a problem and arrived back in Etherheinz safely. We rest for a day and went back to our kingdom the next day. We got surprised on our way back. There, waiting on the way to our kingdom are Prince Arzen please-call-me-Ace and Kii.

"mind if we come for an early vacation?" he asked with his boyish smile. Kii stands beside him beaming brightly at us.

I was startled when I hear a sound of laughter. A laugh that loses for nearly 15 years. Raselle's laugh as he literally picks them by his magic and places them on our carriage.

"Is the king of Etherheinz aware that you're going to Ethervizh?" I ask.

I don't want to know the answer but as a responsible adult, especially as a king, I need to know the answer. Though, I feel like I really don't want to know the answer.

"Uh... Can we tell them when we have arrived at Ethervizh?" Arzen replies.

I knew it.

Raselle's laughter was joined by Romero joyous chuckles along with Rasya and Ray unbelievable stare at Prince Arzen who seem to not care, he probably doesn't care and Kii who sat innocently beside him. I just sigh and asked the escorts to continue our way, mentally thinking of how to explain this to King Arkhein.